The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-17
VIRGINIA CON INFERENCE.
SESSION YESTERDAY
THE HIGH-sTREET CHURCH TROUBLES
BROUGHT FORWARD 1NANoTHERFoRM
MR.. LUMPKIN COMPLAINS AGAINST MIR.
BRowN-THE ACCUSED VINDIcATED-
DISTINGUISHED MINISTERS INTRODUCED.

st bkUU tOHNAktD In N.ANUTHEKh hOKm-
MR.. LUMPKIN COMPLAINS AGAINST MIR.
BRowN-THE ACCUSED YNDIcATED-
DISTINGUISHED MINISTERS INTRODUCED.
The Conference reassembled Yesterday at
| 81 O'Clock, Bishop Kavanangh ia the chair,
The devotional exercises were conducted
by Rev, Robert Michaels, Of Amelia county.
He read portion OF the twentieth chapter
of Matthew, and gave out the hymn COM
mencing 80 st-
"Comc, Holy Spirit, come
With energy divine, &c.;.
which was sung by the whole Conference
Prayer by Rev. Ar. Michaels.
"Inecd Thee every hours
was then sung. Prayer by: Rev. Joseph
Davis, OF Westmoreland.
EXAMINATION OF CHARACTERS.
Minute Question 20," the examination
OF characters, was resumed, commencing in
Farmville district where it was left off yes
terday after disposing of the. case of Rev.
Mr.. Lumpkin. Nothing against any other
minister of his district. rF.F
Rev. Leroy NJ. Lee, presiding elder of the
Petersburg district, stated that he had been
in feeble health, and able to do but little
~
When the name OF Rey. A. G. Brown was
called Mr.. Lee said, g Nothing against Bro
ther Brown" Mr. 1umpkIn, however,
said he had complaint to make against Mr.
Browns official administration. Some ques-
| ton was raised rs to whether Mr.. Brown
had had due notice, but Dir. Brown disposed
OF it by waiving all his rights OF notice in
| the premises. He remarked that the whole
matter grew out Of the unfortunate trouble
of Mr.. Lumpkin, Mr.. Brown having sue
ceeded Mr.. Lumpkin at the High-Street
church. Mr.. Lumpkin took exception to
the Use OF the word unfortunate.
AN OLD TROUBLE.
Mr.. Lumpkin then read the following
from the minutes OF the High-Street church,
Petersburg:
Whereas it has come to the knowledge OF
this official body that Rev. W. G. Lumpkin,
the former pastor of this church, has put in
circulation sundry damaging reports against
the church, and asserted that our church is
in debt to him and has otherwise mistreated
him; therefore
Reso5Ued, That this official body appoint
committee OF five members Of this body to
confer with him and ascertain his grieY-
ances, the amount Of our Indebtedness to
him, IL any, and report back to this body
Under this resolution Messrs. Atkin,
Bagby, Jones, Eanes, and Snyder were ap-
pointed az the committee.
This action was taken December 81, 1875.
Mr.. Lumpkin complained that Mr..
Brown allowed the party whose name had
not been furnished to enter damaging
charge against his character; that Mr..
Brown allowed the committee to investigate
the charge, and that, further, he allowed the
proceedings to be entered of recerd-all
contrary to the church law and bretherly
acourtesy.
! Mr.. Lumpkin made brief statement OF
4 the case, and was followed by Mr. Brown.
4 Mr.. Brown maintained that the action of the
: official body was taken in brotheray kind
ness, with the hope Of settling decisiyely
the trouble which had long continued. MIR.
Brown personally urged before the Board
that the resolution ought not to be passed !;
he hoped that the healing process Of time
would heal the discord, but he had nO'doubt
of the right OF the Board to pass the resolu-
ton. He denied all intention OF the Board
or himself to bring any charge against mfr.
Lumpkin. The only object was to find out
what charge Mr.. ;Lumpkin had against the
church. - ~ <l'i'e.. -.
Mr.. Lumpkin read all the correspondence
between himself and the eon mittee. It
seemed that some spirit was shown on both
sides, and that there was misunderstan ling
from the beginning. Mr.. Lumpkin held
Mr.. Brown, as pastor OF the Hlgh-Street
church and chairman Of the official body,
responsible for the action Of the official
body. ~
Mr.. Bledsoe asked the Bishop to decide
whether or no Mr.. Brown could be held
responsible for the action OF the official
body.
a5 THE SUBJECT DISPOSED OF.
The Bishop thought the whole subject
should be disposed Of by the verdict Of the
Conference.
Mr.. Lumpkin then continued his state
ment Of the case and argument against Mr.
Browns course in permitting the Board to
do what it did in the premises.
Mr. Brown stated that there were witnesses
present who would affirm that Dir. Lumpkin
did charge the church with mistreating
him; and that they would testify that Mr..
Lumpkin intended to divide the congrega-
ton, and had actually, through another
party. applied for the use OF Presbyterian
church to preach in.
Rev. Dr. Duncan argued that it had not
been shown that Mr.. Brown was at all re-
sponsible for the action of the official body.
On the contrary, had advised against it. He
| offered resolution, in effect, that the Con-
ference yindicate Mr.. Brown OF maladmin-
istration in the premises; which was unani-
mously adopted.
The character-moral, official, and legal
of Mr.. Brown was then passed.
MI. Motley suggested that the objection
BILE minutes ought to be erased, but the
Bishop decided that the Conference had no
control over the records in question.
VISITING MINISTER'S.
The following visiting ministers were in
troduced and invited to seats in the body {:
Rev. A. w. Wilson, DIR. Samuel Rodgers,
and DR.. John Poisal, Of the Baltimore Con-
ference; Rev. C. II. Read, of Grace-Street
Presbyterian church; Rev. Mr.. Brooks, OF
the West Virginia Conference; DR.. Albert
| T. Bledsoe, editor Of the Southern Reuieao.
All the ministers in the Farmyille, Muir
freesboro', and Norfolk districts passed the
examination as to character.
The Conference, after religious exercises,
then adjourned till this morning.
MISSIONARY AID SOCIETY.
The Missionary Aid Society of the Vir-
ginia Conference met in Broad-Street
church yesterday afternoon at 4 O'Clock.
Rev. S. A. Steele (president OF the Society
In the chair. Rev. d. G. &. Butts was cleo
ted secretary. ~
Rev. s. A. Steele stated that the ladies Of
his congregation had raised $3.50 for the
Society, which he would hand over to the
treasurer. kl'tr
Rev. James C. Read was elected treasurer.
iiRay X. 90 Woodward made an address