The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-26
FORMER VIRGINIANS
ARE MIXED UP IN 1T
Dr. Len. q. Broug ghton, Once Of This
State, Is Leader Of the Alien lmmer
slonists, and Declares that he
VIII Take the Matter to the
State Associaton-Sev-
Z. eral May Secede.
Especial to The Times -Dispatch.)

ATLANTA, GA, July D.--lne presence
OF Maryland and Virginia Baptists In
Georgia may cause a split In that denom-
iration In this State. The trouble has
been brewing for over year. but the
crisis Is near at hand. as matters VIII
come to focus Tuesday, when the stone
Mountain Baptist Association meets at
L,thonia.
The cause of the threatened schism lies
in the difference of opinion as to the Prnc-
t!ce of .:alien inmcrsoa," and this dues-
tioil was made n vital one III the Baptist
churches of Georgia by the presence ot
members who were originally received
into BAPTIST churches In the States sepa-
rated by the Potomac. where alien I'M
rlcrsion't is no bar 10 the good standing
of member.
The leader of the allen immerslonists
ie Rev. Len. G.. Broughton. d. d.. pas.
Tor, OF the Baptist Tabernacle Church, OF
n Atlanta and one of the most prominent
spulpit orators ofsfthe South to-day. tl)r
Broughton. who Is ~ native OF Eofth
Carolina, served a number Of Nortn caro-
lila and Virginia churches besove coming coming
10 Atlanta several years ago.
NEW QUESTION IN GEORGIA..
The question Of accepting allen im-
,nersion't as baptism IL a new one among
Georgia Baptists. and the innovation mas
met with little favor. Especially has ~
proved d!stastefui TO the members OF INC
rural churches. most OF whom nre de-
scendants of primitive or "Hard-Shel,
Baptists. and believe In holding strictly
10 the present tenets of the church
The Baptist churches Of Virginia and
MARYLAND have for some time accepted
members of Congregational and Chris
tian churches. and members or other
Eects which practice immersion. into fnll
fellows,llip, without questioning their
faith or requiring that they be again bap-
tized before becoming Baptists. JhVe
BAPTIST churches Of Georgia, on the other
hand. require that members must NOT only
be Immersed, but that they must be bap-
tized by authorized Baptist min stfrs
hefore they can be received into Baptist
churches.
The Tabernacle Baptist Church has
among its membership number OF men
and women who were formerly residents
OF Maryland and Virginia. and who be-
came Raptlsts while living in those States
When they moved to Atlanta they joined
tho Tabernacle Church. and no questions
were asked as to the manner OF their bap-
tism. subsequently 1t became knowrstbat
several of them were originally members
OF other churches. and had been received
as Baptists without being reimmersed
When this became known to members
OF other Baptist churches, 1t at once
began TO create discussion. and two years
ago It was declared the sense of the
Hione Mountain Baptist Association that
no member could be considered in good
stnnding unless his baptism is regular
ARE PROMINENT MEMBERS.
Some OF the members of the Tabernacle
Church whose baptism is not regular
are among the most prominent and active
members of the church. The church de-
clined to pay any attention to the action
OF the association, and last year the as
ISOLATION went a step farther and de-
clared that no church practiclng the
acceptance of "alien immersion' as bap-
tism could remain member OF the as
ISOLATION.
This resolution was passed after bitter
debate, In which the representatives OF
the Tabernacle Church declared that II
was equivalent TO the expulsion of that
church and others, as under no circum-
stances would tho church recede from
the position held or ask anS questions
concerning the faith and baptism OF men,
bers who are among its best ana most
conscientious workers. Dr. BrouShton
took n prominent part In the debate
and his remarks declaring the advocates
of the resolution to be narrow-minded
and bigoted created a great sensation.
As the time for this years meeting OF
rhe association has approached, interest
In the matter has increased. There
seems little prospect of either sides sur
unless the advocates of peace succeed
In inducing the rural members of the
association--and no one has any hope
that they will be able to do tito give
up the fight, letting the resolution pass
as mere expression of opinion, and
making 10 effort to enforce it, 1t ap-
pears that the only possible result will
ba the secession of the Tabernacle
Baptist Church, and possibly several
other Atlanta churches from the asso-
ciation.
DR.. Broughton has announced that he
has no idea of allowing the fight to
stop with the association, He declares
that If the association expels his church
he will call upon the Georgia Baptist
convention to expel the association, and
that the State convention will not dare
to sustain the position taken by the
members of the Stone Mountain Asso-
citation.
AT all events there Is going to be a
big row. The feeling over the matter has
heen increasing for two Wears, and those
who at one time thought that the DIFF
ferences could be amicably adjusted have
about lost all hope On both sides charges
ara made that personal interests are re-
sponsible for the flrmness being shown
and believing this neither side will be
WiIli,f- IN yjald tn the othar