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

delegates TO the call of Baptist Church
as took place last Tuesday, May 18th at
3 P. NJ, in response to the call of the
Fifth st. Baptist Church TO consider
the case of John Mitchell, Jr., who was
unlawfully excluded from the First
Baptist Church for permitting the pub,
hcation of the meetings of the First
Baptist Church in the columns of the
PLANET.
DIR. LEE AS CHAIRMAN.
Rev. G. W. Lee, d. D., of Washing
ton, ID. O., was elected moderator and
Rev. w. HI. Moses of Staunton, Va,
clerk
Rev. w. f. Graham, d. D., on behalf
of the Fifth st. Baptist Church stated
the object of the call and submitted the
roll of the churches invited.
1t was disclosed that out of one hun
dred invitations extended, seventy
churches had responded and the num-
Der present exceeded two hundred.
Some time was consumed in discuss
ing the best mode of procedure. This
was indulged in by Rev. b. f. Fox, d.
D., OF Salem, Va; Rev. l.. w. Wales,
d. D., of Williamsburg, Va, Rev. Har-
vey Johnson, d. D., of Baltimore: Rev.
w. Bishop johnson, d. D., of Washing.
ton, d. O.; Rev. j. Anderson Taylor of
Washington, d. O.; Rev. w. II. John
son of Alexandria, Va; Rev. A. Gordon,
ID. D., of Philadelphia, Rev. w. d.
Woods and others.
EDITOR MITCHELL IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.
1t was finally decided ON motion to
hear from Editor John Mitchell. Jr!
This was carried and he came for.
ward. Editor Mitchell stated that he
had been a member Of the First Baptist
Church for twenty-four years, having
been baptized by the late Rev. James
II. Holmes, D. D., in June, 1873. Dur
ing his, membership. he had never be-
fore attended a church meeting, but
had been regular. contributor to the
church.
When the time came to elect a pastor.
he deemed it his duty as an, individual
member to take part in the selection
and had done so in Christian way!
He described the disorder incident to
the meeting, telling Of the canyassing re-
sorted TO-. He explained how theSdAat
cons and most respected members of
the church were hooted and jeered and
how he had been threatened with bodi
ly injnry.E 8lEGE rtFEIDfk
NEVER BEFORE
During career" said the speaker,
"of eighteen years, attending some OF
the stormiest meetings and coming in
contact with some of the lowest white
elements in my contest for the rights OF
my people, have never been treated as
l was by the lawless elements in the
First Baptist Church."
He told of the suppression of all dis
cussion in the meeting, Of his DISPOSE
tion not to indulge further in the con
troversy, of his motion to make the cal
of the pastor unanimous, OF the failure
Of the motion TO carry and OF the notih
cation sent to Rev. johnson that the
vote was unanimous when it failed tx
pass.
The speakers references to his pas
services were touching and had a tell
ing effect. He told Of the next meetinl
of the church, Of his attempt to explain
his position to the congregation, of thC
continued suppression of free speech.
THE FORGERY OF THE APPLICATION.
The called meeting Of the church OF
the part Of Nelson Williams, Jr., baseC
upon an application, on which severa
of the names were forged was thorough
unexplained.
The attempt to exclude IN the abssnc,
OF the editor was feature, and finall,
the sending Of a written notice to hin
in violation of the Gospel Rule and tn,
violation of the Baptist Polity was |
feature that absorbed the attention O
the Council efpE Ecsvat( .CC~g
ird THE xoTIcRsTS APPEAR. cI zl
Editor Mitchell then read the follow
s--~@z- 81 .17'f flo faius