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The State Rights Democrat
Albany, Linn County, Oregon
What is this article about?
At the Evangelical conference in Albany, a preliminary meeting elected officers yesterday afternoon. This morning, discord erupted over chairmanship, leading to Rev. Bowersox and ten ministers seceding to another church after Bishop Bowman suspended them amid disputes over his authority and prior actions.
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FRIDAY'S SESSIONS.
The Evangelical conference held its preliminary meeting to the regular conference work at the church yesterday afternoon. The Association officers elected were J. Bowersox, President; J.I. Herschner, Vice-President; E.S. Bollinger, Sec; A. O'Dell, Treas. Trustees of Lafayette Seminary, C.C. Poling and W.E. Woodward. An enrollment of 60 was reported for that school.
This morning at 8:15 the members of the Evangelical conference met at the church, when a very stirring time followed, harmony becoming discord. Rev. Locke moved that Rev. Bowersox act as Chairman of the conference. Bishop Thos. Bowman, already in the chair, asserted his authority, and a scene of confusion followed, Bowersox being chosen by a majority; but Mr. Bowman being in the chair kept the seat. Then Rev. Bowersox with ten seceding ministers withdrew to the M.E. Church South and the Bowman faction continued at the Evangelical church. Before leaving he formally suspended all of them from the functions of the ministry. In his opening prayer the Bishop spoke of the machinations of "bad men, very bad men, hardly knowing what they are doing, going from one step to another until they will be led down to destruction," which we mention to show the feeling existing. The trouble seems to have arisen over the question of the powers of the Bishop, starting with the arbitrary trial of an editor of one of the religious papers, followed by the suspension of ministers, it is claimed by the seceders, arbitrarily by Bishop Bowman. A committee of fifteen appointed by the general conference suspended Bowman from his office; but the Bishop does not suspend and continues to represent the church, which is said to be somewhere nearly evenly divided on the matter. As the matter of church property is vitally at stake the contest is a very interesting, though an unfortunate one. The matter of appointments will be watched with interest, as well as the general proceedings of the rival factions, which we give as reported.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Albany
Event Date
Yesterday Afternoon And This Morning At 8:15 (Friday's Sessions)
Key Persons
Outcome
schism in the conference with rev. bowersox and ten ministers seceding to m.e. church south; suspended from ministry by bishop bowman; bowman suspended by committee of fifteen but continues to represent the church; church nearly evenly divided; church property at stake.
Event Details
Preliminary meeting yesterday afternoon elected officers and reported enrollment. This morning's meeting saw discord over chairmanship: Rev. Locke moved for Rev. Bowersox as chairman; Bishop Bowman asserted authority, leading to confusion; majority chose Bowersox, but Bowman kept seat; Bowersox and ten seceders withdrew; Bowman suspended them. Dispute over Bishop's powers from prior trial of editor and suspensions; general conference committee suspended Bowman.