The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-11-04
The Santee Baptist Association.

composed OF Baptist churches situated
in Clarendon and Sumter, with possibly
one or two in Kershaw county. 1t was
organized about 25 years ago, most OF
the churches comprising it coming out
from the old Charleston Baptist Asso-
citation. AS we understand it, a Bap-
tist Association is a delioeratire mis-
sionary and educational body, but has
no law-making function, inasmuch as
each individual Baptist church IS an
independent body, and is "a law unto
itself.''
Until two years ago, the Santee AS
sociation was said to be peaceful and
progressive body, noted for its harmo-
py and fraternity OF spirit. About that
time, for reasons not assigned, obJec-
tions were made to the clerk OF the
Association, and from that time, as oc-
casion permitted, the warfare has been
kept up against this gentleman, who IS
pastor OF the First Baptist church IN
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 counsel
lors not the wisest, made a stlll-hunt
among the churches in upper Claren-
don and lower Sumter, seeking to
suborn men who would vote against the
present clerk at the Summerton meet
inc. 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
presented Rev. Gresham as his candl-
date for the clerkship, but he was
showed under. and the present lncum-
bent was retained in Office. For some
weeks here in Manning, the main talk
has cenrered around the same matter,
and it was supposed that surely the
still-hunter and his friends would
triumph here on their own heath. Mr.:
Gresham lay patiently on the hands OF
his trainer for the race, and seemed
merely to be the willing tool OF a
boss. Great speed on the race was
prophesied for him: but it seems that
out of So votes, he could command only
about 80, and again he was re-stabled
for better training under the prophecy
and promise of the Manning pastor who
saws 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, unfalth-
fulness and unftness have been charged
against the present clerk, except that
of general and underlined 'ibossism, :"
and the supposition is that this charge
may be true in some way, and some one
else, uuft for bossing, is desirous OF
filing the high Office. When the petty
spites and the 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 OF the
first day was quite large, as all the in
terest 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 acknowl-
edge the Democratic principles which
characterize the Baptists, and either
yield to the majority vote, or withdraw
and join another Association.
All the Baptist ministers in the AS
sociatior. have been present. except one
or two. Mr.. Jas. E. Tindal has made a
fair and impartial moderator. and COM
nands the repect 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.
DR.. Bailey OF Greenville, represent
inc State Missions: Maj. J. ". Gaines,
representing the Welsh Neck High
School and Rev. V. I. Masters, repre-
senting the Baptist Courier, were IN
attendance upon the meeting. Ihe
speech OF Mr.. Masters concerning the
laying aside of ministers by the
churches at too early an age was re-
ceived 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 well thought of over the whole
State among the Baptists.
Rev. NJ. y. Connors. pastor OF sum
merton and Fellowship and Calvary
churches is gentleman of pleasing
personal presence, and was elected
chairman OF the committee on moneys
and accounts. He has a handsome face
and is one of the fast developing
preachers among the Baptists.