Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-17
Church at Spencer in the Throes
of a, Sensational War
With Pastor
ASK FOR LETTERS
Trouble Dates Back Ono Month, When
Professional Money Getter, Posing as
Evangelist, Held orally Day" -
Many Members Did Not Want Rev.
Mr.. Royse Returned.
Special to Times Republican.

opSCldl W -lstSvPubAS&As
Spencer, Oct. 17.--So serious Is the
split in the Methodist church OF Spen-
Ger that in all probability the bishop
of the conference will arrive in a few
days to see what can be done about the
situation.
Fifty-two prominent members of the
church, including over half of the Of
fetal board, trustees, and also the pres
ident OF the EpwDrth League and the
superintendent Of the Sunday school,
have asked tor their church letters and
have been refused. The fight has been
lately that it hits become serious
enough for the bishops Intervention.
On the 10th OF last September a
grand rally day was advertised and
observed here. The rally day had been
boosted for month prior to that time
and large quantities of printed matter
and other advertising were issued. 1t
was planned to have the largest at
tendance Of years on the rally day"
Joseph w. Powell, of New York. was
advertised as the leader of the rally
under the title Americas Greatest
Layman."
Rev. Clarence D. Royse. the pastor,
had his heart set on building new
$4,000 church. and his plans had met
with considerable opposition. On the
morning Of the rally day Powell put
in his appearance and was revealed to
the members of the church and to the
congregation. not as an evangelist, but
merely as first class money raiser.
Every possible method was used to
drive those who would not do SO will
ingly into signing bonds for the mon
ey with which to build the new church.
The superintendent of the Sunday
school was among those who refused
to sign, and Powell 1t Is alleged, pub
licly insulted that officer.
This so enrage,d large number Of
the members that over half of the Of
fetal board resigned Immediately and
then sent petition to Royse asking
him to compel Powell to apologize for
his actions and then leave town. This
Royse refused to do.
A petition wan then sent to Bishop
Cranston, asking that Royse be not
returned to the Spencer charge for
the coming year. The matter was
brought before the recent conference
at Fort Dodge, but on recommendation
Of Rev. Hugh Hay, presiding elder OF
the Sheldon district, in which the
Spencer pastorate is located, Rev. Mr..
Royse was returned to Spencer. When
the announcement was made that
Royse was to be returned. the discon-
tented members held several meetings
in private homes and finally decided
to ask for their church letters in q
body. A petition was drawn up and
signed by fifty-two of the prominent
members of the church., many of whom
were those who had been members o!
the church for years and several OF
whom were either members Of the Of
fetal board or acting in other officia
capacity.
Rev. Royse claims that after the
disaffection which arose over the Pow
ell scrape he personally explained the
condition of things and the opposition
to himself to the bishop and made
! personal request and application t.
the bishop that he (Royse) be trans
| ferred to another charge. Roys'
claims that the bishop refused this ap
plication on the grounds that HI
| (Royse) had started the trouble ant
that it was therefore his duty and no
that Of a new man to settle it. Ther'
Twas considerable i'll feeling betwee,
] the two factions in the church ant
/ 1t is q hard situation to place any new
man in. It is with considerable anx
| tety, therefore. that those interested
| are awaiting the action Of the bishop