The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-19
A CHURCH RIOT.
The Rev. Mr.. Green Precipi-
tates a Row at the Zion
Prayer Meeting.
HIS WIFE TO THE RESCUE
She Used a Chair in Defense
and Others Followed Her
Example.

There was practically a riot at the
prayer meeting held last evening at zion
Colored Methodist Church in Lafayette,
precipitated by the Rev. w. H. Green ana
his followers, who made another IN
effectual attempt to regain the pulpit from
which Green has been deposed. This at
tempt resulted disastrously for the pastor
and several Of his constituents. He claims
that he was knocked down and jumped on
by Trustee John Stevenson. Stevenson
was arrested this morning on a charge of
assault and battery preferred by the
pastor. Stevenson retaliated by swearing
out warrants for the arrest of Green and
five of his followers.
This dispute has reached such proper
lions that the entire congregation has be-
come involved. Green, again acting under
advice from his counsel, appeared last
evening while the prayer meeting was
being held by the Rev. G.. Edwards of
Brooklyn. and said tina he had come to
perform his duties as pastor. Trustee
Stevenson, he alleges, refused to allow him
to go upon the platform. Some punching
followed and Green claims that Stevenson
threw him on the floor. He exhibited a
bruised elbow in court this morning TO
bear out his statement.
Mrs. Green rushed to the assistance of
her fallen husband and threatened to
brain a few people with a chair if they
dared to touch the pastor. During this
interesting session, some of the congre
CATION, sought shelter behind the benches
and chairs. Others got out of the church,
not wishing to risk their lives.
SUDDEN YAH became as black as night.
Some one had turned out the light. Their
followed shouts and screams that alarmed
the neighborhood. It is claimed that sew
eral of the members clambered out OF the
side windows, while others rushed pell-
nell for the door, falling over chairs ano
benches in their efforts to reach places OF
safety. Nothing like 1t ever took place
before in that church building. The room
was a sight when the lights were turned
on. Chairs were overturned, benches lay
across the aisles and hats and coats were
scattered about.
Sergeant Booth and Police Commissions
West were attracted to the scene OF tne
r,,mnus. They were forced to clear ou'
the church and suspend services for the
time being. No arrests were made. The
church was locked up, and both factions
left vowing that the end was not yet.
This proved to be true. As the Rev
Mr.. Edwards was leaving the scene sem'
one showered him with mud. The perpe
traitors of this act are supposed to Dc
followers of Pastor Green
Trustee Stevenson was a~rraigned pc
fore Justice Nevin this morning and ad'
mitted to bail. The case will come up Re
fore the Grand Jury. Stevenson preferred
| charges against the pastor and several O.
his followers for interfering with q re
! ligious meeting. The cases will douptlesi
be brought up tomorrow morning.
Counsellor Eugene w. Leake. who ma
| been retained by the anti-Green FACTION
| saws Green is no longer the pastor of tina
| church and he has no right in the oulo
| ing. "If the trustees wish to put him on
| thew are at liberty to do so,' said MI
Leake. This board controls the churci
and is empowered to look after its we'1are
| Mr.. Green will never be recognized as IN
pastor, and no jury in the world wous
convict Mr.. Stevenson for putting Mr
| Green from the church"
There is every probability OF anothe
| rumpus when the Green faction meet
Tuesday night to organize a Board 0
Trustees in opposition to the reguia
board.