Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-02-10
Negro Congregation In Washington
Rowing Over Minister.

|
Rowing Over Minister.
| The Florida Avenue Baptist church,
colored, at the corner of Bohrer street
and Florida avenue, northwest, which
was the scene Of fatal riot on Janu.
ary 13, in which William Brush, a
.parishioner, received wounds resulting
in his death two days later, became a
center of interest again yesterday, says
the Washington Herald Of Monday.
This time the Rev. William A. Taylor,
the storm center, who is alleged by
| certain members of his flock to have
been responsible for the riot came out
victor, the congregation voting 500 to
to retain him as pastor.
The fight was bloodless one and
occurred during the first capacity
meeting in the little church since the
court proceedings, begun by seven
members of the church to oust the
pastor were instituted on January "a.
on January 2S. but the blizzard and
the Kniekerbockcr theatre disaster re-
duced the attendance to such an ex-
tent that it was impossible to reach
decision.
Rumors in circulation last Saturday
| were to the effect that opponents to
the pastor were ready to forcibly oust
him yesterday If he persisted in
preaching. How, Jer, the usual or
derliness prevailed, although the at
mosphere was tense. This was due to
the enthusiasm Of the pro-Taylor ele-
ment rather than to fear of what the
anti-Taylor clement might do.
Standing squarely on the platform,
and surrounded by huge bouquets Of
flowers sent by his admirers, the pas
tor shouted his defiance to that por-
tion of his flock whom he accused of
trying to either rule or ruin him. He
dared his opponents to stand up and
make themselves known.
When he uttered this challenge only
two men stood up and announced that
they wanted the pastor TO resign right
away.
Then the pastor called on his friends
to rise and approximately 500 people
stood up and these looked around and
frowned on the two opponents Of the
pastor.
Not only did Rev. Taylor force the
dissenting members of his flock into
the open by challenging thcm from
the pulpit, but he fought them all
through his sermon by making repeat
eG reference to them. He took the
persecution of the prophet Elijah by
King Ahab as his Biblical weapon and
gave his opponents an oratorical LASH
| ing that aroused his congregation to
such expressions of approval that at
times it was impossible to hear him.
Accused of gross mismanagcment of
the affairs of the church, and with in
citing the riot, end ignoring repeated
demands from an active minority for
his resignation, Rev. Taylor devoted
| the entire services yesterday to restor-
ing order in his church.
The result of the vote, taken after
tho sermon, shcweu that out Of total
congregation of 1900 less than forty
members are out and out opposed to
retaining him in the pulpit. The vote
also showed that only two of the oppo-
sition party attended the services. A
few others stood outside the church or
gathered in little groups on the corner
and chatted among themselves.
The Eighth precinct, few doors
away, sent no policemen to the SER
vices as it was considered that the
pastor would be able to handle the sit
uation. The services began and ended
without the slightest disorder. The
congregation was composed Of intelli-
gent, sclf-respecting colored people
and with the exception Of loud express
sions of approval at the pastors topic
and his references to his opponents
tactics the services were not interrupt
| ed by q single discordant note.