Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-08-17

inc chartcr ana claims that the char
ter was obtained by perjury and
forgery. This being the case, who
shall surrender and annual this char
ter? and when shall 1t be surren-
dcrcd and annulled?
Since these propositions were Of
fcrcd we learno ithat very able
committee made up of lawyers and
juriSts from among the white Bap-
lists, entered into legal investiga-
ton of the charter that was obtained
in Georgia by Il few brethren for
The Southern Baptist Convention,
that it has lain dormant upon the
record books Of Georgia for seventy
three years, and yct it is as appli-
cable today as it was the day it was
fled in Georgia. That being tho case,
If these seven brethren should re-
fuse, neither convention has any
authority to compel them to surren-
der or annul this charter, who will
do it? Thinking people can SEQ this
ard 1t needs no argument.
The second proposition is still
worse. There arc two pending law
suits, one in Cook County, Illinois
against the unincorporated Conven-
ton, making application for a writ
Of injunction against the unincor-
poratcd convention forbidding them
to use the name NATIONAL BAP-
TIST CONVENTION. True the
brethren enioined offered through
their attorney Il demurrer, which de.
murrcr was decided by the Judge
and put the incorporated brethren
out Of court: but we learned some
time thereafter tina! they took on
appeal and the case stands Unprose.
cuted. This is not mentioned in pro-
position 2, but tho brethren went out
Of their way to use this language:
''That the law suit now pending
against the National Baptist Pub.
fishing Board be dismissed" Her.
is the first time the National Bapti~.
Publishing Board ever entered into
this controversy or this peace move
ment. No member Of tho National
Baptist Publishing Board or no per-
son having interest in the National
Baptist Publishing Board per Sc was
III this council, no one authorized to
speak for it. 1t can be clearly seen
that this was Il shrewd scheme to
bring in the National Baptist Pub
fishing Board and leave out the MAJ
tional Baptist Convention (unincor-
poratcd. The further fact is OK.
planned i'll the following language:
with the understanding that the
right OF denominational ownership
and control Of all institutions and
Boards is hereby acknowledged and
that said ownership and control in
each individual case shall be detcrm-
ined and established at the earliest
time possible after the consolidation
by such methods rs may be ncces-
sary.' DR.. Frank, who was acting
as secretary for the commission,
strenuously objected to this. DR..
Harding, member Of the commits.
sion, objected, and it was understood
That this language would be striken
out or changed, for the reason that
1T would be pro-confession of
judgment on the part Of the National
Baptist Convention (unincorporatcd
against the National Baptist Publish
ing Board, and all that the attorneys
Tor the defendants in this case could
DO, If this was adopted, would be to
so into court and confess Judgment.
II This was not done, the wrods "by
such methods as may be necessary
fully authorizes the consolidated
convention to enter suit against the
Publishing Board at any time it
! might see fit to do so.
l hope every well thinking Ban.
list, regardless of what their opin-
| ions may be, will take this up and
read ii carefully and ask themselves
could the unnicorporated conven-
ton amord this? or in ohicr words.
could the National Baptist Publish
| lhS Board sit still and allow this
without II protest? | think they will
all say No.
, few days ago when DR.. HALEY
VlSltde us at the National Baptist
lPublishing Board, l laid these two
propositions before him. He seemed
to be surprised and said it was I'M
Intentional, gave il as his conscicn-
nous views that it was never in
tended and Was unfortunate, and he
; could readily see that the Publishing
, Board could not honorabiy do this
with the law suit pending, but he
sald TO my great surprise, that the
southern Bau,lsts did not offer one
or these propositions. This was a
surprise, because our commission
was appointed to hear suggestions
from Il comi"ittce OF the Suuthcrr
baptist Convention, not to offer sug-
gestoins, but TO hear, consider and
lepoiI the Suggestions offered by Il
committee Of the Southern BAPTIST
convention. If our beloved white
brethren failed to offer any sugges-
tions, then their mission to us was
misleading, for I'VE really thought
that they had studied the case I'M
Di"aly and would offer reasonable,
unbiased suggestions to both sides,
and we are disappointed when We
ma that they did not.
The sixth proposition may be
all right, but it is first, unparlia-
mentary, and second, it is unbap.
llstlc, for it says that the Southern
baptist Convention appoint a per-
m"nent committee of nine" This
would be contrary to both parlia-
mentary nsages and baptistic policy.
me Southern Baptist Convention is
a volunteer association, and each
year when it adjourns, it adjourns
sine die. The next year messengers
meet from various States, each tSate
sending messengers according to the
money appropriated by each Estate
IN