Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-27
WHATEACH SIDESAY
TWO INTERESTING STATEMENTS
FROM MANCHESTER MINISTER'S.
WHY Mr.. SPENCER is CRITICISED.
The other CIersymen of the South
Side City Explain Their Position,
plies-Other Items of Interest

In the appended statements both sides
Of the ministerial controversy in Man
chester are given a hearing. The state
ment Of the minister's criticising Rev. Mr..
spencer's course was printed in the
afternoon papers yesterday, while the re-
ply of Mr.. Spencer was written last night
The echo from the Manchester pas
tors" follows.
IT WAS KINDLY MEANT.
The following statement was issued
yesterday by the pastors of Manchester
in explanation OF their recent conference,
in which it was agreed to inform Rev. J.
A. Spencer. pastor Of Cowardin-Avenue
Christian church, that they did not think
he was extending to them in his present
course the. usual and accepted ministe-
rial courtesy:
Deeply deploring the needless publicity
Whlch has been given a matter of diff
Terence between the Rev. Mr.. Spencer
and ourselves, we feel constrained to ap-
pear In print, lest our positions should be
entirely misunderstood by the people Our
action toward Mr.. Spencer was taken In
a brotherly spirit, and was meant to
be brotherly remonstrance. The meet
ing at which this matter was talked over
was not meant to be a regular meeting
OF our ministers conference. but was n
meeting OF those who felt aggrieved at his
conduct, and was had that we might come
10 soma conclusion as to the best method
of approaching him without in any way
hurting or giving him offence. The meet
ing was conducted in a kind way. Our
conclusion was reached and the brethren
selected to represent the ministers I'm con-
ference with Brother Spencer at a meet
ing with him i'm a manner which they
thought would be agreeable to him. and
would take but few moments Of his
time. 1t was far from our purpose TO
make public matter OF the affair. We
felt that a word OF kind remonstrance
would put an end to all trouble. Now, as
TO the ground of our action, we would
say that facts in our possession fully
warrant our course Nothing has ap-
peared in public print nor has anything
occurred In our interview with our brother
which has changed our estimate OF these
facts, nor caused us to feel that we have
proceeded without sufficient reason, nor
do we feel that we have in any measure
dealt in an unfair or unbrotherly manner
with our brother. With facts and in
cidents in our possession, we make bold
to take the stand that our brother has
not observed that unwritten code of cour-
teOus bearing which obtains, not only
among ministers of the Gospel, but among
physicians and lawyers and other pro-
fessions. In the interview appearing in
the papers, Mr. Spencer is quoted as
saying that he had been frequently
told by members of other congregations
and by the sick themselves, that their
pastors would come TO see them and go
away and not pray with them or offer
them any spiritual comfort, and in such
instances he had been sent for because
he made it an invariable rule to read
from the Scriptures and pray with those
whom sickness had laid upon beds where
they could not read for themselves" II
i'm this remark our brother means 70
thrust before the public wholesale ar
raignment Of us as neglectful of our duty
among the sick and afflicted, we must
firmly plead not guilty. IL our brother
would magnify the fact that he has an
invariable rule to pray in every home,
under all circumstances we are WILING
that L. shall make that display. we
have found in our pastoral experience
that IL IS much better TO exercise some
discretion. We find times and circum-
stances when 10 pray or hold any other
form OF religious service would not pc
honorlng 20 God or useful TO the people.
Win these statements we are willing
that the fair-minded people or the COM
munlty where we have labored ana Where
we are all well known snail luoge pc
twixt US and our brother With this we
sincerely hope that this matter may be
drawn from the public eye.
L. r. THORNHILL,
w. W. LEAR,
CHARLES y. VAN HOUTEN,
W. f.. HURT.
j. o. BABCOCK.
REPLY OF MIR. SPENCER.
Rev. Mr.. Spencer, when seen by the
Disnatch man last night, furnished the
following reply to the above.
In the papers Of yesterday there appears
ian echo from the Manchester pastors
signed by Revs. J.. r. Thornhill, w. W.
Lear. Charles n. Van Houten, w. Il.
Hurt, and j. o. Babcock.
In the spirit OF the Master L desire 10
reply to their "echo." l am truly sorry
the matter has been brought thus before
the public.
The above brethren say they felt ag-
grieved at my conduct My cohduSt an an
ready 10 submit 10 God and TO the Boou
people Of Manchester IisSla .n,, az ,,,,,
territorial violation of courtesy toward my
ministerial brethren. As to my receiving
into the Cowardin-Avenue CHRISTIAN
church members Of other churcnes Without
notifying their pastors, l desire 10 say
that shortly after / came here some MEM
hers of INV CONGREGATION united with their
/ was not then notlned py
the pastors Of the churches 70 Whlch they
had gone, and, therefore, when members
came TO US from other ehuIcneS @ tSs
matter by unnoticed, l was only folloW-
ing the precedent set by others.
l do not invariably read and pray with
the sick | have no desire 20 parade my
self before the people In such iight.
strive 70 be governed by my Heavenly
Father and discretion. l 30 not lay any
COMPLAINT against these brethren con
cerning their manner of dealing with their
sick. i was only justifying myself III
visiting some sick persons because they
desired me, and said some OF their p as.ors
aid not pray with them in their sickness
These brethren have censured me tor
visiting members OF their flock, both SICK
and well; but they have done the same
thing. .,oA,,.
bless Brothers Thornhiil' Lear, van thou
ten. Hurt, and Babcock, ana make them
good. beautiful, and useful, and that lie
nav lovingly keep their fiocks In health
and sickness. Joy and sorrow, ana hopihs
rhis Is the last OF this unpleasant anair'
| am. for the triumphing OF Goa 1i ? s,1lBS'
March 2s. 1891.
WILL, SOON BE AT WORK NOW.
The trouble between the employees at
pella Isle who work in the nail factory
and the company has been amicaoly adj
iustsd and they will start TO work next
week. o,
A notice was posted In the nall-mili
NJ the old Dominion Iron and Nail-Works
ahout the 10th OF last December This
was 10 notify the men that the company
would have TO make cut In wages III
this department The men refused 70
work for the wages stipulated and TINS
branch Of the works has been idls ever
since.
ON last Wednesday the nail-men had
meeting when they decided 10 make the
somnanv a proposition. which was pre-
sentea bv committee. The company
presented the men with a counter propo-
si,,on with the request II II was accepted
ta Iet them know at once so they could
ret ready to start the works at once.
The men accepted the terms OF the com
many In talking TO some OF the men they
ratd thew thought the company was doing
- oo,,fd for this men. and |