The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1922-03-04
Rev. I ] CARR'S STATEMENT
FOR THE. PUBLIC

stVSs - OlOutua - OInIkUt6Ul
FOR The PUBLIC
When | came to st. Paul five years
Iago, | found Memorial Baptist church
with small membership and with re-
sponsibilities for too great for its
strength. It requires a great amount
of earnest work, vicarious sacrifice,
and careful business management to
pull it out Of the kinks and get
start uphill. This was done, however,
by increasing the membership and
Ipaying 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 I did
myself, I served four years for under
salary, and grappled with "high cost
of living" Of course, I thought that
when the mortgage and all debts
We're paid there would be spontane-
Gus reciprocation of appreciation. The
new members, however, becoming
twice as many as the old ones, had
gotten into several Offices; and I 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
iessary to condition my resignation up
on the payment Of moving expenses.
I 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ceptance was rescinded at the next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, l
still would leave 1t was ninety days
before the next step was taken, and
this was taken while was absent on
my first real vacation in twelve years.
This action took advantage of a 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
a vote been taken. Incorrect records,
however, recorded it passed. When I
returned, the church repudiated the
resolution by an overwhelming vote
I had accepted work in New York,
but finding it necessary to defend my
self in a controversy which had been
and rashly forced upon
me, I cancelled all New York 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 I could not
honorably accept. Before the court
could settle the matter, a ! visiting
preacher accepted disorderly call
from the minority. This, together
with the courts decision against the
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 |
community, that my record of service |
richly entities me to decent treatment |
at least, and I heartily thank mem
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
ings. In the whole affair, was made
the target for what the majority did. |
That's why the majority employed
my attorneys and paid them. ~
The time honored "rule of the ma
jority" in the Baptist church has suf-
fered 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
verdict. ..
His purposes ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
Though bitter be the bud,
Sweet will be the fower.'
+. r. .=-Cowper.
T. J. CARR.