The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1915-07-09
BAPTIST MIDDLE
At GRAHAM, VA.
Correspondent Explains
Trouble Had With
Rev. West.
To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN t:

public, feel Il duty TO explain some
OF the matters a. are contended for by
the members opposed TO Rev. ID. W
West a. pastor.
When he was called to ill the position
all believed he was an able preacher and
a man who would in every respect work
70 upbuild the church The members
who were BUSTED by him and were after
wards reinstated 10y the executive hoard
feel that he has fallen short in mis- duties
and has done many things which have
been bad for the best interests of the
church. He has never done his full
duty. but has done many things which
he should not have done. His wrongful
manner of conducting affairs brought
about the present trouble, and when
there wac a meeting of the congregation
70 consider the matter il was July decid-
ell by nearly every one present (there
being about twenty-eight presently that
he should resign and accordingly the
vote at the meeting declared the puIpi,
vacant. When he later returned and
threatened 10 fore himself upon. the
congregation a. their pastor We advised
with Squire Boyd, who gave us advice.
and lie told US il was by far better for
the church 70 settle its own troubles On
the following day, Sunday, West had
a talk with Squire Boyd and we under
stand that the magistrate told West il
was best not to break into the church,
but West did 90 and break the lock.
kicked open the door and entered the
church and held services, at the close of
which he was arrested 10y Sergeant Hav-
ems and placed in Jail, but was released
a short time afterward by Mayor Will
hanson. When Vests case came up
the mayor advised that the church mem
bers should be able to dispose of their
own troubles without dragging them into
the courts The next day West was dis
charged, without hearing thirteen or
more members of the church, most Of
whom are strong financial supporters of
the church and property owners, all OF
them living and having their families in
Graham
We asked for hearing before the ex-
ecutive board of the Flat Top Baptist
Association and the following members
of that board held a meeting AZ Graham
Tuesday night and after hearing the evi-
dence decided that the said members had
been dismissed without cause. The
meeting at Graham was c, imposed Of
Revs q. W. Woody, of Kimball; J
r. Pryor, ID. d.. moderator of the Flat
Top Baptist Association, of Vivian; W.
III. Mitchell, Of Eckman; w. w. Hicks,
ID. ID. Of Bluefeld; X. f. Henry, Of
Tazewell; J. b. Evans, or Maybeury,
and others whose names I do not recall.
all Of whom are leading preachers of the
association.
We know We are right in our present
action and knew when we held the meet
ing and discharged West We took the
right course. We owed him some money
and rendered the same TO him. lie
simply wished 70 force himself on us a.
pastor and il Is reported that he j. doing
the same thing at RadfOrd. II he has 30
many calls and invitations why doesn't
be accept them, or one Of them, and not
impose upon those who feel We did
wrong in calling him here since he has
DERIVED us. We do not care from what
college he was graduated. We feel he
has certainly fallen short Of doing his
duty here and know that the sooner W.
get rid Of him the better il will be for
rs all, and We feel that with him ont Of
the way there will be perfect harmony
in our church.
] regret 10 have u refer n the uncall
ed for article recently published BY @
ID. She'll, but IL was unjust from start 70
finish and a. he has nothing whatever r.
do with the Tabernacle Baptist church.
and belongs u a congrf CATION not IN
harmony with our doctrine. We feel that
he nor any other outsider has any right
10 nose into the affairs Of an organiza
ton Of which they know nothing. To-
much trouble has already been caused
by outsiders butting into our church
quarrel, and We feel that the public gen
orally wOuld rather that We settle onr
troubles between ourselves II j. orr
aim 70 build up and hold together tho
entire church and congregation and
believe that the white people and color
Ored people generally would prefer not
b have our troubles further sired, and
II q we're possible ] would like - 49, all
troubles between a. and Rev. West CON-
promised, but he will not CONSIDER any
thing from the council or NJ and there
fore We insist that he cease % undertake
D. represent NJ a. pastor. He has not
performed his duties and the sooner he
aocepfs some Of the offers he claims have
been made him the better u will be for
All concerned.
! hope the public will do what they
can toward aiding IN settling the difIicnl-
~ and that outsiders Will not interfere
and Try % make more STRIFE
This - plain statement Of the facts
a. ] ~ them and ] hope that this mat
tpr may nov be left % the members Of
the church and not be further discussed
in the papers
Yours truly
ALLEN SAUNDERS