USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 28
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JOSEPH TAYLOR,* son of the distinguished pioneer, Elder
*The well known colored preacher, G. W. Dupee, was born the slave of Elder Joseph Taylor.
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John Taylor, was born in woodford county, Kentucky, August,
1786. When he was nine years of age, his parents moved to a small new settlement in what is now Boone county, and five years later, to a still more recent settlement, on Corn creek, in what is now Trimble county. Here he grew up to manhood. He subsequently moved to Franklin county, where, in 1827, he professed faith in Christ, and was baptized into the fellow- ship of Buck Run church, probably by his father. He began to exercise " a public gift " almost immediately, and was or- dained to the ministry, about 1829. After laboring in Frank- lin and the surrounding counties a few years, he moved to Illi- nois, in 1834. While on a visit to Kentucky, some years later, he was attacked with typhoid fever, of which he died, at Lex- ington, September 23, 1845.
JOHN BROWN was a minister in Franklin Association, about ten years. He was probably a native of Virginia, but was raised up in Franklin county, Ky. He first joined Forks of Elkhorn church, but, having married a daughter of Elder Will- iam Hickman, Jr., he moved his membership to South Benson, in 1817. The following year, he was licensed to preach, and was ordained, in 1820. In October of that year, he accepted an invitation to preach, one Sunday in the month, at South Benson church, of which his father-in-law was pastor. This ar- rangement resulted badly. Mr. Brown soon attached a party to himself, and became disaffected towards the pastor. This disaffection was afterwards encouraged by the followers of Al- exander Campbell, and finally resulted in a division of the church. The Brown party, consisting of 64 members, were constituted a church of the faith and order of Mr. Campbell, and Mr. Brown was installed its "bishop," by Jacob Creath, Sr., and Jacob Creath, Jr. This occurred in January, 1830. From this period, Mr. Brown was identified with the Campbellites.
PORTER CLAY was a son of Elder John Clay of Hanover county, Virginia, and a brother of the illustrious statesman, Henry Clay. The exact period of his birth has not been ascer- tained, but it could not have been later than 1782, at which date his young father died, pastor of Chicahominy church. He, with most, or all of his mother's family, moved to Kentucky. Here he married Mrs. Elizabeth Hardin, widow of Martin D. Har- din, at one time U. S. Senator from Kentucky, and daughter
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of the distinguished pioneer, Gen. Ben. Logan. As early as 1819, he established himself in the practice of law, at Versailles, Ky., at which period he was an influential member of the Bap- tist church at that place. Soon after this, he moved to Frank- fort, and, by the church at that place, was set apart to the ministry, about the year 1820. Of this ordination, and the in- stallation of Silas M. Noel, as pastor of Frankfort church, John Taylor writes as follows:
" A farce, of the most outlandish kind that I ever knew played in a Baptist church, was acted. The subject was the installing of a pastor, and the ordination of a young minister. To perform this great solemnity, ministers were sent for, twenty or thirty miles distant, and in various directions, to the amount of five or six ripe and orthodox men. The examination was very close. All the questions and answers were recorded, and they were all on deep subjects in divinity. But few questions were asked on practical godliness, for this would come of course, if men were right in doctrine. I recollect only one of the sol- emn questions that were asked of the candidate for ordination, which was :- 'Do you recollect brother, that you ever knew a sheep turned into a goat, or a goat into a sheep?' After a long and solemn pause, the candidate replied :- ' I do not recollect that I ever knew such a circumstance.' What would common spectators think of such dark, mysterious questions and an- swers? After a very pompous parade, they installed the pastor, and ordained the minister."
About a year after his ordination, Mr. Clay was called to succeed Mr. Noel as pastor of Frankfort church. For a few years he served the church acceptably. Meanwhile he was chosen Auditor of the State. This displeased Jeptha Dudley, who was a prominent member of Frankfort church, and, at that time, a member of the Kentucky Senate. He attempted to have Mr. Clay removed from the auditorship. In this he failed, and a bitter, irreconcilable quarrel was gendered between the two brethren. The difficulty was brought before the church, and they were both excluded. Mr. Dudley was soon afterwards re- stored; but Mr. Clay remained out of the church, as long as he resided in Kentucky. After some years, he moved to Illinois, and located, it is believed, in Jacksonville. At his new home he found no church; but there were a few Baptists who de-
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sired him to enter with them into the constitution of one. He informed them that he was an excluded member, and that it would be disorderly for him to join another church of the same faith and order, without first being restored to the one from which he had been expelled. He applied to the church at Frankfort to restore him, and proposed to the brethren to join with him in a day's fasting and prayer to God, that his applica- tion might be granted. The church restored him, and gave him a letter of dismission, and he again entered the ministry. About 1848, he moved back to Kentucky, and located in Shel- byville. He remained here a short time, and then moved to Arkansas, where he is said to have been abundantly useful in the ministry, as he had been in Illinois. His last work was at Camden, Ark., where his remains rest under a great oak near that village. He was an excellent preacher, and was much beloved by those among whom he labored.
JOHN S. MAJOR was raised up to the ministry in South Ben- son church. He was appointed a deacon, in 1822, and, after serving in that office six years, was ordained to the ministry, by William Hickman, sr., G. T. Harney, William Hickman, jr., and John Brown. On the death of William Hickman, jr., in 1845, Mr. Major was called to succeed him, as pastor of South Benson church. The same year a revival occurred in the church, and 29 were baptized. After serving this congregation, as pastor, about four years, he moved to Missouri, in 1849. As a preacher, Mr. Major was below mediocrity ; but his many ex- cellent qualities much endeared him to his people.
WM. C. BLANTON is a name of blessed memory to many aged Christians in Franklin Association. While he was not an especially great man, in the common meaning of the term, he possessed fair gifts, which were supported by so simple and con- stant a piety, and used with such indefatigable zeal and indus- try, that they were effectual in the accomplishment of a great work, during his brief ministry. He labored in the pastoral of- fice about eleven years, during the latter half of which period he suffered from feeble and continually declining health. And yet, he baptized over 400 converts.
Mr. Blanton was born of Baptist parents, in Franklin co., Ky., Feb. 3, 1803. He received only a common school educa- tion, and, as he approached the years of manhood, became ex-
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ceedingly wicked. He continued his career of folly and mad- ness till 1827, when, under the preaching of Wm. Hickman, sr, and George Blackburn, he professed religion, and was baptized by Mr. Blackburn, into the fellowship of Forks of Elkhorn church. In 1831, he moved to the neighborhood of South Benson, and united with that church. In 1832, he was licensed to preach, and, on the solicitation of Lebanon church, was or- dained to the ministry, by Wm. W. Ford, Wm. Hickman, sr., Wm. Hickman, jr., and John S. Major, in July, 1833, He im- mediately took the pastoral care of North Benson and Lebanon churches, both in Franklin county. With these congregations, he labored till failing health forced him to desist, about a year before his death. He was also, at different periods, pastor of Buffalo Lick, Pigeon Fork, Providence, and Mt. Pleasant churches, all in Franklin Association. With all these congre- gations, he labored with good success, and much to their satis- faction. But his work was soon done; and, on the 21st of August, 1845, the Master called him to his reward.
JAMES MADISON FROST, one of the most amiable, pious and consecrated preachers that have labored among the Baptists of Kentucky, ministered for a time within the bounds of Franklin Association. He was a native of Jessamine county, Ky., and was born of Baptist parents, Sept. 2, 1813. When he was about eight years old, his parents moved to Washington county, Missouri, where he grew up to manhood, with few educational advantages. In 1831, he made a profession of religion, and was baptized into the fellowship of Cartois church, by Joseph King. He was licensed to preach, in July of the following year, and ordained, by Joseph King and W. W. Tucker, in December, 1833. In 1834, he entered Shurtleff College, at Alton, Ill., where he remained three years, taking a course in both letters and theology. On leaving college, he took charge of the church at Potosi, Washington county, Mo. In 1838, he returned to his native State. His first regular work in Ken- tucky, was the supplying of Davids Fork and East Hickman churches, in Fayette county, while their pastor, Ryland T. Dillard, made a trip to Europe for the benefit of his health. After this, he served the church at Mt. Vernon, in Woodford county, a short time. In January, 1840, he accepted a call to the church at Frankfort. After laboring there about three years,
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his health failed, and, resigning his charge, he moved to Georgetown. In October, 1843, he was appointed collecting agent for the General Association of Kentucky Baptists. The duties of this office required him to travel over the State on horseback. He made a successful agent, and, in two years, re- gained his health. In January, 1846, he took charge of the church at Covington, Ky. In less than two years his health failed again, and he returned to Georgetown. He now accepted an agency for Georgetown College. After a time, he took charge of Mays Lick church, in Mason county, then of the church at Georgetown, about 1850. Here, in 1852, he was brought nigh unto death ; and, for two years, was unable to la- bor in the ministry. When he was sufficiently recovered, he again entered the pastoral office. He was called to Cane Run church, in Fayette county, in 1854. To this congregation he ministered ten years, greatly strengthening and developing it. In 1865, he took charge of the church at New Liberty, in Owen county, to which he ministered three years. After this, he was successively pastor of the churches at Harrodsburg, Lawrence- burg, and Unity in Mercer county, Madison Street in Covington, and South Elkhorn and Cane Run, in Fayette county. He preached his last sermon at South Elkhorn, on the last Sabbath but one, that he spent on earth ; and baptized several persons the same day. A few days afterwards, he was attacked violently with pneumonia, and, after about a week's illness, departed to be with Christ, May 24, 1876.
Mr. Frost was a plain, direct speaker, and always appear- ed to be master of his subject. He exhibited in his preaching neither learning nor eloquence, but always a more effective power for good than either. His sermons were well prepared, and his subject was treated systematically, and in a manner so clear and simple, that his most illiterate hearers could easily understand him. None who heard him could doubt his sin- cerity and deep earnestness. He studied much, prayed much, and labored up to the full measure of his strength. He excell- ed as a pastor. Diligent, watchful and faithful, in all the minu- tia of his pastoral duties, he always enjoyed a good degree of success. But his great source of power was the intimate rela- tion in which he lived with his Master. Among his papers was found a prayer, hastily written with a pencil, and supposed
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to have been indited a short time before his last illness. The following extract exhibits the inner life of the godly man :
"Lord Jesus, I am somewhat in doubt, and troubled as to my future labors in this life. I believe thou didst call me to preach the gospel, and under that conviction ALONE thou knowest 1 acted. At different times since, I believe thou didst renew or, recognize the call. I believe thou hast hitherto directed me to and in my fields of labor. And thou didst direct to my pres- ent field of labor. Now, Lord Jesus, thou knowest my present difficulties, better than I can tell thee. Thou canst enable me to overcome this difficulty. Lord, I want an earnest fer- vent spirit, and a fruitfu!, fertile mind. I desire this more than anything else, that I may be useful. Lord Jesus, wilt thou give it? Yet not my will but thine, even in this, be done ....... Lord Jesus, thou knowest I do not want to remain here after my activity ceases. But, Lord Jesus, I would not choose ; I submit to thy choice. Continue me or call me hence ; but do keep me from sinning against thee. My family, Lord Jesus, I here ask thee to take; and I thank thee for what thou hast done. Lord, I want to leave them entirely in thy hands while I live and after death."
The following extracts are taken from his conversations to his friends, during his last illness.
"I have no choice in the matter; I would not choose, it God gave me the privilege ; I leave it all with him. If he says stay here and labor, I will submit and work on ; but if he takes me, it will be a glorious liberty from a most terrible bondage. I was just thinking the other day, my death will be no more to this community, than a worm, but everything, everything to me." "If I have any preference, it is to go; but I would not ask that, but surely to die is great gain, to depart and be with Christ is far better." "This pays for all the sneers and flings I ever heard made at religion. What could a man do in my condition without the Savior ?"
"Have you any fear ?" asked a friend. "Oh no, not a particle." "Do you feel the Savior's presence ?" asked the friend. He replied : "Yes ; but I have no ecstasy, no rap- ture. I have just a quiet, peaceful solid trust that gives me untold consolation." "My fight is finished." "Lord Jesus, into thy hands I commit my spirit. Come, Lord Jesus, come
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quickly. I am just waiting. I am getting impatient to go, no, not impatient, I leave it all with Jesus."
" I desire a very plain burial. I have seen so much foolish pride in burying the dead. I want only a plain coffin and every- thing in proportion. I do not want a flaming notice, by any means, bnt an humble statement of my life work. My service has been so poor and imperfect."
"Saved in fact, saved in the kingdom of God," were the last words of the dying saint, and thus, with triumph, he en- tered the realms of fadeless glory.
He left an only son, J. M. Frost, Jr., who entered the ministry some years before his father's death. After laboring several years in his native State, he was called from Lexington, Ky., to Virginia, where his labors have been much blessed.
FRANK H. HODGES was among the most successful preach- ers in Franklin Association. His education was limited; but he had a strong mind, and acquired a good reading. His voice was strong and rather harsh, and he was a forcible and ready speaker. He was very active in the ministry, and was, at dif- ferent times, pastor of most of the churches in Franklin Asso- ciation. He was better adapted to leading sinners to Christ, than to developing churches. He kept no record of his labors, but estimated that he had baptized over 4,000 people. This es- timate was probably much too large, yet, his labors were great- ly blessed in that direction.
Mr. Hodges was born in Fayette county, Ky., July 26, 1 809. In 1830, he moved to Franklin county, and, in 1834. was married to Laura Virginia, daughter of Silas M. Noel, D. D. He professed hope in Christ, and was baptized into the fellow- ship of Bethel church, in Franklin county, by James E. Duval, August 19, 1842, and was licensed to preach, the following month. His ordination to the care of Mt. Pleasant church, in Franklin county, took place at Bethel, April 18, 1844. The presbytery consisted of Y. R. Pitt, William C. Blanton, J. E. Duval, Abner Goodell, and Josiah Leak. He was soon called to other churches, and, from that time he was generally pastor of four congregations. He died, at his home in Franklin county, about 1879.
ISAAC CRUTCHER was one of the early preachers raised up in Old South Kentucky Association. He was licensed to
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preach at Mt. Gomar (now Mt. Pleasant) church, in Franklin county, August 27, 1796. His ordination probably took place the following year. At this time, of course, he was a Separate Baptist; but entered into the general union of Baptists, in 1801. His preaching talent was not above mediocrity; but he was a good, respectable man, and was full of zeal and energy in the cause of his Master. He was pastor of Mt. Gomar church, and perhaps others as late as 1830. Little is now known of his faithful labors in the Lord, except that he preached at least 35 years, among the pioneer preachers of Franklin county, and left behind him a good name. Some idea of his personal appear- ance may be gathered from the following anecdote: "On one occasion Mr. Crutcher (usually pronounced Croucher, at that period,) was sitting in the pulpit behind the eccentric Jo. Craig, who, in a rather tedious sermon, was attempting to explain his conception of the personal appearance of the Devil. Not suc- ceeding to his satisfaction, he suddenly turned around and said, 'I imagine that the Devil is a great, big, black looking fellow like Brother Croucher here.'"
ADISON M. LEWIS, an uncle of the late distinguished Cad Lewis. LL. D., and a preacher of learning and ability, moved from Virginia, and took charge of a female academy in George- town, Ky .. in 1833. The next year he gave his membership to Buck Run church, in Franklin county. He also took the care of Great Crossing church, in Scott county, and perhaps others. He wrote the circular letter for Franklin Association, in 1836, and preached the introductory sermon before that body, in 1838. Soon after this, he moved to Missouri.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KENNEY united with Twins church, in Owen county, by letter, in May, 1831, and was licensed to preach, in July following. In December, 1832, he was ordained by William Morgan, Joseph Crouch, and Cornelius Duval, and soon afterwards took charge of Twins church. In this office, he served till May, 1835, when he took a letter of dismission, went to Scott county, and united with the church at Great Crossing. Feeling the need of a better education, he entered Georgetown College, and spent some time in that institution, preaching, meanwhile, to some of the neighboring churches, on Saturdays and Sundays. In 1841, he moved his membership to Buck Run, in Franklin county, where he
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remained about fourteen years, actively engaged in the work of the ministry. About 1856, he moved to Missouri, where he occupied a prominent position among the ministers of that State. He was regarded a good man, and an excellent preacher.
JAMES E. DUVAL, M. D. is among the oldest prcachers in Kentucky. He was raised up to the ministry, at Silas church, in Bourbon county, as early as 1831. Some years later, he moved to Owen county, and united with Bethel church, of which he is still a member. He is the only preacher living, who was in the constitution of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, in 1832, and one of the very few remaining on earth, who were in the organi- zation of the General Association, in 1837. In his early minis- try, he was quite successful as a missionary ; but, for many years past, he has been engaged in the practice of medicine, and has done comparatively little in the way of preaching.
ALEXANDER R. MASEY was ordained to the ministry, at Frankfort, in 1843. After preaching to some of the neighbor- ing churches, for a few years, he engaged in various agencies, and finally moved South, where he died.
BENJAMIN D. ONAN. was a young man of much promise. After finishing his education at Georgetown College, he entered upon the work of the ministry, with great zeal and industry. His labors wcre principally those of a missionary, and were much blessed in bringing sinners to Christ. He labored chiefly within the bounds of Franklin Association. He was called from his brief, but ardent labors, to his endless reward, in 1865.
BENJAMIN T. QUINN is now among the elderly preachers of Franklin Association. He was licensed to preach, at Buck Run church, about 1846, and was ordained the following year. He was active in the ministry for a number of years, and was very highly esteemed as a faithful and successful pastor. But for several years past, he has been greatly afflicted with asthma, which has rendered him unable to perform much labor.
There are, and have been, a number of other valuable min- isters in this Association, of whose lives and labors no particu- lars have been received.
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GOSHEN ASSOCIATION.
The early records of this fraternity are lost, and we must learn from other sources what can now be known of its origin. In 1815, the question as to the propriety of dividing Salem As- sociation into two fraternities, was discussed in that body. The decision was that :- "The Association think a division, at this time, not advisable." But the churches in the western part of the Association deemed it to their advantage to have a separate organization. Accordingly, in 1817, the following churches ob- tained letters of dismission from Salem Association : Goshen, Pisgah, Bethel and New Hope, in Breckinridge county ; Caney Creek, Concord and Pleasant Run, in Grayson county ; Rough Creek, in Ohio county, and Gilead, in Perry county, Indiana. Mt. Pleasant and Panther Creek, both in Ohio county, also ob- tained permission to join in the new organization. These churches met, by their messengers, in the fall of 1817, and constituted Goshen Association. It is presumed that the meeting con- vened at Goshen church, from which the new fraternity derived its name. The II churches of which it was constituted, aggre- gated 300 members.
Where the Association held its first anniversary, has not been ascertained ; but, in 1819, it met at Concord, in Grayson county. Thomas Downs preached the introductory sermon. James H. L. Moorman was elected Moderator (a position he continued to occupy to the close of his life), and James Moor- man was chosen Clerk. At this time the body had increased to 18 churches, with 447 members.
The third anniversary of the body was held with Rock Spring church, in Daviess county, in 1820. Ancil Hall preached the introductory sermon, and Martin Utterback was chosen Clerk. There were 21 churches represented, which reported 178 baptisms, and an aggregate membership of 773.
During the next decade, the growth of the body was slow. The revival that spread so extensively over the State, in 1827, and the two years succeeding, seems not to have pervaded the churches of this fraternity to any considerable extent. Neither did the heresy of Alexander Campbell effect them seriously. 20
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Indeed it is not known that the fraternity lost a single member by the Campbellite schism of 1830. In 1828, it numbered 19 churches, with 929 members, and, in 1831, 22 churches, with 1,084 members.
In 1832, the body withheld correspondence from Green River Association, on account of a schism in that fraternity. But two years later, the schism being healed, the correspond- ence was restored. Meanwhile the spirit of Antinomianism began to be manifest in some of the churches; and out of it grew considerable opposition to missions, and other benevolent in- stitutions. In 1833, two of the most influential preachers in the Association-James H. L. Moorman and David J. Kelley-were engaged as missionaries, under the patronage of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. In order to have an expression from the association, on the subject of benevolent societies, Cloverport church, in 1833, sent up the following query: "Should it, or should it not, be a matter of dealing, in a church, or a bar to communion, for a member of a church, either to join, or not to join, the Baptist Board of Missions, the Bible society, the Sun- day-school society, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, or the Temperance society?" The body answered the query as fol- lows: "We believe that members ought to be left to their own choice, respecting the joining of any of those institutions; and we believe that it ought not to be a matter of dealing, in any church, or a bar to communion, either to join, or not to join, any of these institutions." Hopeful church desired to have the opinion of the Association, as to the propriety of church members' joining "the Temperance society." The church was referred to the above answer. J. H. L. Moorman and D. J. Kelley were both in the Association that year, for the last time. They both went to their reward, the following summer. This weakened the missionary party, to the measure of their very ex- tensive influence. The next year, Little Flock church (now Bells Run,) sent the following to the Association: "Dear Breth- ren, we had it in contemplation to remonstrate against the an- swers to the queries from the churches at Cloverport and Hope- ful, as found in your last minutes ; but, on reflection, more Christian like, and, as we believe, better calculated to heal the wounds, given in consequence of those answers, we have barely thought it advisable to humbly entreat the Association to recon-
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