The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-09
FACTIONS FIGHT.
The St. Jean Baptiste
Society Is Rent
Asunder.
MAY REACH ACUTE STAGE.
Secessionists Want Organ
ization to Make Gift to
New Church.
may REACH ACUTE STAGE.

North Brookfield, Dec. S.-Part Of
the sequel to one of the most interest
ing controversies in the French church
fight was enacted at last nights meet
ing Of the st. Jean Baptiste society.
Many of the most ardent secessionists
are members of the society, and great
majority of these want the society to
make a substantial gift to the church
which the secessionists are now erect
ing on Forest street. This plan has
been obstinately opposed as contrary
to the bylaws, by those not in sym
pathy with the secession movement and
by others who think the society as a
society should not take sides in a mat
ter of this kind
Last night the topic under discussion
was scheme that the st. Jean Bap-
tlste society should aid the cause by
drawing on the treasury for funds to
aid in the completion of the altar. The
promoters of the scheme were bitterly
opposed by members who argued that
one of the bylaws forbade anything
OF the kind. So heated grew the argu-
ments that it was stated today that
some of the st. Jeans who have been
prominent in the secession movement
announced their intention of withdraw
ing their moral and financial support.
SO disguised had they become with
some of it's phases.
Last nights episode is a continuance
OF one of similar nature which &C.
Cured nearly three years ago and which
Almost caused disruption in the society
at the time Then the idea of some of
inc leading spirits among the session
lists was to induce a meeting to vote
10 give the sum of S. toward the
french church fund. 1t was discovered
that one OF the bylaws stated definite
~ That money could be taken from the
| treasury only for society purposes.
such as in cases of sickness and death.
Inc 1eellng was very strong pro and
con, and it was even carried to such
an extent that there was talk of re-
Vlslng the constitution, to enable the
seGesslonists to carry their point
Inc opposition worked strenuously
ana round that by calling in ut-of-
Town members it could prevent a two
nnally abandoned, and was Thought
DEAD until this last occurrence. Now
II appears that it was but dormant. and
| that most determined stand must he
made to defeat it.
Another thing that has caused some
| ascension among the secessionists is
the fact that their pastor, thes Rev
Jean Berger, does not do all his trading
! with french merchants. Instead, he
pdtfohizes other business places to ar
extent not relished by some of his fol.
lowers, and the result is considerable
! dissatisfaction.
mere is little likelihood that the
church will be ready by Christmas. as
was at first expected.
Dick McGrath and Joe Callahan OF
Spencer were in town tonight and OBJ.
tanned d promise from M. E. Howard
10 take basketball team to Spencer
! Thursday, Dec. q, to play against thf
| Spencer aggregation in benefit for Ted
| dy Connors, whose serious and peculiar
illness has been mentioned in The Spy
AS the young man is well known here
| a large delegation will go over to tn.
benefit. The Spencer team, strength.
ened by three Worcester men, will PLAY
the strong Warren team, also, making
two games for one admission.
Fred l.. Tarbel of School street is
J III with typhoid fever. He has beer
/ i'll for a few days, but the serious ma.
ture of the disease was not discovered
until this morning. Mr.. TarbelI was 6
member Of the N. B. H. S. class of '99
| and is well known in this and surround.
ing towns as member of high schoo
athletic teams and captain of the team
| of '98.
Post Ezra Batcheller, G. A. r., elected
these officers last evening: Commander
! Sumner Holmes; S. ", Wilder E
Deane; ]. ", George w. Gerry; ser
geant, Allen Jones; chaplain, Rev. Ser.
ena D. Gammell; quartermaster
George w. Woods; o. D., Charles Fl,
Bartlett; 0. e., Harry 0. Bemis.
| A basketball game has been arranged
| between the newly organized Disturb
! ers and the North Brookfield basketball
| team. The game will be played in
Sullivan's hall, East Brookfield, within
| two weeks.