Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-12

The feeling of unrest that has been oc-
casioned by the pastors many public
utterances along this line, and which
have been so vociferously indorsed by
the people of other denominations in
| attendance, has given rise to a dissat-
isfaction that has rapidly assumed
formidable proportions.
Church Would Investigate
Much of this feeling has been made
known to me by members sharing in It,,
and many have expressed a strong de-
sire to have general meeting of the
church called to consider this and other
questions connected with the new
phases being assumed by the pastoral
| relationship
IT have always counseled moderation
and patience in dealing with the ques-
tion, at the same time realizing the i'm
minence and magnitude of the danger
threatening the life of the church as a
Baptist institution. On more than one
occasion 1 have had personal contro-
versies with the pastor, warning him
the church could no longer endure such
teaching, but in each instance my in
| functions were met with the thought
| that God alone was his inspiration and
his judge, and that 1 had no right to
criticise his views.
''In order to avoid, as far as possible,
any partisan action so productive of
strife and division, but feeling the abso-
lutte necessity of giving to the church
an opportunity to shade it's own policy,
on September 6, at the usual deacons'
meeting 1 laid before the pastor and
deacons my views of the threatening
condition of the church, and moved that
the board Of deacons recommend to the
church the calling of general business
session to consider all the questions
that were so seriously disturbing the
peace of the church.
This seemed to me not only in the
interest of permanent harmony but a
simple and absolute right which the
members of pure democracy de-
manded of those placed in charge of it's
spiritual affairs.
Pastor objects
1.-THE proposition met with a very
decided opposition from the pastor and
five of the deacons and was favored by
four of the deacons. One deacon was
absent, who probably would have op-
posed it had he been present. In con-
sequence of this decision of the board
the case was not presented to the
church, and it was my purpose to await
further development and further light
as to my personal duty.
"I did not have to wait long. On Sum-
day morning after the Sunday school
hour the deacons were summoned to the
pastors study, where they usually con-
gregate at that hour for prayer with
the pastor. After the usual season of
devotions the pastor announced that
consider a question of urgent i'm
portance which Deacon Haskell was re-
quested to state. The summary of what
Deacon Haskell stated was to the effect
come so productive of discord and
inimical to the spiritual development
of the church, disturbing the peace and
interfering with the success of the
pastor, as to demand a better under
standing between myself and the rest of
the board, and if possible restoration
of perfect harmony.
II suggested that such question,
sprung without notice, ought not to be
discussed during the preaching hour
| (there being another minister in the
pulpit) and moved that it's consider
alton be delayed until an afternoon
hour, when there would be ample time
to fully consider, without the loss of
the hour appointed for worship.
This thought was favored by two
other deacons, but the pastor was inn
movable in his determination to have
the matter settled then and there, and
his position was sustained by major
ity of the board. 1 then asked the pas
tor to state fairly the issue he wanted
| decided.
Brother Dozier Ousted
"His reply, in substance, was Either
Brother Dozier must fall unto harmoni-
Gus cooperation with the present ad-
ministration of the church in all mat
ters connected with its spiritual de-
velopment, or else take his membership
from the church, and If he will do
neither, then my resignation goes be-
fore the church and this question must
be settled before the church this morn
ing
my reply, in substance, was: While
I greatly love the pastor, personally,
and enjoy his preaching along gospel
lines, and greatly admire his power in
prayer and song, and his leadership in
devotional meetings, I cannot and will
not indorse his attitude in matters re-
lating to UNCONVENTIONAL interests, and
while I have no definite purpose as to
the calling of a general meeting of the