The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-04
The AyTI-LOVEITES WIN.
Pastor Love TO Submit 10 a Church
Investigation.

/ The First African Baptist Troubles
Aired In the Courts and the Anti
Pastor Faction Scores a Victory
Rev. DR.. Goodwin, of the First Bap-
fist Church, to Conduct the Investi-
cation as Moderator-Judge Fall
gant's Advice TO the Litigants.
The anti-LOveites won their first VIC
tory over Pastor Love, of the first Afri-
| can Baptist Church, yesterday IN the
supreme court. when they practically
compelled the pastor TO agree to an in
vesugation of the charges brought
against him, for the bringing of which
they were expelled from church mem ber-
ship by Rev. Love several months ago.
About 400 colored brothers and sisters,
representing both factions of the church,
were crowded together in the court room
like sardines in box, anxious to see the
results of bringing the famous church
squabble into the court Rev Love sat
inside the bar railing, fanked by numer-
Gus clerical friends, conspicuous among
whom was Parson Styles, Liberty coun-
tvs colored representative in the legisla-
ture. The expelled deacOns sabOpposite
behind thir counsel, Congressman Lester
George T. Cam, Esq. and Hon. w. w
Osborne.
The hearing was in the bill brought by
the late deacons of the church to com
pei Rev. Love to submit under the
church rules to an investigation of certain
serious charges brought against his char
acter in the public prints and by private
individuals.
SUBMITTED TO INVFSTIG ALTON
Mai p w. Meldrim opened the case
with demurrer to the bill on the part of
Rev. Love. He argued eloquently for
while against the inference of the court
but finally, after Judge Falligant showed
he intended to dismiss the demurrer, Mai
Meldrim offered on behalf Of his client
to submit the investigation to Rev. DR..
Goodwin of the Savannah Baptist church
as moderator, he to be~in the investiga-
ton at his pleasure after giving Rev. Love
five days notice.
A long time was consumed by counsel
on both sides in discussing the operation
of the agreement, Mai Meldrim holding
that 1t would be final decree taking the
case out of court altogether and Congress-
man Lester obiecting TO such an under
standing. He wanted a clause inserted
allowing the case TO come back to court
in case the anti-Loveites desired it. Mai
Meldrim could not enter into any such an
agreement, and finally Judge Falligant,
becoming tired of the disagreement be-
tween the attorneys on the agreement,
ordered the case to trial with the remark
to Congressman Lester that the agree
ment gave his side all that had been
asked for.
THE AGREEMENT ACCEPTED.
At this point Congressman Lester and
his colleagues decided to accept the agree
ment, and it was signed and made the or
der of the court.
Thus the church trouble goes back
from the state courts to a clerical
tribunal, which will carefully sift
all the charges against Rev. Love
and say whether he is guilty or
innocent. The Anti Lore foction was jul
bilant over the turn affairs took. 1t had
been trying for months to get the pastor
to submit himself to investigation, but in
stead Of acquiescing he fired his oppo-
nents out of the church. PASTOR Love
and his friends said they were satisfied
over the agreement, as the charges would
easily be proven groundless.
FEW WORDS OF ADVICE.
Judge Falligant, after granting the
decree, gave a few words of advice to the
members of the church He told them
they should not enter into the inyestiga-
tions with any feeling of vindictiveness
or revenge, but with a true Christian
spirit to get at the facts of the case. II
these facts should prove the pastor
guilty, the church should deal with him
fairly, according to its rules and regula-
tions, but if they were proved groundless
he ought to be publicly vindicated, and
those who brought the charges should
hang their heads in shame for having
brought discord and disunion into the
house of God.
The brethren bowed their acknowledge
ments to Judge Falligant for his advice,
and went into the streets and stood on the
corners in groups discussing the probable
outcome of the investigation. Despite
the great gathering in the courtroom,
perfect order prevailed during the hear
ing Sheriff Roman did not once have to
rap for order.