Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-12-14
ADVERTIsEMENT.

EDl luhS OHhpNiCLE. In your pa
per of Nov. 80, 1872 under tho head
of advertisement" we find commu.
nication styled, Elder r. A. Massey
vindication."
From which We copy the following
language THE charge of carrying
the matter iuto the church at New
Providence, causing dissentions there
interfering with the work of the
pastor: (exonerated by afhdavits of III
W. Watts, Olive Watts and DR.. B. n.
Herring, who hold letters of dismiss
ion from that church in full fellow
ship and good standing, affectionatcly
commended and signed, A. ID. Sears,
Mod. All of whom, Che talked with
no other member of that church) make
oath that Elder NJ, caused no dis
sension in said church. but it was
solely caused by Elder Sears accept
ing its pastorate, to which he had been
elected by nineteen votes. a part of
whom not beingmcmbers of the church.
Thirteen members voting against him,
which acceptance caused sixteen mem.
bers to leave in body"
In justice to Rev. A. d. Sears, who
Is our pastor, and ourselves as a
church, we prefer to TO give the facts
as they exist, taken from our church
record:
May u, 1872. The pastor, brother
A. ID. Sears, called attention to dis
crepancy between the church record
Of May 7th, 1872, stating that brother
\. ID. Sears was called TO the pastor
ship of the church, nineteen voting
in the affirmative and thirteen in the
negative, and the letter sent to him BY
a committee appointed by the church,
(nothing on the record as to their feing
or lot being members of the church.
Said letter stating that he was elected
by largo majority Of the church and
congregation, and that he had been
deceived by the letter or the record
Vas inaccurate, If the record be faith
ful (sald hc) ! cannot servo you as
pastor" he therefore requested the
church to say whether or not the re-
cord was correct. Upon which tho
church instructed tho clerk TO correct
the record by inserting "a largo major
IIty voting in the Affirmative, which
language sets forth the facts as they
occurred on the occasion Of his election.
and as properly reported to him in ogr
letter notifying him of his election
Signed, H. B. RoSsington, church clerk
Again the vindication states, that six
teen members withdrew from the
church in body, (Which is not the
fact) Upon referring to our church
record of the Ord of July, 1872. we
find the following
After services by the pastor, tn,
following sixteen members asked for
letters of dismission from the church. !
which were granted individually. each
letter was granted separately aud each
letter was written separately. Signod
X. Is. Rossington, church plerk.
We know our pastor as high toned
christian gentleman, we still receive
he benefit of his talent and zeal for
Christ, and are fully satisfied with The
relationship We sustain to each other.
MI OF the above was unanimously
adopted by the church on TUESDAY T
light, Dec. 3rd, 1872. 1t is true that
Dr. B. y. Herring holds letter from ,
he New Providence church in full
ect, and signed A. d. Scars
Moderator. And | myself am rcspon.
ible for the signing of said letter. Iii
igncd the name Of A. D. Sears, Mod. ,
o i. forgetting that he declined TO act ,
IS Moderator, or ask the church for j
etter of dismission for DR.. Herring. :
myself, put the question asking for +
he letter, aud now hope that DR.. /
Herring will return the letter to me. I
nd allow mo to correct my error, or
all to use 1t on any future occasion.
II II. RossINGToN.
jnanimonsly adopted by the church, !
Dec. 4, 1872.
wa. present when Rev. A. u. Sears
iaS elected pastor of the Bantist /
'hurch at New Providence. The street /
ak was, that the contest would bo be. ,
woen Sears and Massey. A meeting a
ad been held 10 make selection and :
ho mattor postponed On the present /
ccaslon the church extended to the q
congregation tho courtesy of aiding by
holr votes in the selection Of pastor. Q
here was much interest manifested /
y the friends Of each, oven 10 threats I
n the part Of some members OF Ieav q
ng the church if'certain parties should q
e elected ], (though not a member {
{ the church mv better halt is Bsp- .
.sb rirlook Of the general interest. =