Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-08-26
The (OIOred Isepcher.
The Washington Chronicle of this mornin
contains the following:

The Washington Chronicle of this morning
contains the following:
The colored people of Arlington, not being
satisfied with Brooklyn having II churc; scandal
All to themselves, determined 10 if they could
not have one il Alexandria county. Thy com
uerccd locking for :hcir victim. and secured
him in thc person of the Rev. 10 erL : Laws,
the paslor Of MCuEt Zion Baptist Church, Freed
mems Village i: having been minated that he
WIS harhoring adultery In tho church, and in
fact WAS himself the possessor Of two wives, and
had drawn up bill o.: separation Tor one Of the
dcacons, to enable him 10 havy second wife
and did also, while being officially connected
with secret order, known AS the Sons and
Daughters of Liberty, fine Mary Frances Spen-
Ger Sc for Misconduct in the lodge and af.cr
ward made her improper offers to ply the tne
for her il she would comply with MS request.
The members, therefore, called meeting of the
church, and concluded to eXpel the deacon from
tn deacon board and the pastor from the pull pit,
which WAS done, but Laws not being satisfied
| with the turn things were TAX. ng, had another
n citing called, recorsldered the action of the
| previous meeting, SO fur rs he WAS concerned,
and again expelled the deacon. From tina: time
discord seemed to reign supreme in their midst,
| and the aggrieved members called for council
| Of ministers and deacons from the various col
| ored churches in Washington, Alexandria and
| Fairfax to meet and settle tho difficulties a
| few days ago they met in council a Arlington,
| and the Rev. Fields Cook, of Alexandria, was
chosen moderator, ind G. Il. iddlcton secrela-
| ry The Rev. Robert 5. Laws WIS there in
person. and made u. sta ement in his own de-
ience the expelled deacon was also present,
and when asked if he would have married it
Brother Laws had not written the bill OF scpa
| ration replied, No.
| Brother N elson Worml.y also made State
mcnt in support of the charges, after which
or)-Messrs. w. J. Walker, William Gbbo 8,
| John H. Brooks, - Marshall and J. w. Dali
las-subm.ted the following report:
Your committee beg leave To report that the
| Rev. Robert S. Laws. in their judgment, has
transcended his min stcrial functions as IL minis
| ter vi the New Testament iii making 81 bill! Of
| separation for Randall Bates. We recommend
the action of the aggreved members in cleans
| ing their church from tornlcation and ada terry,
and ask that the council hear Brother K. 5.
Laws if he has any PREPARATION OF confession to
make"
| When the report wac read orc Of the descons
| remarked that he ;houg hit the deacons had done
the cleansing, y hen Nelson Wormley replied
that he was glad to hear the admission that
| cleansing was found necessary, The report OF
the committee then adopted, and the Rev
| Robert 5. Laws made he following confession,
stating that the report of be commit cc and Its
adoption ky the council was satisfactory evil
dency that he had done WI ny, and that ne WAS
sorry he had done anything to cause grief or
sutf ring to his brethren, and asked forgiveness,
| and was sorry be had incurred the dlsplchsure
| of any of the members o. the :ch, and would
use Ill possible means to conci late II VINO hid
been agg rieved by him. His contest, IT
| ce we'd ~ satisfactory, and, on the grounds of
| Christianity, he WIS 70 given,
The following is I. copy OF the bill OF separa-
| ton which was drawn up by Brother Laws, AID
which was the main cause VI the trouble:
SEPARATION BETw ZEN NJ. RANDALL BAT
! AM MRS FANNY BATES.
This agreement of three parts, made the -
IL
Bates, of Arlington Alcxandria couaty, Va,
and Mrs. Fannie Bates, his wife, of New keht
county Virginia, aud -, OF the third part, ol
! New Kent county, Virginia; whereas divers DIS
putes and unhappy differences have arisen oe,
| tween the party of the first part and his wife of
| the second, for which reason she has deserted
him without authority of law, they for the same
which reason have consented and agreed to live
| scpa. ate and apart from ca h other during their
natural life; therefore this AGREEMENT wltnesseth
that the said party of the first, IN conslderatl n
of tho disastrous manner IN which the sacr
wedlock was dissolved, and laws in pursuance
thereof, doth hereby conveant, promise and
agree to and with the said trustee, anu also t.
| and with his said wife, that Ii shall and may d.
lawful for her, hi: said wife, at al times hereai-
ter to live separate and apa from, and that he
| shall and (allow) will allow and permit her to
reside and bo in such place and pl .ccs, and in
| such family and families, and with relations,
! friends, and otrer persons and to follow ana
| carry on such trade or business rs she may from
| time to time choose or think tit to do; and that
| he shall not or will not at any time sue or suffer
| her to be sued for living separate and apart from
| him, or compel her TO live with him, or sue,
molest disturb or trouble her for living sep .rste
| and Apart from him, or any ther whomsoever
! for receiving entertaining or harboring ner, and
| tn he will not without her consent visit her, or
| knowingly enter any house or place where she
shall dwell, reside or b., or seEd, or cause to be
S. mt any letter or message TO herr nor shall or
| will at any time hereafter claim or demand any
of her money, jewels, plates, clothing household
goods, furniture OF stock in trade which she
| now hath in her power, custody or possession,
or which she shall or may 1T any time hereafter
have, or th.t she may otherwise acquire and
that She shall and may euj ~ and absolutely dis
pose of the same, as if she were q femme sole
and unmarried; and, further, that the said par
ty of the first psrt and his wife further agree
that, owing to the manner they separated, he.
shall no; be req tired to pay, or Cause to be paid
unto her his SAID wife for and toward her b:tter
| support and maintenance, any weekly, monthly
or yearly, IN any year or years during her nat
ural life, nor will the trustee be required to
cain, or take rs any support, maintenance or
aiimony whatever. Rand LII BATES.
f,,-