The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-15
MINORITY IS
INDICATED
First Baptists' Ex-Parte
Council Report Is So
Construed.
A Mutual Council Is Recon-
mended While Secession
Is Discouraged.

The decision submitted by the ex-parte
council of Baptist laymen and clergymen
after considering the evidence presented
by the committee of the dissenters in the
First Baptist church of this city, was
reached last night at a meeting in the
West hotel. 1t is practically vindica-
ton for the minority and suggests a mu-
tual council. Following the close of tes-
timony at Westminster church late yes
terday afternoon, the council went into
executive session and later assembled at
the West. Tnis morning the carefully
written opinion was delivered to the COM
mittee by which the council was called.
Owing to the fact that it was desired to
offer 30 bias to a possible subsequent
mutual council, certain matters involving
the consideration of Baptist doctrine were
not taken up. The majority Of the
church has declined to consider the mi
ncrity'S previous propositions for mu-
tual council and declined a proposition
from this ex parte council that they make
it mutual by sending representatives.
The report of the council is as follows:
The Councils Report.
The ex-parte council called by certain men,
bers of the First Baptist church OF Mime
apolis. to consider the differences existing in
that church, mas maze careful thf eSIisd'lo1
OF the case, and as the result Of its dellbera-
tons makes the following statement:
Ftrst-There were presented for our con-
sideration many questions of vital Importance
to our denomination and to the cause or
Christ on which. as all ex-parte council. we
conclude that cannot properly enter
Secondly-We recognize the fact that
large and influential portion Of the FIRST
Baptist church, consisting of earnest and de-
voted men and women, are so dlsaHecteu
toward the administration Of the church mat
there is danger Of a permanent dlVlsoh III
its ranks and that it's usefulness will be Sc
riously impaired If not destroyed
Thirdly-We greatly regret that the cnurcn,
through it's officers, has declined to submit
the existing differences to the judgment of
a mutual advisory council. or to further our
efforts to bring about reconciliation. ana
that the representatives of the church nave
gone so far in their opposition as even to re-
fuse to the present council the use OF tnelr
church parors for it's deliberations.
Fourthly-We recommend the so-called mi
nority firmly to insist upon their right to a
mutual council for the consideration OF these
difficulties, according to the usage or our
denomination, and express our judgment
that no cass|coud more imperatively demand
such council than the one which for two
DAYS has absorbed our attention.
Fifthly-Whie Sympathize with the NIL
nority in the church in the unfortunate sit
uation in which they are placed and of which
they seem justly to complain, we unanl'
mously recommend them not to abandon the
church to which they are SO ardently at
tached, but to remain in its membership
faithfully striving to perform their church
duties, in the hope that God in his wisdom
will find some way to dissipate the cloud:
which now hang over the horizon, to brllE
about a reconciliation between the differing
parties. and to restore the church to the
grand position which it so long occupied II
our own denomination and In the Kingdom
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Signed at Minneapolis May A. 1902.
Augustus II. Strong, Moderator,
Edward NJ. Van Duzee, Clerk.
Galusha Anderson, Thomas w. Powell,
James P Abbott Austen K de Blois,
B.A. Greene. John H. Chapman,
c. A. Hobbs, Latham A. Crandall
Alanson ]. Fox, (by authority)
Mr.. RiIey's Position.
Rev w. B. Riley, pastor of the church
was seen this morning and said That n
had nothing to say at this time regarding
the councils report, feeling that II an:
answer at all were necessary the churc
officials were the proper persons u
give it.
w l.. Harris, a member of the church
Eaid:
am of the opinion, as l have been fro1
the start that the whole trouble spring
from the inability to adjust the social sid
and the evangelistic side of the church WORT
and that the question of personality OF an
r,an is really secondary My own persona
conviction is that those who would reall
best serve the interests of the church and II
usefulness, and who cannot for family {
personal reasons adapt themselves to TT
conditions existing to-day, which seem
be- on the whole, effective for results, shou
seek membership in other churches whel
conditions are more congenal.
realize the Discrimination to sever ole
time church connections but I believe it
the best solution of the difficulty.
haven't seen the decision of the expar
council and do not know whether anythir
except ex-parte evidence was given. If nor
but evidence on one side Of the W;
presented, l cannot how any decision
this council can carry much weight.
Members of the council were drive
about the city to-day. Most of then
being busy men, will return tonight
their homes: some Of them will return II
the Baptist anniversaries which open c
Monday at st. Paul.