USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 16
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This was at the beginning of a precious revival, and the senti- ment was doubtless a true exponent of the hearts of the brethren composing the Association. At the present meeting, the churches reported, as the first fruits of the revival, 216 bap- tisms; the year following, 675 baptisms were reported. This work of grace continued several years. In 1842, the churches reported 899 baptisms, and the next year, 621. This happy and long continued revival seems to have been a gracious ex- pression of God's approval of his people's efforts to spread the light of his truth ; and they so regarded it.
This Association, beyond any other in the State, not even excepting Elkhorn, was constant and zealous in its advocacy of missions, Bible distribution and collegiate and theological educa- tion. It never once gave even the appearance of hesitancy in regard to the benevolent enterprises of the denomination. The General Association, the American and Foreign Bible Society, the Indian Mission Association, the China Mission Society, Georgetown College, the South Western Baptist Theological Institute, its own associational missions, and all the more mod- ern enterprises of the denomination, have been encouraged by its resolutions, and aided by its contributions. Even the most succinct account of its transactions, from year to year, relating to these enterprises, would extend these pages far beyond our limits. We must be content with the above general statement. It would be unjust not to admit that the zeal and activity of this Association, in the cause of missions, was, at the period when other associations were doubting the propriety of, or opposing benevolent societies, due, in a large measure, to those noble and enlightened men of God, John L. Waller, William C. Buck and George Waller.
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In 1846, the Association adopted the following :
"Resolved, That the churches hereafter adopt some regular system of benevolence, by collections annually, semi-annually, or quarterly, as by them may be deemed necessary, and thereby supersede the necessity of traveling agents." It appeared to be a wise and important measure ; but the churches have been slow in putting it into practice.
In 1848, a serious affair occurred in Buck Creek church, which affected the happiness of the whole Association, for a series of years. Some business transaction, in which the vener- able George Waller, who had been pastor of the church forty- five years, and Moderator of Long Run Association twenty-five years, was concerned, caused some accusation to be brought against him. A church trial resulted in his acquittal, by a large majority. But the minority, headed by B. C. Stephens, a promi- nent member of the church, and a man of very determined, per- sistent spirit, refused to accept the decision. The result was a division of the church. The minority sent a letter to the Asso- ciation, in reference to the affair. But that body, in accordance with the report of a committee, refused to have it read before the organization, and advised the church to call a council, from beyond the bounds of the Association. The council was called, but failed to effect a reconciliation. The next year, each party presented a letter to the Association, under the style of Buck Creek church. The Association decided that, inasmuch as the division had grown out of internal discipline, involving no question of doctrine, she had no jurisdiction in the case. The church was accordingly suspended from the privileges of the body. But, in 1850, the Association passed a resolution, offer- ing membership to both parties, "as separate churches, the Waller party to be received as the Buck Creek church, and the other party, as the Second Buck Creek church." The propo- sition was accepted by both parties, and thus, two churches worshiping in the same house, became members of the same Association. The case was unique, and should by no means be used as a precedent. The author has seen no similar case on record. The Waller party numbered 140 members. The other, 72. When they reunited, ten years later, the former numbered 102, the latter, 51.
Notwithstanding the frequent dismission of churches, to form
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other organizations, the Association continued to increase in num- bers, till 1861. At that date, it numbered 26 churches, aggre- gating 5,350 members. It lost, by the changes wrought during the War, about 2,000 members. In 1871, it dismissed Shelby- ville, Clayvillage, Buck Creek and Little Mount churches, to go into Shelby county Association. This reduced it, in 1872, to 22 churches, with 2,691 members. Since that time, it has enjoyed almost uninterrupted prosperity. In 1880, it numbered 25 churches, aggregating 3, 820 members. The records of the body, from its constitution, till 1880, are preserved, except for the years 1860, 1862 and 1863. These show that there have been baptized into the churches of this body, during 75 of the first 78 years of its existence, 17,664 professed believers.
Biographical sketches of most of the early preachers of this old fraternity have already been given. Some additional sketches are, as usual, appended here. Many transient preachers have la- bored within the bounds of this Association, with sketches of whose lives it would not be expedient, even if it were practicable, to multiply these pages. Only a few of the most prominent of these, will be briefly mentioned.
WILLIAM CALMES BUCK was one of the leaders of God's host, in Kentucky, at a period when a wise, bold leader was most needed. To him, the Baptists of this Commonwealth, and of the whole Mississippi Valley, owe, more than to any other man, their deliverance from the narrow prejudice against missionary operations, which had been chiefly fostered by Alexander Camp- bell, and the chilling spirit of Antinomianism, enkindled by Par- ker, Dudley, Nuckols and their satellites. More than any other preacher in the State, did this champion of christian benevolence stir up and foster the spirit of missions. Possessing great phy- sical strength and remarkable powers of endurance, he traveled on horse-back, among the churches, winter and summer, day and night, and urged upon them the solemn duty of supporting their pastors, at home, and sending the gospel to the perishing, abroad. He possessed a strong, steady nerve, a cool self-posses- sion and a courage that did not falter. His tongue was as the pen of a ready writer, and his voice was as the roaring of a lion. Perhaps no other man ever preached, in Kentucky, that could command the attention of so large an audience, in the open air.
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Who will question, that God called and qualified him, for the specific work he performed !
William C. Buck was born in Virginia, August 23, 1790. His educational advantages were poor. But having a quick, strong native intellect, and being ambitious to acquire knowledge, he became what is termed a self-made man, of excellent attain- ments, both in general literature and theology. In early life, he united with the church at Waterlick, in Shenandoah county, Vir- ginia, where he was ordained to the ministry, in October, 1815. In 1820, he moved to Kentucky, and settled on the present site of Morganfield, in Union county. Here he took charge of a little church, called Highland. The same year, he gathered another small church, called Little Bethel, to which he also min- istered. He afterwards took charge of a church near Princeton, where he baptized William Morrison, a Presbyterian licentiate, who became a very useful Baptist preacher. In September, 1820, Highland Association was formed, of the two churches minis- tered to by Mr. Buck, and a few others, almost equally small and poor. Within the bounds of this little fraternity, with no other Baptist preacher within thirty miles of him, and two-thirds of the population of his county being Catholics, he labored about sixteen years.
In 1836, he moved to Louisville, where he succeeded the lamented John S. Wilson in the pastoral charge of the First Baptist church in that city. He served this church four years, during which period, its membership increased, from 306, to 532. In 1838, with the consent of his pastoral charge, he ac- cepted the General Agency of the General Association of Bap- tists in Kentucky. It will be remembered that, at that period, very few Baptist pastors, in Kentucky, received a salary for preaching. It is probable that a very large majority of them received less than five dollars a year, for their ministrations : and the small pittances they did receive, were understood to be "gifts," and not pay. The first object of the General Associa- tion, was to correct this evil. To secure the payment of reasona- ble salaries to the pastors, was the principal object of Mr. Buck's agency ; although he collected such small amounts as he could, consistently with this object, for missionary purposes. The fol- lowing extract from his report, slightly abridged, will give some idea of the nature of his work, and his competency to perform it:
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"Agreeably to arrangements previously made, I left home on the 16th of April, and rode to Harrods Creek, when I met Brother J. Dale, and preached in the afternoon to a small but attentive assembly. On the next day, I preached at the same place. The weather was cold and rainy, but the people came out. A deep impression seemed to be made on all present, and some comfortable indications of a revival were manifested. I collected here $11. 31 14 for the General Association, and $10.90 for the China Mission ; but made no effort for the pastor, as I had no opportunity of conferring with him.
" On Wednesday we met a few persons at Dover church. The little andience attended to the word spoken, with deep at- tention and evident interest. They have no settled preacher here. Some difficulties agitate the church, and many of the members are so prejudiced against all efforts, that they would not come out. Still, the generous few who were present gave me $13. 50 for the General Association, and $12.75 for the China Mission.
"The next day we met at Fox Run. Few of the members attended. Prejudice here seems to be so strongly set against the light, that they who need it most will not come to it. Few seemed to receive the word with gladness, and had not God pro- vided for us, by sending the family of Brother King to meeting, I am not sure but we would have been compelled to go out of the neighborhood for our dinners ; but in him and his family, we found friends. Here I collected $2.00 for the General Associ- ation, and $3.4334 for the China Mission.
"On Friday we went to New Castle. Prospects here were at the first very discouraging ; but, whatever their prejudices might have been, like the noble Bereans, they came out to hear for themselves; and, by the evening, the clouds began to dissipate. Twice we met them again, on Saturday; and, on Sabbath morning, the house, though large, could not contain near all the people. Every cloud was now gone, a bright heaven canopied the church, and harmony pervaded the entire rank and file of the host. I met them again in the afternoon, and obtained individual pledges to the amount of $400 for their pastor, and donations in cash for the General Association, of $48. 10, and for the China Mission, $22.75. The prospects here are bright."
"On Monday and Tuesday I preached at Hillsboro, where
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Elder J. A. McGuire is pastor, and obtained, by individual pledges, the sum of $150 for his support one-half of his time and $I in cash for the China Mission. I regret to state that there is remaining here some opposition to the plan of sustaining the ministry, but I trust that the prudent and persevering course of their pastor will soon convince them of their error.
" On Wednesday and Thursday following, we met the church at Sulphur Fork, and obtained the like pledge of $ 150 as at Hills- boro, for an equal share of Brother McGuire's time here as at the above place. Their pastor will have some difficulties to meet from those who love their gold better than their God ; but this should not discourage him, nor tempt him to relax his efforts. Here I obtained $2.00 for the China Mission.
"On the next day we met a congregation at Cane Run. A great deal of solemnity seemed to pervade the assembly during service, but, owing to circumstances beyond my control, I at- tempted nothing for the General Association. A young Mr. Stanton gave me 50 cents for the China Mission, and we crossed the Kentucky. Having Saturday as a recess, we passed to the mouth of the river.
"On Lord's-day we met a large congregation at Four-Mile. Elder John Price is the pastor here. His age and infirmities ren- der him unable to labor, so that I made no special effort here: a few friends here gave me $2.50 for the China Mission. Here Elder Scott met us, and continued with us all the time we were on that side of the river, being near three weeks.
"On Monday and Tuesday we met the church at Whites Run. Elder L. D. Alexander has the care of this little body, and I feel justified in applauding the alacrity with which they pledged the sum of $79.00 for one quarter of his time, besides a liberal dona- tion to the China Mission.
"On Wednesday and Thursday we met the church at Mc- Cooles Bottom. It rained both days; still the people came out. Much interest was taken in the preaching, and on Thursday, be- sides a liberal donation to the China Mission, $100 was pledged for their pastor, Elder Alexander, one quarter of his time. From the promptness with which this sum was pledged, I doubt not that much more would have been supplied had I asked it. On Fri- day and Saturday we remained with Elder J. Scott, and met the church at Sharon. Elder Scott is wealthy, and, although he
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preaches much, is not in a situation to give all his time to the Ministry : consequently he refused to take any pay of his church ; but still the church, at my suggestion, pledged $42.50 for him, to be appropriated as he thought best. They also raised a con- tribution for Brother Dale and myself : $3.6212 being mine, I gave to the China Mission, as I did in all other cases where pri- vate presents were made me. Here also a liberal donation was ยท made to the China Mission.
"On Lord's-day morning we rode ten miles, to New Liberty ; and, although it rained, their spacious house was filled, and I preached to them twice ; and on Monday we met again, and ob- tained, by personal pledges, the sum of $222.50 for the use of the ministry there; $100 of which will be appropriated to Elder Alexander, as pastor for one quarter of his time, and the balance it is likely the church will divide beween brethren Smith and Montgomery, so as to have the labor of each, one Sabbath a month. Here also I obtained a liberal donation to the China Mission. I doubt not but this church will, after this year, se- cure the entire time of their pastor.
"On Tuesday we met the church at Emmaus, and, although but few of the members were present, yet, by the liberal aid of some of the friends from New Liberty, I had but little trouble in securing pledges to the amount of $102. 50 for the last quarter of Elder Alexander's time; so that his hands are quite free to the work to which he is called.
"On Wednesday we met the church at Long Ridge. Here Brother Suter presides as pastor, with whom I conferred as to the possibility of his giving his whole time to the work of the ministry, and of his disposition to do so, under such arrangements as I might be able to make in his favor. He seemed willing to devote all his time to the work, and approved the general objects of the Association ; but doubted the propriety of his accepting funds raised by me, without a special act of the church appropri- ating them to his use. I proceeded to preach, and then to raise $100 for the pastor, believing that a prophet should not care whether angels or ravens fed him, so that thereby he was ena- bled to do his Master's will. And I, with great ease, obtained pledges to the amount of $105 which I left with the church, not doubting but Brother Suter would go to work. Here also I ob- tained a liberal contribution to the China Mission.
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"On Thursday we met the church in Owenton. Brother C. Duval preaches to this church. I preached, and explained the . objects of the General Association to them, and, with great ease, obtained pledges for $105 for their pastor, besides a very liberal appropriation to the China Mission.
"On Friday we went to Greenups Fork. There are a few here that should not eat because they will not work, as there are in some other churches where I have been, but, after sermon, I had but little trouble to secure pledges to the amount of $1 10 for Elder Suter, as well as a contribution to the China Mission.
"We left Greenups Fork at half-past three, recrossed the Ken- tucky river, and rode about 19 miles, to a Brother Thompson's, and on Saturday I met the church at Indian Fork. Being their regular day of business, their aged pastor, Elder Cook, invited me to preach, with which I cheerfully complied ; and after the transaction of their usual business, I asked and obtained leave to explain the objects of the General Association. I found the church here much more ready to do their duty than their pastor was to receive their support ; and yet he thinks it right that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel, but, like Paul, does not wish it so done unto him.
"On Tuesday I met a large assembly at Salem, and after addressing them about three hours, I obtained pledges for $ 105 in behalf of their pastor, and an appropriation of $1.70 for the China Mission.
"On Wednesday I met a large assembly at Buck Creek. This church had anticipated my arrival, and, with a noble liber- ality, which I commend as an example to others, had pledged the sum of $200 to Elder G. Waller, their pastor, for one quarter of his time. They also contributed $23.90 to me for the China Mission.
"On Friday, the 17th of May, I arrived at home, after an absence of 31 days. I averaged at least three hours' pulpit labor each day while absent, traveled about 210 miles, and collected in cash for the General Association $77.41, for pastorates $1,671.50, for the China Mission $272.89, and for the Banner $28. 50, making a total of $2,050.30."
This lengthy extract, giving so graphic a picture of Mr. Buck's labors, and indicating the condition of the Baptist denomi- nation, in Kentucky, at that period, with respect to the support
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of pastors, by no means gives an adequate idea of the opposition the agent met with. The report would soon be read by the public, and had it embodied a full account of the opposition, from both churches and preachers, it would have encouraged the focs, and dispirited the timid and lukewarm friends of missions and ministerial support. Within two years after this report was published, several of the churches named in it, were divided on the subject of missions and ministerial support; insomuch that a new association, which declared openly its opposition to benevo- lent institutions and "hireling preachers," was formed on the territory referred to in the report. This new fraternity was called Mt. Pleasant Association of Regular Baptists, and still maintains a feeble existence.
In the manner described in the report, Mr. Buck continued to canvass the churches, as long as he was Agent of the Gener- al Association. But, in 1841, believing that he could reach the churches of the whole State, more speedily and effectively, through the medium of the press, he took the editorial charge of the Baptist Banner and Western Pioneer, a large religious week- ly, hitherto conducted by John L. Waller. He edited this paper about nine years, with much ability. In 1840, he resigned the charge of the First Church, after which, among a multitude of other engagements, he preached in a market house, in the east- ern part of the city, till East Church was constituted, in 1842. To this Church, he preached the rest of the time that he re- mained in the State.
In 1850, having lost his property, through an attempt to con- duct the Louisville Advertiser, which he had purchased, on the retirement of Shadrach Penn, he moved to the State of Alabama. Here he labored some ten years, both with tongue and pen. He published a book entitled the Philosophy of Religion, and was editing a religious paper at the breaking out of the Civil War. After this he went to Texas, where he spent the evening of a long, busy and eminently useful life. He died of a cancer on his face, at his residence near Waco, surrounded by his children, on the 18th of May, 1872.
JAMES MCQUADE, SR., was one of the first preachers, raised up to the ministry, within the bounds of Long Run Association. The place of his nativity is not known, but he was born about 1761. He was among the first emigrants who forted in what is
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now called Shelby county. When William Hickman first preached in the little forts in this region, in the beginning of 1789, this youth attended his meetings. Of him, Mr. Hickman says: "Brother James McQuade stood by me from the first, and was my sing- ing clerk. A little after this, Brother Gano baptized him and two or three others. " Mr. McQuade united with Brashears Creek church ; and here he was set apart to the ministry. He was more distinguished for his piety and devotion, than for the brilliancy of his gifts. But he was a good and useful preacher, in his generation, and was held in high esteem by his brethren. He was called to his heavenly reward, May, 23, 1828.
DAVID STANDIFER was a prominent member of Brashears Creek church, as early as 1803. He was usually a messenger to the Association, and appears to have been an active member of that body. His preaching gifts were not above medium, at any time, and were slow of development. He appears to have been of a practical, business turn, and was a judicious actor rather than a fluent speaker. He must have been considerably ad- vanced in life before he entered the ministry. He was ordained at Brashears Creek, about September 1823, and succeeded James McQuade sr., in the pastoral office, in that church. He occupied this position several years. He preached the introductory ser- mon before Long Run Association, in 1829. His labors in the Lord's vineyard, appear to have ceased not far fron 1832. E. D. Standifer , M. D., the well known Rail Road magnate is his son.
JONATHAN STARK, like the Dupuys, Holmeses and Hayneses, was of French extraction, and descended from that class of pro- testants known as Huguenots. The old Huguenot families referred to, were early setlers in several different localities in Ken- tucky. Jonathan Stark settled in what is now Spencer county. Here he was baptized into the fellowship of Elk Creek church, in July, 1795. The family with which he was connected, moved to what is now Oldham county, where a church was gathered, perhaps by an old patriarch of the tribe, of the name Abraham Stark, during the great revival of 1800-3. At this church, which was named Floyds Fork, but was popularly known as Stark's Meetinghouse, Jonathan Stark was ordained to the ministry, in 1803. He preached in this church, at least nine years, after which he moved to Indiana.
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DAVID STARK appears to have been a brother of Jonathan Stark, and was a minister in the same church, in Oldham county, as ear- ly as 1812, and perhaps several years earlier. Floyds Fork church was made up largely of the Stark family. These mov- ing away from year to year, gradually reduced the church, till it numbered, in 1815, only 13 members. David Stark contin- ued to minister to it, doubtless with the hope of building it up again, till the above named period, when he followed his kindred to Indiana, and the forsaken little church dissolved.
WILLIAM STOUT was born of pious Baptist parents, in Culpep- er county, Virginia, in 1781. He received barely the simple elements of an English education. He came with his parents to Kentucky, and settled in what is now Spencer county, in 1797. Here, in 1807, he was married to Mary Vandyke. The marriage was blessed with a number of children, all of whom ultimately settled in Indiana. Mr. Stout professed religion in his 28th year, and was baptized into the fellowship of Elk Creek Church, by Reuben Smith. He was immediately filled with a great de- sire for the salvation of his neighbors, and soon began to ex- hort them to repent and return to God. The following year, 1810, he was licensed to exercise his gift. During the same year, Plum Creek church was constituted, in the same county. Having no preacher among its members, and being favorably im- pressed with Mr. Stout's efforts, it petitioned Elk Creek church to send it "a preaching gift". Elk Creek responded favorably, and induced Mr. Stout to take his letter to Plum Creek, which he did, October, 12, 1812. On the 5th of December following, he was ordained to the pastoral charge of this church, by Reuben Smith and Henson Hobbs.
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