Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-23
ROW IN THE CHURCH.

There was big row at Clinton African
Zion Methodist Episcopal church, last
Sunday morning. The members and 9TH
ers were greatly excited over the matter.
There is considerable stir among the col
ored people of Yorkville yet, and the
understanding is that the whole matter is
to be ventilated before Magistrate Sandi-
fer omorrow-Thursday.
1t seems that Rev. Gilmer had been ap-
pointed by Presiding Elder Robinson to
preach. Rev. Gilmer was. present and
the congregation had begun to assemble.
Shortly before IL o'clock, Rev. j. II. Tur-
ner, who has for sometime past been the
regular pastor-but who was recently de-
posed-made his appearance and attemp-
ted to enter the pulpit.
The appearance Of Turner was not al
together unexpected, it seems. The con-
gregation and officers Of the church were
anticipating just such development, and
the officers were prepared for it. Turner
found his way to the pulpit barred by four
church officers but small obstacle like
this he affected to scorn. Bending his
head for business, he went ut Nelson Da-
vies, one of the most prominent officers
and largest in size, like battering ram,
and came near butting him out of win
dow. There was lively scuffle for a
while, and it looked like there was going
to be bloodshed; but at length Turner
changed his tactics, and taking up posi-
ton before the pulpit, gave out the hymn,
"Oh! For Thousand Tongues" etc.
While he was singing the thousand
tongues, at given signal, the officers and
members walked out Of the church, leav-
ing the preacher, and probably two or
three members, in full possession. Tur-
ner continued 10 sing and preach for an
hour or more, and finally dismissed him
self and the other member or two OF his
congregation, and those outside who, at
times, had been restrained from violence
only with the greatest difficulty, dispersed
to their homes.
"This was only the elimination OF a
trouble which has been brewing for
months" said one o. the church MEM
bers to The ENQUIRER yesterday. "Tur-
ner is o northern Negro who has been
down to Atlanta for long time, and
who, after leaving there, came here. Be-
coming dissatisfied with his conduct,
some of the members wrote to Presiding
Elder Robinson at Rock Hill, and on the
18th of May the presiding elder came
over here to look into the matter. When
he called the meeting to order and asked
as to its object, three of the most promi-
nent church officers stated that the church
was going down hill, and that Turner
could do no more good in Yorkville.
Turner said that if the church was going
down OH his account, that he would re-
sign and give up.the parsonage as soon as
the church paid his back salary. The
presiding elder asked for thirty days in
which to raise the money. Turner agreed
to this, and as the understanding was that
he was to fill the pulpit in the meantime,
he would help. The church officers ac-
cepted Turner's resignation by vote of
9to5. Afterward, OH May 81, the preach
ers' meeting discussed the resignation as
matter of course, and Turner sat there
acquiescing in all that was said. On the
l4th of June, we rendered his back salary
of S5S. He came forward In the presence
of the official board and great many
preachers, and refused to take the money.
Then he left the church and could not be
found. The presiding elder declared the
pulpit vacant, and We served an official
notice on Turner to come and get his