The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-09-19
FIGHT
FOR THE CHURCH
REV. r. C. LoMAck BREAKS UP A
PRAYER MEETING.
FORMER osKALoosAN is GAME.
Rev. burden Says He Is In Posses
sion and viii Not Be Driven
out--Pollce Are Neces-
sary

mack, former pastor, and Rev. Frank
Burden, present pastor of the First AT
rican Baptist church, fought for pos
session of the building last night at
the regular Wednesday evening prayer
meeting. Not physically but with
high words and clenched fists, the men
quarreled until finally Lomack broke
up the prayer meeting and the police
came and quelled the disturbance.
1t was battle royal while it lasted
some forty minutes-in which pol
ished oratory took the place of less
subtle weapons bnt only the timely arr
rival of the police prevented resort
to fists. The new patsor, Rev. Frank
burden, is slight man physically but
as big as anyone morally, and he
brayely stood his ground while Rev.
Lomack, big and massive, lowered
above him in the pulpit, shaking his
fist in the little mans face. Excite
ment ran high among the fifty mem
bers and visitors at the prayer meet
ing, but no one else interfered in the
war between the rival pastors.
Came Here Month Ago.
Rev. Mr.. burden came to Des MONIES
from Oskaloosa month ago ON the
invitation of the First African Baptist
church, which has fine brick build
ing at School and b streets. Rev. +.
c. Lomack resigned his pastorate sew
eral months ago after quarrel with
some of his parishioners, which end
ed in the courts. Lomack lost his suit
for damages over alleged slanderous
statements in district court, and he
notified the trustees that he deemed
it for the best interests of the congre-
cation for him to resign his pastorate.
But he retained his place on the di-
rectory board. The two other mem
bers, who had been with him In his
numerous church fights are John Early
and M. p. Pittman, and they joined
with Lomack in extending a call to
Rev. burden. The invitation was ac-
cepted and burden preached his first
sermon month ago. Apparently the
congregation was getting along swim
mingly until last Sunday when the
pastor notified the congregation that
following the prayer meeting We'd
nesday evening get together" ses-
sion would be held.
Not For Him.
That settled the new pastor with
Rev. Lomack, who still controlled the
board of trustees. Monday evening
Rev burden was served with a notice
to quit.
1t was addressed both to the new
pastor and his wife. The notice was
typewriter and long. 1t filed near
ly three pages. 1t was signed by the
board of rustees-Lomack, chairman,
and Early and Pittman, trustees.
In brief the letter notified the min
lister and his wife to quit the church
and the parsonage within a month.
Then were set up number of reasons
for the sudden notice, chief of which
was the that the Rev. Mr.. burden had
violated the terms of his contract.
This consisted in his inviting Rev. j.
Il. Winbush, pastor of the East Side
Negro Baptist church, to preach in his
pulpit at Sabbath school mass meet
ing. And also in inviting some watch
care" members to join the church. One
of these Mr.. Lomack claimed had
been excluded from the church by
him, and another, M. p. Pittman, a fel.
low trustee, had been told to keep
out until he apologized to the old
board Another mistake made by the
new pastor was an invitation to Rev.
w. Willis of Buxton to visit his church.
All these things, the notice said, were
in violation of the church creed, the
contract and the wishes of Rev. Lo-
mack.
New Pastor Game.
But the new pastor was game. He
went right along. And he called his
flock together last evening according
to program, previously arranged. The
congregation sang and prayed and
Rev. Lomack looked on. He didn't
join in the jollification. And along to-
wards the end, in the middle of pray
er, Rev. Mr.. burden told his congre-
botiOh hhttI hC hdu DCcil Will Iutll Il
month and he wanted to get better ac-
quainted. @
And so we will have little meet
ing among ourselves and learn to
know each other better" said the new
pastor.
mo, you dont?" shouted Rev. Lo-
mack, interrupting and rising to his
feet.
BE quiet, Brother Lomack, this is
a meeting for spiritual worship" said
the new minister soothingly.
No meetings in this church, say"
harshly said the former pastor adj
vancing to the pulpit.
Please don't interrupt the SERVICE"
responded burden, gently.
This is my church and l say no
meetings will be held here by you
while am alive"
Quiet, quiet, Brother Lomack, you
are disturbing the meeting"
You have violated the terms of your
contract and | want you to get out OF