Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-07-03
SENSATIONS IN CHURCH.
In One q Parishioner Died Dur
ing the Services.
At ANOTHER WERE THE POLICE

Hundreds of the Congregation Saw the
last Rites Administered to . Dying Man.
Dr. Potter wanted Police Protection.
Circulars For the Flock.
NEW YORK, July s.-Death interrupted
the mass at st. Teresa's Roman Catholic
church, Henry street. The collection was
being taken. Suddenly parishioner let
drop the contribution box which was in his
hand and returned to the pew of Joseph P.
Payten, venerable worshiper.
Mr.. Payten sat alone in his pew. Hehad
grown deRthly pale and was on the point OF
toppling over from his seat to the floor
when the parishioner ran to his side. Those
In the congregation who sat near the pew
OF Mr.. Payten crowded forward. Father
Moore, the celebrant of the mass, paused
and then came down to the pew. He beck
oned for Father Mahoney to come also.
It was evident that Mr.. Payten was
stricken with death, and that he would not
recover consciousness before dying, If his
spirit had not already fed.
Died rs He Had Wished
For some time Mr.. Payten had known
that he would probably die suddenly from
heart disease. He had often expressed q
desire that he might die in church.
A hush fell over the congregation as the
priests hurriedly prepared to administer
the rite of conditional dissolution. Mr..
Payten had not stirred. While the rite
| was administered, he uttered not a sound
and lay where the parishioner who had
rushed to his assistance had gently guided
his body.
At the conclusion Of the rite the body
was taken up and borne to the sacristy.
| A messenger had been sent for Mrs. Payten.
She arrived Immediately after the body of
her husband had bean removed from the
pew. The services had already been re-
| sumed.
Above the words of the priests could be
heard the sobs of Mrs. Payten as she bent
over the body of her husband In the sacris-
ty adjoining.
Mr.. Payten, who was so years old, first
knew that he had heart trouble last fall
when he consulted a physician for a mala-
dy that had made him anxious for long
time. He was a big man, hale for his years
and methodical. The knowledge that he
would probably die suddenly did not alarm
him or change his way OF life.
Another sensational event, but OF far diff.
ferent nature, occurred at the Baptist tab
ernaele.
"Blest be the tie that binds sang Rev.
DR.. Potter's congregation after commun-
ion. The next line runs, Our hearts In
Christian love-" Dissension and trouble
of various kinds had inspired this depart
lure from the usual form of worship.
To begin with, Rev. Mr.. Putnam, who L
lpressing charges involving several breaches
of church discipline against Rev. Dr. Pot
ter, the pastor, caused circular presenting
his side of the case to be distributed at the
church doors. 1t was communion Sun,
Iday," too, when many whoneglect the usu,
al Sabbath worship make 1t a point to be In
the tabernacle on the first Sunday Of this
lmonth.
They Distributed Circulars.
Mr.. Putnam's charges have been under
a committees consideration. The com
mittee seems inclined to acquit DIR. Potter
Mr.. Putnam's friends believe the investi
Igators are prejudiced in the accused pas
tors favor, hence the circulars. DIR. Pot
ter's partisans called for police interior
ence when they saw Mr.. Putnam's parti
sans distributing the circulars, and they
triumphed for the time over the pastor
enemy by having the circular distributor
| driven away. E
Then the morning worship proceedeS
: without interruption. After the commu
MON ended, Daniel Harding, who has re
Gently been dismissed from the church
to ask the reasons for HIS dismissal.
He Is q partisan Of Mr.. Putnam. MI
Price, one OF the pastors friends, who ha,
anticipated trouble as soon as Mr.. Hardin,
! arose with his belligerent air, started tn
lpeacemaking hymn. Mr.. Harding sat dow
and said no more.
Mr.. Putnam's circular letter reviews tn
[ case from the beginning, and upbraids tn
congregation for upholding the pastor il
Z the face of what the author considers pos
: tive proof of his guilt.