Phenix Gazette

Church Militant. It appears that a singular disturbance occurred in the Baptist church, known as Mr. Chance's, in Delancy-street, on Sunday last. Some charges had been made against the Rev. Mr. Chance, and an ecclesiastical tribunal was in consequence organized to investigate them, in the mean time, an invitation was given to the Rev. Mr. Sayers of Ithaca, to preach to the Delancy-street congregation.

On Sunday last, several of the Trustees, with Mr. Sayers, and several other members of the church, proceeding to the church found Mr. Chance engaged in lecturing some Sunday School Children. The friends of Mr. Sayers introduced him to the pulpit, whilst those of Mr. Chance requested him to occupy the same sacred place. In proceeding to do so, the latter was stopped on the stairs by the Trustees, and he then proceeded to another part of the church, from which he addressed the congregation. As soon as he paused the Rev. Mr. Sayers commenced a prayer, during which the Rev. Mr. Chance was silent-but as soon as it was concluded he commenced a lecture.

Mr. Sayers' friends proposed that an afternoon sermon should be given by him, and the proposal was agreed to amongst them; on the other side Mr. Chance's friends resolved to have an afternoon service in the same church.

At the appointed hour, some collision took place between the partisans of each clergyman, and instead of petitions to the throne of charity and brotherly love, complaints and counter complaints were made yesterday at the police office.

It is to be hoped that the parties may settle their differences elsewhere than in a criminal court.--N. Y. Courier