The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-02-16
A STATEMENT.

A few facts about an article which
appeared in The Union Times Jan
uary Goth, 1917, headed, "Pacolet
River Association Defends It's Posi-
tion."
Desiring to have peace, we thought
at first to not have anything to say,
and let our good brethren in the Pac-
olet River Association, who have
caused all of the past eruption of our
peaceful relation to all of the
churches in Union county, to continue
their abuse. But for fear someone
may be misled, or fail to form the
correct opinion from reading the above
named article concerning the Pacolet
River and the socalled Union Baptist
Association, we thought to state con-
cerning it the following facts:
For the reasons stated in their
article, in taking to themselves rights
as prelatical dictators of the internal
and external workings of our Inde-
pendent Baptist churches, are the
cause of the beginning of all of this
disturbance. Whereas, had it not been
for this mistaken idea on the part of
the Pacolet River Association Board.
the churches all today would have been
at peace.
Now we take it for granted that
every intelligent Baptist knows what
church he or she would like to be a
member of; and should be allowed to
make his or her own choice, with
out being ordered to do so by the mon
astic members of the Board of the
Pacolet River Association.
Friends, the real truth is, every req
ular organized Baptist church is inde-
pendent and should not be interfered.
and disturbed by unscrupulous intrud-
ers. Our good brethren should learn
to attend to their own business, and
not be busy-bodies into other peoples
affairs.
We take the liberty to say thai the
pastor. deacons and members of the
Corinth Baptist church have tried, in
the light of conscience, law and .om
mon sense, to do their whole duty, al
though we are not perfect. and leave
ourselves subject to any rightful cor
rection. But the facts are simply
these: According to the principles as
found in the laws governing the Bap-
itist church in Hitchcock New Directory
page 335, section ;, any number of
Baptist churches can form as many
associations as they wish, without IN
jury to themselves or others, and not
being under any obligations to get let
ters, or permission from any church,
or association. But it is not true m
70 nc 81, L
a church can properly exist there must
be individuals who have been convert
ed, and become like little children and
taken into the fellowship of the church
by the votes of the majority present
and go out the same. No other form
Is recognized by regular intelligent
Baptist New Directory, page 81, note
81 and all of the present divisions in
our churches and associations in Un-
ION county are caused by the disre-
gard on the part of our brethren of
this one simple fact.
BY the aid of an honorable and most
ecclesiastical and efficient council, we
had agreed to settle all existing con-
tentions with all concerned, except two
who influenced other to disregard all
rightful appeals into body, called a
church out of disorderly and excluded
members.
This we regret very much, but in the
discharge of our duty we must en-
deavor to stick to the principles which
individualizes our denomination and
preserves the honor and dignity of the
Baptist church.
T. G. Phillips,
Pastor Of the Corinth Baptist Church,
Union, S. G..
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