USA > Georgia > Bibb County > Macon > Georgia Baptists: historical and biographical > Part 12
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Bethel Association.
The year 1851 formed a sort of epoch in the history of this Association. It had become a large and unwieldy body ; there was much intelligence and wealth among the members of its churches, but hitherto they had done nothing commensurate with their ability. In the spring of this year, the subject of a female college began to be agitated among them. With whom the project originated is not material. The writer had been in correspondence with some members of the executive com- mittee on the subject, and he was invited to meet with that com- mittee, and present his views more fully to them. He did meet with them at the residence of Rev. Thomas Muse, and they determined not to wait for the regular session of the As- sociation, but to call a Convention of the churches to take the matter into consideration. At the session at Benevolence church, in November following, the report of the executive committee contained an account of that Convention, and rec- ommended the subject to the "most prayerful consideration " of the Association. As the author intends to devote a few pages to a separate history of " The Bethel Female College," it may be sufficient to say here, that the Association approved of the ac- tion, agreed to adopt the enterprise, elected a Board of Trus- tees, and has ever since fostered the Institution in such a man- ner as to make it one of the most flourishing of its kind in this State. The reflex influence of the movement had the effect an- ticipated and desired by him with whom it originated, and from that day onward the spirit and policy of the body have shown a marked improvement.
At the session at Blakely the following year, there is an item in the report of the executive committee worthy of notice : ‘The appointment of missionaries to the blacks in our land was also referred to us. We appointed none, because we had 10 fund which we could appropriate to that purpose, and we lad no assurance from the owners of slaves that they would upport them. The committee are of opinion that this enter- rise demands the attention of this body, and that we are, to a onsiderable extent, responsible for the religious training of the olored population in our bounds." On this subject the follow- ig resolution was adopted: "Resolved, That we attempt to aise $250,00 to employ a missionary to the blacks within our
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bounds, and that, on this amount being raised, the executive committee be authorized to employ such missionary, and in- struct him as to his field of labor."
The following still more important resolution, (offered by J. H. Campbell,) was also adopted at this session :
"Resolved : That this Association will attempt to raise five hun- dred dollars by our next meeting, for the support of a missionary in Africa, to be adopted by this body as her missionary ; and that a committee of five be now appointed to fix upon some individual for that service." Committee under this resolution were J. H. Camp- bell, A. T. Holmes, T. D. Matthews, Henry Davenport and Wil- liam H. Wade.
The adoption of the foregoing resolution was among the most important steps ever taken by this Association, if indeed, it was not the most important. The body, with an intelligent, wealthy and enterprising membership in the churches to back them, was now fairly committed to the cause of education and of missions, both foreign and domestic. It was not suspected at the time that the man who was to be selected as their missionary to Africa was then a member of the Association, but so it was. It was soon ascertained that Mr. William H. Clarke had impres- sions to embark in such a mission. He was selected by the com- mittee, adopted by the Richmond Board, and the next year, in company with Bowen, Dennard and their wives, sailed for Af rica, where he was supported for years by the Bethel Associa tion.
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At the session at Hebron church, Lee county, in 1854, the following resolution, offered by Rev. Joseph S. Baker, wa adopted: "That we cordially approve of the object of the Bi ble Revision Association, and deem it entitled to the contribu tions and prayers of all lovers of the pure word of God." Th Colporteur, John Martin, reports the sale of $1,171,67 worth ( religious books, in addition to his other valuable services. H
was continued for the next year. Isaac B. Deavors was en ployed as a missionary to the blacks. Indeed, the body seen to have embarked in every important benevolent enterpris Besides her female college, for which she was raising tho sands of dollars annually, she had her Sabbath-school Boar her mission to the blacks within her own bounds, her missio
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Bethel Association.
to the Indians, (adopted in 1856,) all of which were being well sustained. And then, in 1858, it is recorded in the correspond- ing letter, "as we review the past associational year, we feel bound to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for the general health, the fruitful seasons and abundant crops he has kindly bestowed upon us as a people; but especially are we under ob- ligations to him for the additions made to the membership of our churches, and for the influence of his blessed Word and Spirit in promoting missionary and educational enterprises." Rev. R. J. Hogue had been appointed missionary to the Choc- taw Indians in 1857, and in 1858 his traveling expenses and salary, amounting to $1,150,00, were paid. Among the lead- ing minds of the Association in those days, were W. L. Craw- ford, Thomas Muse, C. D. Mallary, Lott Warren, D. A. Vason, H. C. Hornady, J. S. Baker, C. M. Irvin, James M. Clark, W. J. Lawton, George F. Cooper, F. F. Seig, E. W. Warren and others, showing an array of talents and weight of character found in no other Association in the State, unless it may have been the Georgia.
Of late years the body has " cast its bread beside all waters- sowed its seed in the morning, and not withheld in the even- ing." But a check has been put upon its progress. War has crippled its energies for a time, and has cast a dark shadow over all its affairs. Years ago Clarke* returned from Africa and has never resumed his labors in that " dark land ;" Hogue was compelled to flee from his station among the Indians during the war and seek an asylum in Texas; the College buildings were used for military purposes for years, and were no doubt greatly injured ; and then, Death has thrust in its sickle, and has cut down many who were once her pillars of strength- Mallary is gone ! and Lott Warren is gone ! and Cowdry has ceased from his labors ! and Joel Perry is no more ! and James To Matthews, and Everingham, and Lunsford, and Rushin, and El- dridge, and many other " Princes in Israel" have been called away from earth to their inheritance on high !
*Since dead.
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NEW SUNBURY ASSOCIATION.
At a regular conference of the Salem Baptist church, Liberty county, the subject of forming a new Association of churches from the Union, Piedmont and Sunbury Associations, was taken into consideration. The church decided it would be advanta- geous to do so in reference to territory lying between the Sa- vannah and Altamaha rivers and the coast on the southeast, to a line some seventy-five miles from the coast to the northwest. In much of this territory there is a fearful destitution of reli- gious services, owing to the desolations produced by General Sherman's army. In many cases the houses of worship were burned, and the people are too poor to rebuild. It was resolved to invite a Convention of churches in the described territory, to assemble at Salem church on the 27th and 28th of April, 1866. Accordingly, at the time appointed, delegates from the following churches convened, viz .: From Gum-Branch, Phila- delphia, Tom's creek, Antioch and Salem, of the Union Asso- ciation, and Jones' creek and Elim, of the Piedmont.
The Convention was organized by the election of Rev. Lewis Price, moderator, and J. L. Shaw, clerk. After due delibera- tion, the Convention decided in favor of forming a new Asso- ciation, and appointed a meeting for that purpose, to be held at Jones' creek church, on Saturday before the fourth Lord's day in November, 1866. Brethren Z. L. Boggs, L. Price and J. L. Shaw were appointed to notify the Sunbury Association of the action of the Convention.
The Convention met as per adjournment, at Jones' creek, on the 24th of November. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. W. O. Darsey.
In accordance with an invitation issued by Rev. S. Landrum, moderator of the Sunbury Association, six churches of that body convened also at Jones' creek on the 24th of November.
Upon consultation, it was decided to dissolve the Sunbury Association, which had existed forty-eight years. The reason for this action is the fact that the ravages of war had so re- duced its strength as to preclude the hope of efficiency, and that other churches were willing to unite in forming a new body. The delegates from the churches of the Sunbury Asso-
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New Sunbury Association.
ciation accepted the invitation of the Convention in session to take part in the deliberations.
Rev. L. Price presided over the Convention, and J. L. Shaw acted as clerk.
The letters of recommendation to the churches dismissed from the Union and Piedmont Associations were read, and the names of delegates from eleven churches were enrolled.
A committee of all the ministers present, viz .: F. R. Sweat, W. F. Willis, J. N. Tatum, H. A. Williams, S. Landrum, H. Padgett, William Cooper, T. B. Cooper, S. B. Sweat and W. O. Darsey, was appointed to prepare papers for the constitution of a new Association. After retiring, the committed reported the constitution and by-laws of the Georgia Association as a platform upon which to constitute. The report was adopted unanimously, and it was resolved that the Association now formed shall be called the NEW SUNBURY ASSOCIATION.
JONES' CREEK CHURCH,
Liberty. Co., Ga., November 24th, 1866.
The Convention having closed, the New Sunbury Association convened in its first session. The delegates were the same which had formed the Convention.
The Association was organized by the election of S. Lan- drum, of Savannah, as moderator, and Rev. Lewis Price as clerk.
The usual committees for such occasions were appointed. Rev. W. O. Darsey was appointed to prepare a corresponding letter, and it was decided to seek correspondence with the fol- lowing Associations, viz. : The Baptist Union, Piedmont and Baptist Middle, and messengers were appointed accordingly.
On Sabbath, Revs. F. R. Sweat, T. B. Cooper and S. Landrum preached, and cash and subscriptions were received for foreign missions amounting to $79 33.
The churches were urged to establish Sabbath-schools and to patronize religious papers. The following sentiment was adopted in regard to the destitution within their bounds : "Let every church be a missionary church, and every preacher be a missionary, and much of our destitution will soon be supplied."
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DIVISION ON MISSIONS.
By carefully noticing the preceding pages, the reader will learn why and when the division among the Baptists of Geor- gia occurred, which resulted in the withdrawal of the anti- missionaries (or "Hard-shells" as they are sometimes desig- nated,) from the body of the denomination. Yet, it is thought best to devote a short chapter to this subject. These brethren prefer to call themselves the "Old-side or Primitive Baptists," and there is no doubt many of them believe they have a just claim to such designation. But in this they are doubtless mis- taken. All history shows that the Baptists, far back into the remotest ages, have ever been active and zealous in spreading abroad the "glorious gospel of the blessed God." In perfect accord with their history in this respect, the foregoing pages show, that among the first preachers that entered the State, (if not the very first) were Daniel Marshall and Edmund Botsford, the former of whom had been a volunteer missionary to the Mohawk Indians, and whose missionary zeal impelled him to plant the standard of the cross in South Carolina and Georgia, and the latter of whom was sent into this State by a mission- ary society in Charleston, South Carolina. It will be noticed that in 1801, the Georgia Association entertained a proposition to form a missionary society, to send the gospel to the Indians, " which was unanimously and cordially approbated." In 1804, an address from "the General Committee of the Missionary Conference at Powelton," was read before said Association, which heartily concurred in its leading objects. In 1814, Jesse Mercer read the circular and constitution of the "Savannah Baptist Society for Foreign Missions," which was approved by the Association "most willingly and unanimously," and a time appointed to form a society to aid in the glorious effort "to evangelize the poor heathen in idolatrous lands." Thus did the pioneer Baptists of Georgia act and speak on the subject of missions.
In 1822, the General Association, (now the State Convention,) was organized in Powelton, for the purpose, among other things, not only of promoting missions, but also ministerial education. For several years, the only Associations connected with it were
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Division on Missions.
the Georgia, the Ocmulgee and the Sunbury -- those who were decided missionaries in the other Associations representing themselves therein through missionary societies. In 1827, at Antioch church, Morgan county, several churches of the Oc- mulgee Association petitioned that body to withdraw from the General Association, on account of their opposition to missions and ministerial education, which petitions were laid over till the next session, when the question of withdrawal was again discussed. But it was not till 1830, at Harmony church, Put- nam county, that the step was taken. This was followed by years of dissension and strife. In 1835, the body passed a res- olution of "non-fellowship with all benevolent societies, so called," and, in 1837, she declares such societies "unscriptural."
And so the work of opposition went on. Several churches withdrew from the Ocmulgee and joined others from the Flint river in forming the Central Association. The churches and Associations were thrown into great confusion, many being at a loss what to do. The Ebenezer was exceedingly vacillating for several years, and did not decide in favor of "the Institu- tions of the day" till 1836, upon which seven churches with- drew, and set up as "The true Ebenezer Association." The Yel- low river Association passed resolutions of non-fellowship with all in favor of missions, etc., in 1836. This subject had agitated the sessions of the Flint river Association for years, till in 1837, at Holly Grove church, Monroe county, the body refused to pass resolutions of non-fellowship; whereupon fifteen churches withdrew, and organized an anti-mission Association, the To- walagi, which adopted "The 13th Article" as a part of their creed. (There were twelve articles in the confession of Faith usually adopted by the churches and Associations of those days, and this 13th article became notorious as expressing the opposition of the Hard-shells to all kinds of benevolent insti- tutions.) The regular missionary churches never declared non-fellowship with their anti-missionary brethren. Such dec- larations invariably came from the other side. And this is the attitude of the parties now.
Thus it may be seen, that the opposition to missions, Bible societies, Sunday-schools, ministerial education, etc., began to show itself several years before it culminated in the actual di-
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vision of the churches and Associations, which occurred mostly from 1836 to 1838.
The most prominent and influential preachers among the anti-missionaries in those days were James Henderson, Joel Colley, John Blackstone, William Moseley and Thomas C. Trice. The three former have been dead many years, and it is worthy of special notice that the two latter, who moved to Alabama since or near the close of the war, identified themselves fully with the Missionary Baptists of that State; Mr. Trice having joined a missionary church and Association. They, too, have both gone to their long home.
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LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.
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MERCER UNIVERSITY.
PTTHE Georgia Baptist Convention, at its annual session in the spring of 1831, at Big Buckhead church, Burke county, adopted a resolution to establish a classical and theological school, the main object of which was the improvement of the rising ministry. If memory is not at fault, the resolution was offered by Rev. Adiel Sherwood. That school was located in Greene county, at what is now known as the village of Pen- field, and was called Mercer Institute, in honor of Rev. Jesse Mercer. The village was named Penfield, in honor of Mr. Josiah Penfield, a deacon of the Baptist church in Savannah, who had bequeathed to the Georgia Baptist Convention, for ministerial education, the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars ; this amount to be paid by his executors, when the Convention, or its friends should have raised an equal amount for the same object. Mercer Institute was opened as a Manual Labor School, the 2d Monday in January, 1833, with thirty-nine pupils, (seven of whom had the ministry in view,) Rev. B. M. Sanders, Prin- cipal, and one assistant. Its only buildings were "two double log cabins," which served as dwelling, dining-room, dormitories, etc., for both teachers and students. This unpretending Sem- inary subsequently became MERCER UNIVERSITY-how, we pro- ceed to show. (For a more full account of Mercer Institute, see sketch of Rev. B. M. Sanders.)
For the following facts, the author draws almost exclusively from reports adopted by the Georgia Baptist Convention, which he uses freely without further notice. In the year 1835, there was an effort made by a portion of the Presbyterian denomi- nation to establish a college under their auspices at Washing- ton, Wilkes county. A considerable subscription was made up for the enterprise, but the Washington project failed, and their Institution was located at Midway, near Milledgeville, and is
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now known as the Oglethorpe University. (If any shall infer that the Presbyterians thus became the leaders of the Baptists in the matter of a denominational school in Georgia, it is only necessary to remind them that "Mercer Institute " had been in successful operation more than two years. The Baptists were foremost in their educational movements in this State.) In the meantime the inquiry was propounded, "why may not the Baptists have a college at Washington?" To use the lan- guage of the venerable Mercer, " the notion took like wild-fire." Large portions of the subscription made for the Presbyterian project were transferred, and new ones added. Rev. William . H. Stokes and Dr. William H. Pope were particularly active in forwarding the enterprise, the latter performing much volun- tary service in getting up the subscription.
In October of the same year, the project was brought to the notice of the Georgia Association, at its annual session in Au- gusta, and was favorable entertained by that body.
The next year the plan was submitted to the Convention at its session in Talbotton, May, 1836. A subscription of some forty or fifty thousand dollars was tendered to the denomination, on condition that they should establish a college at Washington. The proposition was accepted, and it was agreed that the institution should be known as "The Southern Baptist College." Agents were sent out to increase the sub- scription ; a charter was obtained from the Legislature; and at the next annual session of the Convention, at Ruckersville, Elbert county, a subscription of $100,000 was reported as hav- ing been made up, this being the amount agreed on as essen- tial to justify the commencement of the enterprise. Of this amount about $40,000 were subscribed in Wilkes county, Rev. Jesse Mercer having increased his first subscription of $3,000, to the liberal amount of $10,000.
About this time a terrible financial crisis had overtaken the country, followed by a pecuniary pressure, well calculated to dampen the zeal of the most ardent friends of the college. Many began to fear it could not be sustained, and at the same time afford to Mercer Institute the support it so much needed, and who finally urged the abandonment of the Washington loca- tion and concentration on the Institute. This produced some
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Mercer University.
warm discussions in the Board of Trustees, (which had been appointed by the Convention,) Sanders being in favor of Pen- field, Mark A. Cooper in favor of White Hall, near what is now the city of Atlanta, and Mercer, with some others, strongly op- posing any change. While this subject was under discussion, on one occasion, the venerable Mercer became quite impatient, if not indignant, and withdrew from his seat as chairman, re- fusing to preside. As soon as this ebullition of feeling subsided, however, being urged to resume the chair, he did so. Nothing definite, however, was done at that meeting, which was held at Washington. But at a subsequent meeting of the board, August, 1837, at Athens, the following resolutions were adoped by a large majority :
"Resolved, That the important business of raising and endow: ing a Southern Baptist College in Georgia, intrusted to the care of this Board, has been maturely examined and inquired into. They have duly considered the means and resources required therefor, and are of opinion that it is inexpedient to undertake the building of a college under present circumstances. The reasons that have brought the Board to this conclusion are, in part, the following: First, the embarrassment of the times ; second, the differing views of brethren in regard to the plan proposed ; lastly, the inadequacy of the means in hand.
"Be it therefore resolved further, That the whole subject be re- ferred to the executive committee of the Baptist Convention for the State of Georgia, with the recommendation of this Board that they surrender the present charter and abandon the enter- prise, or seek to set on a footing a plan that will command the resources demanded for the accomplishment of the great under- taking."
By virtue of this movement, the Washington project was vir- tually dead, though the Board of Trustees went through the formality of surrendering up, by resolution, the charter and project to the Convention.
(The friends at Talbotton had made a vigorous effort to have the Southern Baptist College located at that place, and Rev. Robert Fleming attended the Convention at Ruckersville, in 1837, with a subscription of about $50,000 00 ; but this overture seems to have met with but little encouragement.)
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The question then arose, shall the important design of estab- lishing a Baptist College in Georgia be abandoned ? The ex- ecutive committee, with many others, felt that it must not be given up, and at once resolved to carry out the main design, or make a serious attempt to do so, by connecting a collegiate de- partment with the Mercer Institute, still continuing the aca- demic feature of the seminary. This they believed they had the power to do, inasmuch as " the ultimate and conclusive di- rection of all the interests and operations of the institution " had been vested by the Legislature. "in the executive com- mittee, as agents of the Convention," and they had been " left at liberty to alter or amend, as expediency might seem to re- quire." As already stated, in August, 1837, the Trustees of the Southern Baptist College abandoned that project and surren- dered their charter to the Convention. The executive com- mittee decided, in September, to take immediate steps to elevate the Mercer Institute to the rank of a University, and to apply to the next Legislature for a charter. This charter was ob- tained in December following, and is in these words :
"AN ACT to amend an Act entitled an Act to incorporate the Bap- tist Convention of the State of Georgia.
"SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represen- tatives of the State of Georgia, and it is hereby enacted by the au- thority of the same, That if, by the Act entitled an Act to incor- porate the Baptist Convention of the State of Georgia, said Convention or their executive committee are invested with taxing power, all such power is hereby annulled and made void. "SEC. 2. And it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the executive committee of the Baptist Convention of the State of Georgia shall have power to establish and endow a collegiate institution, to be known by the name of the Mercer University, on the premises owned by said Convention in Greene county ; and said committee are hereby authorized to make all necessary by-laws and regulations for the government of said University : Provided, they be not repugnant to the Con- stitution or laws of the State, or of the United States, until a Board of Trustees shall be appointed by the aforesaid Baptist Convention.
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