The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-10
PASTORS
UNABLE
TO UNITE
"A Warm Discussion in
the Ministerial Union.
NOT TO HOLD
JOINT MEETINGS
1t Was Deemed Better That
Each Should Go Their
Separate Way.
THE STAND TAKEN
BY REV. DR.. STRANGE
Said Ele Had Gone Into Joint
Evangelistic Meetings Before
and Always Found That He
Had Thereafter to Ex-
cuse Himself or His
People.
THE STAND TAKEN
BY REV. DR.. STRANGE

A division Of sentiment, hopelessly ir-
rcconcilable. developed yesterday when
the Ministerial Union Of Richmond
plunged into long and lively discussion
OF the question OF holding a series OF
INSTRUMENTATION evangellstic services
In the city.
In the course OF the debate. which
sprang up somewhat Unexpectedly, one or
two OF the ministers fatty refused to
unite in the proposed movement, which
had already progressed to certain e1-
tent. while a long list OF others concurred
in the statement that for varous reasons
It was inadvisable at this time to engage
In the work suggested An onslaught was
made by the debaters upon the much
ship OF some outsider: they were spec
taciilar, but no appreciable effect, 1t was
said: they were 8 bubble. which. when
pricked. left nothing but thin air. a
warm defensc was made, and the die
cussion went mcr, ily on, brisk and AMI
mated to a. high degree.
l CAN NEVER UNITE.
Finally the union agreed to disagree
TITS sad thing. said DR.. ]. B Haw-
ference can never unite on anything that
looks like aggressive work. We can never
agree on anything Then he, with the
others, voted, because he had no option,
for resolution declaring 1t to be mad
visable at this time to attempt the union
meetings.
Hot Discussion.
At the October meeting OF the union a
committee, consisting OF Or. Hawthorne,
Rev. James E. Cook. of Hoge Memorial.
and Mr.. 8. Is. Mckee, of tho Young Men
Christian Association. was appointed to
consider the advisability OF holding a
series OF meetings to be conducted BY
aome great evangelist, Munhall. Chap
man or some other, and TO be actively
endorsed by all the ministers OF Rich
mond. The committee proceeded on the
assumption that 1t was the wish OF the
union that the meetings be held. and 1t
went on to correspond with some OF the
great evangelists aforesaid. When the
committee met yesterday 1t merely re-
ported 'progress.
Then the rector Of st. Paul's, Rev. Rob
ert Strange. D. D.. arose to ask for infor-
nation. From this point the discussion
began.
DR.. Strange refused to engage IN the
proposed work.
He spoke twice, the second time because
"a certain brother" had looked at him as
II he was the cause OF all the fuss. He
declared at the outset that he must not
be understood az being opposed to unity
No man would be quicker than he te
unite with his brethren In the work OF
winning souls, But III the Providence o.
God he was convinced that this work
should be performed In a. certain way
and he did not believe the proposed meet
ings to be the right way. He had gone
into such things before, and had always
had in the end TO excuse himself to his
church on account of different things
that would happen. lie respected the
convictions OF others, but he demanded
a similar respect for his own. II the
other brethren wanted to go into a series
of meetings, with some evangelist tc
conduct them, they could do so.
''But why do you want to force me
into 1t. too?" asked the rector OF St
Faurs 'Let each denomination do Its
work. L for one, refuse to do anything
for which I shall afterwards have te