Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-08-14
A Church Council Report Recalled.

A Church Council Report Recalled.
On the 18th Of March last, Rev. Allan
Curr, pastor OF the Baptist Church in this
city, whose eloquence in the pulpit and
attractive preaching had brought large
audiences TO listen to him, made the ToI'
lowing request in the interest OF his per-
son al vindication, against reports when
had obtained currency among and through
members OF his congregation:
STANTON, VA, March 10Th, 1859.
To tile Baptist Church, Staamton, w.:
DEAR BRETHREN AND SIsTERs.-ln conse,
quence of injurious rumors against me- ana
widely circulated by some members OF 'ne
church, earnestly desire this church TO eau
a Council of five ministers to inquire INTO,
and report upon, my church reia1lons' HILLS
terial standing. and personal character.
Your brother in Christ
ALLAN CURR, Pastor.
Tn accordance with this the Baptists
asked for church council, which con-
vened here March Goth, and was composed
of the following minlsters-Rev. ). w. M.
Williams Of Baltimore, Md; Rev. .. w.
McCown OF Gordonsville, Va, Rev. j. 3.
Taylor of Lexington, Va, Kew. "A. w.
Lamar of Memphis, Tenn, and Rev.
Charles Manly of Greenville, s. U. After
two days. session the council maze Inc
Council made the following report:
SrAUNroN, VA, March 2Sth, 1885.
To the Members Of Staunton Baptist Chat7ch: j;
DEAR BRETHREN prayerful, careful,
and exhaustive examination OF large amount
of written evidence pertaining to the church
relations, ministerial standing, and personal
character of your pastor, we unanimously
reach the following conclusions, to-wlt
LIST That from the very frank and unre-
served statements made by Brother Curr HIM
self, it is evident that when he came to this
country he had no regular ecclesiastical con
nection with any denomination of Christians,
although it is equally evident that he had been
Baptist minister in good standing, but by
reason of the practices that obtain IN England
he was for time identified with another &C.
clesiastical connections and it is further evil
dent that in securing membership in Baptist
church in this country, (Which has been reg
ularly and continuously maintained up to this
time there is no evidence that while acting
as pastor of several Baptist churches he has
ever been properly indicted into the ministe-
rial Office, according to the custom of Baptist
churches in this country, for which omission
he is not the party to be blamed.
End That there is abundant evidence that
in the fields he has occupied, his labors have
been earnest and self sacrifcing and this, in
spite Of rumors, most of which were false and
malicious and that we find no charges sus-
tanned which affect his moral character.
3rd. From the evidence before us, we are
fully satisfied that before his marriage to his
present wife he had secured lawful and
legal divorce from his former wife.
4th. That we sympathize with Bro. Curr in
his trials, and cordially commend him to the
kindly consideration of our brethren and the
public as Christian and an able lecturer
5th. In view of all facts in the case Bro.
Curr requests us to present his resignation to
the Staunton church, which is herewith ten
dered.
9th. And we further recommend to the
church to pay Bro. Curr's salary in full up to
the LIST of June.
j. ". M. WILLIAMS, Chairman,
CHARLES MANLY, Secretary,
j. W. MCCowN.
A. W. LAMAR,
J. B. TAYLOR.
The pastor resigned his passionate In the
following letter:
STAUNToN, Va.
To the StnuatOn Baptist chalach:
DEAR BRETHREN AND SIsTERs.-With the
hope of promoting the harmony of your
church, I tender my resignation as pastor
gratefully thank you, on behalf of myself
and wife, for all your many acts of kindness
to us.
With best wishes for the prosperity of your
church, 1 remain,
Yours in Christ, ALLAN CURE.
On Monday night last, the congregation
of the Baptist church held meeting,
presided over by Rev. DR.. Nelson, the
new pastor, with Mr.. Thos. J. Leftwich,
as Clerk, at which the following recall Of
the councils report and Communications
was read:
GREENv1LLE, S. c., August Sth, 1885.
TO the Baptist Church at Stanton, Va.:
DEAR BRETHREN-The Council convened
March Goth ult., to inquire into some matters
relating to Allan Curr, then your pastor,
having made report to you March 2oth, now
find ourselves constrained from evidence
since presented and not then accessible to us,
to recall said report as containing statements
and concentrations which we are now unwil-
ling to express, and I have been directed, as
Clerk of the Council, to give official notifca-
ton of the same to you as we'll as to Mr.. Curr.
Yours very truly,
CHAs. MANLY;
for the Council.
The recall w as ordered TO be entered on
the church records.