CHURCH RECORDS - ANDERSON COUNTY, TX - BETHEL CHURCH Submitted by East Texas Genealogical Society P. O. Box 6967, Tyler, TX 75711 Reprinted from Vol 6 No 3 Fall 1982 East Texas Family Records File uploaded by Lawrence E. Oliver - on April 20, 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ***************************************************************** Proceedings of the Sixty-Firth Annual Session of the Union Association of the Regular Predestinarian Baptist Faith and Order Held With Bethel Church, Anderson County, Texas. October 12th, 13th and 14th, 1900. ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. The introductory sermon was delivered by Elder L.T. Roden. Text: Dan. 11:44. When after an hour intermission the messengers met in the house. Prayer by Elder K.F. Polk. The letters from the several churches were called for, read and received, and the names of messengers enrolled and the state of the churches noted as the table will show. 2. The association then organized, choosing Elder K.F. Polk at its moderator and Elder L.T. Roden as its clerk. 3. The moderator on taking his seat invited visiting brethren of our faith and order to sit in council with us. 4. Called for petitionary letters non. 5. Called for correspondence from associations with whom we correspond. A package of minutes received by mail from Pilgrims Rest Association. No intelligence from the other Associations. Correspondence continued with the Associations with whom we correspond as will be seen in the letters. 6. Appointed the following brethren to arrange preaching as follows: W.A. Miller, T.J. Adams, with the messengers of Bethel church. 7. Appointed a committee on finance: W.H. Miller, J.W. Ramsey. 8. Resolved that we have the corresponding letters printed in minutes. 9. The preaching committee report that the stand on Saturday be occupied by Elder S.P. Pipkin in the forenoon and Elder W.L. Goss in the afternoon and close by the moderator. Adjourned until Saturday morning at 9 o'clock. On Saturday morning, October 13, the Association met pursuant to adjournment. Prayer by I. Rose. 1. Called names of messengers and marked names of absentees. 2. The reading and printing of the Constitution, Articles of Faith and Rules of Decorum on motion and agreed to have the same printed in these minutes. 3. The finance committee report $14.00, and committee discharged. Other contributions $4.40. 4. The next session of this Association will be held with Holly Springs church 12 miles northwest from Palestine, Texas, beginning on Friday before the second Sunday in October, 1901. Elder S.P. Pipkin will preach the introductory sermon, and Elder W.L. Goss, Alternate. Preaching to begin at 10 a.m. Visiting brethren will be met at Palestine, Anderson County, Texas, with conveyance, Thursday. 5. Ordered the clerk to have five hundred copies of these minutes printed, reserving one hundred and seventy-five for corresponding Associations, and that the clerk superintend the printing and distribution of the same, and after paying all expenses, retain balance in treasury for his services. 6. Miscellaneous business. By motion and second, it was unanimously agreed to drop Corinth church from our Union, on account of the doctrine held by them. To-wit: they say, "There is nothing or no Spirit in man, prior to conversion, to be quickened but the flesh, and the flesh is only quickened in time and not born again until the Resurrection, though it be a million years," for which doctrine we withdraw. 7. The Association tenders thanks to the brethren, sisters and citizens of this vicinity for the kind hospitality extended the Association during the session. 8. The Association having got through her business in peace and order repaired to the stand where preaching was then continued by Elders K.F. Polk and W.L. Goss. Sunday, October 14, the brethren came forward in order named, Elder S.P. Pipkin preached to a large and attentive congregation; closed by the moderator, amid songs, and rejoicings to God, our Father, and Jesus Christ, our Savior. Eld. K.F. Polk, Moderator. Eld. L.T. Roden, Clerk. Letter to the Associations with whom we correspond: Very dear Brethren: We take pleasure in informing you of this method of inviting you all to Pilgrims Rest, when convened with _______; to the Primitive, when convened with ______; to New Hope, when convened with _______; to New Hope, when convened with. When and where we hope to meet you all with messengers. Brethren, pray for and visit us as often as you can. We still desire your friendly correspondence. You will see in this minute the reasons why we moved the Association from Corinth church to Bethel on account of the disturbance and dissatisfaction that arose on account of the doctrine held by Corinth church. So brethren finally farewell. TABLE CONSTITUTION OR PLAN OF UNION BETWEEN THE CHURCHES 1. The members of the several Churches, when met, producing letters certifying their appointment, shall be denominated the "Union Association of the Regular Predestinarian Baptist Faith and Order." 2. The Association, when met, shall appoint a Moderator and Clerk from among themselves for their benefit, to enable them to do the business for which they have met. 3. The Association may adopt such rules of decorum as she may deem necessary to enable her to maintain good order while in session; provided such rules are in no way repugnant to the principles and designes of the churches, in the formation of the Association. 4. The Association shall in no case whatever interfere or meddle with the business or rights of the Churches, only in cases hereafter provided for. 5. The Church shall be considered the highest ecclesiastical authority upon the earth, and each member possessing equal rights, agreeable to their order, in the Gospel and the Association - a medium of free correspondence with each baud or incorporated particle of the Church of Christ. 6. The Association shall have power to receive into Union any orderly Church that may petition by letter and messenger, if found orthodox in principle and orderly in practice; in all such cases, if difficulties should arise amongst themselves, the Association shall refer the question, with the necessary information, to the Churches for decision. 7. The Association shall have the right to regulate and see that good order is preserved in the administration of the word while in session, and to appoint members among themselves, with his or their consent, to transact any business belonging to the Association, to keep up a correspondence with as many of our sister Associations as she may find convenient, unless forbid by the CHurches. Each member shall report to his Church the disorder of any unruly members who may refuse to be governed by the rules of the Association. 8. No query shall be presented to the Churches through the Association until it has first been debated by the Church where it takes its rise, and on which the Church is not satisfied; in all such cases where this is done, and the query presented, the Association shall spread it on their minutes. 9. No charge shall be presented against a Church until the regular order of the Gospel is attended to according to the 18th chapter of Matthew, and other scriptures relative to dealing with disorderly members. But in all cases where a charge is presented against a sister Church for heterodox principles or disorderly practice when it is made to appear that the Gospel order has been correctly attended to, the Association shall spread the charge on the face of their minutes, and if any difficulty shall arise with regard to the corresponding Associations, or any other matter that may affect the peace or fellowship of the Union, the Association shall refer it to the Churches and it is the duty of the Churches to give their votes on all questions referred to them, and a majority of Churches that vote shall be a decision in all cases except in matters touching fellowship; in such cases a unanimous vote is required. Yet in all cases, in receiving a Church or Churches, or retaining in a church members to be dealt with for heterodox principles, or disorderly practice, in the former case, if the delegates from one or more Churches upto one-fourth of those present, should refuse to receive into union with them any CHurch applying for same, or in the latter case, if any one or more Churches up to one-fourth of the Churches belonging to the Association, should retain in union with them any Church or CHurches thus dealt with in all such cases the reasons of such objection or refusals shall be plainly set in all such cases the reasons of such objection or refusals shall be plainly set forth in the face of their minutes and the voice of all the Churches shall be required. And if the majority of the Churches are of the opinion that the reasons set forth are sufficent for the rejection of said Church or Churches from the priviliges of the union, such Churches shall not be received or continued in the union; and we think it the duty of a minority to submit in all such cases. 10. At the request of any two Churches any act of the Association shall be referred to the Churches for approbation or disapprobation. 11. The Association shall have the liberty of adjourning themselves to any time or place they may deem necessary; have their proceedings plainly printed and distributed amongst the Churches according to the money contributed for that purpose, reserving for the use of the corresponding Associations as many copies as they may think necessary. 12. Every Church in the Union shall be entitled to a correspondence with each other in the Association: but not more than three members from each Church producing letters certifying their appointment. 13. It is requested that each Church in their letters, give account of their members in fellowship, received by experience by letter, by relation, restored dismissed, excluded and dead, since the last Association. 14. In order to preserve peace, unity and good order throughout the Union, we recommend that the constituting Churches and ordaining Ministers and Deacons to their word, be by at least one Ordained Preacher of the Gospel, acting by Church authority, and more help if it can reasonably be had and that the restoring of gifts, suspended by excommunications, be by the same authority and in like manner. 15.