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

to adopt the report OF the Mutual
Council. abide by its decisions, and be
governed by its recommendations.
provided nothing was recommended
antagonistic to Baptist usage; and
Whereas. The Mutual Council vas
composed of Rev. Fred D. Hale, pastor
of the First Baptist church, white. of
this city; Rev. j. A Mckaughan.
pastor of the Brooklyn Baptist church;
Rev. G. A. Martin, pastor Of the South
| side Baptist church; Rev. J.. A. Smith.
resident of this city. and pastor of
country Baptist churches; and Rev. e.
B. Waited, colored evangelist, then
holding a revival with Rhoe; Rev.
w. NJ. Devane. colored. a member OF
| Shiloh church. and Rhoe's special
friend, DR.. A. M. Baldwin, a deacon Of
the First Baptist church, white-seven
men unbiased. and capable of investi-
eating the matter, and rendering a de-
cision for the best interests of the
church. and the cause Of Christ in the
community; and
Whereas, After due consideration of
all the issues involved. the Mutual
| Council made. on March the 18th, a
unanimous report TO the church. &c
| commencing the restoration of ex-
| Guided members, and removing the ban
from all members under discipline,
provided they made satisfaction to the
church; and recommending that Rhce
to take effect three months from date;
and
Whereas, The church. with Rboe
acting as moderator, unanimously
adopted the report of the Mutual Coun-
| Gil, the excluded members. and those
under discipline having been restored
to fellowship, voting on all matters
coming before the church at that meet
ing, after the adoption of the Mutual
Councils report; and
Whereas, On the basis that RhOe
was to leave the p~astOrate of the
church at the end of the three months,
viz: June the 18th, and leave the
church intact, not dividing it and TAX
ing off a faction for the organization
OF a new church, his faction agreeing
mot to go off with him if he attempted
to split the church, committee was
appointed to have the suits at law
withdrawn, and to pay the ~Oyerhans-
ing costs: and
Whereas. At the first regular con-
| ference meeting of the church, after
the trouble had been settled, and with
out notification to the church that he
was going to have himself recalled as
pastor, Rhoe, through q part Of his
official members. and keeping the 9TH
ers ignorant of what 4e was doing,
had himself fraudulentiy recalled as
pastor, there being "a 1Eambers voting
for him, the others bella, ing the action
to be illegal, and out Oh order, not vot-
ing at all: and
Whereas, Rhoe, at this first regular
conference meeting, utterly reDudiat-
ed and ignored. and treated with con
tempt, the work of tae Mutual Council
and the action of the united church il
adopting it's report; and u.s..
Whereas, On the Sunday before the
next regular conference meeting
which was to be the last before Rhoe's
resignation was to take effect, a notice
was officially handed to him, request
ing that he announce the regular
monthly conference meeting for the
following Thursday; and
Whereas, Rhoe refused to make tn
/ announcement, and influenced 50 O
his friends to vote. saying that Their
would be no further conference meet
ings of the church for three months
that he had at the previous conference
meeting, been chosen, indefinitely, a.
pastor, and that he was not going t.
leave the pastorate of the church, eve
if the He'll Hounds were on his trai
again; and
Whereas. Rhoe a notified by us
through Rev. Fred D. Hale. that tn
regular monthly conference meeting
WOulO W ue1u Oh luulSudy uISAC -
this week, the usual time for holdin;
the monthly conference, and that h
and his faction would be expected t
attend, seeing that the house wa
opened and lighted, as they have III
key to the building; and
Whereas, The answer was an in
sulting letter to Rev. Fred D. Hale
with the verbal statement in the pres
ence of the bearer hat 81 wish tn
d-n white preacher would attend t.
his own business; and
Whereas, The church has gone t
the limit, along the line of BaDtis
polity, in it's effort to rid itself Of
despotic and dictatorial pastor who's
influence has ceased to be helpful il
building up the cause of Christ, and