Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-25
DON'T LIKE HIS WAY.
MANCHESTER PASTORS OBJECT TO
HIS INFLUENCE UPON THEIR MEMBERS
Visits Them when sick, and Has
Received Them Into His Church
versions Of Both sides-The Hull
street Work
street Work.

ingIy slight. has now assumed an aspect
most serious There was meeting OF the
ministers Tuesday evening, at which were
present Rev. DR.. L. r. Thornhill, keVs'
Benjamin Dennis. W. w. Lear, Charles
n. Van Houten, w. f. Hurt, and j. o.
Babcock At this meeting Dr. Thornhlh
and Mr.. Lear were appointed commit
tee to wait on Rev. J. A. Spencer, pastor
of the Cowardin-Avenue Christian church,
to inform him that they did not think he
was extending TO ministers of other de-
nominations Of the city the ministerial
courtesy which has always existed among
them. This meeting of the ministers was
one most unified, and the action taken
was unanimous. 1t was decided TO
adopt the course which was taken to
make known to Mr. Spencer I'm brother
ly and affectionate manner that his action
towards his brother pastors and to their
churches was discourteous and calculated
to ALLEVIATE the feelings of the people
from the focks to which they already
belonged.
CONFERENCE WITH MIR. SPENCER
In accordance with this, Mr.. Spencer
received a card from DR.. Thornhlll asking
him to meet with him at the post-ofiice
yesterday morning az . o'clock. This Mr..
Spencer. without the slightest intlmation
of what had passed. did. DR.. Thornhill
kept the appointment, and invited the
gentleman to walk over 10 the study OF
Mr.. Lear, adjoining Central Methodist
church. There they found Mr. Lear, the
other member of the committee and the
conference began. Messrs. Thornhiil and
Lear spoke calmly and dispassionately
about the matter, telling Mr. Spencer
that his course was not agreeable 10
them; that he had gone into the houses
of every congregation in the city where
ever sickness was known, and even
where there was no sickness; that they
had frequently found in their visits
among their own people that he was
either Just going In himself or had just
left They said TO him, also, that In VIDE
variance with the usual custom among
the pastors in the city, ne had received
members into his church without in any
way notifying or consulting with the
pastors Of the churches from which they
came, and in this way it had not infre-
quently occurred that the same person
was connected with two churches at the
same time. In behalf Of the entire min
istry, they stated that these facts had
been a source of much annoyance 10
them
MR.. SPENCER'S VERSION.
Rev. Mr.. Spencer was seen by a repre-
sentative of the Dispatch last night, and
talked freely and very earnestly about all
that had transplred. He said he had re-
ceived members OF other chuFches INTO
Cowardin-Avenue church whom he knew
had been connected with churches In the
city, but he was not aware That 1t was
h.. no. fn n
each other when such changes were made,
and i'm some cases he had not even known
personally those who had presented them
selves 10 be baptized by him, and thinking
they knew what they believed and were
old enough TO decide the question ior
themselves, he had performed the rite
MIR. Spencer cited one instance In which
a lady. a member Of a Methodist church,
Mad come to him and told him she wanted
to be baptized, and that II she were 10 dle'
her assurance would not be complete I'M
| less she were immersed. In this case ne
felt he could do nothing but baptize her,
though he did not advise her 70 unite with
his church or any other. LAS TO my visit
ing members Of other churches, who were
! sick" said Mr.. Spencer, II have done so,
and I told the committee that / certainly
! had no objection in the world TO any MIN
| lister i'm the city visiting any Of my people,
| but that In most every case I called be-
| cause / had been requested to do So
Mr.. Spencer said he had been frequently
/ told by members OF other congregations,
/ and by the sick people Themselves, that
| their pastors would come 70 see them and
| go away and not pray with them or offer
a word OF spiritual comfort and in such
! instances he had been sent for because he
| made an invariable rule 10 read from the
! Scriptures and pray with those whom
| sickness had laid upon beds, where they
could not read for themselves Mr.. Spen-
| Ger said he had never thought once about
placing himself between people and pastor,
but had conscientiously done what he
thought was his duty. and If in instances
he had visited persons who were not
members of his church, he was under the
impression that they were not members
OF any church. and knew no better until
he had called. Mr.. Spencer very firmly
denied having tried or intended to prose-
lyte any one.
WILL DO THE WORK.
The Street Committee met yesterday
evening at 4:30 O'clock and adjourned to
view the streets about and surrounding
Johnson's foundry and the Butter-Box
Works i'm answer to a petition from these
people 10 put the streets in their vicinity
in a more passable condition. The commit
tee. after it's trip, instructed Captain Lips
comb. City Engineer, 10 have the work
done at once. The matter or paving Hun
street also came before the committee,
but action was deferred until an adjourn
ed session on Friday evening at D O'CLOCK
The Council will meet In adjourned ses-
sion Friday evening. and IL will indeed
be busy meeting. The matter OF the Hull
street Improvement will be heard anew,
il Is thought, while the Chesapeake and
Ohio bridge matter will come up again for
further consideration.
Welded AT THE PARSONAGE.
Mr.. Wesley Buckner and Miss Carrie
Haddock were married In the parlors or
the parsonage OF Fifth-Street church last
evening at $50 o'clock. The ceremony was
performed by Rev. ]. .. Babcock, the
church's and brides pastor. The bride IL
tine attractive daughter Of Mr.. Thomas
| Haddock. OF west Ninth street Mr. Buck
ner Is a valued employee OF the Richmond
| PaperMill.
A large and deeply interested congrega-
ton assembled in Central Methodist
church last evening. where a revival Sc
I ries IS being held. Rev. W. w. Lear 'he
| nastor. preached at this service, ana at
| the conclusion OF the sermon an expert
| snce-meeting was held. This evening Rev.
DIR Vanderslice. OF Richmond, viii preach:
choosing as his subject, Making a Bed.
The various councils OF the Junior order
I-rited American Mechanics in Manchester
are considering the matter OF having
natr,o,ic celebration on July 4th. Liberty,
Pockv Ridge. and New South have ap-
pointed committees to confer on the mat
ter or celebrating the 4th. Manchester and
Davis councils win. most probably, APP
noir, committees at their next meeting.
NEGRo's ASSAULT AT MIDDAY.
burly negro man made one OF the
hoidsst attacks upon boy OF Is years
YESTERDAY that the police OF Richmond
and Manchester have known In years.