Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-02
GUARD THEIR FLOCKS
BAPTIST MINISTER'S VOICE RATls-s
Err SPICY DIFFERENCES.
4 QUESTION OF MEMBERSHIP
The Rev. Mr. Lcalsc Replies to Dr.
Evan. from the pu,rft-Christian
Science Gaining Disciples Mr.
cooncr Welcomed Mt ST. james.

According to one OF the ministers the
..f,,r few" AT the Baptist Ministers As
.oci.tioa yesterday and especially did
,re Rcs. Joel T. Tucker. of East-End
Baptist church. and the Rev. c. c. Cox
o. i1oward's Grove Baptist church, enter
into the controversy.
Tho subject for discussion was
"Is Church Membership 20 Be Determined
by 1xocaiiono" II was the outcome OF an
uneercurrent of feeling between the Revs.
Nj Tucker and Mr.. Cox about their
church members.
IL seems that the Rev. Mr.. Cox was
under the impression that all members
within the shadow oi the walls Of How
ard s Grove church should be counted IN
that flock. and with this impression firm
,v implanted in his mind. ne mace series
Of yisitations. inviting people in the
rejchberhood 10 unite with his church
Now. II happened thar some OF these
people upon whom he called. were sub
stantial pillars of the East-End Baptist
church. and the Rev Mr.. Tucker did not
have the slightest IDEA OF seeing inc
main r-oDs an, STAYS Of his church taken
from him without fight
PERSONALITIES INDUCED IN.
The discussion Yesterday deeenc-
rated into personalities, and. as one OF
Tho ministers said. the argument would
have been going until 3 O'Clock had not
a melton being made TO adjourn.
Finally explanations were made. the
Rev. Mir Tucker still sticking TO his text.
that he didn't want other ministers after
his people: and the Rev. MIR. Cox said if
he had done anything wrong he was sorry
for 1t.
The Rev. DR. c. S. Gardner. Of Grace
Street Baptist church led the discussion.
and spoke for thirty minutes. and was
followed by others in fivc-minute talks.
Dr. Gardner said in substance. that
church membership could not he governed
by georrap hical lines. that man might
have church membership where he was
q useful ard indispensable. factor, and
though nearer some other church. he
might in7ict serious injury upon his own
church by leaving.
Many Of the central and larger churches
haG membership scattered over the
tire city. and if the membership was to be
limited by geographical lines it would cut
off four-fifths of the congregation. and
would be equivalent to disbandinfy.
Grace-Street church. he said. had LOCO
members, four-ffths OF whom lived nearer
other churches.
FAVORED DIR GARDENERS VIEWS.
The general spirit of the meeting was
jn sympathy with DR.. Gardner's views.
The Rev. DR.. J. B. Hawthorne. of Grove
Avenue cl.uro followed and said that
in some instances location had much %
do with membership; for example whcrr
a man. with five or six children. lived
near a church, and holds membership il
one one and a half miles away, il was
his duty to join where he could send his
children TO Sunday school. lie ought
also to join where he was most needed.
il he belonged TO large and wealthy
church. and lived near a small one: the
question OF where he could do the most
good should control him.
DR.. Hawthorne was followed by the
Rev. c. p Stea!ey. Of BroaddusMemo-
rial. th.- Rev. j. B. Hutson of Pine
Street church. the Rev. Mr.. Tucker, the
Rev Mr. Cox. and others. The meeting
was a spicy one
PASTOR LEAKE EGGS TO DIFFER.
During the sermon he was preaching