New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-12
SPLIT IN BAPTIST RANKS.
MORTGAGE THE CAUSE.
Missionary Society's Demands Nay
Lose RockefeIIer's Gift.

Much bitterness arose Yesterday at the conven-
ton of the Southern New-York Baptist Associa-
tion which is in session in the Mount Morris Bap-
fist Church, 5th-ave. between 126th and 127th SITS
The cause Of the I'll feeling the report on the
request of the Washington Heights Baptist Church
for a hearing before the convention of its side of
the differences with the Baptist City Missionary
Society in raising funds to pay off the $4,000
mortgage the church.
The special committee of five split, four of the
committee signing the majority report and the
Rev. leighton Williams of Amity Baptist Church,
handing in a minority
The majority report recommended that the
Washington Heights Church be not accorded
hearing; Dr. Williams recommended that the petit
ton of the church be submitted to the permanent
council of the association for consideration.
The majority report adopted by vote of
21 to IL
Three years ago the trustees Of the church made
an appeal to John d. Rockefeller for aid Mr..
Rockefeller said that If the church would under
take to raise $4,000 by July of this year, and If the
City Missionary Society would contribute $4,000,
he would give the remaining $4,000 and pay the
interest the $4,000 mortgage for three years, in
which time the church to raise the $4,000.
Mr. Rockefeller has paid the interest on the mort
gage for the three years ended last July.
DR. Bosworth and his congregation raised the re
quired amount in time to receive Mr.. Rockefellers
check for $4,000. When the time came for the
City Missionary Society to hand over the $4,000
which it had agreed to contribute according to
the heads of the Washington Heights Baptist
Church, the society demanded that the church give
it non-nterest bearing mortgage for $4,000
DR. Bosworth and the trustees of the cnurch
offered to give the society a mortgage for sio"o'
taking the position that 1t was not fair for the
City Missionary Society demand mortgage for
the full amount of $4,000 when $4,000 of the
$4,000 had been raised by the church itself
This was the situation on Tuesday when the
Washington Heights Church appealed TO the South
ern New-York Baptist Association for hearing in
the matter.
The petition to the convention in It's opening par
agraph stated that the Washington Heights Bap
fist Church was about to it's property because
Of the failure of the City Missionary Society to
keep its pledge"
Both the majority and minority reports yester-
day afternoon were read by the Rev. Leighton
williams. who the adoption of the ma
jority report had been moved and substitute mo-
ton offered that minority report be adopted, took
the floor in discussion.
Mr. Williams said that the majority report was
simply the quashing of 2 church whose very eX-
istence was threatened The report was made. he
said because the action of the City Missionary So
cety had been criticised. and. said Dr. Williams
'the members of the committee must hold the City
Missionary Society dear to shield it from crit
icsm'
Il do not so regard the society" continued the
speaker. The very fact that the society has been
criticised by the Washington Heights Baptist
Church in its petition submitted to this convention
is sufficient warrant that It's appear shouiU De
heard-if not here. then at some other time. Inc
majority report quashes the Washington Heights
Church because it dared to say that the City Mis-
sonary Society had not used it right
The Rev Mr. Bosworth then took the floor and
made a passionate appeal in behalf of his church,
saying:
For tl>-e years have given our best energies
toward raising the money TO rescue our church from
its mortgage To-day We stand IN crl F fb oI
done by City Missionary Society for the B3PtSt
us into close relationship regret that TINS Is SO,
Why should not have the right 10 come Psl ore
society persists in its objection to our asking t AID
vice the consequences cannot o46 ee our propertS
and close up the church. For this We cannot take
{ We FaTs done all THAT was possible Here
stand and here we rest our case
The Rev Rufus p Johnston, pastor of the Fifth
A,anuA F2aptist church. said that certified check
for $4,000 had been ready and rendered to the
Washington Heights Church
The Rev. Richard Hartley, pastor OF the Hope
Baptist Church, said
No more important matter than this appeal could 6Sad
the cause Of many heartaches many prayers ai no
much strife Here is church IN very PERI OF us
# that we are too busy to listen. This s no time
c5,Tch is in danger. l had to sever my connec-
ton with the City Missionary socely because
could not conscientously lhuorse I'io poSi0ioH II
took IN this case
Just as the Rev. Edwin s. Holloway, pastor OF
the West Thirty-third Street Baptist Church, took
the floor to speak the previous question was called
and Mr. Holloway was compelled to take ms seat
Then came the adoption Of the majority report
by a vote of 2l to l..
The Rev Mr.. Bosworth refused to discuss the
action of the convention. The Rev. F. l. Requa'
ir assistant minister of the Washington Heights
Baptist Church. said that meeting Of the con
Gregation would be held and some action deter
mined upon.
MD JEROME CONFIDENT