Rev. Jonas Melvin, Resigns.
"I've bin er readin' ther Scripter an' rastlin' wi' ther Lord in prayer
fer lo these meny ye'rs, an' hain't never seed er time when I tho't thet
er preacher of ther word was jestified in j'inin' in with sinners in
devilment. Thar's no use in talkin', Brother Melvin mus' wine up his
kareer in Free Will Church." Mrs. Aamanda Pervis was addressing the
above to Deacon Littleton, as arm in arm they proceeded toward the
church a few evenings after Thanksgiving Day. Ever since the massacre
she had been busily trying to awaken sentiment in the church against the
pastor, who on that fatal day had stood with Dr. Jose upon the firing
line to shoot down his fellow citizens of color. The deacons had waited
upon Jonas Melvin and informed him of what was being done, and had
advised him to tender his resignation and get out; but he preferred
coming before the church and "quitting honorably," as he termed it. Mrs.
Pervis had worked so earnestly that the church was crowded to the doors
on that evening. It was Deacon Littleton who called the meeting to order
and stated its purpose. "Brethren an' sisters," he began, "the 10th of
November was to the people of this community a tryin' time. It was a war
which many of us felt justifiable in enterin', but there was no
justification in it; it was the work of the devil. If we had got on our
knees an' kept our eyes fixed upon the things of God, such a deed as has
disgraced this community would not have happened. I wonder what the
Negro thinks of us now? Does he think we air the banner carriers of
Christian civilization? Orphans are cryin', widows are moanin', a
paradise has been turned into hell by a people calling themselves a
superior people. Christians and sinners have gone hand and hand into
this evil. We don't know whether any other church has felt in duty boun'
to sift its membership, an' reprimanded the guilty, but Free Will
Baptist Church feels it her indispensable duty to do so, an' we are
sorry to say that the first case we are pained to try is that of our
pastor, Rev. Jonas Melvin, who, on the 10th of November, 1898, stood
with gun in hand, assisting the devil in his work." Turning to the
minister, who sat all the while with head bowed, the deacon concluded:
"Brother Jonas Melvin, have you anything to say to this charge, why it
should not be sustained, and you be dismissed from this church?"
Rev. Jonas Melvin arose. "Brethren," he began, "this work began in the
church; church people laid the plans and led in the execution of those
plans. Those men who waited upon the Governor to persuade him to keep
the troops away that the mob might execute its work unmolested, were
leading church men and ministers of the gospel." "They were no
Christians!" cried a feminine voice. "I thought I was doing my duty as a
Christian in assisting in restoring good government to the people of
this town, and if I have done wrong, the Lord is my judge." Mr. Melvin
sat down. "The state of things as they existed in Wilmington did not
justify the taking of a single life," said a brother, rising, "and many
a man has been made to stumble by the deeds of professing Christians in
this riot; and while I'm on my feet, I move that the resignation of Rev.
Jonas Melvin from the pastorate of this church be demanded." "Secon'
ther motion!" exclaimed Mrs. Pervis, jumping to her feet. "An' I wish
ter say jes' here that Teck Pervis, who perfessed religion las' year,
has jes' gone back to ther deval bekase, ses he, the preachers war in
this thing. Preachers whose han's air full er blood air not fit ter
handle ther word er God."
The motion was carried with but few opposers. Mrs. Pervis felt light
enough to fly away that night as she walked homeward, for she had
carried the church with her for God and the right. She hugged the arm of
Deacon Littleton with painful tenacity as they both strode homeward
together. "Think of them po' creeters drove frum ther homes ter suffer
an' die by men claimin' ter hev religion. Jonas Melvin mus' go back ter
Georgy whar the people air in leeg wid ther deval."