The sun., 1897-12-06
BARRICADE IN A CHURCH.
PASTOR brown BARRED F01 a
TINE FROM HIS PUIPIT

Heesra. Eancurnt ana Wtnters, Whe tae en-
the narricade, Pitched OH-sonior Trustee
Kyle Tearn Open Mr.. Pancurnrs Waist-
oeat-nivai Calls fer Hymss-siK Arrests.
The strife which has been raging intermit-
tontly for several days between two factions In
tho First Congregational Church OF the Palisades
at Coytesville. N. j., was resumed with renewed
visor at tho morning services yesterday. Tho
little brown church. which stands almost In the
centre OF tho village and which seems scarcely
large enough to hold eco persons In comfort,
was the theatre of . battle royal between Pastor
Brown and his cohorts on the one side
and Trustees Black and Danziger and
Senior Deacon Morrison, who are trying their
best to oust the preacher, on the other. Tho
actual shedding of blood did not occur, but
Harry Pancurst, one Of the ardent supporters Of
the DanEiger faction, lost several buttons from
his waistcont. The first actual row in tho
church occurred at the morning services ono
week ago yesterday. when Deacon Morrison for
bade Mr.. Brown from entering the pulpit under
the penalty of the law. Since that time tho war
has ragged with unabsted vigor. The net results
thus far havo been:
The arrest of Pastor Brown for ASSAULT
Tho arrest OF Trustee Kyle for assault.
Tho arrest OF Trustee Danzirer for ASSAULT
The arrest Of Mrs Danziger orBanist OF the church
and wife OF the foregoing. for breach OF tho peace
The arrest Of Harry PancuBt for assault.
The arrest of Senior Deacon Morrison for disturb
ing religious meeting.
Tho hunt for the first and actual cause Of the
crusade against Preacher Brown by the Danzi.
ger faction makes tho traditional search for the
needle In the haystack seem like q summer days
task. Nearly every full-grown resident Of
Coytesville. both male and female, had story
to tell about the inception of the trouble,
but scarcely any two agreed on q ma.
jority of tho details. Out Of q mass of
conflicting tales. however, tho reporter was
able to determine that tho angel Of peace
has never boon allowed to abide for any great
length of time In tho First Congregational
Church since the day, nearly ten years ago, whom
1t was org anized by fow dissatisfied members
the Dutch Reformed congregation. 1t was said
that at least six ministers had essayod at differ
ent times to satisfy the spiritual wants Of the
parish, and that each and every one Of them
was forced to give up the job after q short but
stormy pastorate. Tho membership Of the
church is only twenty -four. but tho congrega-
ton has seldom lacked excitement
Whom Pastor Brown took charge last Septem-
ber the congregation was pretty evenly divided
into two factions. headed respectively by
Trustee Danziger. who is q travelling salesman.
and Senior Trustee Kyle, who does business In
tho village. Mr.. Danziger's chief support in
cluded his wife, who plays tho organ; his
father-in-law. I. A. Black. who is trustee,
and his brother-in-law. Robert W. Nor
rison. who is tho senior deacon. Trustee
Kyle was backed by relatives and men,
bers of his immediate family. Mr.. Brown.
however, was chosen by the unanimous will Of
the congregation. He told them that he was q
had been connected with the Bowery branch Of
tho Young Mems Christian Association in this
city, and he was accepted after a casual investi-
CATION as to tho truth of his story. No salary
was allotted TO him, and his entire earnings thus
far amount to just $40. He lives, he says. on
the income of his wife and the proceeds OF q
church fair. together with small sums Of money
he has been able to collect from the members
OF che congregation. Almost from the start Mr..
Brown was q frequent visitor at the homo of the
Danzigers. with whom Harry Pancurst boards.
Mr.. Danziger is away from home q great part of
the time.
"A story was soon spread abroad to tho effect
that Mr.. Brown had spoken In an unchristian
manner to Mrs. Danzieer. and her husband
grew exceedingly angry when he heard It,
At the prayer meeting last Thursday night
Danziger and his brother-in.law. Deacon Nor
rison, tried to prevent Mr.. Brown from
entering the pulpit. but the preacher sue
ceeded in breaking through their line of defence
at the left side of the pulpit. Suddenly she
called out to her husband:
"Are you a man or cur, that you let this
'TS Then she % turned to tho congregation and tho
immediate cause OF the trouble came out.
bs eS said hs e so
much that he could kiss the very ground 1
The next day Mr.. Brown and Trustee Kyle
went to Hackonsack,, and laid their trouble
before a msgistrate. The result was that Mr.
arrested and hailed to court. All were put under
bonds to keep the peace on Saturday. but that
did not hinder them from renewing the battle
Before the bell began to ring for the services
Of Preacher Brown, who, they declared. should
never enter the pulpit again, Al took seats as
MIR. and Mrs. Danziger sat on the left side.
directly in front Of the orgsn. Trustee Black
and Deacon Morrison faced the congregation in
a seat at 3 snail table nearby. Harry Paneurst
s hs SaS
at the extreme right. Constable Carl Rambo
sat in the body Of the church. When
no seemed a trihe disnayed at the bold front
Of tho enemy and the skilful manner in
smiled later when people began to troop in and
sit down around his modest seat in the rear Of
the church. There was an uneasy silence which
Morrison eyed the Kyle cohorts critically.
Suddenly there was chorus of expectant
s e
Pastor Brown. corpulont, confident, and cor
rectly clad In ministerial black. strobe In. His
long hair WAS smoothed back from his high fore:
head with exquisite precision, and his small
brown side whiskers were neatly trimmed; Tho
ut no st started toTsEd the pulpit MaFFry
bs;.Sh on which they had been sitting an and
| his passage. Then Pancurst and Winters sat
down upon 1t again; Mr. Brown walked up TO
| the barricAde. and made motion with his
hands as though he contemplated removing It
forcibly from his path. Deacon Morrison sprang
| to his feet.
II command you in the name of the law not
to try to enter that pulpitl' he shouted. waving
apaper at the preacher. =" hold In my hand
| charges which debar you from officiating"
Half Of the congregation were on their feet by
| this time. and q rush was made for the scene Of
| the strife.
"You are throwing up q barricade which will
| come back on you." said Preacher Brown.
"Oficerl' shouted Deacon Morrison 70 Con:
stable Rampo. ARREST that man. will hold
| you responsible II you do not"
| Rampo walked toward the warning factions,
but he did not attempt to carry out tho order.