USA > Indiana > Indiana Baptist history, 1798-1908 > Part 16
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Among the laymen of the Association none have exerted a wider and more wholesome influence than Deacon M. H. Thomas, of Galveston church. He was
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a man of cool judgment, and his counsel was sought in the decision of important matters; his interest in the extension of God's kingdom was deep, and it did not decline. He believed that what ought to be done should be undertaken, and so he was always ready to move forward where duty pointed the way. He came of sturdy Pennsylvania stock; the father, H. L. Thomas, and the two sons, M. H. and W. H., came to Camden in 1865 and they at once united with the Deer Creek church, and soon began casting about for the planting of a Baptist church in Galveston. In 1868 a church was organized and M. H. Thomas was elected a deacon ; at once the matter of a church building was brought up and he was made chairman of the building committee. In 1870 a meeting house costing $4,500 was dedicated. The Association organized a Sunday school convention in 1871 and he was elected first president ; he was superintendent of his own Sunday school from its organization. As was suggested before, he was first to suggest systematic beneficence in the churches. He was honored by his brethren with mem- bership on important boards, as of the College and State missions. He died in 18 -.
Another layman whose name and work are inter- woven with the history of the Association is Deacon B. S. Dunkin. He was clerk of the body for seven- teen years and was often appointed on important com- mittees. He is a man of cheerful disposition, well instructed in the doctrines of the denomination, and his most earnest ambition is to see the advancement of the kingdom of his Lord; and he has not hesitated
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to invest, according to his ability, in the various de- nominational enterprises. His influence in his home has been such that all his children gladly "rise up and call him blessed," for they have all been inspired with the high purpose of giving their powers to the service of God and man.
As to the ministers of the Association none would rise to our minds sooner than the Rev. B. R. Ward. He has been pastor of many of the churches of the Association, and his position was always on the right side of every great issue. That he was held in high esteem by his brethren may be inferred from the fact that he was seven times chosen to preach the annual sermon, and was fifteen times chosen moderator.
The Rev. R. B. Craig was one of the efficient and self-sacrificing ministers of the Association; he also was pastor of many of the churches, and had large influence because of his earnest, quiet christian spirit, and had the complete confidence of the churches; he was elected clerk of the Association for fourteen dif- ferent years. He and the Rev. R. B. Ward were both students in Franklin College for a while. Two others who were early in the Association were the Revs. Price Odell and Philip McDade; they were recognized as faithful ministers and earnest workers for the good of the churches.
The Rev. William DeBolt was later in the service and proved himself a worthy worker. He had the advantage of a liberal education, and was known as an instructive preacher. He was, for a while, prin- cipal of Ladoga Seminary.
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The Rev. N. C. Smith came into the Association in 1883 as pastor of the Kokomo church; he had the advantage of full courses in both college and theolog- ical seminary, and was a minister as fully consecrated to the work as was to be found in the State. He in- sisted upon the spirituality of the church, and so there was no feverish haste to solicit members ; it came to be understood in Kokomo that the members of the Bap- tist church must give evidence of having been born from above, and must live in accordance with the Bible standard of christian life. He has since the close of the Kokomo pastorate had charge of other churches, but the same ideals are maintained; he is now pastor in Union Association.
The Rev. N. Carr was one of the earliest pastors at Kokomo, 1878, and did heroic service in getting the church organized for its task. It was soon manifest that he had special ability to solicit money for chris- tian purposes; this was seen in his ability to interest people in the creation of a church building. In those days Franklin College was in need of a Financial Sec- retary, and the reputation already made inclined the college board to select him for that office. He ac- cepted the service persuaded that the Master wanted him to undertake it; and for twenty years he labored with success, as the bulk of the present assets of the college will attest. (A fuller notice of the work will be made under the title Education.)
Other ministers who as truly deserve notice are the Revs. Allen Hill, H. R. Todd, S. S. Clark, D. Simpson and Clem Ricketts.
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EVANSVILLE ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF SPENCER, WARRICK AND VANDERBURG).
This Association was organized in 1850; the oldest church in the body was Baker's Creek, 1818; Evans- ville First was organized in 1847 and was doubtless greatly developed by the Rev. N. V. Steadman, who . was missionary under the American Baptist Home Mission Society from 1847 to 1850. While Evansville church was represented in the Convention in 1847, the Association did not send a delegate till 1852, when the Rev. J. A. Dixon was chosen. In the table of collec- tions for 1854 may be found the following credits : Evansville church, $30.55; Booneville, $18.50 ; Baker's Creek, $25.25; Little Pigeon, $33.95; Pleasant Val- ley, $24.25; Rockport, $15.15, and Barren Fork, $11.00; and these amounts will compare favorably with the benevolence of other Associations at that time.
Work among the Germans in Evansville was begun in 1856. The Rev. I. G. Werthner labored one year, the Rev. G. F. Mayer three months, and the Rev. C. Tecklenburg eleven years; these were all in the employ of the Baptist Home Mission Society. The Associational statistics for 1866 are sixteen churches, 752 members-Baker's Creek having 136 members and Evansville 112. The list of pastors for that year is as follows: the Revs. T. E. Veatch, A. Ajee, J. D. Huff, W. McConnell, G. F. Pentecost, A. B. Smith, W. O. Camp, D. H. Murry and D. L. Cain. In 1885 the number of churches was thirteen with a member- ship of 945; Evansville First church had 318 mem-
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bers and Little Pigeon 118. The total reported benev- olence for the year was $245.00, of which Evansville First gave $171.79. The Annual for 1906 gives sev- enteen churches, 1,413 members, and benevolence $619.95, excluding "other objects."
LONG RUN ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF SWITZER- LAND, JEFFERSON, RIPLEY AND OHIO).
This association was constituted at Mount Zion church, Switzerland county, in 1850. The Rev. John Graham was chosen moderator, and the Rev. J. D. Griffith, clerk; five churches went into the organiza- tion, and their total membership was 228. At the tenth anniversary there were twelve churches and a membership of 867; the oldest church in the body was Center Square, 1810; it was oldest Baptist, if not the oldest Protestant church, in Switzerland county. Elder Jesse Vawter was its first pastor. The ordained min- isters of the Association at this time were Elder Jesse Vawter, the Revs. J. D. Griffith, E. Roberts, John Pavey, Robert Stevenson, E. S. Riley and B. C. S. Carter. At the twentieth anniversary there were thir- teen churches and 927 members, and the ordained min- isters, besides some of those already named, were the Revs. W. S. Keene, S. Ward, W. H. H. Gleason and J. Stephenson.
As the churches of this Association are mostly in counties bordering on Kentucky the question would naturally arise as to what was their attitude towards the Union during the Civil war. The ringing reso- lutions passed at some of the sessions in those times are
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sufficient answer. At the session in 1865 the follow- ing were the resolutions passed :
"That the leaders of the present inhuman rebellion should meet with no more sympathy from christians and civilized men, unless they repent, than did Satan from Jehovah when he rebelled against heaven; that treason is treason; loyalty and disloyalty are now the only issues before the American people; and they who do not heartily sustain the Government in its efforts to subdue the rebellion are esteemed by us as being in league with the southern confederacy, and as being our personal enemies, enemies to our children, to their country and to God."
"That our warmest sympathy is extended to the brave patriot soldier now in the field or hospital, and that we will aid him in his sickness and that it is the duty of every christian to help his (the soldier's) fam- ily at home."
These resolutions certainly smack of the same spirit that characterized the Baptists in every great struggle that our country has made for justice and freedom, from the days of the Revolution to the present.
That the Association was in full sympathy with missions is seen in the fact that a Domestic mission Board was formed in 1851, and that a collection was taken for the American Baptist Home Mission So- ciety, the year following. Long Run and Brushy Fork churches led in the number of members till 1868 when Switzerland church (Vevay) reported the larg- est number, 155, and has kept in the lead from that time to this, with the exception of two years when
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Spring Branch had the largest number, 290, and one year Brushy Fork had a larger number by one. Ac- cording to the Indiana Baptist Annual for 1906 the Association had seventeen churches and a membership of 1752; the benevolences of the year were $836.09, including "other benevolences." The largest contri- bution was by Vevay ($321.78) and the next by Olive Branch ($73.40).
Many of the ministers of this Association have come to have more than a local reputation for ability and usefulness. The Rev. A. Ogle, the present superin- tendent of State Missions, the Clevenger brothers. two of then pastors in the state and the other in the east, the Rev. T. Warn Beagle, for many years the successful pastor at Vevay, the Rev. E. Kirtley, the talented young pastor at Vevay, but cut down in the midst of large promise, the Rev. E. S. Riley, who has had long service in Indiana and was many years in Kansas, the Rev. W. E. Morris, the energetic and affectionate pastor many years at Vevay, and latterly the Secretary of the Board of Franklin college, the Rev. A. O. Protsman, the pastor at Hope, and others equally worthy of mention.
Among the laymen of the Association who gave evi- dence of ability and friendliness is Deacon U. P. Schenck of Vevay church. He was a successful busi- ness man, and as earnest in the Lord's business as in his own. He was indeed a pillar in his church, and was in sympathy with all the enterprises of his de- nomination. His home, a beautiful residence over- looking the Ohio river, was always the home of the
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ministers and brethren who visited Vevay ; he was pos- sibly more interested in higher education than in any other of our Baptist enterprises; he was for many years a member of the Board of Directors of Franklin College, was a liberal contributor to its funds, and sent most if not all of his children to the college for their education.
Of the two ministers who more than any others were regarded as "fathers" in the Association -is, first, the Rev. J. D. Griffith. He was born in Switzerland county in 1823, and always lived in that county. In his boyhood the county was quite a wilderness ; wild game abounded, the sickle was the instrument for reaping the grain, as the flail was the instrument for threshing it; while the grinding was done on horse mills. He did not have many opportunities for educa- tion, but he prepared himself for teaching and fol- lowed that calling for ten years. He joined the Long Run Baptist church in his eighteenth year and was a member there till his death. He was ordained in 1846, and was constantly preaching, even during the time that he was superintending the work on his farm, and while he served his county as clerk. He was a doughty champion of the doctrines he believed as a Baptist, and in at least one instance he was drawn into a de- bate with a pædobaptist minister as to the authority for infant baptism. His children rise up to call his memory blessed, for he inspired them with the purpose of preparing for places of large influence ; one son is superintendent of an institution for the blind, another is in the medical department of the Government at
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Washington, another is superintendent of city schools, and still another has served in the State Senate, and is now a member of the United States Congress. Brother Griffith was twenty-three times Moderator of his Association. He was called to his eternal reward in 1905.
Another of these "fathers" was the Rev. Robert Stevenson, who was born in Kilmornock, a town of Ayershire, Scotland, in 1815. In 1828 he accompanied his father to America and they settled in Jefferson county, Indiana. He was so eager for information that he read extensively in the hours following the day's work. His father hoped and expected that the son would become a strong and respected member of the Scotch Presbyterian church, but his reading had led him to doubt some of the teachings of that body, and finally led him to join the Baptist church in that community-the Brushy Fork. His Baptist brethren at once recognized his abilities and inclinations and ac- cordingly ordained him to the ministry, in 1843. He soon became a recognized power in the pulpit ; he read many books, but the Bible most of all. It is said that he wrote the entire Bible, and the New Testament more than once. He had all the strength of convic- tion and force of expression that are characteristic of his nationality. The doctrines of the sovereignty of God had no more able a defender than he was, in all southern Indiana-nor in the State. Those who dif- fered from him as to the fundamental doctrines of the Baptists, found that they might well think twice be- fore undertaking to refute him. He seemed inclined
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to serve country churches rather than those in the city, doubtless owing to the fact that he had become accustomed to rural ways-felt more at home; it was not because he was not a prince of pulpit orators. He died in 1896.
Few Associations have sent more students to Frank- lin College than has Long Run; the college catalogues bear testimony to the many young men and young women who came from that section of the state; as the Schencks, the Craigs, the Griffiths, the Hattons, the Shaddays, the Gibbses, the Ogles, the Crafts, the Wards, the Henrys, the Jaynes, the Kinnetts, the Clevengers, the Crandells, the Matthewses and the Protsmans.
WHITE WATER VALLEY ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF DECATUR, FRANKLIN, FAYETTE, RIPLEY AND WAYNE.
This Association was organized in 1852, and was in some sense a protest against the Predestinarian views held in the White Water Association. The first minutes accessible are for 1866, at which time there were eight churches, 350 members, the Mod- erator was the Rev. J. P. Agenbroad, of the Rich- mond church, and the clerk, E. H. Webb. The Association was in correspondence with all the other Associations in that part of the State, and by resolu- tions declared itself in hearty sympathy with all the general enterprises of the denomination.
. The Richmond church had lately come into the body after a long and hard struggle to build a meet-
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ing house. The number of members had doubled during the financial struggle. The next session of the Association was held with the Richmond church; the more active pastors in the body at that time were the Revs. A. S. Ames, of Cambridge City church; Joab Stout, of Pipe Creek church, and J. P. Agenbroad, of Richmond. The annual contribution for missions was $54.00.
In 1886 the ministers of the Association were the Revs. G. W. Bower, S. Wallace, J. E. McCoy, W. H. Marson, D. O. Stites, P. C. Cates and F. M. Chamberlain; there were ten churches, a total membership of 559, and the amount of the benevo- lence reported was $25.90.
Concord church was represented by two laymen: N. M. Jennings and B. F. Wilmore; and the Rich- mond church by E. E. Beetle and Charles Hazel- ton.
Five years later the number of churches was 9, the total membership 544, the total given for benev- olence $114.21 ; and of this amount the women gave $22.72. The forty-ninth session was held with the Connersville church, and the pastor, the Rev. H. E. Wilson was chosen Moderator; the Rev. F. M. Chamberlain was chosen clerk.
Connersville church, though one of the youngest in the Association, was not behind in its activity ; while the church and Sunday school expenses were $4,061.22, the benevolence was quite liberal ($75.89).
The minutes for 1904 contain the following facts :
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There were eight churches, 635 members, and a Sun- day school enrollment of 538. The Richmond church stood first in numbers, 260, and the Connersville church next, 106; Connersville stood first in benevo- lence, $183.36, and Richmond next, $93.70. The ministers of the Association at this time were the Revs. Addison Parker, of Richmond church; H. E. Wilson, of Connersville; W. H. Marson, of Cam- bridge City; G. W. Bower, of Sunman, and F. M. Chamberlain, of Richmond.
The Year Book for 1906 gives the total member- ship of the Association as 644 and the total benevo- lence, $355.56.
WEASAW CREEK ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF FUL- TON, MIAMI, MARSHALL, WABASH AND CASS).
This Association was organized in 1853 at Weasaw Creek church in Miami county. The first anniversary was held with the Ebenezer church, Fulton county, and the minutes of the session show that there were eight churches and 294 members; the Rev. T. C. Townsend was chosen moderator and the Rev. John Dunham, clerk. Correspondence was established with Elkhart River, Judson, Huntington and Northern As- sociations, and also with the General Association (Bap- tist Convention). The ordained ministers of the As- sociation at that time were the Revs. T. C. Townsend, J. Dunham, J. Babcock, A. E. Babcock, J. R. Bab- cock, S. V. R. Coon and M. N. Leland.
The resolutions passed at this session are evidence
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that the Association is in full sympathy with the pro- gressive forces for extending the kingdom of God, and is opposed to intemperance and slavery. There was particular interest felt in the mission to the Miami Indians-a mission within the bounds of the Associa- tion. A collection of $27.00 was taken for the Con- vention, and paid to the Rev. P. H. Evans who was present as the representative of that body. At the second session ten churches were reported and 380 members; the Rev. T. C. Townsend was employed as Association missionary, and was charged to do all pos- sible for the Miami mission. At the fifth session twelve churches were reported, and 889 members; the names of ministers not hitherto mentioned were the Revs. J. B. Allyn, J. Barratt, L. Cool, and M. P. Mere- dith. Ladoga Seminary and Franklin College were recommended by resolution. At the tenth session (1863) the Rev. S. Tucker was moderator and the Rev. J. B. Allyn, clerk; there were twenty-three churches and 1,167 members ; resolutions were adopted recommending missions and Sunday schools ; the Civil war was deplored and a fervent appeal was made to the God of nations to save us as a nation; and sym- pathy expressed for those who mourn the loss of loved ones in the war-two of the dead being mentioned- Captain C. E. Tucker, son of the Rev. S. Tucker, and Orrin Smith, of the Franklin church. The names of new ministers were the Revs. S. B. Searle, W. Cool, J. P. Edwards, E. W. Hanson, E. M. Magraw, J. B. Brouillette and P. Bondy (the last two being Miami Indians). Correspondence was established with the
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Rangoon Baptist Association, Burma. The fifteenth session was held with the Weasaw Creek church; the Rev. L. A. Alford was chosen moderator and the Rev. P. Rowden, clerk; there were twenty-two churches and 1,592 members; ministers not mentioned before were the Revs. J. Trenneman, J. Bishop, E. J. Delp, S. Marsh, J. R. Morris, B. F. Clay and Adri- an Foote. The largest church membership was at Logansport, 276, and the next at Antioch, 128. The minutes of this session contain the first table of benev- olences; from it we learn that the objects to which contributions were made were Domestic missions, Bap- tist Publication Society, Home missions, Foreign mis- sions, A. M. Christian Union, Freedman's Aid So- ciety, Ministerial education, Burmese education, church building, destitute churches, Indianapolis Fe- male Seminary and the Baptist Theological Seminary -(where?). The total of the gifts was $560.06, of which Logansport church gave more than half. At the seventeenth anniversary, held at Rochester, the name of the Association was changed from Weasaw Creek to Logansport. (The further history of the body will be found under the latter name and in the chronological order.) Among the foremost ministers of the Association we would think first of the Rev. J. Babcock.
MOUNT ZION ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF JOHNSON, MORGAN, BROWN AND MONROE.)
This Association was organized in 1855 with Elder John Vawter moderator and Elder J. W. B. Tisdale,
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clerk; and they succeeded themselves in these offices as long as they lived. At the beginning there was a total membership of 830; among the churches belong- ing, but which soon were dismissed to join Indianapo- lis Association, were Franklin and Hurricane. The ordained ministers belonging to the earlier history of the body were the Revs. John Vawter, J. W. B. Tis- dale, J. G. Kerr, E. J. Todd, J. W. Ragsdale and J. B. Cox. In 1876 the total membership was 1779; of this number Harmony church reported 170 and Unity 139. The last records accessible state that there were fourteen churches and 741 members; and the statis- tics (which must be quite imperfect) give $14.63 as the total for the benevolence of that year.
Among the laymen of the Association James For- sythe is well worthy of first mention. He and his wife were members of First Mount Pleasant church; he came from Kentucky and always spoke with en- thusiasm of his early home in the blue grass country. He and his wife settled in the western part of Johnson county, and through industry and economy, practiced through many years, accumulated a respectable estate. They were exemplary members of their church, and were always glad to have their brethren and sisters visit them. Many years ago they became interested in a young woman who had been taken as a member of the family, they were not blessed with children of their own, and gave her the privilege of attending Franklin College. In bringing her to the institution on Mondays and coming for her on Fridays Brother Forsythe became gradually acquainted with the spirit
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and work of the college as well as with its wants. He was made a member of its Board of Directors, and so came to know very much of the hopes and purposes of those who were leaders in our educational work. As different enterprises were planned and undertaken looking towards the increase of the facilities of the institution, whether of endowment, buildings, or fur- nishings, it was never in vain that those who were specially charged with the work laid the whole matter before Brother and Sister Forsythe. The motive that always seemed to have most power was that the meas- ure would be for the good of the d'enomination and the glory of God. They made their means on the farm, and never forgot to be economical in expendi- tures for their own comfort, and yet they gave $20,000 in all to the college; and doubtless their benevolence extended in other directions as well. Their dust re- poses on the southern slope of the beautiful cemetery connected with First Mount Pleasant church where they were so long members; and many are the silent benedictions of their brethren and friends who visit their graves. They afford a marked example of what christian people can do for the cause of the Master. when they come to appreciate the privilege and the duty. Brother Forsythe died in 1887 and his wife in 1892.
The first minister of the Association to be mentioned is Elder John Vawter, for he was virtually its founder. He was born in Virginia in 1782, was licensed to preach in 1804 in Kentucky, moved to Madison, In- diana, in 1807, and in 1810 was appointed United
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States Marshal for the state. He took part in the campaign of 1811-13 and was elected Colonel of Jen- nings county militia in 1817; he laid out the town of Vernon and was pastor of the Vernon Baptist church from 1821 to 1848. He was elected to the lower House of the State Legislature 1831-35, and to the State Senate in 1836. He was a strong advocate of state internal improvements. In 1848 he moved to Morgan county and was the leading spirit in building up that village. He built and presented a brick meet- ing house to the Baptist church in Morgantown, and as was said before he was influential in the formation of the Mount Zion Association. He was a man of marked idiosyncracies, but no one ever doubted his loyalty to his Lord; his ambition was to do good by all means and especially by leading men to accept the Savior. He was destined to be a leader in whatever cause he was interested; many of the churches of the state felt the power of his presence and counsel. An- ticipating death he dictated his own epitaph (leaving a blank for the date of his decease) and this is it:
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