The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04

Following the conference held sew
eraI weeks ago between the warning
elements Of the First Baptist church,
| coIOred, as a result Of which a civil
action to have the Rev. j. H. RhOe
deposed as minister was stopped and
peace, it was thought, was restored in
the church by the agreement, which
was unanimously adopted, that Rhoe
should vacate his pulpit in three
who had been excluded since the trou-
BILE began should be restored to mem
bership, it was believed that the dis
sention had been settled and that
when RhOe's time was up the church
would select an ew pastor and contin-
ue it's work. But Rhce did not intend
to be cast aside in any such manner
and at the first regular business meet
ing of the church be held after
regular business meeting of the church
held after the trouble was held after
the trouble was settled, he without
| uOtlco 10 Tie CHul IL III II ouSh hiS
connivance of several of his men,
bers had himself recalled as pastor.
Rhoe last Sunday refused to announce
the regular monthly business confer
ence, scheduled for last night, n he
advised the church not to have a con-
ference meeting for the next three
months. notwithstanding this, the
clerk of the church and others repre-
senting that portion who wanted to
sustain the action Of the mutual coun-
Gil announced the meeting for last
night. at the First Baptist church.
The members reported there for the
conference but the church was in dark
ness and locked. They therefore ad-
iourned to the Central Baptist church
two blocks away and held their meet
ing.
Rev. DR.. F. D. Hale, pastor OF the
First Baptist church. white, assisted
as moderator. Rev. J. A. Mckaugnan
of the. Brooklyn Baptist church, Wh1te'
was also in attendance.
After a recital of the conditions IN
the church the following resolutions
were introduced and they We're unan1-
mously adopted:
Whereas, The charges against Rev
j. Fl. Rhoe of being the father OF al
Legitimate child, and Of making ar
| attempt to produce an abortion on thu
=. girl who swore her child to him. ha:
so injured his reputation, as a ministe1
in this community, hat he cannot ex
ert the Influence for good that is du'
. from the pastor of a church, the at
, torney who won for him his suit II
court saying: "Rhoe, I've cleared yo'
before the law, but you know that yo'
are as guilty as hell; and
Whereas, During his entire minis
+ terial career. he has been a breeder o
church troubles, bringing confusion
/ and strife into almost every church o
, which he has been pastor; and
Whereas. He has been guilty O
, violating Baptist discipline, and o
Z unscripturally expelling member
from the church. and voting others il
, conference meetings who are onl,
: watchcare members-not entitled Il
: a vote-to such an extent as to caus
the Kenansville Eastern Baptist Asso
: citation to condemn him, and to dTOl
5 his church from the association roll
5 until it returned to Gospel order; an
Whereas, By an unscriptural ex
! pulsion of some members, unscriDtur
| aIlv placing others under discipline 81
. as to deprive them of a vote III churcl
conference, and voting watchcar
members, he has f~raudulently GU
= down the voting membership OF III
= church so as to prevent the malorit,
| Of the membership from having tn
rule in the church. as is customar! Il
all Baptist churches; and
Whereas, The aggrieved member
asked the Mutual Council, accordln.
to Baptist church polity, and were re
= fused: and
Whereas. An ex-parte council wa
called. composed Of the colored ant
, white pastors, and co1ored and whit
; deacons Of Baptist churches in I'll
r city, who after patient labor and mucl
~antagonism from Rhoe, finally induces
him and his faction. and the othe
members Of the church who were no
under discipline, to call a Mutua
Council, composed exclusively of per
sons selected by Rhoe and his friends
and
Whereas, Rhoe. and the entir
church, composing both factions, b,