Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1915 — A Church Squabble at Remington. [ARTICLE]

A Church Squabble at Remington.

There was considerable excitement in the Christian church at Remington Sunday, when, after the regular services, the board of elders read a report of their finding on charges made against W. E. Johnston, a prominent citizen of Rem ington, who has been very active in the church work and who was the Sunday school superintendent, choir leader and an officer of the C. E. society. There has been trouble for some time, it is said, over stories told of Mp. Johnston and bis activities in church affairs, and the membership is divided regarding them. He has many friends who stand by him, and by several it is thought the action of the board in expelling him from the church will cause a disruption that will be hard for it to recover from. The Democrat knows nothing about the matters concerning Mr. Johnston, but by some, it is said, that the whole thing is simply jealousy on the part of some of the other members. He is said to have been very prominent in the management of tlig church affairs and to have been one of its best paying members. The board’s report, we are informed, was quite lengthy, and other things stated that for the best interests of the church they deemed it best to wipe Mr, John ston’s name from their membership. Mr. Johnston is the junior member of the firm of C. B. Johnston & Son, lumber and coal dealers of Remington; and is among the most prominent and wealthy men of that place.