An Account of the Nashville Meeting,
by Elder C. H. Cayce, October 1937

We should have had some account of this meeting in our columns before now; but after the meeting, which was on Friday, Saturday and fifth Sunday in August, we were filling some appointments, and have been at home very little since the meeting.

There were forty-two ministers in attendance at the meeting. The names of all of them were enrolled as being present, without regard to where or how they had stood - without regard to their order or standing among the brotherhood. The object of the meeting was not to pass judgment on the order or standing of any minister or others who might be in attendance at the meeting.

On Friday morning it was put upon the writer to preach the opening discourse in the meeting, which we tried to do, as best we could, with the ability the good Lord saw fit to give. After the opening discourse a committee was selected to frame recommendations to present to the meeting, whereby all matters causing the disturbances and the troubles which have lately existed in that part of the country might be adjusted, and the brethren and churches might be brought together, and fellowship restored. However, before the committee was selected, the meeting made choice of Elder H. P. Houk as moderator and Elder C. H. Cayce as clerk. Elder E. S. Frye was requested by Elder Houk to serve as assistant moderator and as moderator pro tem in the absence of Elder Houk from the room, as Elder Houk was appointed to serve on the committee. The brethren selected to serve on the committee were: Elders H. P. Houk, C. H. Cayce, J. A. Monsees, James Duncan, T. L. Webb, R. O. Raulston, Lee Hanks, John R. Harris, J. D. Shain, and W. A. Shutt, and Deacon G. P. Nall.

The committee labored hard Friday and until afternoon Saturday. On Saturday afternoon they finished their work, and their recommendations were read in open meeting. Then all were given opportunity to ask any questions they desired to ask concerning what was embraced in the recommendations, and the questions were answered. A stenographer was employed to take the questions and answers, which are to be published with the recommendations. After the reading of the recommendations, the same were approved by unanimous vote of all the Primitive Bapists present - and a large crowd was there.

We offered to print the proceedings - the recommendations, with the questions and answers - in pamphlet form for free distribution among our people. A contribution was taken up to help pay the cost of the printing and distribution of the same. The actual cost will be around ten cents per copy. If any desire to help pay this cost, it will be appreciated; but they will be printed and distributed free to any who desire them. Please write and tell us at once how many you would like to have, so we may have some idea as to how many to print. You are not obligated to pay anything for the copies you want. This is left entirely to you.

At this writing we have not received the stenographer's report. This delay is holding up the work of printing and sending out the report of the meeting. When the proceedings are printed and sent out, it will be expected that the churches involved will either adopt or reject the recommendations of the meeting, as presented by the committee and approved by those present at the meeting; and that they will straighten out and eliminate the irregularities, so that peace may be restored. There are some things which will have to be cleared up in order to have peace and in order that fellowship exist and abound among the brotherhood. There are some things which will always bring trouble, confusion and distress among our people.

No investigation was made as to the troubles, or as to who was in the right, or who was in the wrong. Not a single witness was called. Not a single question was asked as to whether this or that condition existed. Some of the things mentioned in the recommendations by the committee were known by some of the members of the committee to have been done and to have existed. Hence no witness was examined, no investigation was entered into, for the simple reason that this was not a council meeting. Some of the brethren on the committee had been involved in the trouble, one way or another; and they simply unanimously agreed in the committee room as to what would bring about peace and restore fellowshpi, and how unity and fellowship may be maintained.

It was a wonderul meeting. There was not a jar in the committee room. Everything was done harmoniously and by a unanimous voice there. We never srved on a committee where things went more smoothly. Then when the time came for approval or non-approval of the recommendations as presented by the committee, the vote for approval was unanimous. Not a single vote was cast against approval. Then a song was sung and all engaged in shaking hands and embracing each other, while shouts of praise were heard and tears ofjoy were shed abundantly. We pray that much and lasting good may come of this meeting. May the Lord help us all to "behave ourselves in the house of God," and help us to labor for peace, and to strive for the things that make for peace. C. H. C.


Copied from Selected Editorials of the Primitive Baptist, Vol. 1935-1939, pp. 316-319.


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