The age-herald., 1898-09-23
CHURCH PEOPLE
 AND OTHER PEOPLE
BY NED BRACE.

don't like to hear so many people fuss ing over so many kinds of things. The present time seems to be a fussing period in Birmingham. These quarrels are get ting into the churches. This is a very bad sign. We all know of the splits which have occurred recently in two of the promi- nent churches in the city. And now hear there is another one and that in the big gest of the big churches in Birmingham.
 l hear there are some people among the stewards of the First Methodist church who think more of riches than of religion; at least that is what it is in cold common place language But l hope it isn't tI ue. They tell me that these people don't think pr. Kelly is stirring himself sufficiently in raising funds to pay off the debt of the church, and therefore they have taken it upon themselves to write to the bishop, suggesting that he remove Dr. Kelly to some other church and give them another preacher here. don't know whether pr. Kelly has heard of this not, though I have heard it said repeatedly that the bish- op returned this letter to Dr. Kelly with the statement that he would not do any such thing.
 Now 1 go to the Methodist church and have heard Dr. Kelly preach often, and I have heard him talk outside of the church. He is a man of great culture and learning, and he is eloquent in the pulpit. But above all, he is true Christian, who impresses every one with this fact and his good work is seen everywhere.
 I judge what some of the stewards say about his not being hustler after money is correct. l don't blame him a bit. If ! time in begging for money to pay off tho church debt. That is the business of tie stewards. Of course the minister should assist the board as far as possible, but he should always be a minister rather than beggar. I venture the assertion that if the members of the church had known any thing about this matter, four-ffths of them would have opposed it. l don't know who signed the letter and I don't want to know. Indeed, I hope the story is incorrect, though it has been talked and gossiped about for a. week or more.
 Of course there have been cases, in tho Methodist church in particular, where a minister is assigned to certain congrega- tion, who is not exactly suitable to the members. In such cases it strikes me that such fact should be made known to the minister and mutual agreement reached by which a change of station could be se- cured by him. But it don't strike me that the removal of a minister should be asked for on the grounds that he is not speedy enough in financial matters to suit all the congregation.
 hope that the stewards of the church will correct this wrong impression which has been given out, if it is a wrong inn pression. AS public gossip has it at pres- ent it appears to be rather an awkward mattetr for the church,
 It will be an unfortunate matter if the two Taylors who are running for congress in the First Mobile diSrict don't get together and agree to act upon the decision of the state executive committee, whatever that committee does Should both of these gentlemen run for congress in the general election it might be very expensive error for the national democratic party. l see that Chairman Kerr of the democratic con- gressional executive committee, claims that the democrats will carry the next house of representatives by small majority. In this claim he has counted on nine demo- crats from Alabama. If both Tayolrs run in the First district, it is just possible that a republican might be elcted, and to elect one republican might cause the democrats to lose the next house. As we all knov', the republicans carried the house in the Fiftieth congress by just one majority. It might be just as close in the election to oc- cur in November Every congressional dis trict counts and no chances should be taken in Alabama. The Taylors should get to- gether and settle their differences within party lines.
 hear that the great expense of reporting the war has almost banlrupted some of the New York newspapers. It is said that the World is very near bankruptcy, and that the Journal spent a million dollars in eS- cess of it's receipts during the progress of the war. However, MT. Hearst can well af- ford it. for he has built up a reputation for his paper, and the financial reward is almost sure to come
 By the way, the fight between the board of aldermen and the water works company, is to be opened up in the courts next week. It will be remembered that the city council passed an ordinance fixing a cheaper rate to be charged for water in Birmingham. The water works company objected to this reduction, and filed an injunction, restrain ing the city from enforcing this ordinance. The city council has, through it's attorney. filed it's demurrer, and the case is to be argued next week. So it would seem that the people are soon to know what they will have to pay for water, and the water works company will soon know what it can charge.