New Britain herald., 1916-03-06
CHURCH
 SPLIT IN TWAIN Rev. M. s. Anderson Tenders His
 Resignation as Pastor 125 MEMBERS FOLLOW HIM

125 MEMBERS FOLLOW HIM Supporters of Pastor Anderson Vote to
 Organize New Church and Extend
 Call For Him to Take Charge and
 Be Their Leader.
 Rev Milton $. Anderson, for more than fifteen years, the pastor of the Peoples Church of Christ, rendered his resignation to take effect imme- diately at the morning service of the church yesterday. In the afternoon, following the receipt of Pastor An dcrson's resignation, 125 of his ardent supporters in the church held a meet ing and decided to withdraw from the Peoples church and to form a new church of their own with MT. Ander- son as it's leader and pastor.
 This action on the part of the Rev. MT. Anderson and his followers comes entirely as a surprise to the public at large. It has long been known that all was not harmony within the church, but it was generally supposed that it would be the opponents of Pastor Anderson who would leave the church..
 Reads His Resignation. When Rev. Mr. Anderson rose yes- terday in the pulpit of the church that has been his for so many years, but few of his congregation had any idea that he was going to announce his yKyla like the bursting of a bomb-shell The resignation which Pastor. Anderson read in a strong, firm voice, was as | follows:
 1 Dear Brethren and Sisters: ''In view of the fact that although i the majority of the members of the l church are giving me their royal SUD- 1 port as pastor, yet it is impossible for me to continue my services as pas tor of a divided people. Therefore, l | hereby tender you my resignation as pastor, to take effect immediately.
 T wish at this time to express tc l you all my appreciation for all Eou' 1 prayers Christian love and co-opera tion during more than fifteen year of our service and fellowship togethe in God.
 With Christian love to you all, re main,
 'sYour brother in Christ,
 MILTON $. ANDERSON l "New Britain, Conn.
 "March 4, 1916."
 Call Pastor to New Church.
 The meeting held and attended yes. terday afternoon by about 125 of Pas l tor AnderSOnS supporters for the pur. pose of taking steps to withdraw from
 
 church of their own, was called to or der by Robert Clougher, as chair man. MT. Clougher issued the follow ing statement after the meeting, set ting forth the determination to with 1 draw from the church and expressing 1 faith in Pastor Anderson and a desire to have him lead them in their new 1 endeavor:
 | "A meeting was held Sunday after noon with an attendance of more than 125 of the members of the People, | Church of Christ and congregation for ] prayer and consultation in regard to | the resignation of M $. Anderson as pastor of the church. We, who have followed him as he has followed Christ in teaching and labors of love, feel that his ministry in New Britain and surrounding cities is only in it's in fancy, and we believe that Pastor An derson has not yet had an opportunity under God of doing his best work be- cause of the lack of loyalty of some of his members.
 "Whereas, a large majority of the members of the church believe it IS not Gods will that Pastor Anderson should leave the work he has spent so many years in building up, there fore we, who desire to follow his lead ership under God, not for personal considerations so much as for the truth and principles for which this servant of Jesus Christ represents, ex- tend to him a call to become our pas tor We believe that a Cody man of Pastor Anderson's ability should be placed in field of labor supported by people who stand together with him in Christian unity.'
 Must Secure New Pastor.
 The opponents of Pastor Anderson and his beliefs will get a new clergy man and work out their own destin- ies.
 Steps in the actions that have led up to this split in the Peoples church are well known. For a long time a certain faction of the membership of the church has been opposed to Mir. An derson's methods of preaching and his religious beliefs. As their opposition grew they finally evolved the idea to ask for his resignation. At the an nual meeting of the church, held on February 10, an attempt was made to oust the clergyman by Vote At he meeting however, his supporters were stronger than his opponents ana he c1n I,,, tHa c to 30. Tn opposition were not satis- ! fled with this vote and still worked hard to secure their end.
 One of the first steps was the reSig