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GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
L
3 1833 03562 8152
Gc 976.1 B749h Brewer, G. E., 1832-1922 A history of the Central Association of Alabama
A HISTORY
-OF-
HE CENTRAL ASSOCIATION
-OF-
ALABAMA.
-BY-
GEO. E. BREWER.
-FROM-
ITS ORGANIZATION IN 1845. TO 1895 .;
** OPELIKA, ALA .:; . . Post Publishing Company. 1895
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
· INTRODUCTION.
THE author, being possessed of the only file of minutes known to be in existence, Y and having been intimately acquainted with the affairs of the Central Association of Alabama from within a few years after its organization, has felt it a duty to preserve the records of this body in such shape that the successors of this noble band of Christians may know how the planting, development, and fruitage of this Christian assembly has been brought about under the providence of God. Beginning in 1836 he has briefly presented a birds eye view down to 1845, the time of organization; and then more in detail the progress to 1895. To those whose lives have been encom- passed by these events, there will doubtless be interest, whether the author has had any of the skill of the artist or not, in presenting the picture, for their memories and feelings will touch with proper coloring and tints where he has failed. To others pos- sessed of imagination, these inborn artists, will achieve for them what the author has failed in, because of the sympathetic interest they have in some characters here presented, whose lives are interwoven into their own,
Whatever may be the views of others, I have the consolation of knowing that my object has been to rescue from oblivion men and acts that are worthy to be remem- bered as long as noble aspirations for good, self-sacrificing devotion for mankind, and undying loyalty to Christ shall awaken admiration and love in human hearts. With this introduction receive the best bow of the author.
GEO. E. BREWER.
CHAPTER .I.
CONDITION OF TERRITORY.
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HE territory covered by the Central Association of Alabama has, with an occa- Y sional change, bech that lying between the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers from their junction northward to what was the southern boundary line of Talladega county to 1870. At first the political divisions were that part of Montgomery county lying north of the Tallapoosa river, the half of Tallapoosa lying west and north of the river, and all of Coosa county. In the reorganization of the counties after the "War of Secession," Montgomery, Tallapoosa and Coosa counties where dismembered to form Elmore county, which was effected about 1870. Since then the association has em- braced most of Elmore, the western half of Tallapoosa, and all of Coosa. About 1885 some three or four churches in the northwestern part of Coosa, not being in sym- pathy with mission work, withdrew, and went into the organization of a new body, called the Weogufka Association, and have since been detached from the Central. The Weogufka is put on the list of missionary associations, but ought not to be, for it is opposed to our missionary operations; to ed icating the ministry ; to any translation of the scriptures but the " King James Version,"' believing it to be the original; and they extend a cool reception to visitors from missionary bodies. It ought to be classi- fied with the Anties. With this exception, and that of a few churches in the north- eastern part that went to the Carey, and two in the southern to the Montgomery, its territory remains the same.
This territory was sparsely settled by the whites until about 1832. Then the whites commenced a more rapid immigration, buying up the lands of the Indians. Speculators came among them and bought largely of their lands, and inany of them being greedy of gain, cheated the Indians out of much of their possessions. This' provoked them, and made them suspicious, and naturally awakened their hatred. Hostile feelings became manifest, and open hostilities began here by an Indian shoot- ing down Jesse Suttle while at his own spring with his wife, who was washing her clothes. Suttle was an innocent victim, for another did the deed of cheating for which Suttle was unjustly killed, yet the warrior thought he was wreaking a just re- venge. Suttle was the father of Judge J. W. Suttle, who was for so many years a member of the association and its moderator. Consternation filled the whites for the safety of their homes, wives and children, and they fled to a few rude forts for the protection of their loved ones. The Indians were soon subdued by the government, and compelled to remove to the Indian territory in 1836. The country now rapidly filled with white settlers. Churches, schools, and other evidences of civilization be- gan to take the place of the wigwams and play grounds of the red inen.
These churches for a few years grew and enjoyed gracious refreshings from God. Some few of them united with the Mulberry association, an organization in the older settled part of the State, west of the Coosa river. Among these was Shiloh, with which the first session of the Central was held. Others entered no organization. The churches which early sprung up, besides Shiloh, were Smyrna, Bethel, Mt. Carmel, Fellowship, Weogufka, Elkahatchie, Union, Liberty, Bethlehem and Wetumpka. The ministers who preached among them were Elders Benj. H. Wilson, Jas. Eden, Joseph
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Hill, Benj. Foscue, Obadiah Radford, David Moore, and J. D. Williams. None of them were educated men except Williams, Foscue and Wilson, nor did these possess more than a common one. The others were men of fair preaching ability for their day. They were of that native strength and ruggedness which characterized the pio- neers of the times. For a while all moved on comparatively peaceably and lovingly. But the questions about mission boards, Sunday school unions, tract societies, and secret societies got among them and proved an apple of discord, These came from the east and gained momentum as they moved westward, and the discussion ripened into a contest as to whether mission or Sunday school work was in any sense of scriptural origin, or rather "a corrupting addition made by man to the work of the Master as assigned by Him to His churches." Behind the attack upon mission work . was Bebe, of New York, a strong writer, and one who loved debate and contention. His weekly paper, "The Signs of the Times," waged constant battle. He magnified the sovereignty of God in salvation until he carried it into the realms of fatality. He was ingenious in his attacks on the " Boards " and "Societies" so as to catch -the popular feeling, and arouse the spirit of loyalty to Revelation from God, so that rea- son should be blinded. He was likewise remarkably skillful in turning every un- guarded and loose expression of the advocates of these institutions into a weapon with which to belabor them. The over zealous advocates gave him fine opportunities ... for the display of his skill. An unguarded and unfortunate expression of the great Missionary Judson, uttered in enforcing an earnest appeal to his brethren to help the mission cause, served well the purpose of Bebe to attack all missionary enthusiasm as the outgrowth of the rankest Arminianismn. He furnished the cudgels, and his sympathizers plied them lustily. The contest waxed warmer and warmer, so that it eventually became the theme of almost every pulpit effort. It pervaded the confer- ence deliberations, making them jar with confusing debates. It was the topic around the fireside when brethren visited. In fact it overshadowed everything else among the members of the church, and outsiders alligned themselves also. Strong feelings of bitterness were engendered between the best friends and in family circles. Finally this broke fellowship, and led to the adoption, by the anti-missionidies, of the famous " non fellowship resolution," which declared against fellowship with the "Institutions } of the Day," aMission and Sunday School Boards, Tract and Temperance societies, Masonry and Odd Fellowship were called.
The missionary sympathizers at this time simply contended for the liberty of ___ every brother or sister to contribute to missions, to attend or work in Sunday schools, to aid Tract societies, or to join the Masons, &c., as they might deem proper in the light of his or her own conscience. It was not then assumed, as now, that it is a great duty to give the gospel, or for sending the gospel, "to those in the regions be- ' yond." "This is a growth that has come upon the churches as they have more care- fully studied the Bible upon it, and have put into practice the great duty and privi- , leges. The anti-brethren were unwilling to allow such liberty, for they felt It was - permitting their deluded brethren to pratake of the " work of darkness" and evil, as .they saw it. They argued that " brethren are to watch over one another for good," and deemed themselves guilty of sin not to prevent " their misguided brethren fromn being partakers in evil." Further, that if they could not turn them from that way, to remain in church tellowship with them was to become guilty themselves through asso- ciation. It was seen that separation was all that could be done if there was to be any peace. In some churches the missionaries had the majority, in others the anti- missionaries prevailed. Whichever had the ascendency held the house, records, and
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organization, while the others withdrew. In some cases they were fair enough to divide the value of the property proportionately. The missionaries and anti-mission-' aries then went to organizing rival associations,
CHAPTER II.
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CHURCHES-PREACHERS-ORGANIZATION.
The anti-missionary churches formed an association named the Wetumpka, but the date of organization is not remembered. It was first a part of Beulah association. Elder Benj. H. Wilson called for a meeting of the missionary churches to convene at Shiloh church, in October 1845 ; and four responding, they proceeded to the organiza- tion with Elkahatchie, Liberty, Bethlehem and Union churches.
We will first take some notice of the preachers named, before entering upon the account of the body. The preachers named all sided with the anties except Wilson and Williams. Wilson was a man of moderate means, but owned a sufficiency of land and negroes tu make a comfortable living. He was devout and earnest, of a gentle spirit, yet firm and unyielding where principles were involved. He was beloved of his people, and his preaching was instructive and unctious. llis education was fair. His consecration to his Master was lovely.
Foscue was a man of some education, a good property in land and slaves. He preached fairly well, and was a good talker, but would have been more influential but for the unfortunate habit of exaggeration. 1
Jas. Eden was uncultured, of farr piety, strong native intellect, decp convictions or prejudices, and naturally intellectually combative. So the strile of the period was not so distasteful to hmi.
Joseph Hill, though now advanced in life, having been born iu 1770, had yct much vigor, sonte education, and a comfortable property. He was not as bitter as most with whom he sided in the controversy. He remained with the anties until about 1850, when he cast his lot in with the missionaries. Owing to his advanced age he did not labor much'in the misistry from this time. He lived, however, until 1871, having sojourned here abont 100 years. He was rather mild in disposition, was con- sidered a good preacher, and maintained always the reputation of consistent piety. The others, except Williams, did not live long, and being called home by death before society and churches had passed the formative period, the writer knows but little of them.
Of the churches Elkahatchie was froin the first, composed of men above the average of this section for mind, culture, and property, as well as liberality. For many years she gave more largely than any others to the enterprises of the denomi- nation, and sometimes nearly half that was given. Among the leading members who . shaped her course and gave the needed means, were Wiley W. Mason, Reuben Max- well, his sons, Allen, Frank, and Willis, Lennard Marberry,-Taylor, Seaborn Thomas and his sons, Wm. and Henry, Isaac Smith, Dr. Moon, Thos. Davis, W. M. Davis, Captain Walker, and Rev. Bright Skipper, long her pastor,
Liberty church in her earlier days was fairly liberal and useful, led by Milton, Jesse, and Marion Russell, Lafayette and George Thomas, J. A. Robinson, and I. M. Thomas.
Bethlehem was always a weak church.
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Union was next to Elkahatchie, and not far behind it for strength mentally and in liberality. While the Central Institute flourished in its vicinity it drew to the church a coterie that made it for the time the leading church. It had at this period seven or eight ordained ministers in its membership, Elder Jas. Jeter, Jas. Russell, Jos. Bankston, A. L. Holmes, B. L. Smith, Platt Stout, Bright Skipper, and W. B. W. Weston. Its permanent laymen were J. D. Letcher, Wm. Barnes, W'm. Reeves, J. A. Pylant, W. M. Lindsey, O. Swindal, and J. W. Bozeman. The latter, though a young man, was influential. He soon, however, about 1859, went to Mississippi, entered the ministry, where he took rank among her best and most influential preachers, filling some of her most important pulpits. He died quite recently, leav- ing vacant the pulpit of the ist Baptist church of Meridian, the leading church of this flourishing city, where for fifteen years he had guided her wisely to the joy and profit of her cultured membership. The city paper in noticing his death, said "he was beloved by all the city old and young, and the poor had lost their best friend and the distressed their best earthly comforter."
Shiloh, with which the body inet, was situated in Coosa county, about three miles north of Nixburg, in a good farming section. It was a stronger church in its early history than in later years. Among its membership were men of means and influ- ence. Most prominent among them were Elder Joseph Bankston, I. W. Suttle, Stephen Ray, Kigdon Edwards, A. H. Kendrick, Asa Little, Peter Goggans, J. P. Goggans, - Wilton, and - Hardy. Stephen Ray was in its constitution, and .> still lives, and is still a member as he nears 90 years. He claims to be one of the oldest if not the oldest citizen of the State, having come to it 1814 trom Tennessee. He came to Coosa about 1835. IIe can still perform manual labor. So Shiloh his . now nearly a centenarian, and had one, Joseph Hill, more than a century old. This church belonging to the Mulberry, did not go into the constitution of the association, though she hospitably entertained it. The churches that met with her and formed the Central Association were Elkahatchie, three miles from what is now Alexander City, the leading church of which has absorbed the old mother; Liberty near Bulger's inill ; Bethlehem, six miles north of T'allassee, all in Tallapoosa county ; and Union at wirat is now Central, 12 miles north of Wetunipka, in Coosa county.
'These delegates from the churches named, were kindly received and entertained by the brethren of Shiloh, and after two or three days of worship and deliberations gave birth to an association which they named the "Centra!," which for years was among the most influential and useful in the State. It is yet capable of much good, if properly aroused. The hearts of the brethren were drawn closer to each other by this union, and by the bitterness of the opposition. -
Elder Benj. 11. Wilson was chosen moderator, and was the only ordained minister present as a member. Wiley W. Mason was elected clerk. The Constitution, De- coruni, and Articles of Faith under which the organization was effected was mainly such as is now usually printed with the minutes annually. The body adjourned to meet with Liberty church the following year.
1846.
The body met i , its second session with Liberty church, on the 17th of October 1X46, and continued the session for three days. Elder J. D. Williams preached the introductory sermon front Prov. 11:14. B. H. Wilson re-elected moderator, and W. W. Mason clerk.
Two churches united with this session, Hillabee and Friendship. Hillabee is . northeast of AlexanderCity, near the large creek of the same name. After the forination .
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of the Carey It entered that association. Friendship was a weak church near Soca- patoy in Coosa county. . I: afterwards became for awhile a church of some strength, and numbered among its members men of means and influence : the Mckinneys, ffarris and Patrick, Goodgame, Corbet, and Dred Thomas. The church finally went down about 1870.
Elder Williams was a correspondent from the Alabama Association, and Jas. M. Russell and Hugh Carmichael from the Liberty. Sunday was a day of spiritual re- joicing among Christians and religious awakening among sinners. Carmichael and Williams preached. By invitation of the church to the body, it partook with the church of the Lord's Supper.
The body was divided into two districts of three churches each.
Correspondents were appointed to the Alabama, Liberty, Coosa River, and Mul- berry Associations. The churches were urged to establish and maintain Sunday schools ; and the pastors were requested to preach once a year at least to their churches upon the duty of pastoral support, and contributing *o missions, "especially domestic." The churches were also recommended to set apart Sunday afternoons of their regular meetings to the spiritual instruction of the slaves among them.
. A resolution was also adopted approving the organization and objects of the Southern Baptist Convention, which was constituted the year before, 1845, at Augusta, Gia. The resolution expressed concurrence "in the necessity and wisdom of proinpt and radical separation from our Northern brethren ;" and to discountenance the ex- ercise of Northern agencies among them for religious purposes.
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Alabama was the mover in what led to the organization of the S. B. Convention. The Board of the Triennial Convention had refused to appoint some persons as mis- sionaries who owned slaves. ft was suspected that the trouble was that they were slave owners. The Alabama Baptist State Convention then addressed an inquiry di- rectly to the floard of the 'f'riennial Convention to know if they would appoint a slave holder as a missionary. The answer to the inquiry was "they would not." This was regarded as seriously discrediting the call to the ministry, and the fitness for the ministry of those who held or would hold slaves. Many of the best and most pious of the Southern ministers were slave holders, and nearly all would have been had they possessed the means to be. The alinost universal opinion endorsed the script- ural right to own slaves, provided they were humane'y treated. The answer given was therefore offensive to the general southern sentiment. This led to the call for the meeting in Augusta, Ga., in 1845, which gave birth to the Southern Baptist Con- vention. So the Convention and the Central were born the same year.
The "Alabama Baptist," a paper published at Marion, Ala., was endorsed, and patronage to it urged upon the brethren. This paper was first started at Wetumpka in 1836, hy Eller J. D. Williams, under the name of the "Fannly Visitor," as a Bap tist journal. About 1840 Williams gave, or turned over the paper to Gen. F. D. King and Milo P'. Jewett at Marion. They published it as the "Alabama flaptist." Rob- ert Williams, son of J. f)., though a young man, was put in charge as publisher.
The committee "On the State of Religion" reported a gracious revival as having commenced with Union church, and which had reached Elkahatchie and Liberty, and its gracious tufluences had pervaded other churches hot belonging to the body. The memberslup had more than doubled during the year. Bro| Wilsou was pastor of the churchies thus revived. The same committee also reported destitution of mission- ary preaching in the northern, western and southern portions of the territory; and " that Bethlehem ought to be a'ded in supporting a pastor. They also declared that
much of the remaining porhon of the territory was "complet ly sp .Il-bound by an- tinomian influence," and appealed to other more favored parts of the State to help them evangelize this destitution.
Co respondents were appointed to the Alabama Baptist State Convention. A "Corresponding Letter" of affectionate tone was attached to the minutes.
The number of baptisms for the year was 53. Additions by' letter 57 ; dismissed by letter 6, excluded 3, died 1. Total, 227. .
folder J. D). Williams, who preached the sermon of this session, Ilved at We. : tumpka, and continued to do so, except for a short period in the neighborhood of Elkahatchie. Ile started a paper here in 1836, and the same year succeeded in get ting a church constituted. He came from Virginia in 1834. He was born in North Carolina in 1800. He commenced preaching in 1818; married in Virginia in 1824 ; died Oct. 7th, 1870. Wetumpka church became a member of the Central Association in 1847. This made Bro. Williams a member of the body, which relation continued until his death in 1873. Ife was a regular attendant upon its sessions, taking an ac- tive part in all its work and deliberations, and wielded much influence. But for some peculiarities he would have been even more useful than he was. He did much in these carly days for planting Baptist principles and churches in his portion of the Statc. He started the first Baptist paper in the State, and generously gave it to Convention. He had two sons Robert, who was the first maniger of the Alabama Baptist, and now lives at Mt. Meigs, Ala., and Hon. Thos. Wilhams, of Wetumpka, who for several sessions represented the sth Congressional District in Congress. The wife of 1. 1). Williams was a noble Christian woman of lovable character, and an earnest worker. She was baptized when the earth was wrapped in a inantle of snow. The same condition existed at her marriage. She had frequently expressed the wish that it might please the f.ord to allow her to be burried with a white sheet of snow spread over the earth. ffer wish was gratified, for during the noted snow of 1885 she was laid to rest in the cemetery of Wetumpka, beside her life's companion.
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1847.
The session of this year was held at Ilillabee church, Tallapoosa county, from October 14 to 17. The anniversary sermon was preached by Elder Il. If. Wilson, from Eph. 2:20. The session was opened by prayer led by Elder B. Van Hoose Elder Wilson was re-elected moderator and Mason clerk. Four churches were added this year : Wetumpka, Harmony, and Good Hope all of Coosa county, and Goldville, of Tallapoosa county.
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Wetumpka church was in the town of the same name, one of Indian origin, meaning in English " Roaring Waters." The name was suggested by the constant roar of the pretty waters of this beautiful stream, the Cosa river, as they poured over the mass of rocks forming the bed of the river for a long distance. They effect- ually impede the further navigation northward of the many steamboats which plied between this point, Mobile and New Orleans, from whence came nearly all the mer- chandise in these days. Wetumpka was quite a distributing point for a number of coun- ties in Alabama, and some in Georgia. It was then about the third point in the State for business. Its streets were jammed with wagons for several months in the year. fn 1840 its population was one third larger than Montgomery. It was a candidate for the capitol when removed from Tuscaloosa, but its rival Montgomery, secured the prize, and from then rapidly outstripped her in growth and prosperity. Some of the prominent names in this church, hesides Williams, are its pastors f.undy, Van Hoose, Melver, Brewer, Figh, Taul, Skipper and Stout. faymen, Due, McWilliams, Terrell,
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Ilatchett, McElroy, Pylant, Smoot, Austin, Lull, and Bates, Sedberry and Lacy were quite efficient members of it. Some sisters of this church are worthy of special men- tion for their good works, especially Sisters Williams, Stout, Thomas, Haggerty, Storrs, Bates, and Adams.
Good Hope was eight miles west of Tallassee, and a good church, Three of her deacons were for years prominent in the body, Charles Gregory, Norton, and 'I'im- merinan. There were three ministers here also members, Y. 1). Harrington, Joseph Norton, and Benjamin Timmerman. Harmony was among the eastern hills of Coosa, but the lands being fertile drew good substantial men, and the church has been an in- . flues:tial one. One of the three men, now living who was at the formation of the as- sociation, is still a member here, and has been for these years. Though a plain man, yet quite successful in the ministry, having baptized inany converts, and has had sev. eral pastorates lasting over twenty years each. This is J. H. Colley, who, though looking well still, is now feeble. He has been moderator of the association.
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