Carried Out of Church, Then Found Reading Luke

Dr. Everett O. Johnson, who was expelled from the First Methodist Episcopal Church last spring because of a lack of moral rectitude, and who was a little later compelled to vacate his pew under circumstances that called forth a great deal of comment, again acquired unenviable prominence last evening. He put in an appearance at the church during the special Pentecostal service being held by Dr. S. A. Keen, of Delaware, O., and was forcibly ejected by two policemen and two of the ushers.

Readers of the Post-Intelligencer will remember the scandal connected with the doctor's expulsion from the church and the manner in which he afterward figured in the divorce court. Last evening at 8:30 o'clock, while the services were in progress, Dr. Johnson appeared at the doorway, and, as he was preparing to enter, was met by E. C. Sharpe, an usher and special police officer, who told him not to go in. Dr. Johnson declared he had a right to enter, and, pushing the usher aside, went in, taking a seat in the middle aisle about four seats from the rear. In a few moments Sexton Arnold approached the doctor and told him to vacate the seat, but the doctor demurred. Then both Arnold and Sharpe endeavored to make the doctor leave the place, but without avail.

Police Officer Kent was then hunted up and asked to put Dr. Johnson out, but declined. Sergeant Willard, being notified by telephone, then appeared on the scene and, accompanied by the usher, the sexton and Officer Kent, ordered the doctor out. He still demurred and the sexton and usher seized him by the collar, but the doctor braced his feet against the seat in front and could not be budged. As soon as Sergeant Willard placed his hand on the doctor's shoulder he arose and was pulled along the aisle to the door. Here he made a slight resistance but was ejected unceremoniously.

Speaking of the matter last evening Mr. Sharpe said:

"I suppose some people, not conversant with all the circumstances of the case, will say that the doctor had as much right in the church as anyone, but did not Christ put the money changers out of the temple? I don't care to draw a parallel, but we were just as much in the right in demanding that Dr. Johnson leave this evening. He comes here for no other reason than to create discord and to show himself. He knows that when he comes for the purpose of causing trouble and seeking trouble he is not wanted. Were he repentant it would be different. The church is for the salvation of sinners, but the doctor doesn't seek salvation; he seeks to make it as unpleasant for us as possible."

Dr. Johnson could not be found last evening. A reporter called at his office in the Scheuerman block and found a student's lamp lit, and near it, on the center table in the reception room, was a well-worn small leather Bible with "E. Johnson" printed in gold letters on the cover. The book was open at Luke vi:22, which was marked with pencil in parenthesis, and reads:

"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake."

Evidently the doctor, after his ejection from the church, had returned to his office and sought consolation in the Scriptures, leaving the Bible open at the place where he was reading.