West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-02-18

Rev. j. j. Nullaney, who was
the pastor of the Baptist church
here. at AlbrightsvIlle, Terra Alta
and COrinth, several years ago. is
in trouble over at Conncllsyille.
He has been pastor at Conceivable
for SOME time, having gone there
from Hinton, w. Va. We give be-
low some extracts from the Com
nellsvills Courier, which give the
facts in disintcrested wav. While
Rev. Mullaney was pastor here he
proved himself to be a Christian
gentleman. He was liked ky pear
ly all OF the people at various towns
where he preached. 1t is true,
there were strong objections urged
against him by some of the mem
bcrs here, but these were based en-
tirely upon charges that were made
against him by certsin enemies he
had made at Kearncysville, VIVA.
and who followed him here with
their prosecutions. His conduct
while in this town WAS without re-
proech. The following from the
Coulter:
The BAPTIST church was the scene
OF angry words and actual blows
Wednesday evening after the regu-
lar prayer service. The police in
vaded the sanctuary, drove the con
gregatlon out and took possession
of the keys, the disorderly conduct
of the meeting being their authori-
ty for so doing. Bitter strife reigns
among the members OF the congre-
CATION and the courts Will probably
be called upon to settle matters in
dispute. Rev. j. j. Mullaney, pas
tor of the church, reluctantly gives
the following recital of the trouble
and the circumstances that led up
to it. HIS statements are support
ed by many of the church mem bers
who believe that his course has been
the proper one. He said /:
"The trouble began several weeks
ago over the adoption of new char
ter. wanted church meetings es-
tablished, at which the matters of
the congregation would be voiced
alike by the poor and rich, the in
auential and the obscure. The
matter was brought before the
church December 9th. New by-
laws were adopted, defining how the
business of the church should be
put into the hands of the whole
congregation, and not vested in the
Trustees alone. The Baptist church
is not Ike other denominations. 1t
Is repu Olican denomination. Each
congregation is an independent
body, incorporated and self govern.
ing. The old Trustees fought these
new laws bitterly, and aftor their
defeat they began system of per-
secatIon and misrepresentation
against me. They cut off all their
contributions TO the church, but
my. stipend of 81, 900 year is Sc
cure.
"On Wednesday night two weeks
ago, | had learned that the opposi-
ton to me bad written TO Hin on,
WA, my former pastorate, where
they had gotten damaging letters
from persons who were my enemies
there. requested at the business
meeting after prayer that these let
ters be read openly before the whole
church. There were several of them.
They charged me with drunken
ness, stealing, almost any crime.
One Of these letters was written by
doctor in Hinton, whose enmitV
l had incurred because l objected
to his membership in my church on
the score that he sold whisky to the
young men eff the congregation. T..
s. Lincoln, one of the Trustees.
went about tho church showing a
letter to the mem bers, having pre-
viouslY tarned down the edges so
that neither The beading OF the let
ter nor the signature. it there was
one, might be read. / denounced
this as most unjust to myself and
the congregation. When I came
here | had recommendation from
the Presbyterinn, Methodist Fps.
copal and Disciple ministers Of
Hinton"
The Anti Mullaney forces pre-
pared for climax on Wednesday.
having the church so crowded with
their followers that al could not
find seats. The new charter calls
for business meeting on the frst
We'd uesday VI each month. Pastor
Mullaney, after prayer meeting.
was about to dismiss the congreQa-
tion, when r.. O.. Hall called for
business. The pastor asked the
nature Of it, aud was told that a
resolution was to be offered by the
Trustees and Dcacons. Pastor Mul.
laDey said that he had not been no
tilted Of this, and that no would be
wiling 20 abide by the decision Of
the congregation 2 week later. The
resolution was nevertheless read IL
set forth that the spiritual tone Of
a a