The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-19
THE LADY, OR THE pASToRa
IT WAS PUT 10 VOTE IN PILGRIM
BAPTIST CHURCB.
The Pastor Won. and the Indy and Several
Friends withdrew from the Church. aud
Will Attend Another Rev. Mr.. Hoop
eR Will G0nftnna Iut. NATURALIZATION

The Pastor Won. and the Indy and Several
Friends Withdrew from the Church. aud
VIII Attend Anotbrr-Rev. Mr.. Hoop
er VIII Continue Ills Administration.
1t is about a year and a half since tho Rev.
John Hooper became the pastor OF the Pilgrim
Baptist Church, Mt Boston avenue and roth
street. The church at tho time had a congrega-
tion OF about rs souls. II gained in numbers.
A few months after Mr.. Hooper became pastor
Mrs. John 4. Thomas Joined tho congregation
and brought her husband with her. Mrs.
Thomas was a hard worker. and took an interest
In all things that concerned the welfare of the
church.
She could not herself hold any office in the di-
rect administration Of the church. but about n
year ago Mr.. Thomas was elected a trustee and
the treasurer OF the church.
According to tho pastors supporters In the
congregation Mrs. Thomas didn't Ike n good
many things In the church. They say she had
u difference Of opinion with Mr.. w. +. Good win
OF 1872 East 143d street about church matters
and that Mr.. Goodwin was moved to sever his
connection with the congregation. Mrs.
Thomas also. they say, was not satisfied with
the music OF the church, said so. and told why;
and Miss Lily shaw. the organist, resigned. A
Mr.. Keller was the moving spirit of the Chris
tian Endcavor Society in the church. His views
came Into collision with those OF Mrs. Thomas.
so say the pastors supporters. Mr.. Keller re-
signed.
Pastor Hooper. II Is said. began to feel that IL
was time for him TO make u show OF authority.
In tho course OF his effort to assert authority
Miss Ethel Moke said that the pastor had in
suited her by intimating that she had made I'M
veracious
1t Is said that Mrs. Thomas, hearing of the in
cident, declared that the Rev. Mr.. Hooper was
not ft to have authority temporal or spiritual.
The strife came to the attention OF the deacOns,
who called n meeting Of the congregation for
Wednesday, Jan. -. ITO clear the air" rs one
OF them said.
Miss Mokc stated her grievance. The pastor
said that he had never doubted Miss MOke's
word. Miss Moke. II IL said. came out with n
nat declaration that the statement OF the pa stOT
was not true. Deacon Butler said that he
thought tho pastor had enough to do simply
running the church, without having to fight to
hold his place. Deacon Argus said that the
pastors inability to hold his own against tho
women indicated an inability to supervise the
spiritual welfare OF his npck.
lie proposed that the congregation vote on tho
question OF right as between the Rev. Mr..
Hooper and Miss Mnke, and minated broadly
that, IL the vote went against the pastor, II was
the pastors plain duty to resign.
There were twenty-five Pensioners present.
They voted. sixteen were for the pastor. The
remaining six. including Mr.. aud Mrs. Thomas
and Miss Mokc, said that they would gO to the
Fordhan Baptist Church 50 long ms the Rev.
Mr.. Hooper remained ut the Pilgrim Church,
When lie leaves. they say. they will come back.