The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-05-12

Ofice of the clerk of the superior I
court is of wide interest. 1t is |
= petition on the part of certain |
members of the Chickasawhatchee |
Primitive Baptist church, located a |
mile east of Dawson, for an injunc- !
ton restraining certain other mem
bers from exercising any custody, |
authority or control over the church, |
or interfering in any manner with
the petitioners as officers and men,
bers of the church.
The trouble began some months
ago, and is generally understood to
be the result of the same thing that
has caused discord and dissensiOn
among other Primitive churches-a
conflict between one element who
want to adhere to the old practices
Of the denomination, and another
who believe that church, if it so
desires, should be allowed to move
along more modern and progressive
lines.
The trouble reached an acute stage
sometime last fall, and since then
each faction has withdrawn fellow
ship from the other, and each side
has expelled the other from men,
bership in the church. Since then
both sides have been holding services
in the church, but on different days. !
Those who are known as the pro
gressive element" have a majority
Of the membership, but the other
side, among which is the church
clerk, are in possession Of the min
utes and other church records.
What the Petition Recites.
The petition alleges that Elder R.
H. Jennings, one of the petitioners,
is the pastor of the church, by virtue
of which office he is the presiding
officer over the deliberations of the
church conference, and that M. E.
Jennings, another petitioner, is the
only deacon of said church, and is
the proper officer to hold the title
and possession of the property. Con-
tinuing the petitions say:
That for some years prior to Oc
tober, 1908, Elder w. T. Everett,
one of the defendants, was the pas
tor of said church, but about said
time was deposed, Elder r. H. Jen-
nings, one of the plaintiffs, having
been about said time called by
majority of the members of said
church as pastor thereof. Shortly
thereafter the said Everett intro
duced resolution at a conference ST
said church which in substance OPP
posed the payment of salaries to
preachers, prohibited the use of or
CANS in the church and protract-
ed meetings. While your petition
erS aver that no definite or legal
action was taken by the church on
SAID resolution, as a matter Of
TACT the Chickasawhatchee Baptist
church has never and does not now
4 indulge in the practices at which
sad resolution was directed; at the
same time, however, the same are
not inhibited by any article of faith
4 OF said church or by the general
custom or practices of churches of
similar faith and order"
The next paragraph alleges that
lnIS resolution was presented to sub
q serve the personal ambition and in
q ,erest of Elder Everett, and that
ne and other members were guilty
OF such violations of the rules and
uecorum of the church that the petit
uoners flied charges against them,
ana at regular conference held on
lne 9TH day of February, 1909, eX-
vl0ued them from fellowship with
me church. Demand was made upon
Miles Blackshear, who was at the
ulne Of this action the clerk of
yut church, for all the minutes, books
ana records of the church, which he
reused to deliver, and it is further
IuarSed that the defendants are hold
."S possession of the church property
8 ana attempting to exercise all Of
GI1 privileges and functions of the
.,"Weh to the exclusion of the petit
tuners, their officers and those they
u ,epIeSent.' The petitioners, it is
stated have all the while and do
uo" adhere to the regular organiza-
GoA and doctrine of the church" and
ae court is asked to give them pos
oIIsS.oh OF the property and the eX-
thereof. wa
Inc Other Side of the Controversy.
Mr. Miles Blackshear, one of the
ooIyle1dants in the suit and the church
I IleIH, has given The News the fol-
living statement of the other side
VI Jhe controversy:
D.. H IS a well-known fact that the
on alInltlye Baptists have ever been
o on5 to any change or innovation
az oeSlre to be earnest and simple
10 were the apostles, and have ever