The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-15
DR.. W|DNEY LOSES
THE Passionate
Out of the Church of
the Nazarine.
REV. BRESEE NOW SUPREME
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE IN THE
NEW SECT.
Pastors Who Held Life Jobs Ask to
Resign, and Then One Was
Left Out in the
REV. BRESEE NOW SUPREME
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE IN THE
NEW SECT.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14-Dr. ]. P.
Wloney is no longer pastor of the
church of the Nazaren4. His resigna-
Ion, which was handed in some time
ago. is said to have been the result of
disagreement between himself and
the brethren. Those most interested
nave preferred to- keep the matter quiet
Tor long time, and the surface of the
dlfhculty was smoothed over.
The Rev. P. F. Bresee and Rev. ]. P.
Widney originated the Nazarene sect.
A church capable of accommodating
l0OO persons was erected in South Los
Angeles street. Methodists from all
over the city flocked in. Branch NaZar-
enc churches We're organized in dozen
small towns and the work seemed to be
In fourishing condition until the
trouble arose which resulted in the
resignation of DR.. Widney.
The doctrine of the Church of NaZa
rene resembles that Of the early Metho-
dist church and many of its members
profess sanctification. Since the estab-
lishment of the church Bresee and Wild
ney have been associated in the pas
toral work. The constitution of the or
ganization made these ministers life
pastors. For long time perfect har-
mony seemed to exist
The unpleasantnesS in the church be-
gan at a camp held last No
vember. This particular meeting was
of the good old Methodist sort, and
those present gave vent to their feel
ings in shouts of rapture over their
saved condition or loud means of re-
pentance over their sins. Dr. Widney
was displeased and openly spoke his
mind about the doctrine taught by this
sect. He thought such teaching was
the means of doing incalculable harm
to human souls.
DR.. Bresee spoke to his brother pastor
on the subject, but Widney maintained
his stand. 1t was decided to call a con-
sultation of the directors to take cog
nizance of the matter. The trustees
waived the question as to whether or
not the church was on the right track
to reach eternal life, but raised a ques-
ton concerning the propriety of any or
ganiZation electing a pastor or pastors
for life term. Before the investiga-
ton ended the trustees asked for the
designations of both pastors No
sooner had their designations been ae-
copied than DR.. Bresee was appointed
pastor of the church. This froze Wild
ney out, and he is without a pulpit
His supporters say that the action of
asking for the designations of both was
q ll-planned plot to force him out of
the church. The Breseeites do not deny
this charge, but retort that 1t saved
Widney from being publicly asked to
vacate his pulpit.
According to the supporters of
Bresee, the original trouble arose from
the fact that Widney was ambitious to
build a church in which the congrega-
ton of the NaZarene might worship
The trustees listened to the proposition
and thought favorably of it. DR.. Wild
ney said that his desire was to have the
deed for the proposed new edifice in his
own and his wife'S name as long as
they should live, and that after they
were gone they would arrange to turn
the property over to the church This
arrangement did not please the trus-
tees and they declined to accept Wild
ney's proposal. After that the rela-
lions between Widney and the congre-
CATION seemed strained. People began
to complain that the pastor was preach
ing a strange doctrine and that he had
departed somewhat from the faith of
the church. This difference was mark
ed, as Bresee preached in the morning
and Widney in the afternoon and even
ing. The trouble grew and spread, per-
vaded the entire congregation, divided
the members and reached a climax
when the trick was neatly turned by
forcing Widney out of his. pulpit.