The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-21
BROW WNSBUKG TRAGEDY.
A SEQUEL TO That UNFORTU-
NATE AFFRAY
why Burial Was Refused the Bodies OF
Miller and Mr.. and Mrs. walker From
New Providence Church-fuii State
msnt by the Pastor.

from the officers Of the New Providence
Church to show why official action wa
taken to prevent the burial OF DIR. n.
Walker. his wife, and Henry Miller. yictim
OF the Brownsburg homicide on the sth inst.
frOw the New Providence Church. A meet
in Of the session of the New Providence
Church was held on the 18th Of NOyembe
at the manse for the purpose Of making m
official statement Of the reason why they re
fused 10 allow the funeral service OF the late
T.. j. Walker and bis wife to be held in ths
church building on the lIth Of this month.
An EXPLANATION
il due, not only TO the public and the friends
Of the church, but to the official body taking
! the action in the case. Statements have
been made in the public prints touching the
relations Of DR.. Walker and his wife 10 the
Church Of New Providence 20 far apart frsm
the facts, and these MISUNDERSTANDING
haying been employed in such connections
as 10 reflect upon the session, il has become
necessary Ia correct them in justice TO all
parties concerned.
HISTORY or THE CASE.
On motion ii was ordered that history
and statement Of the whole case be pre-
pared and signed on behalf Of the session by
its officers. The history Of the case, 80 far
as the Church Of New Providence has be-
come implicated in ii, is as follows: On Sat
urday, Of the fatal conflict in Brownsburg,
the pastor Of New Providence Church was
approached with request to conduct the
funeral service at the burial of Henry Mil
Ter. He at once acce1ed 10 the request
never dreaming that any opposition
would be made TO its being held in
the church in the usual way. The
church does not endorse the character OF
assume the responsibility for the conduct Of
any party. whether good or bad by admit
ting the body Of the dead within the w,lls 4
= sanctuary. II this construed as tn
effect of such acton, the church " .u.u ve
compelled Ia close her doors against all
funeral rites. But the design Of the service
is not for the benefit Of the dead. but for the
living. Not to endorse the character nor
condone the faults, or eXalt the Nir-
tues Of the dead. but simply 10
acknowledge the hand Of the Lord
Of life and 10 turn the event to account for
the admOnition Of the living. In addition
10 this general consideration, several Of the
female members Of Millers family were
members of the New Providence Church. in
nnimpeached standing, and entitled to due
in their deep distress. he
engagement 10 conduct the services in he
usual way was therefore undertaken. Tut
on going 10 the session on sunday morning
the pastor was surprised 10 learn that
INTENSE OPPOSITION
existed to Miller's body being carried into
the sacred building. This feeling was first
manifested in the session itself, but before |
the discussion had proceeded flr deputy |
from the people assembled on the ground ap- |
peared before the court Of the church, and. |
i'm strong language. protested against the |
funeral being conducted in the church |
This pressure was not 10 be resisted |
A motion was made 10 prevent |
the use Of the church carried and minute |
adopted 10 send a messenger 10 the Miller
family with a note announcing that owing
10 popular excitement the burial service
must be held in the cemetery. TO this the
family readily agreed. and the services
we're 80 held in the presence Of a large
company, most Of whom were entire stran-
gers in the community. Everything passed
luietly of on Monday.
THE BODIES or DR. WALKER AND HIS
WIFE
we're to be buried at / / O'Clock. Up to or
1870 o'clock no word or wish had been ex-
PRESSED 10 the pastor Of New Providence
,hurch that he should take any part in the
uneral rite. II WAS understood that the
whole service would be conducted by the
'Iasonic body, Of which DR.. Walker was a
member.
Left completely in the dark, and vet feel
NJ unwilling 10 be construed Indifferent in
case so pathetic. the pastor determined 10
o to Br0wnsburg, two miles distant. and
nd out by direct inquiry II ANYTHING was
xpected Of him. Neither DR.. Walker nor
is wife were members OF New ProNid idence
hurch. Both had been. but their cOnnec-
ions had beci. severed more than ten years.
Ia al A. f41 Il for ba IN. |
alton Of his family and friends whenever
here was occasion 10 use ii. His wife some
ines attended; he himself very rarely.
An UNHAPPY DIFF Guilty
ad existed between him and the church for
iany years, which no negotiation could
eal. though attempted often and with great
But these circumstances were
llOwed 40 weight when the pastor went on |
is mission Of inquiry. II turned out that
ut for this call Of the pastor Of New PrOvi-
ence no services would az all have been
eld. 1
THE MAsONs
eclined to act. we learn. in obedience 10
IssOgic law. When the inquiry was made !
Z friends of Or. Walker il a service was !
Spected Of him. both regret and wonder
Hs expressed. as no notice had been given !
MI stating that it was necessary that he
ioud return 10 make some preparation, >
nd eXcu-iDg himself from waiting for the G
recession. he returned al once. The prepara-
Ons be designed was first 10 have the church
jened, and second. 10 prepare the heads OF 4
brief address. As he passed out Of the !,
,Om be met the sexton Of the church. and
once told him he must 90 and prepare
e Building for service. lie said il was \
ready done. and the pastor returned 10
axe the per~ona! preparations necessary
e had Bo other thought than opening the I
)use for service. Ii. has been stated the r.
istOr Of Presbyterian church has sole "
lntrOl OF the building in funeral matters. 2
'd thus the whole weight Of the exclusion o
the Dody of DR.. Walker and his wife has b
,eu thrown uyon the pastor OF New Proyi- Il
nee. .Sith bow fnnc1i justice the above Il
lrration will show. -
LAW As T0 FUNERAL SERVICES. "
While there is no general law in the :,
'esbyterian system prescribing when. -
here or how funeral services are 10 be
Id. the building is under the legislative
ntrol OF the session, whose orders when
-sed are binding on every member Of the n
DIV. pastor and all. ~
While rapidly making his preparations P
service. some OF the elders OF the L
urt h came 10 him with the announce r.
mt that the motion Of sunday TO exclude h
c body Of Miller applied equally 10 the eI
Ter party in the feud. Although reluc- 5;
NJ 10 see this course pursued. and fore VI
ding evil consequences in the church and al
the community out Of it, there was
NOTHING TO DO BUT OBEY THE LAW
interpreted by the members Of the BODY, OF
ich had made il. The action was ac- "
'dingly taken. and the funeral rites. ne b;
'sarily shortened, embraced only the cl
lal services employed at the open grave, pi
tn few remarks Of a personal character. Il
L GROUNDS OF THE SESSIONS ACTION ~
these. 81
first, The exclusion OF the Miller body ii
5 done in obedience 10 "A public feeling,
ch would effected far more miscbeyous
glis had il resisted. The action carried
-il in the either alternative Of taking it or
taking it in the unparalleled excitement III
public feeling, but IL was believed Ia carry us
: ii the cause was pursued. "
econd. The same rule was applied 10 the ~ ~