Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-09-21

recent Sunday morning service
his appointment was Tor the con.
terence year despite the news
reports from tho conference In
dicattng his assignment here was
for three weeks only,
A year Ago n similar situation
arose when Bishop George W
nabcr rrasHlgned Jones for whe,
he said would he only few weeks
The minister was supposed To be
transferred Ia the Chicago AME
conference, members OF the church
said. hut after u six weeks alb
senrc from tho church Visiting
other conferences he returned for
the full conference year,
patton's Resignation
There was talk Of dissatisfaction
among church membership i'm
mcdlntely after Rev, Jones took
over his duties First open indi'
cation was the resignation Of John
NJ Patton, church, civic and fra
ternnl leader, M church treasurer
After his resignation. Rev. Jones
dropped him from the trustee
board Patton had been church
treasurer for many years. lie
would not comment On the reason
for his resignation but some mem
beers said Patton would not APP
prove Of certain policies ~ Jonas,
n James. with new buIldin.
reconst ructed five years ago, had
large indsbt sdneHA. but the mem.
bership was one ~ tho most frugal
In the Twin cities and u bunklsd
down Ia pay off the large debt
However. after one years pas
torate of Rev Jones q number of
tho leading pasaHhionsr. asked
that he not he returned 90 ~
James In 1868. Then followed the
impaAse already dsacribed In that
the pastor was assigned for only
few weeks, but remained the full
conference year.
This year members made ~
known 10 bishop Allen, newly an
signed Fourth district head. that
they wanted u new minister
The open break between Jones
and portion Of his congregation
developed before he left for the
conference carly In September be.
cause some Officers objected 10
money In the church building fund
being withdrawn 10 pay church
conference claims Others had
their salary checks gnrnishscd for
church notes due.
Members were alarmed because
tho mortgage holders threatened
fGrciuHlrr because no money had
been paid on the mortgage for five
months This Information was for
warded 10 Bishop Allen but aa ~
acptombor ~. the bishop has not
communicated win the member
ship hrn r1arndA Cor, CORES
pondinE secretary 0f tho church
conference told this newspaper
Since I,"y jones return four
church meeting have been held
NJ homes ~ members with an Az.
srhgo attendance ~ 20 members 10
make plans "a deal with the
churchH prccRrious financial prob.
lens and 10 Insist that Jones Do
assigned slsHwhere
A. the FIRST regular church
meeting following his return when
Mrs Cynthia Foster and others
tried 10 question him about church
finances. Rev Jones' repeatedly
t1Id them he was no longer their
permanent pastor ami that they
would have "a ask the new pastor
the questions addressed - him.
Following The meeting Lester
Boyd. 77i ~ Anthony Az. anh
Mrs Foster, 1888 shsfbufne, re-
colysd letters from James BUN.
van. ~ Pau city prosecutor in
forming ihDm that they had been
charged With dlsOrdsriy conduct
ai the Sept church conference.
Corporation counsel Marshall
Hurley saii the city prosecutor
sent letters 10 Mr.. Boyd and Mrs.
Foster following receipt ~ a letter
signed by eight trustees and stew
ards which charged that Nj Boyd
had 10 be restrained from per
sDnaily assauItlng Rev Jones on
sept . ana NAT MIS-. fpAter hah
agitated the members by state
msnis made at the meeting
Boyd denied any attempt 10 DO
bo.dily harm n the minister. lie
said Jones had repeatedly and an.
lawfully denied him opportunity
"a n member ~ the congregation
20 speak ~ the church confer
ences DE said At the Sept . meet
ing be was again denied the floor
lie said a. The cl0se u the meet
ing ne started outside 30 speak
20 Rev Jones but that other mem
bsfs asksd him not 10 do NJ.