The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-05-06

! AN EcCLEsIAsTIcAL -CoUNCIL Of BaptIs
ministers convened on Monday, May I, At /
q. m. in the Shiloh Baptist church, l., between
| Sixteenth and Seventeeth streets.
! The council was organized by calling to tn,
chair Rev. Mr.. Mirick; Rev. NJ. V. Wrigh
was chosen clerk.
stated the object TO be to Investigate the min
isterial conduct Of Rev. A. Bouldin.
The following ordained ministers were pres
ent as members of said council-namely A. u
II. Lee 5. II: Mirriek, J. Brooks, W. Gsskins
q. Leonard, W. I. Nelson, NJ. V. Wright, ar
q this eityi $; Alexander Of georsetown, Q
Madden, and Marshall, Of Alexandra, an,
Laws, OF Arlington.
An objection was raised BY Rev. Dir. Robin
son, OF Alexandria, that the council was no
Upon this point considerable discussion en-
sued, during which II was shown that an Inv!
tation, signed BY more than twenty ministers
| was sent to A. Bouldin to be present at sale
council. It was also ACKNOWLEDGED by Boui
dlns son, son-in.law, and friends, that he re
eeived the Invitation; and further, that h,
one OF his friends not to go.
The council then proceeded to investigate
the statement which appeared In = city paper
that at a council held in Bouldin's church
| April 23d, . resolution was passed withdraw.
Ing the hand OF fellowship from certain Bap.
Others, whose names appe ,red in the above
| named article as members of said council,
stated that no council was organized at the
said church on the above.named day and date,
church on that date, but no resolutions Of any
character were passed at 1t.
AT this point Mr.. Roberts rose and stated
that he and Bouldin were the party who had
the article In question published, and that
they would sign a statement acknowledging
II to be without foundation, said acknowledg-
ment to be published In the papers containing
the abOyc-named false statement
The trustees Of the Third Baptist (eolored)
CHURCH, 10 their report the called council OF
ter between them and their late pastor. Albert
Bouldin, among other things allcge that for
many years past their pastor arrogated and
assumed snsiSn to himself powers and authority
that he originally was the owner of the land
on which the church stood; that he sold 1t to
the trustees; that he contracted many of the
purchases in the building of the church, and
which, with his salary, caused the church to
be sometimes largely Indebted to him; that he,
as pastor, collected large amounts Of money 10
OF money were collected by Others, members
OF the congregation, all of which he required
should be paid over to him; that the sum SO
collected BY all paid over to him amounts TO
20, 2y950, or Whereabouts, as the trustees verify
believed, but they are unable to give the pre-
else amount. The trustees say that for many
years past they have been unable to obtain
any settlement or account OF the moneys col
lected by or paid to him, and that he has re-
fused to give receipts and to credit on the
notes given by the trustees in payment for the
lot, and being unable to obtain a settlement,
they have been compelled to sue In the Equity
Court for such an account of moneys In his
hands.
The trustees alIege that they and their pre-
decessors have been trustees OF the church
nearly ever since its Organization; that as such
trustees they were charged with the care, pos
session and custody OF the money and property
OF the church and the management OF Its tenn
poral business affairs; but that the pastor de-
MED them these or any similar rights, and as
sumed these powers himself
III June last the above, with other causes of
difference, eliminated In the preparing Of
charges against the pastor and the call OF n
council OF Baptist churches to adjudicate the
same; and that upon the trial these charges
were sustained, the pastor found guilty on
every count, and dissolution of the relations
recommended, the church giviur the pastor
the usual three months notice.
The report also alleges that the pastor acted
eontemptuous and rude toward the council.
and went to law in n spirit OF yindictiveness
towards certain members OF the charges,c harg.
Ing them with burglary, larceny, Ac.; the
charges OF which, upon trial, were not sus.
tanned. That for these, and other good and
sufficient reasons, the church disowned Mr.
Bouldin from having further fellowship with
them as thei pastor or member.
The report says that he has since then pro.
cured, by force and arms, possession OF the
church building, and now holds possession
thereof against the lawful claims of the
trustees.
The trustees charge that MT Bouldin repre-.
sents but fifteen members, and say that AS
majorities rule In the temporal matters Of the
Baptist Church, fifteen cannot drive two hun.
bred out OF the church, nor control them In IT.
driven out OF the church which they helped to
build, and Of which the title Is In them, and
their names to the obligations for Its payment;
that they have between two and three hundred
members with them, and that the opposite
party have but from fifteen to forty; that the
majority have had to rent another place of
worship, aud leave their own in the hands of
the fifteen, holding by force; or, in taking back
what Is their own, they would likely be charged
with committing breach Of the peace.
In conclusion, the trustees say that they
yeXatious dispute, and hope the blessing Of
iol may be upon and guide the council IN
is signed by Joseph Alexander, Henry Wat
son, Henry Scott, John Higgins, VIM. Laws,
and willis J. Miner, as trustees.
ilrming the action Of the council which met on
the same case in the Second Baptist church of
this city, on the Sd day Of October, 1867, in
churches. Resolutions were passed at that
council declaring Bouldin unworthy any claim
to ministerial respects recognizing as Just the
action of the church In excluding Bouldin
from its membership, and Recognizing the %?
members (whom he and his party had pretended
to eXclude) as the Third Bsp tlst church, proper.
Of Washington, J., O., and not the Is who acted
with Bouldin. There were but two votes in
the negative on the above resolution of connr-
nation.
The following ministers, viz: u. W. Andcr-
son, :. Alexander, \. N. Madden, CIV Parker,
W. j. Walker, q. Leonard, and NJ. Y. Wright,
were appointed committee to report the con-
duct OF said Bouldi to the American Baptist
Free Mission Society, aud to protect, In the
name of the Baptlsts of this district and ylcin-
ity against the connection of said Bouldin with
said society In any manner whatever.
Tn motion 1t was resolved to send a copy of
the proceedings of this council to the Phila
dclphia Association; also, to the imrriCdn
Baptist, National baptist, and EIdmilyr.
Council then adjourned.
REAL ESTATE SALgs.-MCssrs. Cooper y
Lstimer, huctionccrs, sold lot II, in square
No. Gl6 on the east side of First street west
between u and Z streets north, to Webster