The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-27
REV. ia. SPENCER'S CRITICS,
10 Makes a Strong But DiShlned Reply
10 Their echo,
IS DOING HIS DUTY AS he SEES IT..
TO serve Ills Master l. His Only Aim Text
ofthe statement Made by Rev. Mossrs.
Thornbili. Lear, Van Houion' Hurt
aud Baboock -- Other News.

M,vc,nsriR BUREAU, RICHMOND TINES
NJ Il2l Hull ortt q. B.hglIt bLocA.1
There has been great deal Of interest
manifested hy the people Of Manchester
IA the controversy between the ministers
Of this city and the Rev. Mr. Spencer
pastor of Coward4n-Avcnue Christian
church. Tho people generally deplore the
publicity given TO tho matter ana trust
the outcome may end peacefully and TO the
satisfaction of au concerned.
Mr. Spencer. m talking TO a Times
reporter last night, said he did not tn'nN
lie had done anything but his duty TOWARDS
his Master and his leAow-man.
The following is air. sYenccrs caro- IN
reply TO the card in The afternoon papers,
aud headed AN Echo from tine Mancnes!
ter Pastors
Manchester. Va, March %. ls'"
In thi. afternoon Leader aud state
there appears An LcA0 from me Nam
chester Pastors. signed uy Rows. j. h.
Thornhu ". ". Lear, Charles y. Van
IOutcu. ". h.. Hurt and D. o. baucOch.
IN tno spirit of the Master / desire TO
reply 10 the echo 4 am truly sorry the
matter has been brought thus before the
public The above brethren say they iet
aggricvcl az my conduct j am READY 10
submit my conduct 60 botn Coz anu inc
good people of Manchester. / dlsclalm
any Intentional violation of courtesy To-
wards my ministerial brethren. AS 10
my receiving into the C0wardlu-AVenue
Christian church members OF oihcr
churches without notifying their pastors,
desire 20 say that shortly AFTER i came
here some members OF my congregation
united with other churches mere, bul
Was not even notified OF the matter, ana,
therefore. when members came 10 us
from other churches. 1 i'm not notifying
their pastors was only following ID pre-
CCdcut set by others. j DO not invariably
read and pray with the sick. j nave no
desire TO parade myself before the public
in such light. ] strive to De governed
by my Heavenly Father and discretion.
] do not lay amy complaint against these
brethren concerning their manner or
dealing with their sick. / was only JUS
tifying myself I'm visiting some sick per
sons. because they desired me, and said
some Of their pastors did not pray with
them in their sickness. These brethren
have consurcd me for visiting members
OF their flock. both sick and well. but
they have done the same thing concerning
persons who are not members of their
hocks.
With the prayer that God may richly
bless Brothers Thornhiu, Lear Van
Houtcn. Hurt. and Bahcock. make them
good beautiful and useful and that lie
may lovingly keep their hocks in health
- sickness JOY and sorrow. and hoping
rnis may bc the last Of this unpleasant
affair. ] am
For the triumph OF Gods glory,
iSigneO j. A. SPENCER.
Tho statement referred to by cir. spen-
Ger is as follows.
THE OTHER STATEMENT.
Tho following was given out for publ
An echo from The Manchester pastors:
Deeply dculorinc the needless publicity
which has been given Is a. matter or dr.
ference between the Rev Mr. spencer
and ourselves. we feel constrained to ap-
pear Boo print lest our positions should be
entirely misunderstood hy the people. our
action toward Mr. spencer was taken
iu "a hr0thcrly spirit and was meant 10
Doe "a brotherlv remembrance. The meet
ing at which this matter was talked over
was not meant 90 Dee regular meeting
Of cur minister's conference. but was q
meeting of those who felt aggrleNcd az nus
conduct. and was had that We might come
20 some conclusion as 90 the best mclnou
~ approaching him without ln any way
hurting or giving him offence. The meet
ing was conducted FOO "a kind way. our
conclusion was reached and the brethren
selected O. represent the ministers I'D toit-
ference with Brother spencer az meet
ing with him Boo 81 manner which tney
thought would Doe agreeable 10 hln. ana
would take but a few moments or nus
time. II was far from our purpose 40
make "a public matter of the affair. we
felt that "a word OF kind remonaIaiDc
would put am end 90 all trouble.
GROUND OF ACTION.
NOW as TO the ground of our ac-
ton. We would say mat iacis
n our possession fully warrant
d O. NJ
m public print nor has anything
occurred 10 our interview with our brotn-
CO. which has changed Our estimate IT
these facts. nor caused ua to feel that
We have proceeded without sufficient rca-
son. nor do We feel chat we nave ln amy
measure dealt in ana unidlr on unuloihelN
manner with our brother WIN laDt
and incidents iu our possession Mr nlIh.
bold 10 take the stand that our brother
has not observed that uuWIllcn coue OF
courteous bearing which OBTAINS. nor
only among ministers OF the gospel Dut
among physicians and lawyers and otnef
professions. In the interview appearing
in the papers. Mr. Spencer ls quoted
rs saying. THAT he had been frequently
told by members Of other congregations
and by the sick themselves tnat thclI
pastors would come o. see them and go
away and not pray with them or oIlei
them amy spiritual comfort ANA lh sutn
instances he had been sent Tor because
he made IL au iuNarlduic rune a. t't'
from the scriptures and pray with those
whom sickness had laid upon beds Where
they could not read Tor themselves. IT
in this remark our brother means 10
thrust before the public wholesale ar
raignmeut OF as as neElcclul OF our uuty
among the sick ana ailicitu We M"at
firmly plead not guilty. III our nlol"eI
would magnify the fact tnat ne mas am
invariable rule TO pray ln every nome.
under an circumstances we are WhIIis
that ne shall make thdt oiaptN- we
have found in our pastoral eNperDnee
D.. a. ID