Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-11-05

ing all fello wship with the thirteen mem
bers who had thus invaded their rights,
and tIampled under foot most sacred laws
and usages of the church of God. Dele-
gates were appointed to attend the Asso.
citation with which this church was con-
Ineeted, and letter prepared and sent up
ito this Tribunal. The other party also
sent up their delegates and their letter.
Here we were face to face before the AS
ISOLATION. atribunalof competenti iurisdic-
ton, properly acknowledged 50 TO be, tby
both parties. Both parties had appealed
to it. The Association heard the case,
Investigated it. and after mature deliber-
alton. decided almost unanimously that
1.-THE pfotestants were right and that they
were theEteHafeh ;ihT Clafksbdfg. OF
course, the others accordinglto this decis-
ion. were wrong. asndswere not thsschurch
in Clarksburg. NowiI appeal to themem
bership fofith Baptist church aherea and
everywhere-nay i appealrto all chris
tians. and to all candid men--te alla low
ers oflaw5 and order, Tif thisrsdecisibn of
the Association: ought not to- have been
final. especially between brethren who
Iprofess to love the cause of God. Il But
our brethren would not notwithstanding
bnt a complete destruction, and rum
would satisfy them, The church must
| yet suffer and become q kissing reproch
and ,by,word in this christian community,
and be disgraced in, th g eyes. of our sister
churches. 20, shame where. is thy
loiush !h :sa: F...i a.r,, rai "a t.eIfT
4 The decision,,of the Association was
not only set at naught and scoffed at, but
those men'left itin hot haste, returned to
Clarksburg. and locked and barred the
door of'the church against those whom
the Association had decided were the
church here. and to this hour that door
rs locked and barred, and violence threat
ened to any and every person who should
dare or offer to enter it. Barred against
the whole Baptist ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Fathers and Mothersin Isral, W no reioic
ed at its erection, and had hoped TO have
the privilege. in the evening of their days,
in their own church, of worshipping the
God of their fathers-even they who had
been members of the Baptist church long
before these few who have closed the
doors and forbade them to enter this
sanctuary of God. What fearful re,
sponsibility must rest upon those persons!
A proposition was made to them TO per-
NIT the professionals to occupy the church
one equal half of the time with them
selves, but this poor privilege was denied.
This proposition was made with sincere
desire OF promoting peace and quietness
until the case could be settled-for set
tie it must be. These few brethren can
not be permitted thus to set at defiance
all law and authority.
The church was erected by private con.
tributions made by Baptists. Methodists,
Presbytefians, aud other good citizens
not in connection with any church. for
the use and benefit Of the Baptist church
in Clarksburg. Is it possible, then, that
self constituted authority consisting OF
three or four men will be permitted to
shut it up and put the keys in their pock>
cts. Can. this thing be tolerated ? l con.
fess feel humiliated a. the state of af
fairs as they. Exist in the church in this
place, and know that members OF sister
churches feel the same. Not long since
the Ba ptist church occupied high and ell
evated ground with her sister churches
in Clarksburg, but o, how she has fallen!
She now goes with her head bowed down
even into the very dust. Why. and how,
let me ask. is all this Z? But forbear.
have given true and faithful account
of this whole matter and have not set
down aught in malice. but rather in sor
row. The church of God to be thus torn
to pieces, thus disgraced. thus to be made
to bleed at every pore, is no smallor tri,
vial matter. Whosoever they be that have
caused this, must be held responsible by
the Baptist denomination, and also rem
der up fearful account at the bar of God.
JUSTICE.
h.' Observation-Disclosures ,.-