Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-27
RESIGNATION HALTED.
Few. DIR. Edwards ISLANDS Pat."-NO
Retirement at Present.

Eev. DIR. Edwards Stands Pat."-NoI
Retirement at Present.
Rev A +. Edwards ID. ID. preach
ed at the Fifth Street Baptist Church
last Sunday and the outlook for the
rendering of his resignation appear
ed to be rather remote. This
brought about feeling OF elation
among the members of the caurch.
who had been fOlloving him and
produced a feeling OF depression a
mong those who had been led to
believe that the end OF the contest
was at hand. He is said not to have
made any specific references to the
pending trouble.
It seems that DIR. Edwards, before
leaving the city for Lexington. Ken
tucky had been approached and in
duced 20 realize that II would be best
for himself and the church to agree
TO resign. He signed a paper to
this effect and Il is stated that he
was TO vacate the pulpit within 30
days. AS n benevolent consideration
the sum OF $4,000 was TO be paid
to him. When the money was to be
paid 10 him. ne could not be found
and since his return. he has shown
no inclination 10 ac,y'pt the money.
As the resignation must be ten
dered TO the church and the church
cannot meet in n business meeting
until the injunction proceedings are
dismissed by the court. the outlook IS
not very bright for an early settle
ment OF this most embarrassing con-
troVersy. The legal proceedings
have taken the nature OF n regular
suit in cnancery. wha.h may drag n
long for quite awhile
The following is CODY of the
contract OF agreement or RESIGNATION
drawn up between Rev. a. Il. Ed
wards. ID ID. and the committee from
the dissatisfied elem MT.
Whoreas there has Aleen a deai Of
/ trouble aud confusion in the Fifth
street Baptist Church Richmond. Va
ABOUT the pastor. Dr. a. +. Edwards.
and
Whereas, this confusion has grown,
To that state and pitch that Az fs
destined 60 destroy the peace and
harmony Of our church. II 1t contin-
ues and
Whereas, the following members.
w. w. Fields, J. W. Anderson. ]. II.
Chiles. G. c. Williams and Joseph
Shepherd and Dr. A. T.. Edwards un-
der the advice of DR.. G. II. Phillips
held a conference touching this az.
iair with due consideration of an
things for the peace Of our church
we reach the following conclusion:
proposition presented by DR.. A
T.. Edwards and accepted by the
above named brethren.
That since Il Is a fact that he
Rev. A. +. Edwards and the Fifth
Street Baptist Church cannot Get
together as pastor and church and
the facts are clearly demonstrated
and 70 his mind continuation means
destruction of the Fifth Street BAN
tist Church,
Therefore ne, Rev. A. +. Edwards
does hereby submit his resignation
TO take effect at once. with a payment
OF S355.OO within thirty days.
A. +. EDWARDS. w. w. FIELDS
]. w. ANDERSON. JOSEPH SHEP-
HERD, c. c. WILLIAMS, ] II
CHILES.
Attest:
c. II. PHILLIPS.
1t is stated that on last Sunday
morning. Rev. Edwards gave tho
committee TO understand that he
would not consider himself bound bv
tnls agreement. He had not resign
ed TO the church and there were no
indications that he would do so anv
tlme soon. He has not accepted tbe
money promised, although 1T is stat
ed the amount has been rendered To
nlm or his representative.
Inc representatives of the Fifth
Street Baptist Church are not doing
much talking, but seem to be patienf
iy and confidently awaiting deveIon-
ments. There is no excitement ar
the services of the church and the
maj outcome of the struggle cannot
be determined at this stage of the
controversy.