USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 13
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He raised $8,000 to establish Danville Female Academy, the same amount for Bardstown Female College, and $10,000 to es- tablish Lebanon Female College. He supposes he has collected for missionary and other benevolent enterprises over $150,000. At the age of 65, he is hale and strong, and appears as zealous in the Master's cause as in the days of his youth.
SOUTH KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF SEPARATE BAPTISTS, NO. 2.
The origin of this fraternity has been sufficiently explained, in the history of South District Association. It should not be confounded with the original South Kentucky Association, which was constituted in 1787, and dissolved in 1801. The present South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists originated in a revolutionary division of South District Association, in 1803. The immediate cause of the split, was' the refusal of the major- ity, to receive the corresponding letter and messengers from Tates Creek Association ; but the real ground of division appears to have been the heretical doctrines, held by John Bailey and others of the majority. Mr. Bailey had been excluded from Old South Kentucky Association, for advocating Universalism, or, as it was then called, Hell redemption, in 1791. But he was a brilliant and popular orator, and his influence was greatly miss- ed. In accordance with advice, given by the same body that had expelled him, he was restored to fellowship, in Rush Branch church, without having renounced his heresy. This was a grief to the orthodox churches of the Association. Hence, when a test vote, in South District Association, in 1803, proved that the sympathizers of Mr. Bailey were in the majority, the minority withdrew from the body, and organized the present South Dis- trict Association. The majority remained in the house, and transacted business, under the style of South District Association of United Baptists. One of the first items, transacted after the withdrawal of the minority, was the following : "Query : Does the Association approbate the reception of John Bailcy ? Ans- wer: Upon hearing his willing submission to our association and church government; also [to] the terms of union with Elkhorn Association, they do." Upon this answer, the corresponding messengers from Elkhorn Association withdrew.
South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists, No. 2. 139
In 1804, the Association met at Rifes meetinghouse, in Lin- coln county. John Bailey was chosen Moderator, and T. J. Chilton, Clerk. There were represented 22 churches, aggregating 827 members. The body assumed the name of South District Association of Separate Baptists. There were in the churches of the body, 29 public speakers, of whom 19 were ordained min- isters. The following query and answer were recorded : "Query : Does this Association consider the Scriptures of the New and Old Testaments a sufficient rule for both faith and practice, ex- clusive of all human compositions, set up as orthodox, either in associations or churches? Answer: We do." A conference was held in October, of this year; and a circular letter was is- sued, in which it was stated that their corresponding letters and messengers had been rejected by Elkhorn, North District and Green River Associations, while those of the party which had rent off from them, had been received.
This Association now stood alone. There was not another Association of Separate Baptists in all the South, if indeed, there was another in the whole world. Cut off from all correspondence, and having rejected all standards of faith and order, except the Bible, which their ablest and most popular preacher interpreted to teach Universalism, it would have been unreasonable to ex- pect them to maintain a sound system of doctrine and practice. As early as 1805, the subject of open communion was discussed, in the Association. The decision, at that time, was against this loose, unbaptistic practice ; but in 1873, the body, " Resolved, That no person has the right to debar one of God's children from his table."
In 1806, the body assumed its present name, -South Ken- tucky Association of Separate Baptists. At the same session, messengers from Coopers Run, in Bourbon county, and some other Unitarian churches were present, seeking correspondence with this Association, whose reputation for the grossest heresies had already gone abroad. A friendly correspondence was granted ; but the churches were not admitted to " a full union." This correspondence was kept up for a number of years, and no less a personage than Governor Garrard was sometimes a mess- enger from Coopers Run.
Unsuccessful attempts were made, at different periods, by Russells Creek and Cumberland River Associations, to draw
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South Kentucky into the general union; but the dogmatical re- ply of the latter, was: "This Association is willing to unite with all christians, on the Old and New Testaments, as the only rule of faith and practice."
This Association has been Anti-missionary, from the begin- ning, both in theory and practice. In 1816, it resolved not to be a party to the Missionary Institution, meaning the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. The next year, it ordered the reports, sent from that organization, to be returned to Luther Rice, the General Agent of the Board.
In 1819, the territory of this fraternity had become so ex- tensive as to render it inconvenient for the messengers to attend the meetings of the body. At this time, the Association com- prised about 50 churches, with an aggregate membership of 2,000. This was the largest membership the body has ever at- tained. It was now deemed expedient to form a new associa- tion of the more westerly churches. Accordingly, T. J. Chil- ton, Michael Dillingham, James Prather and Richard Shackle- ford were appointed to meet the messengers of these churches, at Little Mount, in what is now LaRue county, for the purpose of effecting a constitution. The new fraternity was called Nolynn Association of Separate Baptists, and consisted of about 15 churches, aggregating some 800 members.
The mother fraternity was so reduced by this division that, in 1824, it embraced only 26 churches, with 1,231 members. In 1827, the Newlights sought a "union on the Bible," with this Association. The reply was: "We are well satisfied with the friendship that now exists between us and that body of people, called Christians, without entering into further correspondence." Nevertheless, the attempt resulted in the loss, to the Associa- tion, of about 31I members. The Campbellites came in for the next slice. The Association saw fit, in 1831, to advise that no letter be received, not coming from a Separate Baptist church ; and, in the circular letter of the same date, the churches werc warned against a class of turbulent people who greatly disturbed public worship; and were advised to exclude such, who were members. By these disturbers of public worship, the Associa- tion lost 12 churches : so that, in 1834, the body was reduced to 16 churches, with 725 members.
For the next ten years, the body enjoyed peace, and a mod-
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South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists, No. 2.
erate degrec of prosperity. But in 1842, a series of movements was initiated that brought it much lower than it had hitherto been reduced. On application from Tates Creek Association, a committee of eleven was appointed to confer with a like number from that body, upon the subject of union between the two As- sociations. The conference was to be held at Crab Orchard, on Friday before the first Saturday in November, 1842. This meeting came to an agreement, on terms of union, and, in im- itation of a meeting held at Tates Creek, in 1801, for a similar purpose, appointed a certain day, of the next year, for messen- gers from the churches of both Associations, and also from the churches of Nolynn and South District Associations, to meet at Mt. Salem, in Lincoln county, to ratify the proceedings. The meeting at Mt. Salem heartily agreed on the terms of union, proposed at Crab Orchard. There was nothing lacking now, to complete the union, but the favorable action of the four Associations immediately concerned. There was a bright pros- pect for the name, Separate Baptist, to be dropped, and for these associations to travel together, under the style of United Baptists. But the sanguine hopes of the friends of union were doomed to disappointment. South Kentucky Association met, the same year, at Green River church, in Casey county. The year had been a prosperous one. Letters from 18 churches, re- ported 207 baptisms, and an aggregate membership of 1, 209. But instead of accepting the terms of union, as was almost uni- versally expected, the Association hesitated, and finally com- promised the matter, by styling themselves "South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists, agreeing to the terms of union, as entered into at Mt. Salem, in 1843." Correspondence was received from Tates Creek, South District, Cumberland River and Nolynn Associations. The following was adopted : "Resolved, that we recommend the churches to head their letters :
' The Baptist church of Christ, agreeing to the terms of union, agreed upon at Crab Orchard ; ' and that they direct them to the South Kentucky Association of Baptists, of said union." The
next year was a season of prosperity to the churches. The As- sociation met, in 1844, at Tabernacle, in Adair county. Letters from 18 churches reported 1,374 members-a larger number than has been reported since. After considerable debate, it was resolved to retain the old name, but to add the words : "Agree-
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ing to the terms of union, ratified at Mt. Salem, in 1843." In 1845, the Association met at Caney Fork, in Russell county. Three years of unwonted prosperity appears to have made the body arrogant. The first important transaction was to resolve to " drop correspondence with the United Baptists for this year." Green River and Caseys Creek churches handed in two letters each : whereupon the Association agreed to receive no letter, un- less it was styled Separate Baptists. After this decision, the messengers from seven churches, styling themselves Baptists, withdrew from the Association. These churches were Green River, Concord, Caseys Creek, Drakes Creek, Gilberts Creek, Greasy Creek and Union. It was agreed that the caption of the minutes, hereafter, be: "Minutes of the South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists, taking the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments for the only rule of faith and practice."
The seven seceding churches, formed a new fraternity, under the style of "South Kentucky Association of United Baptists." The old fraternity was reduced, in 1850, to II churches, with 526 members. It now determined to seek correspondence with the United Baptists, again. In order to do this, it assumed the following style: "South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists, agreeing to the terms fixed upon at Crab Orchard, in 1842, and ratified at Mt. Salem, in 1843." From this period, the Association held an irregular correspondence with some of the neighboring associations, for a number of years. During this time, its growth was very slow and irregular, till about 1868, when it began to increase quite rapidly. In 1867, it reported only 9 churches, with 573 members; in 1874, it comprised 29 churches, with 1, 312 members. In 1876, several churches were dismissed to form a new Association, which took the name of East Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists. This again reduced the mother fraternity, so that, when last heard from, in 1879, it comprised 16 churches, with 860 members. The records of the body are so defective, that nothing like exact statistics can be obtained. The number of baptisms has been
reported, for 30 of the first 76 years of the body's existence, from which it is estimated that there have been baptized into its churches, from its origin, in 1803, till 1880, about 4, 375.
The body, having resumed its ancient title, corresponds only with Nolynn and East Kentucky Associations of Separate Bap-
South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists, No. 2. 143
tists. In the absence of any written creed, abstract of principles or constitution, the following resolutions, adopted in 1873, give some idea of what the Separate Baptists hold and teach :
"That true believers are the only fit subjects for baptism, and that immersion is the only gospel mode.
" That no person has the right to debar one of God's chil- dren from his table.
"That the church is the highest ecclesiastical authority known to man on earth.
" That we, as the followers of Christ, deny any right to be governed by any discipline, rules of decorum, creeds or confes- sions of faith, set up by men, aside from the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
" That Baptism, the Lord's Supper and washing of the saints' feet are ordinances of the gospel, that should be kept up until the coming of our Lord and Master."
MICHAEL DILLINGHAM was among the prominent preachers of South Kentucky Association. From whence he came to Kentucky, is not known ; but he was an early settler in what is now Garrard county. He was a member of Gilbert's Creek church, and succeeded the venerable Joseph Bledsoe, as pastor of that congregation, at least as early as 1804. He was a prom- inent member of the Association, acting as its Moderator some five years, and serving on most of its important committees. He remained in the Association till about 1820.
ELIJAH JEFFRIES commenced his ministry among the churches of this Association, not far from 1832, and, for many years, was one of the most influential preachers of the body. He was Moderator of the Association from 1842 to 1847. At first, he favored the proposed union with the United Baptists, in 1842, but afterwards strenuously opposed it. It was thought to be his influence that prevented the union, and came so near destroying the Association. He labored something near twenty years in that region. The author has no account of him, at a later date.
JACOB WARRINER was raised up to the ministry in this Asso- ciation, and was a preacher of considerable prominence and in- fluence. After laboring acceptably among its churches some twelve or fifteen years, he joined the Campbellites, about 1831. He afterwards moved to Ray county Missouri, where he died, September 12, 1845.
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
NORTH BEND ASSOCIATION.
This small fraternity was constituted at Dry Creek meeting- house, in what is now Kenton county, on Friday, July 29, 1803. The following 9 churches, which aggregated 429 members, were in the constitution: Bullittsburg, Mouth of Licking (now Lick- ing), Forks of Licking (now Falmouth), Flower Creek, Bank Lick, Dry Creek, Middle Creek, Twelve Mile and Brush Creek (now Persimmon Grove). Among the early ministers of the or- ganization, were Alexander Munroe, Lewis Deweese, Josiah Herbert, Willliam Cave, Moses Vickers and Thomas Griffin. The course of the Association was very even; and its growth was so slow, that, in seven years from its constitution, it gained only 75 members. But, in 1811, its churches enjoyed a revival, and 277 converts were baptized. Again, in 1817, a revival com- menced, and continued two years, during which 728 were bap- tized, bringing up the membership of the Association to 16 churches, with 1,453 members. From this time till 1825, the body enjoyed a season of continual prosperity. At the last named date, it comprised 25 churches, with an aggregate mem- bership of 1,656. This was the largest membership the body has ever attained.
There were several queries proposed and answered, during the carly history of the Association. The following were from Bullittsburg, in 1804: " Whether a lay member may properly asssist in constituting a church ?" "Whether a church when sent to, may properly send lay members as help to judge of the gift and qualifications of a minister who is set forward for ordin- ation ? " Both questions were answered in the affirmative. In answer to query from Dry Creek, in 1808, "the Association advise all churches in future to dismiss their members in full fellowship, or not dismiss them at all." Another query is answered, at the same session, by quoting the fourth section of the constitution, as follows: " The Association thus formed, shall be an advisory council, and not an authoritative body." In 1822: "Query from Licking : Whether that is gospel baptism which is not administered by an ordained Baptist minister, to a believer, by immersion ? Answer: We believe that baptism, only, a gospel onc, which is received by immersion, on profession of faith, and adminis- tered by one who has been so baptized, himself, believing that
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North Bend Association.
to be the only scriptural mode, and duly authorized to adminis- ter that ordinance."
This Association manifested a decided missionary spirit, from the first introduction of the subject, before it. In 1815, it opened correspondence with the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. The same year, it appointed five brethren to solicit means to send the gospel to the Indians, requiring them to report to the next Association. They reported that they had received $78.87 1/2. In 1818, the Treasurer was directed to pay to the Kentucky Mis- sion Society $130. In 1829, a resolution was adopted, recom- mending the organization of Bible societies throughout the State of Kentucky.
In 1827, the Association was much reduced in numbers by the dismission of the following churches to form a new associa- tion : Licking, Four-Mile, Bank Lick, Wilmington, Brush Creek, Twelve-Mile, Alexandria and Flower Creek. The new fraternity, when formed, was styled Campbell Association; but, in 1830, the word "county " was added to its name. North Bend Asso- ciation was now (1828) reduced to 17 churches, with 1, 194 mem- bers. In 1831, it was further reduced by the dismission of Ten- Mile, Lick Creek, Providence and Mt. Zion churches, to go into the constitution of Ten-Mile Association. This left it only 12 churches, with 985 members. The churches were in a state of great coldness, and continued to decrease in numbers, for several years. Meanwhile the Anti-mission leaven began to work in some of the churches. John Taylor, who had been active in gathering some of the oldest churches in the Association, and still had great influence in the body, had published a scathingly bitter and sarcastic pamphlet against missionary and Bible soci- eties and theological schools. Licking Association had endorsed the production, and recommended its perusal ; and her ministers advocated its teachings with great zeal, and too much in the style and spirit in which it was written, not only among the churches of their own Association, but, with equal vehemence, among those of the neighboring fraternities. Such planting and watering did not fail to produce its legitimate fruits.
In the annual letter from Forks of Gunpowder church to North Bend Association, in 1833, the following passage occurred : "Since our last, we have taken into consideration the propriety of our members uniting with, or having anything to do with the
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
societies as follows, viz: Missionary societies, Bible societies, Tract societies, Sunday school or temperance societies, State Convention, American Bible Society. After the matter was ta- ken up and some investigation had on the subject, the church a- greed that her members should have no connection with said so- cieties. And we wish, also, the counsel of the Association to be given on that decision, and advise the churches accordingly. We have no difference of sentiment on that subject, with the excep- tion of two of our members, who are friendly to the Bible Society." The Association answered. - " We are willing to leave the whole subject of those societies, with the brethren who compose the churches, trusting that each one will act in the matter so as to have a conscience void of offense towards God, and that they will bear with one another in love."
This answer quieted the murmurings for awhile, but the leaven continued to ferment in the churches. In 1839, a letter was received from the First Baptist church at Covington, asking admission into North Bend Association. The church was re- jected, on the ground that her constitution contained the follow- ing heretical expressions: "That man was originally created holy " and, " That all who hear the gospel are called upon to re- pent and believe it; and that their guilt consists principally in their unbelief and opposition to the plan of grace which the gos- pel reveals." Correspondence was withdrawn from Campbell County Association, on the grounds that said fraternity encour- aged preaching which was contrary to the Scriptures and her own constitution; and that she permitted disorder before the close of her meetings, and after the close of the business of the Association, received and baptized persons in an unusual man- ner. Both of these acts were concessions to the Anti-missionary element in the Association. The grounds of objection, in both cases, appear to have been too trifling for serious consideration. The missionary element in the Association, which was still largely in the majority, reflected on the injustice of the transactions, and, the next year, received Covington church into the body, and reestablished correspondence with Campbell County Association.
The Antimissionaries, seeing that they could no longer con- trol the Association, and despairing of being able to convert the obstinate majority to their views, resolved to withdraw from the body, and organize a more orthodox fraternity. Accordingly,
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North Bend Association.
shortly after the adjournment of the Association, in 1840, messen- gers from Forks of Gunpowder, Crews Creek, Salem, Mud Lick, Bethel and Four-Mile, and perhaps, from factions of some other churches, met, and formed what they styled "Salem Association of Predestination Baptists." As North Bend Association had ap- pointed to meet at Forks of Gunpowder, in 1841, and as that church had now left the body, it was deemed expedient to call a convention of such churches as adhered to the old fraternity. This meeting convened at Bullittsburg, in Boone county, April, 2, 1841. Only six churches were represented. It was agreed to hold the annual meeting of that year, at East Bend, where it accordingly met, on the 20th of August. Robert Kirtley preached from the text : "Then had the churches rest : " Acts 9:31. During ten years of coldness, strife and schism, the Association was much reduced, in numbers : so that, in 1842, it numbered only seven churches, aggregating 614 members. But it was now free from the spirit of contention which had so long marred its peace. The next year, the Lord granted its churches a gracious revival, during which, within a year, 364 were added to them by experi- ence and baptism. From this period, the Association has experi- enced but few remarkable changes. Its increase has been slow, but it has been forward in all the leading enterprises of the de- nomination. In 1851, it established a home mission board, un- der the style of an Executive Committee, which has been very efficient in having the gospel preached among the destitute within the bounds of the Association. A number of the best preachers in the body have been employed in this work. Among the first employees of the Executive Committee were James A. Kirtley, Robert Vickers and James Vickers.
The Association sustained a loss of about 200 members, by the changes wrought during the War. In 1867, it numbered 12 churches, with 886 members. From that time to the present, it has had a regular, though not very rapid increase. In 1880, it comprised thirteen churches, aggregating 1,412 members. Dur- ing 62 of the first 77 years of its existence, its churches reported 4,549 baptisms.
THOMAS GRIFFIN was one of the early preachers in North Bend Association. He was Moderator of that body, in 1806, and on two occasions afterwards. He also preached the intro- ductory sermon before it, in 1807, and in 1811. He was held 10
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
in high esteem, both for piety, and his usefulness. But his ministry was cut short by his death, which occurred in the forty- sixth year of his age. March 2, 1816.
WILLIAM MONTAGUE was baptized into the fellowship of Bul- littsburg church during the revival of 1800-1. He remained a private member of the church, till 1814, when he was encouraged to exercise a preaching gift. He was ordained to the ministry, in 1817. Two years later, he went into the constitution of Sand Run church. He labored acceptably among the churches of North Bend Association, about thirteen years. But, in 1830, he was accused of teaching Campbellism. Sand Run church investigated the charge, and acquitted him. Not long afterwards however, he obtained a letter of dismission, and joined the Campbellites. The church, deeming this proceeding more pol- itic than honest, withdrew fellowship from him.
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