Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-01-25
BROWNIES MONEY.
APEcULIAR CONDITION
The Organ of the Virginia
Baptists and the Loan
That Peace Meeting--A Des-
pirate Effort to Make
Terms With the
Ministry.
REV. PAYEB'S DEMANDS AND REV.
LEWIS POSITION.
Still OOnferring

There have been many inquiriesrela-
tive TO the business transaction referr
ed to in the letter Of Rev. II. D. Lewis,
B. d and reports have been circulat-
ed relative TO the deal by which Rev
w. W. Browne secured such a strong
hold on the Virginia Baptist, the organ
of the very Baptist Ministry which he
is accused of antagonizing and insult
ing.
AS the matter was brought up in the
Ministers Conference on Monday last,
it might not be out of place to give
what Information we have been able
TO obtain upon the subject
TBk FIRST DISAGREEMENT.
Ever since the first disagreement
which existed between the editor of
the PLANET, the Baptist Ministry and
the people on the one side and Rev.
Browne and the True Reformers on
the other, the latter have been endeav
oring to shape the sentiment among
the members of the Baptist denomina
ton by securing possession of their nc
credited organ. For this purpose, Mr.
w p. Bu-reIl, Grand Worthy Secre-
tary, Mr.. Miles b. Jones, Assistant
Grand Worthy Secretary and Mr.. NJ
X. Gerst, Chief of Real Estate at the
True Reformers' Building purchased
stock in the concern. They of course
acted under instructions from boss
Browne. At that time there were
twelve members of the Virginia Bap-
tist Publishing Co., and boasts were
made that eight of the twelve we're
True Reformers.
The journal which had been defend
ing Rev. u. d Lewis, Rev. Evans
Payne and the Baptist Ministry sud
denly and mysteriously changed front
and brother Lewis was notified to
write no more, or if he did write. it
would not appear in the columns of
the Virginia Baptist.
REV. LEWIS RESIGNATION.
Rev Lewis was president of the com
pany too and his indignation knew no
bounds, so he rendered his resignation
and insisted that it be accepted.
Prior to this through the influence
of Rev. Lewis and other members OF
the company, the Southern Aid and
Insurance Company of which Rev.
Lewis was also president loaned rne
Virginia Baptist Publishing Co., about
four hundred dollars.
Rev. J. f Jones, d D., succeeded
| him. In the meantime Rev. Browne
| through his representative bought pa.
pers in lots of one thousand when the
matter contained was acceptable tC
boss Browne.
SILENCE HERE.
Silence reigned in the columns OF
| the Virginia Baptist relative to the
Browne matter. Only now and ther
would its editor persist in saying CON
| plimentary things Of the True Reform
er boss, which of course gave satisiac.
ton to the members of the company
who had no doubt bought stock upor
Rev. Brownies orders.
This condition continued and the ec
itor was made to feel so uncomforta
| BILE inasmuch as financial troubles b &C
| again besieged the concern. that h.
| rendered his resignation which was a,
| cepted and Rev. J z. Jones was elect
| ed editor and Rev u. d. Lewis mad,
his associate. The company decided
to run the paper along different line
and it was deemed advisable to borrow
| Isl COOL one thousand dollars.
BOSS BROWNIES MOVE.
The fight had waxed so warm anon,
the people OF the state as against Rev
W. w. Brownies Grab, his boycott o
the PLANET, and his war upon the Bap
tist Ministry, that he thought this wa
splendid opportunity to place hi
ministerial enemies under obligation
to him and spike their guns, so he OF
| fered to loan them the thousand dol
lars.
He no doubt reasoned that if he
Methonist divine could loan out 70
one year one fiftieth part of the $50
600 at per cent interest with good s
curity and compromise the leadin
members of the Baptist brotherhood
it would be mastery stroke of diplC
macy.
BRETHREN OBJECTED.
There developed some opposition
the Virginia Baptist Publishing Go
(, to the scheme, but it was decided tn,
the money should be borrowed frol
l Rev. w. w. Browne.
Thereupon Rev w F. Graham r,
q signed as secretary and subsequent,
q | withdrew entirely from the compar
/, =elinnnishing his stock
1t was decideu Jna5 suOi. ss.S,... -. = = :
as could be induced so to do shou
J., give their Individual notes to Rev. Y
W. Browne for one hundred dolla
= each. 1t was desired and hoped tn
S ten members of the company would
5 gree to do this.
n THOSE INDIVIDUAL NOTES.
g Rev Evans Payne declined to ha
anything to do with it and declared