Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-10

culated and charges made agaiiis. iiiiii'
and having in mind the good anu mar
mony of the church and us iileiiipei'
| which he had formerly served as pas
tor, and although the church had pup
1icly expressed confidence IN hllii' ne
| deemed it wise to resign his menlpei-
ship.
| But even Mr.. Shocks Withdrawn
was not to result in harmony; 1or Oh
| the afternoon of the succeeding Ihui
day. Mr.. Smock was handed hotie.
signed by Pastor Graves to the eilecl
| that charges had been filed ACCUSING
him of conduct unbecoming a minister
and member of the church, ana that
thew would be considered at Heetiis
held that evening. At this meelihs
another warm discussion OF the matte,
ensued. After the whole matter haa
been gone over quite thoroughly Vote
vas taken Mr.. Smock was again sus
tained with the result that his resig
nation was accepted and the charges
lagain discussed.
ant even after this decisive acuon
disposing of the matter had been tax
-, motion was introduced callhg
| a council from outside churches 10
l
ition being adopted by the deciding vote
| 10 pns+or C.raves This meeting was
TO be convened the succeeding Wedhes-
day. In the meantime visits were nav
| by representatives of the opponents OF
Mr.. Smock to some OF the heisiiooi ii.e
towns which would send delegates TO
the council. Mr.. Smock on the otiei
hand took and maintained the position
that this matter having It's origin oiis
in scandal and malice, having peen
twice settled by the church was ehoush
settled and that the calling and con-
vening of the council would only resui.
in giving greater publicity 10 THESE
false rumors, and result IN spreaoiiib
a suspicion against him which no acs
of his had ever warranted. he as
sumed the position that the councll,
no matter how favorable it's decision
might be, could not determine anything
and that if there was to be any 1urther
settlement it must be before a proper
tribunal whose decision would stand
and in which the rights of all parties
would be fairly and imparually pro-
tected.
Acting upon these conclusions, 1t is
understood that Mr.. Smock thru MS
attorneys, did present the matter ie-
gally to the court, and that the Judge
who, by the way, holds the position
of moderator and highest authority o,
the Baptist church in the state, called
in and counselled with the representa-
tives of the opposition to MI Smock
The result was that the delegates to
the council declined to assume any au-
thority in the matter Mr.. Smock being
no longer a member of the church, and
no council was held. A committee.
however was sent, as stated in the
newspaper reports, to Mr.. Smock invit-
ing him to appear before the council.
This however he declined to do, he hay
ing taken the position that he was
no longer member of the church and
that whatever conclusion the council
might reach would be of no benefit
either to him or to the church, the
council being only an advisory body of
the church, and the church having
twice vindicated him. In replying to
the committee he stated among other
reasons that owing to the undue ex-
element and passion now existing be-
tween certain members of the church.
| it would be detrimental to all con-
cerned for him to comply with their
request.