Daily Republican., 1881-01-14

also 10 call attention 70 the fact tina,
the church resolutions were passed I'M
der the pressure OF what has become
sort Of parliamentary force pump with
| the pastor to Wit : that II the church
did OF please him In the matter ht
would forsake the flock, and mOrs cover,
that the resolutions adopted by the
Teachers Association were passed with
the alternative before them OF instant
Obstruction and annihilation by thit
already illustrious Board Of Deacons
80 threatened the pastor In his state
mept before the church. Under such
circumstances could not h ave voted
for the resolutions whatever theil
merits might have been. would have
voted against them to have sustained
the respect due to my manhood.
could have stood alone on all issues ol
this kind.
Might does not make right, and mum
bers at Delaware Avenue church are no
indication Of the merits Of an issue In
which the pastor has q personal inter
est. And in relation to numbers let
this truth be known, that out Of 1000
members which the Board Of Deacops
have SO piously psraded before this In
telligsnt public, not 200 Of them were
present at the business meeting on
Sunday last, and at least 30 OF these
took NO part in the proceedings i; nor
was 1t known, except by those in the
confidence OF the pastor, that such q
meeting was TO be held.
The resolutions which were passed
had been prepared before the announce
ment OF the business meeting vas made.
| went to The church to attend upon
the religious exercises, and not to take
part In q business meeting. The only
Inference TO be drawn from the Dsacons
card is that over 996 members supported
the pastor at this meeting and only a
members were opposed to him: Do the
facts warrant such q statement !
think not, nor can approve OF the easy
veracity shown by these gentlemen In
speaking Of l 900 people at all In this
connection. We may have that many
names upon the church roster, but the
Deacops Of all other men know that
almost one-half that number are in no
sense at the present time identified with
the church. Their names are on the
books, but ought TO be of, because like
the Irishmsn's fsa, when you attempt
to put your finger upon them they are
not there. .
As q christian repudiate this kind
Of veracity and as Baptist am sshsm-
ed that spiritual body Of the church
should have attempted to teach it by
this example. There is no factious op-
position to Mr.. Hsldeman in Delaware
Avenue Church. The recent hue and
cry Las all been made BY Mr.. Halde-
man and his woald be champions, but
there is large and respectable minor
ity who have no sympathy for the pas
tor In the course he has taken in refer
snce to the recent troubles in the
church.
They keep away from business meet
ings as they have long siAce learned
that to attend them would be useless
and would result in compromising their
self respect.
Now appeal to the public sentiment
Of this city to sustain me in the stand
have taken against a tyranny which ia
as petty as it is revolving. have led
no movement at Delaware Avenue
church. | belong to no faction.
have committed NO crime, but have
simply acted according to my conviction
OF right upon matters which have come
before the church In the regular course
OF business.
And for simply this subserviept
Board of Deaoons have made 1t q part
Of their spiritual duties to single me
out by name with three others who are
most worthy and estimable gentlemen
but who have dared to think for them
selves, as sospe goats to bear the odium,
the disgrace and the shame which the
over. weaving pride Of one man has
brought upon a religious community
in this city. l am willing that the
public should Judge between us.
Very truly yours, HARRY EdMoss.