The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1922-03-11
Rev. I'll. CARR'S STATEMENT
FOR The PUBLIC

hBv. III. GAkk ) SlAlEmtn |
FOR The PUBLIC
When / came to st. Paul five years
ago, found Memorial Baptist church
with a small membership and with re-
sponsibilities too great for it's
! strength. Itsrequired aIgreat amount
of earnest work, vicaHious sacrifice,
and careful business management to
J pull it out Of the kinks and get a
start uphill. This was done, however,
by increasing the membership and
paying The heavy indebtedness. It was
only by the favor and help Of God
| that we kept the ship. from sinking.
!, Loving the, church more than l did
myself, H1ved four years for under@
salary, am grappled with "high cast
of living. OF course, thought that
when the mortgage and all debts
were paid there would be spontane-
ons reciprocation Of appreciation. The
new members, however, becoming
twice as many as the old ones, had
fgotten into several Offices, and was
charged with putting them over the
old ones. was glad Of the increase
of members, but intended no partial
ity to either new or old ones. How
ever, a club was organized to regulate
these things, and without solicitation
l offered my resignation to avoid be-
ing misunderstood in the threatening
controversy. Small pay made it nee.
essary to condition my resignation up
on the payment of moving expenses.
1 urged all to vote. to accept the
resignation, and they did so with few
exceptions. After rejecting, many
urged reconsideration and the ac-
ceptance was rescinded at the next
regular business meeting. While this
was complimentary, | Immediately
told some Of my opposers that if my
moving expenses were provided, /
still would leave. 1t was ninety days
before the next step was taken, and
this was taken while I was absent on
my first real vacation in twelve years.
This action took advantage Of faith
full servant while his back was turned
and an attempt was made to pass a
resolution, which was not introduced
by those who voted previously with
the prevailing side, and therefore was
out of order. Moreover, such confu-,
sion prevailed at the time that it was
impossible to take correct count, had
vote been taken. Incorrect records,
however, recorded it passed When 1
returned, the church repudiated the
resolution by an overwhelming vote.
had accepted work in New York,
but finding it necessary to defend my
~, sol.
unnecessarily and rashly forced upon
me, I cancelled all New Y ork engage
ments.. I was not offered the moving
expenses until after the matter was
put into court, and then.$400 was Of
fered upon terms which 4 could not
honorably accept. Before the court
could settle the matter, a visiting
preacher accepted disorderly ceE&
from fhes minority. This, togeth@
with the courts decision against tkeA
majority, destroyed the last hope of
keeping the church from. splitting.
The meanest thing to occur in the
history of my life was the unprovoked,
attack upon my family at the business
meeting, October %, when a deter
mined effort was made to draw me
into physical combat and injure my
reputation. !
I think, as do the majority of the
church, and the many friends of the i
community, that my record Of service
richly entities me to decent treatment:
at least, and I heartily thank men,!
bers and friends for their many ex-
pressions Of loyalty and sympathy
which bore me up through the ordeal
Of unwarranted persecution. The
false records claimed a much larger
number present when the resignation
was accepted than when it was re-
scinded, and upon the. face of this
showing the judge granted the in
JUNCTION. Whereas, about the same !
number were present at both meet
ngs. In the whole affair, was made
the target for what the majority did. !.
That's why the majority employed !
my attorneys and paid them. @=J
The time-honored "rule of the mar
jority" in the Baptist church has suf7 ri
cred violence. Going to. court is
contrary to the Christians bible and
never results in any good to the Chris :
tan cause. The matter is now in the
hands of God. Let us await His j;
verdict.
His purposes ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
Though bitter be the bud,
Sweet will be the flower"
-Cowper.
T. j. CARR.