USA > Alabama > A history of the Central Association of Alabama : from its organization in 1845 to 1895 > Part 3
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Providence, Tallapoosa, has been a good church in nll ity history. It is situated in a good farming region in the northwest of Tallapoosa, and near the large Hillabee creek. It has been m and out of the C'entral and Cary Associations several times, but is welcomed in citber. There have been some most excellent men connected with it, among whom may be named the Harlans, three brothers, the two Congers, G. W. Barke and son, 1. B. Brown, and J. R. Gilbert. H. L. Harlan was a good average preacher of the day. He had a good home and living. Was mld and gentle in his manner : warm in his attachments ; and lived above reproach. This family were inter- esting. The deaf mutes were carly converted to Christ as were also the other chil dren. The two youngest boys obtained a hove in Christ the same evening at home, and on Saturday of that week joined the church. The father and mother's hearts were filled with gladness. The-church rejoiced with him, for they loved him dearly who had so long served them as pastor. It is told that at an earlier date a trouble got into the church winch grew worse and worse. Jas. Russell, who was then pastor, seeing but little hope of settlement, after a long conference one Saturday, proposed n dissolution of the church, and all to grant letters to rach one. The proposition was acted upon and agreed to. When that was done, he then asked all who were willing to drop whatever was in the past, and come together and reconstitute, and live to- gether in fellowship hereafter, to meet him at the church house the next day, and they' would reorganize. The most of them came together on Sunday, reconstituted, and have since prospered.
Joseph Hill has already been introduced to the reader. I. Binkston was re- elected moderator, and W. M. Lindsey clerk. The missionary sermon was preached by Joel Nichols. Jef Falkner preached in afternoon. Collection #30. This was the first visit of Jefferson Falkne: and Samuel Henderson to the Association.
The Missionary Board reported that Bro. E. T. Akin was settled in the purchased home in the northwestern tiekl ; that he had constituted two new promising churches. Paint Creek and l'orvidence : and that his work was moving on successfully. That an Xo-acre farm had been purchased for $300, in the northeastern part, and that T. 11. Wilson had just moved to it. Thus the two fields were manned by two young minis- ters who had been raised up in the body.
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Bro. Henderson brought before the body the enterprise of the Tuskegee Associ- ation in the establishment of the East Alabama Female College at Tuskegee. The association, by recommendation from a committee of which Patrick Mckinney was chairman, agreed to co-operate with the Tuskegee in making the school a success.
J. M. Butler from committee on State of Religion, reported all the churches had been supplied with preaching ; and that the churches had been more blessed than ever before. T'hit under the labor of the missionaries the dlesert places had been made to blossom as the rose. .
The Ministers' and Deacons" meeting held by appointment of last session re- commended the " Baptist Psalmody " as the hymn hook id be used ; and also the " Pious Instructor," by Snell, as a safe guide in discipline. /
Upon a query sent up, it was decided that an excluded minister could be restored to membership without being restored to ministerial functions. It was also recom- memded that if a church had no suitable members for deacons, that she should wait until she had such before filling the office.
It was decided to take steps lor founding a Literary Institution with view to bet- ter preparing ministers for their life work. This was the germ from which sprang the Central Institute. J. Bankston, W. C. Barnes, W. T. Hatchett, L. Marberry, D. R. W. Melver. 1. W. Suttle, J. A. Pylant. J. D). Williams, J. W. Jeter, A. Il. Kendrick, R. Smoot, S. J. Thomas, and Rigdon Edwards, were appointed an Executive Board for the association, and especially to take charge of the contemplated school interest. They were clothed with power to do whatever ought to be done for founding it, and securing a charter.
Jeter, Mciver, Nichols. Williams, Bankston, Lether, Pylant, W. T. and A. Hatch- et; T. Leverett, and Y. D. Harrington were appointed delegates to the State Con- vention.
W. C. Barnes, I. W. Suttle, Jeter, Lindsey. K. Edwards, Pylant, P'. Mckinney, Cross. Jesse Russell, and H. B. Williams, each gave $5.00, making $50.00, for the purpose of making Joseph llankston a life director of the State Baptist Publication, Society.
The contrbutions for this session were $502.20. But the amount for foreign mis- sions was ax yet quite small, nor did the association, or Baptists generally, awake to their obligations to the heathen for years yet ahead. The most that was done in this direction was by a few, who gave pretty largely, or the Foreign Mission Board, would have been without means to push their work. The association had not as yet realized its duty fully. This had been largely owing to pastors failing to properly instruct the churches.
Baptized 247 ; letters 185 : restored 8 : dismissed 116 ; excluded 49 ; died 9 : total 1472.
852.
The eighth session was held with Elkahatchiechurch, October 2nd, 1852. Sermon by Bankston, from Gal. 6:9.
Bankston and Lindsey were re-elected. New churches were Tallassee. Talla- poosa county, and Mt. Olive, and Mt. Zion, Coosa county. New ministers T. II. Wilson, and A. W. Bullard.
Tallassee church is located at Tallassee, the important and pretty manufacturing town on the Tallapoosa River. Its membership has been principally operativey in the factory. It rose to its greatest degree of prosperity from 1871 to 1875, when the
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Manufacturing Company supplemented the salary, the church could pry with $400.00 . and a pastor's home, during which time G. F. Brewer preached for them every Sun- day. Over 200 were baptized. and the church developed every wa). It has contin- ved a pretty strong church since. But that company failing, the appended advantages failed, and i: has not since had a pistor for all its time, and therefore is not whit it would have been with one. The church has sometimes been with the Central, the Tuskegee, and the Tallapoosa River associations, Its leiding members, were the Bartons, Timmerman, Bowles, Strong. Taylors , Frank Barnes, W'm. Harmon, P'ruettr O'llara, Wallace, Benson, Lilly. McEhaney, and Holmes.
Mt. Zion was a few miles from where Eclectic now stands. It did not continue in existence m'iny years but what time it lived under the fostering care of Elders Joel Nickols, and Robert Stewart, and Seaborn Jackson, Win. Rives, the Gregorys', and others, it was of prominence and usefulness. Mt. Olive has been a good church from the first, and has had many useful members, among those remembered may be named W. C. Brown, Adkin, Corley, and sons, J. W. Fulmer and sons, the Fords. Thompsons, Works, P'ruett. Newmans, Hills and o hers.
T. 11. Wilson has been noticed elsewhere. A. W. Bullard was in the association but a short while. He thished up like a meteor, but soon burned out, a cinder. For a little while be figured in the upper part of Tallapoosa and Cousa ; and swept over country with revivals and large accessiony by baptism. Several new churches sprang up under his work that have been good ones, such as Tallapoosa River church, Kigle ('reek and others. But his moral make up was wrong. Ile was excluded for awhile; then restored. lle afterward went westward to Aikansis and Texts. He was charged with chifferent evil works, and the last report from him was that he was hanged by an incensed mob in Texas.
The missionary sermon was preached by Melver, and, like his sermons usually, it was good. Collection $25.50. In the afternoon .A. W. Chambliss preached a fine sermon; followed at night by Hugh Carmichael in another.
Correspondence was kept up with the liberty, Tuskegee, Alhama, Autauga, Mulberry, and Coosa River.
The Missionary Board reported that E. T. Akin was still lahoring successfully in the Northwestern field, and T. H. Wilson in the Northeastern. That Y. D. Harring. ton had been employed for nine months as a Colporter. Owing to delay in getting books he had not sold as many as desired or expected. He had sold 227 volumes, 120 of which were Bibles and Testaments. Ile had given away 40 Bihles, 19 Testa- ments, and 78 other volunnes to the destitute. The colporter stated that in his opin- ion there were 250 famihes in the bounds of the association without any part of God's word. The Board recommended the continuance of the colportage work.
The Foreign Mission report showed that as yet but little had been accomplished in the foreign field. But that in the spring of the year, March 30th, Cabiness, Wil- son, Crawford, and Dr. Burton had satled for China. The report was an able one, made by J. M. Russell, and be followed it with an earnest appeal for larger contribu- tions, more prayer, and a stronger seconding of the providences of God in favor of foreign missions. The work as their carried on, looks indeed small to us of the present day, and we can but exclaim " What hath God wrought !"
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The report on Indian Missions, made by Melver, shows that the work was just beginning among the red men, and that they were as yet but little removed from the printal savage state. The claims they had npon us who now joccupied their lands was pressed. Great changes have taken place since then. Many of them are now civil-
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ized and cultured, have schools, homes, farms, churches, and the appliances of civili- zation. More than 13,000 are enrolled In Baptist churches, with Baptist associations, and are sending out missionaries, and contributing to sending the gospel abroad. The government is taking steps looking to them becoming a state in this great sisterhood of states.
J. D). Williams made a good report on the Bible Cause. He asked the associa- tion to co-operate with the State Convention and the S Baptist Convention, by. raising then and there a fund for the work ; and that it be a cause for which they should annually contribute.
Bright Skipper reported upon Domestic Mission work, and felt cheered by the success attending it. Wetumpka church sent up a request for a mission work to be inaugurated in behalf of the negroes.
Akins on the State of Religion reported good revivals, and a good condition pre- vailing in most of the churches. Pylant from Committee on Temperance urged a stricter discipline for using intoxicants, The committies all complained of want ot . time for making proper reports, having been appointed only since the meeting opened.
There was quite an able and lengthy report from the Board of Education, di+ cussing different phases of the subject. They announced having secured a flexible charter for their contemplated school, so that it might be either academic or collegi- ate as circumstances justified. It was then contemplated being a combination school ' for literature proper, and mechanic arts combined, and to mike the expenses low enough to benefit a large number in moderate circumstances. The report also recom- mended the establishunent of a system of free public schools for the State, instead of appropriations for the poor, for such appropriations humiliated the recipients. (The State then had no public school system.) Upon this subject Melver, Williams, and Barnes were appointed to visit and enlist the State Legislature to action.
An Executive Board way appointed, who were also placed in special charge of the school interest. It consisted of J. Bankston, J. D. Wilhamns, R. Edwards, I. W. Suttle, W. T. Hatchett, S. J. Thomas, Melver, l'ylant, Ilarnes, Kendrick, Lindsey, Marberry, and P. Mckinney.
The Missionary Board was composed of Lindsey, Pylant, Griffin, Guy Smith, and Calfee.
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The association asked the Convention to send some good efficient man among the churches to stir them up to Haptist principles, and every good work, and asked the churches to pay the salary. llaptisms 365 ; letlers 219 ; restored 8 ; dismissed 213; excluded 45 : died 15 ; total 1839. Contributions $531.10.
1853.
The ninth session was held with Harmony church, Oct. 1st, 1853. Sermon by J.
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M. Butler from Gal. 6:10. Hankston and Lindsey were re-elected. Union Springs, bearing a letter from the Mulberry joived at this time. This year Eller J. M. Russell became a member of the body, having his membership at Union. B. 1). Harrison be- came a minister of the body by the reception of Union Springs church. This church is in the northwestern part of Coosa, in a fine valley country. Being remote, until recently, from public highways, it has not been so well known. The people live bountifally on home products, and have never felt the financial pressure which has borne down at other places. The membership have been usually of a solid type, and with the exception of a flurry for a year or two with Shermanism, things have kept on in the even tenor of their way. Ilad their pastors trained them properly they would have been a liberal church, for they have had the ability, and being christians they would have had the will with proper instruction. The leading members have been the lixleys, Coopers, Looneys. Woods, Hasties, J. R. Morris, Taylor, Buchannan, and j. R. Steeley.
Kldler Harrison was a plain preacher, and did not live long in the association. Elder J. M. Russell though now for the first time a member, had been in all the ses- Nions except the first. Was a pastor or missionary in the body from 1846, and took as active an interest in the work as any member. From now on he was fully identified. lle perhaps shared the coarse of the association more than any one man. He was fully alive to all denonunational work : and a very earnest, decided llaptist, believing their church org.mization and doctrine that of the New Testament, he was ready to die if need be in muntaining. He was educated, and untrimmneled by secular affairs, for his father was well able to do so, and gladly took care of his family while his son worked for the Master. Ile kept up with denominational work by reading its peri- odicals. lle was a strong Calvinist in doctrine, but a warin hearted sympathetic and effective revivalist also. He was a pastor among us until his removal to Texas m 14.6. Hle revisited the association in 1886. Ilut time had told on the stalwart man, and the intervening twenty years had sapped much of the strength from body and mind. He returned to Texas, and lived only two or three years. Among the visitors were D. G. Daniel of the Southern Baptist Publication Society, Albert Williams of the S. W. Baptist, Timothy Russell from the Liberty, and Jesse A. Collins from the Coosa River, and 11. Mott from Tuskegee.
l'reaching on Sunday by II. Mott in the morning : J. M. Russell missionary ser- mon ; Collection $33.55 ; and D. G. Daniel in afternoon. In the collec ion for missions, after the sermon, a gold pencil had been cast in by a young sister who wished to give, but had no money with her. The next day in the meeting the fact was mentioned, when some one proposed a voluntary offering on the part of brethren to redeem and return it to her. Soon $27.15 was laid upon the table, and the pencil returned to the owner. This made the collection #50.70.
Owing to difficulty in procuring supplies of books from the Southern Baptist Publication Society in time to facilitate the work of colportage in the association, Russell proposed, and the suggestion was adopted, to establish a Book Depository under the control of three brethren, were annually elected, who should have power to locate and manage the business of the Depository, and also employ and direct the colporter of the body. \ report was to be made annually by said Depository to the body. They were not to add more than is per cent. to the catalogue price of books. All the books due from the Publication Society were to be turned into the Deposi. tory. \ fund was to be raised sufficient to make the work effective. Churches were to raise fands annually for said work.
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To show the advancement from then till now on the line of Scripture translation, the following is called from this minute : J. 1). Williams offered a resolution, and it was supported in a strong speech by W. A. Chambliss, " denouncing the effort being made to secure a revision of the Bible, as a dangerous heresy in disguise." The res- olution passed without a voice against it. And yet the revision then contemplated has been made, and others, and others still. The new versions are printed in parallel columns with the old ; and are in our homes ; on our palpits; and we are glad to have them. So things change. What stirs anger at one period, becomes a pleasure to the same people later.
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'T'he committee on State of Religion reported gracious revivals among some of the churches, bur coldness among others. ·
The trustees of the Mechanical and Literary Institute reported that the school . had been located on the Plank road, a little below Union church .. $6000 had been subscribed, a sum deemed sufficient to justify action. They had therefore contracted for the brick for a building three stories high, 80 feet long, 40 feet wide. The estim- sted cost of the building was $10,000. They acknowledged valuable work done by W. C. Barnes in aid, and for which he asked no compensation. They then turned the matter over to the body to elect trustees for its management. The trustees were to be elected by a popular vote of the body. J. A. I'ylant was chosen as general agent for the Institute.
It was agreed that all undesignated money for missions be divided equally be- tween African, Indian, and Domestic Missions.
$15.00 was raised and given to a deaf indigent minister present.
The trustees elected were I'. Mckinney, W. C. Barnes, R. Smoot, J. W. Jeter, J. D). Letcher, D). R. W. Mclver, W. T. Ilatchett, J. A. P'ylant, W. M. Lindsey, R. Ed. wards, A. H. Kendrick, F.F. Wood, and J Bankston,
The Depository Board elected were 1. W. Stitle, J. M. Russell, and W. G. Mfc- Wilhams.
Nothing was done in colportage work because the l'ubhcation Society would not send out books not paid for, and the Board of the association had no cash on hand to advance. T. H. Wilson of the Northeastern Mission had died early in the year, so nothing was done in that part of the field. That in the northwestern was progressing finely. The Foreign Mission report showed but little done as yet. It declared oppo- sition to the work yet existing among them, UInt the report presented strong reasons for its support.
The Domestic Mission report was rather an argument for, than a report of what had been done. It concluded with a recommendation tor a three days and nights protracted niccting to be held with the slaves in each church and community; the owners or deputation of them to attend, to watch over and regulate the service. The report and recommendation was made by J. M. Russell.
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The report on Indian Missions by J. R. Steeley, was a beautiful and touching , nppeal for the red men, It recalled how that our homes, towns, school houses, churches, &c. were built from the timbers of the Indtans' forests. Our homrs and fields were upon the lands once his, obtained largely From them by fraud, and paid for in many cases by the white man's alcohol. Now that they were receiving the gospel, and some of their just bitterness dying out, an appeal was made to do what we could by way of reparation, in giving thein the hread of life, nnd showing them the way to happier hunting grounds than they now knew of.
A good report on Bihle Cause was made by J. D). Williams, emphasizing its incalcu- lable value-rejoicing in the rapid translation of the Bible into the languages of the heathen world-and showing the great good of Bible societies. They commended the establishment of the Alabama Bible Society, in co-operation with the general one of the South, at Nashville-the creation of subordinate ones by different associations. and especially the one of this association, and urged the churches to its support.
The committee on Temperance reported some progress. That, while some churches would take no positive stand-some disregarded-yet others had firmly pro- hibited mingling with the world in drinking and treating. The report was by B. Skipper.
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T'he report on Sahbath schools, by J. M. Butler, declared Home progress, but stated that but few were in existence. The only churches reporting schools were Union, Wetumpka, Poplar Spring, Mt. Olive, and Antioch.
$71.10 was raised for the Bible Society, and it was organized by making J. Banks- ton, president ; J. D). Williams, vice-president ; W. M. Lindsev, secretary ; and W. C. Barnes, treasurer. Its meetings were to be held in connection with the association. Baptized 162; letter 232; restored 9: dismissed 148; excluded 69; dead 16; total 2029. C'ontributions $312.89, and $71.10 tor Bible cause.
1954.
The tenth session was held with Wetumpka church, Sept. 30th, 1854. 'T'he ser- mon was preached by J. D. Williams, from Fph. 6:11-13. Bankston and Lindsey were re-elected. New Hope church, near Goldville, Tallapoosa, joined. The church was rather a weak one. It went into the organization of the Carey in a few years. H. J. Hickey way added to the mimstry. Ile was not long a member, so made no very deep impress on the body, though he was a good man. Those who preached at different points Saturday night and Sunday, were J. M. Russell, Oliver Welch, Ilugh Car- michael, .F .. T. Akın, J. M. Butler, ano A. T. M. Handy. Collection $41.08. On Monday IIro. Ashcraft preached at the church.
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Tallassee church was granted a'letter to join the 'l'uskegee.
The Missionary Board reported that Bro. Akin had faithfully and successfully carried on his work, baptizing 16, and receiving by letter 18. They also stated that the time for which he had been employed was filled out, and the field no longer needed him as missionary, for the churches that had been planted were now self sus- taining. They recommended the discontinuance of the Boar I.
The Board of Trustees reported the Institute as now beyond a doubt, ready to take rank among others as the equal of any high school of our section. The corner stone was laid on the 7th of September with imposing ceremonies, in the presence of a vast nudience. A masterly address was delivered on the occasion by Chancellor . Mason. This was followed by a short but highly appropriate one from Saml. llen. derson. The building was to be completed and ready for use by the ist of May, 1855. Application had been made for admission of pupils from different parts of our own Staty, and from Mississippi. People from the river counties lind signified their in- tention of moving to the school, both for its benefits, and for the health of families. They were hopeful of soon raising enough money to liquidate all debts.
Two trustees, Hendrick and Hatchett, had resigned, and the board had filled the vacancy by appointing A. B. Callaway and 1). W. Bozeman. The association was asked to confirm the appointment. A collection of $112.00 was raised for the school .
1. W. Suttle from the Book Depository reported that there was on had, in books and cash, $106. so. The business had bes small owing to lateness in getting sup- plies together. There was raised for the work, in addition to the above by the asso- ciation $123-45-
J. F. Hooten, from committee on Education, made a good report. He highly recommended Howard College and the Central Institute to the patronage ot the brethren for their sons.
J. D. Williams in report on the Bible Cause, urged its circulation as a great Christian duty, and especially the duty of Baptists, since it is their book of faith and discipline, and the way by which we are to succeed.
Mclver from the committee on Indian Missions, made strong appeals for it on
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the ground of the debt we owed them, and of the success attending our efforts among ' them. He instanced Muscogee church, planted by Elder Isaac McCoy in 1842, now numbering 400 members; and North York church, constituted by Elder S. Dyer, In 1844, had now more than 300 members. He mentioned Genl. Mcintosh as among the native preachers, and Wallace, Buckner, Dennis, and Moffat among the mission- aries.
Jeter from Home Missions reported that E. T. Akin had been employed as a missionary at home. The churches had paid to Jesse A. Collins agent for Domestic . Mission Board, $101.45. He recommended the association to employ four of the licentiates to preach for a month each during the leisure season in such fields of the association as might be assigned them.
The report on Foreign Missions by J. M. Butler, was a good one, but showed rather what was being done by Christians generally than what was being done by the denomination.
A good and strong report and appeal on Temperance was made by Y. D. Har- rington.
The burial of Hon. Seth P. Storrs, was announced to the body, and it adjourned to attend the services, Storrs was a citizen much beloved and honored by his fellow citizens. He was the senator from the district at the time of his death. Though not a niember of the church, he was pure in morals, and his influnce was good. Ile wss liberal of his means to the Baptist church, for his wife was a devoted member of it. He was nearly related to the distinguished Presbyterian divine, Dr. Storrs, of New York.
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