Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1907-12-14
PREACHERS MAKE TROUBLE
An Evangelist Criticises the Member
ship Of Al Iub CT PremiEent Ladies.

A Meridian dispatch of December Sth,
states:-
Following several meetings held dur
ing the day, all differences between
Rev. J T. Newsom, who is conducting
the union Methodist revival, and Rev.
y. E. Carpenter, pastor Of the First
Methodist Church, on one side, and the
husbands and brothers and close friends
Of the members of the Fortnightly Club
IF this city, on the other, were AMIGA
bly settled. 1t is understood that cards
we're issued by the committees repre-
3enting both sides which satisfied both
factions. The cards have been signed
md are to be ratified by the general
committee and then given out for pub
ication. This closes one Of the most
exciting episodes in the history Of this
city. 1t is believed that there will be
10 other reference to the matter by any
of the parties involved,
This has been day of conferences in
the Carpenter Newsom-Fortnightl thy
Club imbroglo. This morning there
vas a conference between representa-
lives of the Fortnighty Club and the
representatives. of the two ministers,
The meeting was held at the home Of
L. P. Brown instead Of the residence Of
Rev. J. E. Carpenter, because of the
ll-feeling that existed. H. C. Currie,
district attorne~, a member of the com
mittee acting for the ministers, also
erved as a messenger between the two
committees, it being held best that
neither committee see the other; hence
each committee sat in different rooms
If the handsome Brown home.
An agreement was finally ached
Whereby the Fortnightly Club commit
ee submitted a paper requesting, in
he interest of peace that the Revs.
Newsom and Carpenter withdraw their
'aferences to the Fortnightly Club, to
he effect that this organization had
members whose personal characters
we're not above reproach.
On the Fortnightly committee was S.
\. Witherspoon, a lawyer, and their
pokesman; f. w. McNorries, president
# the First National Bank; j. E. Reed
'ice-prcsdcnt of the Citizens National
Sank; DR.. j. M. Buchanan, superin-
endent Of the East Mississippi Hospital
or the Insane; Henry Breach and A.
}. McRaven, business men, and DR.. C..
Champenois, physician. The ministers
yer7 represented by Judge R. F. Coch-
an, District Attorney Hector c. Currie
E. Watts, L. p Brown, retired bus
ness men; Frank E.heridge, city build
lg inspector, and Dr. C. S. w Price.
Upon prcsentment through Mr.. Cur
lie Of written request, 'in the inter
st Of peace, the committee represent
1g the minister's drew up a paper
1lelgin they would us their best eff
orts to obtain the signatures of Messrs.
arpenter and Newsom to a document
withdrawing their remarks:
Some doubt was expressed in the
committee as to whether this could be
tfected since both the minister's had
repeatedly stated to their representa-
ives they would die before admitting
hat what they had said was not true.
An agreement was reached on the an
Outstanding that this admission would
rot be asked Of the preachers, but sim
Ny that they withdraw theirreferences
% members of the club, thus leaving
he situation as it originally stood. Fol
owing this preliminary skirmish, nthe
fort to avoid bloodshed an adjourn
nent was taken by the committees IN
ii O'Clock. In the meantime the com
ulGlCt II'lll lilC H.lIlolbiS was W idNC
conference with Messrs. Newsom and
carpenter with the view of obtaining
heir signatures to documents.
The feeling of excitement in Meridian
;o-day was never greater. There has
)een but one topic of conversation.
Trouble has been written on all faces,
or it was realized that unless some
hing was done to lift the reproach
rom many of the most prominent wo-
nen in Meridian there would be a sac
lay in some homes. The husbands IA
theirs and brothers of these women have
acted slowly and with great deliberation
but from the time the first move was
made they have pressed for a settle
ment with such determination and I'M
speakable hardness that there has been
only two things possible trouble or an
exoneration of women.