Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-07-13
First Baptist
Church Trouble
Continued from LIST page.

troubles, the First Baptist Church trou-
bles OF years ago, the proceedings of the
councilbetween the Attn Baptist Church
and Mt. Ohyet Baptist Church? He
called his attention to the publication of
the rupture at the Grove Avenue Bap-
fist Church (white) and wanted to
know why it was that certain brethren
had just become indignant.
The National Baptist, Nelson Will
Jams, Jr., editor, had published that
the deacons of the church might re-
main, if they would behave themselves.
The entire proceedings of the church
had been written up and published in
the American Herald of June 8, 1901,
and the PLANET had only published it
In the issue of July 6, 1901, and now it
! was considered high crime for the
PLANET so to do, although all that was
stated was strictly true and was a cor
rect report of the meeting.
THE LAW ON THE SUBJECT.
/ AS Brother Davis did not seem well
/ posted ON the law, he referred to these
sections of the law: Article /, OF the
/ Constitution of the United States reads:
! Congress shall make no law respect
/ ing an establishment of religion, pro-
hibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abrdging the freedom of speech or Of
the press" Article /, section 4 Of the
present Bill Of Rights of Virginia reads:
That the freedom of the press is one
\ of the great bulwarks of liberty, and
can never be restrained but by despotic
/ governments, and any citizen may
| speak, write, and publish his sentiments
on all subjects, being responsible for the
abuse of that liberty"
| 1t was then that Brother Davis and
the Editor conferred.
A visit TO Brother w. S. Selden elicit
ed other information.
SISTER HEWLETT IS REASONS.
Mrs. Margaret Hewlett's name was
| signed to the call. She declared that
| she had stated that she had said that
she had thought that church meeting
should be called, but not to exclude any
body. After hearing the PLANET read,
and seeing the division in the church,
| she was in favor of having a meeting to
get together and see if there could not
be peace. She thought the church
should be closed and the organ locked
up until the people could come together
and agree. She was in favor of Brother
Johnson, although she had said she did
like his sermon, but no better than the
one preached by Brother Pegues. She
4
not in favor of Brother Brooks because
he wouldn't let the sisters give vent to
| their feelings. He would stop in his
sermons and wait for order. She was
! Tor peace. She wanted the love of God
in the hearts of the people.
Mrs. Lille A. Hopes name was sign
ed TO the paper. She at first declined to
answer the question, but finally said
that she gave her consent. "Who said
anything about exclusion?'' said she.
BROTHER BRIGGS TELLS THE STORY.
Rev. Thomas II. Briggs was seated ON
the porch of his residence and was slow
TO answer questions. He was conserva-
tive, however, and stated that he had
signed the call, but he was not in favor
radical action. He wanted TO know who
said that the PLANETS editor was TO be
excluded. He was told and he then
stated that he was not in favor of the
publication of the church-meeting. He
had called attention TO it during the
meeting. The same argument used
with Brother Davis was gone over with
him, and he said that there should be
no cause for ill-feeling.
Brother Mitchell reminded him that
he had been severely criticized by some
of the Johnson supporters for not having
said anything in the PLANET about the
meeting month ago, and when he did
speak about it, they were equally for
ward in criticizing him.
CLERK vANDERvALL' DECLARATION.
/ Clerk b. p. Vandervall, the popular
church official is much indisposed with
the rheumatism. He states that Chair
man r. T. Hill did not direct him to no.
tify Rev. w. T. Johnson, B. ID. of the
Icall.
1t would seem then that an official de-
feet existed if the notification was not
signed bv the chairman, unless the
church itself directed the clerk so to do.
This was not done and adds another
to the comedy of errors in this most re-
markable effort to secure a pastor.
The names alleged to be signed to the
application are J. +. Jones, Nelson Will
} Hams, Jr., I. II. Briggs, II. G. Carter,
Lille A. Hope, Mamie Osborne, Marga-
| ret Hewlett, Daniel Holman, Giles Hay
den, John Spottswood, VIM. II. Davis
} and four others.
MIR. VIM. II. Anderson states that he
did not sign it or authorize any one
else TO sign his name.
BROTHER WATKINS REWARD.
Licentiate Robert Watkins, who was
, guard at the penitentiary during the
. ReadJuster rule preached at the First
Baptist Church Sunday afternoon, June
. 3Oth. About 20 persons We're said to be
. ipresent.
Rev. Thomas II. Briggs preached or
last Sunday morning toa good audience