The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-12

THE HOWARD CASE.
A Reoapitulation Of the Libel Suit,
Results of a Careful Examination
of the Case.
The Leading Feature That of Paint
IFS Identity.
This Question will Be Settled by q
Visit to London.
The Attorneys Pro and Con will 90 to
Enn1anA ynua.tkrat. ~
The Attorneys Pro and Con will Go to
England to Investigate It-De-
PENDANTS Feel Very Safe
In Any Event.
Special Dispatch TO The Appeal.

Special Dispatch TO The Appeal
Il JACKSON, Tenn, Feb. ll.--Now that
the celebrated Howard libel suit has been
!. continued TO the next term OF the circuit
court, 1t is to be confidently hoped that
the bitterness OF feeling which has dashed
the community with scathing elimination
and recrimination for the past year will
he assuaged, and the old-timo friendliness
'|bctween good neighbors will he renewed.
Looking over the case, not only from its
inception, but more especially reviewing
the intense excitement which prevailed
by reason OF it in the past few days, when
1t was expected that trial OF the case
would be precipitated, one can appreciate
more keenly the unfortunate condition of
affairs II has produced. jim the social and
religious status OF the community. The
best citizens in the city are made parties
10 it. Men whose lives have been hitherto
pointed to asmodels OF recti;udo in every
walk Of life are discussed with savage bit
terness for duplcity and wrcckeB OF moral
and professional character. The central
figure of the controversy is young man
whose brilliancy and ardor MS a divine had
preceded him from n distant State,
and the congregation Of a
wealthy and refined church had
called him, us a stranger, to be their spir-
itual adviser. lie was received at his new
charge with open arms by his flock, and
besides filling his ministerial duties, was
honored with the chair OF elocutlon in the
university, which is supported by the do
nomination Of his church. II was in the
year 1852 that this pleasant condition Of
affairs existed inthe First Baptist Church
Of Jackson. But before a twelve month
had passed, the conduct Of the new pastor
fell under the ban Of disfayor Of some OF
the leading officials Of his church. II ap.
peared TO them that he was growing en-
tirely too dictatorial and instead OF con-
|sulting the wishes Of the trustees OF the
church, he pesistently took these matters
OF detail into his own hands, and run them
} TO suit his ideas Of church government.
This style OF conducting affairs was vigor-
ously demurrcd 10 by the trustees, and nj
several sessions OF the church, elected
sharp and angry controversy. Finally the
trustees addressed letter TO the pastor in
which they suggested that II would he bet
ter for him, for the church and all inter
ested II he would resign his pastorate.
This DIR. Howard refused to 10, but made
U.s. Of the letter to the effect, thai the trus-
tees were endeavoring to make him resign,
o thing they could not DO, rs that IL mat
ter for the church TO decide. At another
session the controyersy--sas renewed, and
a resolution, a. 10 whether the action OF
the trustees should be sustained or not
was submitted, and the result was against
the pastor. DR.. Howard then asked for
his letter Of membership, Il was granted
and he Withdrew but not unattended, for
forty odd members Of the congregation fol-
lowed him.
The members thus withdrawing formed
the Central Baptist congregation aud Dr.
Howard has been their pastor ever since.
Many Of them had been among the stanch
members OF the First church, and having
thcrcaicsi conGdcnccin their pastor, have
stood by him deyoicdly amidal oihis trials.
Especially one Of them, beautiful and
cultured girl, whose family Is one Of the
best In the city, for a few days after the
open split in the church he was married 10
her, and never has woman bcfricndod and
consolcd n husband with stronger and
more implicit faith amid storms Of ccnsure
, and trial.
On the other hand, DIR. Howard con.
tends that the differences among the mem.
bes Of his congregation, from which his
sore troubles have sprung. were Of long
standing before he was called TO be their
pastor. That for more than twenty years
these troubles had been brewing in the
church, and by reason Of them, when he
took charge, the membership had greatly
diminished; that the church was In an un.
finished condition in many particulars,
and that the fst object he had was 10 20
assiduously TO work, heal all differences,
finish the structure and put the congrega-
ton on prosperous basis. This he claims
10 have successfully accomplished. The
unfortunate rupture which had taken
place, was not 10 be permitted 10
heal, nor was silence 10 follow separation
ns TO It's aggranting causes. A short while
sitcrward DR.. Howard commenced the
publication Of the True Bap,ia, and from
week 10 week its columns were filed with
the discussion Of the differences which had
developed the controversy in the First
church as to why the pastor and those with
him had Withdrawn and excavations Of
the officials who were blamed for the
trouble. Embraced In these charges were
not only the trustees Of the church and OF
the Southwestern Baptist university, but
several Of the professors in the university,
MI mon Of unquestioned probity Of char
acter and Of the first rank socially and
morally. In the meantime those who had
borne these attacks for months had been
investigating the early life Of the deposcd
pastor, and concluding that patience had
ceascd TO be virtue determined on pub
fishing 10 the world the true character as
they had found from Investigation Of DIR.