The age-herald., 1898-03-05
SEVERAL PREACHERS WROTH Opposed to the Coming of Sam
 Jones, WHO IS BOOKED FOR APRIL One Minister Says He Breaches Nothing But Reform and He Should Come After
 the Next Mayors Election.
Special to The Age-Herald.

Selma, Ala, March 4-Rev. Sam Jones is booked for a series of meetings in Selma about the 1st of April For about eight years an effort has been made by some to get the noted evangelist here, but the pastors of the different churches have al- ways been able to nip the movement in the bud. This time Sam was invited and con- sented to come, then the pastors confer ence of the city were invited to cooperate with those who had made the arrangements with the evangelist. They refused to do so, and unanimously passed resolution that at this time it was mexpedient to in- vite any evangelist to Selma to hold a meeting.
 This resolution was passed in October last. On last Sunday a meeting was called in the Y. M. c. A. for the purpose of ap- pointing committees to make all arrange ments for Sam's advent. Here is where the trouble arose, for at that meeting motion was made that two from each church be appointed. This hiss7 lf5oReu to certain pastors t1aaeyr tnose who had the affair in hand were trying to commit the churches to the re- sponsibilty of the meeting, and called meeting of the pastors conference was ordered for this morning.
 The meeting came off, and was a warm member. Three of the eight pastors of the city are in favor of Sam's coming, four don't care anything about it one way or the other but are positive that he must
 
 state of affairs. One thinks the matter has gone too far to take any action what ever. At the meeting this morning a let ter was presented to be signed by the nas- tors to MT. Jones, informing him of the resolution passed last October and express ing no invitation from the pastors in a body to come. It was, of course, courteous ly framed. It was signed by Rev. J. w. Shoaff, pastor of the First Methodist church; Rev. Russell Cecil. pastor of the Broad Street Presbyterian church, and Rev. L. G. Flames, pastor of the Alabama Street Presbyterian church. pr. Dickin- son, pastor of the Baptist church, refused to sign it, though having helped write it, as he contended that 1t must be passed as conference The letter was at first passed by tho conference, Rev. Spicer, who was opopSed to 1t, being called away before the vote was taken, but was afterward recon sidered. Dr. Dickinson will bring 1t up again on Monday morning at the prayer meeting of the conference
 In connection with the stir the matter has made here the following sensational ntterances, made by Dr. Dickinson, are of Interest: In the first place, it must be re- membered that three years ago Dr. Dick inson inaugurated a reform movement in Selma and Dallas county that mis- erable failure He said this morning: Some don't want Sam Jones to come to Selma As for me, don't care. I think it is ex- pedient at this time. He could do no good He ought to have come here before the primaries, or what is better still, wait until just before the next mayors election. You will find me taking the other side of this question next fall. I am going to get up reform club and have him invited to come and hold a series of meetings about next January. He will then do good, for he breaches reform, and never did preach the gospel"