Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-10-09
For the Advertiser.

Mr.. ED1ToR,-It is will, reluctancesl
notice, communication in; yourpaper of
25th Sept, signed "one Who Was
Present, ~ suppose al. the Session of: y;
the Edgefefd Baptist Association
The writer seems to be very much
incensed against the Association in not
receiving the avitkcsra,cn Nesseager to
that body from the Storm Branch Baptist
Association. AS that bitter communica-
tion will doubtless be read by many
Christians, and that they may Know
something of the relative condition he :,
tween the white and colored menlh'fs
of Edgefield Association since emanc!-
patton, and be better prepared to render
true verdict against the communication,
YOU will please allow me place in your
columns.
This question of relation bettpeen the
white and colored members has received
the attention and prayerfnl consideration
of the denomination. The Baptist State
Convention, as we'll as the Associations,
have given counsel tobe clement towards
Tho colored membership" The EDGE.
field has not beon behind any Association
in their careful attention to the colored
membership, having all annual Commit
tee to report on the colored membership
and their instruction. These reports
have noticed their wants and recon-
mended such assistance as could be given
by the Churches.
The colored membership, with some
honorable exceptions, as soon as emanci-
pated, neglected the Churches in which
they were baptized in not assembling
with them. Being without constituted
Churches, they so managed as to have
funerals preached by men of their own
color, even of those who had been dead
for years; these funerals, with other
places to worship, demanded all their
time; they had to worship God; they
would walk by the Churches in which
they were baptized, to attend one place
where their own color should preach to
them; and they were not tenacious who
should preach, so he was of their color.
Reports of their impropriety came to
their white brethren, but the question
how to remedy the evil was lett to the
Churches in their sovereignty to deter
mine.
The Association some years ago, be-
lieving the colored membership had
left the Churches, and seeing no notice
of their dismission, advised the Churches
to report such only to the Association as
were in full fellowship. I can now speak
of three Churches which were so embar-
rassed in giving letters of dismission to
colored members, some of whom they
had not seen for years, that they author
lied their Minister to give certificates OF
baptism to all that he had ct any time
baptized
The Churches were denied the watch
care of the colored members, and there
fore could not give letters Of fellowship /;
but yet extended their christian sympa-
thy to them. What more could they do !?
Some Churches pursued a different
course, and expelled those who never
attended their meetings, after giving
them some months notice. Many OF
these people it is believed are members
of the Churches of the Storm Branch
Association. This Association is Of re-
conformation. The Edgefeld Association
as a body knew but little about them.
Yet when her Messenger was announced.
the Constitutional courtesy was extended
TO him. Thereupon objection was made,
and in few minutes, without any ap-
parent alarm or confusion to the Chair
man, a amotion was unanimously carried
to submit the question of reception to
! Committee of five to report ne1t day
at loI O'Clock. The Committee not agree
ing, submitted q majority and minority
report. Both reports were read in sue
cession, and at the close Of the reading
a gentleman on the floor (,,Ot in the 9dt-
lery) rose and announced to the Moder-
ator that the Messenger withdrew his
application. Then, without Q, word q
tsdebate, the Chair announced the reports
as property ofthe Association and im-
mediately by motion, and vote, they
were laid on the table. .
In conclusion, ask the public to par
ticularly notice 'the assertion of the
would be sarcastic writer when he says {:
"The Edgefeld Baptist Association, COM
posed of white men, but which body
refused to receive the colored delegates,
and treated them with disgust and dis
A MEMBER.