USA > Kentucky > Golden jubilee of the general association of Colored Baptists in Kentucky : the story of 50 years' work from 1865-1915 including many photos and sketches, compiled from unpublished manuscripts and other sources > Part 4
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See that your body contributes a sum equal to Ioc per member.
Please let me hear from you at once.
Yours in Christ, C. H. PARRISH, Moderator
Baptist Jubilee, Lexington, August 11, 1915
For fifty years the Baptists have been at work in missions and education in the state of Kentucky
Great good has come to the colored people in the state of Kentucky through the efforts of these Bap- tists. Indeed out of a population of two hundred and sixty-one thousand at least one hundred and fifty thousand are members of the Baptist churches or Baptist inclined. So that Baptists are more re- sponsible for conditions in the state, good or bad than any other denomination. We are hoping to print a Jubilee volume' which will include a brief history of the work of fifty years. We would not
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like to close this volume without having a sketch of yourself, your church and your work as a Baptist. This volume, however, must be complete and ready for sale at the General Association. We are asking, therefore, that you please send a photograph of yourself, a photograph of your church and a brief sketch of your life and work.
My Dear Brother :
This will inform you that you were appointed at the last General Association on the committee of programmes, souvenirs, and Jubilee volumes. This committee was called in March and in April you were not present, so we have concluded to have an- other meeting, Monday, seventeenth of May. This is the week of the State University commencement.
Thinking that it would be an accommodation to you to have it at that time, we are urging that you please meet the committee on that day at 3 p.m.
The outlook is very bright for the Jubilee year of Baptists in Kentucky. Asking your earnest co- operation,
Yours,
C. H. PARRISH, Moderator.
While in Jamaica, we sent a communication to more than a hundred preachers urging them to give attention to our Jubilee.
Also five hundred posters, 2 ft. by 3 ft., were sent to be placed in the Sunday Schools, with the follow- ing words :
GOLDEN JUBILEE OF THE GENERAL ASSO- CIATION OF COLORED BAPTISTS
Lexington, Ky., August 11, 1915
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YOU ARE ASKED to pray publicly in the pu pit and prayer meeting for the success of the Genera Association.
Every Baptist is asked to make a Jubilee Don tion of $1.00. Every church is requested to contr bute a sum equal to 20c per member. Every Sunda School, B. Y. P. U. and Missionary Society is asked to contribute a sum equal to Ioc a member.
Those who send $1.00 to the Moderator at one will receive a Golden Jubilee Certificate and Button
The Jubilee Committee composed of the follow ing brethren :
Rev. Robt. Mitchell, D.D.
Rev. J. E. Wood, D.D.
Rev. R. Reynolds, D.D.
Rev. John Perdue, D.D.
Rev. W. T. Silvey, D.D.
Rev. O. Durrett, D.D.
Deacon W. H. Steward, A.M.
Rev. J. H. Frank, D.D., M. D.
Rev. P. H. Kennedy, D.D.
Rev. R. B. Butler, D.D.
Rev. C. H. Parrish, Moderator, 847 Sixth St., Louisville, K
had its second meeting in the month of May and heartily approved of the above plans of the Modera tor and authorized him to proceed to publish a Jubi lee Volume and have it ready for sale at the General Association. Also instructed him to get up a tenta tive program subject to the approval of the commit tee. The committee also authorized the Moderator to extend invitations to prominent Baptists and such
and Jordan at Rev. Lisle's Grave, Kings- ton, Jamaica, March, 1915.
Residence of Dr. and Mrs. C. H. Parrish, 847 Sixth Street, Louisville, Ky.
Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky.
Virginia Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky.
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Dr. C. F. Sneed, A.B., A.M., M.D. One of first graduates of State University.
Rev. A. L. Caulder Stanford, Ky.
Rev. W. T. Silvey, D.D. Frankfort, Ky.
H. E. Hall President Mammoth Insurance Co. Louisville, Ky.
Miss Alice Dortch, Stenographer President B. Y. P. U. Centennial Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky.
Rev. John Fisher, D.D. Louisville, Ky.
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GINIA STREET PTIST CHURCH KINSVILLE, KY.
treet Baptist Church, Hopkinsville, Ky.
Baptist Church, Allensville, Ky.
.
Teet Baptist Church, Owensboro, Ky.
Second Baptist Church, Lagrange, Ky.
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Rev. John Abernathy Louisville, Ky.
Rev. T. J. Smith, Versailles, Ky.
A. J. Burgess, License to preach. 1914. Georgetown, Ky.
Rev. W. P. Offutt, A.B., B.Th. Lagrange, Ky.
Lewis Clements, Morton's Gap, Ky.
Rev. L. A. Offutt, A.B., B.Th. Anchorage, Ky.
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other distinguished citizens as he deemed it wise to invite. Invitations were therefore extended to the following :
His Excellency, the President, Woodrow Wil- son; the Governor of Kentucky, J. B. McCreary ; State Superintendent of Education, Barksdale Ham- let ; State Supervisor of Schools, F. C. Button ; Rev. R. H. Boyd, D.D .; Rev. J. B. Hutson, D.D .; Rev. Lansing Burrows, D.D .; Rev. John F. Purser, D.D; Rev. J. F. Thomas, D.D. ; Rev. J. F. Love, DD. ; Rev. I. G. Jordan, D.D .; Rev. W. B. Powell, D.D .; Rev. E. Y. Mullins, D.D .; Rev. C. L. White, D.D .; Rev. E. C. Morris, D.D .; Rev. H. L. Moorehouse, D.D .; Rev. Gilbert N. Brink, D.D .; Rev. Sutton E. Griggs, D.D .; Rev. J. M. Frost, D.D .; Rev. E. E. Folk, D.D .; Rev. E. D. Gray, D.D .; Mr. Geo. W. Norton; Gen. Bennett H. Young, and other prominent persons.
Early in the year, we published 10,000 gold leaf circulars which were distributed freely in the State.
Viz :
WHAT'S WHAT
Among Baptists in Kentucky
What is the General Association of Colored Baptists in Kentucky?
It is the oldest State organization of colored Bap- tists. It is the "mother" of all the Baptists.
When, where and by whom was it organized?
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It was organized as a Convention, August 15, 1865, at Louisville, Ky., by Rev. Henry Adams and others. It was changed to General Association, Au- gust, 1869.
What is its object?
Missions and Christian Education.
What Missions?
State, Home and Foreign Missions.
What is State Missions?
By State Missions, we mean the work of preach ing the Gospel or evangelizing at destitute points within our own State. It is the co-operation of strong churches helping weak churches and mission stations.
What is Home Missions?
We mean similar work done by our Home Mis- sion Board at Little Rock, Ark., in States beyond the limits of Kentucky, including Panama and Cuba.
What is Christian Education?
It is that course of training which makes Christ first from the beginning to the end.
What is the State University?
It is a Baptist institution of learning where Christian Education is given.
When and by whom was it founded?
In 1879, by the General Association of Colored Baptists of Kentucky.
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Where is it located?
Louisville, Kentucky.
How is the State University supported?
By voluntary contributions, chiefly from the Baptists.
What is the Baptist Women's Educational Conven- tion?
It is a Baptist organization composed chiefly of women, having for their object the maintenance of State University.
When and where organized?
September 18, 1883, at Louisville, Ky.
What is the Baptist Women's Missionary Conven- tion ?
It is a Baptist organization composed chiefly of women and children, having for their purpose Mis- sions and house to house visitation.
When and where organized?
At Louisville, Ky., May 26, 1903.
The headquarters of the Baptist Women's Edu- cational Convention of Kentucky and the Baptist Women's Missionary Convention of Kentucky are both located in Louisville, Ky.
What is the Baptist Young People's Union?
It is an organization of Baptists having for its object the training of young people in Baptist doc- trine and denominational service. It was organized in Versailles, Ky., 1901.
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The above institutions and thirty-eight District Associations and Sunday School Conventions, with other Baptist organizations are children of the Gen- eral Association. All of these organizations hay. done creditable work along the lines of their activity The General Association, however, is due the moral and financial support and daily prayers from all of her children in a maternal way; as a mother she loves them all. She would see all these children spiritually vigorous and progressive.
How You May Help
It is estimated that there are a million people in Kentucky not members of any church. More than half of these who have reached the age of account- ability have never made a profession of faith in Christ. Hundreds of families have no Bible. In many sections of the State there are no Baptist churches or Sunday schools. In some sections they have never heard of the State University-yea, more than that, they have never heard the Gospel preached.
In a population of 261,656 (1910) census) col ored people in Kentucky, 75,412 (Minutes 1913), be long to colored Baptist churches. If we allow one person for our congregational and household influ- ence, we woul dthen have 150,824 colored people in Kentucky Baptist, or under Baptist influence. This makes the Baptists responsible for conditions among colored people in this State more than any other de nomination. If there is neglect and destitution depths of immorality and crime to which the people of any community have sunken, Baptists cannot es cape the greater condemnation. The gospel must be
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preached. Churches and Sunday schools must be organized, Church houses must be built. The State University must be established ; literature distribut- ed that our boys and girls may be given a chance to live noble and better lives. The souls of men and women must be saved. In our own State and in the wide world as a Baptist, are you interested? What are you doing? What have you done? What will vou do? Surely you cannot escape the darkest guilt if you fail to do something.
In the past fifty years, an annual average of 50,- 000 colored Baptists in the State of Kentucky have contributed less than one-half cent a year per mem- ber to Missions and Christian Education. Think of it-each Baptist in Kentucky for the nast fifty years has given less than one-half cent to Baptist denomi- national work, as reported in the minutes of the Gen- eral Association. In the coming year of our Jubilee in Lexington, Ky., the Moderator is asking two things of every Baptist in Kentucky :
First, that you pray daily and publicly for the work of the General Association.
Second, that you will send ONE DOLLAR at once to the Moderator, which will make you an an- nual member of the Fiftieth Anniversary Session of that body and thus aid in Missions and Christian Education.
DO NOT DELAY.
Address the Moderator,
C. H. PARRISH,
847 S. Sixth St.
LOUISVILLE, KY.
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Pass this Tract to someone else.
What is Foreign Missions? It is the work of making Jesus Christ known to everybody, every where, beyond the limits of our own country
We do this through our Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention at Philadelphia Pa.
We have Missions in Africa, West Indies, South America, Russia and Central America.
In giving to MISSIONS we aid in sending the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.
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History of the General Association of Colored Baptists in Kentucky
By Wm. H. Steward, Secretary.
Shortly after the slaves were freed in this State, the Baptist ministers decided to meet for the organi- zation of the State Convention of Colored Baptists in Kentucky. This was effected in the Fifth Street Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky., on Wednesday, be- fore the third Sunday in August, 1865, when messen- gers from twelve Baptist churches met and or- ganized with the late Rev. H. Adams, pastor of Fifth Street Baptist Church, Louisville, as President; Brother Vincent Helm, Green Street Baptist Church, Louisville, Vice President; Rev. E. E. Hansbrough, Secretary ; Brother Peter Smith, of Frankfort, Ky., Treasurer. The churches represented in the meet- ing were: Fifth Street Baptist Church, Green Street Baptist Church, York Street Baptist Church, Louis- ville; First Baptist Church, Danville; Baptist Church, Greensburg; First Baptist Church, Pleasant Green Baptist Church, Lexington. Among the lead- ers in the meeting were : Revs. H. Adams, R. Sneeth- en, Chas. Edwards, W. W. Taylor, I. Slaughter, R. Martin, J. Monroe, E. W. Green. Among the lay- men that were present: B. Fink, V. Helm, E. E. Hansbrough, Wm. Pendigrass, Q. B. Jones, B. Mar- tin, Peter Smith, Thomas. Lee, Henry Samuel, J. Tandy, Sam Williams, H. Washington, F. Robinson, and others. It seems there must have been an un- derstanding among the preachers relative to estab- lishing a Baptist College in the State before the
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meeting of the convention, because certain Baptists had purchased the Hill property at Frankfort, which subsequently was transferred to the convention. From the records, this property was purchased by John H. Thomas, Robert Martin, Tabb Smith, and Henry Samuels, under deed dated, August 12, 1865, from E. A. Dudley and wife, the consideration being two thousand dollars, which was before the conven- tion was organized. This same property was con- veyed by John H. Thomas, R. Martin, Tabb Smith, and H. Samuels, to Richard Sneethen, Henry Adams, W. W. Taylor, Solomon Patterson, Peter Smith, Tabb Smith, Henry Samuels, J. H. Thomas and Jas. Monroe, trustees of the Colored Baptist Association of Kentucky. The consideration was the same that it was when they made the purchase, and the deed is dated, August 21, 1866. Among the first acts of this convention was one to begin the establishing of this school, and appoint a committee to look after the matter. The constitution was adopted, and most of the time of this first session was taken in a gen- eral discussion of the work. The committee on mem- bership reported at this session about 5,000 mem- bers. The next session was held in the First Baptist Church of Frankfort, Ky., where several new churches were added to the number which was en- rolled at the first session. At this meeting, Rev. D. A. Gaddie, Rev. Peter Johnson, Rev. C. Clark, Rev. Reuben Lee, were new members enrolled. All of the preliminary discussion was deferred at the pres- ent session and the officers elected. The sermon was preached by Rev. J. Monroe, from the text, He brews, 13:1. The first report of Missionary work by Baptists in Kentucky was made at this meeting by Rev. R. Martin who collected $22.98; expenses,
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$13.60; balance, $9.38, which the convention let him have as his salary. One of the interesting features of this meeting was the presence of Rev. S. F. Thom- as, Secretary of White Baptists, who made an inter- esting address to the brethren in black, and Rev. H. Adams, the president of the convention, was sent as a representative to the General Association of White Baptists in Kentucky. According to the record there was nothing on program in the afternoon and the time was used for the preparation of re- ports. The first trustees were elected at this ses- sion ; four from Frankfort, four from Louisville, and one from Lexington ; they were P. Smith, T. Smith, J. H. Thomas, H. Samuels, H. Adams, R. Sneethen, W. W. Taylor, S. Patterson, Jas. Monroe. Sunday was devoted to religious services. There was no record kept and the convention met, Monday morn- ing at 9 o'clock. At this meeting the First Baptist Church, Frankfort, made the first payment on the Hill Property before it actually came into the pos- session of the convention.
The Convention for 1867, was held at the First Baptist Church of Lexington, at which the following new churches were enrolled : Versailles, Fourth St., Louisville, Cynthiana, New Castle, Keene, Bridge- port, Shelbyville, and Harrodsburg. It seems that the time for the meeting was changed that year, and the convention began on Monday morning. The sermon was preached by Rev. R. Sneethen. Text, Psalm, 1 :6. The officers were all re-elected and the various committees were appointed. Among the plans adopted at this meeting to raise the money to pay for the Hill Property was for all pastors to lay the matter before their churches, and ask all the members to pledge 5c monthly for this purpose
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which was adopted. Laymen seem to have been more active in the early metings than they are a present, for at this meeting some laymen came from nearly all the churches and were active in all be deliberations. Rev. Wm. Pratt, who was a prom nent White Baptist minister, was present at this session, and gave much valuable assistance to th brethren for which he was tendered a vote of thanks Time was given to the formation of District Asso ciations in the State, which has proved very helpful to the denomination. The convention was in session a full week this year as it did not adjourn until Mon day following the opening of the convention.
The churches seem to have been as generous with their contributions as they are to this day. The Fifth Street Baptist Church, Louisville, $100; Green Street Baptist Church, Louisville, $100; and the First Baptist Church, Frankfort, $100. Rev. S. Pat terson, who was the missionary that year, had a bal ance due him of $15 for service, which sum he do nated to the convention. The first obituary in the history of the Association was submitted this year when the deaths of C. H. Green and J. C. Davis of Danville, were reported.
The convention in 1868, returned to Louisville and opened in Fifth Street Baptist Church on Fri day morning, August 7th. The first statistical re port of the churches appeared in the record of this year when 6,260 members were reported from the twenty-seven churches. The new churches reported this year were: Winchester, Lancaster, Bloomfield Lebanon, Stanford, Bardstown. Rev. R. Lee preach ed the introductory sermon from 2 Cor., 5th chapter 7th verse. For the first time in the history of the convention there was a visitor from the North in
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the person of Rev. R. DeBaptiste, from Chicago. At this meeting it was determined to change the con- vention to the General Association of Colored Bap- tists in Kentucky, and a committee was appointed for formulating the plan to make the change. This committee consisted of H. Adams, J. Monroe, R. T. W. James, W. J. Brown, E. W. Green, R. Lee, P. Johnson, I. Slaughter, and D. A. Gaddie. The offer of the White Baptist Association to assist in the evangelization and education of our people was ac- cepted and Rev. H. Adams, who had previously act- ed, continued to look after this phase of the work. Rev. P. Johnson acted as missionary this year and traveled 355 miles and was in the field three months and fifteen days, during which time he delivered six- teen sermons and collected $36.47. Of course, these early missionaries continued the work in connection with their pastoral work and only visited points near their homes. The deaths of Rev. E. Thomas and S. Taylor were reported at this session, and suitable resolutions were adopted. At this session of the con- vention the trustees were given power to locate the Normal and Ind. Institute on the Hill Property in Frankfort unless other property seemed more favorable than that. It was agreed upon as far as the opening of the school was concerned, and a building was erected for the public school a short distance up the hill. The matter of forming District Associations had been suggested at a previous meet- ing and at this meeting the state was divided into two districts in view of encouraging the organiza- tion of district associations.
In 1869, the General Association was formed at the First Baptist Church at Lexington, Kentucky, with Rev. H. Adams, moderator; Rev. R. T. W.
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James, Recording Secretary ; Q. B. Jones, Corre- sponding Secretary ; Peter Smith, Treasurer. There were several new churches reported : Simpsonville, Evergreen of Lexington, Washington, Mayslick Little Flock of Louisville, Baptist Church of Athens. Membership of these churches was 12,620. The as- sociation formed, on Tuesday morning, and contin- ued until the following Sunday. At this session of the Association the matter of corresponding with the several district associations took definite form and delegates were sent to the various associations and in addition to this, the Western Baptist Association, the American Consolidated Convention of Baptists, which were to meet in Paducah shortly. A letter of correspondence was also read by Rev. F. F. Thomas, Corresponding Secretary of the White Baptists, who had previously visited the Association. Rev. Wm. Pratt was also among the visitors and gave valuable assistance in directing the officers along proper and systematic lines in the prosecution of the work of the Association. The idea of establishing a college for the training of ministers which was ever gain- ing in prominence in the minds of the leaders of the Association was always discussed when they met. There was a little discussion in this meeting as to where the college should be located, in Frankfort of in Louisville; it finally stood 25 for Louisville and 24 for Frankfort. Among the next moves of the Association was to establish a State Sunday School Convention, which was called to meet in the Bap tist Church at Georgetown. This convention met and organized and after several years of effective work was disbanded. Another movement was the establishing of a Religious Paper. This was recited to the committee of which Rev. Dupee was chair-
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man, and which reported in favor of printing such a journal. For the first year the mission work seems to have had reasonable success. R. Jones labored five months, traveled 5,285 miles, delivered ten ser- mons, attended nine revivals, visited twenty-six churches, baptized fifty candidates, organized three churches, collected $685.65; paid all his salary and expenses and had $169.41 to turn over to the Asso- ciation.
In 1870, in the Washington St. Baptist Church, Paducah, Ky., the General Association assembled, August 9th. Rev. H. Adams, who had been a lead- ing spirit in the convention and association since the organization, was so feeble that he was unable to attend this session. Rev. J. Monroe was Modera- tor pro tem. and Rev. J. F. Thomas, temporary sec- retary. At the regular election, Rev. Reuben Lee was made Moderator for the year. The members and new churches were reported at this meeting: Livingston, Christiansburg, Mount Vernon, Prince- ton, Columbia, and others, situated on the border of Tennessee. There was a disposition on the part of the brethren to protect the ministers against im- postors and a resolution was adopted requesting churches not to receive ministers in their pulpits who had not come with the proper credentials, and it was also decided to hold a ministers' meeting on Tuesday, before the opening of the General Associa- tion.
The Baptist Church, Danville, Ky., was the place of meeting of the General Association, 1871. Rev. Dupee of Paducah, was elected Moderator at this session and he was re-elected for eleven years in succession. He was a man of great determination and did much during his administration to help the
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work of the denomination. Rev. W. H. Butler, Lex ington ; R. Lee, Q. B. Jones, Louisville; P. Smith, Frankfort, were elected Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, respectively. The ministers and deacons' meeting was held with the General Association at this meeting for the first time and dis- cussed and brought up several interesting and help- ful questions. Rev. S .L. Helm, one of the White Baptist pastors of the State, was a welcome visitor and took a great interest in the proceedings. There were twenty-six new churches added to the asso- ciation at this session, and two brethren who became prominent in denominational work were enrolled as messengers.
The General Association held its Fourth Anni- versary with the Baptist Church at Georgetown, Ky., in 1872, and its Fifth Anniversary with the Baptist Church at Paris, Ky., in 1873. The additions of new churches continued at both of these meetings and showed that the work was growing in favor among the brethren. Among the white brethren who were present at the Georgetown meeting were, Rev. D. Dowden of Cloverport, H. McDonald of Georgetown, Prof. J. E. Farnum and Prof. W. Thomas, Rev. S. L. Helm, and others. A proposi- tion was submitted at this meeting from the General Association of white Baptists, relative to co-opera- tion in a plan of erecting a proposed Normal and Theological Institute. There was also a suggestion made as to the establishing of a religious periodical to be run under the auspices of the General Associa- tion. A proposition to incorporate the General As- sociation was also submitted and approved and at the meeting in Paris the next year, these articles
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were accepted by the General Association, the same having been enacted by the Legislature of the State. The articles of incorporation were drawn by Junius Caldwell, a lawyer of Louisville, and Rev. G. Clay Smith and Rev. S. L. Helm, and the incorporators were : Andrew Heath, W. W. Taylor, P. H. Alex- ander, J. H. Hightower, Q. B. Jones, Ben Burbridge, W. H. Steward, B. Martin, R. Martin, J. F. Thomas, James Monroe, E. W. Green and D. A. Gaddie. These articles were approved, March 5, 1873. Of these incorporators it might be well to note that at this time there are only two survivors, J. F. Thomas and W. H. Steward.
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