USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 8
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1792. Met at Jessamine, in Jessamine county. A corres- pondence was opened with Middle District Association, in Vir- 6
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
ginia. Two years later, the churches were advised to style them- selves United Baptists, in order to make the correspondence more agreeable, the Virginia Baptists having assumed that title, in 1787.
1793. There were two meetings of the association, this
year. The first was held at Tates Creek, in June. Messengers came from Elkhorn Association, desiring a union between the two fraternities. It was agreed that a convention, representing churches of both associations, should meet at Marble Creek, (now East Hickman, in Fayette county), the last Saturday in July. The convention met accordingly. "But the Regular Baptists were tenacious about their Philadelphia Confession of Faith," and the union was not effected. The final terms of union, pro- posed by the Regular Baptists, were deferred, for consideration, till the meeting of South Kentucky Association, the following October, when they were rejected by that body, by a large ma- jority. Upon this decision, five ministers and four churches broke off from the association. The dissenting churches' appear to have been Head of Boones Creek, Jessamine, Forks of Dix River and Hickmans Creek. These formed an associa- tion, afterwards called Tates Creek, to which Unity was added, the following year. The seceding preachers were Thomas Am- men, Andrew Tribble, Robert Clark, James Smith and Thomas Shelton.
The loss of these ministers, together with the apostasy of John Bailey and William Bledsoe, left to the Association, but a feeble ministry. After the secession of the four churches and five ministers, the body saw fit to reaffirm its original principles ; which it did, in the following questions and answers:
" I. What was the Separate Baptists first constituted into a society upon, in Kentucky?" Ans. "The Bible."
" 2. How did we become united with the Baptists in Virginia, called United Baptists?" Ans. "On a letter the Committee of Baptists, in Richmond, directed to be written to us, in Ken- tucky, bearing date, October 2, 1788, from under the signature of Reuben Ford and William Webber."
"3. Did those terms oblige us to receive any part of the Philadelphia Confession of Faith?" Ans. "No."
"4. Do we agree to abide by the constitution and terms of union with the United Baptists of Virginia?" Ans. "We do." 1794. Met at Gilberts Creek, in Garrard county. The busi-
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South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists.
ness of the session was unimportant. The name of Lick Creek church was changed to Buffalo. Pottengers Creek petitioned for the ordination of Joseph Milburn. Some Baptists about the mouth of Silver creek desired to be constituted a church, to move to the Illinois country.
1795. Met at Shawnee Run, in Mercer county. Two new churches, Cartwrights Creek, in Marion county, and Spencer Creek, in Montgomery, were received. Brethren were appoin- ted to install Elijah Summars pastor of Blue Ash (since called Bethel) church, in Montgomery county. Messengers were appointed to the General Committee, in Virginia, and the churches were requested to style themselves United Baptists.
1796. Met at Jessamine. The application for membership of a church on Chaplin (now called Deep Creek) was rejected, because it had received an excluded preacher into its fellowship. An application from Tates Creek Association, for union and correspondence was rejected.
I797. Met at Howards Creek. A presbytery was appoin- ted to ordain Isaac Crutcher and Matthew Rogers.
1798. Met at Harlan meetinghouse, in Mercer county. A new church, on Red river, in Clark county, was received. Agreed to change their name, from United Baptists, to their original name of Separate Baptists, but to still retain their relation to the United Baptists, of Virginia.
1799. Met at Gilberts Creek, in Garrard county. A petition from Boffmans Fork church for a letter to join Tates Creek Association was rejected. James and Matthew Rogers were appointed to attend the church at Brush Creek, and to continue or constitute the churches in that part, or not, as they may think fit.
The Association made a move this year that caused much trouble and confusion afterwards. A number of persons, in- cluding the two most prominent ministers in the body, had been excluded for teaching "Hell Redemption," or what is now termed Universalism. The churches were now advised to open a door, for the reception of these persons, without inquiring into their private sentiments, provided they were orderly in their lives. Joseph Bledsoe and Michael Dillingham were appointed to attend some people at Rush Branch, called Universal Baptists, to aid them in their standing, respecting society. This apostate
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church, with John Bailey at its head, was restored to member- ship in the Association, without renouncing "their private sentiments."
1800. Met at Shawnee Run, in Mercer county. Most of the records of this year were lost.
1801. Met at Tates Creek in Madison county. This was the last meeting of this old fraternity. It now embraced 31 churches, aggregating 2,383 members. Its territory extended from Montgomery county, on the north-east, to Hardin county, on the south-west. A motion prevailed to divide the Asso- ciation into two districts. The line of division to begin at the head of Paint Lick creek, and run down that creek to its mouth, thence down the Kentucky river to its mouth. The churches south of this line were to compose South District Association, and those north of it, North District Association.
A union with Elkhorn Association was consummated this year, a full account of which has been given in the general history. After the transaction of some other unimportant business, Old South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists adjourned to meet no more.
JAMES SMITH, an early minister of this old fraternity, was a native of Virginia, in which State he was raised up and inducted into the ministry, among the Separate Baptists. He emigrated at a very early period, to what is now Garrard county, Ky., was very active in the ministry, and aided in gathering some of the earliest churches in the new country. He assisted John Whitaker in constituting Beargrass church, in Jefferson county, in 1784. He was early a member of Forks of Dix River church, in Garrard county, and was probably in the constitution of that organization. He visited Illinois in the summer of 1787, and so far as is now known, was the first minister to preach to the early settlers of that now great and populous State. He visited that territory again in 1790, and, as on the former occasion, preached with success, in what is now Monroe county. A number of persons were converted under his ministry. But in the midst of his labors, he was captured by the Indians, near the site of Waterloo, and carried to the Kickapoo town, on the Wabash river. But so much was he esteemed by the few poor settlers, among whom he had preached, that they raised $170, with which they ransomed him, and returned him to his friends
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South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists.
in Kentucky. He subsequently visited Illinois, but with what success is not known.
Mr. Smith was a prominent member of South Kentucky Association from its constitution till 1793. But, although among the Separate Baptists, he does not appear to have har- monized with them in doctrine ; for, while they were generally Arminian in sentiment, he believed in a limited atonement, and was willing to adopt the Philadelphia Confession of Faith. In 1793, he, with four other ministers and four churches, seceded from South Kentucky, and entered into the constitution of Tates Creek Association, of which he remained a member until his death. Among his numerous and highly respectable descend- ants, one of his sons was Governor of the State of Texas, and the well known Elder John L. Smith, of Fayette county, Ky., is his grandson.
THOMAS SHELTON was an early emigrant from Virginia to Madison county, Ky. Here he became a member of Tates Creek church of Separate Baptists, which was gathered by Andrew Tribble, in 1786. Mr. Shelton was a licensed preacher, in this church, as early as 1790. He was a minister in South Kentucky Association, till 1793, when he, with others, seceded from that fraternity, and went into the constitution of Tates Creek Associ- ation. The same year, he was appointed by the latter fraterni- ty, to bear a letter of correspondence to the General Committee of Virginia Baptists, which met that year, at Muddy Creek meet- ing-house, in Powhatan county, Va. He started on his journey, to perform this duty, but did not reach his proposed destination. As he was traveling on horseback, through the mountains, he was attacked by Indians, and massacred. He left a family, from whom have sprung a numerous posterity. Among the latter, are the venerable Dr. Thomas Shelton Moberly, of Richmond, Ky., a grandson, and Rev. R. M. Dudley, D. D., President of Georgetown College, and Rev. A. C. Caperton, D. D., Editor of the Western Recorder, great grandsons.
THOMAS JOHN CHILTON was a prominent leader among the Separate Baptists, in Kentucky, about forty years. He is be- lieved to have been a native of Virginia, and was born about the year 1769. He was brought to what is now Garrard county, Ky., at the age of ten years. He received a better education than most boys, in the new Country, at that time. He professed
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religion and united with Gilbert's Creek church of Separate Bap- tists, during a great revival which prevailed in that region, under the ministry of Joseph and William Bledsoe, in 1789. He be- gan to exercise in public, soon after he joined the church, and was ordained to the ministry by Joseph Bledsoe, Moses Bledsoe and John Rice, in 1791. He was one of the committee that signed the articles, commonly known as the "Terms of General Union," upon which the Regular and Separate Baptists united, in 1801, and claims to be the author of that document. When South District Association split, in 1803, Mr. Chilton was one of the leaders of the party which formed the present South Ken- tucky Association of Separate Baptists. He continued to preach in Garrard and the surrounding counties, till about the year 1822, when, having lost his property, in an abortive attempt to estab- lish salt works, he moved to what is now LaRue county, and settled on Middle creek. Here he took charge of a church, which he and William Summers had constituted, under the style of the Separate Baptist church on Middle creek, in 1816. The name of this church was afterwards changed to Republican, and is now called Big Spring. To this church he ministered till 1836, when he resigned on account of declining age. In 1835, he pub- lished a small volume which he titled "A History of the Bap- tists." It bears the marks of having been written carelessly, and in haste, and is of little value. Mr. Chilton was a strong preacher ; but appears to have been a plausible, rather than a logical controversialist. He died from the effects of a fall from his buggy, into a stream of water which he was crossing, about 1839. His son, Thomas Chilton, was a lawyer, preacher and politician of considerable prominence.
TATES CREEK ASSOCIATION.
This was the fourth Association organized in Kentucky, and the first that was constituted under the style of " United Bap- tists." It was formed of four churches, which broke off from South Kentucky Association in consequence of that fraternity's refusing to accept terms of union, proffered by Elkhorn Asso- ciation, in 1793. The names of the churches are not given in
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Tates Creek Association.
the minutes of the organization, but subsequent records indicate that they were Head of Boones Creek, Forks of Dix River, Jessamine and Hickmans Creek. With these four churches, five ministers also seceded from South Kentucky Association. Their names were James Smith, Thomas Ammen, Andrew Tribble, Robert Clark and Thomas Shelton. Unity church, of which Andrew Tribble was a member and the pastor, withdrew from South Kentucky Association, and joined the new fraternity the following year.
The four churches spoken of above, met, by their messen- gers, at Jessamine Meetinghouse, Nov. 23, 1793.
"On motion, agreed to form an association of the four churches, which lately entered into union with the Regular brethren; and to make the terms of union their constitution."
The terms of union here referred to, were those offered by Elkhorn to South Kentucky, as a basis of union between the two bodies. These terms were rejected by a large majority of South Kentucky Association. They read as follows, and were now adopted as
THE CONSTITUTION OF TATES CREEK ASSOCIATION :
"We agree to receive the Regular Baptist Confession of Faith ; but to prevent it usurping a tyrannical power over the conscience of any, we do not mean that every person is to be bound to the strict observance of everything therein contained ; yet that it holds forth the essential truths of the gospel, and the doctrine of Salvation by Jesus Christ, and free, unmerited grace alone, ought to be believed by every Christian, and maintained by every minister of the gospel. And that we do believe in these doctrines relative to the Trinity ; the divinity of Christ ; the sacred authority of the Scriptures; the universal depravity of human nature ; the total inability of men to help themselves, without the aid of divine grace; the necessity of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; the justification of our persons entirely by the righteousness of Christ, imputed ; believers' baptism by immersion only, and self denial; and that the supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient
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writers, doctrines of men and private spirits, are to be ex- amined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be none other than the holy Scriptures, delivered by the Spirit, into which Scriptures, so delivered, our faith is finally resolved."
After the Association was constituted, a committee, consist- ing of John Price, Andrew Tribble, Thomas Ammen, Robert Clark, and George Smith, was appointed to draw up rules of decorum, and prepare a letter of correspondence to the General Committee, in Virginia. Thomas Shelton was appointed to bear the letter; but was massacred by the Indians, before he reached Virginia. Helps were sent to aid Unity church in adjusting her difficulties.
1794. Met at Forks of Dix River. Unity church, in Clark county, was received. Inquiry was made as to the union with Elkhorn's being dissolved. A letter was written to the General Committee, but no one was appointed to bear it, this year. It was agreed that one preacher and two elders might constitute a church.
1795. May. Met at Head of Boones Creek. At the re- quest of Otter Creek church, Andrew Tribble and Dosier Thompson were appointed to ordain Peter Woods and Corne- lius Bowman, if found qualified. According to an early cus- tom of this body, appointments for preaching and communion, at several different churches, were made.
1795. October. Met at Hickmans Creek. Agreed to send a letter of correspondence to Holston Association, in East Tennessee. A committee was appointed to confer with Elk- horn Association, about terms of union. The committee was received by Elkhorn Association, in a most friendly spirit. It was recommended that the ministers of the two associations should preach together, and the brethren mingle with each other, that they might ascertain how nearly they were agreed in doctrine. This experiment proved satisfactory, and, in 1797, a correspondence was established between the two fraternities, that has continued to the present time.
1796. May. Met at Tates Creek, Madison county. Agreed to pay Carter Tarrant $30 for attending Holston Association. Peter Woods and Isaac Newland were appointed to visit the destitute brethren on Green river, with their ministerial labor.
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Tates Creek Association.
1796. October. Met at Forks of Dix River, in Garrard county. The tabular statistics were recorded as follows : Nos.
Hickman. T. AMMEN, J. Hudson, A. Bourn. 32.
Tates Creck. A. TRIBBLE, J. Mobley, Isaac Newland. 176. Forks of Dix River. C. TARRANT, R. HALL, B. Ball, J. Hays. 61. Howards Creck. Joseph Embry.
61. Dreaming Creek. C. HARRIS, J. Woods, Peter Woods. 90. Head of Boones Creek. R. CLARK, A. Adams, J. Rash. 45
1797. Met at Head of Boones Creek. Muddy Creek, consisting of 20 members, was represented. A committee was appointed to look into the standing of the church at Big Pond (Hickmans Creek).
1798. The church on Pitman, now called Good Hope, in Taylor county, was received.
I799. Met at Tates Creek. The following churches were represented this year, for the first time: Viney Fork and Clear Creek, in Madison county. Sinking Creek and Flat Lick, in Pulaski, Stony Point, in Mercer, and Cedar Creek (now Crab Orchard), in Lincoln.
1800. Met at Forks of Dix River. The churches of Boff- mans Fork, in Fayette county, and Hurricane (since called Mt. Salem,) in Lincoln, were received. It was agreed to have the minutes printed. Peter Bainbridge, an excluded preacher, had been received into Forks of Dix River church, this year, which was regarded disorderly. It was a singular circumstance, even at that period, that a Baptist association should exist seven years, without a name. Yet such was the case with this fra- ternity. At this meeting, it was "agreed that this Association shall be known hereafter by the name of Tates Creek Associa- tion."
I80I. Met at Viney Fork. Three new churches were received : White Oak, Flat Woods, and Otter Creek. The Association expressed a hope that, through the negotiations of Elkhorn, a general union would be consummated.
Query. Is an immersion performed by a Pedobaptist scrip- tural ? Ans. No.
This was a season of great prosperity. The Association had increased from 12 churches, with 579 members, in 1800, to 19 churches, with 1823 members, in 1801. The number of bap-
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tisms was not reported at this, or any preceding meeting of the body. But, in 1802, there were reported 22 churches, 192 baptisms, and 1,990 members. This was the largest number of members cver reported by the churches of this Association, ex- cept in 1828 and 1829, when about two-thirds of its membership were Campbellites.
In 1802, the following new churches were received : Callo- ways Creek, Sugar Creek, White Oak Pond, Brush Creek, Masons Fork and Silver Creek. Correspondence was established with Green River and South District Associations. In 1803, Mt. Tabor church was received, and, in 1804, Goose Creek, Double Springs, and Big Sinking were admitted to membership. Forks of Dix River, Hanging Fork, Stony Point, and Sugar Creek were dismissed, to join South District Association. Gilead church was received, in 1806, Forks of Cumberland, in Pulaski county, Station Camp, in Estill, and the church in Adair and Pulaski, in 1808, and Union church, in 1809. The territory of the Association had now become very large. Some of its churches were in Fayette county, and others were south of the Cumberland river, in Wayne county. It was deemed expedient, therefore, to form a new association of the more southern churches. Accordingly, at the date last named, it was voted that "the following churches, from the south part of this Asso- ciation, be dismissed, when joined in another association, according to the terms of general union: Big Sinking, White Oak, Sinking Creek, Forks of Cumberland, Union, and Double Springs." Of these and two other churches, Cumberland River Association was formed, in 1809. In 1810, Flat Lick and Hur- ricane churches were dismissed, to join Cumberland River Association.
In 1812, Jeremiah Vardeman and Silas M. Noel proposed to write a history of the rise and progress of the Baptists, in Vir- ginia and Kentucky. The churches of Tates Creek Association were advised to furnish them with such materials as would aid them in the enterprise. In 1813, New Providence and South Fork churches were received. In 1815, the Association unani- mously agreed to correspond with the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, and, in 1816, expressed the opinion that "it is not advisable for members of our society to join the Free Masons."
From this period till, 1828, the body had an even course of
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Tates Creek Association.
moderate prosperity; and nothing very remarkable occurred in its history. A considerable revival prevailed within its bounds, in 1818-19, and, during those two years, the churches reported 740 baptisms. But in 1828, a most remarkable excitement oc- curred among its churches. It was an excitement, however, that, instead of building it up, wasted and very nearly destroyed it. The introduction of Campbellism found the churches of this Association illy prepared to meet the plausible sophistries of that system. The early ministers of the body had all passed away, either to their home above, or to the newer settlements of the great West, and, with few exceptions, the churches were served by a very weak ministry. Many zealous proclaimers of Mr. Campbell's theories, among whom were some men of con- siderable ability, as the Creaths, Mortons, Josephus Hewett, and John Smith, visited the churches, and succeeded in leading off a number of their most active and zealous preachers. Baptiz- ing people in order to the forgiveness of their sins, became the order of the day, and multitudes submitted to an old ordinance, with a new design.
When the Association met at Tates Creek, in Madison county, in 1828, the 25 churches, which then composed the body, reported 1,395 baptisms, which considerably more than doubled their aggregate membership. In 1829, the Association met at Red Lick, in Madison county. The churches reported 219 baptisms, making an aggregate of 1,614, during the "re- vival." Most of the converts were zealous Campbellites, and the " Reformation " had everything its own way, in the Asso- ciation. The excitement, which had pervaded the people, rather than the churches, all over Northern Kentucky, and more especially within the bounds of Boones Creek, North Dis- trict and Tates Creek Associations, had been an enthusiastic reception of Campbellism, rather than a revival of religion. The name and prestige of the Baptists, had been used with such skill and assiduity, to convert the people to the new doctrine, that the old fraternity under consideration, had become practic- ally Tates Creek Association of Campbellites. The Baptists in the body, had become a small, rather than a large minority; and were entirely helpless, in the Association, as well as in a major- ity of the churches. This became so painfully manifest, that they resolved to separate from the Campbellites. Accordingly,
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
they held a convention at Viney Fork, in Madison county, on Friday, June 1I, 1830, to consider the matter. After due con- sideration, the convention issued a protest, of which the follow- ing is the substance :
"DEAR BRETHREN : We have lived long together, and have enjoyed the confidence and fellowship of each other. But now a number of our brethren in the ministry, professing to teach the ancient gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to have re- sumed the ground of the Apostles, are holding forth the follow- ing unscriptural doctrines :
" I. That there is no promise of Salvation without baptism, and that this ordinance should be administered to all who say that they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, without examination on any other point.
" 2. That there is no direct operation of the Spirit on the mind, prior to baptism.
"3. That baptism procures the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
"4. That the Scriptures are the only evidence of an inter- est in Christ.
" 5. That obedience places it in God's power to elect to Salvation.
"6. That no creed is necessary for the church, but the Scriptures, as they stand; and that all baptized persons have a right to administer that ordinance.
"7. That there is no special call to the ministry.
"8. That the law given by God to Moses is abolished.
"9. That experimental religion is mere enthusiasm; and that there is no mystery in the Scriptures.
"They charge us with wishing to set up articles of human production in preference to the Bible. As we are either mis- understood, or misrepresented, we wish to let them and the world know, that we hold no instrument of writing, tantamount to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. But as every denomination of Christians goes to the Bible to support its views, we find it needful for the well being of any body of Christians, that they, in a plain, concise manner, state what they consider the essential truths of the gospel, and in some way make them public, so that every individual who may wish to become a member of their body, may act advisedly. Painful
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