The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-01-23

Rev. Bittaer Gives an Account ~ n
rronhte AZ sweet Home.


Rev. Biitner Gives an ssc,sunt eF the
rroahte AZ sweet tsoine.
rhr following Is basis from which
the public may draw their conclusions:
Asasoqnvnee Of the asl disturbances
Ia the Evangelical Association 1T
large, the following local trouble took
place al Sweet Home last sunday;
Some two weeks ago IT, I. BIttner,
presiding elder Of the district, seut the
announcement Of his quarterly SER
vices TO Rev. c. McIslroy, the pnstor.
These appointments were duly an.
nounced 20 be held at the Sweet Home
Evangelical church, except the husl.
ness part, which was to be held al n
private house.
On Friday, JAM 16, | went TO Sweet
Home; attended divine worship; Rev
q. McElroy preached aud called upon
me 10 close the services, which did by
speaking aud prayer. No one pro.
tested Rev. McIlroy then announced
his continuation of his pretracted
meeting, which had been held for q
week; also that | wonld assist him In
preaching over sunday.
On Saturday | was with Rev. Me
Elroy, attending 10 quarterly services
at a private place. No one notified me
that night that was not Ia be admitted
into the Sweet Home church.
Al tile appointed time for service
In company with othefs ga the way IN
the church, were told We would not
get into the church; "rhey have
guarded Il, . "They will fight, "Thert
will be blood shed II you attempt "a
enter the church, > "Ihere have teen
men on the inside mailing the windows
and the door Shut" '"rhe men are In
the church and someone will get hurt
If they go In, "Ihey will be shot,
etc.
Rev. McElroy went with others
fnster than and found about 100 nen-
Pile gathered, waiting for the door "a
open. came and saw Rev. NJ talk
ing with J. n. Galbraith (trustee?]
Ii WAS found hefore all the people that
he o.. n. G.l had consented 10 have
aud keep the church open for Rev. NJ
aud his assistants for all meetings. In
answer 10 questions, J. ~ g.. said he
Twas acting as AN individual trustee, .
was not delegated by anyone. Again,
that he had not read the law OF the
church as 90 his office, had no dlsci,
HAlNiNs II Ns&E ANsitN iAl tAAAtf AAltits EttBNs
ing that trustee did not have power
over the ministry and their appoint
nents In such way. Still lac refused
20 open. Many entreaties of friends
and members, aud yet he refused.
BY this time the people had gathered
to the number of $50 or 200, aud were
about To take revenge for this public
outrage. | stepped up three times and
addressed the muFmuring masses.
succeeded three times in getting the
minds OF the people guided, setting
forth the rights and privileges Of tht
| Evangelical church, etc. | recalled
my appointment for the evening, ask.
ing where i should appoint far Sunday
evening To continue Rev. McElroy's
| protracted meeting. Answer INSTANTLY
"Here,r "Heren' 'Herer'
BY this time men had taken lights
To the windows of the church, and
from the dark side looking into the
church, saw five or six men aud some
boys with the following weapons
Clubs u inches in diameter, and .
feet long, with wrist strings, nails
driven through some of them, rocks
In hand, and, some say, shotguus.
This inftriated the masses. Besides
the foregoing, the door was doubly
ercss-barred from within and heavy
braces were cheated down on the seats
and floor of the church.
After the vote Here three times
I sam Nothingera and others took heavy
stick of wood and hogan To break dnwl
( the door. Ii required some time Unit
I the door and cFosshars were battered
/ into slivcrs. Then rush into tbs
/ house. Two jumped out Of the WIN
dow, others crept out nr the epen door
I The damage was temporarily repaired
aud The clubs ar fpr1atsQ ,xpanouS
were gathered mp.
The door OF tie church is now to ht
open TO both parties for equal time and
/ services.
The writer will stop here to MAKE
fuller statement before the lar of jus
/ tice to which he is summoned
IL. /. DIITNER.