The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-28

A statement Of What Occurred ns'"''"
~, si.dd aud the Society.

&fAvGmeul
~, sl.dd aud the Society.
rd,tor The Times: communism
.,,,,s.,e,l In The Times OF the ~'eh wv
,be signature OF Rev. w. Aspu'y Co.,
,,ap. the pastor or Wa'"'"e'', ,to
Methodist church, In winch app'"N
following: ,-.,an.vor So
- ne onenlv fought against the pas
,or and the Church. and IN TINS on's
fow members have shown sp"I' 30"
iron, the Christ spirit IT was report"
thai some cried at the proposeu suoe''ss 80,
lion. Not all cried for that seNo,ai 80
,ho, o,rIed because OF the lnd'gni'leS
offered their pastor. and because VI ~
discrcdit cast on Christian EhueaNo' ~
their society. What OF these 'oin
bleeding lambs when one OF inc ,'a,,
and onc who Is probably largely reSPoh-
s,tin Co.. the coforotion. so grossly IN
suited the oldest Methodist pastor OF
our city while in the discharge oil ms
duty. as TO put him in such position
as he had not been In Tor thnts-nHe
wears. and TO force him 10 ASH l"i q"
Immediate explanation. ., to
The ''Endeavor Society" referred 10 ~
GENERALLY recognized as the one iUi NJ -
in Centenary church, ana the icduel
who grossly insultcd" the pastor az my
self. -, 49,
Nothipe. but entire ignorance OF the
facts could have ELECTED SUCH s'"'e-
ment from such source.
THE Christian Endcavor Society OF Cen
,enarv had the courage OF their convic-
lions. and frankly. fairly ana candidly
fought II out with their pastor. When
they received the mandate OF their pastor
90 dlsband they humbly accepted his de-
cision as final
They thought IL matter between them
and their pastor. and were not prepared
for this attack from the pastor OF another
Methodist church.
on Tuesday night the president OF the
society called meeting OF the executive
committee of the society. consisting OF
tho officers and chairmen of the commit
,ccs 81 the society, who always pass on
matters of importance to the organiza-
ton. ....
Knowing that we had to meet TINS ques-
,ion the following Thursday night with
our pastor. the matter was tuily MS
cussed. and a line OF action adopted
The determination. reached was mat we
wouId not consent 10 be converted INTO
mn Epworth League; tnat we WouId not
vote 10 disband. but If our pastor insisted
that we must dsband, il should DC Dy
his command
The vote on this was unanimous.
AT the Thursday night meeting this line
Of action was carried out, ana a vote
taken I'm our pastors presence, showing
the sentiment and determination OF the
socicty-all Of those who attended Thurs
day nights meeting voting in favor there
OF. except two. who went opposite to
their first declaration.
While the matter was under discussion,
and when every appeal 10 be allowed to
stand had been unfavorably received by
the pastor, / said to DR.. Sledd:
Doctor you are treating us badly
Or. Sledd resented this. and said: Il
will not stand that charge" and at the
same time approached me in manner
that led me 10 believe that he considered
1t an insult
at once said: Doctor. do not construe
what / have said as an insult. | did not
so mean ii. / have too much respect Tor
you, sir. TO offer you an Intentional in
suit. and 1t is not in my heart. If you
Ihnk | have ir suited you, l now humbly
beg your pardon"
DR.. Sledd then said: 'Well. I'll accept
that"
The above words are. TO the best Of
my recollection and belief, exactly what
passed.
The episode was peculiarly distressing
TO all, and the words were burned in my
mind as by fire.
/ cannot be far wrong in this state
ment.
Had DR.. Sledd not accepted this as an
ample apology at the time, 1t would have
been only a matter OF justice for him TO
have said so. and believe, II he had not
considered the apology ample at the time,
he WOULD have said So
On Sunday morning, when the society
gathered in that memorable meeting TO
carry out the mandate of their pastor to
disband, one Of the members who OPP
posed the action of the majority on
Thursday night moved that the society
send an apology 10 Dr. Sledd for their
conduct Thursday night. The matter was
fully discussed, and a motion was pass
ed TO the effect that the society did not
owe DIR. Sledd an apology, but recon-
mended that If any individual had said
anything they were sorry for. il would be
the proper course TO go TO DR.. Sledd per-
Nothing but the goadng from several
directions has forced me TO say this much.
/ have no desire to shirk personal re-
sponsibility, but l decline to be made the
scapegoat In this matter
JOHN ID. MURRELL.
The above is correct
w. EENTON NfcphINy