The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-11
ELDER GOLD WRITES.
He Denies That any Primitive Baptist
Association has Joined the Mission
aries.

| Association has Joined the Mission
ares.
| In the current number of lions Land
mark, its editor, Elder L. ID. Gould,
publishes the article in the Biblical Re
corder and in Rev. J. Z. Whites COM
Primitive Baptist churches have united
with the Missionary Baptist church 1t
is followed up With letters from Elder
James ID. Draugham, of White Plains.
Elder VI. G. Harbour, of Copeland, and
Elder ]. NJ. Wyatt, of Roaring Gap
all Primitive Baptist preachers i'll Sur
ry county. denying absolutely and vigor-
ously that any Primitive Baptist church
cs in Wilkes or Surry have united with
the Missionary Baptist church. Elder
Gold in editorial comments says:
Thus we see that the Recorder. the
Missionary organ in North Carolina and
the corresponding secretary of their Mis-
sion Board both assert that a number of
churches Of the Primitive order have
gone to them.
Il wish they had stated what PRINT
tive Association the churches received by
&C. Durham belonged to. VIII they BE-
kind enough to state it yet? Mr.. White
states that on Friday, the 24th of Sep
tehber, 1896, six of the Regular Anti
mission, Hardshell or Primitive Baptist
churches, of the Stoney Fork Associa-
ton, joined them. This is not the truth,
because there is no such Primitive Bap-
fist Association in North Carolina aS
Stoney Fork. / have never heard Of
such n one until he stated it. | am
somewhat acquainted with every Prim;-
tive Baptist Association in North Caro-
lima and know that none of our Associa-
tons correspond with, or recognize, any
association known as Stoney Fork.
am also satisfied that the churches that
G. Durham received were no nearer
Primitive Bapt.sts than the Stoney Fork
people.
Now we deny what they affirm. 1t is
their business to make good their asser-
tons by the proper proof. The Mission
aries quite likely thought they were
making an inroad on our churches, and
it is evident they rejoice in Their sup
posed triumph.
Let me state that many people call
themselves Primitive Baptists that are
not We are particular about whom we
receive, or correspond with, or acknOwl-
edge as Primitive Baptists.
Il learn that there is 4 class of people
in Wilkes and Surry counties Gaining
to be Primitive Baptists that joined the
Union League, and are members Of other
things that we do not fellowship, AMI
that these are the people the AIissiona-
ries are glorying over receiving.
How Is it that such wild rumors get
out? Answer. Many claim to be Primi-
tive Baptists that we do not fellowship,
nor acknowledge as such. Many of the
Missionary Bapt:sts themselves CLAIM
to be the true Primitive Baptis,s. But
we claim that Primitive Baptists them
selves are the proper judges to decide
who are the true Primitive Baptists. Ii
others beside us are to say who are
Primitive Baptists. and we must receive
rs Primitive Baptists any aud all they
call such, would that not be strange
state of things?
In that mountain section of Surry
and Wilkes counties are people that
claim to be Primitive Baptists, but who
hold in their membership secret s0c.e-
ties, such as Union Leagues, and 10
not hold the doctrine that we do, and
we hold no more correspondence with
them than we do with other denomna-
tons. Some of these have gone to the
Missionaries-we are ;nformed-and had
but short distance to go. The Mission
aries are glorying over this as if some
OF our churches had gone to them.
"All the Missionaries once were with
the Primitive Baptists. but they intro
duced unscriptural methods, and our
people withdrew from them. During the
late war quite n number of the Primitive
Baptists in that section joined the Red
Strings party, and after the war these
people joined the Union League, and orr
brethren withdrew from them, and they
organized an Association calling them
selves Union Baptists, but affiliated with
other denominations. while our associa-
tons have had no correspondence with
them. These are the people, Ash-dod. tcs
that have gone to the Missionaries
formally and publicly. 1t was very
short trip.
Now if they are rs anxious to tell the
truth as they are to herald such false
reports they will confess their error.
VIII they do this?'