Minutes of the twelfth annual session of the North Alabama Baptist Association (Ala.) 1897

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MINUTES

-4^0F THE4-

TWELFTH ANNUAL SESSION

C/L J-^OF THE4- ■ -7

North Alabama Baptist Association

-4*HELD WITH4^

MT. PISGAH CHURCH, DEKALB COUNTY, ALA.,

AUGUST 20TH AND 21ST, A. D, 1897,

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OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION:

H. H. KIRBY, = Moderator, = Pea Ridge, Ala.

M. J. LATTY, = Clerk, = = Ider, Ala.

I897.

JOURNAL PRINT,

FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA.

PROCEEDINGS.

The Association met aocordino: to adjournment with Mt.
Pisgali Church, August 20th ajid 21st, 1897. '

'J'he introfiurtory sermon was delivered by Eld. J. W. S.
Higgins; text, J(thn hith chapter, 12th verse.

After ret'resfinieiits the Association was called together.
Kead the 97th division of the Psalms. Praver by the Moderator.

Appointed J. W. S. Higgins and S. S. Vernon to read letters,
constitution, by-laws and articles of faith.

Enrolled delegates' names. See table.

Called for new churches. The Mt. Zion church presenteil a
letter asking admission into this Association and accrediting
Eld. H. Frazier and F. M. Price as delegates, and on motion they
were received, the Moderator extending the right hand of
fellowship.

Invited visiting; ministers and members to seats in council.

Elected H. H. Kirby Moderator and M. J. Latty Clerk.

Appointed committees: On Preaching — from the church,
D. P. M. Davis and H. N. Tripp; from the body, E. B. Kirby, A.
M.Anderson and J. .J. Senteh. On Finance — A. Gilbreath and
W.T.Jones. On Sabbath Schools— W. L. Bookout, T. N. Kirby
and J. T. Dodd. On Temperance — F. Smith, J. L. Painter and H.
Frazier. On Deceased Mitiisters and Members — I. F. Hurst and
W. J. Johnson.

Adjourned until 9 o'clock tomorrow.

Preaching at night by Eld. H. Frazier and J. L. Painter.

SECOND day's session.

Reassembled pursuant to adjournment. The Moderator
called the body to order. Prayer by Eld. J. T. Dodd.

Called the roll, read and adopted the minutes of yesterday.

Called for reports of committees.

The committee on Preaching announced preaching at 11
o'clock by Eld. J. T. Dodd, followed by VV. L. Bookout; at night
by Eld. S. S. Vernon, followed by W. J. Garren.

The Finance committee reported a total of $10.30. On
motion the report was received and the committee released.

SABBATH schools.

We, your committee on Sabbath Schools, beg leave to submit
the following: Believing tiiat great good comes from Sabbath
schools, and seeing the negligence of some of our churches in
having Sabbath schools, we urge that the churches be more alive
to Sabbath schools, thereby instructing our children in God's
word. J. L. Paintek, Chairman.

After discussion by J. L. Painter and others, the report
was adopted and released.

At 11 o'clock the Association adjourned for preaching and
one hour for refreshments.

The Association then resumed business.

TEMPERANCE.

We, your committee on temperance, beg leave to submit the
following: Whereas intoxicating drinks are corrupting to
morals and degrading to society and injurious to Christian in-

flueiice, Resolved, That we recommend to this body to abstain
from the use of intoxicating drinPvs as a beverage. Resolved,
That we be careful and temperate that we may wield an influence
that will redound to the honor and glory of God.

J. T. DoDD, Chairman.
After being discussed by many of the brethren, led by prayer
by Ela. J. T. Dodd, the report was adopted.

DECEASED MINISTERS AND MEMBERS.

Your committee on deceased ministers and members desire
to offer the following: Our Heavenly Father has graciously
spared the lives of all our ministers and permitted them to labor
in His vineyard through another Associational year, during
which time we find that three of our members have been called
from our midst. While we mourn and are sensibly conscious of
our loss, we recognize in their death the hand of an Allwise
Providence. Thef-efore we would bow in humble submission to
flis will, realizing that our loss is their eternal gam.

I. F. Hurst, Chairman.

Upon the presentation of the report the congregation joined
in prayer led by Eld. H. Frazier, then on motion the report was
adopted.

MISSIONS.

We, your committee on missions, beg leave to submit the
following: Seeing the shortness of Baptist preaching in our
bounds and the neglect of the poor, we recommend to your body
the following: That the churches urge the miniitters of our
Association to put in every Saturday and Sunday and as much
other time as possible preaching, and that the churches aid them
in contributing to their needs and the need of the poor.

H. H. KiRBY, Chairman.

Appointed che next session of this body to be held with Mt.
Zion church, nine miles northeast of Albertviile, commencing on
Friday before the t\)urth Sabbath in August, 1898.

Elected Eld. J. T. Dodd to preach the introductory sermon
and M. Henegar, alternate.

On motion the Clerk was instructed to superintend the
printing and distribution of 500 minutes. On motion a collection
of SO cents was raised to aid in the distribution of the minutes.

The following resolution was adopted :

Resolved, That the thanlis of this body are due and are
hereby tendered Mt. Pisgah church and friends of this com-
munity for their kind hospitality in providing for the delegates
and visitants to this Association.

Read and adopted the minutes of the day. Sang a hymn,
prayer by Eld. J. W. S. Higgins, then the Association adjourned
to the above time and place.

M. J. LATTY, H. H. KIRBY,

Clerk. Moderator.

CONSTITUTION.

1. This Association shall be known as the North Alabama
Baptist Association.

2. The objects of this Association are to promote union
among the children of God, their growth in grace, the salvation
of sinners and the glory of God; for effecting all of whicli they
are authorized to adopt the arrangements they judge proper, and
directed by the word of God.

3. The Association shall be composed of brethren chosen by
the churches in union which they represent, who shall produce
certificates of their appointment, together with a statement of
the members in their respective churches — of those baptized, re-
ceived by letter, restored, dismissed, excommunicated an I dead
during the year, with the whole number in fellowship.

4. Each church shall have the -privilege of sending three
delegates and no more.

5. The Association shall have a Moderator and Clerk, (last
shall be Treasurer) who shall be chosen by ballot out of the
members present, and who shall continue in ofHce until a new
election shall be made.

6. After the reading of the letters from the churches,
enrolling the names of the delegates and minuting the state of
each church, the Constitution, Declaration of Faith and By-Laws
shall be read. The door shall be opened tor the admission of
other churches into the union. If any such shall present them-
selves by letter or delegates they shall, on satisfactory evidence
of their regular formation, faith and practice, be received into
fellowship upon the principles of the Constitution, by the right
band of fellowship from the Moderator.

7. After reading the Constitution. Declaration of Faith and
By-Laws, and the reception of other churches, if any apply, then
the Moderator and Clerk shall be chosen.

8. The Moderator shall be considered a judge of order and
call to its observance at any time. He shall have the privilege
of leaving his seat, upon putting one in his place, and of engag-
ing in debate.

9. The Clerk shall minute the proceedings of the Associa-
tion, prepare them for the press, keep a file of the printed min-
utes, present them at each session for the use of the Association,
and deliver them to his successor. He shall also take charge of
the money and property of the Association, and dispose of them
as the body shall direct.

10. In the decision of any point the majority of votes shall
determine the point.

11. The Association shall recognize the entire independence
of the churches as to any other head than Christ. The Associa-
tion shall not assume any power over them in relation to their
Internal concerns, but shall aid them in any consistent manner.
The Association will receive and act upon any question that may
be sent up by the churches, and attend to any case of dilHculty
among them which they cannot satisfactorily settle among
themselves.

12. Each member of the Association shall be expected to be
in his place at the hour of meeting on the first and each succeed-
ing day of the session, and remain until the dismission of the
body.

13. As the object of this union is to promote brotherly love,
the edification of Christians, the conversion of sinners and the
glory of God, it shall be its duty and privilege to hold affectionate
correspondence with other Associations, and to embrace every
opportunity of doing good unto men, and especially to them that
are of the household of faith, as in their judgment may seem
proper.

14. This association shall adjourn to any time and place
they may determine upon.

15. The churches of this Association shall send up yearly by
their messengers a reasonable contribution for the printing of

tlit^ minute?, wliifli business shall bo confined to some discreet
p^-r-iiiti, who shall have it in charge to superintend the printing
and distribution to the Assoi;iations with whom correspondence
is Miaititained, and to the churches in fellowship.

!(>. As this A«si)ciation is a voluntary connection, each
church in it <hall have the liberty of withdrawing, upon a request,
sfttiii;? forth its reasons for such a step — at the same time itself
be hound to hear ami weiijli any reasons that may be urged
against its withdrawal before its (inal sepuration,

17. The Association will have the privilege of withdrawing
its coniiec'tion with any church in the union which shall become
disorderly, after consistent efforts have been made in vain to re-
claim her from errors.

IS. Xo alteration shall be made in the Constitution, or in
the Declaration of Faith and Practice, hereinafter set forth, f'X-
cepc such alteration shall be passed a year previous upon tlie
minutes and the views of the churches obtained; when, if a ma-
jority of the churches and two-thirds of the Association shall
approve of it, the alteration shall be made.

ARTICLES OF FAITH.

1. We believe in only one true and living God, the Father,
Son and Holy Ghost, and these three are one. — 1 John, 6:7; 1
Timothy, 2 :5.

2. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa-
ments are the word of God, and the New Testament the rule of
faith and practice. — 2 Timothy, ii iK!; Matthew, 9 :i;{; Hebrews,
10 :{).

a. We believe that by one man sin entered the world and
death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for all have
sinned. — Romans, ;"> :12,2].

i. We believe that Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted
death for every man, and that through His meritorious death the
way of salvation is made possible for God to have mercy upon all
that come unto him upon Gospel terms. — Hebrew, 2:5); 1 John,
2:2; 4:10.

T). We believe that being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our F^ord Jesus Christ. — Romans, 5:1.

(). We believe that the Saints will persevere in grace, and
that none of tl'.ein will be finally lost. — Mark, 1(5:16; John, 10:20;
Romans, s ::js, m\ 1 John ;} :i).

7. We believe there will be a ressiirrection of the dead, and
a general and universal judgment, according to the decision of
which the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment and
the righteous to life eternal. — Matthew, 2o:4(); John, 6:28,29;
Reveialion, 20:12, i:}.

s. We believe that the visible church of Christ is a Con-
gregation of faithful Haptized meii and women who have ob-
tained fellowship with each other, and given themselves to the
Lord, and one another, having agreed to keep up a godly dis-
cipline according to the rules of the Gospel — Matthew, 10:18;
Acts 2:4; Ephesians, 1:2; Romans, (5::^, 4; 2 Corinthians, 8 :5.

9. We believe that Jesus Christ is the great head of the
chnrcth, and the government thereof is with the body. — Acts,
14:2;J: 1 Corinthians. 14:29.

10. We believe that water Baptism and the Lord's Supper
are ordinances instituted by Christ, and should be continued
until His second comin}?, and that washing the Saints' feet is a
duty tiiat should be practiced by the church. — Mark, 16:15; 1
Corinthians, 11 :'23, 24, 25.

11. We believe that true believers are the only fit subjects of
Baptism, and that immersion is the only scriptural mode. — Acts,
2:41, 10:47; Romans, 6:4.

12. We believe that none but regularly baptized members
have a right to commune at the Lord's table.-^Matthew, 28:26;
Acts, 20:7: 1 Corinthians, 10:16.

18. We believe that the Lord's day ought to be observed and
set aparc for the worship of God, and no worldly business ought
to be transacted thereon, works of piety and necessity excepted.
—Genesis, 2:2; Esodous, 20 :10; Luke, 11:5.

RULES OF DECORUM.

1. Those members who are regularly chosen by the churches
in our union shall compose the Association.

2. The members chosen shall produce letters from their
respective churches, certifying their appointment, together with
the number in fellowship, those baptized, received by letter, re-
stored, dismissed, excommunicated and dead, since the last
session.

8. The members thus chosen shall be denominated, "The
North Alabama Baptist Association."

4. This Association shall have no power to lord it over
God's heritage, nor to infringe upon any of the internal rights of
the churches.

5. The Association shall have a Moderator and a Clerk, who
shall continue in the otlict until the next election.

6. If a new church should desire to be admitted into this
union it should petition by letter and delegates, and if, upon ex-
amination, it be found orthodox and orderly, it shall be received
by the Association, the Moderator extending the right hand of
fellowship to her delegates.

7. Each church in this union shall have the privilege of
sending three delegates and no more.

8. Every query sent to the Association by any church of
the union, shall be read and put to vote by the Moderator
whether it shall be debated, and if there be a majority for it,
shall be investigated, but if not, it shall be withdrawn; provided
always, that those be first considered which afl'ect the union of
the churches, unless ruled out of order.

9. Every motion made and seconded shall come under the
observation of the Association, except it be withdrawn.

10. Every person who speaks in debate shall rise from his
seat and address the Moderator, and shall not be interrupted
while speaking, except he depart from the subject.

11. No person shall speak more than three times on the same
subject without leave of the Association.

12. There sliall be no talking or whispering in time of a
public speech, nor reflections cast upon the speaker.

18. No member shall absent himself from the Association
without leave of the Moderator.

14. If any niomber shall break the rules of this decorum, he
shall be Imuieillately reported by the Moderator.

15. When it is necessary tliat the Moderator shall leave his
seat, in debate or otherwise, he shall fill his place by nomination.

ORDER OF BUSINESS.

1. Reading letters from the churches.

2. Reading: By-Laws, Constitution and Articles of Faith.
8. Call for petitionary letters.

4. Invite visiting ministers and brethren to seats.

5. Election of officers.

6. Call for correspondence.

7. Appoint committees,

8. Fix the time and place for holding the next meeting.

9. Report of committees.

10. Miscellaneous business.

11. Read and correct the minutes.

12. Fix the order of printing and distributing the minutes.

13. Cost of printing minutes, $7.00.

o

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