The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-10
Divided as to Proper Func-
tlOnS of the Union.
LIFE OF THE BODY is
HANGING BY A THREAD
BY Yesterdays Decision the Union May
Discuss Any Question, Religious or
Otherwise, That is opproved by
Its Business Committee.
What Number Of Min
listers Think Aboutlt.

In the opinion OF several prominent
members, including the president OF the
body. the Ministerial Onion Of Richmond
yesterday passed through a crucial period
in It's history-a period, the effect of
which 1t Is impossible at this m oment to
estimate. That the happenings of the day
VIII rebound to the permanent injury Of
the organization Is admitted by many.
WILL THEY LEAVE?
Following the very animated session Of
the union yesterday morning were rumors
to the effect that certain of the more In
fuential members have decided to with
draw, or are seriously considering the adj
Visibility Of doing SO. The issue In the
discussion which disturbed the peace of
the body was sharply defined. One side,
strongly conservative and led by the Rev.
Dr. r. p. Kerr, wished to establish the
union upon the principle of non-interfer-
tEce In matters other than those wholly
and entirely devotional The other ele-
ment. led by DIR. j. B. Hawthorne and DR..
II. r. Johnson, desired to see the doors
thrown open to any matter which might
lcgltimatcly claim the attention Of min
isterial organization.
The day went against the conservatives.
and the rumors now were to the effect
ti,at some of those most actively identi-
fed with this side would quietly drop
out OF the union. Conversation with one
or two OF them clearly developed the fact
that they were far from satisfied II was
stated plainly by some that DR.. Kerr and
DR.. Russell Cecil. pastor of the Second
Presbyterian Church. two Of the most in
fuenta members OF the body, would
leave DR.. Kerr was asked about the
matter, but he declined to talk. He pre-
ferred not to be quoted with reference to
his future relations with the union.
So far as he wns concerned, DR.. Cecil
said he had not come to any decision to
leave the union. When he was told the
rl,r1ors about DR.. Kerr and himself he
said In effect: DR.. Kerr and havs>talked
ovel the matter. but we have come to no
conclusion toaleave the union. That Is. I
faye not. With me 1t depends upon cir
cumstances. If the union degenerates into
a debating society, as it gives promise of
doing. l certainly have no desire or in
tention Of staying In It,
DRS. COOPER AND @DERIEUN TALK. II
Several other members. notably among
the Presbyterans and the EpiscopalianS,
seem to feel the same way. For a long
time after the session yesterday the big
debate was the sole topic of conversation
In many quarters. Among some hope
full feeling existed, DR.. Hawthorne de-
clared himself positively Of the convic-.
tion that the action taken was a wise
one, and that the union would hang to-
gether. But the very president of the
body feels gloomy about the situation.
pr. Cooper was asked yesterday for an
opinion, and he said substantially as fol-
lows:
II am much afraid that the effects of
the discussion will be injurious: that it
will cause o. serious break In the ranks"
Standing near DR.. Cooper as he made
this remark was DR.. w. T. Derieux. pas
tor Of the Venabe-Street Baptist Church,
who was even more pronounced In his
views. Said Dr. Derieux In effect:
1T seems to me that the union, for
all practical purposes. Is dead from this
day forward. The Presbyterian brethren
will probably drop out; many of the
Episcopalians are out already; the atti :
tude Of prominent Christian minister
showed what he felt about the matter.
The union gets down, therefore, to a
Methodist and Baptist affair. And the
Baptists themselves are very badly