The Donaldsonville chief., 1879-09-20
Baptist Council.
An Assembly Of Ministers Considering-tne
Cases of Revs. John Ashby and Spencer
R0hersnn-The Dfciaiflns

oONAASAs
An Assembly Of Ministers Considering-tlne
Cases of Revs. John Ashby and Spencer
RobersOn-The Decisions.
On Monday aud Tuesday last anteccles-
iastical council of Baptists--composed of
clerical and lay delegates from u number
Of the Baptist churches of this and adia-
cent parishes-met in Donaldsonville to
consider the ease.of Rev. John Ashby,
ex-pastor of the Nazarene Church of this
town, who petitioned fol. a reconsidera-
tion of the decision excluding him from
the ministry, and also the case of Rev.
Spencer Robertson, present pastor Of the
same church, charged with misconduct,
the details of which have been already
given in the CHIEF.
The Ashby case was considered on
Monday, at the Court House, the council
having proceeded to that building to
hold it's session because of some misun-
sderstanding concerning the alse Of the
Nazarene Church. After evidence had
been taken and arguments made, pro and
con, it was decided that when the ex-
cluded members of the Nazarene congre-
cation who had followed the fortunes of
Mr.. Ashby when he was forced out of the
church, should return and ask to be re-
admitted, the ministerial functions Of
the Rev. Mr.. Ashby would be restored.
We are not fully informed upon tire mat
ter, but we believe there is q disposition
upon the part Of Mr.. Ashby and his
friends, while deprccating the harshness
of the councils decision, to make an
effort towards carrying out the sugges-
tion which it offers and reuniting with
the Nazarene Church. At all events,
there has been considerable abatement
of the hard feeling hitherto prevailing
between the Baptist factions, and this
leads to the conclusion that they are in
a fair way to harmonize past differences.
Tuesday the council met in the Naza-
rene Church and instituted an investiga-
ton into the charges against Rev. Spencer
Robertson. The editor of the CHIEF was
Gil, and subsequently requested to appear
before the council itself, to make state
ment of the evidence upon which the
articles appearing in the paper had been
based. Without desiring to occupy such
g position, the editor was forced into the
attitude of a prosecuting witness and
almost the entire onus of sustaining the
charges was thrust upon him; and in
justification of the CHIEFS course with
reference to the matter under inquiry.
we could not do less than lay before the
council full and candid statement of
all the circumstances of the affair, within
our knowledge, backed up with doeu-
mentary proof and tsae corroberative
testimony of other witnesses. The men,
bers of the council, we are glad to say,
unanimously recognized the right and
privilege of the CHIEF to give the scandal
publicity and we believe all acquitted
us of any sinister motive in the premises
Rev. Roberson's defense consisted Of
denial that the love letters produced
were in his handwriting; confession
that he was in the. "besieged house,
Tuesday night, and all day Wednesday,
and that he escaped under cover of dark
ness early Wednesday night, being de-
tered by the threats of the crowd out
side from emerging dnring the day; and,
finally, an assertion that he was innocent
of any criminality in his relations with
I" the lady Of the house," His theory was
that he had gone to the ill-starred house
to see his little daughter, who was stop
ping there and was somewhat i'll; that
after soothing the child to slumber he
fell asleep himself and did not awaken
until morning, when he was startled to
find the premises surrounded by the
noisy crowd just referred to.
After due discussion of the matter the
council adopted, by vote of 19 to 3, a
resolution advising the Nazarcne Church
to dismiss the Rev. Spencer Robertson as
its pastor. The argument which pre-
ceded the adoption of this resolution was
by much force and elo-
quence. The remarks of Revs. A. M.
Newman, H. G. Green and Jno. Marks of
New Orleans, ando Rev. George Arm
stead Of Napoleonville, we're especially
and created deep impress
sion upon the council and the large au-
dience present. Rev. Armstead acted as
Moderator Of the council aud filled the
position admirably, while Hon. G.. H.
Hill efficiently performed the dnties of |
-
When the business of the council was
Rev. Marks took the floor and |
made an eloquent and touching address,
calling upon Baptists to stand by the
faith and sustain the Nazarene Church :: |
not to be cast down by their troubles,
but close up their ranks were Satan |
made vacancies there, and march for
ward to the goal of all true christians.
We regret that our space will not per-
NIT us to reproduce in the CHIEF the
fine thoughts uttered and powerful |
reasoning advanced by the speakers in
this council and during the informal pro-
ceedings which succeeded its delibera-
tions suffice it to say the record would |
be no discredit to an assembly composed