Chariton Methodists had been installed for about two years in their fine new building at what now is the intersection of North Main and Roland when issues arose during early February of 1866 about who should sit where.
No back issues of The Chariton Patriot from that year survive, but the editor of the The Knoxville Weekly Journal picked up a paragraph about the troubles from The Iowa State Register and reported in his edition of Feb. 6 under the headline Raised a Tempest that: "The Trustees of the Methodist Church at Chariton, having raised a tempest in the congregation by proclaiming that at all meetings for public worship each sex must occupy seats on opposite sides of the house."
He then added a paragraph of commentary attributed to The Iowa City Republican: "We supposed this age had got over the folly of separating the sexes in church, but it seems not yet at Chariton. Wonder if they intend to have separate lodging in heaven. If so, we shall decline a ticket even through they offer to deadhead us."
And finally, the editor, who must have had family in Chariton, added this, "We once considered Chariton a 'fast' place, but it seems they are slow on church etiquette, choosing rather to adhere to the old 'fogyism' of keeping the daughters of Eve and sons of Adam at a distance. Our mother and sisters live there --- keep them apart for Heaven's sake."
Chariton Methodists remain Lucas County's oldest congregation, so they did bounce back after 1866. These days, I believe, they indiscriminately share pews without regard to gender.
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