The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-10
A Church uncIhurched.
COLoRED BAPTIST ASSOCIATION DELTyET
AN OPINION or the TROUBLES IN TIiE FIRs
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AFRICAN CHURCH or RICHMOND.
At the meeting Of the colored Shiloh Bop-
tist Association he'd in Goidohsville last
week the questions arising ont of The late
troubles In The First African church Of this
city and the subsequent organization by
seeding members thereof Of the Fifth
| COlored Baptist church were considered by
the Association. The subject came up In
The form Of query somewhat az follows /:
"Was Il right for a counci, 10 be called By
band OF excluded members Of regular
Baptist church, and for that council 10 meet
and recognize them as church without
finding out whether these parties were le-
galiy or Illegally excluded, and when The
council would not allow q member OF the
church that excluded them TO attend its ses-
siOns?"
The question was referred TO committee
Of Rev. l.. A. Black. OF Petersburg; Rev.
+. &. Corprcw. OF Portsmouth; Rev. j. w.
Pattei son, OF Dahville; Rev. G.. b. How.
ard, of Rockingham and Rev. j. f. Brown,
of Chesterfield. This committee met in the
Second church. Gordonsyile. and proceed
ed to hear testimony in the case.
n. p. Vsnderyal, Of the First African
church, Richmond, stated that bis church
did all it could to prevent The disorderly
proceedings. but having failed, the police
were requested by the trustees to be at the
door 10 protect the church in case Of neces-
sity. When the confusion occurred the pO-
lice were called In, and took out the disOr-
derry party.
The delegates from the Second Baptist
church said that their church recognized
the proceedings OF the council because they
thought il was right upon the facts pre-
sen,ed TO them.
Rev. II. Wells stated that he was sent by
Ebenezer church rs delegate to the coun.
ell, but went with reluctance. He gave an
acc ,unt OF the proceedings OF the council,
which have been already published in the
Dispatch.
Tine committee called for the letter from
the Fifth-Street church, but as none had
been sent 10 the Association, statements
were made by three members Of the church
TO the effect that the Chief OF Police took
charge OF the meeting on a certain Sunday
at the First African church, when about
five hundred members left the church.
They also stated that their Fifth.Street
church was recognized on the ground that
peace might be restored to the FIRST church
snd because he members had been excluded
in their absence.
Rev. Evans Payne, OF The Fourth church,
stated that he was a member Of the council,
and acted from the same motives as Rev.
Mr.. Wells. Deacon Henry Brown, or the
Rising Mount Zion church. endorsed the ac-
tion OF the council on the same grounds.
The Investigation committee, after hear
ing the evidence, agreed upon the following
report, which was afterwards adopted by
the Association by vote Of ayes 81, noes . :
"We, your committee appointed 10 con-
slider the question asked by the FIRST
African church OF Richmond, beg leave to
make the following report: After looking
carefully into the matter we have come to
the following decision: First. We do not
endorse the actions OF the council IN setting
aside and recognizing any band OK members
who had been excluded from a church, and
others without letters, without looking into
the matter first. and 10 ind out whether
they were excluded legally or illegally.
Second We recommend that the council
should call meeting Immediately and undo
their action and leave the parties where
they found them. with instructions that they
must return back to their church and be-
come reconciled and get their letters"
WHAT THE OTHER SIDE SAY.
A Dispatch reporter last night inter
viewed several OF the leading members OF
the Fifth-Street Baptist church, which COM
poses the seeding members from the First
church. They had heard OF the action OF
the Association IL reported above, but had
received no official announcement. and did
not seem in the least disturbed at its pro-
ceedings. Services were held three times
Yesterday at the Fifth-Street church, and at
two OF them sermons were preached by
ministers OF the Association. The prevail
ing sentiment among the members OF this
church seems TO be one OF unalterable hos
tlity TO Rev. Mr.. Holmes and determine
tion at all hazards OF forming church In
| dependent and distinct from the First Bap'
tist, and OF refusing to extend Christian
fellowship to the members OF that church.
MEETING OF THE RICHMOND AND MAN
CHESTER BAPTIST SUNDAYSCHOOL ASsOCIA'
TIoX.-Th. Association heh lts monthly
meeting Sunday evening at the First Bap-
tist church. The attendance was much
larger and the singing much better than
usual.
The President OF the Association, Mr.
William Elyson, read a report from the
committee to whom was referred the appli'
! cotions OF the SWansbOru' and Leigh Street