The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-26
NOISY MEMBERS PUT OUT.
srAMFoRDs METHODIST CHURCH IN
A STATE or TROUBLE.


-
Mr.. Kemp, Fifty Years y Member, Was
Dcmopstrntivo and Wouldn't Heed Re-
monstrances-Mr. swensen Like Him
To He Tried for Infraction of Discipline.
STANFORD. Conn. Nov. 25.-The old SIAM
ford Methodist Church. one OF the wealthiest
and largest In membership IN the New York
East Conference. Ia In perturbed condition
over what Is said to he an effort on the part
OF those memb ers called the arlstocratic or
new style Methodists to down the ballcujah
or amen kind and a schsm seems i'm
mnent. Tn, trouble began about Ave
years ago when young Mr.. Downey came
here as pastor. AMI FLASHED with some
OF the old members In their noisy
hallelujahs. at prayer meeting. His successor.
DR. Crowder. another young minister. who be-
came the pastor two and half years ago has
been at loggerheads with the old members
ever since he came over tho same matter. and
last summer ordered the class led 10y George
Jones to discontinue its Wednesday night
meetings. Tho members OF the class say that
the class was the most spiritual In the church.
and they were rained and Rrleved that their
pastor should order II discontinued because
he did not like their noise in the meetings.
In October the class meetings were started
again. but not by George Jones. Two Of the
members OF his class applied for membership
In the pastors class lie referred them to
Robert Rcynolds's class. and when they went
there they were told they were not wanted.
They were Charles Swensen. a member
In good standing for nineteen years. and
William Kemp. a cripple. who has been
memb Der for ilfty years. Mr.. Swcnsen applied
for admission to Brother Greenwoods class.
When he came TO the classroom hc says that
Brother Greenwood was praying. and rose from
his knees and told him about the man
that came to the wedding feast without
proper garment and said Swensen was like
him and that he was not wanted. At the next
class meeting night. when Brother Kemp and
Swensen came to the church. n policeman
stood In front OF the door and threatened to ar
rest them II thew entered. Mr.. Kemp's son.
who accompanied them. was told that he could
go In. but he replied:
Il will not 60 where my father cannot"
Subsequently the official board met and
seven OF the twelve voted Messrs. Kemp and
Swenscn out OF the church: three voted In
their favor and three did not vote. commit
tee also waited on Mr. Swensen and informed
him that he might come back into the class
meeting II he would abandon his preaching OF
holiness through sanctiilcatIon. The trouble
has now cuninatcd In charges being pre-
ferred against Brother William Kemp. Trial is
Rev Dr. Wing o. Brooklyn and Ave mem bers OF
the church here. The charge II nade up OF two
specifications and Ia signed by Robert A. Rey-
nolds. II alleges that Mr.. Kemp for some
time under the present AMI former pastorates
has pursued course inimical to the welfare OF
the church. its peace, harmony and growth a
course contrary to discipline: has refused to
help the council Of the church: has hardened
him self against the repeated eIpostulations OF
q la IL
turbing actions. IL Is alleged that Mr. Kemp
refused 20 heed tho request 81 pastor and the
church maatinCs. Five ii',tances IRE c,,"d, The
first II that Mr.. Kemp refused to comply with u
request from the Rev; py Lownsy tina, he
ASH Mr. Do*nry maize H. roTqS.t.
and otherwise harmful nature" OF Mr.
RENTS utterances. second. 1t IL alleged that
Mr. ,Kcmr REUSED TO 93te.y q teggeT, II The
meeting third, he refused TO civ" heed to a
reaue-, Of ,hr IN" nature made 10 HIM hy a
Is. lsS.,. Mr.. Kemp In stubtornly attempting
70 enter the c,HNs meeting 1T which I'll; passtor
Mr. Kemp was not NJ that time n member. was
repeatedly tod 9iy tho pastor that he could not
persist in his attempt, aud did assume such
threatening manner ana alarming attitude,
that snd nas i, W. s"H-d"'ehce' was forced to
The second, .Ecc nsa'tan Is ndi.o1hetiencs to
the order and scipliie ot the church. Five
a'cgrt to have r.helled against the pastors
authority. First. h- rebel ci against Dr. bow
n.y's authority u the meetings OF I'll" church
by dsputng nni cOntradc'iag tn" pastors
Interpretation Of the Scriptures. 10y persist
emily .aa"s in pray.r G.nGH the ra Ecs
he had not br"n apro nt'd. aud ly address inga
prayer meet ny though the pastor had re-
uusstel MIN not 70. and ny entering the pas
tor = c ass when ordered 20 DO o'hc~Nisc.
Nr Kcmp's friends haN- retained "N.Mnyor
through the in Nurpcc Of N" wealthy mentors
the local press wil not print any statement
from them; Mr., k"mpis p""r
wealthy Huyt 'amly.gnd when President Grant
was u guest Of olive. H"yr,i in stamford h" A.
tended the church The, Rcy 4 u Burslry.
editor OF the IiUlsi'dn N1Gd. was pastor for
several y"nr-. Owing I" IA" trouiI" som"
Churches AMI others are waiting the result OF
The 10! owing rriyic! circular was dis'rib.
uted about town to-day by Mr. Kemp ,rienls:
Il understand that there IA 10 b" y trI,l in
tho Methodist Church Monday evening between
OF our lawNersnr" interested, anu W II and"avor
TO gain admission to earn 2 'eW trek. rex.
ke aHe" who Is to he he asSrn. % the ban
been mennrr 81 the Methodist Church tor
age in poor circumstances. and also cripple.
who ,nnhs 1t necessary :" use two crutches 10
enable him TO walk This IL IN" man they
want to ostrncs" from the church ~ which he
has for so many years been II true and faithful
member
,.,Th!. poor Lazarus, not Tx" the, Lazarus oi
old. who only hat n ''og for friend. has gained
many friends in this Q ty, who are now iirck ing
and they s nT ynsn |" uht 20" !" ha ',sr "SS T.,
Obtain for him the rights 10 which they heneve
him en- nen,ly entitled The chnmpons.o this
William ] II. Bohannon. who IN the bnun-
teous goodness Of his true Christian
shirt volunteered to dsfeni the WRONGLY nc
cu.ed man. Tho main trouble really is tim.
Mr. Kemp Simply believes that he hns cxrrr-
encad the blessing Of entire sanciiilcatiOn
which is the doctrine OF the Methodist Church"
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EIRE IN RNSTON,S NICr IiRD