The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-11-11
The Santee Baptist Association.

The Santee Baptist Association.
The Santee Baptist Association is
composed of Baptist churches situated
in Clarendon and Sumter, with posi-
bly, one or two in Kerskaw county. It
was organized about rs years ago.
most of the churches comprising it
coming out from tho old Charleston
Baptist Association. AS we under
stand it, Baptist Association is de-
Lucrative missionary and educational
body, but has no law-making function,
inasmuch as each individual Baptist
church is an independant body, and is
Ga law unto ITSELF
Until two years ago, the Santee
Association was said to be peaceful
and progressive body, noted for it's
harmony and fraternity of spirit.
About that time, for reasons not as
signed, objections we're made to the
clerk of the Association, and from that
time, as occasion permitted, the war
fare has been kept up against this
gentleman, who is pastor of the First
Baptist church of Sumter. We learn
that one of the pastors, we'll known to
the readers of this paper, actuated by
motives not the best, or under the
influence Of counselors not the wisest,
made still-hunt among the churches
in upper Clarendon and lower Sumter,
seeking to suborn men who would
vote against the present clerk at the
Summerton meeting. The canvass
was duly made, but when the ballot
was counted, it was found that the
churches had deposed the methods of
the still-hunter, and Dr.. Brown was
reelected to his Office. Last fall the
Association met in Sumter with the
First church, and Mr.. Alderman pre-
sented Rev. Gresham as his candidate
for the clerkship, but he was showed
under, and the present incumbent was
retained in Office. For some weeks
here in Manning, the main talk has
conferred around the same matter, and
it was supposed that surely the still
hunter and his friends would triumph
here on their own heath. Mr.. Gres-
ham lay patiently on the hands of his
trainer for the race, and seemed mere
ly to be the willing tool of a boss.
Great speed in the race was prophesied
for him; but it seems that out of 50
votes, he could command only about
80, and again be was re-stabled for
better training under the prophecy and
promise of the Manning pastor who
says the conflict shall be continued at
another time. What the whole thing
means, we do not know, unless it be
some petty spite or black-faced malice
natural to the average human heart.
No charges of incompetency, unfaith-
frlness and unftness have been charg-
ed against the present clerk, except
that of general and underlined "boss-
ism.'' and the supposition is that this
charge may be true in someway, and
someone else, unfit for bossing. is
desirous of filing the high Office.
When the petty spites and bitterness of
politics are injected into the methods
Of a religious order, it seems to US it
is time for the truly religious people
to hang their heads in shame. That
this is the case in the Santee Baptist
Association, no sensible and open-eyed
man will deny.
The attendance of delegates on the
first day was quite large, as all the
interest centered around the election
of clerk. That function being over
with, the attendance dwindled away,
and the house has not suffered with an
overflow of people. We would suggest,
for the sake of peace, that the kickers
acknowledge the Democratic princi-
pies which characterize the Baptists,
and either yield to the majority vote,
or withdraw and join another Associa-
tion.
All the Baptist ministers in the
Association have been present except
one or two. MI. JAS. E. Tindall has
made fair and impartial moderator,
and commands the respect of all the
delegates. The preaching has been Of
an excellent order, and the delegates
have made themselves agreeable guests
in the homes of the people.
ing State Missions; Maj. J. W.
Gaines, representing the Welsh Neck
High School and Rev. V. [. Masters,
representing the Baptist Courier, were
in attendance upon the meeting. The
speech of Mr.. Masters concerning the
laying aside of ministers by the
churches at too early an age was re-
cieved and is spoken of as one of the
best speeches of the meeting.
Rev. j. D. Higgins was on his feet
several times, and always had some
thing to say. His manner is earnest
and fervid and his reasoning forceful.
He is the pastor of four large churches
two in Clarendon and two in Sumter,
and is we'll thought of over the whole
State among RaptiSts
Rev. N. A. Connors, pastor of
Summerton and Fellowship and Cal
vary churches is a gentleman of pleas
ing personal presence, and was elected
chairman of the committee on moneys
and accounts. He has handsome face
and is one of the fast developing
preachers among the Baptists.-
" Attendant in Manning Times.