Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-07-06
DID GOD GALL
THE PASTOR
Continued from First Page.


adoption of the minutes, to retard bust
ness, TO cut down the salary of Rev.
Johnson. He had always been in favor
of good salaries for preachers. He did
not care whether they gave him $500,
81 zoo, 81 500 or 50 900, for the way it
looked, the people who called him
would have him TO pay. The speaker
was again interrupted, and Brother III.
F. Jonathan and Brother w. II. Davis
were in discussion, which was joined by
Brother Briggs and Brother Watkins.
REV. TAYLoR's SUGGESTION.
Rev. R. Beecher Taylor was of the
opinion that Brother Mitchell should
either be required to sit down or be per-
mitted TO proceed without interruption.
He appealed TO Brother Mitchell, he be-
ing a man of national reputation, not TO
have his dignity iusulted by such treat
ment. He advised him not to submit to
it and to give up the attempt.
The speaker said that he had yielded
the floor at the last church-meeting on
the same theory, but it had no effect on
people without manners, and who did
not know how to respect the ordinary
| rules Of debate. He would not yield
the floor, but would wait for order.
A SISTERS PLEA.
Finally Mrs. Lille A Hope, while
disagreeing with brother Mitchell, APP
pealed 20 the sisters and brothers to let
| the speaker be heard. He then proceed
ed to read from Rev. Johnson's letter
saying that he hoped the Holy Spirit act
uated the church in its action. Ibid the
Holy Spirit do any such thing" thun-
dered the speaker Was it God who
called the pastor when you knew before
before the church heldla meeting who
L heao coll Cd I.aI
vassed and organized to call him Such
actions would not, could not bring sue
cess to the church. Some of the best
members in the church had protested.
He then continued to read from Rev.
Johnson's letter and was again inter
rupted.
ANOTHER INTERRUPTION.
Don't he look pretty?" said one sister
| in tones of derision. The speaker called
the attention of the chair TO this and
criticized her severely. He declared
that the charge that Rev. Brooks sup
porters were opposed to the Union Uni
versity was untrue.
Brother K. T. Hill arose and moved
TO extend the time as it was then five
minutes to eleven O'Clock, and ii is a
rule of the First Baptist Church that no
business can be transacted after eleven
O'Clock unless motion is made before
eleven o'clock TO extend the time.
Brother Mitchell stated that brother
Hill was too good a parliamentarian not
| to know that he could not move to ex-
tend the time with speaker ON the
floor.
WANTED HIM TO YIELD.
Brother Hill admitted this and asked
il brother Mitchell would not yield the
floor in order that he might make such
motion Brother Mitchell said that he
was not in the humor TO grant favors af-
ter he hadbeen accorded such scandalous
treatment. He had not been able, dur
ing the one and one-half hours he had
occupied the floor 10 speak ten minutes
without interruption. Had he not been
interrupted, he would have finished his
remarks long ago. He declined to yield.
Order was restored and he said that
he was astonished at the last section of
Rev. Johnson's letter. 1t was fatal
blunder and ruined all the other portion
of it. He referred to lis statement that
ST take it for granted that you will am
ply provide for your shepherd, although
you did not say in your letter of June 4,
1901"
The word amply was UNDERSIGNED
OVERLOOKING, and Rev. johnson had un-
derlined it twice making it doubly i'm
portant.
A FATAL BLUNDER.
1t had killed all he had said in the
previous portion of his letter. 1t seemed
| that the Holy Spirit-that God could not
guide him until ne heard about the sal
airy for Rev. johnson added, Trusting
to hear from you SOON" Editor Mitch
| ell, wanted TO know why he should hear
| from us. The call had been extended
| and we should hear from him as to
whether he accepted or not. The First
Baptist Church has always provided for
| its pastor.
He declared that this statement was a
monumental blunder. The only thing
a minister should desire to know was
whether he could better serve the Mas
ter in the new field, whether he could
bring more souls to Christ, but Rev,
johnson had put the money question in
the foreground. The speaker declared
that he bad never attacked Rev. John
son or said anything derogatory con-
corning him, but this letter proved that
he did not measure up TO the standard.
Editor Mitchell resumed his seat.
ADJOURNED BY LAW
1t was then seven minutes after IL
10 clock and there could be no legal mo-
ton made to extend the time, but the
chair permitted the discussion to pro-
iceed. The chairman and every officer
and member must have known that no
business transacted at that hour was or
could be made legal
Rev. DIR. J. T.. Jones declared that
Rev. Johnson was right in wanting to
know what the church would pay him.
Preaching was business and churches
should make out contracts and have the
trustees to sign them, pledging the pay
ment of the salaries promised He gave
at length his reasons for this. Editor
Mitchell called attention to the fact that
Prof. Jones had not been interrupted by
him
| DEACON SMITH ON THE FLOOR
Deacon Harrison Smith obtained the
floor and discussed the letter and his re-
Il marks about ministers cansad prof