Richmond planet., 1890-05-03
TIE PLANET
THE PETERSBURG TROUBLE.
A Stormy Scene in the Ministers Con-
ference Over the Reception of Let
ter.

church last Tuesday at II -. Ne
Rev. IL. ". DicAerSOn pr siding.
The question ms to who created : n
was ,Iss,.t-sei. The reports OF the
various ministers relative to their
fields of Labor was listened to-.
When Rev. G. B. W. Gor,loR's name
was called he answered thathe was
pastor of no church.
Rev. Berry read q paper on the
origin of the NJ T. Church in Ameri-
ca. Editor Mitchell was introduced
on motion of Rev. Henry Williams,
Jr. After the reports had been heard
the letter from the church OF which
Rev. Gordon was formerly pastor
was read. DeacOns Green and Cosby
being present. 1t is as follows
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, Harrison St. |
PETERSBURG, Va, April 20, '9O.)
T. The Ministers Conference Of
Petersburg:
Dear Brethren:
We hereby notify you that Rev
G.. L. w. GORDON n member OF your
Conference has been holding fellow
ship with number of expelled mem
bers from our church, and is still
soliciting names to get our members
to ioin in with them. We pronounce
such actions to be wrong rs we have
done AS commanded by the Scrip
lures. withdrawn from those who
walketh disorderly llll Thess 1861
and believe he as "A minister OF the
gospel should do like wise. We ask
YOU as YOU are the proper ones to
plan out for the welfare OF the Bap-
tist denomination TO take the mat
ter under consideration and CONDEMN
such actions of one in your midst.
We send to represent us Deacons
Spencer Green and Richard Cosby in
whom we confide our interest.
Done by order of the Church at her
regular church meeting held April
2Sth.
w. A. PENN, Clerk.
The motion was on the reception.
REV. WILLIAMS OPPOSITION
Rev. Henry Williams, Jr., said that
he was sorry that the brethren that
called themselves ministers should
keen uD this disorder He claimed
Shnr the Gonfcrence.had no jurisdie-
ton and he was opposed to its recep-
tion.
Rev. r. NJ. Bowman said that he
did not believe the Conference had
anything to do with it. Churches
must fight their own battles. He
wanted to go on record as being OPP
posed to the reception.
Rev. Miles Walker thought that
the Conference should give advice.
1t was time TO condemn their prac-
tice of organizing churches without
letters. The letter should be receiv-
ed and the advice given.
Rev. Calls said that the matter
could be easily sympathized with.
There was no fixed law by which a
conference was to be governed.
Rev. Williams: Won't the discus
sion of the merits of this trouble here
unfit so far as sitting in conncil
should one be called. Rev. Calls
granted that it might, but thought
the advice should be given.
Rev. Williams read the law relative
to Minister'S Conferences. Said he
"You all know the feeling existing
between this brother and me, but
will not use this conference to strike
at him." lie would.not be two faced
AAC NOUlN WlAtaC DC lhO0f, II
The church to which the minister be
longed should call him TO account
il he was disorderly a council shoulC
be called.
The letter did not ask for advice
If it had, he would have been ready
to give it, but it asked the Confer
ence to condemn, this the body has
LO right to do. 1t should be sen
back to the church in order that i
might be sent in it's proper shape.
Deacon Cosby explained that tn
spirit of the paper was to ask TO
advice. Rev. Williams insisted tina
the Conference had nothing to d,
with it. He asked of the Harrison
ST. Church had not received two ex
PEELED members of the High St
Baptist church REV Calls pastor)
Rev. Calls responded in the affirma
tive.
BROAD CHARGE.
Deacons Green and Cosby explain
ed that these two members had bee
received upon recommendation c
Council, and was consequently i
order. Revs. Williams and Mile
Walker contended on the question
Yes, you are all corrupt" exclain
ed Rev. Williams. He was called t
explain by the chair. He state
that he said it because the Va BaI
tist State Convention had receive
churches organized this way and .
of them were members of it. He ha
always opposed i
Rev. DIcKERsoNl i" Why didn
you say, we are all corrupt Yo
are member of that Convention.
Rev. WnLIAMsl- Well, I'll sa
we then,
Rev. Walker continued to argue
favor of the reception of the repor
He insisted that the Tabenac
church organized by Rev. Gordol
was a disorderly church.
Eev. WLLIAus]-"I learned tn;