USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 34
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"VI. That the influence of the Spirit of God is co-exten- sive with the proclamation of the gospel." At the same ses- sion the churches were most earnestly recommended to establish and perseveringly maintain weekly prayer meetings. The fol- lowing preamble and resolutions were also adopted at this session:
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"Whereas the American Bible Society has refused to aid in circulating versions of the Bible, in which the Greek word baptizo, and its cognates are translated by words signifying immerse, immersion, &c., thereby excluding from its patronage, all translations made by Baptist missionaries: Therefore, Re -- solved, That it is inexpedient for the Baptist denomination any longer to contribute their funds to the above named society. And whereas, our Baptist brethren in New York, have organ- ized themselves into a society, called 'the American and Foreign Bible Society,' the object of which is to disseminate the scrip- tures in our own, but particularly in foreign lands. Therefore, Resolved, That we affectionately and earnestly advise the churches composing this Association, to give of their abundant means, to advance the benevolent object contemplated in the formation of the society referred to."
A resolution of similar purport was passed the next year, and it was recommended that Bible societies, auxiliary to the American and Foreign Bible Society, be formed. In 1843, the Missionary and Bible Society of Bethel Association was con- stituted. The Harmony and Elkton Female Missionary Socie- ties were admitted as auxiliaries. The immediate receipts of the society amounted to $1,488.5212. The objects of the so- ciety were to supply the demand, within its bounds, for Bibles, religious books, and the preaching of the gospel, and to aid the American and Foreign Bible Society, the Indian Mission Asso- ciation, and the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. After the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention, the society di- rected its benevolence through the boards of that body. This society was liberal and prosperous, and accomplished much good, especially in its home work. It continued its operations till 1849, when Bethel Association was chartered by the Ken- tucky Legislature, "for Bible, missionary and educational pur- poses." The Association adopted the charter, in 1850, and has since operated, in its home work, through boards and other agencies of its own appointment.
In 1838, the Association adopted a resolution, approving the objects of the General Association of Kentucky Baptists, which had been constituted, the year before. But its observa- tion of the insufficiency of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, to supply the destitute with preaching, made it distrustful of the
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ability of the new organization, to meet the demands that would be made upon it. Accordingly, in 1839, it referred to the churches, for their consideration, the important question, as to the propriety of employing a preacher to labor all his time with- in the bounds of the Association. The churches appear to have responded favorably ; for at the meeting of the body, in 1840, J. P. Campbell, A. Webber, J. Ellison, R. Ross, R. T. Ander- son, R. Rutherford, W. I. Morton and J. Garnett, Sr., were ap- pointed a committee, whose duty it was made to employ a Mis- sionary, fix his salary, and select the field of his labor.
This "committee " was the first missionary board of Bethel Association. R.W. January was the first missonary employed. He labored only six months, but his report was encouraging. "He rode 1, 833 miles, witnessed the conversion of 160 persons, bap- tized 41 himself, preached 196 sermons, exhorted 7 1 times, de- livered 6 temperance discourses, formed 6 temperance societies, and aided in the consitution of two churches and one Sabbath school." R. W. Nixon was the missionary for the next year. "He preached 263 sermons, attended 20 protracted meetings witnessed 379 conversions, constituted 3 churches, and traveled 3,023 miles." In 1842, the churches sent up $401, for the associational mission, and James Lamb was employed as missionary. He labored the entire year, and reported that he had traveled " about 3,000 miles, preached 374 sermons, de- livered 129 exhortations, witnessed 226 additions, chiefly by
baptism, and aided in constituting two churches." A great re- vival had prevailed among the churches during this year, and 613 baptisms were reported. Much enthusiasm prevailed during the sitting of the Association. Resolutions were passed, com- mending the several benevolent societies of the denomination, and the contributions to the various benevolent enterprises were much larger than ever before. The corresponding letter of that year says : " Our present session has been one of deep interest. The churches seem to evince a desire to obey our Lord's last command : ' Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'"
The Association and the churches composing it, were as well organized and as deeply imbued with the spirit of their mission, as any similar organization in the State ; and no fra- ternity in the West could boast an abler body of men, either in
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the pulpit, or in the pew. With few changes of polity, or methods of procedure, that have not already been noted, the Association continued its course of activity, with almost unex- ampled prosperity, from the last named date, till 1860. Towards the close of this period, there began to be some antagonism of feeling between the Baptists of the Green River country and those of the northern part of the State. The former regarded the latter as having become lax in the maintenance of Bap- tist principles, especially, in that they practiced pulpit affiliation with other denominations of professed Christians, engaged in union meetings, and received alien baptism. This breach of harmony continued to widen, until there appeared to be grounds of apprehending a division in the denomination, in the State. The inharmony was expressed in the following resolution, adopted by Bethel Association, in 1860: " Resolved, That we think favorably of the suggestion of Little River Association to form a General Association in the Green River country and Southern Kentucky, and that the matter be referred to the churches." Before the churches had time to consider and report their views on the subject, the Civil War broke out, and the matter was dropped. Another important measure was dis- cussed at this meeting. Bethel church had suggested, in her letter, that the missionary work of the Association should be performed more directly by the churches, several of which were abundantly able to support a missionary, each, for all his time. The Association approved the suggestion. But the War much impoverished the churches, and the laudable purpose was thwarted.
During the War, the home mission work of the Association was virtually suspended. But it was resumed, in 1865, and notwithstanding the churches had been greatly reduced in their abilities, the work has been kept up, as have been all its other benevolent enterprises, with increasing interest and vigor. At present, it contributes to the two Boards of the Southern Bap- tist Convention, the Board of the General Association, its own home mission, Sunday schools, education of preachers and Orphans Home, besides various local charities.
This Association has devoted none of its time to discussing and answering queries from its churches, and with the bare ex- ception of considering and adopting its own confession of faith,
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or abstract of principles, it has given no time to discussing points in theology. It has not even discussed any feature of church polity, except that, on two occasions, it has decided that it was improper for one church to receive into fellowship a mem- ber who had been excluded from another.
The progress of this fraternity, in numbers, during the first 35 years of its existence, was greater than that of any similar body in the State. It began its career, in 1825, with II churches, aggregating 949 members. Five years later, it com- prised 18 churches with 1,633 members. At this period the Campbellite schism occurred, cutting off five preachers, one church, and about 70 members. But this retarded its progress very little. In 1840, it numbered 33 churches, with 3,540 members; in 1850, 54 churches with 6, 168 members, and, in 1859, 62 churches with 7, 285 members. This is the largest ag- gregate membership it has yet attained, and, indeed, the largest that any association of white Baptists has ever attained in Ken- tucky, except Elkhorn, which, in 1861, comprised 29 churches with 7,760 members.
In 1860, just before the beginning of the War, the Associ- ation numbered 61 churches, aggregating 7,312 members, of which 1,864 were colored. The latter were gradually severed from the churches during the next decade; so that, in 1870, the body numbered 62 churches with only 5, 314 members. In 1880, having dismissed nearly 20 churches to go into other associa- tions, it numbered 46 churches with 4,828 members, and, in 1882, it numbered 49 churches with 4,886 members. There were baptized into its churches, during 56 of the first 57 years of its existence, 18,032 converts.
REUBEN Ross was by far the most prominent minister, who was in the constitution of Bethel Association. He was of Scotch extraction, and was born of pious Baptist parents, in Martin Co., N. C., May 9, 1776. His opportunities for acquir- ing an education were very limited, indeed. He attended school only nine months, his only school books being Dillworth's spelling book and the Psalter. But his mind was strong and active, and he made diligent use of the means within his reach, for its improvement. At the age of 22, he was married to Mil- dred Yarrell, who soon afterwards sought and obtained hope in
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Christ. Her husband, being passionately fond of dancing, op- posed her uniting with the church. However she went for- ward in discharge of her duty, and soon after her baptism, the Lord found way to his heart. After a long struggle, he obtained hope in Christ, and, at the age of 26 years, was baptized by Luke Ward. Shortly afterwards, he was much impressed with a sense of its being his duty to preach the gospel. Regarding himself unqualified for this work, he engaged in merchandising, with the hope of securing the means of preparing himself for the ministry. In this enterprise he utterly failed. In 1807, he was ordained to the ministry, by Joseph Biggs, Luke Ward and James Ross; and, in May of the same year, started to move to the West. On the 4th of July, he reached Port Royal, in Montgomery county, Tennessee, where he preached his first sermon west of the Mountains, under the branches of a tree. Here he taught school three months, having united with Red River church. In 1808, he settled on Spring creek, in the same county, where he and his wife entered into the constitution of a church which was styled Spring Creek of West Fork. He was immediately chosen pastor of this congregation, and con- tinued to serve it in that capacity, nearly thirty years.
In his early ministry, Dr. Samuel Baker informs us, Mr. Ross preached the doctrine held by the Regular Baptists of North Carolina. He believed in what they termed a limited atonement; that Christ died for the elect only, and that to them alone the gospel was to be preached; not as a means of con- verting sinners, bnt merely to comfort and encourage God's chosen and redeemed people. Accordingly, he dwelt chiefly on the consolatory topics of the Bible. His views corresponded with those of most of the preachers and churches in Red River Association, with which he became connected when he moved to the West. But his active mind soon led him to change his doctrinal views, and he began to preach the gospel to sinners, warning all to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. At this time he had become the most popular and influential preacher in the Association. Many church members and sev- eral preachers received what others regarded his heretical doc- trine, and it began to be preached by others, as wellas by him- self. This led to much disputing and dissatisfaction among the churches, and especially among the older preachers.
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As early as 1812, Mr. Ross preached the introductory ser- mon before the Association, and, at the same meeting, was elected Moderator of that body, a position which he filled on eight subsequent oceasions. "In 1823," says Dr. Baker, "cer- tain leading spirits attempted to secure from the Association, a condemnation of the teachings of Elder Ross." This object was defeated, and a peaceable division of the Association was afterwards agreed upon. The constitution of Bethel Associa- tion was the result. Mr. Ross was chosen Moderator of this body, at the time of its organization, in 1825, and continued to fill that office, till 1851, when the infirmities of age prompted him to resign. We again quote from Dr. Baker's address on the Life and Times of Reuben Ross :
" The wide influence which he secured by his great powers of expounding the Scriptures seemed like a magic charm. As a preacher, he was devout, earnest and solemn. His enunciation was peculiarly dignified, and his expositions, his expostulations, his entreaties and his appeals were framed after the best models of those good men who, in primitive times, declared in our own tongue, the wonderful work of God. With an untiring hand, for almost 40 years, he bore the ark of God in the darkened corners of Logan, Todd and Christian counties in Kentucky, and Robertson, Montgomery and Stewart counties in Tennes- see ; and wherever the ark rested there was a blessing from the Lord."
Mr. Ross continued to labor according to his strength, to a ripe old age. In 1859, Bethel Association ordered his por- trait painted, and a copy of it placed in each of Bethel College and Bethel Female College. The work was accomplished, and, before the next meeting of the Association, the venerable sol- dier of the cross was called to his final reward. The esteem in which he was held may be inferred from the following extract from the minutes of Bethel Association of 1860:
" At this time it was announced that the life-size photo- graph portrait of Elder Reuben Ross, deceased, ordered by last Association, and to be placed in Bethel College, had been re- ceived. It was brought in and placed on a table in front of the audience, with an open Bible before it. No circumstance ever occurred that produced such a thrilling sensation in Bethel As- sociation. The Association was bathed in tears as they gazed
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on the life-like portrait and were so vividly reminded of the faithful labors and toils of him who was indeed the father of the Association ...... Truly the sobs and tears of the messengers tes- tified that the righteous are held in everlasting remembrance."
The one fault manifest in this good and great man, as a public teacher, was his failure to enforce the peculiar principles of his denomination. When the teachings of Alexander Camp- bell made their first inroads in Bethel Association, causing so much distress and confusion among the churches, he was silent in regard to the pernicious heresy, and left it to men of much less influence to guard the churches against its baleful effects. A consequence of this weakness was that many of his posterity became Campbellites, or joined other denominations than that of their eminent and godly ancestor.
SUGG FORT was in the constitution of Bethel Association, and was manifestly prominent among the ministers of that fra- ternity. Unfortunately no account of the particulars of his life and labors has been transmitted to us. He was among the pio- neers of Red River Association, and his membership was at Red River, the oldest church in that fraternity. He was clerk of that body from 1821 to 1825, and filled the same office in Bethel Association from its constitution till 1828. After this his name does not appear on any accessible record. Accord- ing to tradition he was a minister of high standing, and a man of unblemished Christian character.
WILLIAM C. WARFIELD, a son of Walter Warfield, M. D., was born in Lexington, Ky., about 1796. He gave early indi- cations of extraordinary mental powers, and his father spared no pains in furnishing him the means of procuring a thorough education. After finishing his academic course, he entered Transylvania University, where he remained six years, gradu- ating both in letters and the law. Meanwhile, he had adopted the popular infidelity of the period, and was exceedingly hardened in sin. Soon after leaving the university, he stabbed a young man of the the name of Bradford, in the theater at Lexington. The wound was at first thought to be mortal, and young War- field immediately fled. His flight was so precipitate that he had formed no purpose as to where he would go. Riding all night and till late in the afternoon of the next day, he arrived at Bards- town. Here he stopped and presently made an arrangement to
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read law in the office of the distinguished Judge John Rowan. He remained in concealment until he ascertained that young Bradford had recovered from his wound. About this time, in 1817, Jeremiah Vardeman visited Bardstown, and preached sev- eral days. Young Warfield attended the meetings, and, har- dened in sin as he was, the Holy Spirit found way to his heart. His infidelity yielded to a more powerful conviction, and after a fearful protracted struggle with the powers of darkness, he rejoiced in the faith of the gospel. His father, who was an Epis- copalian, made no objection to his uniting with the Baptist church, and he was immersed by Mr. Vardeman. Being im- ยท pressed that it was his duty to preach the gospel, he laid aside his law books, and applied himself to the study of the Bible. Returning to Lexington, he was welcomed by Dr. James Fish- back, who owned one of the most extensive theological libra- ries in the State. To the free use of this treasure, young War- field was cordially invited. After reading a short time he was licensed to preach, and, soon afterward, was ordained to the full work of the ministry. Shortly after his ordination, he en- tered Princeton Theological Seminary, in New Jersey, where
he spent two years. While here, he frequently visited one or more Baptist churches near by, in company with Howard Mal- com, the only other Baptist student in the Seminary, at that time, and subsequently the distinguished President of George- town College. On his return from Princeton, he spent a few months in Lexington, and then located with New Providence church, in Christian county. This church belonged to Red River Association, and Mr. Warfield was connected with that fraternity until the formation of Bethel ASSOCIATION, in 1825. After entering into the constitution of the latter fraternity, he became associated with Mt. Zion church in Todd county, of which he remained a member until his death. When the teach- ings of Alexander Campbell first began to agitate the churches of Bethel Association, most of the preachers of that fraternity were unable to understand them. For a time the ministers of the body did not attempt to oppose them, most probably be- cause they did not know what to oppose. Mr. Warfield was the first to see through the ambiguity of Mr. Campbell's lan- guage, and discover his real sentiments. At once he set about exposing the dangerous system.
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"In divesting those sentiments of the specious and plausi- ble garb in which Mr. Campbell presented them," says Dr. Pendleton, "Bro. Warfield evinced a profound knowledge of biblical truth, and displayed argumentative powers of a superior order. Through his instrumentality, the saints were established in the doctrines of the gospel, and from his hand Campbellism received a blow from which it has not yet recovered."
The ways of God are mysterious to us. This eminently useful and much beloved minister had not reached the meridian of life when the Master called him away from a field white unto the harvest to rest beneath the branches of the tree of life. He died of a virulent fever, November 3, 1835.
JOHN S. WILSON was one of the most beloved, zealous and successful preachers that have lived in Kentucky. He was born in Franklin county, Ky., July 13, 1795. While yet an infant he was taken to Adair county, where he was raised up near Co- lumbia. Under the instruction of a pious mother, he was ac- customed to "say his prayers," morning and evening, from his eighth to his fifteenth year. At the latter period, "religious duty," as he termed it, became unendurable, and he aban- doned his prayers. During the next two years he indulged in sin, without the fear of God before his eyes. At about the age of 17 years, he was awakened to a sense of his guilty distance from God. After some time, he found peace in Jesus, and was baptized for the fellowship of Gilead church, by that eminent servant of Christ, Isaac Hodgen.
In the 23d year of his age, he was married to Martha, daughter of John Waggener of Adair county. This marriage proved a most congenial one, and doubtless added much to the subsequent usefulness, as well as happiness of the godly hus- band. Soon after his marriage, he moved to Todd county and settled at Elkton. Up to this period he had given no indica- tions of either inclination or capacity to enter the ministry. But in his secret soul, the humble, timid Christian longed for the salvation of his neighbors, and when he could no longer refrain from uttering words of exhortation, in the prayer meeting, his brethren were astonished and delighted at the fer- vor and power of his address. Soon after this, about the year 1824, after having exercised a short time as a licensed preachers he was solemnly set apart to the ministry, and immediately 24
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called to the care of Lebanon church, in Todd county. This zeal and earnestness at once attracted general attention, and large crowds of people of all classes waited on his ministry. A revival attended his early labors at Lebanon, and many were added to the church. Meanwhile, he gathered a church in Elk- ton, which was constituted of 16 persons, including himself and his wife, October 15, 1825. He was immediately elected pas- tor of the young church,, and served it with great acceptance about seven years. . He was also called to the care of West Union church, in Christian county, where he was equally ac- ceptable, and abundantly successful. But he did not confine his efforts to his pastoral charges. His labors were abundant in all that region of the State, and were blessed in bringing many souls to the Lord. In the midst of these zealous and successful labors, he gave a due proportion of his time to exposing the insidious errors of Campbellism, which was then tending to blight the spirituality of the churches wherever it was introduced.
In 1833, he accepted an agency for the American Bible Society. In performing the duties of this office, in which he was not very successful, in consequence of the fearful preva- lence of cholera during that year, he became acquainted with the church in Louisville, and was called to its pastoral care. During his brief connection with this church, he devoted much of his time to preaching in the surrounding villages. In 1834 a most remarkable revival commenced under his preaching, in Shelbyville, and extended with mighty power, in all directions, until it was estimated that 1, 200 people were converted as a re- sult. At Shelbyville, during that and the next year, 142 were baptized; at Bethel, 122; at Buck Creek, 86; at Salem, 86; at Taylorville, 88; at Simpsonville, 118; and within the bounds of Long Run Association, 1,320. The next year, Mr. Wilson held a meeting at Newcastle, which resulted in 136 baptisms, at that place. He also labored in revivals at Ballardsville in Oldham county, Bloomfield in Nelson, and Elizabethtown in Hardin. On his way homeward from Elizabethtown, after hav- ing labored 50 days in revivals, he was taken sick, and was compelled to stop at Shepherdsville. From thence he was con- veyed to his home in Louisville, where he found his mother a corpse, in the house. The brief period of his illness was to him a time of the most exhalted joy. He said to his wife:
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"You have noticed that I have not asked any of the breth- ren to pray for me." On her inquiring the reason of this, he re- plied: "Why, I should not know what petition could be offered on my behalf. God has done all for me that I wish him to do. He has satisfied every desire of my heart. He himself is all my salvation and all my desire. I acquiesce in the divine will, having none of my own."
Soon after this, on the 28th of August, 1835, he left the sick chamber tor the mansions above with expressions of most perfect present joy, and the most thrilling anticipations of the glory that awaited him.
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