The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-24
DR.. F. L. LoveIand Has His
Troubles in Portland.
Two Hundred sInsurgents" Re-
fuse to Come Into Fold.
THEY WORSn|PED IN RAIN
Held Services in Front of Old
Church Building.
DIR. LOveland Is Head COngre-
CATION Leo Members.

Word comes from Portland, Oregon,
that DIR. Frank L. Loveland. formerly
the popular pastor of the First Metho-
dist church of Topeka, in uniting two
Methodist churches of Portland has
been having his troubles. While the
Grace church building was being re-
modelled and enlarged at a heavy ex-
pense the services were held in the
First church. On the day that the
initial services were held in the big
Grace church after completion two hum
bred OF the members OF the First
church who wouldn't ''be good" held
services in a drizzling rain in front of
the old church which had been Sc
curely locked.
This incident occurred October IL.
and no word has been received in To-
peka intimating that the insurgents
have come into the fold.
DIR. Young Explains.
In speaking of the trouble in Port
land, DIR. Benjamin Young, pastor of
the First Methodist church of Topeka,
and formerly of both churches in Port
land, said today: AS Grace church
and the First church were but 1,700 feet
apart in the down town district, the
e bishop considered it wise to unite the
! two churches. In fact the question was
! discussed for a period Of several years.
For some months before left Portland
services were held. first in one church
and then the other. The two churches
had a property valuation OF approx
mately $325,000
when it was proposed that Grace
church should be remodeled and en-
larged to accommodate united cOngre-
cation two or three of the old timers
tried to prevent the members of the
First church from leaving. AS a re-
suit there has been small element
that won't be good This element
does not represent any of the officials
but a few families who because of ira
dition want to worship in the old place
AT the present time Sunday school
unit is being built, and the remodelec
and enlarged Grace church and the
Sunday school department will repre-.
sent an expenditure of $125, 900 in round
numbers. The membership is 1000 OF
100"
Worshipped in Rain.
The Sacramento Bee of October 1;
published the following dispatch from
Portland which tells of the actions OF
the insurgents:
In a drizzling rain, 200 insurgent
members of the First Methodist church
of Portland held services before thu
locked and barred doors of the ancien
house of worship of that organization
recently abandoned by vote of the ma
jority of it's members.
While the open-air service was il
progress the main body of the congre-
cation held initial services in the larger
Grace church building uptown, which
had just BEEN remodeled and enlarged
A schism developed following consoli
dalton of the First Grace Methods
churches end a portion of the FRS
church congregation tried to secede
The bishop. backed by the conference
prevented this and enforced the con
solida.ion. The consolidation factor
has been holding services in the ole
First church. but upon completion o.
the larger building a week ago, the fur.
nishings were removed from the ok
one by order of the pastor. Rev. Franz
Loveland, who had the entrances al
sealed.
Two hundred First church adherent.
still refused to. attend at the new
church or affiliate with the consolida
ton.