Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-08-04
4. REPLY TO WIZ. IsRACKETT.

EgUtfUfS iltyfStCs iNNN WIZ
which appeared in your issue of the 2lst
instant concerning the Free Baptist Home
Mission Society, its method OF securing
church property among our people, &c.
have also read Mr.. Brackets reply, and
nm amused at his "Yankec-like" manner
of irving to evadc the truth. After deny
ing facts set forth, he concludes by say
sns: "If you wish further information
about our affairs please inquire OF some
one" IN. c. Bracket. of course) "who
wishes mt least to give you the facts"
Now Messrs. Editors, presuming that
Won wrote, in part, from Information re-
ceiycd of me. wish therefore to say q
few words in proof Of your statements.
First. Mr.. Bracket says that "only two
lots in Shenandoah Valley have ever been
decided to the Free Baptist Home Mission
Society" adding that "other churches
are decided to local trustees" This may
be true, but in what way are they "deeded
10 local trusttcs?" Take for an example
the following extract from the deed Of the
Shcpherdstown church. After defining
use to which the lot is to be devoted, it
SAYS: "Whenevcr it shall cease to be
needed and uSel for such 4 purpose for
twelve months successfully it may, with
all improvements thereon, be sold under
the direction and at the discretion Of the
treasurer OF the Free Will Baptist Home
Mission Society" Will Mr.. Bracket deny
the accuracy Of this copy? 1t does not
requires lawyer TO determine as to whether
under such a deed congregations own the
property or whether they have simply
right to use it upon certain conditions.
Mr.. Bracket further asserts that "the
principal of Storcr College has in no case
interfered with the management of the
local trustees No one has made such
an assertion. There is no need of his in
terfering with the trustees, since the deeds
secure the property to the Home Mission
Society without any such interference.
But does Mr.. Bracket deny the charge
of trying to control the pastors and the
churches? Is it not fact that there are
only two churches in the Valley that
would dare To make choice of pastor or
hold their present pastor contrary to his
wishes? Is it not also a tact that when
the clerk called the Ministers Conference
TO order at Charlestown, and requested
said minister refused TO pray because Mr..
Bracket was not III sympathy with the
meeting? These are well established
facts, and yet when one refuses to submit
to such 4 state of affairs he has to leave
thc connection or he accommodated.
Who deposed Kirk, Robinson and Carey
from the ministry? Mr.. Bracket. Who
drove jackson, Carter, Dunjee, Rideout
Fox and others from the connection? Mr..
Bracket What is the cause of the unset
tied state of affairs to-day among cOlored
Free BaptiSts in Shenandoah Valley? Mr..
Brackets determination to rule or ruin.
Alas, his ambition does not stop within
the limits of church affairs, but extends
into political affairs also. He has no use
for the ue@ro who dares to write an arti-
Gle for newspaper, makes 4 speech, or
casts Il vote in this Valley without con-
sulting him.
In speaking of the church ut Richmond
he says: "Mr. Dunice was employed at
salary of $50 per month";" &c. This is
true, and it is also true that Mr.. Dunjeo
xas raising double that amount from the
people in Virginia while thus employed.
But what was the trouble III that case?
Dunjcc opposed certain carpet-baggcrs,
who were taking advantage of our people,
and tho news reached Mr.. Curtis, of New
IIampshire. who wrote Mr.. Duniec saying
he had better consult Mr.. Bracket as to
the course he should take in politics. This
Mr Dunjce refused to do, and they not
only discharged him from further service,
but withheld several months pay which
they owed him. This is why "Mr. Dun
ices agent advertised the property for
sale" but Mr.. Bracket is careful not to
give full facts i'm the case. Mr.. OUNCE
left good congregation at Richmond,
and petitioned the mission board to send
them minister. but, being anxious to get
hold of tue property, they left the con-
gregatioH scatter, and then said "Look
what Dunice has done" The property
at Richmoud and also that at West Point
was sold BIZ the Home Mission Society be-
cause of the same trouble, and the money
carried North.
Mr.. Bracket says part of the money
was given to the Shcpherdstown church,
but the members Of that church say his
statement is not true. They didn't re-
ceive one dollar of it. Neither is it true
that the larger part of the money to build
the Shephcrdstown church came from the
North. The members claim it was raised
mostly ut ShcphcrdStown and ut other
places in the Valley. Referring to the
Home Mission Society, Mr. Bracket says:
"Et has carried nothing away, but has
brought large sums here" When he says
i'it has carried nothing away" he denies
an often repeated statement of himself and
others, through the columns of the Norm
ing Star, all organ of the Free Baptist de-
nomination. The Star often boasts Of the
fact that there is no field in which the
Home Mission Society spends money that
returns Il larger percentage than Shennn-
doah Valley. What does this mean: We
should stick to facts rs wc pass along. AS
10 the money brought here, suppose 1t
can be found mostly i'll the farm, the
school buildings at Harper's Ferry and