The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1907-12-05
WILMINGTON CHURCHES AROUSED.

Of Other denominations for Net
Offering to En.ertain osIegstss-
The Baptist State Convention is
In session In Wilmington this week.
On last Friday night Rev. Fred d
Hale, pastor Of the First Baptist
Church of that city, sent out the
following telegram to the press Of
the State:
"To the Baptists of the State: Only
delegates can be entertained at con-
ventior in Wilmington. No ladies
Unforeseen condition. Reduce your
representation.
FIRED D. HALE"
When the Mayor of Wilmington
learned that Rev. Hale had sent the
telegram to the press he also sent q
telegram to same papers saying that
DR.. Hsle's telegram was unwsr-
ranted and that the citizens Of Viii.
mington were ready and willing to
provide homes for all the delegates
and their wives, and stated that
homes would be provided for ell
who would wire him. The follow
ing special sent out by a Whining
ton correspondent tells Of the
troubles behind the scene:
"The Juror yesterday on account
of the publication by Rev. Fred d.
Hale. of the First Baptist Church,
that because Of his incorporating
position on the prohibition issue, his
fellow Christians Of other denomi
nations would not cooperate In en-.
tertaining the delegates expected
here next week for the State Baptist
Convention, is the sequel to rather
sensational incident that occurred at
the Inauguration of the prohibition
campaign in Wilmington but which
was zealously guarded as secret
until some time afterwsrd. Fellow
pastors OF DR.. Hale, on account of
the financial stress and for other
reasons stated, did not deem that
the present was an opportune time
for calling an election. Something
said or published by DR.. Hale was
construe to mean that he was en-
deavoring to show them up as being
opposed to prohibition per se. This
was strongly resented by pastors OF
other Christian churches at q subse.
quent conference of the ministers
and one Of the number, Rev. DR.,
!. Wells, of the First Presbyterian
Church, ia reported to have shook
his finger at DR.. Hale and told him
that he had made himself 'a stencil
in the nostrils Of the good people Of
the community" DR.. Hale is re-
ported to have arisen to resent what
, he termed an insult, and it Is stated
that a personal difficulty was only
averted by the interfe. ence Of a,
least one other pastor in the confer
ence.
, Itsswas thought that this breach
had been healed and that oil hands
, had been reconciled when the fresh
outbreak occurred yesterday. The
good people of all denominations iu
Wilmington regret the unfortunate
E affair and the causes which led up tx
it, at the same time resenting the
imputation that their hospitality i,
? not as unbounded on this occasion q:
, it has been of yore. They say they
have not been approached, or many
Of them do, and that they have
been waiting for the usual commit.
tee of arrangements, to which al
such matters are generally referred
, The strained relations between the
denominations is being quite gener'
ally discussed pro and con here and
q lively rumpus all around is ex-
, pected as the result. Any derelic
ton on the part Of other denomins
tiops, they claim, is not due to any
difference on the question of prohi
bition, for the ministers Of practi.
, cally all churches have publicly de
ciared their purpose to vote anG
work for prohibition should thu
election be called, however much
they may regard the ill-sdvised &C.
ton in calling the election.