p. 263 | ANOTHER CHURCH RIOT

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · April 22, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 17

ANOTHER CHURCH RIOT.

IN the REVIEW of March 4, 1880, was published an account of a fight in the First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg, Pa. The following from the Independent of April 8, describing another conflict among the members of this church, certainly indicates that this “Reformed” church needs reforming:—

The First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg, Pa., gives full proof of being in the militant state. At the meeting, last week, for electing trustees, the Woodside party, taking their title from the name of the pastor, and the anti-Woodside party, came into a serious collision with each other. Shouts and hisses; groans and cat-calls; confusion confounded; the smashing of hats, bonnets, and benches; the tearing of clothes; the shrieking of women; and in some cases actual profanity, made up a scene of disorder which was arrested only by the interference of the police, who, with the aid of their clubs, drove both parties into the streets. We remember a prayer-meeting held many years since by boys, two of whom got into a quarrel with each other about leading the meeting, in which all the other boys finally joined, and the result was a general knock-down among these youngsters. This, surely, was bad enough; yet some apology may perhaps be made for it on the score of the hot blood and indiscretion of the lads. The scene in the Pittsburg church, unless the papers have greatly exaggerated it, was much worse. It had all the disorder and violence of a riot, and needed the interposition of the police to suppress it. Christians, we are aware, are but men, and sometimes get excited and do improper things; yet, when they convene in a place of worship to transact official business and actually get into a fight, and have to be driven into the street by the civil authority, then their conduct is to the last degree shameful. If there is any law to punish them, it ought to be applied; and if there is no such law, then their sober second thoughts ought to be sufficient to administer a stern penalty. This Pittsburg church should promptly disband, unless it can learn to behave better.