The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-02-26
BROKE UP CHURCH MUT|NY WITH A GUN
To SAVE PREACHER HUSBANDS JOB

STOhhNE, WaSn., req. <SO.--
A pretty young woman, endowed
with all the grace and charm and
fire of a true daughter of the
South, sitting demurely in choir
loft, toying daintily with a grim
navy revolver, which
she had carried into the sanctuary,
just to make sure that her preach
err husband would get a square
deal at the hands of disgruntIed
officials who were trying
to GUST him.
That was one dramatic incident
in a church row in the little town
of Colfax, near here, that, with it's
aftermath, has set the whole state
to talking.
The pretty little southern wom-
an is Mrs. Virginia Buss. The
preacher husband is 100000
suit for damages brought by the
young preacher against officials of
the First Baptist Church of Col
fax.
The row had its origin nearly a
year ago, when Buss was given
charge of the expenditure of a
small sum in improvements on the
church building. Certain of the
officials were not satisfied with
the result, charging that Buss had
spent more money than he was
authorized to spend.
Buss denied this and for several
months there was an undercur-
rent of ill-feeling that finally de-
veloped into an open factional
fight.
A few weeks ago, meeting of
the deacons was called, forcing the
resignation of the preacher. Buss
was present at the meeting and his
|22-year-old wife was spectator.
The meeting, starting with a
|dignified discussion of the subject
before it, increased in warmth as
lit progressed, until both sides
were expressing their views, per-
sonal and otherwise. with no small
amount of candor.
When Mrs. Buss saw her hus-
band, who is small man, contest
ing against what she considered to
be too heavy odds, she considered
Immediate re-enforcements neces-
lsary.
Born under Southern skies, her
|girlhood spent amid the traditions
of the Old South, she had no doubt
as to what re-enforcements would
be most successful She slipped
Iquietly from the church, tripped
over to the parsonage, a few doors
AWAY, and in a few moments was
back in the choir loft. She took
no pains to hide the fact that dur
ing her absence she had provided
herself with heavy armament. ~
She took a position directly
above the table where the meeting
was in progress, resting her arms
on the choir rail, absently swing
lily the big navy revolver. ghf
None of those who were present
charge Mrs. Buss with any inten-
|tion other than of bringing the
Injecting to an abrupt end. She
was eminently successful. The
church officials adjourned hastily
and left the building.
Buss held the fort. A meeting
of the congregation was called by
the deacons. The question of the
removal of Buss was put to a
vote. When the votes were count
ed, 1t appeared certain that the
preacher was ousted. Then Mrs.
Buss came forward demurely and
presented 81 proxies in favor of
her husband.
They were enough to give him
the majority. She had accurately
sized up the congregation and had
quietly gone about town, again
|marshaling re-inforcements.
The deacons declared that the
voting of proxies was not allowed
by the church laws. Buss and his
friends declared the proxies were
good. While the new angle of the
fight was at fever heat. Buss ac-
lcepted the ruling of the deacons.
He went from the church to a