Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-08-31
(ADvrETIsrMrST.l
The Difficulty In the Baptist Church
in CiarksYille.

The Difficulty in the Baptist Church
in Clarksyille.
Since several pieces have appeared
in public print with the apparent pur-
pose of vindicating Ed. A. D. Sears
In his difficulty with me, and as said
difficulty was brought into the Bap-
tist Church of Clarksville, thereby
causing my expulsion from the
Church, and whereas my expulsion
from the Church Is SO foreign to the
custom and practice of Baptists in
their corrective Church discipline,
and whereas, many principles dear to
every true Baptist heart are involved
in the difficulty, and the consequence
to which it has led, feel constrained
to give full and fair history of the
whole matter; MOI in a spirit, or with
the view, of self-defense, but to vim
dicate those principles and to main
tain the honor and integrity of Bar-
tist Church Government, l only de-
sire to state .Jacts, aud may the spirit
of Christ guide me.
1t was principle ] contended for in
the first place. now contend for
nothing less. / love the Baptist
cause-I love the Kingdom Of my
Redeemer--
For her my tears shall fall,
For her my prayers ascend,
To her my cause and tolls be given,
Till toll and cares shall end.
The principles to which 1 allude,
and which will be fully set forth in
this history, are absolutely essential
to the integrity and peipetuity of the
Church of Christ. If this be true,
then let us ponder well, and beware
how we disregard them. In defend
ing these principles, should I seem to
speak in self-defense, rememberI hap
pened to be the exponent. If they
are preserved and honored, am will
ling TO be inundated upon the altar
of their defence. i shall, God helping
me, speak kindly of all, but will not
modify the seuerc character of the
facts to be related, and should / not
state them correctly, ask Ed. A. d.
Sears or the Baptist Church of Clarks-
VILE to sho,v lrhcrcin they are not
correct.
My expulsion was the result OF
nothing more nor less than a personal
difficulty with the Pastor, Elder A.
ID. Sears. 1 had had difficulty
with him, and it was, as / thought,
settled, as he made a statement to the
Church confessing wherein he was
wrong. After this, new Association
being formed to be composed partly
of Churches of Bethel Association,
and ED. s. having been appointed
to preach the Introductory sermon at
its organization, was very desirous his
Church at Clarksville should go into
it. and others were opposed to this
move. Ed. S. also disliked to ask
Bethel Association for q letter Of dis
missal for his Church because he had
felt himself aggrieved with the AS
sociation, and so expressed himself
and at a meeting of this Body in 1870
he became so offended with certain
parties that he left the Association
during it's session, declaring he would
never again affiliate with it. He
stated that the Churches OF Bethel
Association in Kentucky received all
the credit for what was done by the
Churches of this Body in Tennessee
and he had long desired a separation
of the Churches in Tennessee from
Bethel Association, and had so de.
clared.
With these feelings, at our regular
conference, July 4th, 1871, IA day cvel
memorable in cur country as the day
of the declaration of ciUit liberty
Ed. S. made a proposition which
WAS destined to be the Inauguration
of the proceeding of religious tyr
10 Gfr r.an m 0n D nj or
that the day honored by the declara-
ton of civil freedom should be the
very day fixed upon to institute pro-
ceedings which, if approved, will
overthrow religious freedom, and
that too in that form of Church gov
ernment that was chosen by our wise
forefathers as the model after which
to mould our civil government, and
the result of which proceedings, il
concurred in by our Churches will
sap the foundation not only of relig.
ious but civil liberty. Lord, forbid
The following is the proposition
made by ED. S., to which objected
1--WE respectfully ask the Associa.
ton to pass resolution allowing such
Churches in Tennessee as may wish
to 60 with the organization of new
Association NOW spoken of to do sc
without violating any usages com
mon to Baptists."
would here state, this request was
not complied with by Bethel Associa'
tion, so that | was sustained in my
opposition by the action of this body
| was then right in my opposition. Il
not, then Bethel Association was
wrong, for We agreed. Now my op'
position to this proposition by Ed. s.
constituted the "head and front of my
offending and re. aroused all thai
bitterness of feeling which he once
had towards me.
His measure passed, and tho clerk
that night, was instructed to write
Church letter to the Association, TO bt
read for adoption or rejection at oul
next regular conference, August LIST
Though il passed, it was, as will b,
seen, by no means satisfactory to tht
Church, inasmuch as at our next reg
ular conference, when the letter con
tanning this request was read, 1t was
laid upon the table, and 1t would no
hare been had 1t not contained thi,
request. When the letter was read
opposed its adoption because Of thii
request, and moved to reconsider the
matter. ED. s., the Moderator
ruled: LIST. 4 Church has no right Il
reconsider at a subsequent mGetinl
lChdt Wds passed at q precious meet
ing" BY this unheard of ruling, hi
design was to defeat my purpose {
get rid of this request. Was sucl
ruling ever heard of before? Doe
not the very ruling sh0w the animu'
of Elder s., and his determination a
all hazards, TO carry his measure
This is one of the principles involved
in this unfortunate Church affair
which If sustained by our Churches
opens tloodgate OF evils. For ex
ample, at . regular conference only
IA tCIO are present, aud vote tho meet
ing house 10 be sold and the proceed:
To be applied to any purpose; or any
] 81. Al. IA.