Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-08-17
DR.. BOYD SPEAKS
Continued from First Pagc.)


l set forth the proposed objections
then as possibly this article will not
allow space to set forth. The seven
brethren appointed by the National
Baptist Convention, unincorporated,
had specific instructions. Their in
structions wcro to meet like COM
mittee from the Southern Baptist
Convention because Drs. Gambrell
and fIailey met this convention in
it's annual session at Atlanta, Ga.
They set forth in Il christianity spirit
and manner that the brethren of tho
Southern Baptist Convention were
deeply interested and felt that as
meditators or go-bctwcens, they
might offer some suggestions to a
solution Of it's veXatiOus problem.
We heard them patiently and when
htey had left the meeting the con-
Vention considered this praycrfully,
and felt that we would be less than
Christian brethren should wc not APP
point committee to confer with
them and hear their suggestions and
report the same to the next meeting
Of this Convention at Little Rock,
Ark, in 1913. This was unanimous
ly agreed to and the president was
empowered to make the appointment
at his pleasure. He appointed Revs.
Gaines, Alexander, Prince, Nurse,
Harding, Bowen and S. S. Jones. We
did not know who the white broth
ron would appoint and had no idea
until this appointment was made.
We afterwards learned that they ap-
pointed Drs. lIaney, Barton, Boone,
Weaver, Atkinson and Gambrell. 1t
was not left for us to prunc this
committee. We felt that it was an
able and wise selection with tho eX-
ception Of DIR. Rufus w. Weaver, Of
Nashville. We felt that he was par
tisan, the star witness of the plain
tiffs In this case and by all means
should not have been appointed, but
we felt that his ability, his Christian
integrity and his wise counsel would
override this objection and that he
would go into this meeting unbiased
or unprecedented. Whether he did
or did not, we do not know. The
commission met at the time and
place, which was Memphis, Tenn,
March 18th, and the meeting III
tian meeting, and it seemed that tho
spirit OF Christ prevailed and they
offered the following six propositions
and asked that the Executive Board
considor them and ap-
prove or disapprovo them and lay
the same before their convention:
J. That tho Charter OF the Nation
a. Baptist Convention (incorporated)
be surrendered and annulled.
2. That tho law suit now pending
against the National Baptist Publish
ing Board be dismissed as soon as
these agreements are approved by
the two National Baptist Convcn-
tons, with the understanding that
the right Of UNCONVENTIONAL owner
ship and control Of ali institutions
and Boards is hereby recognized and
that said ownership and conrtcl in
each individual case shall be detcrm-
med and established at the earliest
time possible after consolidation by
such methods as may be necessary.
3. That the Executive Boards Of
the two National Baptist Conycn-
tons be requested to approve these
articles within the next two months
and provide that the two Conven-
tons meet this year in the same city,
III separate conventions, on the Same
day, for the final and complete rati-
fication In the coming session OF
each convention shall take proceed
ence over all other matters after tho
usual opening preliminaries.
4. That Immediately after the rat
ihcation as set froth above, this
joint commission shall name chair
man and other officers OF said united
convention who shall preside over
the joint session for consolidation.
o. That the united convention aD.
point a committee to confer with Il
committee OF the Southern Baptist
Convention about the differences
concerning tho location Of the Ma
tional Baptist Theological Seminary.
6. That the Southern Baptist Con,
yentoin appoint a permanent advis-
DRY committee Of nine, with which
the Executive Committee or any
other committee or Board Of the said
united convention may at any time
confer.
These propositions, as they now
stand, were not read before the
gathering Of the brethren, but Judge
Atkinson (white), very shrcwd
lawyer and an eminent jurist read
the outlines of the proposition to the
gathering. DR.. 0. T.. HALEY made
the explanation that they were not
submitted to the gathering for their
approval or disapproval and they
would hear no amendments or
changes or arguments. We felt also
that this was wise, because tho two
Executive Boards, when they should
have had time to read these promo.
sitions, could offer such amendments
as they thought best, and we were
very much surprised when we reach
ed Alexandria, to hear a number of
brethren say the Executive Board
must approve them without any
amendment. This the Executive
Board on its honor could not do, for
many reasons. We learned that the
first, second and fifth propositions
were offered by our seven brethren
as commission. The first and sec.
ond propositions, if there had not
been failure OF definition as to time
and persons in the first, and the pro-
viso in the second, would have set
tied this whole veXatious question. |
The first proposition sets for that