The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-09
Deposed Pastor of Third
Christian Restored to
Membership.
MAKES STATEMENT
TO CONGREGATION
Vote on Question of Receiving
Mr.. Francis Stood SO to S,
After He Had Expressed
Deep Humiliation for In
cident That Led to
Dismissal.

Actuated By spirit OF good feeling
and harmony, the congregation OF
Third Christian Church on Sunday ad-
mitted to full membership the Rev
one year and who was dismissed in
June on the charge that he had kissed
| woman member of his flock.
The vote to receive the former pas
tor as a member, 1t Is stated. stood
so to >. Friends OF Mr. Francis
arc highly gratifed at the turn Of
| events, and they believe that the fric-
tion which has existed since the SEN
sational incident In June will be re-
moved, and that the congregation will
now go forward with a more deter
mined effort TO upbuild the church and
widen tho scope Of it's work
Took DlSnIned Course.
Since the trouble which led to his
dismissal. MIR. Francis has remained in
Richmond, and while he was anxious
to attend services regularly on SUNDAY
he showed no disposition. or desire to
force his presence where he might not
have been welcome. Ssccently how
ever. members OF the board conferred
with him. and hc was finally urged to
I attend church on sunday, and there
make 4 full and frank statement with
q View Of being rcinstated as a member
in good standing. At the close OF the
morning service. b. +. Crow. the senior
member. made brief address to the
con aggregation. In which he stated that
Mr.. Francis had come there by invita-
ton, that he had suffered as result
OF the trouble. and that ne desired to
make application for membership, not
by letter, but b. statement, or confess
sion.
! Mr. Francis stated that in the in
tercst OF peace and harmony he de-
| sired to Worship once more among the
people he had served. that there was
/ =, 4 ., Ia.
his statement to the board OF stewards.
that he was truly sorry fol an act
which he had unwittingly and unwill-
| ingly done on the impulse OF the mo-
ment. and that as the parties most
! aesrievcd harbored no ill-fceling. he
wanted the CONGREGATION TO help him.
just as he wanted it to know that he
was truly rcpcntant.
Received Member.
| The earnest manner In which he
spoke made deep impression. many
OF his close personal friends being
| touched. with no word or indication
OF disapproval on the part OF those
who had led the fight for his dis
missal. When Mr.. Francis sat down
Elder Crow asked the members ii there
was anything they desired to say or
do. Instantly there was a motion that
member. The motion was promptly
seconded, n standing vote was called
| for. and as near II could be esti-
mated IT stood 80 10 >.
Mr. Francis said last night that he
was highly gratiied by the spirit of
friendship shown by his former mem
bers. adding that hereafter he would
attend services at the Third Christian
feeling that he was no longer without
church friends or affiliations.
To Quit Ministry.
| Although the Third Christian is still
without pastor. the question OF ex-
tending a call to Mr.. Francis has not
been raised. Indeed. Mr.. Francis's
friends say that he could not and would
not accept, and he is anxious for tho
congregation to know that he is in no
wise a candidate. He is negotiating
with Il commercial establishment, and
| IL he does not succeed in obtaining the
position he is seeking in Richmond he
Will take up work which will require
his absence from the city. He is de-
sirous, however, of remaining here
| Some weeks ago a member OF the
church who was charged with having
disseminated former accusation
against the pastor was dropped from
the church roll. He has not been re-
instatcd However, the reinstatement
OF Mr.. Francis means that the old
troubles have been adjusted. and mcm-
bers look forward to the utmost har-
mony in NIL church matters.