New Britain herald., 1927-01-17
present." the pastor says.

present" the pastor says. The development of the two fac tions in the church is said to have started last August when the pastor removed one or two committee chairmen. who. he said, were not functioning. and placed others in charge.
 One of the men who testified against the minister is said by the latter to have obtained aid from a local welfare organization. while he had s7O0 of his own in bank.
 Minister Blames Brewer
 Speaking of the letter which MT. Brewer is alleged to have obtained l by mistake. and upon which the pastor plans to base a suit for $5,- 900. Mir. Aston says If Chairman Brewer had not sent an order to the post office and through mistake received registered letter addressed to me at my residence; had he not opened 1t, read it and kept 1t until Sunday afternoon, December 5, be- fore giving 1t to me; had he not been interested in its contents which had reference to the charges he had sent In. there never would have been any disturbance in the church by way of a trial.
 But, what really is the trouble Here 1t is in brief: v "The church ediflce has been par tially condemned by the insurance people. The electric lights were at- tached to telephone wire running here and there through the building. The plumbing system was demol- ished within the walls. The ceiling made of plaster was falling down. The inside of the upper story of the building was dirt. Everything was going to ruination. Nothing had been done to the building since it had been purchased. And no one knows how long before. No one in the church had any interest in 1t. The chief interest was manifested by the few rulers whenever some one of the spirited citizens made a donation. Intelligent people. many of them. were migrating to Hartford on the Sabbath day for religious services where they could gaze at minister standing In a thousand dol lar pulpit, with carpet on the iool and chandeliers in full glare. While the New Britain man was compelled to put up with what he had: well | come any one who might step in out
 of pity or curiosity. regardless te his theological training or what not
 We had no one to help. Joseph Young of 162 North street, who ts employed at the Berlin Construc- ton company stepped in and got back on the board as Its secretary; cited the pastor; took other work man and began to renovate the church from top to bottom. The work is not yet completed. This stirred hornets nest.
 "The old board composed of two or three men refused to be further active as a result of apprehension or
 jealousy. Certain firms came to the rescue through the consent of the A. M. E. Zion denomination through out this country whose agent and representative, I am. There is or was secret effort put forth by these 1 dissatisfied men to defeat the good work It would not be done unless i they picked a quarrel with the pas
 tor and sought to have him removed | The blame has been on me since July Not one of these men has ex- pressed his pleasure at what has
 been and is being accomplished. On the other hand they have met se- cretly with vain motives. The good work Is going on. It will not be stopped. The recommendation of | the trial committee that the bishop | take charge can mean nothing to
 my understanding but to go on as have been going in the way of de- velopment. The bishop of the diocese is known from Canada to | Florida 1nasmuch as the commit ! tee did not expell me it Is not req l sonable that any sane man would i expect him to be found in the com
 pany of few church fighters. ] would trust the judgment of any
 educated man or woman in this city
 on anything say with reference tc 1 this matter"