GOSHEN BAPTIST CHURCH 3 LINCOLN CO., GA.
Fifth. Resolved, That the affidavit of any person will not be received by
this church as testimony in any case whatever: nevertheless, the testimony
of any creditable witness may be admitted in particular cases, the person
testifying being present.
Sixth Rule. Resolved, That the members of this church be required to
observe the Lord's day by forsaking their temporal interest & consecrating
that day holy to the Lord with the exception of particular acts of necessity
& mercy.
Seventh. Resolved, That the black people who are members of this
church intending to marry at any time shall first make it known to their
master, mistress or overseer.
Eighth. Resolved, That no member shall speak on any subject whatever
in conference more than twice without leave.
Ninth. Resolved, That the pastor of the church be considered moderator
in conference successively, unless conference shall think proper to change
on any particular occasion.
Tenth. Resolved, That no charge shall be received by the church unless
it be exhibited in a plain manner.
Eleventh. Resolved, That this church in their decisions shall be governed
by a majority except on touching of fellowship where a unanimity will be
required.
That these rules were strictly enforced is evidenced by the fact that the
church minutes show that from July 1803 to June 1867 at least 23 (probably
32) whites and 95 blacks were excluded from the membership of the
church. The grounds generally alleged were immorality, lying, stealing, and
failure to live up to the rules of the church, such as church attendance,
failure to observe notices to attend, etc.
It was plain that the early church fathers did not countenance disloyalty,
either to God or to their church. A record day of exclusions occurred on
August 1813 meeting when nine were excluded. On the following church
conference day four more were excluded. In 1838 one brother was
excluded for failure to pay his subscription to the church, and for
un-Christian letters to the church and its members. In 1804 a sister was
expelled for not living with her husband. In 1803 a daughter brought
charges against her father and mother, the charge against the father being
that he swore, told a lie, and directed her to give credence to the lie and
confirm it. The charge against her mother was for getting into a passion and
saying she could embrue? her hands and body in the heart's blood of her
daughter. Both parents were expelled by the church.
There are records of charges being brought by black members against
other black members of the church. When a colored member was excluded,