The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-19
AFTER BUSINESS SESSION OF
CHURCH DIR. HALL APPEARS
-aSEunRxG. I,
VOTE is OVERWHELMING
hut ONE DISSENTING VOICE Is
TO CONGREGATION coz
CEaNING CHURCH.

I've ferI confident that Judge
Scott will grant The right To sell
the church. and yon can say that
tho church has been sold. and that
IL has not been sold. and you will
bc right said Rev. w. r. Hall,
of Emmanuel baptist Church last
ME lat. $50 far as tho actual sale
IL concerned. we must await the
order of the court on November
y, Otherwise the transaction has
been practically closed.
'"Thc Clay-Strcet Methodist
Episcopal Church. South. coiored.
pays $1,000 for the property.
IF necessary. we will take the
case TO the Supreme Court"
The membership of the church.
according to Rev. Mr.. Hall, numbers
4tG, A business meeting of the con-
pregation was held yesterday morn
ing. 10 pass upon the action of the
trustees in selling the property to a
colored congregation.
Atc and Nay Vote.
I'VE took an aye and nay vote"
said Mr. Hall, "and there was but
OF the church. That was a lady. one
OF the four who signed n paper pro-
testing against the sale"
Mr. Hail declined to state how
many members of the church were
present at the meeting, but did say
that the congregation was one of the
LARGEST ever assembled In the church.
In reply to a question he stated
that he did not believe there was a
majority OF the membership pres
emit
Every member of the church was
.ryited by personal letter, sent by my
s,4If n No "a tbia -
said MIR. Hall, "and We had fine at
tendance"
The congregation last night was
large. nearly every seat being Occur
pied The topic of Mr.. Hairs sermon
was General Booth, of the Saliva
ton Army"
Yesterdays meeting was the third
of its kind held recently, According
to MIR Hall, the sense of those pres
ent at the three meetings was prac-
t!caliy unanimous for the sale of the
church.
Members at Distance.
We want to move, mainly. because
Of the encroachmept of the colored
people" said Mr. Hall. VERY few of
our members live in this section
Thos who are opposing the sale of the
church TO the coiored people are resi-
dents of this neighborhood
"t am told by Rev Mitchell, pastor
Of tho colored congregation. that the
block on Fifth street, north of the
church, which was recently shortened
by n councilmanic ordinance, contains
twelve white families and twenty -one
colored families"
There are but ten housas on that
side Of the street, from the rear of
the church 70 the center Of the inter-
section Of Jackson street, on the east
side Of Fifth street. Ten houses with
a total of thirty-three families IS a
pretty thickiv populated square.
According 70 an order of Judge Scott
the trustees were recently directed to
hermit any one To look at the books
~ the church The trustees on Satur-
day asked the Judge To reconsider his
action &C. this respect. which he de-
Clined to do. Under this order, 1t
would appear that the books may be
examined by any one interested, but
Mr. Hall said last night that the hooks
would not be shown To any one, ex~
cept members of the church. He said
further that Judge Scott animated
that he would not consider II an net
OF contempt of court If the trustees
declined TO permit any one to examine
or even look over the books
From expressions by Rev. Mr.. Hall.
II appears that the trustees and the
members Of the church who favor the
sale. are certain that within a short
while the building will be turned over
to the colored congregation.
Plans already have been drawn. it
is understood. for changes In the
building, including main entrance on
Fifth street
Revival meetings will he held at the
/ church all the week. to which the pub
lie is invited Baptismal services will
he conducted next Sunday night.