Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-01-19
Trouble in
INIT. Zion +!
THE PREACHER Thrown
OUT OF THE PULPIT.

Elder John Spence and "Low
Ground Bill PurneII"
Found Guilty.
| THE PREACHER WANTS HIS PAY.
/ For several weeks there has been
trouble between the pastor Of Mt. Zion
Baptist Church (colored) and his lit
tie flock Rev. johnson. who il is
said is protegee of Joshua lowering,
the great Baltimore coffee merchant,
and receives AN annuity from him, is
the pastor Of Mt Zion. Ii seems that
for good and sufficient reasons the
preacher unchurched some of his
members last year, since which occur
renee they have been trying to get rid
OF him. He held the fort up to New
Years when Low Ground Bill Purnell,
one of the leading lights Of the church,
attacked the preachers Notifications
and won a partial victory.
II was on the 9th inst, the first
Sunday OF this year, Parson johnson
was expounding the gospel in his elo-
quent ami emphatic style when, as ex-
pressed by member. "Brudder Funnel
riz up fun his seat and called to de
preacher fer TO sol down, n wese did'n
want ter heare him emmy mo-. But
Brudder Johnsing he fused, and 50
BrUdder Punnell he turned de lights
ont u dat broke up de meetin.
On Sundaynight last, the 18th, Par
johnson again attempted to preach in
the church, but was ordered out Of the
pulpit by Elder John Spence. He
refused to comply, and Spence and
Bill Purnell put him out.
Both matters were carried before
Judge Rowley ia the States Attorneys
Office on Thursday. Purnell admitted
the charge in the first case, but at
tempted TO justify himself on the plea
that the preacher had been dismissed
by the congregation and was no long
er pastor. johnson was called in re-
buttal. He was asked:
Q-Are you regularly ordained
pastor Of this church 2
Il will just let you see my papers.
Yes sir, say so, and then can prove
it if anybody thinks otherwise"
Q-Iiave you any knowledge as to
any charges having been preferred
against you in church trials?
Il have only this knowledge. They
tried to bring things against me. but
all came to naught. They were ex-
cluded members and could not do it.
| stood the test, had it not been | never
would have been here to-day, and /
have been here now five years. That
commenced in 81. they were excluded
the 18th OF June 1891, and all the
trouble in the church has come from
those people. Before that it was the
same as arm-inarm. Had ! tolerated
that trouble would have been Just the
same to-day, but it is not so with the
Baptist preachers, whenever they find
dirt and filth in churches they always
wipe off all they get hold Of. | tend.
cred my resignation TO the church in
January last, on TIE 18th, one year
from this day and that resignation is
never accepted until | am paid, and
when | am paid have no more to do
with the church and all the people.
II has not been paid. One year ago |
rendered my resignation to the church,
they did not accept it. Had they paid
me, whether they wanted me or not. |
would have gone but they did not do
it. They locked me out from the 9th
Of December until las, Sunday night,
and then they chucked me out.
This closed the first case and Bill
Purnell was fined sl00 and costs.
The next two writs charged John
Spence and VIM. Purnell with wilfully
disturbing the congregation of Mt.
Zion Baptist Church of Snow Hill on
the 18th day of January last by disor-
derby conduct and conversation. The
same evidence controlled both cases.
Parson johnson took the stand.
Q-You are minister OF the Gospel
believe.
YES sir
Q-Pastor of what church
The Mt. Zion Baptist Church of
Snow Hill. | have been preaching
there now going on years"
Odd you not hold service in your
church on Sunday last the 18th?
Il undertook to DO it,"
Q-What had you done towards
holding religious service there?
Il had this book in NV hand" A
hymn book
Q-Were you in the pulpit ?
Il was at the stove, and | looked
up at the clock and says, time for me
to commence. and started towards the
pulpit. Mr.. Spence here, said, you are
not going to this pulpit. did not say
single word, but stepped on the pull
pit. He grabbed chair and said |
will knock you in the head, get out OF
this pulpit. | said, know you better
than that, you are not going to hit me
with this chair | was with nv face
towards him and standing back. He
was up in the pulpit, he and myself
both up in the pulpit. and had no
more dread about him in regard to hit
ting me than that stove there. He
struck me right in the breast and
knocked me clean over the benches.
went one way and the book went an
other. Then | regained and recover
ell and scrambled around and got my
book and went back again, and after
that he grabbed the bible and said
you shant have this bible" and took
it and put it under his arm. then
/ tool. tho email h,hla o,,t tro,,, ,,,,la.