Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-05-17

mond. Va was the reply.
| Read the commencement of the let.
ter again, +" said he.
| What is the membership of the
, church" enquired delegate.
twenty-five hundred was the re-
sponse.
MUCH AMUSEMENT.
This caused much amusement. Edi-
.or mitchell called It "the private pub
lie letter"
"How could letter be private. con.
ldential or personal if addressed TO 25OO
people2 ?"
Editor Mitchell then invited questions
from any quarter and the members
OF the Council availed themselves of the
privilege.
AT the conclusion, Rev. DIR. Lee in
vited any other testimony, calling also
upon the First Baptist Church to an
swer. ..t rtlI -.
Rev. DR.. Graham explained that the
Fifth st. Baptist Church had invited the
First Baptist Church to be present by
committee.
THE CLERKS EXPLANATION.
The clerk of the Fifth st. Baptis.
Church had previously read the letter of
John Mitchell, Jr. to the church asking
for Fellowship and stating that he had
applied 20 the First Baptist Church for
a rehearing and this had not been grant
ed. be had asked fora mutual council
and this had not been granted. He had
therefore proceeded TO comply with the
provisions of the Baptist Polity.
tIt yVaQ TpnuaI
from the Deacon Board be heard from
through its chairman, Brother Edin-
bprgh Archer, This was carried. This
committee consisted of Deacons Archer.
Edward Coleman, and Samuel Brown
DEACON ARCHER's STATEMENT. q
Deacon, Archer told of his visit TO the
First Baptist Church Deacon Board.
This, body had stated that the the case
had never been before them.
This was in violation of the rule of
the church which requires that all cases
of discipline should first come before the
Deacon Board.
The records Of the 1st Baptist Church
had been read to the committee and il
was thereby ascertnined that the state
nients made by Mr.. Mitchell were true
IN every respect.
Deacon Archer made strong presen-
tatlon OF the case and paid a glowing
tribCre to Editor Mitchell.
Rev. w. ID. Woods, moved that a com
mittee OF seven be appointed This was
subsequently, increased to Is and the
case referred to them.
THE INVESTIGATING coannTTEE.
The following committee was appoint
ed: 20
Rev. W.D. Woods, New River, Va.
chairman; Rev. w. b. johnson, D. D.
Washington, d. o.; Rev. A. Gordon, ID.
D., Philadelphis, Pa; Rev. Harvey
johnson, ID. D., Baltimore, Nd; Rev.
o. b. w: Gordon, d.. D., Petersburg.
Va; Rev. A. B. Smith. Richmond, Va.
Rev. J. O. jackson, Lynchburg, wa;
Rev. s. W. Walker, d. D.; Rev, b. f.
Fox, ID, D., Salem, Va; Rev. T. H.
Shorts, ID, D., Rev. N. r. johnson, Rev
A. A. Calvin, Staunton, Va: Rev. H.
Madison, Dinwiddie Co., Va; Rev. w.
Il. Dixon, Newport News, Va; Rev.
Geo. l.. Dixon, fredericksburg, Va;
Rev. Il. w. Wales, d. d., WILLIAMSBURG
Va. n II s -, Q
The COMMITTEES retired. After AN alb
sence OF about an hour the council was
reconvened and listened to the follow
ing report made by Rev. DR.. r. H. Bow
ling.
I'VE your committee ON resolutions
beg leave to make the following report:
Whereas, the Council called by the
Fifth st. Baptist Church has carefully
and with much prayer for divine guild.
ance; investigated the causes for the
final action of the First Baptist Church
of Richmond in expelling Brother John
Mitchell, JT. from It's membership and
Whereas, we find that the aforesaid
action was not in accord with the Bap.
tlst Polity. and Scripturnl teaching Ii
that they expelled him for publishinc
q communication which was said to bt
private, although the said communities,
tion was written 70 aichurch Of 25O(
members whose practices were, end il