Evening journal., 1893-04-06

Aho congregation OF Christ Episcopal
Church Ia the Throes of Factional
Fight Because Enthuaastic Members
Used Cafe to Raise a Mission Fund.
> taR Correspondence Evening Journal.
DovHR, April 6-Christ Protestant
Episcopal Churce parish in this town is
now Ia the throes Of a factioual fpht
which, for its bitterness, has no parallel
In the annals of the Episcopacy Of Della.
ware. lt has even gore 80 far that the
deposed vestry men aud their friends
talk Withdrawing from the congreqa.
tion aud establishing a new church
The fight began last fall At that
time a meeting was held here IL was
attended by tevernl missionary bishops
from the West They asked for money
wherewith 10 prosecute their labors In
the wild and woolly parishes beyond the
Mississippi The women OF the church
pledged themselves to raise from $50 To
$40 for the bishop OF Idaho
On December 40, one Of the women OF
the congregation threw h,r house open
aud got up Christmas market for the
benefit OF the church About 800 was
made In this way, S25 Of it was turned
over TO the Idaho fund The balance.
which was about $50, was made through
Mrs A. B Richardson She had n table
OF fancy articles, the understanding be-
ing that the money realized from the sale
thereof, should be applied TO the pur-
chase Of new carpet for the church.
The amount was insufficient aud when
the Christmas dance was given Ia the
Hotel Richardson, Mrs Richardson con
yerted the billiard room into cafe and
! I..rt IIlINa. e H.
women Of Christ Church Congregation to
assist her IN running 10 for the beueiit Of
tue church. The dancers pat onized the
cafe and S2j was realized This was
done despite the protest of Rev l. w.
Gibson's daughters and other women
who called upon Mrs Richardson aud
told her she could not hold the cafe
under Christ Church auspices
When Mrs. Richardson prof rred the
money 90 the rector he said he would not
allow any fund derived from the billiard
room cate to be used towards furnishing
the church with carpet Tho church
officials held different views, and not
withsiandiug the objections of the rector
Mrs. kichaid dson turned the money over
to the vestry
Rector Gibson then went 10 the YES.
tDmen and told them that they must
not use IL. The vestrymen held that it
was all right 60 use the money for such
purposes. The rector held that money
raised by ball should not bs applied TO
the purchase of church carpet. He
urged the necessity OF sending the ducats
OF contention TO one of the Western
bia hops
The controversy became 50 bitter that
DR. Henry Ridgely, Edward Ridgely d
eX senator A. b Richardson rendered
their resiguaiions as yestry men.
Rector Gibson went TO WILMINGTON
aud c0nferr with Bishop Coleman.
Upon his return TO Dover he went to the
yesirymen, acknowledged his mistake
aud begged their pardon. The resigna-
lions were not accepted aud the tires
continued TO shoulder until two weeks
ago, when they burst out afresh.
Miss Bradford, member OF the con-
greg cation. appeared before the vestry
through Rector Gibson. aud requested
hat they would not use the billiard.
room fund. AS she would give 500 aud
they could 90 what they pleased with
the money Mrs Richardson raised. The
ve-try men refused 10 do any thing and
TIE bad feeling only increased
On Monday night the annual meeting
OF the congregation for the election of u
vestry was held he friends of Rector
Gibson under the leadership of Robert
Bradford, Of Philadelphin, succeeded in
tlectipg new vestry and ousting the
old The men turned out were ex Sena.
tor A b Richardson, William Dsnney
I o Culbreth and Dr. usnry Ridgely
Those elected In heir stead and TO fill
the vacancy caused by the death of Chief
Justice Comegys we're Robert Bradford,
OF Philadelphia. Henry Ridgely, Jr, H.
A Johnson, William Pennewiil aud
William Pritchett. Tue result was a
big SURPRISE TO the party which had
been in power aud 'the end is not yet
To still furtl er complicate matters.
William Peunewill aud William Pritchett
sent in their designations yesterday
morning aud the vacancies will have 10
be filled They refused to antagonize
the interests OF the old vestry
The elimination Of the trouble Is being
watched for with much concern by the
friends of the church