USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I > Part 21
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Early History .- Baptists came with the first pioneers into the territory now included in the State of Alabama. Their names are unknown but their number included many of the best men and women who sought homes in the new land. While the names of in- dividual Baptists who located here after the territory was thrown open for settlement are unknown, the names of the early church or-
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ganizations are preserved. The first church of the Baptist faith and order in the State was founded, October 2, 1808, on Flint River, a few miles northeast of the city of Hunts- ville, and was given the name of the stream on which it was located. It was constituted in the private home of James Deaton, and numbered twelve persons. To Rev. John Nicholson is to be given the honor of con- stituting this, the earliest known Baptist church in the limits of the State. Among his associates were Rev. John Canterbury and Rev. Zadock Baker, both preachers. This church is the lineal predecessor of the first Baptist church of Huntsville. The second was Bassett's Creek church, near the pres- ent Choctaw Corner in Clarke County, and dates from March 31, 1810. It was con- stituted by Elder James Courtney. The third was organized in the same year, but a little later within the present limits of Sum- ter County near the Mississippi line, and was called Oaktuppa. With the increase of population others were rapidly formed, and by 1820 there were at least 50 Baptist churches in the State. By the end of 1821 there were 70 churches, and 2,500 members; in 1825, there were 6 associations, 128 churches, 70 ministers, and about 5,000 members. Elder Hosea Holcombe, the fine old Alabama Baptist historian, declares that "this increase is without a parallel in the United States, and perhaps in the known world, especially in modern times."
The Flint River Association was consti- tuted on September 26, 1814, the first in the State. It had 17 churches, with 1,021 mem- bers, but some of the churches were located in Tennessee. With the passing years other associations were constituted as follows: Bethlehem, formerly Beckbee, 1816; Cahaba, October 3, 1818; Alabama, December 13, 1819; Bethel, formed from Bethlehem, 1820; Muscle Shoals, July 15, 1820; Mount Zion, from Cahaba, 1823; Shoal Creek, formed from Muscle Shoals, 1825; and Buttahatcha, October 6, 1826.
In 1823 the state convention was consti- tuted, missionaries were placed in the field, and aggressive steps towards extension were projected. Within ten years the wise and consecrated leaders of the denomination had laid the foundation for the superstructure of christian activities, which have so success- fully engaged the church in Alabama during its whole history. These included missions, ministerial education, general education, benevolences, Sunday schools, the support of Bible and tract societies, and education and religious training of slaves and many others.
Southern Baptist Convention .- On the or- ganization of the Southern Baptist Conven- tion at Augusta, Georgia, May 8, 1845, the Baptists of Alabama were represented by a number of messengers. They entered with enthusiasm in the plans for reorganization, and throughout the entire history of the con- vention have earnestly and liberally sup- ported Its policies. Judge Jonathan Haral- son of Alabama served as president of the Convention from 1889 to 1898 inclusive.
One of its first secretaries was Jesse Hart- well of Alabama who served for 1845 and 1846. Other secretaries serving from Ala- bama have been Rev. Dr. Basil Manly, Jr., 1849; Rev. James M. Watts, 1855; Rev. Tru- man S. Sumner, 1871 and 1872; Rev. Dr. O. F. Gregory, 1877 (while in Alabama). An- nual sermons were delivered before the Con- vention by the following Alabamians: Rev. William H. McIntosh, 1861; Rev. Dr. E. T. Winkler, 1869; Rev. Dr. J. L. M. Curry, 1885; Rev. Dr. George B. Eager, 1895; Rev. Dr. Charles A. Stakely, 1896; and Rev. Dr. A. J. Dickenson, 1907. Sessions of the Conven- tion have been held in the following Alabama cities: Montgomery 1855, 1886; Mobile 1873; Birmingham 1891.
The missionary activities of the Conven- tion were committed to a foreign board at Richmond, Virginia, and a domestic cr home mission board in Marion, Alabama, but now maintained at Atlanta, Georgia. The first president of the domestic board was Rev. Dr. Basil Manly, Sr. While located at Marion the corresponding secretaries were Rev. J. L. Reynolds, Rev. Russell Holman, Rev. Thomas F. Curtis, Rev. Joseph Walker, Rev. Russell Holman (second period), Rev. M. T. Sumner and Rev. Dr. William H. McIntosh. After the location of the domestic board at Marion the state convention discontinued evangeliza- tion within its bounds, and gave its support loyally to the larger body in all if its great enterprises.
An item of interest here is the fact that, while it was in Alabama that the movement started which led to the withdrawal of Southern Baptists from their Northern Breth- ren in 1844 and the formation of the South- ern Baptist Convention in the following year, it was a delegate from Alabama, Dr. Charles A. Stakely, that wrote out and offered the resolution at the Kansas City Convention which committed Southern Baptists to a part with their Northern Brethren in the forma- tion of The General Convention of the Bap- tists of North America, a triennial body which represents the unity of all American Baptists.
State Convention .- This body known as "The Alabama Baptist State Convention," is made up of a fixed number of messengers from associations and churches. Its officers are a president, first and second vice-presi- dent, recording and statistical secretary, treasurer, and board of directors. Its objects are as follows:
"Article VIII .- The design of this Conven- tion shall be to elicit, combine and direct the energies of the Baptists of Alabama in one sacred effort to encourage and promote (1) the propagation of the gospel in this State, and, through the Southern Baptist Conven- tion, in the destitute parts of the world; (2) the education of those it believes called of God to the ministry; (3) the education of the youth of our country; (4) the publication and distribution of the word of God and other literature; (5) the organization and usefulness of Sunday schools and other re- ligious and educational movements it may
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deem promotive of the interests of the King- dom of Christ and sanctioned by the Word of God."
The Convention operates through its offi- cers, and separate boards, commissions, com- mittees and other agencies as may be re- quired. It is represented in the Southern Baptist Convention by messengers, and has the power to send messengers "to any other assembly with which in its wisdom it may wish to communicate." It holds an annual session. Its funds "consist of voluntary con- tributions or donations and not otherwise." As indicating a principle, fundamental in Baptist polity, Article XV declares that
"The convention disclaims all right of ex- ercising authority over any church or asso- ciation, hereby acknowledging that every church is independent, and, within its own sphere, is accountable to no body of men on earth."
The history of the Convention is of great interest. With the growth of the State, the necessity of a central body to bring together representatives of churches for purposes of mutual helpfulness, became more and more apparent, although varying doctrinal views held by churches and leaders made progress difficult. One of the leaders of the move- ment for organization was Rev. J. A. Ranald- son, then of Louisiana, but later of Alabama. Through the medium of correspondence, he requested a meeting at Salem Church near Greensboro, of those favoring a State Con- vention. The delegates met in October, 1823, representing "seven Missionary Societies." Other delegates were appointed, but they failed to attend. The volume of business was not large, and yet it was far reaching. Missionaries were appointed, ministerial education projected, and plans adopted for closer union. An excellent summary of the . early years and struggles of the Convention, representing the organized efforts of Mis- sionary Baptists in the State, is given by Cathcart, "Baptist Encyclopedia," p. 15.
"For ten years the Convention devoted its energies to the cause of missionary work within the State, with occasional contribu- tions of money to other objects. State mis- sions and ministerial education were the first objects of this Convention. For the first fif- teen years it was not very successful, and had to contend against the most serious hin- drances that an extensive and fierce anti- missionary spirit could engender; a number of the strongest of our early ministers taking that side of the great questions then in controversy, they hindered the cause very much; the great majority of the ministers who claimed to be missionary Baptists were entirely neutral on these matters. But there were giants in those days,-noble spirits who were every way worthy of their high calling; men who confronted the enemies of missions and every other enemy, and laid the founda- tions of our State enterprises deep down on solid rock. Such were Hosea Holcombe, Alexander Travis, J. McLemore, D. Win- bourne, S. Blythe, C. Crow, A. G. McGraw, J. Ryan, and a number of others who might
be gracefully mentioned here. It is worthy of remark that in those early times in Ala- bama, both in our associations and in the convention, decided union and sympathy of feeling were manifested toward 'the Baptist General Convention of the United States,' and handsome sums were contributed for for- eign missions, and especially for Dr. Judson's Burmese Bible. The benevolent operations of the Convention were then largely carried forward by efficient agents who were ap- pointed by the body."
The Association holds an annual session. Its proceedings, with official reports of boards, institutions, etc., and associational and church statistics, are regularly published. In practical operation its activities are numer- ous. The list which follows gives the place, the date and the pagination of the minutes of the several sessions in order, viz .:
Organization, Greensboro, Ala., Oct. 28-29, 1823. p. 20.
Marion, Nov. 5-6, 1824. p. 6.
Tuscaloosa, 1825. pp. -
Greensboro, 1826. pp. Bethany, Monroe County, July 13-14, 1827. p. 13. Marion, 1828.
Canaan Church, Jefferson County, Aug. 15- 16, 1829. p. 8.
Near Canton, Wilcox County, 1830.
Salem Church, Near Greensboro, 1831. 1832.
Grant's Creek Church, Near Tuscaloosa, Aug. 16, 1833.
Salem Church, Near Greensboro, Nov. 8- 10, 1834. p. 13.
Oakmulgee Church, Perry County, Nov. 7- 9, 1835. p. 16.
Fellowship Church, Wilcox County, Nov. 12-14, 1836. p. 16.
Enon Church, Madison County, Nov. 11-14, 1837. p. 16.
Grant's Creek Church, Nov. 10-13, 1838. p. 16.
Oakmulgee Church, Perry County, Nov. 9- 12, 1839. p. 16.
Salem Church, Greene County, Nov. 7-9, 1840. p. 8.
Talladega, Nov. 13-16, 1841. p. 15.
Montgomery, Nov. 12-15, 1842. p, 24.
Marion, Nov. 11-14, 1843. pp. 28, 11.
Marion, Nov. 16-19, 1844. p. 16.
Marion, Nov. 22-25, 1845. p. 24.
Marion, Nov. 14-17, 1846. p. 24.
Greensboro, Nov. 20-23, 1847. p. 29.
Marion, Nov. 18-20, 1848. p. 36.
Carlowville, Dallas County, Nov. 3-5, 1849. p. 24. Marion, Nov. 2-5, 1850. p. 32.
Tuskegee, Nov. 1-4, 1851. p. 47.
Marion, Nov. 6-9, 1852. p. 40.
Selma, Dec. 3-6, 1853. p. 37.
Marion, Dec. 3-11, 1854. p. 34.
Montgomery, May 9-10, 1855. p. 30. Lafayette, April 11-14, 1856. p. 36.
Marion, April 10-13, 1857. p. 29.
Talladega, Nov. 6-9, 1857, p. 36.
Gainesville, Nov. 12-16, 1858. p. 38.
Marion, Nov. 11-16, 1859. p. 40. Tuskegee, Nov. 9-13, 1860. p. 32.
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Marion, Nov. 8-12, 1861. p. 24.
Selma, Nov. 7-10, 1862. p. 24.
Marion, Nov. 6-9, 1863. p. 22.
Montgomery, Nov. 11-14, 1864. (In Min- utes, 1865.)
Marion, Nov. 10-14, 1865. p. 23.
Selma, Nov. 9-12, 1866. p. 28.
Mobile, Dec. 6-9, 1867. p. 16.
Marion, Nov. 6-9, 1868. p. 23.
Oxford, Nov. 12-15, 1869. p. 30. .
Opelika, Nov. 11-15, 1870. pp. 28, 11.
Montgomery, Nov. 10-13, 1871. p. 28.
Eufaula, Nov. 8-11, 1872. (In Minutes, 1873.)
Tuscaloosa, Nov. 7-10, 1873. p. 24. Marion, Nov. 13-16, 1874. p. 28.
Huntsville, July 15-18, 1875. p. 32.
Montgomery, July 13-16, 1876. p. 33. Gadsden, July 12-15, 1877. p. 28.
Talladega, July 18-21, 1878. p. 23. Birmingham, July 17-19, 1879. p. 40.
Greenville, July 14-17, 1880. p. 43.
Troy, July 13-17, 1881. p. 41.
Huntsville, July 12-16, 1882. pp. 47, 11. Marion, July 11-15, 1883. pp. 40, viii, 311. Tuscaloosa, July 18-22, 1884. pp. 40, ix, 31.
Tuskegee, July 17-21, 1885. pp. 46, ix, 31. Birmingham, July 16-20, 1886. pp. 51, 11. Union Springs, July 14-18, 1887. pp. 53, 11.
Talladega, July 13-16, 1888. pp. 69, 11. Selma, Nov. 8-11, 1889. p. 38.
Mobile, Nov. 7-10, 1890. pp. 41, 21.
Eufaula, Nov. 5-9, 1891. p. 66.
Anniston, Nov. 22-24, 1892. p. 75.
Greenville, Nov. 7-9, 1893. p. 72.
Marion, July 4-6, 1894. pp. 46, vii.
Selma, Nov. 13-16, 1895. p. 54.
Huntsville, Nov. 6-9, 1896. pp. 50, x. East Lake, Dec. 15-17, 1897. p. 64. Opelika, Nov. 9-11, 1898. pp. 46, xi.
Gadsden, Nov. 8-10, 1899. pp. 59, xii.
Tuscaloosa, Nov. 13-15, 1900. pp. 50, xvi, 4. Brewton, Nov. 13-15, 1901. pp. 51, vii, 21.
New Decatur, June 24-26, 1902. pp. 54, xi, 11.
Troy, July 22-24, 1903. pp. 59, xii, 21. Anniston, July 20-22, 1904. pp. 60, xv, 21.
Sheffield, July 21-24, 1905. pp. 72, xi. Talladega, July 18-20, 1906. p. 65.
Dothan, July 24-26, 1907. pp. 89, xiv.
Roanoke, July 22-24, 1908. p. 34. Andalusia, July 20-22, 1909, pp. 36, 21. Albertville, July 19-21, 1910. pp. 94, 21. Greenville, July 19-21, 1911. pp. 106, 21. Jasper, July 24-26, 1912. p. 127.
Enterprise, Nov. 18-20, 1913. pp. 82, 14, 11.
Selma, Nov. 17-19, 1914. p. 122. Huntsville, Nov. 14-16, 1915. p. 118. Mobile, Nov. 14-16, 1916. p. 123.
Sylacauga, Nov. 13-16, 1917. p. 107.
Executive Board .- As stated the organized activities of Alabama Baptists are conducted through the officers and boards of the state convention. The present organization con- sists of the central headquarters in Mont-
gomery, under an executive board (formerly the executive committee). The executive committee was the successor of the state board of missions, and was organized Decem- ber 6, 1915, and Rev. Dr. W. F. Tarbrough, then of Anniston, was elected secretary-treas- urer, and assumed the duties of his office January 1, 1916. The name was changed to executive board at the session of 1916. The new program of the Baptists of the State, on the reorganized basis, involves the follow- ing three-fold subdivision of activities:
1. Missions, including evangelism, Sunday schools, young people's unions, enlistment and church aid.
2. Benevolence, including ministerial edu- cation at Newton, Howard and the Seminary at Louisville, and the denominational colleges.
The secretary-treasurer has general super- vision of all departments. The functions of the board coordinate and include all of the old boards and committees, with power to employ agents and to devise plans for the execution of its several duties.
In 1871, at the convention held in Mont- gomery, a Sunday school hoard was organized, with headquarters at Talladega. This marks the beginning of state mission work. Rev. T. C. Boykin was made secretary. In 1874 its scope was enlarged and its name changed to the state mission board. Rev. T. M. Bailey became the first corresponding secretary, with headquarters at Marion. The second corre- sponding secretary was Rev. Dr. W. B. Crump- ton, who continued the office in Marion until after the session of the convention in Novem- ber, 1892, at which time the mission board was consolidated with the bible and colportage board of Opelika, and moved to Montgomery, 1893. Dr. Crumpton held the position from 1886 to January, 1896. He was succeeded by Rev. Dr. W. C. Bledsoe who served until April, 1899. At that time Dr. Crumpton was called back from Kentucky to take his old place, which he filled until January 1, 1916, when he retired as secretary emeritus.
Missions .- Contributions to the support of foreign missions and home missions are made to the foreign mission board and to the home mission board of the Southern Baptist Convention. These general agencies conduct the missionary activities of all churches in affiliation with the State Convention. The foreign field includes work in Africa, Ar- gentina, Brazil, China, Italy, Japan and Mexico. The home mission field includes the work of church extension, evangelism, moun- tain schools, enlistment, work among for- eigners, indians and negroes, cooperation with home mission work in state conventions, and work in Cuba and Panama. Statistics of missionary contributions will be found under the sub-title "Associations."
Until 1845 mission work was conducted under the State Convention and the General Convention. In that year the organization of the Southern Baptist Convention gave a new impetus to missions. The home mission board was located at Marion, Ala., a choice which challenged the denominational pride of the church in the State.
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Support of missions, foreign and home are fundamental in the thinking and practices of Missionary Baptists. In behalf of mission activities they have been aggressive and mili- tant. It was largely because of their de- termination to aid in carrying the Gospel standard to the heathen and to the waste places of the State that many of their brethren parted company with them, and fierce and uncompromising controversies had sprung up to the embarrassment of the faith- ful. In no single field have their courage and consecration been more signally dis- played. They have contributed thousands of dollars, they have sent devoted missionaries to the field, and they have grown in spiritual grace and power as a people because of their vision and sacrifice.
The early Baptists of Alabama were strongly missionary. This was reflected in the organization meeting of their State Con- vention in 1823. That body had as its officers leaders of the missionary movement. Its con- stitution declared for the support of foreign and home missions. The State was divided into three missionary districts, and five preachers each were appointed to do six weeks active missionary labor during the year at. "one dollar a day (exclusive of traveling expenses)." The entrance of these men in the field, while contributing to the extension of the church, served to arouse into bitter opposition the hitherto latent anti-missionary feeling.
In 1836 after continuous and uncompromis- ing conflict for more than 15 years a division took place, the missionary element continuing its work under the State Convention, and the non-progressive becoming what is now known as the Primitive or Old School Baptists. Of the division Riley, "History of Alabama Bap- tists," p. 110, says:
"The scenes attendant upon this severance were, in many instances, most exciting. The movement involved the separation of parents and children, brothers and sisters, in their church relations. Every part of the State in which these colliding elements in the Bap- tist ranks existed, there came this final divi- sion. It is known throughout the State today proverbially as 'the big split.' "
A special phase or episode in the mission and anti-mission struggle should here be noticed. The conflict took various forms. In the Alabama Association, Rev. William Jones espoused the anti-mission side. He was a gifted preacher and an aggressive leader. Mr. Jones took the position of the Kehukle Asso- ciation of North Carolina, which in 1827 had made the first public announcement of oppo- sition to the "anti-mission movement." Under the appeals of Mr. Jones about 40 members of different churches joined him in organizing what they called "The Apostolic Baptist Church." This church had only a fitful existence of a few years.
But the Baptist Churches were troubled by other differences than those over mis- sions. From 1826 to 1830 Rev. William Mc- Kee of the Cahaba Association propounded the doctrine that "the body of Christ ex-
isted anterior to the creation of man, and was not, at all, a human body, but a spiritual one." The doctrine was known locally as McKeeism, and many ministers and churches became adherents to the new sect. Rev. James H. Wells of the Bethel Association wrote a book in defense of the doctrine. But the movement gradually lost strength, its author renounced it, and it finally died away. About the same time Campbellism, so-called in the Baptist literature of the day, made its appearance in the Churches of Muscle Shoals Association, but its inroads were aggressively met.
Education .- The educational enterprises of the Baptists of Alabama, supported under the direction of the State convention, are Howard College (q. v.), Judson College (q. v.), Ala- bama Central Female College (q. v.), and the Baptist Collegiate Institute (q. v.). These institutions are locally managed by boards of trustees, appointed by the convention, with the exception of the Alabama Central Female College, the trustees of which are selfper- petuating. Reports are made to the conven- tion annually. The convention control is administered by an educational secretary under the direction of the executive board. The office of the secretary is located in Bir- mingham. At the session of 1916 a resolu- tion was adopted declaring that "all teach- ing and training activities in our Baptist Church are properly. a part of one whole educational program," and "that there should be a thorough correlation of the instruction and expressional (sic) activities through which Southern Baptists are projecting cul- tural work in their churches." The same body directed a campaign to raise $100,000 "for denominational education," and "a cur- rent fund of $20,000 additional."
No chapter in the history of Alabama Bap- tists is more creditable than that devoted to the support of education in all forms. At this first convention in 1823 they declared in favor of "the education of pious and intelligent young men called to the ministry." Collections were taken toward the endow- ment of "the Alabama scholarship in the theological seminary," and "a professorship of mathematics and natural philosophy in Columbia College, Washington, D. C. Ten years later, at the convention of 1833, the larger foundations for denominational edu- cational activity were projected, in the adop- tion of a report providing for "a seminary of learning, on the manual labor plan." This institution was located within a mile of Greensboro, and entered upon an auspicious career in 1835, but the financial crash of 1837, coupled with inefficiency on the part of some of the teachers, abruptly defeated the enterprise, much to the sorrow of the leaders.
However, the failure did not retard further and immediate effort. In 1836 the Alabama Athenaeum was founded at Tuscaloosa by Baptist influences, and Dr. John L. Dagg called to the presidency. In 1836 the Marion Female Seminary was opened, largely through local Baptist cooperation, but from which they
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later withdrew. This was followed by the establishment of the Judson Female Institute opened in 1839, and tendered to the conven- tion in 1842. Dr. Milo P. Jewett was the first president. The failure of the Manual Labor Institute did not at all discourage the leaders, and in January, 1842, Howard Col- lege was opened in Marion, with Rev. Samuel S. Sherman in charge. The story of Howard and the Judson are to be found separately narrated elsewhere herein. As illustrating the wide interest in the subject a resolution was adopted in 1845 by the convention, ap- proving "the efforts now making by benevo- lent individuals, to establish a school for the instruction of the blind, in this State," and the project was commended both to the Bap- tists of the Alabama and to the State Legis- lature.
The educational horizon in 1850 had widened, and the convention that year en- dorsed the efforts of the Liberty Association to establish a girls' school of high grade at Lafayette, and the Tuskegee Association at Tuskegee. Other experiences are found in the official records from him, and in 1892 an unsuccessful effort was made to embark the convention upon the support of a system of denominational high schools.
At different periods the following educa- tional institutions have been under the con- trol of the Baptists of the State, viz .: Tal- ladega Baptist Male . High School; East Alabama Female College at Tuskegee; Moul- ton College; Lafayette Baptist High School; South Alabama Female Institute, and also the Male High School, both at Greenville; the Southeast Alabama High School; the Scotts- boro Baptist Institute; and Healing Springs Industrial Academy. With the exception of the one last named, these schools are now closed, or their buildings and equipment have passed into other hands.
The Mountain School Department of the Southern Baptist Convention maintains four schools in the State, viz .: Beeson Academy, property valued $4,000; Bridgeport Academy. $35,000; Eldridge Academy, $10,000; and Gaylesville Academy, $17,500.
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