Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-10-04

the home of Mrs. Tyer, on West Hill.
The Sunday school class at the Olive
Baptist church is progressing nicely
under the management OF Miss Leona
Cartwrighs.
STRANGE ACTIONS.
Rev. L. Lomacz can not account for
1.-THE strange actions of Mr.. McCraven
and Rev. L. A. Clark, formerly Of the
Methodist church. A little over two
weeks ago Rev. Lomack came to this
city by authority too look after the
interests of his race and to hold a series
of meatings for the purpose OF organic
ing and esta blishing an African Chris
tian Church, having had in pledges, in
round numbers, 1896, and at that time
there was no move on foot whatever
for an African Christian Church. Rev.
Clark at that time was in negotiation
with the Congregational minister to
organize a Congregational Church
among his race in this city. and had
stated that he had forty or fifty names,
the majority of which was from the A.
M. e Church, and that he had the
promise of DR.. Frisbie of the Congre-
gational Church of s25 per month on
salary and the balance was to be raised
by the congregation But. Rev. Lo-
mack began his Christian revival meet
ings first, not depending on the mem
bers of the A. NJ e. church to alone
constitute his organization or even in
part, so far as his personal solicitation
was concerned. Rev. Z. a. Clark was
was the first man at the door the first
night of his services, and he began at
once to negotiate with Rev Lonack to
get into the Chris tian Church. and for
five days he worked and labored with
him, until he had succeeded in get
ting his confidence. promising that he
would be true and loyal to the prin-
ciples of the Christian Church, aud Rev.
Lomack believed him. On Sunday,
Sept. 22d he was present and when the
invitation was extended he came for
ward and gaveh his hand AMI united with
Rev. Lomack in his work, this being at
the Sunday morning services, and on
the evening of the same day, it appears
that he and ex-Rev. McCraven got to-
gether in a caucus and McCraven goes
10 the Central Christian Church and
and gets Rev. DR.. Breeder to have his
church take vote, inviting Bro. Lo-
mack and his people to come to his
church and hold his services in the
chapel of the church free Of charge
for the ensuing week, and then pre-
sented himself and Z. A. Clark at the
injecting held by Rev. Lomack at the
United Presbyterian Church, corner of
7th and Grand ave. At the conclusion
of the sermon, when the announce
lnents were about TO be made. Nc
v, ,l do hoe tat
as stated above, that we were invited
to hold our meetings in the Christian
Church, and he, desiring to have every
thing work in peace and harmony and
success, taken a vote of the people
whether or not they would go with
him to the Central Church to hold the
city. 1t was decided. Rev. Lomack
on the following Monday, and held
consultation with him, who stated to
him that it was the action of the church
and that the services could be held
there as long as wanted, SO services
was held there that Sunday night
by Bro Lomack, and people and
at the conclusion of the services
McCraven stated that he had
secured Galley's hail. corner of Ninth
and Center streets, for services to be
held in, without any consultation with
Mr.. Lomack. He then stated chat he
was here by authority to hold meetings
and establish this church and under
expense and could not be moved
around town in that way, because it
would be detrimental to the success of
the meetings, and therefore, upon the
invitation of the church, he proposed
to stay there until he could secure
permanent place for his services. He
then announced that services would be
held there each night in the week
except Tuesday night, that being the
night of the entertainment for benefit
of Rev. 7. A. Clark, and as he had
important business to attend to in
Ottumwa he went home on Tuesday
morning and came back for Wednesday
night. Revs Clark and McCrayen
pleaded with him to leave his wife and
be sure to come back for Wednesday
night, which he did. But while Rev.
LomaclS was gone McCraven and Rev.
Clark went together and secured hall
secretly and then went around and told
| the people privately that there would
be no more services until Sunday, and
| then it would be held at the hall, as
above stated, this being done without
| the knowledge of Rev. Lomack. After
his return on Wednesday night he
| went to the Central church, butsCrange
! to him that McCraven and Clark did
not meet him, and again on Thursday
night they We're absent. Clark did not
appear, but at late hour McCraven
did, and he stated that the understands
| ing was that there wasn't to be any
meeting This was to Rev. Lomack
| like man being struck by lightning,
but he stated that there was no power
by whichFa man or preacher could
take this meeting out of his hands, and
that he intended to go on with his
meetings. McCraven then without the
| knowledge of Mr.. Lomack published
in The BYsTANDER that it was a fact
| that the Christian church among the
race would have an installation on
Sunday and Rev. T. A. Clark would be
installed as pastor. But Rev. Lomack
had not as yet organized any church
| for pastor to be installed to, but the
meetings were only in progress work
! ing for that end, and on last Sunday,
one week from the date that Mr.. Clark
! joined Rev, Lomack's services, ne