The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-06
CHURCH WAR OVER
LANGUAGE ISSUE
SOME WANT WELSH, OTHERS
WANT ENGLISH.
The Dispute WAKES so Warm That
1t Is Finally Taken Before Judge
Woodward for Settlement-Facts
Brought Out at Hearing-Decision
Reserved.

wilkes Barre, oct. 5.--The question of
, whether the minister of the Welsh
Methodist Episcopal church on the
Heights shall preach his evening SER
mons in the Welsh or English language
has caused a serious split in that con-
gregation. The church was closed to
the pastor. an injunction was secured
and now the matter will be decided in
the courts. Argument in the case was
made today before Judge Woodward
Rev. II. p. Morgan is the pastor OF
the church, being appointed by the
Methodist conference. and he decided
10 preach his evening sermons in the
English language. believing that it
would increase the church membership.
The dissenting faction claim it is
Welsh church. for the Welsh people
and the Welsh language should be used
in the evening if they desire it, The
break in the congregation became
wider and finally the minister found
the church door closed and locked
against him.
An injunction was secured to compel
the trustees to open. the church, and
the court continued it for a time hoping
trouble without recourse to courts of
law. but no settlement could be reached,
and last week testimony was taken.
This morning arguments were made
before Judge Woodward and Rev. Mr.
Morgan testified that the majority of
the congregation favored the English
service in the evening. A former class
leader testified that the majority
favored Welsh. Almost the whole con-
gregation was present at the argument
and the factions occupied either side OF
the court room.
THE ARGUMENTS.
The plaintiff was represented by eX-
Judge Rhone and the defendant trus-
tees had as their attorneys p. A.
O'Boyle and d. +. Baxter.
EX-Judge Rhone set forth that those
who opposed Rev. Mr. Morgan were in
surgents who rebelled against the au-
thority Of the church. He asked the
judge to decide this church a part of
the great Episcopal church and that
the church should be opened and given
over to the services selected by the pas
tor.
Attorney Baxter argued that the
Welsh church is an Independent church,
that the charter makes it a Welsh
church and that Rev. Mr.. Morgan and
his faction of the congregation are the
seceders. He asked that the court do
not take away their rights of conduct
ing their services in the Welsh Ian
guage for which the church was incor-
porated.
Attorney +. A. OBoyle followed Mr.
Baxter and asked what the first Welsh
Methodist Episcopal church means. if
it does not mean that the services be
conducted in Welsh. He read the Sec
tiOn of the charter which said that the
incorporators had the power to mako
rules and laws of their church, for its
good government and support He said
there was no laws or discipline in the
Methodist Episcopal church enforcing
upon any one to use any special Ian
guage, and it was unjust and arbitrary
to force a language upon the people
they did not want, and contrary to the
charter which incorporated a Welsh
church
NO COMPROMISE.
Judge Woodward asked Mr.. O'Boyle
If he would be satisfied to open the
church until the ecclesiastical court de
cluetHe caSe. Whlch the latter refused
and said that the Welsh people would
then have no Welsh church Judge
woodward said the sensible thing
would he to have the minister go back,
preach half in Welsh and half in Eng
llsh. and refer the whole matter to the
ecclesiastical court
Mr.. OBoyle said a decree could be
made allowing Mr. Morgan to come
back, but that he use the Welsh lam
suagc. Judge RhOne said that if Mr..
OBoyle's argument was right, at the
last day at the setting of the sun there
would be one lone Welshman found on
sherman street, and that the Metho-
dist Episcopa! church would be pay
ing for and sending a missionary 10
preach Welsh for his special benefit.
Judge woodward took the papers and
dismissed all the witnesses.