The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-13
CHURCH SOCIABLE IN COURT.
FESTIVIOUS EXPENSES LEAVE
PASTORS RENT UNPAID.
Some OF ISL for Refreshments Accounted
Fer on Retail Plan. but Nobody Saw
the Chicken sandwiches - C0I0red
Brethern Struggling with q Deficit.

A row that has sadly shaken the Church Of
God and Saints OF Christ, a negro congre-
CATION at 23e West Sixty-second street, for
the last two weeks was aired in the West
Side police court yesterday morning.
Everybody seemed licensed at every q
else. The strife might have zone on mould
ering had not Senior Deacon Melton Robin
son caused Deacon and Deaconess Franklin
Porter Of PHI West Sixty-second street to be
summoned to court.
About thirty irste members assembled,
besides the two sent for, and all tried to talk
at once. The Rev. f. ID. Bowles, pastor Of
the church, clad in a black cassock. was the
principal figure. According to his story,
the Porters engineered a church sociable,
the proceeds Of which were to 20 to aid the
church's finances. which were In bad shape.
Mr.. Bowles said that on the Sunday follow
ing the event his landlord said II he didn't
pay his rent he would put him out on the
street.
Il appealed to Sister Porter for $40, said
MIR. Bowlee. She only laughed and said
her money was for a new church. In des-
peration. I prayed to the congregation to
donate. Only s7.92 was forthcoming. This
melted Sister Porter's heart and she helped
along with 81. This saved the day-but
now since l don't get paid any salary I'm
up against 1t for my November rent. and il
the congregation dom loosen up some
things going to happen to their pastor"
walled Mr.. Bowles.
They took in SAILS at the affair." inter-
rupted Deacon Robinson.
Your Honor, most of that was-er-a
confisticated TO pay expenses" said Deacon
Porter solemnly.
A surprised look spread across the faces
of the listeners and they drew closer.
Some S31 was obligated in the festivious
preparations" continued the deacon.
This statement nearly threw the MEM
bers of the congregation into a panic, and
the police had a hard time restoring quiet.
Sister Sarah Rhoades, Abe Robinson's
wife. and Deaconess Julia Smith voiced
their indignation in a breath.
IT'S scandalous-most scandalous!" they
exclaimed.
What were the ~expenses?' asked Mag
istrate Steinert.
Porter paused, and from a stack of let
te"s in his pocket extracted a pencil scrib-
bled book. He adjusted a pair of steel
rlmmed glasses and read l~aboriously from
his memorandum:
According to figures tabulated they
were 50 cents for two quaf1s OF ice cream,
So cents to potted chicken sandwiches,
three cents for a strip OF muslin, 10 cents
we spent on four lemons"
"Aw, Judge, don't you pay any attention
to that account Sister Beckwith broke
in Nobody but Porter understands it."
Your Honor" said Mr.. Bowles. I'm
anxious to hear where the rest of our money
has went. II there were any chicken sand
witches there they certainly weren't on
exhibition
I'D like 10 hear the rest of the report"
replied Magistrate Steinert: but at the rate
the deacon is reading il would take a year
to get the amount to &3l. We would have
enough provisions-in our minds-to sprout
a young department store
This is powerful serious, your Honor"
chimed in Lay Member Archibold from
the side lines. IF our parson don't get
his October rent he's a goner."
Il realize the gravity Of the situation
perhaps more fully than you think, replied
the Magistrate with a struggle.
Since this is a religious body IL would
be much more in accordance with the Gospel
to settle the dispute out of court. Hold
a meeting, then IL h finances don't gee
and a crisis seems inevitable let me know.
Case dismissed
After much arguing the congregation
filed out Of the place, talking loudly among
themselves. One was heard to say:
The idea OF Deacon Porter spoutiug
about chicken sandwiches and such like
why, massey me, everything in sight to eat
was beans an ice water! s3l-Huh!"