Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-01
S, REV. NJ. 7. MARTIN.
The Official Report Of the Recent Trial
OF the Baptist Divine at Waco.
Complete Statement of the Charges and the
Action of the Church in the Matter.
The Trial in Every Way Fair.
WACO. TEz July %. IsS

Published by IL officers Of the church, accord
ing to instruction Of the church in regular con-
ference, assembled Sunday night, July q, 1883.
Published by Request.
1t is a judicious custom among our peo-
pie that when credentials are Withdrawn
from a minister of the church an authori-
tative and dispassionate publication
should be made, once for all, showing
the result of the proceedings.
The moral force of the decision will de-
pend upon the showing that the accused
was fairly tried according to due process
Of law, without malice, and denied none
Of the privileges always to be accorded to
one under charges.
Such publication is due to the denom-
ination for its protection, and to the
church, since it often happens that con-
fused and misleading accounts go abroad :,
tending TO premature and unjust judg
ment and well calculated to promote fu-
tuTe strife, even if not so designed.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, in
obedience to the Instructions of the
church, set forth the following simple
STATEMENT OF FACTS.
In the first place, the church has acted
only after long and patient waiting, ex-
hausting in the N eantime every Scrip
"turai injunction as to admOnition and
private labor with the accused brother.
It is not or custom on the one hand to
be hurried in our proceedings by any out
side pressure, nor on the other hand,
when ready for action, TO be deferred
therefrom by similar pressure or posi-
biity of adverse criticism
Many times n the Of dffppI1. mont he
the pastor of the church has most
kindly warned and admonished Bro.
Martin of the troubles excited by his
course. Then, as long ago as last
March, the elders and deaCons of the
church held with him, by his consent, a
pIotracted and laboriOus private confer
ence, seeking earnestly for some possible
adjustment that would prevent a church
trial. Bro. Martin was most fraternally
exhorted to profit by that conference.
After this conference, when the church
was quietly letting the matter rest,
Bro. Martin complained that due at
tention had not been given to certain
letters addressed to him by the pastors
with whom he had held meetings: that
these letters should have been considered
and their authors should be written to
for further information. Whereupon he
furnishing the address Of the several pas
tors, q uniform circular letter was adj
dressed to them all, and to about a dozen
others, covering the question of troubles
in the churches and the doctrines preached
by him in the meetings.
These pastors were duly notified not to
write confidential letters, but only such
as could be used as evidence before the
church, If necessary.
-1+
circular were overwhelmingly against
Bro Martin, the church still patiently
waited modification on his part, and,
though troubles of even greater magni-
tude were following his meetings, the
church still waited, and was willing yet
to wait
But Bro. Martin himself, against the
wish Of the church and against the ad-
vice Of his friends here, precipitated and
forced the Issue upon the church by de-
handing a letter Of dlsmisSion, accredit-
ing and commencing him to the whole
denomination and the world at large as
an ordained Baptist minister in good
standing and full fellowship.
Such a letter would have committed
this church iTrevocably and forever to
doctrines and practices at wide variance
with our commonly accepted standards
OF faith
1t was no longer question OF mercy
and charity to Bro. Martin, but of
disqualification to this church. 1t is
believed among US that even churches
have some rights, among which none are
more sacred than the right of saying who
shall be the teachers and expounders of
their faith.
The only alternative to the church
action was a suggestion that we give him
q letter accredlting him as minister
with caveat on its face certifying that
we did not indorse his doctrines and
practices on vital articles of our faith.
This course seemed to the church with
out precedent, evasive OF responsibility
and elf-cORtTadictoTy.
The letter then being insisted on BY
him necessitated that charges should be
preferred against him or that we should
forever after hold our peace
AnOther4act Is quite important. It is
Il wise. etstom among Baptists to have an
advisory council OF ministers from sister
churches in such cases, especially where
the minister under charges asks for It.
But Bro. Martin not only did not ask
for such council, but made no response
when the prOpriety of having such council
was suggested TO him in open conference.
He was before Us demanding immediate
action, not beng willing to wait
even until the next regular conference,
stating that be was away from his bust
ness and in painful suspense. Where
upon, as the only available conformity
to Il well established custom, and upon
motion Of the pastor, the other Baptist
city pastors were formally invited to act
in the capacity Of an advisory council.
These pastors, neither of whom was pre-
committed in the matters involved, ac-
cepted the invitation, and did act in the
capacity designated
Their testimony concerning the trial
Will be found appended hereto. and is
worthy of great consideration They are
good men and true, possessing the conf
hence OF their respective churches and of
The denomination
bOth are mature men and wen in
formed, and one OF them IS venerable for
age ana ripe experience in Baptist affairs
)l long ago.
Another important fact deserving of /
Tei@ntv consideration is that the church
considered no charge concerning mere
opinions or theory or speculative strife /
about words. All the charges related to
and were dependent in force upon prac- |
ica5le ana demOnstrable effects, not |
possible or supposidous effects but real. !
}alpa0le and alarming in magnitude. !
They were eminently practical facts, di- /
'ectly ahectiun the administration of |