The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-07-03
A Card from Church Officers.

COLUMBIA, Tenn, June q, 1891.
To the Churches aud members composing
the District Il association, state COHVe1t-
ton, and elsewhere:
This is 10 certify that at an Executive
Board meeting Of the Duck River Mis-
sionary Baptist Association, held Feb
ruary 7th, 1891, with the First baptist
Church of Columbia. Tenn, that serious
complain q wert pres Jnted against Rev,
George Elder, alias Joe Elder, of NAL
al ministratiOn and immoral conduct Ia
the Ashwood neIghborhood, whereupon
special committee OF hVe members
were appointed by the Board TO inves-
tigate the matter, and II possible To as
certain the facts in the case and report
at an early date.
COLUMBIA, February IA, 1891.
The Executive Board Of the Duck
River Association met TO hear the re-
port or the Committee Of investigation
of the case of George Elder, which is as
follows:
Brother ChairBlGn!-You committee
would respectfully state that We met at
Westbrook Church ON the morning of
February 81. 1891, according TO previous
Appointment 10 take into consideration
the complaints against Rev, George
Elder. After n prayerful ana careful
confederation Of the cOmplaint OF the
johnson girl, not being able To have an
interview with her, thereby rendering
IL impossible To ascertain the facts IN
the case, we came to unanimous
conclusion TO postpone That case and
wait for developments. with regard 70
the said Elder having procured money
under false pretense from Mai. viii
Polk, in behalf Of the Westbrook
Church, We Instructed the brethren 90
present their complaint TO the said
Church, as the Board had no jurisdlc-
ton over the internal affairs of the
Church. Next we proceeded TO inves-
tigate the complaint OF Sue Brown,
against the said George Elder, which
was TO the effect that he, George Elder,
had seduced aud fatheTed child by
her. After examining several officers
and members of the Church who had
served on committees to get the facts in
the case, your committee unanimously
resolved TO recommend that the said
George Elder be called before the Board
to answer the charges of adulteryeand
bastardizing. Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM HARRIS.
A. e.. CHEATaAM.
5. Il. POLK.
j. BAUGUs.
B. ERIERSON.
Report of the committee adopted and
Rev. Elder notified TO meet the Board
on the 18th of March, ns9l, TO answer
the charges as presented by the COM
mittee.
Nav II, IS9I.-The Executive met TO
try the case of George Elder. After the
examination of eight or nipe witnesses,
and a short elaboration, the Board
voted TO exclude the said George Elder,
alias Joe Elder, from the ministerial
connection and fellowship OF the Duck
River Association, and ordered that he
ba published to the world as unworthy
the high calling of a Gospel minister.
Subs ,quenttY che said Geo. Elder petit
toned the Board for another hearing.
which was granted, and came OFF June
20. 1891, and resulted in further disgrace
ing him-the Brown girl confronting
aud charging him with his criminal acts
with her more than once, and the John
son girl testifying before special COM
mittee, that George Elder was the father
OF her child, aud that he promised to
support Ii until it was II years Of age,
provided she would say II was another
49, s. A. FOSTER, Chairman.
b. FRIERsoN, Clerk.