Lynchburg Daily Virginian

Case of Rev. J. R. Graves.

We published a few days since an extract which we found going the rounds of the papers, to the effect that the Rev. J. R. Graves, of the Baptist church, had been convicted of "grossly immoral conduct," for which he was expelled therefrom. Since the action of the Nashville church in this case, the General Association of the Baptist church has been convened, and acquitted Mr. Graves of the charge against him, and indicated its confidence in the Reverend gentleman by electing him unanimously to the office of moderator of that body. From all we can gather, the crime imputed to Mr. Graves was, for "publishing sundry foul and atrocious libels" in the Tennessee Baptist, of which he is principal editor; though, from a statement before us in the Baptist, more than half these articles were originated by a number of other ministers, whose names are given. The issue seems to have been a personal one chiefly, between the Rev.'s Messrs. Graves and Howell, pastor of the first Baptist church at Nashville, in which the latter happened to have the largest party, and hence the result. We make this statement by request, in justice to Mr. Graves, and conclude with the following extract from the Baptist:

"Bro. Graves stands forth triumphantly acquitted and amply vindicated by the largest jury, or Baptist Council that ever tried a man, and that too, magnanimously, giving his enemies every possible advantage. What more? Let that party and clique of men, who have, for years past, filled the ear of every stranger visiting this city, to whom they gained access, with slander and detraction of elder G., now cease such unhallowed work, or let the public be warned of such men as a pestilence—we would publish their names and let them stand at the head of a column, that they might be read and known of all men."