The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1910-08-20

1T INYADES AM ARKANSAS BAPTIST
CHURCH AND SCANDALIzEy
THE CHURCH.
Names Of Prominent Misslssippians
Figure in the Scandal.

tISuIS ln tnC 1Cdha6Es
The following report appeared in
a recent issue Of the Memphis Com.
mercial Appeal under Helena,
Ark date line. The evangelist re.
ferred to is Rev. 7. I. Martin, the
widely known Mississippi preacher.
and the pastor of the church refer
red to is Mississippian and a for.
mer Baptist pastor Of the Baptist
church at McComb City, while il
seems that Wheeler, whose improp-
er act caused the trouble. was from
Clinton, and bore a recommended
tion from the president Of Missis-
sippi College:
Helena, Ark. Because a mem-
ber Of the First Baptist church Of
Helena took chance on an auto
mobile and won it at a rattle held
in this city last week, may be the
cause Of a split in the congregation.
It has already been the cause of a
meeting Of the congregation, calle1
in conference by the winner of the
auto, who is a director in the choir
of the church, which has been par
ticipating in the revival services
now being conducted in a big tent
on the Jefferson school campus by
Messrs. Martin & Schoolfeld, tray-
cling evangelists, who are working
under the auspices of the Forest
Baptist church.
Evangelist Martin, in his sermon
yesterday morning took occasion to
severely denounce one of the most
prominent members Of the church, 2
as he termed j. A. Wheeler, the
choir director, and winner of the
auto, for gambling, He also de-
nounced the other good Baptists of
Helena, whom he understood had
been saying on the streets that they
were glad Mr.. Wheeler had, who
was a good Baptist, had been lucky
enough to win the auto, as he was
the first Baptist who had had such
good fortune for long time.
At the conclusion of the revival
service Mr.. Wheeler. who occupied
his usual place in the choir, arose
and asked for a conference Of the
members Of the churchs About 200
members remained. Mr.. Wheeler
stated that while his name had not
been called by the evangelist, yet
all present knew that be was the
one referred to. While it was
true that he had won the auto, and,
strictly construed. it might be said
that he was guilty of gambling, yet
he did not look at it exactly in that
light. He had taken the chance
simply to help a friend. He had
no idea that he would win. When
he did, however, he was glad. He
wanted to sell the machine, as the
money would come in very handy
to him. He was poor man, and
why he should be singled out by
the evangelist for attack he did
not understand. He could not
truthfully say that he was glad.
He wanted to sell the machine and
if he said he did not ne would be
telling an untruth and be hypo-
crIte. Unless the money was re-
turned to him and all the others
who took chances it would not be a
fair proposition and he did not in
tend to do this anyway.
Mr.. Wheeler told the congrega-
tion that if he was condemned by
them because of statement made
by travelling evangelist, in the
light Of the explanation made by
him, that he would ask that his
name be stricken from the rolls Of
the church.
Rev. E. d. Solomon, pastor of
the local church, who has known
Mr.. Wheeler for a long time as a
good citizen and church worker,
came to the support Of his brother,
whonn he said did not do an inten-
tional wrong.
Mr.. Wheeler stated that while
he regretted his being the cause Of
such regrettable controversy, he
was going to keep the machine,
unless he could sell it.
Several members of the c0ngre-
cation stuck by Mr.. Wheeler and
advised him to stand pat. remark
ing that il his name was stricken.
from the roll Of the church mem-
bership theirs could be too.
No final action was taken at the
conference and the question will
be settled at future meeting
Both sides have their friends, and
the outcome will be watched with
interest.
Mr.. Wheeler came here from
Clinton. Miss. on Feb. 20 and is
employed at local laundry. He
had the finest kind OF letters Of
recommendation and introduction
from the president OF Mississip-
pi College and other officials of
that noted Baptist institution;
which show him to be good
church worker and most desirable
citizen. He has taken q prominent
part in the work of The Baptist