Mayhem among the Methodists at Newbern in 1868

This is the Newbern Community Church building, built by Methodists during the winter of 1908 and spring of 1909. Later on, during 1920, it became the home of a federated church uniting small Methodist, Cumberland Presbyterian and United Brethren congregations. Then, during 1943, a community church was formed.

But Methodists had the distinction, as they did in much of Iowa, of being founders of the first congregation in this village on the Lucas-Marion county line and the squabble among them during 1868 occurred in an earlier building.

I found the report in The Keokuk Daily Gate of March 7, 1868, attributed to an issue of The Chariton Patriot long since destroyed.

I wish I knew more --- the case involve two of southern Iowa's most prominent attorneys: T. M. Stuart, founder of Chariton's Stuart dynasty; and William M. Stone, who had recently returned to private practice in Knoxville after serving as Iowa governor 1864-1868.

Here's the report:

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Out in the rural parts they are wont, at "meetings," to make the sexes sit apart. Up at Newbern, says the Chariton Patriot, a row and a lawsuit grew out of an enforcement and infraction of the regulation the other day.

Mr. C, a wealthy and influential member of the Methodist Church, disregarded the rule and occupied a seat with his family. The sexton tried to put him  out; he put the sexton out instead.

The sexton had Mr. C. arrested, first for disturbing the meeting, and failing to convict him in this, commenced a suit for assault and battery. The jury found a verdict in Mr. C's favor, and the cost of suit, amounting to some $70 or $80, was taxed up to the sexton.

As the sexton was acting only as an instrument in the hands of the Trustees, doubtless the congregation will agree to pay the bill. The church was represented, we believe, by Governor Stone, and the defendant by T.M. Stuart, of Chariton.