Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-26
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.
Suit Filed With Avowed Purpose of
Preventing Riot at Church.

Il file this suit in order to prevent a riot
at the Metropolitan Baptist Church, r
street between 18th and 18th streets, this
evening and tomorrow announced Attor-
ney Thomas L. Jones as he entered the Of
flee of the clerk of the Supreme Court Of
the District Of Columbia today and insti-
tuted proceedings in equity for restrain
ing order in behalf of Anderson Hogans
George Smith, William Trice Burwell HILL
John r. Ruffin, Gill Baker, George Davis
and others against Simon P. Drew, Will
liam Howard. George Robinson, William
Strothers and James Chapman.
1t is set forth that the complainant Ho-
gans is one of the trustees, and that the
other compliments named are deacons of
the Metropolitan Baptist Church The de-
PENDANTS are sued as disturbing clements
in the church,"
The court is informed that the church has
a membership of mort than 1000 persons
and that Rev. Robert Johnson, who had
been It's pastor for more than thirty years
died December IS last. The defendant
Drew, who represented himself as being an
ordained minister of the gospel, 1t is stated
was permitted by the eotnplainants to take
was desired to carry on revival. 1t is
added: s.sea f-os
when he had been In the church one
month and made a. request to serve the
TONERS began to investigate. The bill states
that a result~of such investigation the
plaintiffs became convinced that It was
undesirable to retain Drew. The bill says
las a matter of fact 1t is learned that he is
not even an ordained minister
Since he has been in the Metropolitan
Baptist Church, this city, the complainants
further declare, Drew has succeeded in
disrupting the church and has disturbed
the peace and good order thereof by To-
menting strife and discord among its mem
bers for his own advancement.
The court is further informed by the
compliments that last Thursday evening.
the 9th instant while a meeting was in
progress in the church, Drew, although
ordered by the authorities of the church
not to enter the building, undertook forci-
bly, to do so. Inside of the church, 1T is
added, band of his followers, who seemed
20 have anticipated what was to occur and
hearing much noise and seeing much con-
FUSION all occasioned by Drew, rushed to
his assistance, almost precipltdins d rioe
in the church.
A meeting has been called for this even
ing to consider the affairs of the church.
The complainants say they believe that an
attempt will be made by Drew and others
to take possession of the churc hagalnSt
the recognized authority of the complain
ants.
fourths of the members of the church, in
whose behalf this bill Is fled the com
plainants then say, 1t Is sa1e 10 assume
that in the-event of such an attempt being
made 1t WuuIsi undoubtedly result In seri-
Gus breach of the peace.
The court is asked to enion the defend
ants from in any way interfering with the
affairs of the church and from disturlng
the good order and peace thereof, ana 10
restrain Drew from entering the chufch
and from interfering with the worship of
the members until the issue raised has
been adjudicated by the court.
Justice Gould, in Equity Court No. z,
signed an order restraining Simon p. Drew
as prayed. until hearing, which the court
6xed for the list of April.