The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-09
TH0MS MUST co.
Christian Scientists Fall Out
With Their Pastor.
Send Him a Notice to Cease His
LabOrS
IN THIS VINEYARD.
Trouble Has Been Growing For
Some Time.
Mr.. ThOms Explains What 1t is
All About.
THIS VINEYARD

The Non Sectarian Christian Chapel
and Divine Healing Mission of Topeka
is in a turmoil
The statement of James Thoms the
pastor, is that he has been forced out
by the congregation that had no pow
er. Mr.. Thoms says that he and Mr.. c.
H. Morrison bought the old frame
church at 521 Topeka avenue for the
use of the society. Each paid half.
Mr.. Thoms says that the organization
is not church but that he is here to
preach the doctrines and that those
who listen to him and contribute to the
support of the work are his followers
and have no right whatever to drop
him; it is for him to drop them.
Il received a letter on the goth of
March from c. H. Morrison and seven
others calling for me to leave the soci-
ETY. the first of May as they would no
longer contribute or aid me after that
time said Mr.. ThomS. 1.-The letter
was signed by only eight members of
the society. Mr.. Morrison and two of
his employees were among the signers.
Mr.. Morrison has been my financial
secretary and he had the keys and
books, etc. When the letter came to
me saying he and his followers would
resign asked for the keys, books etc.
that he had and he refused to give
them to me. Monday, after L had re-
ceived the letter, I went out to the
L.
was tearing it down according to Mr..
Morrison's orders. Mr.. Morrison only
owned half interest in it and 1 the
other half, so he had no right to order
1T torn down. The society brought
charges against me and the reason they
brought them was because [ was carry
ing on a divine healing mission at 916
Topeka avenue and publishing a paper
called The Way of Saving Health.
DR.. Dowie of Chicago published some
statements in his paper that were not
so and l expected to reply to him. Mr..
Morrison said to me if you attack
Dowie I will ruin you in this town.
When L came here Morrison guaran-
teed me from SIS to 500 month to
take charge of the work and guaran-
teed it for an indefinite period The
charges brought are that L am drunk
ard, liar and thief. 1 shah sue Mr..
Morrison for my salary and for SANDER
Mr. c. M. Atwood, auditor of paSsen-
ger receipts of the Santa Fe is a mem
Der of the society and said: "The let
ter signed by eight members was sent
but on the 26th of March letter signed
bv % members of the society was sent
to Mr.. Thoms notifying him that he
would not receive our support after
May 1st. He construed that to mean
financial support when it meant moral
support more than anything else. No
charges were brought by the society.
If Mr.. Thoms speaks of any charges he
is speaking of what has been said and
not what has been made into official
charges. The letter of the 26th stated
that owing to his way of conducting
the mission and society would withdraw
their support No reason further than
that was given. AS to the matter of
the church, Mr.. Morrison and Mr..
Thoms contracted with Mr.. Sexton to buy
the building for the society and they
acted as representatives of the organi-
cation. The building was to be paid for
in installments and was to be moved
from the lots at 521 Topeka avenue up
on the payment of the second INSTALL
ment. If the building was bought any
rent paid was to go toward the pur-
chase price. When it was decided to
discontinue the services of Mr.. Thoms
it was decided that the society should
delinquish all right to the building and
Mr.. Morrison agreed with Mr.. Sexton to
give up the building if Mr.. Sexton would
return so of the money paid. This was
done. Mr.. Sexton s original reasonf for sell
ing the building was to haveit moved off
the lot so he could build. When the
building reverted to him he of course
commenced to tear it. down to make
way for his new residence the society
was in no way obligated to pay Mr..
Thoms any salary, but he was to re-
ceive contributions. He repeatedly said
from the pulpit that he was living on
So a month. He was never promised