The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-10
Proceedings of an Investigation
Nv His Own Church.
SAY CHARGES NOT PROVEN
pARSON DID DRINK BUT WAS
NOT A DRUNKARD.
the MINISTER'S CHARGES AGAIN
Thew Are Preachers of the Highest
Standing in Their Church and They
1ocIared That They Leaned to
the Side of Mercy.
Hartford, n. c., April

l1orttOru, N. VI, 1ApIll a.
To the Editor.-In reply to your letter
agreeing to print my statement III reply
to the resolutions of the MINISTER'S al
their meeting in Edenton, y. u, Feb.
10. 1890. and published III the blohcal
Recorder. hand you herewith the record
of the investigation of the whole matter
as had by the church of which L was a
member. assisted by her sister churches.
trust you will do me the justice to give
it an appearance.
THOS. W. BABB.
The report accompanying the above
note is as follows:
The church at Ariel, in conference Sat
urday before the third Sunday in July,
1890. Bro. William III. Riddick, of Mid
die Swamp. was called to the chair.
and Bro. Il. W. Simpson was elected
reading clerk.
The business before the conference was
the investigation of certain charges of
immoral conduct alleged against Rev.
II. w. Babb. member of Ariel church,
by the ministers at their meeting In
Edenton. n. c., Feb. IS, 1890, and pub
lished in the Biblical Recorder. The
church at Ariel invited council, to con-
sist her in this matter, and the following
brethren We're present, viz:
From Middle Swamp church-W. III.
Riddick, J. A. Rountree, Il. III. .Roun-
tree. deacons; Il. w. Riddick, Daley Wal
ker, Ephraim Morris.
From Sandy Cross church-Josiah
Overman, deacon; J. NJ. Trotman, r. w.
Simpson, Joseph Riddick, Nathan Rid
dick, Gilbert Riddick, James Riddick. n.
o. Ward, VIM. Cannon, Joseph Riddick,
Jr.
From Reynoldson church,. J. Free
man, Nj. c. Lawrence, j. A. Edwards,
deacons: Gilbert Fancy, John Fancy,
James Skinner, Joseph Jones.
From Gainesville church-Marmaduke
Laurence. Timothy Laurence.
From Beulah church,. r. Speight.
From Coleraine church-G. NJ. Mat
thews, deacon; Media Evans.
From Newton church-Hallet Ward.
From Shady Grove church-Wiley
Walker
The church. with the above named
brethren to assist her with their counsel,
then proceeded to investigate the afore-
mentioned charges. and rendered their
decision as follows:
/. Resolved. That while Rev. I. w.
Rabb acknowledges the use of liquors.
we do not believe that he has committed
any crime. morally or religiously, in so
doing. Offered by c. r. Speight, and
adopted.
2. Resolved, That there is no evidence
whatever that Rev. II. w. Babb was
drunk or under the influence of liquor at
Warwick church. or elsewhere. and we
denounce it as false in every particular.
Offered by c. r. Speight and adopted.
3. There being no evidence before us
that Rev. I. w. Babb has ever refused
to pay an honest debt
Resolved. therefore, That we do not
believe him guilty Of the charge of per-
sistently refusing to pay honest debts.
Offered by r. W. Simpson and adopted.
4. Resolved, That Rev. Il. w. Babb is
fully justified in the course pursued by
him in the Plymouth church belfry mat
ter. Offered by J. NJ. Trotman and
adopted.
5. In regard TO the Warwick Sunday
School charge
Resolved, That we dismiss this matter
for want of evidence of any guilt. Of
fered by VIM. Cannon and adopted.
q. In regard to the charge Of repeated
falsehood-
Resolved, That this charge be dismissed
for want of any evidence to support it.
Offered by VIM. Cannon and adopted.
Z. In regard to the charge of attention
to a young lady calculated to injure her
reputation
Resolved, That it be dismissed for
want of any evidence to sustain the
charge. Offered by VIM. Cannon and
adopted
8. Whereas, Rev. Il. W. Babb has been
charged with adultery at Mays Head;
and
Whereas, There is no evidence to sus-
tain such charge; therefore.
Resolved, That we do not believe Rev.
L. w. Babb to be guilty Of the charge,
and so affirm. Offered by I. II. Roun-
tree and adopted.
Whereas, we, the church at Ariel, as
sembled in conference, assisted by a
council of brethren from the sister
churches of Reynoldson, Middle Swamp,
Sandy Gross, Beulah, Coleraine, Gates
vile, Winton and Shady Grove, for the
purpose of hearing the evidence upon the
charges Of immoral conduct alleged
against Rev. T.. w. Babb, our pastor,
and member Of Ariel church, and intro
duced before the ministerial council re-
Gently held in Edenton, have heard a
full presentment Of the same, and declare
said charges wholly unsustained; there
fore
Resolved, That we denounce said coun.
ell as entirely unjustifed in its delibera,
tons and decisions, and as being unri
vailed by any christian body in our his
tory; and further
Resolved, That we esteem the Rev
n. w. Babb worthy minister of the
Gospel and a brother, and in good stand
ing with us.
Resolved, That a copy Of these resolu
tons be sent to the Biblical Recorder
for publication.
w. III. RIDDICK, Moderator
M. j. Laurence, Church Clerk.
Personally appeared before me, an act
ing Justice of the Peace for Gates coun
ty, n. c., Mills J. Laurence, and make
oath that he was at the time, and is now
clerk Of the church at Ariel and that tn,
above is a true copy of the findings o
the conference of said church in the in
vestigation Of certain charges agains
Rev. Thos. W. Babb. as appears upo,
the minutes of Ariel church. This Apr