The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-09
PARISH FACTION CHURCH
WITHDRAWAL or CLERK SHEER
WOOD FROM OLD CONGREGATION.
The Ministers Brother Was on the
stand Against Him-Verdict
Tonight.

Yesterdays development in the struggle
between the two factions in the South-street
Baptist Church was the esgnation of Wal
lace Sherwood, clerk of the church. He
turned over his books TO Or. T. n. Bryan
senior deacon OF the church, with letter
saying he did not feel that ne could, with
cut embarrassment. continue as clerk OF the
church, and would ask that he be allowed
10 take his letter out Of the church. In
talk later he said that he hoped his action
would not influence the other members. The
matter OF Withdrawing from the church was
the business Of individuals he said and lie
did not want IL thought that he expected 10
lead a movement away from the chur-
Nevertheless, Mr. Sherwood and J. A. Dynes
who have been leaders OF the Parish FAC
ton. are understood 10 be at the head of a
large number of the Parish faction who
have eye. to establishing a chapel Mr..
Dynes and Mr. Sherwood have examined
chapel on Cedar street, near Fletcher av-
enue, which was built several years ago
when there was a split in one Of the South
side Christian churches. This chapel has
seats for about two hundred persons, and is
built of wood and corrugated iron. 1t is
not a certainty that the Parish faction will
take this chapel. but it is one Of the prob
abilities growing out of the trouble in the
home church. According TO expressions Of
feeling yesterday, there is no likelihood of a
reconciliation between the two factions. In
any case, 1t is understood that what has
been called the Parish faction will not keep
Mr. Parish as its leader, because it is agreed
the cloud over him would prevent his lead
ing a church here to success.
The interest of the people of TIE South
Side in the South-street Church trouble took
form yesterday in curiosity TO know the
exact finding of the council, though it was
well known that some of the charges against
Mr.. Parish are sustained by the council.
Members of the church gathered in offices
or in homes and gossiped about the trial
and its outcome and what would probably
happen at the meeting TO be held to-
night, after prayer meeting" to hear the
decision of the council. Efforts to get the
decision beforehand were unavailing. Rumor
had IL that copy had been furnished to
Or. Bryan. one OF the leaders of the anti
Parish faction. but he denied ii. The de-
cision would not be made public. he said.
until tonight. Friends Of MIR. Parish who
talked to him said he seemed determined TO
file his threatened suit for defamation of
character as soon as the decision of the
council is made public if 1t proved TO be
what is expected.
IdT1Sn also SAID tndt ne naQ received
letter signed by twenty prominent citizens
OF Hanover, Ill, refuting one of the princi-
pal charges against him. This story was
told before the council by Harry Parish,
the pastors brother, and Mrs. Parish. The
council had impressed on the members of
the church who were present at the hearing
or evidence against Mr.; Parish the advisa-
biity of keeping every bit of evidence away
from the newspapers, and though its adj
mCnishment failed OF its object to some eX
tent Tuesday. 1t took night and day for
fha adj ffcl1rr TO oil nrnar Cro
for all the evidence to be made public by
the church members. Yesterday afternoon
the story that told by Harry Parish
and Mrs. Parish TO the council was repeated
Ii is that while Preacher Parish was in
Hanover, H., in 1881, at the head of a Meth
odist church, he became acquainted with
His wife left him and went to Chicago for
nine weeks to visit her family. He drew an
insurance policy on his life for $500 IN favor
of Miss Mcbride, his afiianced,' Mrs. Par
ish and Harry Parish charged. When Mrs.
Parish learned of ii, she testined. her hus
band told her she would be able TO gain
to the extent Of 81, 600 if she would not make
trouble. The story that was going the
rounds of the church members was that
Mr.. Parish had written his wife letter in
which he had said: Il understand you are
willing to compromise and not bring suit
against Miss Mcbride for alienation OF my
affections for $1,000. Do not do it. l can
get you 81, 500"
Attorney Spaan not only denied but ridi-
cued this story and the testimony of Mrs.
Parish and her brother-in-law. lie said Mr.
Parish had told him that he had received
statement from Hanover generating him.
Harry Parish gave as a reason for testify
ing against his brother that he had been
prevailed upon by other members of the
church" He came to this city at the solicit
tatiOn of his brother and lived in his house
for some time. He had been a storekeeper
in Hanover for several years.
Mr. Parish has shown TO his friends
letter he has received from Ottumwa, Wis.
signed by the officers of a Methodist church
there which says that he organized the
church. urged on the erection of building
until il was completed and made the church
prosper for the three years he was in the
town. and all the time he was highly
esteemed and there was no breath OF sus-
piciOn against him. His friends in this city
also point out that he did more for the
SOuth-street Baptist Church than any other
pastor had done and that his prosecutors
did not bring to the councils attention the
story concerning a young woman OF the
church and Mr. Parish that they had cir
culated before the council met.