The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-02-26
BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.
THE SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
he Report Of tha COMMITTEES Seating the BucL'
neriten Adopted, after Cutting of tho Lnkites
by the Gall Il tho Previous Question
Tho Main IsAuO not Touched

COnfbnou ytHlpFlhy HlolHlHk Nv pul"'h ~
tho Frat Baptist church, corner Of Sycamore
street and Patterson avenue pursuant TO nd
ournmcni,
Devotional exercises were held pllor TO The
taking up of the regular order of business
Every soat was occupied, there being u mum
Der Of visitors present,
AT o'clock the meeting was called to or
der by Dr. Il, q, Burlcson, President Of The
Association,
The delegates from Meridian church were
received,
The Chair stated that the committee 10
whom was referred the application of Elder
X. O. Buckner, w. IL. Thacker and A. n
Beddo, who claimed 10 DO entitled 10 seats In
| that body were rcNdy TO make their report
Elder Link stated that ho wished 10 rise "a
question Of privilege, lie stated that cor
tain pamphlet had been distributed since The
converting of the association, In which his
name was referred TO in such manner that
he wished 10 speak IN regard TO IT,
Tho Char Insisted that this was irrelevant
remarking that they had u great deul Of work
on hand and that ho would hold that they
proceed with tho regular order Of business,
Elder Link said that he merely wished u
say few words In regard To the matter, M
his name was mentioned In the pamphlet
Tho Chair responded by saying that for
tho last seven years the most prccarious time
Of tho association during It's meetings had
been whitfield away in discussing irrelevant
matters, and that ho would rule most rigidly
and keep them rs closely us possible TO The
line of business.
The Chair called for the report of the com.
toe, which was read 1t Is rs follows:
10 tho Baptist General Association;
DEAR BRETHREN; Your committee to
whom was referred the application of certain
brethren, to-wit; Elder K, q. Buckner, w.
IL, Thacker and A. +. Beddo, claiming to be
regularly elected messengers TO this body
from tho First Baptist church, ut Dallas,
having had the matter under careful consid-
Grafton, do unanimously concur in and beg
leave to make the following report:
|. We regard II rs of the last Importance
to emphasize this statement; that we can
consider the delicate questions involved
in this matter only so far us they relate to
membership or offices in this body.
2. We further premise that in
reaching the conclusions herein
after stated, wa have been guided BY
contain great Bible principles generally re-
garded by our denomination rs automatic,
among which we deem 1t not inappropriate
TO cite few:
|. Christ's law requires the mutual fellow
ship of all the members in the organization
and continuance Of u local church, and there.
fore requires unanimity in the reception of
members.
,. 1t is a violation of the organic law of a
church of Jesus Christ, to knowingly take u
case of discipline into the church.
8. Every Baptist has the inalienaole right
to express his objections to any applicant for
membership before his church IN conference
assembled. When these objections are thus
stated the church must Judge Of their va
lidity; and if the church decide that these are
invalid, the objector must withdraw them or
subject himselfto the discipline OF the church.
which case must first be disposed of before
the application can be acted on.
4. No member can be put on trial by his
church for alleged offences committed while
he was under the jurisdiction Of another
church. From which it follows, on princi-
pal of fairness, that when brothers objec-
tons to an applicant, based on offences COM
disregarded, and he has been deprived of the
right of stating the objections at the time of
application, he cannot be put on trial for his
disfellowship to applicant inasmush as he
has no legal redress, either before or after
reception. fa
.. 1t is an anomaly unknown to Bible law
and Baptist usage for one to DO and remain a
member of church, while protests against
his reception, or membership afterwards re-
corded on the church book.
8. Principles, not majorities constitute a
church. Therefore, where there are two or
more claimants to the name and rights of a
church, that party, whether large or
or small, which stands upon the principles
and laws of its organization, is the church.
And therefore majorities are right and are to
be recognized as right only so far as they fol-
low Christ.
I. Where correspondence is had or over
lures. looking to the adjustment of any diff
eulty between one proposing to apply fer
membership and one already member, no
individual or individuals are legal judges
as to whether sufficient endeavors have been
made for reconciliation, the church alone
being the competent Judge on this point.
8. A called conference of church, when
ones really had, or an adjourned conference
for specified object, can transact only such
business as relates to that specified object.
These principles and Others equally inn
portant have been applied to the evidence
furnished by both parties in their published
authoritative statement, and to the church
covenant, binding the parties, and to their
official records on the clerks book,
Guided by these principles, thus applied to
all the evidence, as thus set forth,
we do unanimously recommend that the APP
plicants for admission in this body, to-wit
Elder r. G. Buckner, w. H. Thacker and
A. +, Boddo, be now recognized as lawful
members of this body.
And We further recommend tho Mission
board as 1t now stands, be confirmed, and all
the churches and associations composing this
body be urged to cooperate with said board
as heretofore.
And we do further recommend that
Elder X. Q. Buckner be continued as
the General Superintendent of Missions, and
rs Corresponding Secretary Of this body, and
that in the exercise of these official duties
we do most heartily commend him to the
fraternal regards aud cooperation of all our
brethren, assuring them that from = patient
examination Of all the facts in the case our
confidence in him is unimpaired.
Respectfully submitted,
w G Galloway, X H Carroll, VIM. D Lain,
VIII Trolinger, s IL Tillman. j w Brice,