The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-01
A Ksehnaena Minister Announces q
Change OF Demon national Views,
bns Proposes 10 Adhere to His Pre-
vlons Practice The Case of Rev. J.
A. .Chnmbliss-What He Said


The congregation of the Second Baptist
Church of this city were astonishcd on last
Sunday morning, when their pastor, Rev.
J. A. Chambliss, ut the close Of the COM
munion service, and just before they were
dismissed, arose and announced that his
views on the subject Of communion had
undergone q change. As erroneous state
ments have been made Of what be said on
the OCCASION, one of our reporters, who was
present. furnishes the following correct re-
port Of his remarks: ....-
MIR. Chambliss said am about to make
statement which l feel that, in Justice to
YOU and to myself, | cannot withhold. 1t
will be surprising, but j am sure you will
not doubt that Ispeak only as am impelled
| bv the deepest conscientious convictions.
And I do not make this announcement
rashly, but after long thought and anxious
PRAYER. For the future, IcGnnot undertake
| to maintain and defend the practice Of strict
communion as it nolo preUdits in the Ameri-
can Baptist churches. For j. long time my
mind has been disturbed upon this point.
| While it was unsettled gave the benefit OF
the doubt to the side which was expected
in my position to maintain Two or three
times during my pastorate have preac ched
on the subject when requested to do 50,
L
practice is defended, and | have pursued
the same course in private when the qucs-
ton was thrust upon me. But now have
settled in this conviction, that our Saviour
desired and enjoincd that all His disciples,
levery one saved by His death, should COM
memorate that death in the ordinance OF
the supper to the end of time; and that
while He also desired and cnJoined that
Ievery disciple should be immersed rs the
first act of obedience, lie did not make the
ordinance of communion SO to depend upou
the ordinance OF baptism that one who
should couScicntiously err in Judgment aS
to the manner Of observing the latter would
be thereby disqualified and prohibited from
| observing the former. In other words,
that one who providentialy or conscien'
tlously is unbaptizcd may still commemo-
rate that death by which he feels that he
has been saved.
do not propose now or at any time to
make IN argument upon this question un.
less you call upon me TO do SO. My earnest
desire is to he permitted to hold these
my thorough convictions quietly and
in peace. AS for my practice, it will be
in the future just what it has been in the
past, so long is may continue a member
of Il strict communion Church. | do not
intend to commune with my brethren OF
other denominations, because, while / hold
it to be my privilege as Il, Christian, ]
cannot do So without violating the regu,
lations of the Church TO which l belong,
aud injuriug tue feelings Of my Baptist
brethren. i am willing 10 fore2o a privi-
lcgc (Which is not also 4 duty for the sake
OF harmony and peace in the Church with
which agree in ali other matters. If you
retain me as your pastor l stall extend the
Invitation to the Lords Supper in the fu.
ture just rs in the past, for in doing so ]
simply utter the invitation Of the Church rs
II body, and not my own as an individual.
| Various rumorS were afloat on yesterday
in regard to The course Of Dir. Chan1bllss
and his church, such us that he had with.
drawn from tue ministry, that he had re.
nounced his connection with the Baptist
Church, and such like. Our inquiries sat
lsfy US that there is no truth in these state
ments. 1t will be seen from MIR. C.'s re-
marks that he will continue to enforce the
practice'or his Church in regard to restrict
ed communion, and one of the prominent
] members of the Second Baptist Church in
formed us that Mr.. Chambliss stated to
him on Sunday night that il q member Of
his church should partake OF the Lords
Supper in Pedobaptist church he, MIR.
| Chambliss, would vote for his exclusion.