Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-02-12
Mr.. EDITOR:

Mr.. EDIToR: :,
Your editorial comment in con-
nection with DIR. w VI. Brooks coun-
ter queries, was rather amusing
Your intention, it seems, was to help
both De. Brooks and your readers, but
would you be surprised to know that
SO far from stating the true ground Of !
our discussion you are sadly in need of
s'me one to help you. Your inform
ant is wrong: and his statement is as
false as it is prejudicial.
We positively deny that the Amsri- |
can Baptist Home Mission Society 1
(white) of New York, and the Ameri-
can BaptissP Publication SocietY( (white) |
of Philad elphIa presented any plan at
the so-called Nati0Dal Convention at
Boston, Mass looking 20 the forma-
tion of District Conventions.
We positively deny that there was
any expressed intention on the part OF
these powerful, and CID given organ
izaeiUns to get control the one of all
the Negro Schoo's-noJwithsta tanding
the said Society furnishes the greater
portion of the money 10y which these
schools are conducted, and the other
of all the literature furnished Negro
Baptist Sunday Schools. The publish
ed proceedings of this meeting will
warrant no such statement
THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE CONTROVERSY
BETWEEN Us.
But what is the ground Of our dis
cussion? The brethren of Virginia.
and others have long since learned
that the so-lealed National Convention
was too large and unwieldy TO do ef-
fective Christian work: that the ex-
pense of holding this Convention an
nually was too great and the result too
small. That the thousands OF dollars
spent in travelling from one end Of
this country To the other to attend
this so-called National Baptist Conven-
tiOn was a reckless wastet of money
that should be spent in helping the
heathen abroad for whom it was gwen,
and not the heather at our doors,
while the Convention contained an
empty treasury and the Missionaries
complained of not receiving their sal
aries; that the unbusiness like meth
DDS of conducting the work was cal
culated to bring upon as the stigma Of
playing at Missions while the heather
are dying for the Bread of life.l
To correct these evils the brethren
OF Virginia with others presented at
the Boston meeting plan looking TO
the formation of DistIict Conventions
throughout the country through which
expenses would be decreased and
more money raised and forwarded to 9
National Baptist Board or Convention
with restricted membership. composed
of representatives from the respective
District Conventions.
By this, we hoped to break up these
annual excursions conducted at tn.
expense of the heather. We labored
yes, we prayed to have the plan adopt
ed, but our prayer was disregardeC
and our motives impuned-
Being thoroughly conscious Of our du
ty to give the Gospel to the hea6hen
while the So called National Conven
tion seemed concerned only about tn
political status of our brethren in tn
South, and being NOV by the spiri
of God to feel that we should ODE
God rather than men, we assembled a
Washington, ID. c., on December II
1897 and organized District COnven
ticn composed of brethren from tn
following states: Virginia. North CaI
oIina. District of Columbia, Maryla lanC
Delaware, Pennsy lvania, New Jerse,
New York Maine, New Hampshire, Vel
mont, Massachusetts, Rhode Islam
and Connecticut. It was against TIL
convention that DIR w. H. Broos
made his speech, making the Srethre
OF Virginia the subject of his contr'
dictory, disjOinted. i'll advised TRAD
But we have grace enough to forgiN
him, and pray for him as often as v
can
DIR. BROOKS STRANGE METHOD OF Al
swERING QUESTIONS.
In my first article avowed that
would have no news paper cOntrovers
but simply asked few questions wi
view of having DR.. brooks expla
the uDfol tunate attitude in which
celebrated circular letter speech wou
setm TO place him. But to my ST
prize, without attempting to answei
single one of my questions, he pl
ceeds TO ply questions to me, the q
swering of which will not, in my judi
lnent, relieve his difficulty. 1t may
that he propoUnded those questions
order that he might have time to
fleet on what he should answer me,
it may be that he is now paralyz
Well, / cannot furnish him a cTutch
answ ering his que stions before he 1
swers mine, since mine we're first p
pounded. However, will say that
questions will be satisfactorily answ'
ed in due time.
/ am forced TO renew my gu este
and insist on an answer unequivoC
Is DR.. BROOKS AN ATTORNEY ? DOES
DEFEND HYPOCRISY?
/. Did not the brethren from '
ginia present plan at the BcSt
meeting, looking to the formation
District Conventions throughout
country, as means Of lesseDlng
expenses, ard increasing the { etlicleI
and finance Of our Foreign Mics
work. Did you not speak raspin
against our course and did not the
called Convention reject our plans Q