The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-02-06
STAMFORD CHURCH TROUBLE
SWENSON WITHDRA US
FROM METHoDIsT BODY.
Was to Have Been Tried Yesterday for
Unruly Temper md Disturbing
Prayer Meettngs-Sends Letter Criti-
eising Accusers--Name Stricken from
Church Roil-A Member of tha Noted
1HOItmess Hand.v

Stamford, Conn, Feb. 5.-The trial
of Charles SWenson, which was as
signed to take place this afternoon be-
fore the Rev. DIR. Wing of Brooklyn,
N. Y, and a committee of the local
Methodist Episcopal church, was not
held as the accused did not appear, but
instead sent letter withdrawing from
membership in the church. The
charges against Swenson We're similar
to those for which William Kemp was
recently tried and expelled, an unruly
temper, disturbing the peace at prayer
meetings and not obedience to the ad-
monitions Of the pastor.
The letter which was sent by Sven
son was of a bombshell nature. AT
ter paying his respects to his accusers
whose names he does not mention, he
continues: $50 far as the Methodist
Episcopal church Of Stamfogrd is con-
eerned / would save it from again as
suming unto itself the authority of the
Almighty and from doing in His name
things which are wrong. At the hands
of the body which pronounced so good
and true a Christian as William Kemp
to be as one accursed it were absurd
for me to expect justice. So far as the
minister now in charge of the Stamford
M. r. church is concerned, his fault in
the matter is as nothing, when COM
pared with his misfortune, So far as
the minister in charge of the trial is
concerned, if 1t be determined that the
same weak brotherA who presided over
William Kenlp's trial is to be designat-
ed as judge in mine, | would save him
from another exhibition of biased rul-
ing and total subserviency to law
yer, whose intelligence he rightly rec
ognizes as superior to his own. So far
as the committee which may be desig-
mated to trM me is concerned, in the
light of the experience which Brother
Kemp's trial affords, [ would not have
another body of men burden themselves
for eternity with the awful conscious
ness that they submerged duty in
consideration of their business and
did what they We're bidden to do re-
gardless of the right. So far as the
court of appeal be concerned, | would
not have another exhibition of that fa-
therly wisdom and impressive solem-
nifty, which characterized the manner
in which Brother Kemp was led from
the trial in Stamford to the completion
of the slaughter In Mt. Vernon More-
over, I would not have another minis
ter invited to Stamford to preach in or
der to prepare him to exert the neceS-
sary influence upon the conference of
his own church before a hearing upon
appeal was imme diately pending. So
far as I myself be concerned I shall
ignore my accusers and submit my
cause for Judgment before the bar Of
the Almighty God. Before trial body
of the M. e. church of Stamford T re-
fuse to appear. I shall not again lend
my presence to a masquerade in the
name of judicial procedure. I refuse to
concur in an investigation the result of
which is predetermined. From the M.
r. church in Stamford, from the church
which wrongfully condemned William
Kemp, from the church which has done
injury to that pious and holy man,
George Jones, I withdraw"
Mr., Swensoh having formally with
drawn from membership in the church
the only step to be taken was to Grace
his name from the roll of membership
and the church loses one more of the
noted Holiness band.' Mr. Swenson
is a local contractor and builder about
fifty years of age, and was noted for the
exuherance with which he entered into |
the services of t1s church, and which
ing to other members.