The Minneapolis Tribune reports on fisticuffs during Sunday services at a church in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood:

St. Paul News

FIGHT

Congregation of St. James African
M.E. Church Engages in an
Exciting Pitched Battle.

TWO LEADING TRUSTEES
ARE BADLY KNOCKED OUT

Struggle Is Over the Collection –
Police Called, but No Arrests
Are Made

The climax of the factional war at St. James African Methodist Episcopal church, St. Paul, was reached yesterday morning when following a sermon on “Brotherly Love” preached by the pastor, Rev. Seymour, the congregation engaged in a pitched battle over the collection in which two of the trustees were knocked out. So furious was the struggle that the Rondo street patrol wagon was called and a squad of blue coats hurried to the scene. The fight was practically over when the patrolmen arrived and no arrests were made.

Yesterday morning’s services were the first held since the election of trustees by the dissensionists over the head of the pastor last Tuesday night, and the church was filled. Both factions were well represented and the atmosphere was surcharged with electricity, although nothing happened until the collection was taken.

Fight Follows Sermon.

Rev. Seymour chose as his text “Ye are the Salt of the Earth,” and dwelt particularly on brotherly love and cheerfulness. At the conclusion of the sermon the congregation knelt in prayer and the preacher then announced that the collection would be taken. Instantly three of the newly elected trustees made their way to the front of the church where the table containing the collection boxes was placed. Rev. Seymour called upon two of the stewards to take charge of the money.

The stewards were S. Harris and John Jenkins, while the trustees were J.B. Lowe, Joseph Adams and R.C. Minor. Rev. Seymour stated that the trustees had no right to take charge of the money, as it was due him. But Mr. Minor took the opposite view and said the money should go to the church, as it was needed to defray expenses.

By this time the congregation was dropping its contributions into the boxes. Mr. Minor stood by one box while Harris and the pastor mounted guard over the other.

According to the general version the minister sought to take charge of the second box, whereupon Mr. Minor entered an objection and the trouble started. Robert Lowe, another of the trustees, then struck the pastor a blow behind the ear. Harris attempted to rescue his pastor, but was knocked down, and his son who had rushed to the rescue piled on top of him. Things looked ad for the loyalists at this juncture, but the women rushed in between the combatants and in the excitement Rev. Seymour escaped through a rear door.

Some one attracted by the shrieks of the women and under the impression that murder was being done, telephoned for the police. Actual hostilities were over by the time the police arrived. None of the combatants was badly hurt. Minor received a black eye, Harris a slight cut on the forehead and Rev. Seymour a slight bump behind the right ear. The rest of the warriors stopped several random blows with different parts of their anatomy, but were not scarred.

Stories Differ.

The stories told by the two sides, although practically the same, vary slightly on some points. Minor claims that Rev. Seymour “socked” him in the eye while the minister says he did not. All parties united in stating that Lowe “caught” the minister back of the ear. Minor is credited with jabbing a vicious left to Harris’ head, bringing the blood.

The dissensionists say that the minister attempted to seize both collection boxes, while his followers state he did not, and that Minor struck the first blow.

Dissatisfaction has prevailed at St. James church ever since last summer, and this winter determined efforts were made to remove Seymour, but he has steadfastly resisted all attempts to put him out. Several meetings have been held, and at one he was asked to resign but later the bishop caused the motion to be rescinded.

At last week’s meeting six trustees were elected over the minister’s head and a resolution was passed to reduce his salary to $10 per month. Following this meeting Rev. Seymour held a meeting of his followers in another part of the church and elected six trustees of his own. The dissenting element appears to be decidedly the stronger, although the pastor denies that it is, and says that most of the insurgents are not members of the church.

“Blue coats” from the Rondo Street police station at Rondo and Western Avenue were dispatched to the church after fighting broke out over the collection plate. But the battle was all but over when they arrived and no arrests were made. (mnhs.org photo from about 1900)

This entry was posted on Monday, September 4th, 2006 at 8:07 pm and is filed under Main, Mayhem, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.