The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-26
SPECIAL NOTICES.
A CARD To THE PUBLIC.


SAvANNAH, GA, FrB q, 1903
We, the undersigned. feel it our duty. in view
Of the fact that we we're muzzled aud gagged at
the conference of tbs First African Baptist
church, held on Sunday, the 10Th inst and then
declared TO be expelled for no offeuse to make
the following statement in our defense
For more than two years past the members Of
the First African Baptist church have been an
noyed with the most serious rumors and charges
against the personal and private characters of
our pastor Rev. L. X Love. First there APP
peared most serious charges In the Methodist
linton Of Augusta. then in the Athens Clipper,
next In the Peoples Journal OF Rome, and
lastly in the Georgia Baptist OF Augusta. Aside
from the first charges made In the Methodist
Union (which was only plSstered over the
church, as such, because of the pastors In
fuencs to prevent, had never undertaken to
20 to the bottom of these serious
charges and runners. and as members
of the church who had wives and daughters
whom we felt bound to protect, and feeling a
deep interest in the good name we thought our
church ought to bear before the world. we felt
1t our duty 70 seek an interview with the pastor
and deacons, Accordingly we sought one OF
the deacons and informed him OF our desire; Re
believing our cou, % TO be proper one, readily
COnsenbtu 10 luIOIul tue pastor thhL We uSnHeu
to see him an bis deacous. The deacon, to
whom We applied to secure the consultation de
sired, IN ormed the pastor OF our wish in very
respectful note, and informed him
after morning service on Sunday jan
20, to talk with him Instead of meet
ing privately as requested TO consult about the
matter involved, in orjer TO prevent IL he urged
certain female members. whom ne bad to come
there for that purpose, not to go
away, thereby preventing our speaking TO him
about the delicate matter which were regarded
serious and OF so much moment to the church.
His attitude to the deacon who sought to So
cure the interview for us, and to us, showed
without question that he was not disposed to
hear us Nevertheless we met and talked the
matter over, and after obtaining the BEST pos
sible advice we addressed tho following com
munication to the board of deacons:
To the Members Of the DiscipiiRe Meeting Of
The First African Baptist Church:
BRETHREN-The undersigned, actuated by no
other desire than the good OF the church, have
felt constrained from a sense OF duty to direct
your attention to certain matters which seem
TO require action. We wish to assure you that
1t is with great pain and reluctance that we
speak upon the subject, and yet sense OF duty
to our church, as we'll as ourselves, compels us
TO do so.
The public prints, as well as common rumoI,
have been busy with charges OF u most serious
nature against the moral character OF our pas
tor, the Rev. Il. X Love We n, ed not specify
what these charges are at the present time. be-
not mean TO say that these charges are true,
nor do we intend to prefer said charges our
selves All that we desire to do or say
is that such charges have been made in the
public ptnts, are of common report in this
city, an that it is due not Only the church and
the family Of every member OF the church, but
is also due the pastor himself, that these charges
shoulu receive a speedy and thorough inveSti-
cation, and, II false, declared to DO so in order
that the good name OF our pastor may be vim
dictated; but IL found TO bo true, that he may
be removed from an office which he is IN
worthy TO I'LL.
We respectfully ask, therefore. having made
this statement. that the matter be referred to
the church by TIE discipline commit tee with n
recommendation that a committee be np-
pointed by the officers OF this clurch whose
duty it shall be to proceed at once to full in.
vestigation OF those charges, and to report the
result OF that investigation to the church, in
order that such action may be taken il
deemed wise and best Respectfully submitted.
Before we had time, however, to hand in the
above, for no other offense than what has been
stated, We were every one served with notices
about like the following:
FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH.,
SAVANNAH, GA, Feb Q. 1893 (
Dear Brother p. T.. Kelly:
You are hereby summoned to be and appear
at the regular monthly meeting OF the dscip
llEary board OF the First African Baptist church.
TO be held on Sunday, Feb. r. 1893, at o o'clock
a. m to then and there answer the following
c Rrge that has been alleged against you,
to wit conspiracy. Fail not, otherwise the
board shall proceed to act in your absence.
Done by order of the deacons.
ATTEST: C. II. EBBs, Clerk.
We attended the meeting to which we were
summoned on tue second Sunday in February.
We presented our communication to the dea
con, requesting an Investigation into the serious
charges against the pastor We we're told by
the pastor, who sat smoking cigar while pre-
siding over a church meeting, IN a church
building, that we were guilty OF conspiracy
- .Ett boo ID a -,
vestigatiou into charges against an individual
serving as pastor OF the church, and as we felt
that this was losing the church in the man we
declined to recognize the charge or stand o trial
before one who, besides being under charge
himself, would thus desecrate a place dedi-
Gated 20 the worship of God In order to de-
ceye the people and defeat our efforts TO
secure an honest investigation the pastor
the city and county to. take the
names OF members and deman ing them 70 say
whether they were 'for" or against tue pas
tor and otherwise preiudiciug the minds Of
members that we wanted to kill the pastor or
run him away, guilty or not guilty The conse-
quence was that many persons came 20 the
church conference on Sunday, Feb. 10 with, the
most distorted ideas OF our true intention. In
face OF our request for an investigation in his
case Rev. Love assumed the chair In true polit-
ical style Several of our number requested
that our communication requesting an invesl-
ga ion be read to the church meeting, but in
stead. he told the thirty five or more men that
they had but ten minutes, all told, TO speak for
themselves; less than half minute Ga b. AT
the expiration Of the ten minutes he went
through the form OF putting motion, he de-
clared those who desired an investigation
expelled for that dire offeuse, and
at once dism ssed the meeting Among those
claimed to have been expelled was the deacon
who had the temerity 10 ask the king" TO con
descend TO consult with those to whom hs
should at ali times he able ana willing TO give
an account Of himself. We regret much that
we find it necessary TO make this statement,
but we feel il our bouuden duty in face OF he
peculiar circumstances which surround u.s. We
do not recognize the action taken against US,
and we shall insist upon mainta lining our rights
which have bsen so rudey walked upon by the
very ore whose duty IL is 10 protect them. The
matters which we desire cleared up are no
secret in this city state, and we submit To the
Judgment Of an Intelligent Christian community
whether the action taken against US Is justin
able from any reasonable standpoint The
discipline and constitution OF the church re-
duires that the pastor should be of unblamable
character and department within and without.
Upon this we acted and we feel that we we're
justified and shall continue TO act on that line.
If the IA stor ia innocent he should not fear an
honest AID impartial stigation into bis
character and acts and the fact that we should
be thus treated by him and through his influence
because we endeavored to secure such an IN
vesti Eation does not reflect any credit upon him
nor place him in very desirable light before
the Christian world
Deacon r. II. JOHNSON.
Brothers TABY LLOYD.
P. r. KELLY.
JOHN II. CAFFEA.
BEN JAMIN CASHIN.
ANDREW NJ. MONROE.
L. II. HOUSTON.