Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-05
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
4EMBARRASSED" BY
RICHMOND INCIDENT
conference Politely but Firmly
Notified That Its Invitation to
Deposed Episcopal Rector
Must Not Be Repeated
TRUSTEES REPUD1ATE 1T
v.,,y Of Conference Expresses Its
Regret Over the
mistake"


-, err,tv was informed today that tho
- .od placed the First Baptist
es,,,..n t7th and SAMSON streets. lin a
-,os, embarrassing position by lnNitihs lhe
o., George Chalmers Richmond deposeo
-.c,or Of ST Johns Episcopal Chureh' 10
.,ssk in the church at the conference
meeting last Monday, ana was "'NeN "'' ~
repeat the invitation.
rh. communication was letter from the
ln s ~ trustees of the church to the
.Lara of the conference. VINO met at
,.,,and today in conjunction with the ceie-
slpa,lon of the 4Sth anniversary OF the
Srozer Theological Seminary
,.norsnce of the fact that the militant
t,nlscopal rector was to speak was c'%aII,ieu %
~ ,hs church which through the letter
ss.o,rsd " itself of all responsibility for the
sarce npso of the Rev MIR. Richmond and
r. ,,ie,ys which he expressed In his ad-
s.sss A committee of two was appointed
10 draft reply
ASKED NOT TO DO so AGAIN.
Tho latter which was read by the Rev
60, w Drew, secretary of the confer
snce. was as follows:
paar Brethren-It has been n pleas
ure 10 Is at your request TO nave you
mao, I'm our church as our guests TOT
saveral years past and we shaH oe
oIod 10 continue this courtesy TO the
conference in the future. we venture
however to call your attention TO the
fact that In inviting the Rev. q. G..
Is,cb,nond to address you in our church
Vol have placed us in most embar-
raas na posltion. We find that the very
common though erroneous impression
preyails in the community that II was
our church and our own pastor VINO
extended this invitation. As matter
of fact our pastor, the Rev DR.. George
Irorrtu had bpen absent from the
nitv for some time, and we ourselves
were wholly ignorant OF the fact that
the Invitation had been given we
venture that hereafter you VIII avoid
placing us in a similar position WIZ
YOU kindly acknowledge the receipt or
this letter?
trustees
Very respectfully yours.
JAMES F. HAGEN, Secretary.
GEORGE DUKES, President.
A committee Of two composed of the
Rev. Dr. Edward B. Pollard, attached to
the Grocer Theological Seminary, and the
Rev. DR.. C. w. Hilton, of Moorestown n. j.,
were appointed to draft letter as a reply
to the trustees of the church. The Rev.
Dr. J. NJ. r. Chirey, of Haddonfie!d. n. j..
voted that the letter drafted by two clergy
men be placed on the table This, however,
was voted down.
OORf lNNll al lOAN'
The answer sent to the trustees of the
First Baptist Church was follows:
your courteous letter of June 9 has
been received. We wish to express our
appreciation of the cordial generosity which
has moved you to extend to us for 30 many
years the use of your building for the
regular meeting of our conference. In the
Invitation extended through our Program
Committee to Doctor Richmond to address
the body we can assure you that we have
no thought OF compromising the First Bap-
tist Church or its honored pastor.
While a respectable minority of the con-
ference were opposed TO the invitation of
Mr.. Richmond majority took the view
Hhat as our organization is not an eccesi-
fst'cal. but social and fraternal society
FOR free discussion and interchange of views
and that as Mr.. Richmond was asked to
discuss a particular and uncontroyersial
topic namely, Church Unity Ga subject to
which he unfortunately did not adhere) they
did not see their way clear to withdraw the
invitation.
III the invitation was mistake, as II
would now appear, and as many of the con-
ference believe, we yet would join in the
nope expressed in your communication that
there should be no occasion at any time for
eisagreement between you and this con-
ference Of proprety,"
AT the afternoon session an election for
onleers of the Baptist Minister'S Assocla-
uon OF Philadelphia was held. The Rev.
Dr. A. E. Harris. of Philadelphia, was
elected president; the Rev. DIR. H. w. Bar
ran. OF Philadelphia, was elected vice presi-
dent and the Rev DR. Groves W. Drew
was reelected as secretary.
The Rev. DIR. Woodman Bradbury, pastor
ol tne Old Cambridge Baptist Church, at
cambridge, Mass. who was scheduled to
speak this afternoon, was absent because
o. Illness. The Rev. DIR. A. T. Fowler, of
North Orange. ~ j. spoke in place of the
heV Mr.. Bradbury Doctor Fowler's topic
was Authority of Christ"
COMMENCEMENT HALL MEETING.
Ihe conference of the Baptist ministers
81 Philadelphia and vicinity met in Com
meneement Hall, Seminary campus.
Al o'clock this afternoon the board
~ trustees OF the seminary met AT
me same time reunions were held by
~ eiasses-those OF 1885, 1891, 1895,
tsvl, 1905 and 1911. AT o'clock the
sIo1er Alumni Society held its annual busl-
hsss meeting In the seminary chapel The
shhuai banquet of the alumni society Will |
neld tonight, when an address. on 'sThe |
,Minlster's Personal Efficiency" will be de- |
ussIed Dy the Rev, W, n. Hubbel of the |
ass ,ss. c OF 1888, pastor Of the Mariners Bap-
t1t Church, New YOrk nIfty