St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-28
THE LAST CHAPTEs r.

Messrs. Allen and Spencer Re An
stated as Members of the Church'
The officials of the First Baptist church
met last night in executive session and
completed the last chapter IN the Alien
Snencer controversy and other routine BUSH
ness. including the granting OF several
church letters.
The report of the committee of superVis-
ion. TO whom had been referred the request
of Messrs. Allen and Spencer for letters OF
dismissal as follows. was received and
adopted: -....
whereas, Repeated communications hay e
RECENTLY been received by the First Baptlst
church from Messrs. Spencer and Allen, who
were excluded from its fellowship, requesting
restoration and letters of honorable dIsmissai'
and ..-.- 80
Whereas These communications have been
in lieu of the personal appearance OF these
brethren, as had been requested OF then'
and
Whereas These communications have oeen
uuaccompaned by any expression Oh tne
mart of those brethren of regret or sorrow,
for what in their former relation 10 the
church ortheir present conduct is opposed
TO scriptural teaching and harmful TO ChrlsI
cause and thus present the appearance VI d
demand for restoration and honoraole dls-
missal on grounds OF personal flsnts "n'i
claims. therefore, be IL -,
Resolved. That the following be accepted
asan expression of the judgment and dehn-
ition of the attitude of the First Bapust
church as to the issue.
First-As to Messrs Spencer and Allen this
church holds that their exclusion, lrfespec-
rive of the character of the late pastor, was
h,sad entirely and alone upon their REFUSAL
~ walk with the church in accordance with
their covenant obligations. In support OF
which. appeal is made 20 the records OF the
church and to the following extract therefrom;
When asked if setting aside what had oc-
Cured in the past they would be willing to
take I'D their walk with the church under
their covenant obligations, MesSrS. Spencer
and Allen each replied in the negative.
ThereupOn it was voted that the hand OF Eel
lowshp be Withdrawn from them. Further,
the church maintains that from the
date of their exclusion, to the
present time, Messrs. Spencer and Allen
have failed to exhibit that spirit of eonc1lia-
+fon which at all times the church has cher
ished. And finally the church afhrms that
both directly and indirectly it has made &c
Messrs Spencer and Allen overtures LOT
reconciliation but they have not been met
nor reciprocated in the conciliatory and
Christian spirit in which they have been
made.
Second. as to the church-The church main
tains as principle that it was morally bound
10 believe in the Innocence OF its late pastor
until there was reasonable evidence of guilt;
that if would have been unwarranted in
acceding to the irregular and lll-advised
methods of procedure against the pastor IN
stituted and pursued by Messrs. Spencer and
Allen The church does not justify any even
enDarent coercion of the consciences OF these
brethren The church admits its uabll-
itv to err. and as we now see
from additional light which neither these
brethren nor the church had at the time OF
their exclusion) that its Judgment was clouded
and its spirit affected by the misleading attl-
tI1de and influence of its late pastor, whose
falsity it was perhaps too slow to discover,
and the church reiterates the sincerity OF its
purpose in seeking q reconciliation and adj
iustnent according to the spirit of the Cos
pei. ~ -..-
Third. as to basis upon which restoration
can be effected and the request OF Messrs.
Spencer and Allen for letters be compiled
with-,The church is anxious and ready to
meet Messrs. Spencer and Allen upon grounds
of mutual forgiveness for all injuries, rea
or imaginary and hereby proffer and request
such method of reconciliation. The church
maintains that in case these brethren fail tc
no1nply with the above request and meet this
overture, that with them must rest the re-
spousibility for further I'M ury and loss that
NAV accrue to the church and the cause OF
Christ. ...
In conclusion. the church expresses its pro-
found regret and its deep sorrow that occa-
zion should have arisen for the exercise of its
discipline in the case of MesSrs. Spencer and
Allen. and it now hopes that they, in the
spirit of Christ will meet the church upon
this common and scriptural ground Tor rec
onciiation and the restoration of previously
existing relations.
Resolved. further that in accordance with
the request of Messrs. Spencer and Allen,n now
before us in case this overture IS not ac
cebted we Join them in calling mutua
ecclesiasi zeal council, and that the above res
ollltfons be the expression of our attitude be
fore the council.
1t was moved that a committee of three
be appointed to wait upon MesSrs. Allel
and Spencer to obtain from them reply tt
the foregoing resolution.
The chairman appointed as such com
mittee MesSrS. E. NJ. HallOWell, James ii
Drake and w. G. Stanton.
The committee waited upon MessrS Allel
and Spencer and submitted the following
report:
Your committee appointed to wait upon
Messrs. Allen and Spencer with preamble
and resolution adopted this evening beg leave
to report that they saw the gentlemen and
read to them the communication, and re
ceved from them the following in writing:
''st. Paul, Mimi, Nov. 81. 1SS5.-To the
First Baptist Chureh-Dear Brethren: We
are anxious and ready to meet the First Bap-
fist church upon the proffered grounds o.
mutual forgiveness for all injuries real o.
imaginary, and hereby proffer and reques
such reconciliation. [sgnedl
J. B. SPENCER,
J. p. ALLEN.
That they further requested US to ask TIT
forgiveness of the church for all injuries
real or imaginary. and to assure each lndivid
ual member and the church itself of thei
Christian spirit of brotherv feeling. In be
half of the church your committee EXTENDED
to them like assurances.
[Signedl e. NJ. HALLoWELL.
The report of the committee was &C
cepted. NIessrS. Allen and Spencer were re
instated in full fellowship, and letters wer
granted them to unite with any church o
like faith and order.