The sun., 1893-03-03
DISCORDANT COLORED BRETHREN.
The Trustees and tho Choir OF the Bridge
Street NJ. f. Church In Brooklyn mt War.

Street NJ. Il. Church In brooklyn mt War.
The controversy between the trustees OF tho
choir Of the African NJ. +. Church. in Bridge
street. Brooklyn. has reached an acute stage.
and may result. It is feared. not only In the
resignation Of the Rev. DIR. II. II. Butler. the
pastor. but in q split in the congregation. The
trouble broke out over the determination OF
the trustees to remove DR.. Susan S. Mckinney
from her place as musical director. and the
appointment OF male chorister instead. Mrs.
Mckinney had been at the head OF the choir
for seven or eight years. and there was
threatened revolt in the organ loft when 1t was
apnounced that she was going to be dis
placed. About a week ago. when the question
came up for discussion at the close OF tho
prayer meeting. the baeso. soprano. and the
other members OF the choir arose and declared
that they would all resign II Mrs. Mckinney
had to 60. and SO much excitement followed
that the sexton had to turn of the gas to pre-
vent a general row.
The Rev. DR.. Butler. feeling that he was not
equal to the emergency. summoned Bishop
Benjamin Tucker Tanner to the scene and the
latter presided ut the meeting held at the
church on Wednesday night to take final ac-
tion In the matter Bishop Tanner expressed
his regret over the disturbance in the church.
and said thnt during his forty years eXpe-
ricnce in tho denomination he had never wit
messed so much dissatisfaction over SO trivial
Church on the question OF sunmoning n new
chorister. In the first place tho pastor must
announce that he desires new chOrister. the
trustees must then declare thu. tho finances
are in d condition to admit OF the proIntment
OF a. choristor. and finally the choir must
hand In the nume OF the person whom
they want to have appointed. Bishop Tanner
received affirmative responses to the question
from the pastor and tho trustees and tho choir
after half nn hours delihcration. during which
several old IA shoned Methodist hymns were
sung. submitted the name OF John Thompson.
1t was the first time most Of the brethr had
heard the mention of Mr.. Thompson's name
for chorister. and when Pastor Butler said
that as his term as pastor would soon cNpire.
he was willing to concur in the choice Of tho
choir. the brethren became even more excited
than at the previous meeting. and Bishop
Tanner had a hard time to suppress tho
tumult. As soon ae quiet had heen restored
the Bishop declared that MIR. Thompson had
been duly elected and installed as chorster
He then hastily pronounced tho benedction
and declared the Meeting Mt an end.
Tho trustees however. held u meeting later
on. mt which they dismissed Mrs. Mckinney
and sent her her salary. They also resolved
not to pay the new chnristcr any salary. on the
ground that no is incompetent for the place.
lishop Tanner said yesterday that tho action
Of the trustees would not be sustained by the
law OF the Church. as the trustees had nc right
to dismiss Mrs. Mckinney without tn. cndorse-
mont OF the pastor or to refuse to pny the new
chorister. Fresh trouble is expected between
tho choir and the trustees on Sunday