USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 49
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Among the Baptists in Northern Kentucky, where they were by far the most numerous, the revival began, and contin- ued to its close, in a decorous, orderly manner. In the upper Green River country and East Tennessee, where the Separate Baptists were most numerous, there was more excitement, and some falling and jerking. In Middle Tennessee (then called West Tennessee), "the strange exercises" did not prevail among the Baptists. In the lower Green River country, there were but few Baptists at the beginning of the revival, and we
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
hear of no disorder among them. It is certain that the Baptists of Kentucky were generally exempt from the excesses of the great revival of 1800, that so sorely afflicted the Presbyterians. And instead of its resulting in discord, it healed the only schism there was among them.
The great revival among the Baptists, so far as history re- cords the facts, began on the northern border of the State. Its first appearance was at the mouth of Kentucky river, where was built the village of Port William (now Carrollton). This was a union meeting, the only one of which we are informed, that the Baptists engaged in during the revival. The Baptists were probably most prominent,* but there were Methodists enough present to make the meetings noisy. John Taylor was present at one of the meetings, "very early in the spring of 1800." It was at the house of Benjamin Craig, a brother of the famous Lewis Craig. "From the dullness of my feelings," says Mr. Taylor, I took the text : 'Lord help me.'" After preaching, " they continued in prayer, praise and exhortation, with much noise at times, till late in the night. Some were re- joicing, having lately obtained deliverance, others were groan- ing in tears. Many people tarried all night to talk with me. I never heard the question: 'What must I do to be saved,' more prevalent in my life. A number of them neither lay down nor slept during the night. About sunrise next morning, I took my leave of this blessed company of young disciples. I had no desire to use food that day. I rode on with pensive re- flection, calling up in my mind past days, when I had hoped the candle of the Lord shone on me. But by the multiplicity of the business of this little world, my affections had been stolen off from the Lord. My eyes would not only swim, but over- flow with tears, as I rode along by myself."i
Mr. Taylor was on his way to what is now Trimble county. It was a new settlement. Being detained there several days on business, he held three night meetings in the cabins of the set- tlers. In these meetings he saw "some buddings of a revival." Out of these "buddings" grew Corn Creek church, before the year closed. From this place he went with a burdened soul to Clear Creek in Woodford county. Here he preached with
*See history of Ghent church, in chap. XXIV.
¡His. of Ten Churches, pp. 131, 132,
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The Great Revival of 1800.
"great heart yearning for his old neighbors." That day he sowed in tears, and the harvest was plentiful. He turned his steps towards Bullittsburg, in Boone county, where he lived. "I almost dreaded to go home," says he, "fearing I should be unprofitable. Poor Bullittsburg now appeared like a deserted cottage in the wilderness." When he reached home, he found a new social feature in the neighborhood. A Captain DePew who had married a relative of Mr. Taylor's wife, had encour- aged dancing at his house, and the amusement had become so popular that even the church members did not restrain their children from attending the balls. A marriage in the neighbor- hood had given an occasion for several days' dancing, the last dance being at Capt. DePew's, near the meeting-house, and on church-meeting day. "That night," says Mr. Taylor, "I had meeting near the place. But few attended, though I heard they had a crowded house at the infare. Two young ladies left the dance and came almost alone to the meeting. This was some encouragement that the devil did not reign sole monarch of this lower world. Next day, was preaching at our meeting-house. It was a usual thing, notwithstanding the vanity of youth, for all to come to meeting, especially on Sundays. We had a crowded house, and perhaps all the dancers were there.
Mrs. DePew had endeavored to strengthen her female dis- ciples, before they went to meeting, by saying to them: 'Girls, we shall hear enough of our dancing to-day, but let us not mind what Mr. Taylor says, we are at liberty, and will do as we please, let him say what he will,' I never had been so thoroughly cowed down by discouragement in a ministry of twenty-five years. I really thought I had better be dead than alive, for I felt that Satan had gotten the mastery where I lived. I could say from my soul; "Woe is me that I sojourn in Meshech, and that I dwell in the tents of Kedar.' I preached from the words; My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel, is, that they might be saved.' Soon after I began, a set of feelings overtook ne, that exceeded anything I ever felt in public speaking. They consisted of a profuse weeping that I could not suppress, while [ made a comparison of the then state of Israel, with my poor neighbors. The whole assembly seemed to reciprocate my feel- ngs; perhaps there was not a dry eye in the whole house, Mrs. DePew exceeded in weeping. What the Lord did at this
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
meeting, entirely broke up all the dancing in the settlement."*
In this manner the great revival began at Bullittsburg church, early in the spring of 1800. This was a new settlement, and when the revival had continued more than a year, there were comparatively few adults in the neighborhood left out of the church. Within three years, 146f were baptized.
At Clear Creek in Woodford county, the revival progressed during the same period, principally under the ministry of Rich- ard Cave, and the astonishing number of 3431 were baptized during the three years. Thus was John Taylor honored by God as the chosen instrument by which the great revival was begun among the Baptists. It will be remembered that the first re- vival which occurred in Kentucky, was under the ministry of Mr. Taylor, at Clear Creek, in 1785, and that the second revival that occurred in the country, also began under his labors, at the same church, in 1788.
In Franklin county, the revival began under the ministry. of William Hickman, of whose labors we have the following account from his own pen: "Previous to that date (1800) the church was under a decline. Zion had gone into her slumbers. At a meeting at my house, on Sunday afternoon, several preach- ers being present, there came a young married lady to meeting whom I had never seen before, as she had just moved into the neighborhood. In time of preaching I observed tears flowing from her eyes. This gave me an uncommon feeling. I thought she was pierced with the sword of the Spirit. I think it gave me a travailing soul for the cause of God. She became an hum- ble penitent, and, is now, I hope, in glory. Very shortly after this, I heard of three females under trouble, and inquiring the way to heaven. I started out to hunt the lost sheep. The first I went to see was a married lady. I conversed with her, and she satisfied me that she had been born again. I went to see two more the same day. The first was not at home, but had gone to where the other lived. I called there and found them both. We walked into the garden. Neither of them professed to be satisfied, but appeared humble beggars, at a throne of grace. At our monthly meeting which was near at hand, the first one I visited came forward and told us what the Lord had done
*His. Ten Churches pp. 134, 135.
1Min. Elkhorn Association.
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The Great Revival of 1800.
for her. She was cordially received. My dear brother Gano, though in a feeble state, like old Jacob, leaning on the top of his staff, spoke at the water, and I baptized her in the name of the Holy Trinity. The next meeting the other two came for- ward, and I baptized them. Blessed be God, the glorious work of God went on and prospered abundantly. Every meeting was crowded and many were converted to God. The work had : now spread throughout the State. For two or three years great additions were made to the churches, not only in Kentucky, but also in Virginia and other States. I suppose I baptized more than five hundred in the course of two years."*
It may as well be observed here, that protracted meetings, as we term them, were not in vogue at that period. Meetings were held monthly, as now, at the meeting houses. During revivals, which generally lasted from one to three years, night meetings would be held at private houses, two or three times a week. When people were seeking religion, it was generally known all over the neighborhood. They would often go to the preacher, or the most pious and intelligent members of the church for encouragement and instruction, and the preacher and other church members would visit them for the same purpose.
As observed by Mr. Hickman by the close of the year 1800, the revival had spread to all parts of the State. Immense num- bers were added to the churches. The few churches scattered in the thinly settled portions of the State, lying south of Green river, and north of that stream, below the mouth of Salt river, were all small, and we have few particulars of their sta- tistics previous to the beginning of the revival; but the general hoestatistics show that the number of Baptists in those regions were more than trebled. From most of the churches in the older set- lements, we have official statistics. The revival proceeded much n the same way, in all these churches. The preaching was doc- rinal rather than hortatory. The exhortations were fervent nd made up largely of Scripture quotations, as were also the prayers. The songs were of Watts' collection, and were sung lowły and gravely.
At Severns Valley, in Hardin county, the revival com- henced in 1801. The meetings were conducted by the vener-
#Hickman's Narrative. pp. 36, 31.
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able Joshua Morris. Meetings were held once a month on Saturday and Sunday, and members were received on Saturday and baptized on Sunday following. The church records exhibit the following items: In September prayed at opening, and received seven members by experience. In October met pray- ing. November, had no business to do but to praise God and receive twenty members. In December, received nine mem- bers. In January, 1802, received twenty-two. In this manner the work proceeded till one hundred and forty-six were received. In 1801, the church numbered only forty-seven members. Hon. Samuel Haycraft thus describes the baptismal scene as it occurred in January, 1802 : "The writer remembers the day, sixty-nine years now past. The weather was mild for the season, and the baptismal scene, on the Valley creek, was a solemn and pleasant occasion. A vast crowd stood upon the banks, as one after another stepped into the stream and was buried with Christ in baptism. At the slight intervals, hymns of praise and shouts of rejoicing rent the air. I never can forget it. The venerable Morris was so filled that he seemed as one snatched up into the heavens. Although but a child, I was filled with solemn awe."
At South Elkhorn, the oldest church north of the Ken- tucky river, the meetings during the revival were conducted by John Shackelford, who was the last survivor of that noble band of christian heroes who preached the gospel through prison grates in Virginia. In 1800, the church numbered one hundred and twenty-seven. During the revival period, three hundred and eighteen were baptized.
At Bryants Station church, in Fayette county, the prac- tical and conservative Ambrose Dudley was pastor. In 1800, the church numbered one hundred and seventy. During the revival period, four hundred and twenty-one were baptized. This was the largest number baptized in any one church.
Great Crossing is in Scott county. In 1800, it numbered one hundred and seven. Joseph Redding was the pastor. Four hundred and seven were baptized.
In something like these proportions did the churches increase in numbers throughout the State, except within the bounds of Bracken Association, where a revival had prevailed to a considerable extent in 1797. Happily our statistics fo: 1803 are nearly complete, so that we can approximate very
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The Great Revival of 1800.
closely the numerical gain to the churches during the three years in which the revival prevailed.
At the beginning of the revival, in 1800, as seen in Chap- ter XXIV, there were six associations, besides that part of Mero District Association which lay in Kentucky, and several unasso- ciated churches. Our table represented 7 associations, 106 churches, and 5. 119 members. In 1803, there were 10 associ- ations, 219 churches, and 15,495 members. This was a clear gain of 3 associations, III churches, and 10,380 members, or a little more than trebling the number of Baptists in the State in three years. The following table will exhibit, at a glance, the numerical status of the Baptists of Kentucky in 1803 :
Associations.
Number of Churches.
Number of Members.
Elkhorn,
40
4,404
Salem,
18
890
Tates Creek,
23
1,905
Bracken
16
776
Green River,
30
1,763
North District,
24
1,745
South District,
24
1,468
North Bend,
9
429
Long Run,
25
1,715
Cumberland,
IO
400
Total,
IO
219
15,495
---
The last named association occupied the ground formerly occupied by Mero District Association, which had now been dissolved. Part of its churches were in Tennessee, but the ten whose aggregate number is estimated at 400, were all in Ken- tucky. The number of members in Salem Association is taken rom Benedict's History of the Baptists. All the other figures tre taken from the official records of associations. Three or our small churches, belonging to Green River Association were n Tennessee, and one small church, belonging to Long Run, was in Indiana; but it is probable that the aggregate member- hip of these was more than balanced by that of the unassociated churches in Kentucky.
The effects of the revival, aside from the numbers it added o the churches, were exceedingly salutary. Before the revi- ral, the morals of the people, under the predominating influence
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
of infidelity, were extremely bad, especially in the Green River country. Rev. J. M. Peck, writing to the Christian Review in 1852, says: "Infidelity received its death blow during that period. Not a few continued infidels and scoffers, but they were shorn of their strength. So many of their number had been con- verted, some of whom became efficient preachers of the gospel, that infidelity could no longer boast. Multitudes of strong
minded men, proud in their habits of free-thinking, were con- verted in so sudden and impressive a mode as to perplex and confound their associates. In all the preachers who engaged in this great work, however deficient in education, moderate in natural talents, or illogical in argument, there was one trait of character prominent in all their ministrations. They gave most convincing proof of their earnestness and sincerity; that they fully believed all they uttered.
"The preachers generally, made no effort at skillful argu- mentation, and did not attempt to prove the Bible to be the Word of God, or Christianity a divine verity ; but they preached its most commonplace truths to the consciences of all classes. Their intonations of voice, impressive gestures, impassioned expostulations, and frequent weeping went direct to the feelings and hearts of their hearers. We have heard men say, who went to the meeting infidel scoffers, hardened in sin, and determined to resist every serious impression, that in an instant, and before they had been on the ground ten minutes, their consciences were arrested and their minds filled with indescribable emotions ; that they had not time to recollect the objections with which their minds had been fortified against the truth of the Bible. Others could not tell of any process of reasoning in their own minds by which they came to a knowledge of the truth. They would speak of being overwhelmed and borne down with a consciousness of the reality and power of eternal things. An instantaneous and deep conviction of their exceeding sinfulness and guilt, and their just condemnation by the divine law, would be the description given by others. Equally sudden and irre- pressible would be their views of God's pardoning mercy, through Christ Jesus, in removing all guilt, and filling their minds with indescribable joy and rapture. We have conversed with some persons of a reflecting and meditative turn, in a great degree devoid of emotion, who described their conversion from unbe:
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543
The Great Revival of 1800.
lief and sin as more gradual and attended with more thought; who appeared to have proceeded, step by step, from one refuge to another, without hope and consolation, until, in the hour of despair, they were led to trust in Christ, and after much doubt and hesitation, were enabled to lay hold of the promises."*
The period was a turning point in the morals of the people. With the increase of infidelity, public morals had depreciated till they had reached a depth of degradation that was horrifying to contemplate. But, the cause being removed, the effects ceased, and the whole land seemed regenerated. From that period to the present, the morals of the people of Kentucky would compare favorably with those of any part of the country.
The effect of the revival, on Christians, was permanently good. It imbued them more deeply with the spirit of the Master, and gave them clearer views of the spirituality of re- ligion. It turned their minds away from metaphysical abstrac- tions about dogmas, and inspired a greater earnestness for spreading the gospel of salvation. They became more interest- ed in sinners' being "born again," than in determining the comparative orthodoxy of Calvin and Arminius ; and were more desirous to promote love and harmony among brethren, than to discover indistinguishable shades of heterodoxy in each other's creeds. The mere forms, of religious morals, ceremonies, and learning catechisms, gave way to a firm belief in the necessity of experimental religion.
The revival had an especially happy effect on the Baptists, in disposing them to make more efforts to heal some unhappy divisions that existed among them, and in enlarging the spirit of missions. Hitherto their missionary operations had been confined to sending their ministers to look after their destitute brethren in Kentucky, and in the adjacent borders of Tennessee, Indiana, and Ohio. But, in 1801, at the meeting of Elkhorn Association, which comprised one-third of the Baptists in the State, and probably more than two thirds of their wealth and influence, a request came up from South Elkhorn church, "to send missionaries to the Indian nations."
The Association took this subject under consideration, and "agreed to appoint a committee of five members to hear and
*Chris. Rev. vol. xvii, p. 506-513.
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
determine on the call of any of our ministers, and, if satisfied therewith, to give them credentials for that purpose ; to set subscriptions on foot, to receive collections for the use of said mission ; and it is recommended to the churches to encourage subscriptions for said purpose, and have the money lodged with the deacons, to be applied for that purpose, whenever called for by the committee. The following brethren are ap- pointed : David Barrow, Ambrose Dudley, John Price, Au- gustine Eastin, and George Smith." Any three of these breth- ren were authorized to act in the absence of the others. Un- fortunately we have no record of the results of this transaction, except that John Young was approved by the committee, and sent as a missionary to the Indians. Bnt we have no knowledge of the length of time he spent among the Red men, or the re- sults of his labors. After his return from this mission, he set- tled on Little Sandy River, and was instrumental in building up the first churches in Greenup county.
At the same session of Elkhorn Association, full corres- pondence was established between that body and Tates Creek Association. The latter fraternity had been formed, as noted before, of four churches which split off from the Separate Bap- tists, in 1792, and, in imitation of the Virginia brethren, had taken the name of United Baptists. Several attempts had been made to form a union between the two bodies, to no avail. But now, under the influence of a happy revival, the difficulties all disappeared, and a lasting union was consummated.
At the same meeting of the Association, measures were adopted for the support of John Gano, John Sutton and David Thompson, aged ministers, who had worn themselves out in the Master's service, and were now in indigent circumstances. The contributions of the churches for this purpose, were to be dis- tributed among the venerable fathers, as an expression of the love and care felt for them in their old age. This was a true in- dication that the revival was of God. "By their fruits shall ye know them."
A still more important measure was adopted by Elkhorn Association, at the meeting in August, 1801. From the first settlement of the country, the Baptists in Kentucky had been divided. The two parties were known as Regular and Separate Baptists, though the former were much the more numerous.
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Baptist Union.
The Regular Baptists formed Elkhorn Association, north of the Kentucky, and Salem Association, south of Salt river, in 1785, and, between that and the time of which we write, Bracken As- sociation, north of Licking river, and Green river Associa- tion, on the stream from which it takes its name. The Separate Baptists formed South Kentucky Association, on the south side of Kentucky river, in 1787 .* The Separate Baptists consti- tuted their churches on " the Bible alone, " and refused to adopt any other creed, or confession of faith. They were, therefore, confused, and differed much among themselves in doctrinal sen- timents. The Regular Baptists adopted the Philadelphia Con- fession of Faith, with certain specified exceptions, and were more uniform in doctrine. Several attempts were made to unite the two parties, but hitherto they had all failed. But now, under the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, a final effort was put forth.
Elkhorn appointed David Barrow, Ambrose Dudley, John Price, William Payne and Joseph Redding, to visit South Ken- tucky Association, and, it it should seem advisable, to join with that body in calling a convention, for the purpose of effecting a union. The latter Association appointed Robert Elkin, Daniel Ramey, Thomas J. Chilton, Samuel Johnson and Moses Bled- soe, to confer with the brethren from Elkhorn Association, in regard to a union between the two bodies. After considerable discussion, the joint committee agreed on such terms as it was hoped would be satisfactory to the churches of both Associa- ions. The terms were ratified by South Kentucky Association, ind a convention was called, to be composed of two members bf each church in both Associations. The convention met at Towards Creek (Old Providence Meeting-house), in Clark county, on the second Saturday in October, 1801. The terms of union were unanimously approved by the convention, and vere recommended to the churches for their adoption. It ap- yewears to have met with no opposition, from any quarter. The greement was entered into only between Elkhorn and South Kentucky Associations. But, under the style of "THE TERMS F GENERAL UNION," it was speedily accepted by all the Bap-
#Benedict,and others who have followed him, states that this Association as constituted in 1785. But, as I have its Book of records before me, there in be no mistake as to the true date of its organization.
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
tists in the State. The following is a literal copy of the instru- ment :
TERMS OF UNION BETWEEN THE ELKHORN AND SOUTH KENTUCKY, OR SEPARATE ASSOCIATIONS.
We, the committees of Elkhorn and South Kentucky Associations, do agree to unite on the following plan :
Ist. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the infallible word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice.
2d. That there is one only true God, and in the Godhead or divine essence, there are Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
3d. That by nature we are fallen and depraved creatures.
4th. That salvation, regeneration, sanctification and justi- fication are by the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
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