USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 62
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No wonder the revival continued long, and with most
*These Statistics are taken from the minutes of the General Association for 1843, and are presumed to be correct.
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Mission Associations.
glorious results. Indeed, it has not been succeeded by a lengthy religious dirth, even to the present time. And the growth of the denomination has been much more constant and regular, in Kentucky, since that period, than before. But much as the churches and ministers enjoyed, and were engaged in, home missions and the revival which was so intimately connected with them, they did not neglect other enterprises for promoting the glory of God. A brief reference to the societies through which they operated, will be in place here.
THE CHINA MISSION ASSOCIATION, at first called the "Rob- erts Fund and China Mission Association," of which a brief account is given in the preceeding chapter, was intended as a medium for the foreign mission operations of the Western States. But its board was located in Louisville, and it received its chief support from Kentucky. It employed one missionary to China, Issachar J. Roberts, with whom it communicated di- rectly through its own board. For a time, it published at Louisville, a monthly magazine, called the Chinese Advocate. In 1840, it became auxiliary to the American Board of Foreign Missions located at Boston. In 1843, it again changed its name to that of the CHINA MISSION SOCIETY OF KENTUCKY. In 1845, it withdrew its auxiliaryship from the American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, and became virtually, though not formally, auxiliary to the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, located at Richmond, Virginia. In 1848, it again changed its naine, and was henceforth known as the KENTUCKY FOREIGN MISSION SOCIETY. Under this style it continued to operate, till 1851, when, the Foreign Mission Board at Richmond, having been entrusted with the manage- ment of all the Foreign Missions of the Southern States, it was dissolved. This society, did a good work. Its average receipts, from its organization to its dissolution, was probably about $1,000 a year. It supported I. J. Roberts and his several native assistants in China, during its entire existence.
THE INDIAN MISSION ASSOCIATION, was designed to embrace in its organization, the friends of the Red Men, throughout the Mississippi Valley; but Kentucky Baptists were more active and conspicuous in promoting its objects, than were those of any other State, The Baptists of Kentucky had taken a deep interest in the conversion of the Indians, from soon after the
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first settlements in the State. As early as 1801, they took active measures to send the gospel to the Red Men in the West- ern territories, and as often as opportunity had been afforded. they had exhibited ready zeal and liberality in contributing to Indian Missions. The resolutions calling for a convention to organize the Indian Mission Association, were passed at a meet- ing of the Western Baptist Publication Society, in Louisville. The convention met in Cincinnati, October 27, 1842, and, on that and the two days following, the association was constituted. The board was located at Louisville. Isaac McCoy, whose home was in Louisville, was immediately chosen corresponding secretary, and continued to act in that capacity until his death. The Kentucky Baptists expressed their interest in this associa- tion, by adopting the following preamble and resolution, during the session of their General Association which met in George- town, October, 1843 :
"Whereas, in view of injuries which the Indian tribes have sustained in consequence of the settlement of white men in their country, they have a stronger claim upon American christians than other nations who have not been thus injured, and whereas very favorable openings for doing them good present themselves, therefore,
"Resolved, That the information afforded this Association of the success and future prospects of the Indian Mission Asso- ciation is especially cheering, and calls for devout praise to God ; and that we hail the indications of divine Providence in favor of that society as a pledge that the wilderness shall soon be made to flourish as the garden of God ; and we earnestly commend it to the favor of the churches, and the blessing of the God of Missions."
Similar resolutions were passed by the same body the next year. The Indian Advocate, a monthly journal was published at Louisville in the interest of the Indian Mission Association. The society enjoyed a high degree of popularity, till the death of its zealous and laborious corresponding secretary, which oc- curred June 21, 1846. After this, it declined in efficiency, and was dissolved about 1850.
This Association was organized, chiefly through the in- fluence of Isaac McCoy, one of the most zealous and devoted philanthropists that have lived and died in Kentucky. This self-
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Isaac McCoy.
sacrificing Christian minister, and devoted missionary, deserves to be "held in everlasting remembrance, " especially by all the friends of tye American Indians.
ISAAC McCOY was a son of WILLIAM McCoy, one of the pioneer Baptist preachers of Kentucky. The latter was either a native of Pennsylvania, where he was raised, or was born in Ireland, from whence his father emigrated to America. He moved from Pennsylvania to North Bend, Ohio, in the year 1789 or 1790. On account of Indian hostilities, he remained there only a few months, when he removed to Kentucky, and settled near the Ohio river, in Jefferson county, about seventeen miles above Louisville. He subsequently moved to Shelby county, where he became a member of Buck Creek church. Of this church he was pastor a short time, about 1802. A small church called Fourteen Mile, but afterwards known as Silver Creek church, now located in Charleston, Clark county, Indiana, petitioned Buck Creek for ministerial help. In answer to this petition, the church directed William McCoy and George Wal- ler to preach to this church alternately. After keeping up this arrangement for a short period, Mr. McCoy moved to Indiana, and took pastoral charge of the church, where he spent the re- mainder of his life.
Isaac McCoy was born near Uniontown, Pa., June 13, 1784. He was brought by his parents to Kentucky, when he was about six years old. He united with the Baptist church at Buck Creek, Shelby county, Kentucky, and was baptized by Joshua Morris, March 6, 1801. On the 6th of October, 1803, he was married to Christina Polk, daughter of Charles Polk, of Shelby county, Kentucky. In April, 1804, he moved to Vincennes, Ia., where he resided until the fall of 1805, when he removed next shed tion. eath h oc- , and he in- to Clark county, Ia., and settled near Silver Creek church. By this church he was licensed to preach, July 11, 1807. After preaching with much zeal, about three years he was ordained at Mariah Creck church, not far from Vincennes, by William McCoy and George Waller, of Kentucky, Octobor 12, 1810. After his ordination, he spent eight years in traveling and preaching in Indiana and Illinois, where he was instrumental in leading many to Christ, and in constituting many churches in voted the new settlements. A part of this time, he was in the em- is self-Iploy of the old Triennial Convention, which instructed him to
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give attention to the Indians who were still numerous in his field of labor.
"By this time," says he, "my anxiety to preach the gospel to the Indians, had become great." He now resolved, to use his own words, "To make an effort to establish a mission among the Indians, and to spend the remainder of my life in promot- ing their temporal and eternal welfare."
In October, 181 8, he moved with his wife and his seven small children, a little beyond the settlements, and established a school for Indian children. In the spring of 1820, he moved 180 miles further into the Indian country, and established a mission, including a school at Fort Wayne.
He remained at Fort Wayne less than a year and a half, when the encroachments of the white settlers induced him to move again. He was, however, encouraged by the conversion of two half-breed women, whom he baptized.
On the 13th of October, 1821, he set out for the St. Josephs river, in Michigan, with a part of the mission family, for the purpose of erecting necessary buildings. The rest of the mis- sion family, church and school followed in December. This sta- tion he named Carey, and here he continued to labor, making it the center of his operations, until he moved to the West to carry out his plan for colonizing the Indians west of Missouri and Arkansas, in 1829. In 1826, Mr. McCoy established a mis- sion station, which he called Thomas, on Grand river, Michigan. This station and Carey enjoyed a moderate degree of prosperity. The latter, especially enjoyed a delightful revival in 1824-25. But Mr. McCoy had become convinced that little could be done for the permanent improvement of the red men, until they could be settled on territory of their own, and where they could not be encroached upon by the white settlers. He selected the present Indian Territory, as a suitable location on which to colonize the tribes then scattered along the borders of the white settlements, from Florida to Michigan.
In the winter of 1823-4, he visited Washington for the pur- pose of laying his plan before the government of the United States. As the Foreign Mission Board of the Baptist Triennial Convention, under whose employment he was acting; was ther located in Washington, he first laid his plan before that body Luther Rice gave his entire influence in favor of the plan ; and
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Isaac McCoy.
after several meetings for the purpose of deliberating on the subject, the board appointed Dr. William Staughton and Rev. Luther Rice to go with Mr. McCoy, and lay the matter before the President, Mr. Monroe, and the Secretary of War, Mr. Calhoun. Mr. Calhoun expressed his full approbation of the matter, but the board hesitated and deferred any further action for the present. Mr. McCoy however, never lost sight of his * important measure, but continued to press its claims upon Con- gress and the Executive, from year to year, with untiring pa- tience and perseverance, until 1830, when the bill passed both Houses and became a law. Mr. McCoy was subsequently ap- pointed by the Government to survey the territory, and parti- tion it off for the occupancy of the several tribes. He lost no time in accomplishing the work assigned him, and in laying a map of the whole before Congress and the Executive.
In the spring of 1829, and before his plan had passed into a law of the United States, he moved with his family to the farwest, and entered morefully upon his great work of coloniz- ing the Indians. To enter into even a partial account of all his benevolent arrangements for the benefit of the In- dians, would require a volume. For a period of twenty-eight years, his whole time, strength and talents, were unremittingly devoted to these objects. After trying in vain, for a number of years, to enlist the interest of the Foreign Mission Board in the great work in which he was engaged, he withdrew from its em- ployment.
He now turned his attention to the formation of a special association for the promotion of his benevolent operations among the Indians. This resulted in the organization of the American Indian Missionary Association, in October, 1842, as related above. As corresponding secretary of this association, Mr. McCoy continued to labor with unabated zeal for the welfare of the Indians, until the Lord called him to his rest, June 21, 1846. Among the last words he uttered, were: "TELL THE BRETH- REN NEVER TO LET THE INDIAN MISSION DECLINE.
AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY was consti- tuted in 1832, with the object of promoting the preaching of the gospel in North America. The Executive Board is in New York city. This great benevolent society has continued to grow in popular favor and efficiency, from its organization to the pres
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ent time. It is now one of the leading societies of its kind in
the world. The good that has been accomplished in the broad field of its labors, through its agencies, is inestimable Its re- ceipts and disbursements approximate, if they do not exceed $200,000 per annum. The General Association of Kentucky Baptists became auxiliary to this body, in 1843, and aided in its , noble work two years. But on account of the great excitement on the subject of slavery, the Association dissolved its connec- tion with the parent society, in 1845, and became auxiliary to the Southern Baptist convention.
THE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY, an account of the origin of which has been given, is not technically a Bap- tist society, although, on account of its specific objects, the cir- culating faithful versions of the Word of God in all the languages of the earth, the Baptists have always been its chief supporters. From its constitution, in 1837, till the formation of the American Bible Union, it was a very prosperous, efficient organization, but, on account of the greater popularity of the latter, which had for its accomplishment the same object, it gradually declined until its operations, at present, are com- paratively insignificant. Its decline was due to the fact that, while it gave faithful translations of the sacred scriptures in for- eign languages, it refused to give a correct translation in Eng- lish. The original object of the society, was certainly a most important one. It is not pretended that any of the versions of the English Scriptures, now in use, are faithful translations of the- Word of God. Every popular version of the English Bible is known to be a compromise among the various religious sects concerned. A Bible society, endowed with ample means, which would be faithful to the avowed object of translating faithfully and circulating the Bible in all languages, is one of the very greatest wants of the age.
THE KENTUCKY AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY continued to be cherished by the Baptists of Kentucky, during the de- cade now under consideration. Like the American and For- eign Bible Society, to which it was auxiliary, it was nominally unsectarian, but its chief support was from the Baptists. It con- tinued to aid in circulating the Bible, in the various countries occupied by Baptist missionaries, till 1850, when it severed its
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Theological Institute.
connection with the parent society, and was dissolved the fol- lowing year.
THE WESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, located at Covington, was an " eye-sore " and a " bone of contention " to the Baptists of the whole Mississippi Valley, as long as it had an existence. The propriety of establishing a Baptist Theo- logicat school for the common benefit of the Baptists of the West was first discussed at the first meeting, of a sort of anomo- lous Association, known as the Western Baptist Convention, in Cincinnati, in November, 1833. A committee was appointed to investigate the matter, which reported in favor of such a school, the following November. The Western Baptist Educa- tion Society was organized to prosecute the design. The en- terprise succeeded. A valuable property was secured, and the school was located on it, in 1840, in Covington, Kentucky. The Instittute was fully organized and put in operation, in 1845. Rev. R. E. Pattison, D. D., of Massachusetts, was elected Presi- dent. This election occurred while the famous " Alabama reso- lutions " were under discussion by the Baptist Board of For- eign Missions, of which Dr. Pattison was a member. The an- swer of the Board to those resolutions caused the Baptists of Kentucky to suspicion Dr. Pattison, as being in sympathy with the abolition fanaticism that characterized the majority of the Board. He was called upon publicly to define his position on that subject. This he declined to do; whereupon the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, at its meeting, in George- town, in October, 1845, passed the following :
'· Resolved, That in the opinion of this Association, the Western Baptist Theological Institute ought not, under present circumstances, to receive the support of the Baptists of Ken- tucky."
The charter of the Institute allowed the trustces to be chosen from Ohio and Kentucky. Up to 1847, a majority of the trustees were citizens of Cincinnati. As early as 1846, it began to be suspicioned that Dr. Pattison was seeking, privately, to secure the sale of the property belonging to the Institute, in Covington, and the removal of the Institute to the opposite side of the Ohio River. Subsequent investigation fully confirmed the suspicion. On application to the Legislature of Kentucky, during its session of 1847-8, the charter of the Institute was so
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amended as to prevent the execution of this nefarious design. This affair forced the severance of Dr. Pattison's connection with the Institute. The following extracts from the report on edu- cation, adopted by the General Association of Baptists in Ken- tucky, at Bowling Green, in October, 1848, shows the condition of the Institute at that time :
"The Western Baptist Theological Institute, located in Covington, Kentucky, is well situated for a great theological in- stitution for the whole West. It possesses a property sufficient for an ample endowment, amounting to upwards of $200,000, which is still rapidly increasing in value. It is now placed in the hands of men who will conduct it in a manner worthy of its noble object. Dr. S. W. Lynd has been appointed President, and will enter upon his duties the first Monday in January next."
" Resolved, That the election of S. W. Lynd, D. D., of the Western Baptist Theological Institute, meets our hearty appro- bation."
From this time, till 1852, the Institution enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. But the northern and southern parties concerned in it were irreconcilable, and, in 1855, the trustees deemed it wise to sell the property, and divide between the claimants equally the proceeds. The portion falling to the South was appropriated to the sustaining of a professor of theology in Georgetown College, for a time. Thus ended the effort to build up a great central theological Institute for the whole great West.
THE MINISTERIAL EDUCATION SOCIETY was constituted im- mediately after the adjournment of the General Association, in Henderson, Ky., Oct. 1844. Its object was "to aid in ac- quiring a suitable education, such indigent, pious young men of the Baptist denomination, as shall give satisfactory evidence to the churches of which they are members, that they are called of God to the gospel ministry." The operations of the society were small, yet of much importance to the cause of Christ. The want of more educated ministers among the Baptists of Kentucky was deeply felt, at that period. This little society gave aid to some poor young men who were struggling to edu- cate themselves, that they might more effectively preach the Gospel, and who have become valuable ministers of Christ. It appears to have continued its operations but a few years.
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Progress.
The educational interests of the Baptists of Kentucky was greatly advanced, during the decade under review. George- town College was advanced to the grade of a first-class institu- tion of learning. Its halls were crowded with students ; and, to the especial joy of those of its benevolent founders, who lived to see this realization of their fond hopes, there were among its students, in 1845, no less than 27 young men, studying with a view to preaching the gospel. Academies, under the control of the Baptists, were springing up in different parts of the State. A High School was established at Russellville, in 1850, which gave promise of much usefulness, and the spirit of education was much enlarged, among the masses of the people. The origi- nating of a system of colportage, and the establishment of book depositories, by the General Association, added much to the diffusion of knowledge among the masses of the people.
While the period under consideration was one of hitherto unparalleled progress, of enlarged practical benevolence, of great increase in knowledge, and of important revolutions in polity in the Baptist denomination in Kentucky, it was also a period of unwonted embarrassment to religious and benevolent enterprises, of the wildest political excitement, and of stormy contentions and revolutions, in religious associations.
A great financial crash spread over the whole country, be- gining as early as 1839. "Bankruptcies," says Mr. McClung, "multiplied in every direction. All public improvements were suspended ; many States were unable to pay the interest of their respective debts, and Kentucky was compelled to add fifty per cent. to her direct tax, or forfeit her integrity. In the latter part of 1841, and in the year 1842, the tempest so long sus- pended, burst in full force over Kentucky. The dockets of her courts groaned under the enormous load of law-suits, and the most frightful sacrifices of property were incurred by forced sales under execution." Elder A. D. Sears, Corresponding Sceretary of the Kentucky and Foreign Bible Society, in his re- port to that body, in October, 1842, says: "The unparalleled pressure in the monetary concerns of the country rendered any collections almost impossible. Your Agent . was | everywhere disheartened at the cry of distress, which came from every class of the community. The rich and the poor alike complained of the scarcity of money, and but few seemed
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to know what would be their condition when the storm, which had already wrecked the hopes and fortunes of so many, had spent its fury." The Agent of the General Association of Bap- tists in Kentucky, in his report of the same date, says: "I have visited but very few churches that were able to give any assistance towards supplying the destitute of the State. Churches where hundreds might have been collected a few years ago, I have found barely able to meet their own wants."
Under such a financial pressure, and with the violent appo- sition of the Anti-missionary fraternity, so recently separated from the Baptist of the State, the recently formed benevolent societies of the denominations had many grounds of discourage- ment. But the brave men who founded them labored, sacri- ficed and prayed for their sustinance, and the God of benevo- lence preserved them all till the storm blew by. In 1844, an ordinary degree of prosperity returned, and the channels of be- nevolence were opened again.
"The underground railroad" was the figurative expression by which was meant the systematic enticing away of slaves from Kentucky and other slaveholding States, and conducting them to Canada, by a cordon of posts, or relays. This unlaw- ful proceeding was begun by the Abolition fanatics of the Northern States, about 1843, and carried on with increasing facility, for several years: This not only involved the people in a heavy loss of property, but what was far worse, engendered a most unwholesome excitement in every part of the South, and especially in Kentucky, which, being on the border was more exposed. The excitement was greatly increased in the Blue- grass region of Kentucky, by the commencement of the publi- cation, at Lexington, in June 1843, by Cassius M. Clay, of an Abolition paper, called the "True American."
On the 14th of August following, a large meeting of the citizens requested Mr. Clay to discontinue its publication, which they regarded as dangerous to the peace of the community, and to the safety of their homes and families. The request was de- fiantly refused. Four days later, a committee of sixty promi- nent citizens were authorized by the meeting to take possession of the True Americau press, type, and printing apparatus, and send them forthwith to Cincinnati. This was done, and the freight charges and expenses thereon paid. Its publication was
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Slavery-Agitation.
continued at Cincinnati, for a year or more. The committee of sixty were tried on the charge of riot. The verdict of the jury was, "not guilty."
Meanwhile " the holding of slaves" assumed the form of a grave question of morals. Most of the Christian churches, of all denominations, in the Northern States, began to express strong doubts as to the legitimacy of holding slaves; and several of the larger denominations, had publicly declared the holding of slaves unlawful in the light of divine truth. The General Confer- ence of the Methodist Episcopal church, the largest religious body on the Continent, adopted a plan, in 1844, for the separation of the Northern from the Southern conferences, on account of their disagreement on the question of slavery. This separation was formally consummated the following year, by the formation of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of the fifteen confer- ences embraced in the Slave States.
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