The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-02
Secure a Ruling Which They
Think Offsets the Letter.
CLAIM LARGEST STRENGTH
Rev. w. T. Roberts Gained the Bishops
Ear First and Returned With Letter
That Put His vestry in Charge,
But the Other Side Hold the
Church Plate and Rec
ords of the Parish.
Especial Dispatch to The Times.)

Especial Dispatch to The Times.)
WILLIAMSBURG, VA, April 1.-The
d;sscnsion and split in Old Bruton Church
which was made moro acute by Inc oudA
election of a vestry Monday, is lar from
healed.
While Rev. w I. Roberts has appar-
entity the support of the Bishop as eA-
,,ressad in q. letter he brought with nun
,rom Norfolk. the committee OF the anu
ROBERTS yestry had a conference VIII
Ts;ehon Randolph. which they regard ds
satisfactory
This committee, consisting of Dr. van
+. Garrett Captain L. W. Lane, Sr.. t"i.
IL D. Cole and Professor HuGh ,. biiu'
sent TO Norfolk to inform Bishop Kan
,iolnh regarding the church election he.o
yesterday, went down this morning, held
a conference with the Bishop, ana re-
turned tonight. They made the following
statement to your correspondents WE
had a very satisfactory interview Win
the Bishop who declared that the runns
of the Judges at the late election, that
no conlmunicant could vote unless a con-
tributor, was absolutely illegal. alld con-
traYy to the ctlnons of the church
The Bishop stated that a COMMUNICATE
Of the church, though paupcr, was more
entitled to vote at all elections 1or YES
amount to parish and are not co1il'nui,i-
cants, and authorized the committee VINO
waited upon him to-day to say: hal
this was his decision
There appeared in the columns OF Il
Isichmond afternoon paper to-day an al
1icle declaring the rector upheld, accom-
panied by letter from the bishop sus-
tsinfnE him. II S letter from the bishop
nas the outcome Of the rector's visit 10
linn Monday afternoon after the election
and from ex-parte statements alone.
The bishop was not acquainted with all
the facts in the case until to-day, when
Tho committee named above waited upon
him and laid all the facts before him.
Then, after considering the rector's re-
port and the committees, the bishop
made the decision quoted above
Acting on the bishops decision, the
.lnti-Roberts vestry. composed Of the fol-
lowing gentlemen: DR.. Van L. Garrett,
H. d. Cole. L. Henley, Jr. DR.. p. l..
southall. James l.. Christian, DR.. W p.
Hoy, w. II. Macon, j.. w. Lane Sr..
and ". c. Johnston, organized tonight
and claim to be the legally chosen vestry
of Bruton Parish. This they claim be-
cause they have the vote and the moral
right on their side.
The anti-Roberts vestry have in their
possession the church plate and all the
books of the registrar
The first letter of the bishop is q tech
,licality. behind which the anti-Roberts
ves1y allege the Roberts Judges hide.
They say that in addition to the fifty
four votes cast against Roberts yesterday
there Is reserve of twenty-five more
votes ready to vote when given an OPP
portunity. These it is stated. comprise
some of the best members of the church,
who We're ousted by the rector some time
ago.
BESIDES. the Episcopal students will also
vote against him.
From this statement of facts. it is safe
fc say that fully threefourths of the con-
Eregation condemn the rector. The con-
gregatinn is distressed beyond measure
for never before in the history of their
old church has an election been conduct
Cd In the sanctuary of the church. Here
tofore all elections have been conducted
in a less holy place.
AS soon as the election was over Mon
day evening Rector Roberts started for
Norfolk and spent the night with Bishop
Randolph. and on representation made to
him then. N1ishop Randolph furnished him
with the following letter sustaining his
side of the controversy:
Norfolk. Va. April 1. 1902.
REV. ". T. Roberts, Rector Bruton
Parish. Williamsburg. Va:
AS TO the election of a vestry arising from
circumstances at, the Hlec.ion held in
Bruton Church Easter Monday is sim
;tle one and admits of no discussion with
regard to qualification OF voters; the ma
FORTY of the judges Of the election is de-
cisive The returns made Of the persons
elected by said majority are the returns
made by the judges of the election. and
under canon it becomes your duty as rec
tor to call together such persons named
hs elected for the purpose of organization
at such time and place as you may deem
proper and customary as to returns made
or alleged by anyone of the judges as
against or other than those of the ma
1ority they have no validity and no ex-
istence rs returns and have no bearing
upon the election. They have been va
Gated and extinguished by the majority.
Very faithfully yours.
"A NJ RANDOLPH
What the next step in the controversy
Will be remains to be seen. Mr.. Roberts.
when he returned with the Bishops let
ter. was apparently master of the stua-
lion, but the anti-Roberts Sestry think
t,e.. have equally strong assurances OF
supps<. and they believe they have the
STRONGEST position.