The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-27
PREACHERS ARRESTED.
Exciting Time in Anniston With Street Exhorters.

Anniston. Ala. Aug. 26.-(SpeciaIl l-Quite a stir was caused among tho class of people here who follow the holiness people around fin their services on the streets, when Chief of Police Sweets arrested three of their preach CTS for disorderly conduct yesterday after noon. The preachers arrested were Revs. El- Iepburs. Ralston and Sam Jones'
 The holiness people were holding q meet ing at the corner of Tenth street and Gurnee avenue. when Mir 0oza, living only short distance away, requested them to move away from the corner. as he had a sick child in his house which was disturbed by the noise made by the drums. horns. tamborines, etc. they were using In their services. Rev. Jones went into the house to see if there was really a sicl, child and came back and reported to the oth- CTS that the child was not sick but that lt was only work of the devil to stop the meet ing. Mir. Goza then went to the city author tiles and swore warrant for the leaders for disorderly conduct. When the chief attempt cd to arrest the preachers they refused to be arrested and other police had to be called in before they would submit to arrest
 At this time only Ellenburg and Sam Jones were arrested. but when they were carried tc the city jail, large crowd followed them. and shortly after the arrival there the other preacher attempted to make a speech from the eurbing in front of the jail. He was told to desist so that the crowd would disperse. but kept on speaking until the chief took him in charge tooA A couple of well known gentle men went to the jail when they heard of the arrest of the preachers and offered to go their bond that they might not have to lay in jail. Their offer was scoffed at by the men. who said that when Paul and Silas were put in Jail they were not released by worldly means and an impression was created that the men expected liberation in the same manner that Paul was liberated.
 Recorder McGhee gave the men a hearing in the afternoon and released them saying they were technically guilty. but read them a portion of scripture from the I3 9th chapter of Romans, in which the thought is brought out that all must obey the civil authorities. and gave the men long talk. The court was crowded with people who had followed them to the jail in the morning. and great many of them waited around the jail until the trial came on.
 The Rev. Sam Jones was formerly pastor of the St Paul's M. F. Church here, but was dismissed by the church he was thought to be of unsound mind. He attempted to fast forty days and had lasted about thirty days when the church began to investigate him, and he created quite sensation by a sermon he delivered shortly after. in which he accused several of the leading church officials of the most heinous crimes. During his fasting pe- riod the man only ate small bowl of oat flakes each morning After being dismissed he wrote several articles which appeared in the papers here and in Birmingham. in which he roundly roasted the presiding elder of this district as well as the members of the church. The sect to which he has now aligned him. self claim that they are being prosecuted on account of their teachings.