Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

O. F. BROWN, Proprietor.
ANNOUNCEMENT.

Churches. Sendeth q reeting.
Dear Brethren and Sisters; In regard
to an eXparte THAT is one-sidedl council
held in the Presbyterian Church of this
place Dee. 2lst. SO the following facts
are submitted and resolutions passed
by vote of the church this 18th, day OF
Dec. 1883. This Association comprises
% churches, only six were represented
in this council. 1t numbers 2014 mem
bers only five in this council. 1t was
represented 10y four ministers; there
was also the Pastor of the OwossolBap-
list church and Rev. Kendall Brooks,
from the Presbyterian College of Alma,
making eleven in all in the council.
This Church consists Of thirty-iive mem
bers in perfect harmony with each
other, their Pastor, their pledges 10
their brethren and sisters of the
same faith and order and the word OF
God. This Church offered through the
councils committee To open the t!oors
of the Baptist House To this council and
reserved the right to accept or reject
the council when assembled in then
House. and offered to call il council @
all the churches in the Saginaw VALLEY
Baptist Association and as many otheI
churches or Pastors rs we thought best
at the earliest date possible, If they
would go home and not try to interfere
III the government of a regular Baptist
Church. We had but twentyfour
hours legitimate notice ofsthis eXparte
council. Is it unfair To conclude that
these brethren came here with pre-
determined purpose? Let it be known
that this council was called by eXclud-
ed members Of this Church. From the
said notification we quote, land the
said Pastor and Church under the adj
vice and influence of the said Geo. ID
Kaufman having refused to call or
unite with us in calling a council for
the purpose of adjusting our differ
ances." Can regular Baptist Church
unite with an excluded member? Is a
Baptist council clothed with more than
advisory powers? We quote farther
'also the relation of said members SO
excluded to the said church and their
rights therein Has an excluded
members, as such, any rights in a Bap-
list church? Previous to the as
sembling of this illegitimate council
there was nothing that would justify
us in calling council. Does not every
al, NJ ;,,,
pledge itself to accept the Baptist
Church Manual, published by the
American Baptist Publication Society.
as its only rule of faith and practice
outside the word of God? Have these
Churches kept that pledge? Does not
every Baptist minister take the same
pledge at his ordination? Have these
ministers kept that pledge? Wherefore
in consideration of these facts, resolved;
LIST. That we do now withdraw our
selves from the Saginaw Valley Baptist
Association and that we henceforth
stand as regular independent Baptist
Church, holding and practicing the
doctrines and usages Of regular Baptist
Churches as formulated in the Baptist
Church Manual.
2nd. We maintain that our acts have
been, are and shall be thoroughly
baptistic, Pastor ana people, and IL
harmony with the word of God.
3rd. We characterize the findings of
this council as published in the Chris
tian Herald as being misleading and
founded on representations that were
not without personal self-Nill and were
inspired by individual interests.
4th. We respectfully refer the stand
ing of those ministers and churches
engaged in this council to the Saginaw
Valley Baptist Association ami the lie
nomination at large us "A proper subject
for consideration
9th. We are ready to demonstrate
that this whole matter sprung up III
the heart of one man and that his
followers were before, and have been
since their exclusion and since that
council in which they participated
engaged in practices that no Baptist
church can overlook.
9th. That we implore the Father of
Lights to remove the reproach cast
upon the cross Of Christ by the doings
Of this council
eth. We do now earnestly beseech
our brethren and sisters in Christ that
they sustain us in this our prayerful
endeaver TO preserve the purity of
Baptist Churches.
sth. That copy of these facts and
resolutions be furnished to the Clerk of
Saginaw Valley Baptist Association.
the National Baptist, the Christian
Herald and the local press for publ
cation.
Now the God of peace, who brought
again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that Great Shepherd of the sheep,
throuph the blood of the everlasting