Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-02-28
Township Correspondence.
GREENE
February %, 1866.

February %, 1866.
EDITOR CHRONICLE, Sir:-In reading the
communications from your correspondent in
Greene, ! find much to edify, and something
to amuse. Still, there are two or three state
ments in his second article, which, with your
permission, 1 wish to notice. In speaking
of the Churches, he aims a blow at the Free
Will Baptist, which 1 think quite uncalled
for. He saws sthey refused to renew their
subscription for their former Minister for fear
he was a Free Mason" Now, Mr.. Editor,
without stopping at this time, to discuss the
merits or dement's of Free Masonry, permit
me to state that the early Ministers of the F.
W. Baptist denomination, were decidedly OPP
posed to all secret organizations and that
was one cardinal point in which they differed
from other denominations; and about the
first innovation that was made on the subject
of Masonry, was By Ministers who Joined
the Church from other denominations that
were previously Free Masons. When the
Church in Greene, was organized, (about
~thirty-fve years ago it was composed Of
persons who were in unison with the early
views of the denomination; and have as a
Church, always stood on the same platform.
They did not, however, refuse to employ
their former Minister 'ffor fear" he was a
Free Mason, as "Zebulon" states but when
the fact becomes fully known, that he had
so far left the old land marks, as to attach
himself to q secret organization with which
they had no sympathy, they did not feel In
duty bound to employ him longer as their
Pastor. Second: your correspondent says,
''they employed a crippled Soldier to preach
to them, partly out of sympathy, and because
he was smart" implying that he did not con-
slider smartness, or intelligence, a necessary
qualification for a Minister; and as the min
lister proved an imposter, he seems to cast the
blame on the Church for having employed
him. Now permit me to say, that from the
commencement of the Rebellion, the Church
lone all they could to relieve the wants Of
the wounded soldiers, and when q certain
Mr.. King, came among them, claiming to
be a crippled soldier, and also a F. w. Bap-
fist Preacher, their sympathies were at once
enlisted in his behalf; and finding he pos
sessed talents which were not to be placed
behind the door, they employed him as their
pastor, and although he proved an imposter,
still, I do not consider the church answerable
for his conduct, or deserving of the thrust
given them by Zebulon. Third, your CORES
pondent represents the church as exhibiting
q very chilly appearance, since about the
time LDey ulSmlSSeo IuelT former MlnlstSI'-
Now, Mr.. Editor, if the church has at any
time had an attack of the chills, it was previ-
Gus to the dismissal of their minister, and if
Zebulon has discovered any appearance of
the disease, it was but the relics of a disease
which they had previously taken from their
former minister. 1 think 1 am justified in
that the spiritual mercury of the
church has never, at any time, since the dis
of the minister, fell below that of the
church where Zebulon attends worship
The church, since the dismissal of their for
mer minister, have always been ready to en-
gage in every good work, and when a favor
Bile time came, they at once engaged with
their worthy Pastor, Rev. ]. Rogers, in q
series of meetings which Zebulon acknowl-
edges have resulted in much good.
Yours, XENOPHON.