St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-20
UPHOLD ELDER GRAY.
Members Of the Pilgrim Bap-
tist Church Ardently Es-
pouse His Cause.
Wicked Sisters Fail to An
Swer When Called on
for Proof.
Sinking Of the Geiser Fur
nishes a Topic for Dis
cuSSiOn.
Nuggets Of News Dug From
Reluctant Soil by Faith
full Scpibes.

Members of the Pilgrim Baptist
church are disturbed over the publica-
tion of the troubles that have been al
legged to exist for some time past, and as
is usual in such matters, there are two
parties in the congregation, one for and
the other against Elder Gray. In be-
half of the latter it is stated by COM
mittee, consisting of Deacons Moses,
BibbS, and George Cash, q. L. Jackson,
b. +. Smith, Moses Sanders, and j. Will
son, that when the elder assumed
charge the church was small and poor, SO
far as this worlds goods are concerned.
AT one time the congregation was
given three days to raise about $1,000,
the penalty being the closing of the
church, and this undertaking was sue
cessfully accomplished by Elder Gray,
who at the same time secured an extern
sion for five years.
ga meeting was called for Thurs
day." said Mr.. Jackson, who acted as
spokesman for the committee, at which
it was stated that certain charges had
been made against the elder, and his ac-
cusers were asked to step forward and
tell what they knew against his moral
character. There was no response
and the congregation cannot think their
pastor otherwise than a good, pure
Christian man. That there is dissat-
lsied element in the church is true, but
II comprises very small minority of
the regular membership, and in fact, is
hardly worth talking about. But those
who support the church will stand by
their pastor, and have not the slightest
Intention of calling for any one to fill
his pulpit. Some one, without any
authority whatever, barred the church
doors Thursday evening, and when
those who desired to be present at the
church meeting discovered the situa-
ton they promptly forced an entrance,
as they had perfect right to do.
Before and since Elder Gray came to
us we received letters concerning him
from different places, all of which spoke
of him in the highest terms Imaginable,
and he has justified the good words
spoken OF him in every possible way"
One of the largest congregations
ever assembled within the walls OF
the Pilgrim church was present
at yesterday mornings services, it
being understood that there would be
a renewal of hostilities and that possi-
bly, an entrance would have to be forced
by the worshipers. But everything
was calm and serene as though naughty
sisters had never uttered a word of dis
respect against the preacher. and moth
ing ngtranspiredtomar to the sacred character
OF the services. Elder Gray occupied the
pulpit as usual and preached one of his
ableSt diScOurses, and his congregation
encouraged him in the most enthusiastic
manner. If there were any malcontents
they failed to make their presence
known, and the exercises proceeded in
the usual Sunday strain. Little knots
of the church members grouped them
selves in the vicinity of the church after
service and compared notes as to the
stories afioat, but there was no marked
excitement attending the discussions,
which, like cent pie, seemed to have
all the fruit on one side, and that be-
longed to Elder Gray.