The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-19
EMMANUEL Dap IT'S
VOTES TO SELL CHURCH.
Deal With Negro Methodist Copgre-
gation Practically Closed, Says
Rev. w. T. Hall.
NEIGHBoRs FILE OBJECTIONS

Vote Mt Congregational Meeting Said
to Have Been az to 1 for Sale.
Pastor Refuses to Allow Outsiders
Access to Church, Books.
BY what was said to be q vote OF
~ to 1. the members OF the congrega-
ton OF Emmanuel Baptist Church pres
cnt ut the business session yesterday,
morning ratified the action OF the truB-
tees in regard to the proposed sale OF
the building 10 the congregation Of
Clay Street Methodist Church. colorcd.
Tic one member opposing said that
become necessary to sell the church.
She declared that the Sunday school
was In n fiourishing condition. that tho
icollectionstwcre ahead of the ex penses
md that the church had bright future
before It. She thought 1t was a ter
rible thing the church, MAS doing, and
not at all Christian.
This Is the third meeting OF the kind.
according to the pastor Rev. William
Thomas Hall, and was called To estab-
lish u reply to the statement made by
four members I'm Al petition to the
Chnncery Court not to authorize tho
sale that the majority of the congre-,
CATION was opposed to the sale. IN
that paper Il was, also alleged that
proper notice OF the other meetings
had not been. given to the members.
The call to the meeting yesterday was
made by Mr.. Hall In personal letters
10 every member of the congregation;
mailed last week.
!SAl,E. no NECnnES ryAS
BEEN @CONSljSiAiATIGD
When seen In his study last night Mr.
Hall said that the church WINS united
In wishing to dispose OF the building.
though he admitted that II majority OF
the congregation was not present at
the business session held after morn
ing services. The total membership.
he said. numbers 453 people. He said,
that 1t was not necessary TO make pub
lie the results of the voting and the
statement that the vote stood ~ for
and ] against the sale OF the church
came from other sources Mr.. Hall
wanted it understood.5 however that
there. was absolute harmony In the
compensation, and said that the sale
of the property to the colorsd conEre-
CATION had been practically consum-
mat ed though n petition is now before
Judge r.. Carter Scott for court author
ity,tO sell.
The main reason FOR selling the
church lies IN the fact. said Mr.. Tfnll,
that the neighborhood Is being en-
-croached upon by negroes. Legally.
however. under the..a;neRded scSreEn-
ton ordinance. signed by Mayor Aims
lie on October Z, the church Is In a
white nelghborhood. and may not be
occupied by colored congregation. 1t
Is believed. however. that property in
the DetEhborhood Is being gradually
bought by negroes. and that the yicin-
ity viii soon be classed as colorcd
neighborhood. AS matter OF fact II
Is said that even now there Is a ma
1ority OF nine negro families In that
part OF flfth street adJaceht 10 the
church property. though the majority
OF the houses are occupied oy whltc,
people.
NElHHuORlNs PHOfEisTr:E
o"ssis ~ .ooi
me proposed saie OF the church mas
heen ngitated since July, when meet
ihs OF inc consresalioa aecIaed IN IA
Yor OIL seiilng. subsequent meeting.
was held on september ~, when again.
tho conversation decided that Y was
,,na, y" ~. 1,,, sea.,
fnr a,iibnr,tY ~ ,,ata t,,o .saIa mo
ltSan ~ =. nnsy, er,,s net,t,on si;,,eI hv
snn,s; n,smhers ~ tho cor.reeat,nn.
Mrs AIice'M Rurronrhs MIS- g {; z M.
lett, Mrs. IL. X. Hill and Mrs. Lille
cpropst--decIaring that due notice OF
the business meeting had not been Civ
en- to the congregation and that the
majority of the congregation was OPP
posed to the sale. The respondents
asked the court to order the trustees to
open the church books to them which
was granted. A counter petition ask
ing the court to rescind that part OF Its
order which would make the books
Oman n tho +putIic Iyoat fl,pn 5brnItrht
to Judge Scott by tho trustees. and was
bee Of the wong Sua any that