Evening star., 1897-05-01
Shiloh Baptist Church Rent by In
ternal Strife.
A DEACON CALLED 10 ACCOUNT
Lawyer Jones Could Not Be Sup
pressed in Meeting.
WITHDRAWALS ARE POSSIBLE

Rev. J. Anderson Taylor is pastor Of Shi-
lob Baptist Church, but there is trouble in
the church, and it is said that a number of
members Of the fold may withdraw
Charges and counter charges have been
made by members of the church, and they
were disposed of at stormy meeting held
Thursday night. Shiloh Church Is on L
street northwest between 10th and 18th
streets. and there is an Indebtedness on the
church of more than $14. 1000, and 1t is re-
ported that the holders of mortgages are
about to foreclose and may sell the prop
erty.
At any rate, although the Thursday night
meeting exonerated everybody except the
police, the Rev. Taylor finds that there is
division Of sentiment existing in his con-
gregation Thomas L. Jones. the attorney,
who Is associated with cx-Representativc
John M. Langston, figured very largely in
Thursday nights proceedings, and although
he was exonerated of charges preferred
against him he was legislated out Of office
as member of the board Of trustees.
Stormy Meeting.
The Rev. Taylor acted as moderator of
the memorable meeting, which did not ad-
journ until mole than an hour after mid
night 1t appears that Jones is president
of the Christian Endeavor Society Of the
church, and, as already stated, was also
q member of the beard of trustees
James H. Payne. who is employed in
the patent office, had something to
say at recent meeting of the Christian
Endeavorers concerning Jones defense of
the charges against the Rev. 8. Geriah
Lamkins, who figured in a Police Court
case.
Now Jones. like other attorneys, appears
in court because of what money there is
in 1t, and S. Geriah Lamkins' money was
just as good to him that of any other
person. But MIR. Payne called Attorney
Jones to account for having defended him.
incidentally he thought that any man
who defended him was totally unfit to lead
tfe Christian Endeavor Society. He also
said other things which were calculated to
put Jones in an uncomfortable frame of
mind, and he said that if Payne could not
behave himself in church of God he was
unfit to live in the lower regions, which he
expressed in the plainest language. This
against both Jones and Payne, and 1t was
upon these charges that they were tried
Thursday night.
Not Competent.
On, one SIDE Payne was charged with
causing the trouble and 1t was contended
that the church should censure him. while
on the other hand, it was alleged that
Jones had used language unbeeoming a
Christian. The matters were taken up at
the general meeting Thursday night Payne
saw no reason why charges should have
been preferred against him. while Jones ad-
,mitted the truth Of the language charged
against him. But the real trouble arose
when Jones protested against being tried
by the deacon board, alleging as the reason
for his objection that one of its members
mad been convicted in the Police Court un-
der an assumed name of a charge of steal
ing lumber from St. Thomas Episcopal
church. on 18th street.
In consideration of this Police Court rec
ORD JOKES urged that the board was not
competent to try anybody. This objection
caused the widest scene that has ever
been witt essed In Shiloh Church The pas
tor took hand in the affair, and de-
hounced jones for having exposed a men,
Der OF the board. The fact that a member
OF the board of deacons had been convicted
Of an cffense charged against him by po-
llcemen should not said the pastor, inter-
fere with his standing in a Christian COM
munity.
OF the body Of church people, Hundreds
of those present saw that Jones was not to
be squelched SO easily, and while they
voted to retain the accused deacon on the
board they also decided to try Trustee
Jones case by the entire congregation.
This was done, and both Payne and Jones
were exonerated. Up to this time every
body had been exonerated, and many of the
parishioners hoped for an adjournment and
a love feast to follow, but Jones was ire
pressible, and once more he denounced
what had been done so far as retaining the
accused deacon on the board was con-
cerned. This caused a renewal of hostilities,
and the congregation declared the trustee
from his position on the board. This was
done amid the widest confusion, and at
about 80 m. the meeting adjourned and
the church people repaired to their homes