USA > Indiana > Indiana Baptist history, 1798-1908 > Part 17
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With all his titles, here lies the remains of Elder John Vawter. Born in old Virginia, Jan. 8th, 1782; Died Aug. 17th, 1862. The effort of his long life as a Christian was to nourish and build up the true Christian Church on the Original Apostolic foundation. As a statesman he was 1
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progressive, conservative, believing the State Legislature held the great material interest of the body politic in its hands; that the prosperity of the State in education, agriculture, internal improvements,
mechanical arts, finance and commerce could be advanced by judicious, or retarded and crypted by unwise legislation.
Another minister who deserves special mention was Elder John W. Ragsdale. He was born in Kentucky in 1811 ; he came to Indiana in 1837 and found a home in Johnson county near Trafalgar. He had joined a Baptist church in his native state; he preached his first sermon in an old school house some time during the Mexican war. He became the preacher for the country churches not being averse to riding scores of miles, if thereby he could encourage a church, or per- suade a sinner to come to the divine fountain for cleansing. His own approximate estimate is that he had ridden fifty thousand miles, mostly on horse-back, and that he had baptized fifteen hundred persons. He was made moderator of his Association nearly every year till he became too feeble to undertake the ser- vice. He has served fifteen different churches as pas- tor ; they are located in all the counties included in the Association. He and his wife made their home a very welcome place for their brethren and sisters, and es- pecially for fellow ministers. Their children loved them intensely, and were ready at all times to do all
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that was possible to make their old age happy. A son, Dr. J. M. Ragsdale, M. D., died in the service during the civil war; the two daughters, Mrs. Vories and Mrs. Obenchain, are still living. He died in 1896. preceding his wife two and a half years. Their bodies repose in a beautiful cemetery near their Morgantown home.
FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF OWEN, MONROE, GREENE AND MORGAN.)
This Association was organized in 1856 with seven churches having a total of 719 members. The Rev. P. H. Evans was chosen moderator and Deacon I. W. Sanders, clerk. In a table of "moneys collected for the Indiana Baptist General Association by the Rev. Caleb Blood," the Association gave $67.17. At the time of the tenth anniversary there were nineteen churches and 1234 members; Mill Creek church had the largest number of members, 119, and Mount Carmel was next, 114. The pastors in the Association in 1866 were the Revs. J. W. Chord, F. M. Buchanan, G. W. Terry, D. D., W. Stansil, B. B. Arnold, W. Trent and A. B. Robertson. After forty years, 1906, the number of churches reported twenty-eight, and the total mem- bership 2,678; the largest church was Bloomington, 325, and the next was Linton, 292. The total benevo- lence reported for the year was $753.16, in which Bloomington lead ($190.91) and Spencer was next ($161.15).
Many strong ministers have been pastors in the As- sociation; among them the Rev. F. J. Martin, the at-
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tractive and logical preacher, the Rev. J. W. Chord, who knew his Bible as few men know it; the Rev. G. W. Terry, D. D., who never wearied of telling what Baptists believe and why they believe it ; the Rev. Robert Moore, the ready writer; the Rev. A. B. Rob- ertson, the faithful under shepherd; the Rev. Gilbert Dobbs, now a pastor of one of the strongest churches of the south; the Rev. L. A. Clevenger, D. D., now in Massachusetts, and the Rev. P. H. Evans, who was connected with the earlier history of the Association, and had in a high degree the confidence and love of his brethren.
Among the laymen who exerted a large influence on account of their breadth of view and profound interest in the progress of the churches were Deacons I. W. Sanders, of the Vernal church, and David Bonham, of Providence church. Another layman who deserves special mention was Jonathan L. Allen, of the Bethel church, east of Spencer. He was a quiet, industrious farmer who had the faculty of accumulating property without being accused of "driving sharp bargains" or "grinding the poor." He and his wife, not being blessed with children of their own, readily interested themselves in the children of others. They sent sev- eral young persons to Franklin College; and they soon became particularly interested in some young men who were preparing for the work of the ministry. He oc- casionally visited the college to see those whom he had befriended, and in this way became acquainted with the work and wants of the institution. On sev- eral occasions as the Financial Secretary visited him
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in his home, and laid before him the various finan- cial enterprises which it was thought best to under- take, he showed a deep interest, and scarcely ever let the Secretary go on his way without a pledge of some amount. In all this giving his wife cheerfully joined him; and having once been enlisted in benevolence they thought of other objects as well as the college; the Missionary Union, Publication Society, (and pos- sibly the Home Mission Society) shared in their be- neficence. To the college they gave, in all, over $23,- 000.
It is at once a pleasure and a profitable study to review such cases as those of James Forsythe, of the Mount Zion, and Jonathan Allen, of the Friendship Association. They and their wives were plain, indus- trious, economical people, genuine in their love for God and good men, and were ready to give freely of their means when they were sure that the gift would be pleasing to their Heavenly Father. It leads us to hope and expect that there are many such families in our goodly state, who, if they could be led by brethren whom they know and in whom they thor- oughly trust, to see the great privilege of helping the causes of missions and education, as these two fami- lies are led, they would be as ready to give and as liberal as they. And this does not assume large wealth; it is possible with the hundreds of Baptist families of Indiana who are simply well to do. These . were not what are called learned men and women getting their inspiration from broad reading; their local surroundings were not of the most inspiring
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kind; but they believed in God and their own denom- ination, and so when the privilege and duty were made plain they were prompt and glad in their response. Families of larger means and more liberal learning may well feel the inspiration of the example set by Brother and Sister Forsythe and Brother and Sister Allen.
INDIANA ASSOCIATION-(NEGRO.)
This Association was organized in 1858; three churches with a total membership of eighty-three went into the organization. The next report accessible is for 1864 when there were eight churches and 306 members. The principal churches were at Charles- town, Cicero, Indianapolis, Madison and New Albany, and the principal pastors were the Revs. R. Bassett, Moses Broyles, J. Young, L. Artis, and A. Brown; the Rev. Moses Broyles was chosen moderator. In 1867 there were fifteen churches and 918 members, and 150 had been baptized during the year. Other ministers in the Association at that time were the Revs. Green McFarland, Chapman Harris, William Singleton and Charles Edwards. The records for 1872 give forty-two churches, 2,314 members, 244 baptized, and the following names of ministers: The Revs. Travis Ford, S. Clay, G. Field, Isaac Stewart, J. R. Raynor, Z. T. Robinson, G. M. Davis, P. Pool, G. J. Gann and P. Simco. In 1877 there were fifty-three churches, 3,482 members, 231 baptized and the two largest churches were Second Indianapolis, 645, and Liberty church, Evansville, 656. In 1884 two Negro
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Associations report-Indiana and Eastern Indiana; in 1887 Indiana reported 38 churches, 4,074 members and 244 baptisms. In 1888 Indiana made her first report on benevolence; it was $238.75. In 1891 there was a report on Sunday schools showing an enrollment of 1,790; in six years this enrollment had increased to 3,234. The minutes for 1898 show that the Second church, Indianapolis, had a membership of over 1,700, as also had the Liberty church, Evansville. The most recent data at hand show that Indiana Association has 53 churches and 3,482 members.
EASTERN INDIANA ASSOCIATION.
This association was organized in 1884. The reason for the organization of this new Association is not far to see; the State is too large for one body; the dis- tances to be traveled too great. If the white Baptists of the state need thirty Associations, surely the negro Baptists have need for at least two. In 1887 the Eastern reported nineteen churches, 1,491 members, and 151 baptisms. The benevolence of the year was $165.10, of which amount the women gave $9.00. The most recent data of this Association are the same as above.
The line of division of these two Associations does not seem to be very clear, as some of the churches west of the center line of the state belong to the Eastern Association. Just what determines the line of division it is not easy to say.
Besides the Associations there was formed what was called the Baptist Ministerial Convention-at first
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one for the whole state, and afterwards one connected with each Association. The purpose of these conven- tions is best set forth in the Constitution which is as follows: "For our mutual aid as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ in carrying forward the great work in which we are engaged, for the promotion of the Redeemer's Kingdom, we form ourselves into this Union." As the name indicates it was for ministers and the condition of membership was "good standing in some Baptist church in Indiana." The meetings were held annually, and generally in connection with the Associations. Here follow some sample topics taken up for discussion: "Do the scriptures teach that there shall be a resurrection of these mortal bodies ?" "What do the scriptures teach us concerning the day of judgment?" "What will become of the world at the final dissolution of all thing?" and "How shall we make our churches self sustaining?" There has been some effort of late, especially in Indianapolis, to form Baptist Brotherhoods, and to provide for higher edu- cation.
Among all the negro Baptists of Indiana the first place, without question, belongs to the Rev. Moses Broyles, for he was an efficient factor in the develop- ment of the Second church, Indianapolis, in founding other churches in and out of that city, and in helping forward the Baptist cause among his brethren of the state. In 1876 he published a seventy-five page pamphlet in which were given a brief sketch of his own life, and a history of the Second church, as well as an account of the formation of several other
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churches. This is a most interesting bit of history, especially the part relating to his own life-his strug- gles for an education, and his joy when at last he reached Eleutherian College in Jefferson county, In- diana, in 1854. He was sold as a slave when he was four years old and taken from his home in Maryland to Tennessee; he was again sold to a slave owner of Kentucky, by the name of Broyles. He gave such satisfaction to this man by his industry and general care of all things entrusted to him, that he became a favorite and was granted many of the privileges or- dinarily granted to white children only. He learned to read, was a welcome attendant at the school-house debates ; finally he was asked to take a part, and this greatly intensified his desire for learning. While yet a slave he read the New Testament through five times; and the whole Bible twice; he also read the United States Constitution, a history of -the United States, Mosheim's Church history, some of Alexander Camp- bell's writings and Benedict's History of the Baptists. When he was fourteen years old his master told him that if he would serve him well till 1854 he would set him free. He remained in service till 1851 when he proposed to the master that he would buy the rest of the time; this the master agreed to, and although he had considerable of sickness he paid the amount agreed upon, by 1854, and had $300 left with which he be- gan a course of education. He remained in Eleuther- ian College, referred to above, three years, in which time he was well advanced in Latin, Greek and some of the sciences. Upon his conversion he joined a
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Disciples church, being strongly persuaded to it, but afterwards upon investigation he found that his con- victions differed from some of the teachings of that people. He specified three things :
"I found that there was much diversity among their preachers on many points of doctrine. Instead of pen- itent sinners receiving pardon through faith and hum- ble prayer, they believe that penitent sinners receive pardon in the act of baptism. While they contend that there is no gospel assurance of pardon or admittance into Christ's church without baptism, they will hold communion with unbaptized persons. As I did not harmonize with the doctrine I left the church."
He went to Indianapolis in 1857 and was soon at work in and for the Second church. He had much to contend with; lack of organization, internal dissen- sions, and some false ministerial brethren. But by vigilance, patience and wisdom the difficulties were gradually surmounted, and large prosperity came to the church. Up to the time of his writing, 1876, he says that 540 persons had joined the church by bap- tism. He took a deep interest also in building up the Sunday school; when he first went there good Deacon J. M. Sutton of the First church was superintendent of the school but gave up the work as soon as he could find some one to take it up, for he was also teaching a large class in his home school. He men- tions the following churches in Inidanapolis and vi- cinity which were formed from the Second church: Lick Creek, Mount Zion, Georgetown and New Bethel. He also gives the names of a large number
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of ministers who have gone out from the Second church. .
The pamphlet concludes with a statement of the benefits to be derived from Baptist Associations ; these are acquaintance, enthusiasm of members, protection against false brethren, possibility for more and better missionary work, and the reference of difficult cases of discipline to a wise council.
The Bassetts were also men of ability and culture ; their white brethren often listened with both pleasure and edification to their sermons; they were the Revs. R. Bassett, Sr., R. Bassett, Jr., and Miles Bassett.
MONTICELLO ASSOCIATION-( COUNTIES OF NEWTON, JASPER AND WHITE.)
This Association was organized in 1859. In 1860 the Association was represented at the Convention by the Rev. L. McCreary as delegate. In 1866 there were seven churches and 214 members, and the Rev. E. L. Cool was moderator. The pastors in the Association were the Revs. J. H. Dunlap, J. G. Kerr, M. A. Kerr and L. Cool. Burnetts Creek church had the largest membership, seventy-five. The statistics for 1875 were nine churches, 355 members, the Rev. D. J. Hus- ton moderator, and the Rev. A. H. Dooley, clerk. The pastors were the Revs. R. B. Craig, H. Miner, A. Ren- frew, D. J. Huston and A. H. Dooley. Substantial growth is indicated by the statistics for 1896; there are fifteen churches and a total membership of 965. The largest membership was in Goodland church, 222 The pastors at that time were the Revs. R. A. Fuson,
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I. W. Bailey, J. L. Matthews, W. S. Kent, D. J. Huston, I. B. Morgan, C. E. Volivia and J. A. Haynes.
The Annual for 1906 gives the following facts : Churches, fifteen; missions, one; membership, 1,302, and a total annual benevolence of $584.41. Of this amount Goodland church gave $163.68 and Burnetts Creek $78.03. Many of the young men and young women of this Association were once students in Franklin College, and many of the pastors were also students there.
The following old students are recalled as having once been pastors of some of the churches: The Revs. D. J. Huston, A. H. Dooley, R. B. Craig, C. H. Hall, L. O. Stiening, J. L. Matthews, I. W. Bailey, J. C. Rhodes, J. A. Morgan and J. L. Beyl.
The minister in the Association to be mentioned first of all is the Rev. D. J. Huston, for he was in a large sense the father of the organization. He was born near Connersville, Indiana, in 1821; in 1840, upon his conversion he joined a Baptist church, although his parents were Presbyterians. The church with which he connected himself was Little Blue River, in Shelby county. Two years after his joining this church it had a notable service at which three young men-D. J. Huston, J. M. Smith and John Phares-preached their first sermons. The first mentioned entered Franklin College in 1843; he studied and taught and worked on the farm till 1847 when he was called to his first pastorate. Most of his pastoral service was rendered in southern Indiana; in 1856 he was appointed an agent for the Indiana General Association (Conven-
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tion), and the following year he was chosen as agent for the college, and during the three years of that service he collected $10,000 on old scholarships and secured notes for $11,000 on endowment. Closing this engagement he was pastor at Columbus for one year at the close of which he moved to Jasper county, and preached for Rensselaer church every alternate Sun- day. He preached for that church twelve years in this way, and in the meantime assisted such other churches as Monon, Goodland and Mount Zion. In 1881 the Goodland church called him as pastor, and he accepted, although the outlook was anything but encouraging. The membership was small and not well united, and the Sunday school was in a poor condi- tion; but in the ten years of his pastorate there the foundations for a vigorous church with a prosperous Sunday school were laid. At the age of three score and ten he moved to Milroy township, same county, and by perseverance and self-sacrifice he built up a church which in 1900 dedicated a neat and comfort- able house of worship. In 1903 the Little Blue River church arranged to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the meeting referred to above; two of the three men were there and preached; the third, the Rev. John Phares, sleeps his long sleep near by the church build- ing.
The Rev. D. J. Huston is better preserved physically and mentally than most men of his age; indeed, his memory is remarkable for its clearness and ability to recall details. The secret of his large success in the ministry is found in his strong abiding faith in the
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influence and power of the word of God. The Frank- lin church was grateful that he was able to be present at the late Seventy-fifth anniversary exercises. He is passing his later years at his home in Goodland, enjoying the devotion and affection of his daughter, May, and his many friends.
Another minister who has a large place in the his- tory of the Association is the Rev. A. H. Dooley. He was born in Kentucky in 1829; when he was ten years of age his parents moved into Parke county, Indiana, near a place called The Narrows of Sugar Creek. Through all the years of his childhood he had deep convictions as to his sinfulness of heart and his great need of salvation; but, for one thing, the church of the neighborhood was a Predestinarian church, and he could not bring himself to accept its distinguishing doctrines, although it was the church to which his father and mother belonged. And when, after some years, he found reason to hope that he was a christian, it was only after a long struggle that he found courage to confess Christ before men. Finally in 1850, while visiting relatives in Boone county, he found the opportunity and offered himself for mem- bership in a missionary Baptist church; he was ac- cepted and baptized forthwith. During nearly all the time of his conviction for sin and need of a Savior he also had the conviction that it was his duty to give himself to the work of the christian ministry. He and Miss Mary T. Connelly were married in 1852, and his wife joined the church with him in 1853. While engaged in teaching and farming, ever and anon the
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duty of giving himself to the work of the ministry was with him. The Rev. P. T. Palmer, a promi- nent minister of that part of the state, soon interpreted his feelings, when the two met, and encouraged him strongly to make the start. In 1854 he moved to Boone county and was soon compelled to listen to the voice that was calling him into the ministry. He was ordained at the request of the Elizaville church in 1867, and has from that time till old age forbade it, given his time and strength to the work of the min- istry, and has been successful far beyond the average. Most of his service was in Monticello Association ; he was pastor, in turn, of many of the churches compos- ing it and was often honored with the moderatorship of the Association. He has interested himself in col- lecting the data and writing the history of at least two of the churches he served-Elizaville and Burnetts Creek-and also the history of Monticello Association. He also often wrote most interesting historical sketches for the denominational papers. From these sources and an autobiography written in his later years most of the facts of this sketch were found. Early in life he took a positive stand against the use of alcoholic beverages and against the use of tobacco, and now in his old age he can with double effect warn young men against the use of both. He is still able to go about among the churches occasionally, and nothing gives him as much satisfaction as to see the churches pros- pering, and his own denomination reaching forward towards larger things.
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HARMONY ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF TIPTON,
MADISON, GRANT AND HOWARD).
This Association was formed in 1864, and first rep- resented itself in the Convention in 1866. At the latter date it had eleven churches and 361 members, the largest number in any one church being in Lib- erty, 65. The Rev. D. Simpson was moderator and the Rev. J. M. Huston, clerk. The pastors at that time were the Revs. D. Simpson, H. Cobb, A. Johnson, J. W. Forrest and W. Hughes. In 1879 there were sev- enteen churches and 830 members. Resolutions were passed at each session favoring all the causes in which the Baptists are interested. The minutes for 1894 give 1,036 as the total membership; Prairie church had 163; and several new churches had come into the body, as Anderson, and Gas City. Among the new Dastors were the Revs. U. M. McGuire and T. C. Smith. The Rev. Jacob Barrow was made moderator and C. F. Bicknell, clerk. The minutes for 1900 show quite an increase in all lines; there were twenty-three churches and 1,775 members; the Anderson church reported 228 members and Prairie 206. The Alexan- dria church made contributions to all denominational causes; the total benevolence of the Association was $410.81. The Baptist Annual for 1906 gives the fol- lowing statistics : Churches, twenty-one; missions, one; moderator, the Rev. J. Barrow; the Rev. C. F. Eddy, clerk; largest membership in Marion church (292), and the next in Elwood (270) ; benevolence of the year, $1,053.56, of which Elwood was $192.18 and Marion $178.88. Harmony Association labors under
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some disadvantages not common to all Associations ; many of its churches are in towns built up rapidly by reason of the discovery of natural gas or oil, and the factories were along lines of industry better under- stood by foreigners than by native Americans, and so the main part of the population was comparatively hard to evangelize. Intemperance, gambling, and Sabbath desecration prevailed to an alarming extent. And yet as time goes on a more permanent work is being done; and at length, as we hope, what at first seemed to be a disadvantage will prove to be the means of a more energetic evangelistic movement.
FORT WAYNE ASSOCIATION-(COUNTIES OF ALLEN, WHITLEY, KOSCIUSKO, WABASH AND HUNTINGTON ).
This Association was organized at Fort Wayne in 1868 with the Rev. A. S. Kingsbury, moderator, and the Rev. G. L. Stevens, clerk. It was formed from the Huntington and Elkhart River Associations. At the tenth anniversary there were fifteen churches and 1331 members, and the ordained ministers were the Revs. J. H. Winans, A. Latham, W. W. Robinson, D. W. Sanders, J. R. Stone, G. P. Osborn, R. P. Jones, J. B. Tuttle and O. V. Frittz. The largest church mem- bership was at Fort Wayne, 250, and the next largest at Warsaw, 200. The total benevolences for the year (barring the amount paid for minutes) were $589.41, the largest amount being given for State Sunday school work, $249.22. The proceedings of the twen- ty-sixth anniversary mention eighteen churches and
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