The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-29
Puts Question of Church
Criticism Squarely
Up to Meek.
LEAVES MATTER
TO CONGREGATION
Pastor Replies to Statement
Made at Y. M. c. A. Investiga-
ton, in Which Witness Said
Mcdaniel Was More Sharp
ly Criticized Than Sec
retary Mckee.

Just before the benediction was pro-
nounced at the First Baptist Church
last night, Rev. George w. Mcdaniel
ID. d., the pastor. stepped forward and
read a statement, in which he offered
10 give up his pastoral work here If
samuel w. Meek could find one church
officer who would say that he was
unsuitcd to the position "And I do
not select the officers" DR.. Mcdaniel
added They are elected by the mem
bership"
Dr. McDaniel's name was mentioned
rather freely in the recent investiga-
tion of the Young Mems Christian AS
sociation, and because. as he felt, il
was dragged in at the first hearing by
| the board of directors. he made reply
in his sermon last Sunday night At
the public hearing on Friday night Mr..
Meek was introduced as witness"
by friends Of General Secretary Mckee
what MIR. Neck Said.
In it's report Of the Y. NJ c. A. inves-
tigation The Times Dispatch on Satur-
day morning printed the following:
Reference having been made to
letter from Rev. George w Mcdaniel
ID. d.. handed the board under date
OF July %, in which the minister char
acterized Mr.. Mckee as 'tempcrament-
ally unsuited to his present position
and in which he wrote that he had been
hearing these criticisms of Mr.. Nc
kee for years. and that his usefulness
here was at an end. MIR. Meek said:
Splendid Christian gentleman that
he is, l have heard worse thinga said
about DIR. Mcdaniel than have ever
Eeen said about Mckee. 1t gets to be
a habit with some people to criticize.
lie is criticizen rs strongly "a he crit
icizes Mckee. and I don't think his
opinion is worth any more than that
OF any other man."
Dr. McDanieps Reply.
! Friends of DR.. Mcdaniel rather ex-
pected that he would reply to Mr.. Meek,
and the church last night was crowded
He made no reference to IT, however,
in his sermon. The choir had sung
the closing hymn when DR.. Mcdaniel
stepped forward and read the follow
ing statement:
The committee of young men from
the Y. NJ. c. ~. solicited and secured
letter expressing my views. That
letter was written in candor. and with
out illwill. 1t must stand for what It
is worth. and subsequent events will
prove whether | am right or wrong as
TO my impressions of the situation as
ii now exists. Should the board adopt
4 different course from the one sug-
gestcd, l sincerely hopo that the flu
turc Of the institution will vindicate
the wisdom of their action. | am much
more anxious that the Y NJ. c. y. may
fulnll its mission than that my views
shall obtain.
Criticism Within the Ranks.
Every public man may expect some
estimable people to differ with him,
and he must not hope TO escape crit
icism. However the criticism within
the ranks is that which must inevi-
tably affect ones usefulness. and main
ly that should be taken into account.
MIR. Meeks effort TO divert the issue
by an attack on me is of the same
nature as the attempt to embarrass
and discredit the young men who dared
TO sign the round robin His state
ment must refer to criticism from the
members of this church, or there
would be no point to his remarks |
would not embarrass any institution
by my presence when a respectable mi
nority opposed my leadership. The
membership of the Y. NJ. C. \. is 1.400.
-Four hundred members signed the pa
per calling for an investigation. The
membership of this church is 1910. II
Mr.. Meek can find 400 members of this
church who oppose my leadership an
investigation will not be necessary to
remedy the condition.
Put Squnrely Up TO Meek.
Or, 10 make II easy for Mr.. Meek
| will resign next sunday ii he can
find 100 members who will sign pro-
test against my administration. Mr.
Meek 3 time may be consumed with his
many and large business interests. and
to make ii still easier, | will surrender
this pastorate if he can find nifty mem
bers who oppose me. Or. to narrow
the proposition. 1 will give up this
church IL MIR. Meek can find one officer
who Will say that l am unsuited to tho
position-and / do not select the oh-
GERS. They are elected by the member
ship"
After the service most OF the officers
and large number of members ad-
vanced to shake hands with Dr. Nc
DANIEL They warmly congratulated
him. and assured him that every single
officer of the church, and the entire
congregation believed implicitly in the
Rrent work being dnna undnr his lead=