The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-07
THEIR CHURCHES NO MORE.
ALMOST 4 DENOMINATIoNAE EVIC-
TION ORDERED nv THE COURTS.

|
The Dubs Fsetio- OF che Evangelical Ch-reh
Nest Surrendsr To-day Property In East
ere Pennsylvania worth $4,000. o00-tS9
Preachers asd 10000 Connuntcnnts Out.
READING. Pa, Oct. B.-The spectacle Of 1870
ministers, with 10000 communicates, worship
ping In $4,000 900 worth OF church property,
being dispossessed this week in eastern Pennsyl-
vs1ie, was u u 5ual and extraordinary. The long
legal fight between the two factions Of the
Evangelical Church came 10 an end finally. and
the handful OF men In each church have been
declared legally qualified to be in control Of the
property. This state, therefore, has fallen into
line with the Western states. and Bishops Esher
and Bowman are now complete masters OF the
situation. backed by tho Supreme Cour' decis-
ions in the various states.
In the East PENNSYLVANIA Conference, when
the split took place three years ago. the anti
Esher element. being in the great majority, took
possession Of all the churches. The Esther min
listers, with their few followers, we're compelled
to worship wherever they could find halls. In
tears they were compelled 10 leave the churches
they loved and to preach in private houses,
school buildings, wherever they could secure
shelter. For three years they had an uphill
time Of II. The feeling between the two factions
became very bitter. One side called the other
rebels. Their church papers carried on a re-
lentlees war and famed the flames Of preju-
dice and hatred. As the months and years
passed the gulf became wider and deeper, 30
that now. when the few have obtained posses
sion Of all the churches, parsonages, schools,
and colleges, nothing under the sun could In
duct them to let bygones be bygones.
To illustrate this bitter feeling, on the evening
Of the day the Supreme Court handed down It's
decision an aged crippled woman belonging TO
the victorious faction opened the window and
shouted IN German TO her neighbor woman:
~ IA hn Nnr hIn nnNs al sFnWt. zAW.-.-
TO add insult to. injury" said one Of the
dacity 70 inyite us to remain and worship in
their churches. or course, they don't mean IL.
maihing. We built all these I'll churches and
parsonages, but well leave them forever and go
Sna w0r snIs b In rooms %ntu private xs su, houses ssS halls:
sngrshes; W 8TT , minister Mo will tai tHfe ss all our Dn con.
sonages. while others will experience great
hardship; There will be plenty Of tears shed at
sanas nave grown Up in those churches. Thou
sands moe nave contributed many hard earned
dollars to build these edifices, but all this must
be given up; Our people would rather give up
their last dollar than remain to be dominated by
schemed until they had Bishop Dubs out OF the
way, the man OF God we all revere. That is the
.seilpSSn AL ms our own hes ,nsn . Med r al give up
i is III NE giving up a lear home 70 an enemy:
- t"V ~ biNbeI. VI. u tuc
Well, they have won. Their lockcd-out minis.
dozen G"o Of n foilSs% s rack % ssfin s w,'h how tsf tSey Ssfs s.s
along. They'll preach TO empty benches, and
Had each OF our churches vested the title in
their trustees. then we'd be differently situated.
tSH t asn .itlf' G g AZ Spr p Of ,Ss cS sr : ges 81 lin in
United States, and no matter whose money
built the churches. schools, and parsonages, the
General Conference Ia the owner, and Esher and
are already handing over their keys. and there
should be spared the sad spectacle OF a farewell
service. There would be too many tears shed,
An Esther man, who holds a very responsible
place in the denomination. said:
I told hp them pmos t ReSp, s. SsnR wro SSmp6ls ar t an slSSnis e
eoserned By 4 BOOK Of Discipline ut Il is s@ our cons rs
i insslilgsn sRa a Ssil sSc>h has A an u GRs we9 S Sin T saa
Church law and that the other side was IN
this rebellious faction was rich and power
fHl. Out no Of Z congregation Sf ssS peo,
were wrong. I did not leave the church. but re-
do%isant faction i''a All Ti along n soid Them n, tk ses
were in error. issued a pamphlet and various
Ss.lstf' and %a snabSsa an %dy d RSiiiailSan' Bot SHwi | w gss
has come to pass proycs was right; The, will
very fine church jus, opposite the one they
care OF the old church and continue in peace"
The dispossessed party will now give up
everything and start anew. In the West the
defeated faction OF the Church have started out
under the title OF THE United Evangelical
Church. The dispossessed here will Join their
Western brethren under the same banner and
title. and In a few weeks they will assemble in a
general conference OF the United Evangelical
Conference OF the United States. and form a
separate and independent church. having no
connection at all with the original Evangelical
Association.
sunday will be a day OF great rejoicing for
the victorious faction. who will once again be
hack in their churches. The servicei will be
largely Of prayer. praise. and singing OF hymns.
ship In halls, keen a stiff upper lip. declare they
are not worshipperJ OF wood. brick. and stone;
that they will bear up bravely for the sake OF
principle. and conscious that they are right and
that they have been wronget they will suffer In
alliance