Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-11-05
For The Register
The CIarksburg Baptist Chureb.

The Clarksburg Baptist Church.
MEssRs. EDITORS ,.
propose, through the columns of the
Register. to give short and concise bis
tory of the very disagreeable and I'M
pleasant difficulty now existing in the
Baptist Church in this place. 1t is dus
TO the Church and to the public, that ar
affair SO exciting and disgraceful in 6
christian community.-one SO well calcu
lated to injure the cause Of Religion and
the Baptist Church in particular, should
in all its details be set forth. that public
opinion may be set right, and the blame
rest upon those that are in she wrong.
Some two. years ago-a gentleman in
communion with the Hepsibah Baptist
Church was expelled upon the charge. oil
lntemperance., He became much dissat-
is6ed, because, as he stated, he bad new.
or been drunk but once or twice in his
life, and this before he protested religion.
Some six months afterwards he made ap.
Plication to the ClaEksburg Baptist Church
Tor admitance into her fellowship, and
was rejected for obvious reasons. A
short time after he came TO a church
meeting in a state of intoxicatiou., This,
we thought, settled the case forever with
him, and that the Church would no lon.
ger be troubled or harrassed by him.
However, this was not to be, for some of
our members continued to advocate his
admIttance for reasons best known to
themselves, and displayed alzeal in his
behalf, worthy Of better cause. Those
brethren were expostulated with, and en-.
treated not to destroy the peace and har.
mony of the Church by thrusting this
man into her communion against the
wishes OF many Of the members who, from
honest convictions, could not fellowship
him. They were told that in doing so
they would destroy the peace and har.
mony of the Church Of which they were
members, and destroy the fellowship of
the Baptist Churches throughout all this
country. But all this was of no avail
Receive him they would and receive. him
they did. without regard to consequences.
Let the peace OF the Church be destroyed
let strife and confusion follow, it mat
tiers not. The Rev. Mr.. Seigfried, who
presided as Moderator on the occasion.
when he was received stated that this was
an age of progress. and though all the
usages of the Church and the laws there.
OF, that governed in such matters, be vi
olated, be it SO; this is 'an age of progress
Three male, and ten female members.
voted for his reception. number voting
against him. The Rev. Mr.. Siegfried
gave him the right hand of fellowship.
and need not stop here to say to the
Baptist community that it was contrary
TO all law and USAGE of tn at da1oro;ao,;.
throug bout the world. Then those who
opposed this high handed proceeding
were reduced to the extremity of submit.
ting to their dearest rights being thus
Wantonly disregarded, themselves treated
With contempt and scorn. and the church
OF which they are members desecrated.
or resist such an unlawful proceeding
They chose the latter .course-caIled a
meeting of their church, and in, that
meeting eighteen members of the church
entered their solemn protest against die
proceedings had in his case, and renounc-4