USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 20
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Dr. McDonald is a scholarly and polished pulpit orator. He possesses an affectionate and genial temperament, and has been much beloved, both by the people of his several charges, and the brotherhood in general. Kentucky has had few more popular preachers.
MOSES AKIN, a most singular, and, in some respects, a remark- ably gifted man, was, for a short time, quite a popular and successful young preacher, in Russells Creek Association. He was raised up to the ministry, in old Brush Creek church, where he was ordained, in 1840. He was employed as missionary within the bounds of the Association, for a time, and soon be- came a popular and successful evangelist. His power over the masses was very remarkable. Multitudes of people flocked to hear him preach, and were fascinated by his crude, but wonderfully magnetic oratory. But his career, as an accredited minister of the gospel, was very brief. Defective as were his literary attainments, his social education is said to have been far worse. Mentally he was illy balanced, and much more so, morally. He had not preached long, before suspicions concer- 14
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ning his morals became common, and after a few years, he was convicted of the sin of adultery, and promptly excluded from his church. During the excitement that prevailed at the begin- ning of the Civil War, he professed great penitence for his past sins, and was restored to church fellowship, and to the functions of the ministry. He was elected Chaplain in the Southern Army, and, not long afterwards, entered upon "a term of service" in the military prison at Camp Chase, Ohio. After the War, he continued to preach, for a short time, under the sanction of his church, and the ostensible approbation of the Association. But it soon appeared that he had added to his former vices, other immoralities. The little church of which he was a member, being under the control of his influence, re- fused to convict him, and was dropped from the fellowship of the Association. However, he continued to preach, without the approbation of the denomination, and succeeded in making many people believe that he was a good man. He continued to play the role of an evangelist, not only in his native State, but also in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Texas, and often with no small degree of success, until age and an excessive corpulency forced him to desist. He died at his home in Green county, in 1884.
It is regretted that no particulars of the lives of a num- ber of worthy ministers of this Association, are accessible. It would be esteemed a privilege to give some account of a number who have faithfully performed their tasks, and gone to their reward, as well as of some aged ministers who are still in the vineyard. Thomas Underwood, Stephen Gupton, and Larkin Sidebottom are among the oldest and most useful ministers now living in this old fraternity. There have been, and arc, many prominent citizens, who have been eminent servants of Christ, and valuable members of the churches in this Association, who de- serve a place in this history, but whose names must be omitted for want of specific information.
STOCKTONS VALLEY ASSOCIATION.
Dr. Benedict dates the constitution of this fraternity, in 1804, and, as he is the highest and oldest authority on the subject, subse-
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quent writers have unhesitatingly followed him. Yet an appeal to the records of the body shows that he made a mistake of one year, and that the body was constituted in 1805. The mistake originated in this way: In 1804, Green River Association resolved to divide her territory into three parts, each to be occupied by a separate association. The churches of which Russells Creek Association was afterwards composed, occupied comparatively a small boundary. It was therefore, convenient for them to meet together and organize an independent associa- tion, the same fall, which they did. But the churches allotted to Stocktons Valley, were scattered over a very large territory, traversed by ranges of mountains and large rapid streams. It was prudent, therefore, to defer their meeting, till the following year, especially as they had just traveled a long distance to attend the meeting of the mother fraternity, and had enjoyed all the advantages the counsels of an association could give them.
The records of the first meeting of this Association are lost, but the minutes, of 1806, are preserved, and in the circular letter of that year, it is distinctly stated, that last year was " our first Association." The churches represented, in 1806, were Sinking Spring, in Fentress county, Tennessee; Clear Fork (formerly Stocktons Valley) in Clinton ; Otter Creek and Beaver Creek, in Wayne; Brimstone (now Mt. Zion), Roaring River, and West Fork, in Overton, Tenn. Cumberland and Mill Creek, in Monroe; Caseys Creek, in Cumberland ; and Blackburns Fork, Salt Lick, Mashecks Creek, (afterwards called Words Run), and Caney Fork, (since called Big Spring), the localities of which are un- known. These 14 churches aggregated 680 members.
The preachers belonging to the body, in 1806, were Isaac Denton, William Ray, Philip Mulky, Levi Rhoden, Martin Trapp John Mulky, and Lewis Ellison. The Association corresponded with Green River, Tates Creek, Russels Creek and Tennessee Associations, the last named being located in the State from which it derived its name. The two queries following were solved :
I. " What is to be done with members who settle within the bounds of a church, having letters, and not joining? Ans. We advise the church, in such cases, to exhort them to their duty."
2. If a person has been baptized by a minister in disorder, have we any right to receive such person, on such baptism? No."
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The Association held its third session, at Mill Creek, in what is now Monroe county, in 1807. Isaac Denton preached the introductory sermon. John Mulky was re-elected Moderator, and William Wood Clerk. Eighteen churches reported 10 baptisms and 806 members. The churches at Middle Fork, Hopewell, Hickory Creek, and Collins River were received. The follow- ing year, Hopewell and Salt Lick were dismissed, and, in 1810, Sinking Creek and Martins Fork were received.
About this time, the churches in this Association were much disturbed by the Newlight enthusiasm. John and Philip Mulky, two of the most influential preachers in the Association, were carried away with that fanaticism. Brimstone and Martins Fork churches, together with the parties of Middle Ford, Sink- ing Creek, and Big Spring were excluded from the Association for adopting the Unitarian views and other fanatical sentiments of Barton W. Stone: so that, in 1810, the Association numbered only 16 churches, aggregating 416 members. This showed a loss of nearly half of its numercial strength. But, in the midst of these troubles, God sent a blessed refreshing from his presence. During a three years' revival, the Association was brought up in 1813, to 17 churches with 981 members. At this time, it had extended its territory so far southward, that the more southerly churches entered into a new fraternity, called Caseys Fork Association, all of whose churches were located in Tennessee. This reduced the northern fraternity, in 1816, to 12 churches, comprising only 630 members.
At the last named date, the subject of missions was brought before this Association, for the first time. It was in- troduced and disposed of, as follows : "Query from the com- mittee : What would be most advisable on the subject of the missionary business? Ans. We think missionary societies, formed for that purpose, most expedient ; and that the Associa- tion have nothing to do with it, in their body." The following year, Luther Rice visited the Association, and was invited to a seat in the body. Upon his representation of the objects and operations of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, a corres- pondence with that organization was readily agreed to, and Wm. Wood was chosen to conduct such correspondence. During the same session, the subject of alien immersion was introduced and disposed of in the following language: "Query from Caseys
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Fork church: What shall be done with persons suing for fellowship with us, upon the baptism of other denominations, and not complying with the order of the Baptists? Ans. We advise that such persons should be baptized in an orderly man- ner, agreeable to the order of the Baptist church."
From this period, till 1850, this Association varied but little, in members. The numbers gained by the preaching of the gos- pel, and those lost by various schisms, nearly balanced each other. In 1821, Poplar Cove and Wolf River churches were re- ceived. In 1825, the Association now called South Concord, was constituted on the eastern border of Stockton's Valley, and, although most of the churches of which it was formed were dis- missed from Cumberland River Association, it took something from the numerical strength of the fraternity now under consid- eration.
From the first introduction of the subject of systematic missionary operations in the Association, there has been a division of sentiment regarding it, that has been a constant source of an- noyance, and has greatly retarded the progress of the churches. For a number of years, the missionary party seems to have been in the majority. In 1823, the circular letter was an earnest appeal to the churches to support their preachers. But the antimission element gradually increased, and became propor- tionately more determined in their opposition. When the question as to the propriety of supporting the Kentucky Baptist Convention came before the Association, in 1835, the answer was recorded as the IIth item of business, in the following words:
"II. This Association declares an unfellowship with the practice of the Baptist Convention and all other societies, moved by money, under the garb of religion." This action gave offense to several of the churches ; to appease which, the follow- ing item, known in subsequent discussions, as the 6th article of the business of 1836, was recorded :
"6. The Association reconsiders and rescinds the 11th arti- cle in the minutes of the last year, declaring non-fellowship with the Baptist State Convention &c., as having been untimely adop- ted. But a majority of the churches, having heretofore acted upon the subject, and having declared non-fellowship with the said State Convention and all the like institutions, founded upon, and
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moved by money, under the garb of religion, this Association does now concur with said churches."
This action placed the Association in direct opposition to all benevolent societies, and numbered it with the Anti-missionary associations of the State. Instead of appeasing the Missionary element of the churches, it rather aggravated its discontent. Meanwhile, another element of discord was introduced in several churches of the body.
Andrew Nuckols, a somewhat prominent disciple of the no- torious Daniel Parker, and a man of considerable ability and influence, had been preaching what was known as the Two-Seeds doctrine, within the bounds of the Association, and had won a party over to his views. William Cross and James Crouch, two respectable preachers of the Association, were among Mr. Nuck- ols' converts. In 1838, the Association announced in the minutes of its proceedings, that Mr. Cross had been excluded from the church at Seventy-six, and Mr. Crouch from Clear Fork. This resulted in the constitution of a small Association, called Bethlehem, of which Elders Cross and Crouch were the principle preachers. It comprised only four churches, at first, but afterwards increased to six, aggregating 77 members.
The missionary party in Stocktons Valley Association con- tinued to grow more restless. In 1841, Renox Creek and Caseys Fork churches requested the Association to rescind the 6th article of the business of 1836. But instead of complying with the request, the body excluded the two churches from its fellowship. The next year, Skaggs Creek church sent up a sim- ilar request, and her petition shared a like fate. As soon as the vote on the question was announced, John and Jesse Savage two respectable young preachers, arose and withdrew from the Association. The advocates of missions had exhausted their resources, and, perhaps, their patience also, in a vain attempt to secure what they deemed their right to contribute to the cause of systematic benevolence, through the regular channels, and now they resolved to exercise the right of revolution. In 1843, the first item of the business of the Association was recorded in the following language: "Those parts of Skaggs Creek, Mill Creek, Mc. Farlands Creek and Cumberland churches, which claimed to be said churches, were dropped out of this Association for justifying the conduct of John and Jesse Savage, in abruptly withdrawing from the Association, last year, in violation of her
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rule." The exclusion of Elder Jesse Stewart, from Roaring River church, and afterwards that of Elder R. K. Dick, was an- nounced. The rupture was now becoming so serious that the Association deemed it expedient to pour a little oil on the troubled waters. This it proceeded to do, by making the follow- ing explanation of the famous 6th article : "It never was designed by this Association, to prohibit our brethren from disposing of their personal rights, in distributing for the support of the gospel, ; according to their own conscience; but to let the world know that we did not intend going into the missionary operation, in its present standing." The body also recorded the opinion, that it was "not expedient to attempt to correspond with adjacent sister associations, at this time, under the present circumstances."
The mollifying explanation, either came too late, or the mollifiers were too sparing of their oil. Those parts of churches which had been dropped from the Association, together with others which sympathized with them, met, by their messengers, at Beech Grove, in Monroe county, on the first Saturday in November, 1843, and constituted Freedom Association, of 6 churches, aggregating 216 members.
In 1844, Stocktons Valley Association discarded its policy of the previous year, in so far as to admit the correspondence of Green River and Original Barren River Associations, both com- prised of that class of Anti-missionary Baptists, denominated, at that period, "Go-Betweens." The appellation was intended to convey the idea that they assumed a middle ground between the Missionary and Anti-nomian Baptists. Of the same class were South Concord, Panther Creek and some small fraternities, located in the mountain counties. From this period, Stocktons Valley held a better defined position, and enjoyed a more even and peaceful course, till 1860, when it had increased to 18 churches, with 1,019 members. It did not meet during the War. In 1865, a convention, representing 10 of its churches, met at Livingston Valley, in Overton county, Tennessee, and among other items of business, passed a resolution requiring such members of the churches as had espoused the cause of the rebellion, to confess their sin, as a condition of fellowship.
The first regular meeting of the Association, after the War, was at Caney Branch, in Clinton county, in 1866. There were represented 18 churches, with 1, 167 members. There were but
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few colored people connected with these churches: hence instead of sustaining a loss during the War, the churches gained 148 members. From that time to the present the Association has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. It is manifest, also, that there has been a decided improvement in the spirit and in- telligence of the churches. Important questions of polity, that had been long supposed to be settled, have been re-opened, and some of the former decisions reversed.
In 1873, one of the churches sent up a query as to whether "this Association fellowships the missionary institutions of the day?" The body declined to answer the question ; but immedi- ately issued a call for a council, to be composed of three minis- ters and three laymen from each of the associations with which it corresponded, with a like number from its own body, to de- cide upon this and some other questions that had, of late, begun to agitate the churches. The call was made on five associations, of which Stocktons Valley, South Concord and Hiawassee re- sponded. The council met at Mt. Zion church, Overton co., Tenn., April 10, 1874. The subjects discussed were Alien Im- mersion, The Spread of the Gospel, The Support of the Minis- try, and A Uniform System of Correspondence. The conclus- ions of the council, together with the arguments by which they were supported, were embodied in the report of a committee, which is a lengthy paper of very decided ability. It was de- cided that baptism is valid only when the subject is a believer, the administrator, one authorized by a Scriptural church, the element, water, the formula, that given in the Commission, and the action, immersion.
All the associations, represented in the council, were known as Anti-missionary bodies, and the arguments on the subject of spreading the gospel, were worded with much caution, but were unequivocally in favor of missions. The theory was, that the church is the only divinely appointed society that exists; and that it alone is authorized to send forth missionaries : hence all other societies for propagating the gospel are unwarranted by the Scriptures, and ought not, therefore, to be encouraged by christians.
On the subject of supporting the ministry, the council says : " We affirm that the ministers of the gospel are entitled to a comfortable support for themselves and families, from the
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churches for which they labor." This proposition is very ably supported by scripture quotations, and arguments drawn from the Bible.
Under the last proposition, discussed by the council, that body takes occasion to express itself warmly in favor of educa- tion and temperance. On the latter subject it says: "Each church is, or ought to be, a temperance society, enforcing the discipline of the Bible against drunkenness, or the habitual use of intoxicating liquors. As citizens, we must submit to the laws of the land, but [we] deny the right of any legislative body to legalize traffic in it [intoxicating liquors], as God has forbid- den it."
The influence of this meeting was decidedly salutary on Stock- tons Valley Association. In 1875, it recorded the following : "We recommend to the churches the importance of Sabbath schools, and advise that one be organized in each church, and elsewhere, if deemed expedient." They also adopted measures, looking to the erection of "A high school or college." This was a great change in the polity of an association that had been regard- ed decidedly Anti-missionary. But the healthful progress of the body did not stop here. In 1877, something like a syste- matic home mission enterprise was inaugurated, which has been much blessed in building up the churches and in the conversion of sinners. The growth of the body has been quite rapid, since the War. In 1880, it numbered 28 churches, aggregating 1, 703 members. During 65 of the first 75 years of the existence of this fraternity, there have been baptized into the fellowship of it churches, according to its official reports, 4,014, of which 1, 660 have been baptized since 1865.
The churches of this Association are located principally in Monroe, Cumberland and Clinton counties, and the adjacent border of Tennessee. Mill Creek, near Tompkinsville, is its oldest church. Most, or all the other churches, of which it was originally constituted, were gathered during the great revival of 1800-3. Of its pioneer preachers, a sketch of the life of John Mulky has been given elsewhere.
PHILIP MULKY was one of the early preachers of the Asso- ciation. He appears to have gathered the church, originally called Brimstone, which was a member of Green River Associa- tion, from 1802, till the constitution of Stocktons Valley, and
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was under the care of Mr. Mulky, from its organization, till 1812. Mr. Mulky was a fair preacher, and appears to have been quite useful, for some years. But about the date last named, he, with Brimstone church, was dropped from the Association, for having joined the Newlights. The remnant of the church, it is believed, was afterwards restored to the Association, and is still a prosperous body, under the name of Mt. Zion.
WM. RAY was a humble, good man, and was one of the first preachers raised up in Old South Kentucky Association, where he began to preach, as early as 1792. He afterwards gathered a church called, at first, Kettle Creek, which united with Green River Association, in 1801. The church appears to have gone into the constitution of Stocktons Valley, under the name of Caney Fork. Again, in 1801, it changed its name to Big Spring. In 1812, it split, most probably on the subject of Arianism, or Newlightism. But previous to this, Mr. Ray had moved to Tenessee, where he united with the Big Fork church, which belonged to Stocktons Valley. He preached the intro- ductory sermon before that Association, in 1811, after which no more is heard of him.
WILLIAM GRIMSLEY was among the early preachers in Stock- tons Valley. He was of German extraction, and was held in high esteem by his co-laborers. He was active and zealous, in connection with Isaac Denton and Lewis Ellison, in raising up the early churches in Stocktons Valley. Sometime after the year 1825, he moved to Illinois, where he labored in the minis- try till the Master called him home.
LEWIS ELLISON was in the constitution of Stocktons Valley Association, and was, for many years, one of the leading preach- ers in that fraternity. He was a member of Caseys Fork church in Cumberland county, for some years; but on Renox Creek's being constituted, near Burksville, he went into that church, about 1809. Of this famous old church, which is now called Salem, he continued a member, and the pastor, nearly thirty years. The time of his death has not been ascertained, but it is supposed to have occurred, about 1840. On the removal of John B. Longan from the country, Mr. Ellison was chosen mod- erator of the Association, and continued to fill that position, with the exception of one year, till 1833. After this, the ven- erable and honored servant of Jesus Christ was complimented
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with the same office, in 1837. His popularity is evinced in that, notwithstanding he filled the moderator's chair so long, he was chosen to preach the introductory sermon before the body, at least nine times.
WILLIAM WOOD was probably the first Baptist that visited that beautiful region of country, lying around the present town of Albany in Clinton county. Before the country was settled, and while he was yet a youth, he came into the valley, and spent some time in hunting with the Indians. He afterwards settled in the Valley, and it is said, that it was through his per- suasions that Isaac Denton moved to the new settlement. Mr. Wood was in the constitution of Stocktons Valley church, the first that was organized in what is now Clinton county, was a long time clerk of that body, and by it, was licensed to exercise a preaching gift, in July, 1803. Although a man of extraordi- nary intellect and superior acquirements, for that time, he does not appear to have deemed himself called to preach. He was chosen clerk of Stocktons Valley Association, at its constitution, and filled that position, except during one meeting, when he is supposed to have been absent, until he was succeeded by Rice Maxey, in 1836. After Mr. Maxey's defection, on the mission question, Mr. Wood was again elected to the position, in 1841, and served six successive years-making a total of 36 years. He was also the Association's corresponding secretary, in its re- lation to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, as long as cor- respondence was kept up with that organization. Mr. Wood was also prominent in the affairs of State. While the present county of Clinton was part of Cumberland, he represented the latter in the lower branch of the Legislature, seven successive years, and in the Senate, sixteen years.
ISAAC DENTON was the first preacher that settled in Stock- tons Valley, and well deserves to be called a father in the fra- ternity which bears its name. He was of French extraction, and was born in Caswell Co., N. C., Sept., 1768. At the age of 18 years, he moved with his parents to East Tennessee. Here he made a profession of religion and was baptized, in I792. He was set apart to the ministry, not long after he united with the church, and spent some years in preaching among the churches of Holston Association. About 1798, he moved to Kentucky, and settled in what is now Clinton county. A few families had
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