Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-04

DIFFICULTY BETWEEN Two MIsIsTERs.--We find
in the Memphis papers The following explanatory
card respecting difficulty between Elder Sledge,
delegate to the Southern Baptist Sunday School
Convention at Memphis and the pastor of The First
Presbyterian Church in that city.
WHEREAS it was understood by the Convention Of
South Beptisis convened in Memphis on the 26th of
! November, 1858, that Elder J J. Sledee, who was
! appointed 10 preach in the Presbyterian Church
house on Sabbath evening of the 28th, made ex-
planaiory remarks in the commencement of his dis
| course, which were construed extensively by Rev
DR.. Steadman, Pastor of said Church. and his con-
! gregation, which resulted in Dr. Steadmsns withs
/ drawal from the house, accompanied by several
members; and finally in the extinction Of the lights
/ by order Of Elder Of DR.. IS Church in the
midst Of Elder Sedge's discourse, and the general
! dispersion of the congregation. The Convention
declining to take cognzsnce Of it officially, it
! left in the hands of Elders J. R Graves, Of Ten
| nessee, J. T. Freeman, Of Mississippi, A Jones
of Jackson, Tennessee, and H. r. Austin Esq of
Memphis, Tennessee, who agreed to have 8 confer
ence with Dr. Steedman, inquire into the nature of
his grievances and hear the statement Of Elder J
J. Sledge and make such explanations as seemed
proper among Christian gentleman.
Said committee met at the First Baptist Church
on Thursday, at o'clock, A. NJ. II. B. Austin,
Esq absent-and informed DR.. Steadman, through
Elder Drape of the First Baptist Church that they
half Of Elder Sledge. Elder Drane also stated to
DR.. Stesdman that Elder Sledge disoWned design
ing to iniure the feelings of DR.. s. or his people,
in the few remarks he made, explanatory of his pos
sItion, and deeply regretted they were understood
Extensively.
DR.. S, upon this disavoWal Of Elder Sle6ge, ex-
pressed himself perfectly satisfied ard that meet
ing with Elder Sledge was unnecessary.
The committee then called Elder S. before them,
and requested him to give a statement Of the facts
as far as he was cognizaut thereof After hearing
his statement Of the matter with such correlative
testimony could be procured, the COMMITTEES came
to the following conclusion: That Elder Sedge of
Tended. DR.. Steadman in his explanatory remarks
in giving his reasons for not inviting the pastor into
the pulpit, and it is the opinion of the committee
that it was indisereet in Elder Sledge IN making
such remarks at the time, and yet the committee
most fully believe that he did not do so from mo.
tive to Offend but on the contrary from a sincere
desire to relieve himself, Dr. Steadmap and his con
gregGtion from any embarrassment under which
they might be from the peculiar circumstances Of
the case, aud the committee sincerely regret that he
was misunderstood and that he should have been so
rudely treated by the Elder aforesaid in extnguishs
ing the lights which led to the dispersion Of the
congregation and the many unpleasant circumstan-
ces which have ensued, and the committee deem it
due to themselves to the parties interested and the
public at large in Memphis to make this state
meDt." J. r. GRAVES.
J. 7. FREEMAN.
AARON JONES, jr.