The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-06-01
CHURCH CASE DREW MANY
WIDE INTEREST IN A LAWSUIT
AMONG PRIMITIVE BAPTISTS.
Verdict of Jury in Favor of Paint
IFS, Who Are in Possession. APP
peal to Supreme Court.

peal to Supreme Court.
A case of wide interest that was
disposed of in the superior court
last week was that of contending fac
tons for the possession of Chicka-
saWhatchee Primitive Baptist church
one mile east of Dawson, which was
constituted fifty years ago, and is one
of the oldest and most historic
houses of worship in southwest Geor-
ga.
The trial was begun Tuesday of
last week and was concluded Thurs
day afternoon, when the jury, after
being out two hours or more, re-
turned a verdict in favor of1the fac
ton headed by Elder R. H. Jennings
and against that led by Elder w. T.
Everitte.
The Cause of the Split.
The pleadings in the case showed
that the plaintiffs, M. E. jennings
and others, constituted a majority
of the members of the Chickasaw-
hatchee Primitive Baptist church, and
that the church was of a congrega-
tional form of government, in which a
affecting it's affairs; that sometime in
the year 1908 the majority of the
members called Elder r. H. jennings
as their pastor, who accepted the call
upon condition that he be allowed to
serve the churches known as Provi-
dence and Harmony. In the meantime
resolution was introduced in the
church by Elder w. T. Everette, one
OF the defendants, which in substance
provided that no church should use
or cOuntenance the use of organs in
the church services, or have pre-
arranged protracted meetings, or pay
salaries to preachers, or call preach
ers who associated with those who
uld these things. This resolution
was adopted by the church. and
lhereupon it was claimed that the
pastor who had been called could
not serve the church at Chickasaw-
uatchee unless he declined to preach
dI providence and Harmony. The
majority of the church having de-
tetnlned otherwise by their vote the
uelendants, Elder Everette and his
associates, declared non-fellowship
WIN the plaintiffs in the case and
IuFhed them out of the church This
pFeclpitated the litigation, in which
.ue majority set up that they had
IN no way violated the terms of the
teSoIutlon above mentioned, but that
lucy adhered to the original organi-
@dCion and doctrine of the church,
@ l mat under the rules of the
onurcn were entitled to the control
u the property.
Many Prominent Churchmen.
"A large crowd gathered in the
court house to hear the case. and
tb bany Primitive Baptists from
oonn..oughout this section were pres
~ a number of prominent elders of
sto 9 PRIMITIVE faith in this and other
,aleS We're in attendance as wit
o reoSeS for both sides. and their
~ s'uehce on the practice and customs
T,,., Cnelr denomination was heard
u IN much interest. Among those
severe sou were here was an elder who had
T,,su a Primitive Baptist church in
London, England.
Tue counsel for the defendants
t s@o9 notice of a motion for a new
ttEElal, and the case will be taken to
settled. "oAoAo ~ 70 nil''iiS
noa nne case, when it is finally dis
a pboet OF in the courts, will affect
po. twenty-five other Primitive
wbtoS churches in the state in
an n1c1 there are similar discussions