Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-14

Another resolution was offered to the
| effect that no member of the church had
a right to believe reports detrl-
mental to his pastors charac-
ter, or. assist in their circulation
unless such member would make
specific charges so that they could receive
| proper investigation.
These resolutions were unanimously
adopted, and for awhile it seemed that
| the matter was settled and that perfect
harmony prevailed in the church. But
some of the members, for reasons best
known to themselves, went on still
hunt for evidence of the truthfulness of
| the rumors. This search for evidence
was made by interviews and liberal use
| of postage stamps. A sample of the
correspondence may be given here, the
names of all persons being suppressed,
but the reporter knows the genuineness
of il, and knows the names of all en-
gagged in the following:
DALLAS, November 10, 1858.
Mrs. -, Ell Paso, Texas.
Ny Dear Sister-Mr. Hanks, pastor of
the First Baptist church, has by his con-
duct with certain women in the church,
involved himself and them in a scandal
which has completely destroyed the har-
mony of the church. Quite Il number
| of the members, l among the number,
have lost all confidence in him and can
no longer go to hear him
preach, though the majority sustain
him. LAST month lady from
Ell Paso q never heard her name) here
in attendance on the fair, told some one
that while Mr.. Hanks was in Ell Paso as
sisting Brother Raines in a meeting that
| he (NIr. Hanks) insulted a lady at the
house where he was stopping, which so
incensed the lady's relatives and dis
gusted the community that he would
never be invited there to preach again.
My husband ascertained from Brother
Banes that Mr.. Hanks stopped at your
house, and l wish to ascertain
from you if these things are true
and to request that you viii give me a
statement of the facts in the case, and
how his conduct was regarded by your
self and others. Hoping to hear from
you soon, am very truly yours,
Signed -
The foundation of the Ell Paso SANDER
was slim indeed, and only shows how
easily minister can be assailed when
motive looks for weapon. The answer
to the FL PasO affair comes from the lady
of the house at which Mr.. Hanks stopped,
and is as follows:
Ell PAso, Dec. 5.
TO Whom it May Concern:
When Rev. R. II. Hanks was in Ell
Paso holding a meeting with the pastor
of the First Baptist church, he made his
home all the time at my house, during
which time he deported himself as a
Christian gentleman, endearing himself
to us an in a great many ways. 1t is
needless to say had he done otherwise he
could not for one hour have remained.
As it is, knowing absolutely nothing
against him, even after investigation, he
would be cordially welcomed at our
house. Signed
In connection with these FL PasO re-
ports the reporter has seen the following
statement from Rev. q. w. Baines of
Ell Paso:
"Several years ago, long before you
ever saw FL Pase, il was charged upon a
certain preacher travelling over the cOun-
try and spending Il short while in FL
Paso, that he did something similar to
what has been charged against you; but
he was not Baptist, nor was the event
in Baptist house. Mrs. - thought
that possibly this might have been the
thing which furnished foundation for the
'El Paso' story in Dallas. -
They collected certificates, however,
and upon advice of Hon. j ohm L. Henry,
a prominent member of the church,
called together Il jury of the leading
members of the church
THE SECOND MEDICATION.
The jury referred to in the preceding
paragraph met and the certificates were
submitted, with the request for advice as
to whether they were serious enough to
demand an investigation by the church.
During this time Mr.. Hanks was at Gle
burne holding protracted meeting, and
was called home by kilograms from his
wife, informing him that the old ISLANDERS
were being agitated again. At the
second meeting of the jury Mr.. Hanks
was present, and he gave his personal eX-
PLANTATION of the matters referred to in
the certificates. The decision of the jury
was that the matters referred to in the
certificates and the vague character of
the certificates were not of sufficient i'm
portance to submit to the church. 1t
was understood then that this second in |
vestigatiOn should be final and accepted |
by both factions of the church, and it was
agreed that resolution should be offered
generating the gentlemen who have
obtained these certificates from
being reflected upon by the |
resolution first passed in regard to church
members who circulated the reports, and
Furthermore, that certain members who
were known as the opposition should |
be appointed as delegates to the Baptist
state convention, then soon to meet in
Bolton. The delegates were appointed,
but by request of the persons most inter-
ested the resolution was not introduced.
So for a second time il seemed that the |
matter was ended,
But IT WAS NOT,
for soon the reports were being circu- !
lated with more energy than ever; not !
by the worldly minded but bNmembers of I
the pastor church. Mr.. Hanks then felt /
that those who were agitating the matter !
could not be satisfied by private investi- !
CATION, and that their efforts to blast him |
would not cease until a council of the |
church SHOULD make an official iIivestiga- |.
ton and either vindicate or condemn !
Secure III the Knowledge of his perfect;
innocence, and strong in the affection of |
his church, confident of his ability to just |
ify himself before the world, after pa
tiently bearing all the burdens that mail |
ice should place upon him, at his own |
request, on sunday the 18th of November !
the following preamble and resolutions |
were unanimously adopted by his church,
Whereas, the First Baptist church
passed resolutions affirming and re-affirm-