USA > Kentucky > Muhlenberg County > A history of Unity Baptist Church, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
7. The Church. Founded to Br? Link to invite Bri due smette do a sestra. 8 The Church Agree to live Bu. Lucio good a Letter of Tecommunication as he is About to travel to a Distant Just Bi: block to write the same.
) Processed to Appoint Br! Check to morte Sister Poly stanley to a seat of
Facsimile (one-fourth size of original) of Unity's Minutes September, 1815
18
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
Parts of Unity's records, like those of many other church records, are a monotonous repetition of words that merely give, in a stereotyped way, the order of the proceedings of the meetings. However, it is interesting to note how, in time, this monotony undergoes slight changes. Thus for many years the clerks patiently re- corded the fact that the church "opened a door for the reception of members"-whether or not a member was received-and later began these entries with "opened the door;" and about the year 1875 they changed the phrase to "gave an opportunity for membership." But, notwithstanding this monotony that seemingly could have been avoided, much interesting local history can be gathered from these records.
Many entries of the following character appear in the records, especially in those made previous to about 1867. They show that members, whether of a high or low standing, were frequently brought before the church and called on to answer charges made against them ; and that some members came forward and made a complaint against themselves, and asked forgiveness from the church. Most of the entries are more or less vague. Many cases that were "taken up and laid over until next meeting" are never again referred to.
1816, March. "The church took up the case of black Brother Ben and from the evidence he is declared no more of us."
1817, February. "The church took under considera- tion the case of black Sister Fillis, and from the best evidence she is declared to be no more of us."
1818, April. "Sister Moore laid in a complaint against a black Brother Pompey, a slave of her own, for the crime of theft. "The church takes up the charge."
19
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
1818, May. "The church took up the case of Pom- pey, a black Brother, and from his humble acknowledge- ment gave satisfaction."
1825, January. "The case of Brother Pompey was considered and his preaching and exhortation was con- sidered unprofitable."
1825, March 26. "The church agreed to send Brother Pompey to invite a black sister Rachael to fill her seat next meeting"
1825, May. "Brother Pompey laid in a complaint against himself for getting drunk. The church agree to bear with Brother Pompey from his acknowledgement."
1827, September. "Brother Pompey exhibited charges against Brother Jule, first for drinking three glasses of whisky three parts full, and second for giving him the lie several times. The church appointed a com- mittee to go out at once to try to settle the matter be- tween the two black brethren and the committee re- ported to the church a reconciliation between the two black brethren."
1817, August. "Sister Nancy Earle and black Brother Plato made application for letters of dismissal, which was granted."
1817, November. "Brother William Oates laid a com- plaint against himself and from his humble acknowl- edgement gave satisfaction."
1818, January. "Brother Murphy reports that re- ports have gone out against him that he denies, but he acknowledges that he acted out of order. From the best information and his humble acknowledgement gave satisfaction."
1820, January. Brother William Oates laid in a complaint against Brother S. Smith for practicing a fraud in an unsound horse."
20
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
1820, February. "Called for the reference in the case of Brother Oates and Brother Smith. The members appointed to labor with the brethren report that there was a reconciliation between the brethren."
1824, March. "Elder Duren Allcock laid in a com- plaint against himself for getting out of temper and from his humble acknowledgement gave satisfaction."
1824, May. "Whereas our once sister Mariah Moore informed us that she had joined the Presbyterian society and left us, as such the church declares a non-fellowship, and she is not of us."
1825, December. "Brother Duren Allcock informed the church that he has been overtaken in a fault getting out of temper and speaking on slavery. But the church feels to bear with the brother from his humble acknowl- edgement."
An entry made a few years later shows that a certain sister charged her husband with "drinking too much and swearing profanely and stinginess in debarring her from the use of the necessities of life for the accommodation of those who visit the house," and that he "gave satisfaction by agreeing to give up to his wife the whole control of the house that belongs to a woman." Another complaint shows one of the members "had got drunk and that he had refused to pay usury on a note he had given and agreed to pay . . and from his ac- knowledgement the church feels to bear with his in- firmities."
Charges, complaints, and acknowledgments like these and some of the others pointed out among the entries in the second book, were, as already stated, frequently made before 1867. Such matters are still brought up before this and other Baptist churches, but not as often as formerly. This change is due, not to a change in
21
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
church principles, but partly to a less rigid enforcement of them and partly to the fact that, previous to about 1867, the congregation included negroes whose conduct, although they formed a small per cent of the member- ship, resulted in a large proportion of these charges that were brought up before the church. This change is also due to a great extent to the fact that, in the early days. the morals of some communities were not as high as they became later, for until after the Civil War whisky was cheap and abundant, and was freely indulged in.
The first entry pertaining to feet-washing was made in January, 1825: "Agreed that the duty of washing feet be attended to after the celebration of the Lord's supper." The next occurs under the date of September, 1838: "The church unanimously agree at the next com- munion to wash feet."
Feet-washing prevailed to some extent among many of the early Baptist churches. Although Unity's last re- cord relative to this subject is dated June, 1839, tradi- tion has it that the ceremony was practiced more or less by its members until about 1860. The early Baptist associations never were unanimous on that question, and the practice or non-practice in no way affected the fel- lowship of a church. A few Baptists still adhere to feet- washing, but the ceremony has long ago been discon- tinued by practically all Missionary Baptists.
The privilege to "exercise his gift"-that is, to preach by way of trial-was occasionally granted to a member of the church. The first two men thus privileged were Duren Allcock and Lewis Goad, each of whom, as re- corded in 1815, was permitted to "exercise his gift at any time and place agreeable to the impressions of his own feelings, Brother Benjamin Clark to write the license." An entry made one year later reads :
22
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
"The 28th September, 1816 The church took under consideration the gifts of our beloved Brethren Lewis Goad and Duren Allcock and think it duty to call them to ordination and also agree to send to three different churches, that is to say, to Brother Shel- ton's church, Brother Brohse's church and Brother Ford's church for help, to meet the Saturday before the fourth Lord's day in October." They were ordained at the appointed time, and both were long identified with Unity.
Another well-known man in Western Kentucky, Esias W. Earle, began his long career as a preacher at Unity. An entry dated July, 1826, shows that it was "Moved and seconded by the church that Brother Esias W. Earle be set forward in the ministry by ordination. That we petition the following churches for help and the following brethren to bear the petitions: Brother Duren Allcock to Hazel Creek, Brother John Bourland to Elk Creek, Brother Barfield to Rock Springs, Brother Thomas to Bethlehem, and Brother Moore to Flat Creek."
One month later he was ordained. The Reverend Mr. Earle lived in Greenville during the greater part of the second quarter of last century. He later moved to Hop- kins County, where he served Flat Creek Church for many years and died in 1877.
Unity, like many other Baptist churches in the early days, sent representatives to union meetings. These meetings were not business meetings, but were held only for public worship, and were conducted by a congrega- tion with the assistance of representatives from neigh- boring Baptist churches. Four of these "big meetings" or "quarterly meetings" were held each year at differ- ent churches in the bounds of the Association. Unity was represented at one or two of these meetings every
23
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
year from 1815 up to 1820 or about the time the church became a member of the Highland Association, when union meetings were displaced by gatherings which, in time, developed into protracted meetings. About 1837 the first of the protracted meetings were held. They were conducted, not with the assistance of especially ap- pointed members from neighboring churches, but by the minister of the church, assisted by one or more other ministers; and instead of being limited to three days, as were the union meetings, they were protracted from day to day for a period of a week or more.
The first references to union meetings occur in the minutes of March and September, 1815, and are included in the quotations made from those records. Among the few other entries relative to such meetings are the fol- lowing :
1816, March. "The church proceeded to appoint Brethren Lewis Goad, Duren Allcock, Benjamin Rhoads and Benjamin Clark to attend the union meeting at Ebenezer."
1816, June. "Proceeded to appoint Brother Benj. Rhoads, Stanley Johnson and John Hill to attend the union meeting the second Friday in July, 1816, to be holden at the East Fork of Pond River Meeting House."
If a union meeting took place at Unity, the clerks failed to record the fact.
Unity's objects in changing from Little River As- sociation to Highland Association in 1820, and then to Little Bethel Association in 1837 were doubtless the sub- ject of many debates among the members of the congrega- tion. However, the records of the church bearing on the subject of these associations are very brief and vague. Practically all that is recorded appears in four entries :
1816, July. "Took up the grievance from our sister
24
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
church at Bethel by letter. This church thinks it is not legal [for Unity] to do anything in the business until it comes [from Little River Association] into us in [regular] order. The church proceeded to appoint our beloved Brethren Lewis Goad, Duren Allcock and Ben- jamin Clark to attend the Association, Brother Clark to write the letter."
1817, June. "Proceeded to appoint delegates to the Association, to-wit: Brethren Wm. Oates, Lewis Goad and Esias W. Earle. The church agree to leave it at the discretion of these delegates whether the Association shall be divided or not. The church agree to send one dollar to the fund."
1820, September. "The church proceeded to appoint Brethren James Harris, Duren Allcock and Benjamin Clark to attend the Convention to be held at Highland Creek church, Union County, the Friday before the second Lord's day in October next."
No further mention is made of the meeting at High- land Creek Church. At that Convention Highland As- sociation was formed out of that part of Little River Association which was opposed to missions and theological education, and Unity became a member of the new organization. Previous to 1820 the records do not in- dicate that Unity sent messengers to the Association every year, but after that date they were sent to every annual meeting. In 1837, one year after Little Bethel Association was formed, Unity, having decided to favor missions, or at least not oppose the movement, sent its messengers to the new Association.
1837, August. "The reference respecting our mind about the Association was taken up and discussed. After discussion it was, Resolved that we join a United Baptist Association. It was determined in the affirmative by a
25
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
large majority, some not voting. It was moved by Brother Goad, and seconded by Brother Bowling, that all members who can not join a United Baptist Association can have letters of dismissal to join such an Association as may suit their view. Resolved, that we join the Little Bethel Association. Resolved, that John Bowling, Barnett Stewart and Peter Goad be and are hereby ap- pointed our messengers to attend the ensuing meeting of the Little Bethel Association at Bethel Meeting House in Muhlenburg. The Reverend John Bowling was ap- pointed to prepare a letter to said Association. Resolved, that one dollar and twelve and a half cents be sent to the Association."
In October, 1837, or about the time Unity joined Little Bethel Association, the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky was organized in Louisville; and Little Bethel Association soon after became a member, which was in accordance with Unity's resolution to "join a United Baptist Association."
It was not only the Highland Association's strong opposition to missions, but also its opposition to the formation of a General Association of Baptists in Kentucky that caused the withdrawal of the churches that formed Little Bethel Association.# Every Baptist church always was, and still is, an independent and self- governing body, and as such it is the original and final source of its authority. Highland Association evidently
*In 1822 there were twenty-five district associations in the State and by 1837 the number had increased to forty-three. The seventy-five now (1914) in Kentucky embrace all the Missionary Baptist churches in the State and constitute the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky. This General Association is one of the fifteen that constitute the Southern Baptist Convention which was organized at Augusta, Georgia, in 1845. None of these organizations have any ecclesiastical authority or jurisdiction over the churches.
26
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
feared that the uniting of the district associations into a general association would gradually change the original object of the annual meetings (which are business meet- ings and a brotherly mingling of fellow-Baptists) and that the united associations would, in time, establish some form of hierarchy, and thus interfere with the absolute independence of each association and congregation.
Beginning about 1820, and for almost a quarter of a century thereafter, the leading questions discussed by the members of the Baptist churches in Kentucky were the ones pertaining to missions; that is, whether or not the various congregations should contribute toward home and foreign missions, toward establishing good schools for the ministry, and toward a better financial support of their ministers. The anti-missionary element was very strong for many years, but about 1840 (shortly after the organization of the General Association) the missionary advocates had very little opposition in the churches. And all the Missionary Baptists have ever since been missionary in theory, if not always in prac- tice.
This long and widely discussed question is referred to in only two of Unity's records. In May, 1838, "The church agree to travail on the missionary question until our next meeting." In July, 1838, the record shows that "The church agree to dispense with the missionary ques- tion this year and petition the Association to appoint protracted meetings and ministers to attend them when and where they may think proper and that the church be prepared to make them a reasonable compensation for their services."
This, the last record on that subject, shows that the church then sided with the missionaries in at least the matter of making a "reasonable compensation" for
27
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
ministerial help. It is probable that as early as shortly after the organization of the General Association, Unity endorsed all the objects advocated by the missionaries.
Tradition has it that revivals took place at Unity every year from the time the church was organized, but no mention is made of any protracted meeting until about two years after the church became a member of Little Bethel Association. The meeting of the Associa- tion at Unity in September, 1839, was evidently the greatest event in the history of the church up to that time. This meeting is forshadowed by two entries made a few months preceding it.
1839, March. "Agreed that we set apart a day to be wholly devoted to the service of God by fasting, prayers, praise and thanksgivings, also that we appoint a prayer meeting."
1839, June. "Received Brother Kinchen G. Hay by letter, also Brother James Stewart, and Henry, a man of color, by experience. Agreed to commune on Lord's day and wash feet. Motioned and seconded that Brother Kinchen G. Hay be called so soon as convenient into ordination."
This ordination and some of the other events that took place at the meeting of the Association are thus recorded by Jesse Oates, the church clerk, son of Major Jesse Oates :
"Saturday before the first Lord's day in September, 1839. According to previous appointment last year the Association was held at Unity Meeting House, commenc- ing this day and concluding on the Monday following. On the Lord's day, after preaching by Elders Taylor, Mansfield and Rondeau, a door was opened for the re- ception of members, when the two following persons were received by experience, namely Jacinth Mercer and
28
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
Sarah Mercer. On Monday the second day of Septem- ber the protracted meeting began. After preaching by Elders Taylor, Mansfield and Garrett the following members were received by experience: An- nareta Stewart, Lucy Bennett and Martha Coleman. On Tuesday the third of September the church met and a Presbytery was called for by the church in order to ordain Brother Kinchen G. Hay to the ministry, and the Brethren Eades and Harris as deacons. The
Presbytery then adjourned to the Meeting House and after prayer by Elder William Rondeau, Brother Bour- land having been chosen moderator, the Presbytery ex- amined Brother Hay as to his call to the ministry and as to his faith in the Gospel. The Presbytery having also examined the Brethren Eades and Harris as to their faith and qualifications and the Presbytery being satis- fied as to all of them, mutually agreed and concluded to attend forthwith to the ordination. The Presbytery then adjourned to the stand when after prayer by Elder Richard Jones the ordination sermon was preached by Elder Rondeau from Second Timothy, Fourth Chapter, 1st and 2nd, 'I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, etc., Preach the word.' Prayer was then made by Elder Jones and a short charge by Elder Mor- rison to the Brother Hay, with the laying on of hands of all the elders forming the Presbytery and the benedic- tion being then pronounced by Elder Bourland the several brethren; namely, Hay, Eades and Harris were duly ordained to their several offices above mentioned, after which Elder Jones addressed the congregation, mourners were called and prayed with, and the follow- ing brother was received by experience ; namely, Thomas Tyson. It was then agreed that the baptism of the six candidates which had joined during the meeting should
29
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
be attended on the following morning at ten o'clock at Pond River."
The meeting continued until September 6th, during which time seven more converts were baptized and re- ceived into the church : William Uzzel, Joseph Forester,
Unity's Baptizing Place since 1812, and Clark's Ferry Bridge Erected in 1890, Pond River
Joshua Stewart, John Stanley, Jr., Wiley Tyson, Ritta Bennett and Susan Stewart.
Immersions during this meeting took place where the ceremony had often been performed for more than a quarter of a century. In fact, since its organization, Unity has always used the same baptizing place-a pool in Pond River, about a mile and a half from the church, a short distance above Clark's Ferry Bridge, and immediately below Clark's Old Mill Dam.
30
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
The records show that nine months after this event- ful meeting "A protracted meeting commenced Satur- day before the fourth Lord's day in June, 1840, at Unity agreeable to an appointment of the Association." This meeting continued for nine days, resulting in an addi- tion of fourteen new members. Among those who took an active part in this revival was Reverend Kinchen G. Hay.
Mr. Hay served as Unity's pastor for about one year, but in his day did much toward the upbuilding of this as well as other congregations in the county. He was a son of pioneer Kinnard Hay, who was one of Muhlen- berg's first school-teachers and the father of Wiley S. Hay, who was a State Senator in the fifties of last cen- tury. It is probable that the pioneer Kinnard Hay was among the organizers of this congregation and helped erect the first Unity church house.
Only two entries touch on the subject of the first log house which was occupied by Unity from 1812 to 1841, and only two refer to the erection of the second building :
1829, July. "The church agree to raise a subscrip- tion for to put a shingle roof on the meeting house."
1835, October. "Brother Stewart informed the church that he had fourteen dollars and fifty cents sub- scribed by the church and friends. Brother Stewart is directed by the church to attend to making the doors and windows."
1839, August. "Motioned and seconded that all the members of Unity Church meet on Saturday before the fourth Lord's day in August to attend to the business of the intended new meeting house."
1841, February. "The church agree to call Brethren Blassingin, W. Martin and Jesse Oates to value and re- ceive the meeting house at our next meeting."
31
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
No further mention is made of the new house. It was probably accepted and occupied soon after. A record made July 17, 1841, shows that "The church agree to send for a new church book and has assigned one dollar and fifty cents for the same." The last record in the old book is dated a month later and ends thus :
"This book filled up the 14th August, 1841, and will commence in new one at our next meeting. Jesse Oates, Church Clerk."
SECOND BOOK RECORDS
The second book that has been preserved begins with September, 1841, and covers a period of twenty-seven years. No reference is made to Unity's second building, which, as just shown, was erected in 1841. Tradition says that it was a frame structure and although occupied for more than thirty years, it was never considered a finished building. According to the recollections of some of the oldest citizens it was used as a union church house as late as about 1860. The records contain no statement showing whether any other denomination ever occupied a building with Unity or whether its second house was an unfinished one. The statements occasionly heard re- garding these two points are verified by an entry made in the diary of Isaac Bard, a Presbyterian preacher, who came to Muhlenberg in 1823 and died at his home south of Depoy in 1878, aged eighty-one. In May, 1850, he wrote :
"As trustee I visited Unity Church, opened the meet- ing with singing, delivered a short lecture on 2 Sam. 7, 1-2 . Unity Church is a frame house about 25 by 36 and half finished, no stove, no glass, no ceiling, and the question was to finish it. After much debate and
32
UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
settling other questions, we, the four sects to whom Maurice Moore deeded the land (Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists and Cumberland Presbyterians), agreed to try and finish the house and get a stove. Brother Stephen Harris and I drew a subscription each and I got $34.50 subscribed by May 12, 1850."
The second book, which begins with September, 1841, or about the time Unity occupied its second building, contains fewer references to confessions and accusations than the preceding volume. Among the entries belong- ing to that general class only three are unusual.
The first shows that in November, 1843, the church "Inquired for fellowship and found not all in peace" and that "an allegation" against a certain brother "for running of horses on the Sabbath day" was discussed and a committee appointed "to see him and labor with him and invite him to his seat next meeting." In De- cember "the case was continued until our next meeting," and in January, 1844, the record shows that "the church think it proper to exclude him from our body."
The second refers to a sister who, in September, 1854, was invited "to give the church satisfaction concerning some reports of pitching dollars on the Sabbath." For this and other causes it was "moved and seconded that we exclude her unanimously from the church."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.