Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-11-01
"The Church At hebar'
Discussed By Ministers
BY Joa Simpson.

At a meeting of the Baptist Min
isters' Conference, held at Ebene-
zef Baptist Church, on Monday, Oct.
9th, the topic up for discussion was
"The Church at the Bar of Public
Opinion" the author of which was
DR.. w. L. Ransome, Editorial Scribe
for the Richmond Plant, the journal
in which the article in question was
published, and to which certain men,
bers fthe conference objected.
After the devotionals, which were
led by Rev. j. H. Binford, and the
scripture lesson by Rev. Harris, and
other preliminaries incident to all
meetings were over, the conference
went into the discussion of its topic.
DR.. w. L. Ransome, president of
the conference, turned the chair over
to DR.. w. T. Johnson, vice-president,
who preside dduring the discussion,
which was conducted on question
and answer basis, DR.. Ransome be-
ing questioned as to the different
points raised in the article, few of
which are here related:
Point No 1, What % you mean
by indiscretion on the part Of pas
tors?
The Doctor related many instances
in which ministers had acted indis-
creetly, and said. that there were
many more instances that he could
cite, but that they were so close home
that he would be guilty of indiscre-
ton if he should name them. Score
ONE for Ransome.
No. 2, What do you mean by lack
Of training and executive ability?
The Doctor declared that the min
lister, in order to lead the congrega-
tons which today contain large
percentage of high school students,
must needs know more than the con-
gregation; that he was in favor Of
college trained men in the pulpits.
Score TWO. Ransome.
No. 8, What is to become Of the
pastors of the weak and small
churches which you urge to consol-
idate?
Some will find other charges, 9TH
ers will find other employment; the
fittest will survive. Score THREE
for Ransome.
Point No. 4, Have not the small
churches as much right to exist as
the larger ones?
Too easily won to mention. Score
FOUR for Ransome.
Point No. s, Are you opposed to
all forms of begging?
Answers in the affirmative, citing
many reasons for same. which were
we'll taken. Score FIVE for Ran
some.
The two other points: The pastor
as a factor and the cure for these
conditions, were as easily won BY
DR.. Ransome. One man very frank
ly stated that he had been guilty of
some of the things mentioned by DR..
Ransome, and that he only dissented
to the publication of same, to which
DIR. Ransome replied that: "In writ
ing of the conditions and their causes,
he could no tconscientiouslv relate
the part played by the church MEM
Der and the public and cast cloak
NJ DldHkcI OVcI IHc Pdle PioySu W
the ministers. This point was also
we'll taken and elected round OF
applause.
DR.. Ransome, we presume. came
arnred with his machine guns, hand
grenades, bavonet and rifle and a
service pistol: he. however, did not
have to use ANYTHING but the service
nisto. no occasion being presented
for the use of the other weapons OF
war. TIL conference gave hin, vote
of thanks. on motion of DR.. Hill. as
the onnosition went down to an over-
whnlrning defeat. Chalk I'M ONE
dorieiva victory for the PLANET
SCRIBE. DIR. W. L. RANSOMF. emf
rent pastor of First Baptist Church,
South Richmond.