National Republican., 1876-09-05
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
Tie Moral Character Of the Minister sus-
tanned,

At the invitation of the Second Baptist
church, (colorcd,) a council of delegates from
the following named churches assembled at
the church yesterday afternoon for the purpose
of advising as to what action should be taken
in regard to a statement made in the newspa-
pers concerning the church and pastor, viz:
First Baptist, Second Baptist, Rehoboth Bap-
tist, (colored,) } Third Baptist, (colored,) Mace
donia Baptist, (eolored,) and Beulah Baptist,
(coiored,) Alexandria, Va. The meeting was
opened by singing, Gam 1 Soldier of the
Cross" and prayer by the Rev. Henry Bailor.
Rev. W. NJ. 1ngersoll, of the Second Baptist
church, was elected chairman, and Brother S.
NJ. Yeatman secretary of the council, which
was followed by singing "When Can Read
My Title Clear" and prayer by Rev. W. NJ.
1Dgersoll.
The meeting being declared open for bust
ness, various statements were made as to the
objects for which the council was called, re-
marks being made by Rev. c. c. Meador and
others.
Upon motion, a committee, consisting of
Brethren Ingersoll, Cuthbert, Meador Yeat-
man, Bailor, Green, Banks, Jeffries, Rawls,
Robinson, Hunter, Trainer and BOuldin, was
appointed.
Recess was then taken.
After the recess the committee submitted the
Whereas certain statements appeared in the
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN of August 90, 1876,
rejecting upon the action of the Second Baptist
church (colored) relative to the exclusion of
certain members, and highly derogatory to the
moral character of the pastor, Rev. NJ. II. Gas
kins, the following named having been invited
by the church to sit in council with them, beg
leave to submit the following:
First. That the reference derogatory to Rev.
M. ii. Gasbins' character had been thoroughly
investigated by committee called for the pur-
pose, and that he was exonerated from all
blame
Second. That after various meetings with
reference to the trouble in the Second Baptist
church, the following, by advice of brethren
OF other churches, was unanimously adopted:
/. Since there is evident misunderstanding
and disagreement as to former proceedings,
and no prospect of reaching amicab!e agree
ment thereabouts, we do urgently recommend
that all action with reference to your present
troubles be declared null and void.
2. That a vote be now taken, without de-
bate, requesting your pastor, Rev. NJ. H.
Gaskins, to resign: and that, if a majority
vote in the affirmative, he shall acquiesce in
it as the will of the church aud accordingly
resign; but, if majority vote in the negative,
then the minority of the church shall submit
to the decision.
Third. That vote was then taken, result
ing as follows: In the affirmative, 6S; in the
negative, 116.
Fourth. That we deeply regret the action of
certain bre hren in recognizing excluded
brethren as worthy members of the church.
Fifth. That brethren disaffected refused to
submit to the agreement they had subscribed
tc, as also to the will of the majority, and
proceeded to take forcible possession of the
meeting, house, served an Injunction on the
church and tried to depose the pastor, but
were dispossessed by the court to which they
had appealed, and finally excluded by the
church.
The following council OF clergymen also in
dorsed the above: C. C. Meador, W. NJ. Inger-
soil, j. H. Cuthbert, S. NJ. Yeatnan, Henry
Bailor, Edgar Banks, Adam Green, Robert
Lewis, Albert Bouldin, Richard Meredith.