The herald., 1893-12-20
REV. WIGHT IN A WARFUL MOOD
He Captures the Central Chris
tian Building.
Some Lively Times in Church Over
Dep0sed Pastor.
Two Factions Have Series of set-tos
for the Occupancy of the Build
ing In which Wight Came
Out Ahead.

AAo huOhAbOio Va thO Oohbkot OAA
church are all at war, and on account OF
Rev. Wight's weight of woe.
The readers Of the HERALD are famil-
lar with this lively little minister's
career. He was charged with being too
familiar with good-looking sisters of the
flock, and resignation was demanded.
Part of the congregation accepted the
resignation and part did not, and ever
since there has been a hammer-and-
tongs condition prevailing.
Rev. Wight went away. Then he came
back and went to preaching on his own
account in a hall near the church on
Seventeenth street and Grand avenue
and proceeded to save souls. Things
then progressed nicely in the Christian
church. Mothers felt that their daugh-
ters and themselves were safe and wor-
shipped in peace.
Wight, however, has a nervous tenn
permanent. His hot blood boiled within
his little veins over the great wrong done
him, and he waited an opportunity to
seize the reins at his former church. He
lad presented his resignation before 60
ing east, and it had been accepted. A
few OF his followers had collected and
requested him to withdraw it, which he
also did.
After his retnrn here the Central
church passed further resolutions con-
demning his course and Withdrawing its
fellowship from him. All of the various
pastors of the Chriatian churches
throughout Southern California also
met and passed resolutions against
Wight.
Shortly after the resolutions had been
published Rev. Wight replied with q
long article, claiming that the action of
the Central Christian church had been
irregular. Attached to his reply were a
number OF resolutions endorsing him,
signed by his followers. 1t was notice
able that out OF total of soBe 25 names
but five were men.
1t has also been stated that several of
those whose names were signed to
Wight's petition declared they had
done so under Misrepresentation, while
still others asserted that they signed
only the latter clause.
Nothing further was heard from
Wight until one week ago from last
Sunday, when he in company with his
flock went to service in the Central
Christian church. They made no par
ticular demonstration on that morning.
In the evening they returned, but the
officers of the church were prepared and
had secured the doors on the inside.
After several attempts to get in the
Wight faction retired.
On last Sunday the split occurred.
The Wight crowd attenned service in
the morning. Wight, however, not be-
ing there at the door, Mr.. G. H. Owen,
one OF the elders, read verse of scrip
ture. He then said that he regretted
what was before him but he would per-
form the task. He then read the reso-
lutions passed by the church the even
ing previous, withdrawing its fellow
ship from the persons who had signed
Wight's resolutions.
Then the fun began. Mr.. III. B. Wood
ward arose and thundered forth against
the church, declaring they had no right
to expel him, and he would not be ex-
PEELED without having had q church
trial.
1t was explained to him the resou-
tionB did not expel him but only dis
qualified him from taking part in the
affairs of the church until after he had
purged himself.
After the meeting was adjourned Mr.,
Woodward arose and moved that they
call another meeting. The officers Of
the church were first asked to resign.
This they refused to do. Then some
previously prepared resolutins declaring
the Offices vacant were read and passed,
the people voting for them being those
affected by the previous resolution of
the church.
The officers of the church informed
the Wight crowd that they werA out OF
order and had no right to take any such
actions. In fact they could not vote
until they had purged themselves of the
facts charged in the resolution read by
Mr.. owen.
This did no good, however, and soon
after the resolutions had been passed
the crowd dispersed.
The officers of the church were pre-
pared for the Wight crowd in the even
ing. Mr.. Owen and others entered the
church and securely fastened the doors
and waited inside. Meanwhile a wicked
boy sat on the fence and whistled Hold
the fort for am coming"
Presently Wight and his crowd ap-
peared upon the scene. An attempt
Wuo ihoA0 w OhtOA bhO CAuICDs Uub III
failed.
Finally Mr.. A. T. Bellof Eleventh and
Hill streets informed the Central church
people that he owned the building and
wanted them to get out. Wight claimed
the right to preach, as no one was using
it. Shortly after Mr.. Bells demand one
of the sisters said to an elder: "You
have no right to keep us out of there.
1t is the Lords house."
Immediately the elder turned and re-
piled: "Well, is Mr.. Bell the Lord :?
For he just declared he owned the build
ing and ordered us to get out"
No reply was made to this, and after
free-for-all talk the crowd dispersed.
Early yesterday morning some of the
members of the Central Christian
church appeared. and, taking the chairs
and other fixings out of the building,
moved them over on Main street.
The church and lot were left.
Mr.. Perry. wood and coal dealer at
Pico and Main streets. stated to q HER.
AID representative last evening that the
goods did not belong to the people who
took them away, and were owned by the
Ladies' Aid society. He also added
Awarded Highest I