The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-24
CHARGES AGAINST MANY
SOUTH-STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
ROW ASSUMES LARGE PROPORTIONS.
Committee Appointed to Hear the Case
Against MIR. Parish and the
"First Batch"

~ OAb III LlE 0OulAlFRNANGN 00RNA9h
Church, which has resulted in formal
charges against the pastor, Rev. Frederick
G.. Parish, and the call Of a church council
by one faction, received further airing at a
meeting last night. The meeting last night,
much more largely attended than that Of
Monday night, completely repudiated the
action on that occasion, authorizing pro-
tests to be submitted against the hearing of
charges against the pastor by a council, on
the ground that the call for it was made
by a minority of the church at an Illegal
meeting. A committee of six members of
the church and an advisory board Of three
from other churches was appointed to hear
the charges against the pastor, as well as
against nine other members of the church,
who are charged, particularly, with circu-
lating ISLANDERS against the pastor. In the
event of the failure Of this committee to
agree, it was authorized to ask for the APP
pointment of a council.
Last night Z. w. LOOMS was present to
protest against any action taken, on the
ground that last nights meeting was itself
Illegal, inasmuch as it was not called by
the deacons or trustees, as the constitution
requires, but was called by seven or more
members. Mr.. LOOMS undertook to read
the constitution, but a point of order was
made that he could not proceed, as he was
himself under charges. Mr.. LOOMS ignored
the point and proceeded to read until he
was sharply called to order by Chairman
j. A. Dynes, who informed Mr.. LOOMS that,
while he would overrule the point against
him. he must conduct himself properly. Mr..
LOOMS continued reading, and his protest
was entered in the minutes. The commit
tee appointed last night will meet next Mon
day and take up, first, the case of the pas
tor, and, afterwards, that of the other nine
members, the first batch" 1t was deSlg-
mated last night. The committee consists
Of Deacon w. II. Gardner, j. A. DyneS,
Wallace Sherwood, L. Roberts, Fl. w. New
that is to act with it, consisting OF Rev. {.
H. Mcdowell, of the University-place
Church, Rev. A. D. Berry, OF the Woodruff
Place Church, and Deacon Sutton, Of the
First Baptist Church. Besides the pastor,
those that are called on to answer charges
are: Kate Mason, Nettie Thomas, l. T.
Mrs. Belle Weithe, h. A. Bonham, DR.. I.
N. Bryan and William Williams. There IS
q possibility that some of the members Will
refuse to recognize the authority. of this
committee. All those who have circulated
stories regarding the pastor will be ordered
to appear and tell what they know. Neither
faction now recognizes the right of the
other to act, and 1t may be necessary for
some radical action to be taken by a coun-
ella rather formidable body-to be made
up of a pastor and one deacon from each
Of the fifteen or more churches in the Cen
tfal BapItSC Association, IN winch the
churches OF this city are associated.
NOT GO INTO PAST LIFE.
Wallace Sherwood, clerk of the church,
who is with the pastors faction, last night
reviewed all that has been done 30 far in
the unpleasant controversy. A committee
consisting of the five deacons. DR.. Bryan, ].
H. Law, Robert Gardner, L. H. Vandeman
and George Alexander, with six members
of the church, James Thatcher. Wallace
Sherwood, w. H. Newly, II b. Hoyt, J. A.
Dynes and w. ID. Wilson, met Jan. 81 and
decided that it would not consider charges
concerning the life of the pastor prior to
the time he came to the church. Some Of
the committee were in favor ot tracing his
life backward, but they were IN the MINOR
ity. subsequently, the committee met TO hear
any who had charges to make Tut none
appeared. Attac1ed 70 the report q ms
committee made last night was a statement
from the clerk, who said that -. A. n
informed him that both he and his wife had
charges to make at the proper time, but
that they did not recognize the authority of
the committee. The committee in its report
reviewed the facts and found that the
charges against the pastor We're not sus-
tanned. Meantime, on Feb. 2, following
prayer meeting, a special business meeting
was held, at which the minority asked for
a council. Mr.. Dynes last night publicly
said that this meeting was not advertised
and many members knew nothing about 1t
until late in the evening, so that the church
was really not represented. Speaking or the
meeting, Mr.. Parish, who was present last
night, said that the preceding meeting was
packed" with those opposed to him. After
the minority asked for the council written
protests were circulated by the pastors
friends. They charge that there is no need
Of a council, that the church is able to con-
duct it's own affairs, and that those signing
it believe in the character and integrity OF
the pastor. Last night this protest was read
at the meeting. 1t was signed by ninety
eight members, and others are to sign before
1t goes before the council.
The specific charges against the pastor
that were made by d. A. Bonham have, 1t
is claimed, all been withdrawn and nothing
now stands against him except the general
charges of unchristian conduct toward his
wife and other conduct unbecoming a min
lister of the gospel. His attorney, Henry
Spaan, will insist that he shall not be tried
on general charges and that something
specific must be presented to be refuted.
The meeting last night adjourned to meet
again after prayer meeting next Thursday.