The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-01-29
GAVE UP BUSINESS
FOR HIS RELIGION.
Noble Action Of an Aged Mem
Der Of tho Second Baptist
Church.

Through the Indignantly of church
member who. in taking the step brings
upon himself more or less serious In
convenience. H. prominent Baptist congre-
CATION OF Richmond Is relieved for ali
time OF the stigma OF having upon Its
rolls person engaged In the whiskey
traffic. against which the Dover Asso.
citation has SO strongly and SO repeatedly
declared itself.
The agitation against the whiskey ele-
ment has been long and bitter In the as
ISOLATION. Unanimous vote showed unan-
mous sentiment 30 fur as the traffic Itself
Is concerned but hot discussions follow
ed every suggestion OF what should be
done with those ohurchcs which held In
It's membership persons engaged In the
business. There We're many radicals
who wanted the hand 81 fellowship with
drawn from the churches II they did not
expel the Objectionable members. The
question Is q sore one. and as late as the
last meeting Of the association, few
months ago. there was big debate, and
decided division OF opinion. 1t was, by
the way, shown mt this meeting Chat
only four churches in the association
came under the ban.
THE sBcos-D CHURCH.
The majority Of these four churches
arc In Richmond aud ono OF them was
the Second Church, Of which Dr.. w. r.
l.. Smith IS the pastor In the Second
Church was an old man-respected and
beloyed-wiho since the war has been
dealing In whlskey He is now advanced
In years and there seemed no way where
by he might begin again anew and start
out In some other business. It was too
late. Moreover. he had been In the church
and had been In the liquor business be-
fore the agitation began. The upshot OF
1t was that the congregation stood by
him. and resolutely refused to turn him
out whatever tho association might say
or do.
The generosity OF the church Is equaled
only by tt. generosity of this aged gen
tleman himself. "A few days ago he an
nounced that he had decided to leave
tho whisky business, and relieve the
RAISING position. so far as Is known he
has no other occupation In view, but,
nevertheless, he felt constrained to take
the step. He did it voluntarily. and the
magnanimous act was appreciated by
all. at the meeting Of the pastor on
Monday DR.. Smith reported the fact with
evident JOY. and spoke An high terms OF
his church member.
WHAT DR. SMITH SAYS.
Somehow the report got abroad that
the church had asked the men to With
draw from the whiskey business. DR..
Smith declares the report to be abb
solutely incorrect When seen yester-a
day he said In effect:
1.-THE church took nc hand In the MAJ
ter It was voluntarily and magnani-
mously done. OF course we feel relieved,
but we should have kept on without mo-
Testing the dear old brother. He was
/ in the whiskey business since the war
before the Dover agitation began--and
VIC would not in a sudden spasm of
virtue, turn him out. OF course. If some
man in the church would make move
ment to 30 into tho whiskey business
wo should object; likewise should we re-
fuse to receive a new member engaged
In the business But here the case was
obviously different
This takes one more from the small
and decreasing list OF churches over
which the fight has been made. The
member in question is aged and may, or
may not, succeed this late In some other
business The congregation are inter
ested In the matter and we all earnest
ly hope that despite his age. he may find
a good opening somewhere"