The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-17
PASTOR
ANSWERS
CHARGES

Rev Edward A. Johnson. pastor OF the
First Baptist church or Newport. who
some days ago was expelled from the
Rhode Island state convention has come
out with an open letter. In which he de-
fends himself He makes the statement
he says az the request Of many friends.
In part Rev MIR. Johnson says:
II suppose YOU are aware that the First
Baptist church believes in my innocence
with regard 10 similar charges in New
port As proof Of this and OF their con-
fdence I'm their pastor. they have with
drawn from the state convention for the
insult 10 the church and the pastor This
was passed with four opposing votes.
They also withdrew from the Narragan
sett association. with five opposing votes.
and III voting. They have also taken
action on three members, who were prime
movers I'm this matter. and who have
been under church discipline since Nov.
4. 1904. over six months.
Now let me answer the main reason
on which my expulsion was based.
was never excluded as they say. from
any Baptist church | have never been
cited 10 appear for any church trial or
deposing council. over l3 years ago
after had resigned from the Allegheny
Avenue Baptist church Of Philadelphia,
7 asked a letter from the church clerk
stating that at my request my name was
dropped.
Then I did exactly what the report
says should have done. The deacons of
another church in Philadelphia. repre-
rentng me- went 10 my former church
and asked for my restoration. They said:
IL would be detrimental 10 our church
work. since we have a new pastor. TO
receive an old pastor back into the mem
bership. but speaking 10 the deacons
we have no objection to your receiving
him into your church So on their ad-
vice the centennial church received me
into membership and also called me as an
assistant pastor. I holding that office for
about eight months. until | accepted
call as pastor elsewhere.
Il have tho original call and testi-
monials on leaving. also letter from the
! senior deacon OF the same church 10 the
! First church of Bangor. in which he SAYS:
| AT orr unanimous call he became later
| our assistant pastor. beloved by all
| preached for the pastor several times
when he was away. and did pastoral call
| ing.
Now. with reference 10 the action ot
/ the state convention They had a right
10 expel me from their body II they did
not wish me a a member. but they had
( no right to send special correspondence
10 our city rapers and publish their~ef-
! fetal findings 2is days before I received
| the official announcement.
Nor did they have any right 20 pass
/ Judgment on my character Ind standing
( as q minister. They thus assumed the
! highest authority I'm tho Baptist church.
which belongs exclusively 10 the local
/ church They have done both these things.
and 7 will be very much surprised II the
/ Baptists at large allow such an action 10
/ pass unnotced.
yet over the protest ~ our church
I passed by the church AZ n regularly called
meeting and signed hv 1852 names all this
was done They shield themselves under
! q plea that they were asked by tho %
/ to invcStigate but the request originated
and was written among the ministers ~
/ Providence. and was sent down in the
/ form ~ two papers. asking for sigma
/ lures. and that they he returned. Their
, requeet was complied with. hut several
s'gners have declared that they did not
know what they were doing
II ask. Ia all this Just; is II in accord
| ance With BAPTIST policy
An effort has been made 10 secure
| statement from some of the sgners of
! tho petition to-~the sta 70 convention but
! they all decline TO talk a the present
time.