USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 27
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DANIEL WILLIAMS, a plain, pious old preacher, was regarded the father of this fraternity. He was an early settler in Mont. gomery county, where he was, for a few years, a preacher in Lul- begrud church. Subsequently, he moved. to Morgan county, then an almost unbroken wilderness, and settled on Licking river, where West Liberty is now located. For many years he preached to the settlers as they came into the country. At length he succeeded in gathering a number of small churches which united with North District Association.
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In 1814, these distant churches, located in the upper part of Licking Valley, obtained letters of dismission, and formed themselves into Burning Spring Association. Mr. Williams lived to a good old age, and is still remembered with reverence and affection, by the aged Christians of Morgan county.
WILLIAM LYKINS is a grandson of Elder Daniel Williams. He is a lawyer of some prominence, in Morgan county, and has long been the most prominent preacher in Burning Spring Asso- ciation, of which he has been moderator for many years past. He is now about 75 years of age, if living, and when last heard from, two or three years ago, was actively engaged, both in the ministry and at the bar.
WILLIAM COFFEE was among the most prominent of the early ministers of this Association. He was moderator of the body about twenty-years. He lived at Low Gap, in Morgan county, where he closed his long ministry, about 1856.
SOUTH UNION ASSOCIATION.
This fraternity, located principally in the counties of Whit- ley and Knox, is the oldest association in Cumberland Valley, above the Cumberland Falls. It was constituted, at Clear Fork meeting house, in Whitley county, on the third Friday in Sep- tember, 1815. Some of the churches, at least, of which it was composed, were dismissed from Stocktons Valley. The early records of the body are lost, and very little of its early history is now known.
The first congregation of Baptists, that was collected within the bounds of this fraternity, met near the present site of Bar- boursville, in Knox county. About the beginning of the present century, Moses Foley, Sr., and his son Elijah, both ordained preachers, moved from Virginia, and settled on the Cumberland river, a short distance below where Barboursville is now located. A few other Baptists settled near them, and they began to hold meetings for mutual edification. After some time, they conclu- ded to form an organization. Accordingly a church was consti- tuted by two ministers from Tennessee, of the names of William Jones and Matthew Sims, on the 12th of March, 1804. It was
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organized of the following persons : Elijah Foley, Isaac Martin, Lemuel Hibbard, James Parker, Sarah Bailey and Martha, Mary and Elizabeth Barbour. The church took the name of Cumber- land, and went into the constitution of Stocktons Valley Associ- ation, the following year. The church greatly prospered, and soon began to establish arms, in all directions. These, in time, became independent churches, and, at the time and place above specified, formed South Union Association. The earliest statistics we have of this fraternity, are those of 1830, when it numbered eighteen churches, with 489 members. The growth of the body was very slow: so that, in consequence of its dismissing a number of churches to form new associations, it was reduced, in 1854, to ten churches, with 254 members. During the next six years, it was very prosperous. In 1860, it numbered fourteen churches, with 749 members. It sustain- ed a loss of less than 100 members during the war. In 1868, a very precious revival prevailed throughout its territory ; and more than 500 members were added to its churches. The revival continued till 1870, when the Association numbered twenty-six churches, with 1,744 members. This year it divided its territory, and the churches west of the division line were formed into West Union Association. This reduced the mother fraternity to fifteen churches, with 1, 015 members. It has since had a moderate increase, and, in 1880, numbered seventeen churches, with 1,275 members.
This body has generally been inefficient, and, although nominally in the general union of Kentucky Baptists, its churches have been either anti-missionary in sentiment, or in- different on the subject. It has only been within the last few years, that it has ventured, in a hesitating and cautious manner, to express itself in favor of temperance, religious periodicals, Sunday-schools and the support of the ministry. It has now a class of better informed ministers, and a more liberal spirit is beginning to be manifest in its councils.
Among the pioneer preachers of this body, were Moses Foley, sr., and his son, Elijah, and Blackgrove Hopper and his son or nephew, William Hopper. Of the Foleys, some account has been given elsewhere.
BLACKGROVE HOPPER formerly belonged to Lick Creek church, is Holston Association, and was probably pastor of that
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congregation, as late as 1812. Soon after this date, he moved to Knox county, Ky. He is said to have been very active in laying the foundation of the early churches in South Union Association. He gathered, among others, Providence church, on the head of Laurel river, of which William Hopper afterwards became pas- tor. He traveled as far north as the valley of Goose creek, and aided in gathering the churches of which Red Bird Association was formed. The time of his death has not been ascertained, but it occurred some time after the year 1830.
WILLIAM SILER was born in Chatham county, N. C., Septem- ber 9, 1791. He moved to Kentucky, in early life, and settled in Whitley county. Here he united with Clear Fork church. After exercising a public gift, several years, he was ordained to the ministry, in July, 1830. He was soon called to the over- sight of Clear Fork, and some other churches, and proved to be an excellent pastor. He was regarded a good disciplinarian, and was many years Moderator of South Union Association. He died at his residence, in Whitley county, March 24, 1872.
MARK SUMNER was born October 1, 1796. He united with Red Bird church, in Whitley county, in 1833. He began to exercise in public soon after he joined the church. His gifts appearing to be useful, he was ordained to the ministry, and was soon afterwards called to the care of four churches. He was frequently elected Moderator of South Union Association, in which capacity he served, the year preceding his death. He died September 15, 1869. His death was joyously triumph- ant. Just before he expired, he quoted from the 23d Psalm, the words: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with ine; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." His last words were: "O! the sunny banks of deliverence, where my soul will be at rest."
WILLIAM BAIRD was a native of Jonesboro, Tennessee; but, for many years preceding his death, resided in Campbell county of that State. He united with Clear Fork church, in Whitley connty Ky., in June, 1824, commenced exercising in prayer and exhortation, in 1828, and was ordained to the ministry, in June, 1841. He was pastor of several churches, and is said to have been greatly blessed in his labors. He was occasionally called on to serve as Moderator of his Association. He died, July 23, 1869.
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FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION.
This fraternity takes its name from the county in which most of its original churches were located. It was constituted, in 1815, of the following churches [as nearly as can be ascer- tained]: Mouth of Elkhorn, South Benson, Salt River, Twins, [now New Liberty], Hopewell and Mt. Pleasant. The aggre- gate membership of these churches has not been ascertained. The first anniversary of the body was held at Mt. Pleasant, in Franklin county, in 1816. John Scott preached the introductory sermon. John Penny was chosen Moderator, and John Scott, clerk. The Association now numbered 12 churches, aggregat- ing 819 members. A revival commenced at this meeting, and 35 I members were baptized into the churches of the body, the succeeding year. The revival continued till 1820, when the body had increased to 19 churches with 1,709 members.
Although this Association was in full sympathy with foreign missions, at the time of its constitution, an antimissionary spirit began to be manifest, soon after the famous John Taylor became connected with the body in 1816, and, as early as 1819, it was declared to be inexpedient to keep up the correspondence with the Board of Foreign Missions. The Association was divided and embarrassed, in all its attempts to promote either home or foreign missions, during a period of more than 20 years. As latc as 1840, South Benson, one of the oldest and largest churches in the body, refused the request of the Association, to contribute money to support a missionary within its bounds, and denied its right to make the request. However, the majority of the Association was in favor of missions, and, under the leadership of the eminent and godly Silas M. Nocl, much was done for the spread of the gospel, even before the anti-missionary ele- ment was eliminated from the body.
In 1821, the Association sustained considerable loss, both of churches and preachers, by the formation of Concord Associ- tion, on its northern border. This loss, however, was soon made up by the fruits of a precious revival, which commenced about that time : so that, in 1824, the aggregate membership of the Association was 1,710-one more than in 1820.
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During the year 1824, the influence of Alexander Camp- bell's teachings began to be manifest in the Association. The church at Hopewell, in Woodford county, and that at Mt. Pleasant, in Franklin county, sent a request, that the Associa- tion would reconsider an act of the previous year, by which the Philadelphia Confession of Faith had been adopted. The re- quest was promptly refused; but Campbellism continued to disturb a number of the churches. In 1829, at the request of Frankfort church, of which Silas M. Noel was pastor, the As- sociation protested against the new heresy, by presenting some of its features, and advising the churches to discountenance it. This, it is believed, was the first official protest against Camp- bellism, by any association in Kentucky. The disturbances that followed, and the final issue of the contest, has been de- tailed in the general history. During this period of confusion, the Association continued to prosper. In 1826, Sulphur Fork and Baptist associations were constituted on its borders, and took away several of its churches. Still, it continued to in- crease, and, in 1829, numbered 18 churches with 1,860 mem- bers.
In 1830, the Campbellite schism was consummated in this, and all the surrounding fraternities. Franklin Association held an extra session, in July of this year, and issued a circular to the churches, in which the doctrines of Mr. Campbell were set forth at length, and with remarkable clearness, by the pen of Silas M. Noel. The document contained the following unambig- uous language : "If you would protect yourselves as churches, make no compromise with error; mark them who cause divi- sions; divest yourself of the last vestige of Campbellism. As an Association, we shall esteem it our duty to drop correspond- ence with every association, or church, where the heresy is tol- erated." "At the annual session of the body, in September of that year, the following item was recorded on the minutes: "In answer to the request of the church at Frankfort, in regard to communing with those who have departed from original princi- ples, the Association unanimously answers .- We wish is to be distinctly understood, that all persons aiming to prostrate our constitutions and the union, by declaiming against creeds, or by sapping and mining the pillars of our constitutions, by innova- tions on our faith, customs, and usages, ought to find no place 19
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in our pulpits, or at our communion tables. Our members should plainly understand, that by approaching any table set by those people to commune, they would thereby forfeit the fellow- ship of all Regular or United Baptist churches." A committee was appointed to visit the church at Hopewell, which wasaccused of favoring Campbellism, and to report to the next annual meet- ing of this body. It was also "certified to the churches, that Jacob Creath, Sr. and Jacob Creath, Jr. have been cut off from the general union of Baptists by the competent tribunal, and that Josephus Hewett stands suspended." This prompt and decisive procedure saved the Association from much trouble, and her loss by the schism was comparatively light.
During the next ten years, the Association did little in her organized capacity, to encourage missions. In 1833, the com- mittee appointed to superintend the printing of the minutes, ap- pended a series of very incisive questions, implying the duty of christians to send the Bible and a preached gospel to the whole earth, and that God would hold them responsible for failing to discharge this duty. But even this mild and unofficial hint gave offense to the Anti-missionary party in the churches, and the Missionary party was compelled to conduct its benevolence through some other channel. The questions which gave offense to the Anti-missionaries were, doubtless, written by Silas M. Noel, and read as follows:
"INQUIRIES,
" Submitted, by the publishing committee, to the prayerful con- sideration of the churches ; to which they respectfully solicit replies, through the medium of the Cross and Banner.
" I. Is the church under no obligation to aid in sending Bibles and preaching to every creature, at home and abroad ?
" 2. Can Bibles be published and preachers give them- selves to the work, without pecuniary aid ?
" 3. Is it the mind of Christ that church members shall pay nothing for these purposes ?
"4. Is it not a fact that the plans now in progress have done much by sending the gospel to the poor and needy, at home and abroad ? f
"5. Are these plans to be discarded without presenting
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better ; and, in so doing, may we not be found among the cum- berers of the ground ?
"6. Has the Bible yet appeared in 100 of the 3,000 lan- guages, spoken on earth? Now if a church neglect to con- tribute to the extent of her resources, to give the holy scriptures to the millions yet in Pagan darkness, may not their blood be found at her door, when their voices shall rise in judgement against her?
"7. Are not ministers servants of the churches; and is it not the duty of those churches to see that those servants give themselves wholly to their work ?
"8. If it be not the mind of Christ that his kingdom shall be built up in the world, without money, then is it not wicked to object to any plan calculated to evangelize our own country, or other countries, simply because it requires money ?
"9. If all missionary and Bible societies were now to stay their efforts, and leave the work to others, how would they go about it ? and how many hundreds of centuries would pass away before the gospel could be preached, and the Bible be read in the 3,000 languages ? and how many thousands, even in our own country, might perish for the lack of knowledge?
" 10. Can it be said, 'Well done good and faithful ser- vant,' to the man who contributes little or nothing to support and to spread the gospel, and who even reproaches those who do? Does such a church member render to God the things that are God's ?
" II. Can a church neglect all these duties, and even pour contempt upon them, with any well founded hope of lasting prosperity ?"
The Kentucky Baptist Convention, which originated in the fruitful and consecrated brain of Silas M. Noel, had been or- ganized at Bardstown, in March, 1832, and a missionary society, known as Frankfort Association, had been organized within the bounds of Franklin Association, and made auxiliary to the Convention. This auxiliary society formed a medium through which the friends of missions might direct their benevolent contributions. But Dr. Noel much desired to see the district Associations and, still more, the individual churches become channels of missionary operations. His laudable desire was not
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gratified. The Lord called him home, May 5, 1839. But his works follow him.
In 1840, the Association appointed an executive committee whose duty it was to employ a missionary to labor among the destitute within its bounds; and the churches were appealed to, to furnish the means of sustaining him. The plan was adopted by a majority vote, and gave decided dissatisfaction to some of the churches. The executive committee employed William W. Ford, who labored only a few weeks, when the Lord called him to his reward. The next year, the executive committee was discharged, and it was :- " Agreed, That this Association com- mend to the several churches composing it, to be more liberal in voluntary contributions of money, to sustain the ministry ; and also request the ministry, as far as they can, to supply the destitute churches and portions of the country within the bounds of the Association." Resolutions were passed, recommending Georgetown College to the prayers and liberality of the churches. In 1842, the letter from Harmony church suggested that some means be adopted for the better supplying of the churches with preaching. But the Association took no action on the subject, further than to reaffirm the resolution of the preceding year. The antimissionary element yielded slowly. In 1844, the Agent for Indian Missions was permitted to take up a public collection, at the meeting of the Association. Two years later, the same permission was granted. But it was not till 1848, that a cor- respondence with the General Association was entered into. In 1850, protracted meetings were recommended as a means of supplying, in some measure, the destitu- tion within the bounds of the Association. On appli- cation of their messengers, the Association appointed meetings to be held, during the succeeding year, with nine, out of seventeen, of her churches. Ministers were also appointed to conduct these meetings ; but no provision was made for their compensation. This experiment was repeated the next year, and then abandoned. In 1851, after a silence of ten years, on the subject, the Association again commended Georgetown Col- lege to the prayers, contributions and patronage of the brethren.
In 1853, the Association appointed an Executive Board to supply the destitution within her own bounds, as far as the means, appropriated by the churches, would enable it. It also
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resolved to attempt to raise $500 for the purpose of establishing a book depository, and a system of colportage. From this period, the Association had been unequivocally a missionary body, although the results of its laudable enterprises are not given on its records, until a more recent date.
In 1854, the question as to the propriety of church mem- bers joining temperance societies, was introduced in the Associa- tion. It was resolved that to advocate temperance, or join a temperance society, ought to be no bar to fellowship. Not. withstanding this resolution, the church at Lebanon, in Frank- lin county, expelled several of its members for joining the Sons of Temperance. At its next session the Association passed the following :
" Resolved, That we affectionately and sincerely advise and request said [Lebanon] church to reconsider their action, and reinstate those brethren into their fellowship,"
Disregarding this second resolution on the subject, Leba- non church continued to exercise its prerogative in expelling such of its members as joined the interdicted society. This called forth a third resolution on the subject, in which the Asso- ciation declared "the grounds for such expulsion insufficient, and that any other church receiving such expelled members will not be acting contrary to the rules of this Association."
In 1857, the subject of reading sermons from the pulpit was brought before the Association, and deferred for considera- tion, until the next session of the body. At the succeeding meeting of the Association, the following was passed :
" Resolved, We do not approve of reading sermons from the pulpit, as a common custom, in our denomination."
The evil complained of still continued, and the Association again expressed itself on the subject, in its circular letter for 1865, in language of the following purport :
" Again, another evil of the times is the reading of ser- mons, in place of speaking them from the fullness of the heart. Who but the ministry is responsible for this soul-sleeping cus- tom? Imagine for a moment, Paul or Peter reading his sermons to his congregations! How ridiculous! how absurd ! As an evidence of God's disapprobation of this custom, we would ask those who practice it to give an instance, a single instance of one individual's being awakened by such a brother's
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reading a sermon, on such an occasion. And yet, with this evidence against this practice, we see it growing more and more common among the ministering brethren. This is one sin for which the ministry is responsible. The church has never demanded it ; the world has never required it at their hands. It is opposed to the spirit and pathos of the religion of our fathers."
In 1859, the report on resolutions contained this paragraph: " We have, heretofore, recognized the following subjects as having claims upon our prayers and contributions, viz : The supply of the destitute with the printed word of God, the preaching of the gospel to the poor and to the heathen in foreign lands : assisting new and feeble churches, and young and needy ministers in the bounds of our Association, and in our own country." To these objects, and to other benevolent enterpri- ses, which have since been inaugurated, the Association has continued to contribute her quota. The records of the body were destroyed by fire a few years past, for which reason many of its transactions cannot be given. A very great increase in numbers has been prevented by the frequent dismission of churches to form other associations. Besides those already mentioned, Middle District Association was constituted on the south-west border of Franklin, in 1836, and Shelby County Association, on her western border, in 1872. Both of these fraternities took off some of her most populous churches. Several of her churches also joined Licking and Mt. Pleasant Associations of Antimissionary Baptists.
In 1830, the Association numbered 19 churches with 1,720 members. During the succeeding decade, the Campbellite schism, with the dismission of several churches to Middle Dis- trict Association, reduced her number considerably. But, in 1838, a revival commenced among the churches, and the As- sociation increased from 14 churches with 1,431 members, in 1837, to 15 churches with 1,864 members, in 1840. The year 1842 was a season of great joy. The gain to the churches of the Association, by experience and baptism, was 679. The churches continued to enjoy a good degree of prosperity, for a period of about 20 years, from the beginning of the revival, in 1838. In 1850, the Association numbered 17 churches with 2,821 members. In 1860, it had increased to 19 churches with 3, 125 members. The severance of the colored members from
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the churches, during the next decade, reduced the aggregate membership to about 2, 500. In 1882, the body numbered 17 churches with 2, 500 members.
The oldest churches in this fraternity are Forks of Elkhorn, constituted in 1788. Mt. Pleasant, constituted in 1790, and Scuth Benson and North Fork, both constituted in 1801. The early preachers of the body were William Hickman, Jr., Tobias Wilhoit, John Taylor, Abraham Cook, Wm. W. Ford, Isaac Crutcher, John Penny, Wm. W. Penny, and John Scott. To these were soon added Silas M. Noel, Joseph Taylor. William Hickman, Sr., John Brown. Porter Clay, John S. Major and William C. Blanton. These presented an array of ministerial talent, consecration and efficiency that has seldom or never been surpassed in any association in Kentucky.
WILLIAM HICKMAN was the son of the famous pioneer, Elder William Hickman, Sr., and was born in Virginia, (probably) Buckingham county, June 1, 1768. He came with his parents to Kentucky in 1784. He married, at the age of about 19, and settled near the Forks of Elkhorn in Franklin county. He was probably baptized by his father, and united with Forks of Elkhorn church. On the 28th of February, 1801, he, with his wife, Obedience, John Major, Gilbert Christian, Nancy Berryman and Lucy Christian, entered into the organi- zation of South Benson church, which was constituted by Wm. Hickman, Sr., Warren Cash and John Penny. He soon began to exercise in public prayer and exhortation, and, in 1802, was or- dained to the pastoral care of South Benson church. To this congregation he ministered more than 40 years, and probably preached monthly to several other churches, at different periods. He was a preacher of medium ability, but his unswerving piety, integrity and faithfulness gave him an extended influence, and he was eminently successful in his holy calling. He died, at his home in. Franklin county, December 24, 1845. Among his de- scendants are Judge P. H. Lockett, of Trenton, Kentucky, a grandson, who has been engaged in the ministry several years, and William W. Harris, a great grandson, who is now pastor of one of the Baptist churches of St. Louis, Mo.
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