The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-03
FURTHER TROUBLE
LOOKED FOR
ANTI-DURHAMITES ARE ACTIVE
THOSE WHO ARE FIGHTING PAS
TOR DON'T INTEND TO STOP.

Developments Show That star
Chamber Session Monday Night
Was Trial of Two DeacOns, Both
of whom Were ExpeIIed-Charged
with COnspiracy-One other Dea-
con and the Church Clerk Re
signed-Attcmpts 40 Try Pastor
Have All Failed, Owing to support
Given Him by Women.
The troubles of the Second African
Baptist Church are not yet over it
appears. Yesterday, it developed that
at the closed meeting Monday night
it was not Rev. J. j. Durham who
was on trial. but some of the deacons,
two of whom were expelled. one of
the members of the church who is OPP
posed to Rev. Durham stated that
while no plans had Teen drawn up
by the anti-Durhamites. something
would be done.
Rev. Durham was seen and asked
for an account of what had been done
at the session of the church,
! the session which became so
noisy that the police were called and
which, had they not been present, gave
evidence of ending in a free for-all.
At first he refused to say anything con-
corning the meeting, giving as his
reason that he did not seek any no
toriety for his church through the
newspapers. He finally stated. how
ever, that two of the deacons were
on trial and not himself. and that
they had been expelled.
Il was not on trial" he said, but
was simply presiding. Two of the dea-
cons were on trial charged with con-
spiracy against the church and with
disturbing a religious meeting. The re-
port that the pastor was on trial was
untrue and was probably given by
someone on the outside who was in
sympathy with the deacons and oppos-
ed to him
Il do not believe that there was any
necessity for calling the police to the
church to preserve order. OF course,
as might have been expected. the trial
of church officers drew a large atten-
dance. and the matters involved stir
red up partisans greatly. With the
exception of one incident, however, |
do not belive that there was any great
disorder, beyond laughing and APP
plause."
DeacOns Expelled from Church.
When asked to state what it was
that caused this one incident, Rev.
Durham said that it was a church
matter and of interest to none but
church members. After considerable
questioning he at length said 1t was
due to the evident intention of one
deacon not to abide by the decision of
the church.
when he had made his speech"
he said, "and was declared guilty he
refused to retire. This raised a
clamor on the part of those who had
voted for his guilt and his expulsion
from the church. His partisans were
| just as strong and it is true that for
a time the noise became pretty loud.
| But there was no real trouble.
1.-TWO of the deacons were found
! guilty of the charges preferred against
them and were retired from the church.
One deacon resigned, but he knew
that If he had not done so that he
would have been put on trial at the
next meeting OF the church. There
is absolutely no danger of a schism
as one of the members is reported to
have said"
Pastor Will Be Tried.
The deacons and members of the
church seemed disinclined to discuss
the matter, IL was eNluelI rum
what they said that there was consid-
cradle opposition to Rev. Durham and
that an attempt was yet to be made
to put him on trial. 1t is alleged that
attempts to try him have already been
made, but that he has been strong
enough to keep the matter from COM
ing up.
"Deacons ]. F. Jones and L. H. Max
well were expelled from the church"
said one of the members who was
present at the meeting Monday, land
Robbins, the church clerk. also re-
signed. On the fourth Monday in
February r. NJ. Davis, another deacon,
will be tried. What will follow l can
not say, but another attempt is to be
made to try Rev. Durham.
Supported by Women.
1--WE have made several attempts to
try the pastor" he said, but by the
aid of the women he has STAYED us off
and he won't stand trial. Those who
are opposing him have decided upon no
plan of action, but if we can manage
il in any way, we will try him. He
should be tried as well as the deacons,
but just as soon as some deacon pre-
fers charges, Durham has him ex-
PEELED.
I'VE will have to do something to
stop the matter, out 90 not see now
! we can manage it just at present. He
has almost all of the women, and a
few of the brethren with him and their
majority is sufficient to defeat us and
carry his wishes through.
| He told us once that he would resign
| If we did not prosecute him on certain
charges. We took his word for that
and waited. All this time he was go
ing around calling on the members,
and finally secured a sufficient follow
ing TO shut off every move that we
made"