Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-03
AN ENDLESS ROW.
The Mount Jezreel Church Trouble Aired
in Court Again.
Two Deacons Fined for Keeping Mr..
Stewart Out of the Pulpit
They Used Force.

Before Judge Miller in the Police Court
this morning another installment of the
cases growing out of the troubles in Mt.
Jezreel Baptist Church, 5th street and South
Carolina avenue southeast, was presented.
Mr.. B. F. Leighton, Stewards counsel, sat
with Assistant District Attorney Mullowney,
and Messrs. James Fl. Smith and w. Calvin
Chase for the defendants.
Archie Harris and Isaiah Lewis were CALI
ed to answer a charge of assault on Philip
Stewart. In answer to the court, Mr.. Null
lowney stated that it was a light case in
one respect, and heavy in another; that it
was a case where a minister was pulled out
of the pulpit of Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church.
The court directed the trial to proceed. and
minister, took the stand and testified that
on Thursday last he went into the pulpit
and Harris told him not to go in there. There
were about ten present, and he replied that
he was in his place; that Lewis and Harris
seized him and put him out, DanI Williams
taking him by the arm. He went back
again and they put him out again. The
trustees duties were only TO represent the
property They had flied bill of lnjcnc-
ton against him In the Equity Court, but
it was dismissed.
CrOss-Examined.
On cross-examination by Mr.. j. ii. Smith,
witness said that he was the same who had
testified i'm the case of w. e. Cox, who had
collected $50 for the church and paid him
s.
The court said that it had been shown
that the check was given by Mr.. Webb in
October; that Cox said he had lost his book
afterward and Stewart had given him let
ter dated back to July last
Mr. Leighton said that the books of the
church were before Justice Hagner and de-
Tended the action of Mr.. Stewart.
MrSmith continued his cross-examInation
and Mr.. Stewart said that Lewis was floor
manager of the church.
BY Mr.. Chase-They were governed by
the Baptist directory, which provided for
trials. and he acknowledged that he did not
follow the book in this case.
Told by Witnesses.
Henry Carter testified that he was pres
ent and saw Stewart dragged from the pull
pit.
On cross-examination Carter said he was
deacon; that Stewart had notified the
church of the collection of some money.
George Washington was called, and Mr.
Muilowney said Now We will have the
truth
the brothers went in the church, and saw
Harris and Lewis go in the pulpit and told
Mr.Stewart he could not get in, and throwed
him out, and he struck the organ. He at
tempted to go back when they throwed MIN
out on the floor. Brothers Archie Harris
and Isaiah Lewis then conducted the meet
ing and Stewart remained there"
At this point a discussion took place es to
the effect of Justice Hagner's action In the
equity case.
Defense Testfaes.
When the defense called their witnesses
about dozen responded. and the court sug-
gested that but two or three be called.
Isaiah Lewis testified that there was some
! talk between the deacons (six) and trustees
(two) and Mr. Stewart, in which he said he
did not regard their excommunica lion.
Stewart was angry and said ne would go in
the pulpit, and rushed to the pulpit. and
Lewis said he was not going In the pulpit
He replied he would or die, and they pushed
him away. He denied that the church had
ever adopted the directory; the government
was on general principles. Stewart was
simply a supply minister, with a provisc
a permanent pastor. He was only So
journer. He had not even the powers OF a
deacon. He was present when Stewart was
communicated. They had seventy-eight
present. He was turned out for disorderly
conduct. He called Deacon Harris a liar
and shook his fist at him. They counted
the members who were in good standing
If they were delinquent they could not vote
The money business had not been reported
fully. The meeting called by the trustees
\ was for the purpose Of the money being
turned over. but Stewart had the money
and II was not turned in.
Archie Harris testified that he was a
deacon and told Stewart not to go in the
pulpit until he gave the church general
satisfaction. When the meeting was called
for December IL Stewart had the church
closed.
Papers Refused.
At this point Mr. J. r. Young. clerk Of
| the Supreme Court of the District, having
been served with a subpoena duces tecum
with the record of the equity cause Hall
! agt. Stewart, reported to the court that he
had been instructed by the six justices of
that court that the papers In the case
where a certified copy of the papers would
answer could not go out.
Judge Miller expressed surprise at the
course and said that II this were the rule
bigamy, perjury and other cases could not
be proven. The law gave this court per-
| feet right to issue such subpoena and IL
had not been questioned before. Was he
| to dismiss this case because the papers
were not here? His object was to be thor
| oughly enlightened as to the right of the
parties which could be shown by the pa
| pers.
| lifted Stewart up and put him out of the
pulpit, and Lewis did not lay hands upon
/ him.
Mr. Young subsequently returned with the
! papers, having explained to the justices the
| object, and they made special order al
| lowing the papers to be sent down.
| Both Fined.
Judge Miller reviewed the papers in the
equity cause, and said that 1t was for the
! trustees and deacons to have ceased any OPP
| position 70 Stewards occupying the pulpit
when the prayers of the bill were denied.
1t would have been better had the church
| been closed to prevent such an object les
/ son as this. He would impose a fine; while
| the church revenues were uncertain, the
! United States revenues would be augment
! ed and he would teach these persons a les
son, and would as soon, II brought before
him, teach the other side one also. The
| fine was $40 each.
AFFAIRS IN GEORGETOWN.