New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-27
IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT
DIVISION IN A CHURCH.
A BRANCH ORGANIZATION FORMED BY THOSE
OPPOSED TO THE REV. Mr. sOMMERs.

OPPOSED TO THE REV Mr.. soMMERs.
A split has occurred In the congregation Of 81.
Matthew'S German Evangelical Lutheran Church IN
North Fifth-st. OF which the Rev. Gustav Sommers
is pastor. and as a result church society was
organized by OF the factions yesterday. The
trouble was brought about by attempt made to get
rid OF Pastor Sommers He has been pastor Of the
church for ten years, succeeding the Rev. George
Henry vasseller, who ousted by the congrega-
ton and started an independent congregation In
Americus Hall, No. POS Grand-st. 1t was In this
hall that the new church society was organized
yesterday with membership OF eighty. Pastor
Sommers occupied the pulpit OF ST. Matthew's Ger
man Evangelical Lutheran Church the first five years
without any dssension. At the expiration Of this
period Christian Rau who was then president OF the
Church Society, attempted to create sentiment
against Pastor Sommers for the purpose OF having
him removed The pastor then denounced Rau from
the pulpit, and the latter called a meeting OF the
congregation to denounce the pastor. After the
meeting Rau and his followers seeded and Joined
another Lutheran Church This ended the trouble
and again matters smoothly until last summer.
when II is alleged, the pastors wife, appealed to
John Detz. the principal OF the German school at
tached to the church. and assistant superintendent
of the Sunday school, to try and prevent her nus
bands brutality toward her.
As a result things were made unpleasant for MT.
Deitz, who in July last left the school and church.
1t finally learned that he was in the Bloomfield
On. j. Seminary. studying for the ministry.
In October last Dei;z from the Bloom
field Seminary to work against Pastor Sommers ana
TO GUST him from the church II possible He sue
ceeded In getting the officers OF the society President
Brockett Treasurer Albert Hustedt and Secretary
Henry Ossmann interested. and the latter found
three women in the congregation TO join them. Inc
women started petition for signatures to Gust SOM
mers but failed in this attempt to get majority
On Tuesday last Pastor Sommers called the SEMI
If he Church Society. The ma
torty OF the congregation responded, and when
President Brockett attempted TO take the chair ne
was prohibited by the friends Of the pastor After
lively scene Brockett and the other officers ana
the women who had attempted 10 obtain the sigma
lures were driven out of the meeting. Pastor SOM
mers had gone to the Fifth Precinct and asked that
palicemen be sent to the church. After President
Brockett and his followers had LETT the cnurcn
Charles Scheele took the chair and no further
trouble occurred.
Instead Of going the church yesterday those op.
posed 10 Sommers met in Americus Hall. wnere tney
organized a new society. 10 be known as prancn
OF the Old church. At the meeting Frank W. Meyer
presided and eighty members Of the old church were
in attendance. After the organization nad peen
effected Mr.. Deftz hand TO deliver the SER
mon He had been sent on by Professor SleDert'
OF the Bloomfield Seminary. TO conduct the services
Detz will be ordained as minister next spring. II
he passes the examination The oricers OF tne new
society are: President, Frank W. Meyer; treasurer
Albert Husted,; secretary, Louis Feltman .
on Sunday next Professor Sieoert VIII pteacn
denied the allegations made against him regarding
his brutality against his wife Here is my WIFE,
he said Ask her yourself
Mrs. Somers smiled. but made no response