The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-17
Split in Methodist Church at Oak
Ridge.
ORGANIZATION NOT A LARGE ONE
AT BEST,
Conference Sent Them a Pastor Which
Part of the Brethren Thought They
Couldn't Pay For So seceded-In Con-
sequences Two Services We're Held at
Oak Ridge Yesterday.
IgpEc1AL TO THE pREss.l


Biddeford, May 16-Oak Ridge Bid
deford suburb was unusually devoted to
religious worship, today.
The ridge has but one church, and that
is under the control of the Methodists.
This little church did not shelter all
the worshippers. In opposite attraction
was afforded beneath widespread can
vas, in an open field about 200 yards from
the Methodist meeting house. sGod' S
Tent" was the name inscribed upon
blackboard that stood at the entrance.
The little company of worshippers, who
are rallying around Samuel Tweedt, the
leader of the gospel tent meetings, are,
for the most part, an offshot from the
Methodist parish there.
Both sides object to the term 'schurch
war; as applied to their competition.
'sIt's a split, sure enough" said one of
the tent supporters, "but we don't intend
to have any quarrel with them'
The seceders claim that they cannot
raise enough money to support q nastor
and So when Rev. Mr.. Cal1aghan was sent
ny tllo htUllONloU COillCICuCC ulllS oRIlllS,
without their knowledge or wish, they
withdrew. A tent was procured and with
Brother Tweedt in charge, the first meet
ing was held today.
In neither of his services at the church
today did the pastor, Mr. Callaghan, make
any allusion to the withdrawal Of any of
his flock. He preached an able sermon
this afternoon There were 81 people
present. Mr.. Callaghan has not Iyet been
raised to regular membership in the
Maine conference, but his name is down
on the records in the list of supplies 2
His home is in Portland and he comes
out every Saturday to pass the Sabbath
with the three churches in his charge
After the service this afternoon the
young pastor received the reporter courte-
ously. 81 have been preaching at the
Pool since last October he said, "and
the Maine conference, at its recent ses-
sion, saw fit to add this Oak Ridge
church to my charge. came here and
shall make every endeavor to faithfully
perform the duty assigned me.
"Last Sunday evening members of the
congregation were invited to give testi-
monies, and among those who responded
was Mr.. Tweedt. In the course of his
remarks he made some uncomplimentary
illusions to the ministry, to which took
exceptions. / addressed myself to him in
gentlemanly way. There was no men
tion of the matter in the business meeting
fo1 +1.~,, f,,. r -
there was nothing further to warrant
the withdrawal of any one or to induce
the holding of services outside the
church. -
The gospel tent in which Mr.. Tweedt
and his followers assemble, is a spacious
affair, though trifle "airy'' for this time
of year. Seats have been improvised by
driving down sticks in parallel lines and
placing boards on top of them. The tent
will easily seat 200.
Mr. Tweedt, the leader of the ''opposit-
ion, % is Norwegian who came to this
country years ago, as ship carpenter,
and at present is employed as foreman in
a shoe factory at Kennebunk He was
dressed very plainly. today. A brown
sweater served him IN lieu of clerical
vest.
The dedicatory sermon under the tent
was preached this afternoon by Dr. H.
M. York of Kennebunk, who was engaged
in the Baptist ministry in Eastern Maine
before he took up the profession of dentis-
try.
Mr.. Tweedt made the closing address.
He made no direct reference to the
church division, but his remarks teemed
with illusions to hypocrisy in churches.
I am in favor of the amendment of