The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-28
.RHOE WAS ELECTED
Pastor Of First Baptist Church.
COI0Ted
AT MEETING YESTERDAY
Oupositon Refused to Vote on e.
eCtjOn of Pastor

Meeting Was Exciting and Presenc,
of Police Necessary to Preserve
Ordcr-Dr. Hale Protested Agains1
Manner of ELecAon-Rhoe's Friends
who IS a member Of 4 Baptist church
elsewhere, and who has not been dis
missed from that church nor voted in
to this church, on the presentation OF
Il letter of dismission from the other
church. Such q member has all the
rights of other members except that of
voting.
that each Baptist chu1 CHI is absolutely
Independent and can make rules to
govern itself.
There was further discussion indulg-
ed in, DR.. Hale Leading for the ants,
when the motion to allow the "watch
cares" to vote was carried.
A motion was then made that the
meeting go into the election Of a pas
tor. Leaders Of the a%nti-faction pro-
tested against a vote being taking
.OoI oh a Cdll " ulhLSIOn IL was Ut
-cided by unanimous vote, the opposi-
Eiated at the ResuIt-Appeal Will
Likely be Taken to the Courts
Another step has Deen taken in the
noted controversy which has divided
the congregation of tic First Baptist
church. cOlOred, of this city into two
factions, and according to the agree
ment arrived at some lime ago between
the rival factions, it would seem that
the action taken would end the trou-
Dle sud restore harmony in the church,
but 1T is intimated that the minority,
OF anti-RhOe faction are not satisfied
and that after all an appeal will prob
ably be taken to the courts.
The details of the controversy are
easily recalled. Following certain
charges against Rhoe several months
ago when the matter was first brought
to the attention of the public, a mutual
council, composed of several white and
colored ministers and prominent lay
men, considered the subject and made
a report to the church which was
unanimously adopted, giving Rhoe
three months time to serve as pastor
and his resignation was to take eff
feet at the end of that time. When
Tuesday week. RhCe, however, de-
clined to give up the pastOrate. 1t was
then determined by the anti-Rhoe fac
ton to sue for an injunction restrain
ing Rhoe from further serving the
church as pastor. Before this suit had
been started, RhOe, through his after
ney, wrote DR.. Hale, pastor of the First
Baptist church. who was acting for the
anti-Rhoe faction, that he would con
sent to a fair and square election for
pastor by the members of his church
at a meeting on Wednesday the Goth.
the election to be held in accordance
with the laws and government Of the
Baptist church,
In pOn to the notice given out
to the members of the congregation
for the meeting to elect a pastor, there
assembled in the church yesterday af-
ternoon practically the entire mem
bership.
The meeting was opened with sing
ing and then a scripture lesson was
read, followed by a fervent prayer Of
fered by Rev. Parker, president of the
Baptist Association Of churches in thu
Kenansville district.
Rev. Rhoe, who was acting as mod
orator then announced the object 70
which the meeting had been called
and read the resolution adopted by tn
church agreeing to ABIDE by the result
of the meeting and TO stop the strif
and ~dissension and work for harmony
Rhoe asked for all VINO were not mem
beers of the church OF who had no
been especially invited to attend, VIII
were in the church to retire, as it wa
a strictly church matter.
Rhoe then asked who should be en-
titled to vote in the election. and on
motion which was carried by a SAT
majority, it was decided that all mem
bers Of the church should be entitle,
to a vote. DR.. Hale representing tn
di~saffected members got the floor wit
difficulty and he asked and was grant
ed permission to read the correspond
ence between himself and Rhoe con
corning the call for the meeting an
what effect it's result would hav'
Then DR.. Hale made an argumen
against allowing watch care" men
bers to vote, declaring hat unde
Baptist polity these were not entitie
to vote. He read from Hiscox