USA > Kentucky > Historical sketches of Kentucky : embracing its history, antiquities, and natural curiosities, geographical, statistical, and geological descriptions with anecdotes of pioneer life, and more than one hundred biographical sketches of distinguished pioneers, soldiers, statesmen, jurists, lawyers, divines, etc. > Part 14
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The comprehensive jurisdiction of the court imposes upon it duties peculiarly otrous. An act of Assembly of 1796, confers on this Appellate Court jurisdic- tion of appeal or writ of error, "in cases in which the inferior courts have juris- diction." A writ of error may be issued to reverse a judgment or decree for one cint; but. by an act of 1796, no appeal can be prosecuted to reverse a judgment or decree. unless it relate to a franchise or freehold. or (if it do not) unless the amount of it, " exclusive of costs," be at least $100. But in cases of decretal divorces. and in fines for riots and routs, the legislature has denied to the court any revising jurisdiction. Still. although it has no original jurisdiction excepting only in the trial of clerks, and although it has no criminal jurisdiction in any case of felony, the average number of its annual decisions has, for many years, been about five hundred. The court is required to hold two terms in each year -- one commencing the first Monday in May, the other the first Monday in Septem- ber: and no term is allowed to be less than forty-eight juridical days. By a rule of court, any party may appear either by himself or his counsel, and in person or by brief. And a majority of the cases have been decided withont oral argument.
A statute of 1816 enacted, that " all reports of cases decided in England since the 4th of July, 1776, should not be read in court or cited by the court." The object of this strange enactment was to interdict the use of any British decision since the declaration of American independence. The statute, however, literally imports, not that no such decision shall be read, but that " all" shall not be. And this self-destructive phraseology harmonises with the purpose of the act-that is, to sinother the light of science and stop the growth of jurisprudence. But for many years, the Court of Appeals inflexibly enforced the statute-not in its Iot- ter. but in its aim. In the reports, however, of J. J. Marshall, and Dana. and Ben. Monroe, copious references are inade (without regard to this interdict) to post-revolutionary cases and treatises in England, and now that statute may be considered dead.
The Appellate Court of Kentucky has generally been able, and always firm. pure, and faithful. It has been illustrated by some names that would adorn anv bench of justice or age of jurisprudence. And it might have been oftener filled by such jurists, had not a suicidal parsimony withheld from the judges an ade- quate compensation for the talents. learning, labor, and responsibility which the % af interests of the commonwealth demand for the judicial service, in a court appointed to guard the rights and the liberties of the people, and to settle con .- riusively the laws of the commonwealth.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE
BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE Baptists were the pioneers of religion in Kentucky. They came with the earliest permanent settlers. In 1776, William Hickman, sr., commenced here his labors in the Gospel ministry .* He was the first to proclaim " the unsearchable riches of Christ," in the valley of the Kentucky. He was on a tour of observation merely, and after a stay of several months, returned to Virginia. remained several years, and then located in this state, where he labored faithfully in the field of the gospel for more than fifty years. In 1979, John Taylor. Joseph Reding, Lewis Lunsford, (the Patrick Henry of the pulpit), and several other ministers of Virginia, visited Kentucky. They found many of their brethren, but owing to the constant alarm from savage depredations, and the other stirring incidents peculiar to new settlements and the wilds of a strange and unbroken forest, there seemed to be but little concern manifested for religion. These ministers had bat few opportunities for preaching. They did preach, however, at a few of the staitions. Their object was chiefly to see the country, with reference to sub- sequent settlement. They found it destitute of almost everything except grass for their horses. and meat from the woods, procured at the risk of life. They conld do bat little more than feast their eyes upon the luxuriant soil, which the Indians had resolved should never be cultivated.f These ministers, except Red- ing, returned to Virginia, but some of them, a few years later, took permanent residence in Kentucky.
In 1780, many Baptists removed to this state, chiefly from Virginia ; but it was not until the next year. that there was an organized church. This was the Gil- bert's creek church. When Lewis Craig lett Spottsylvania county, Va., most of his large church there came with him. They were constituted when they started, and were an organized church on the road-wherever they stopped, they could transzet church business. They settled at Craig's station on Gilbert's creek. a few miles east of where the town of Lancaster, Garrard county, is now situated. ; There were now a number of efficient ministers in Kentucky.
In 1782, several other churches are known to have been constituted, viz : Sev- ern's valley, (now Elizabethtown), and Nolynn, both now in Hardin county. Also Cedar creek, now in Nelson county. 9
In 17-3, the first Baptist church and the first worshiping assembly of any order, was organized on South Elkhorn, five miles south of Lexington, by Lewis Craig. principally out of members dismissed from the church on Gilbert's creek. This church was for forty years one of the most prosperous churches in the state ; but its candlestick has been removed .**
After the close of the American Revolution, a flood of Baptists poured into Kentucky. chiedy from Virginia, and churches began to spring up every where In the wilderness. It was still a time of great peril. Before houses of worship were erected. the worshipers would assemble in the forest, each man with his gun; sentinels would be placed to guard against surprise from the Indians, while the minister, with a leg or stump for his pulpit, and the heavens for his sounding board, would dispense the word of lite and salvation.
" The groves were God's first temples. Ere man learned To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave, And spread the roof above them, ere he framed The lofty vault, to gather and roll back The sound of anthems, in the darkling wood,
·John Taylor's History of Ten Churches, p. 4 %. U Benedict. vol. 2. p. 542.
t Benedict's History of the Baptists, vol. 2, p. 225.
§ Asplund's Register of 1790. p. 32.
I History of Ten Churches, p. 42.
** History of Ten Churches, p. 50.
(108)
.
109
HISTORICAL SKETCH, ETC.
Amidst the cool and silence, he knelt down, And offered to the Mightiest solemn thanks And supplications."*
In 1765, three associations were organized, viz. : The ELKHORN, comprising all the regular Baptist churches then north of the Kentucky and Dix rivers ; the SALEM, comprising all the churches of the same order south of those rivers ; and thi SourH KENTUCKY, comprising all the separate Baptist churches in the State. Thee associations, which were constituted of some three or four churches cach, terresed with great rapidity. In 1790, there were attached to them 42 churches and 3105 members; viz .: Elkhorn, 15 churches and 1359 members; Salem, 8 churches and 405 members : and South Kentucky, 19 churches and 1311 members. The population of Kentucky at that period was about 73,000. So there was one Baptist to about every twenty-three inhabitants. Besides, there were many churches not yet associated; and many members just moved into the state. who wore not yet attached to the churches. There were, too. at this period, 42 or- dined ministers and 21 licentiates ; or one ordained minister to every 1825 of the inhabitants. This was a tolerably fair proportion of Baptist leaven to the whole Jump of people.t
Among the ministers of that day, were John Gano, Ambrose Dudley. John Taylor, Lewis Craig, William Hickman, Joseph Reding, William E. Waller, Augustine Eastin, Moses Bledsoe, John Rice, Elijah Craig, William Marshall, and other kindred spirits -- men of ardent piety, untiring zeal, indomitable energy wi character, of vigorous and well-balanced intellects, and in every way adapted to the then state of society. Pioneers to a wilderness beset with every danger and every privation, they were the first ministers of the brave, the daring, and noble spirits who first settled and subdued this country-such men as the Boones. the Clarkes. the Harrods. the Bullitts, the Logans, the Floyds, and the Hardins would respect and venerate, and listen to with delight and profit. It has been the good fortune of the writer to hear some of these venerable ministers preach. Some of them survived many years the men of their own generation. But age seemed to bring to them few of its infirmities. They retained almost to the last the vigor of their manhood's prime : and although they could not be called life- rary inen, they were nevertheless distinguished for their intelligence. for com- winding talents, for profound acquaintance with the doctrines of the Bible. ar I Were possessed of a knowledge of men and things, which eminently qualified them to be teachers and guides of the people.
In 1793, an attempt was made to bring about a union between the Regular and Separate Baptists, which failing of success, sundry churches of the South Kon- tucky association withdrew from that body, and organized the TATE'S CREEK as- " wiation.t The oldest churches in this association were organized at the dates following: Tate's creek, now in Madison county, 1785 ;§ White Oak, in the wine county, 1790 ;| and Cedar creek, now Crab Orchard, Lincoln county, 1791.Ş
In 1798, the number of churches in the Elkhorn association being 33, and its orritory extending from the Holstein on the south, to Columbus, Ohio, on the nath: and from the mouth of Beargrass on the west, to the Virginia line on the east, it was deemed expedient to dismiss the churches north of Licking river fr the purpose of forming a new organization ; and accordingly the BRACKEN A>p. cution was constituted. The oldest churches in this association are, Limestone crock * * (now extinct), near the present city of Maysville, and Washington. . constituted in 1785; and Maystick church, constituted 1791.++
The general harmony of the denomination was undisturbed, and their pro- grivy steady and healthful. In 1799, commenced what is known to this day ay de Fire Privat, which continued through several years. During its prevalence. the free-stone to the churches in every part of the state were unprecedented. The Bogate escaped almost entirely those extraordinary and disgraceful scenes pro- food by the jerks. the rolling and the barking exercises, &c., which extensively State Hanwag some other persuasions of those days. The work among the
1 Aspar's Register. p. 3.3.
;Benedict, vol. 2. p. 235.
! Benedict, vol. 2, p. 510
$ Asplund. p. 32.
tt Benedict. ut supra.
-
110
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
Baptists was deep, solemn, and powerful ; but comporting with that decency and order so einphatically enjoined in the scriptures. During this revival, large ad- ditions were made to the churches in every quarter of the State. The Elkhorn association, at its annual meeting in 1801, reported an addition of 3011 members by baptism during the current year ; and in 1802, an accession of twelve churches was reported, making the whole number of members, 5310. So numerous were the churches, and so extensive still were the boundaries, it was thought advisable again to divide the association, and accordingly those churches lying along the Ohio river, west of the Bracken association, were dismissed and organized into the NORTH BEND association.
To the South Kentucky, the accessions were almost equal to those of the Elk- horn association. It too became of such unwieldy dimensions, as' to demand a division. It was accordingly separated into two bodies, in 1902 ; the part north of the Kentucky river being denominated the NORTH DISTRICT association, and the part south of the river, the SOUTH DISTRICT association.
'The Tate's creek association reported in 1801, the addition of 1148 members by baptism. The Salem association also shared largely in the blessings of this revival. It received upwards of 2000 members. Its boundaries were extended north of Salt river. where enough churches were gathered to justify the organiza- tion of the Lose Rus association in 1803 .*
The GREEN RIVER association, lying in what are now Warren, Barren, Green, and Adair counties, was constituted in 1800, about the beginning of the Great Revival in that section of the state. It contained at first, nine churches, eiglit ministers, and about three hundred and fifty members. The very first year of its existence, it increased to more than one thousand members, and in 1804. it can- tained 38 churches, and comprised so much territory that it was deemed sound policy to divide it into three bodies. The middle portion of the churches retained the old name of the association : those of the northern portion were organized into the RUSSEL'S CREEK association : and those of the southern portion, into the STOCKTON'S VALLEY association. t
This revival bad the happy effect to bring about a union between the REGULAR and SEPARATE Baptists. These distinctive names were imported from Virginia, and mean the same as those of Particular and General Baptists in England-the former meaning those who hold to Calvinistic, and the latter those holding Ar- ininian sentiments. Several unsuccessful efforts had been made to effect a union between the Regular and Separate Baptists in Kentucky ; but the Great Revival n moved all obstacles. Melted into love by its influences, these kindred parties then mingled into one. In 1801, terms of union previously agreed upon by a committee appointed for the purpose, were ratified by the two parties in their respective associations. The names Regular and Separate were henceforth to be laid aside, and that of the United Baptists used in their stead. Thus was con- summated the " General Union."
But the harsh note of discord was heard just as the sweet melody of revival aud brotherly love began to subside. and ere they had ceased. In 1796, James Gar- rard, a Baptist minister and a member of Cooper's run church, Bourbon county. was elected Governor of Kentucky. He appointed to the office of secretary of state, Harry Toulmin, who had been a follower of Dr. Priestly in England. and a minister of the Unitarian persuasion. Mr. Toulmin was a gentleman of wales and erudation. I It was owing perhaps to the intimer existing between Gov. Garrard and Secretary Toulmin, ari-ing in part from their official relations, thu the former became tinctured with Unitarian sentiments. Be that as it may. It is certain that in 1-02, Mr. Garrard and the pastor of Cooper's run church. Augus- time Elastin, a minister of considerable eminence, began to propagate Arian. .. r ther. Socindian sentiments. The majority of Cooper's run church, and several neighboring churches to which Me. Bastin preached. espoused the doctrine of Garrard and their ministers. Every effort was made to reclaim these individuais and churches. The Elkhorn association promptly attended to the case. but failing to effect their return to the old paths. reluctantly dropped them from connection and correspondence. It inny be recorded to the credit of this association, and of
* Benedict. vol. 2, pp. 230-214
tlb. p. 239.
# Butler's History of Kentucky. p 202.
111
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
the Baptists, that although Garrard and Eastin were much beloved, and of pow- erful influence, yet they could take but a very inconsiderable fraction with them, which declined gradually and noiselessly away. Unitarianism could never obtain favor with the Baptists .*
About the same time, in the South District association, a very popular minister, John Bayley, embraced the sentiments of the Restorationists. He was generally believed to be a very pious man, and the majority of the association was devo- tedly attached to him; and insisted, that although he preached this doctrine, yet he did it in such a manner as not to offend the most delicate ear. The minority, however, thought differently, refused all fellowship for him and his adherents, and claimed to be the association. The neighboring associations acknowledged their claim : the other party could not obtain any countenance from the associations in the General Union, and again assumed the old name of the South Kentucky association of Separate Baptists.t
About 1804, Carter Tarrant, David Barrow, John Sutton, Donald Holmes, Ja- cob Gregy, George Smith, and other ministers of less note, with many of their members, declared for the abolition of slavery ; alledging that no fellowship should be extended to slaveholders, as slavery, in every branch of it, both in principle and practice, was a sinful and abominable system, fraught with peculiar evils and miseries, which every good man ought to abandon and bear testimony against. They called themselves " Friends of Humanity," but are known in the records of those times by the name of "Emancipators." The associations generally declared it * improper for ministers, churches, or associations to meddle with the emancipation of slavery, or any other political subject; and advised them to have nothing to do with it in their religious capacity." These resolu- tions gave great offence to the "Friends of Humanity ;" and they withdrew from the General Union of Baptists, and in 1807, formed an association of their own, called " The Baptized Licking-Locust Association, Friends to Humanity." They were quite numerous at first, but they soon dwindled-consumed in the fires of their own zeal. Not a vestige of them remains.t
In 1809, a respectable and highly influential portion of the ministers and churches of the Elkhorn association withdrew, not only from that body, but from the General Union of Baptists in the state, and organized the " LICKING Asso- CIATION OF PARTICULAR BAPTISTS." This schism had its foundation in a personal difficulty between Jacob Creath and Thomas Lewis. about a negro trade ! The former was pastor, and the latter a member of the Town-fork church, a few miles west of Lexington. The matter was not suffered to remain in the church where it properly belonged ; it became a topic of general conversation, and of the printing press ; other churches became involved in it; it gathered other matters in its progress ; when finally, it was thrust upon the association, and schismn ensued. ||
But notwithstanding these adverse events, the course of the Baptists was on- ward. They were refreshed with many revival seasons. In 1812, they had 13 associations, 295 churches, 183 ministers, and 22,694 members. The population of the state at that time was rising 400,000. So that the proportion of the Bap- tists to that of the inhabitants was about one to twenty.§
During the next twenty years, no event transpired among the Baptists deemed of sufficient consequence to claim a notice in this brief sketch, except the schism produced by what is generally known as the " reformation," begun and carried on by Alexander Campbell. This is not the place nor the occasion to discuss the principles involved in that unfortunate controversy. Suffice it to say, that in 1-29. and for several years thereafter, until 1832, a great many divisions in associations and churches occurred. But in spite of all this, the Baptists stood firm, and still retained their accustomed ratio to the population of the state. In 1832, after this storm had spent its fury. after the greatest secession from the Baptist ranks ever known in their history in Kentucky. they had 33 associations. 484 churches, 236 ordained ministers, and 34,121 members. The population of the state, hy the census of 1830, was 687,917-so that the Baptists still retained their propor- tion of about one to twenty of the inhabitants .**
· Benedict, vol. 2, p. 231.
+ [1 ... 211.
. ¿ Baptist Herald of 1814, p. 90.
Il Benedict, vol. 2. p. 233-4.
§ Benedict. vol. 2., p. 545, and Bup Mem'l, Feb. 1946, p. 54.
** Bapust Memorial, ut supra, p. 55.
112
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
1
The depletion proved to be sanative. The increase of the Baptists since then has been unprecedented. Disturbed by no serious discord, if we except the clamor raised against missionary and other benevolent efforts, they have been blessed with many remarkable instances of divine favor. In the next ten years they had doubled their mumabers ! But it is not in this way alone that they have been the most blessed. They have been aroused to overy good work. They have engaged, with considerable zeal, in the cause of missions, foreign and domestic. They have now a GENERAL ASSOCIATION, for the purpose of aiding weak churches, and of supplying the destitute portions of the state with the gospel. They have also a state society for foreign missions; and a state bible society for the cizenia- tion of the holy scriptures in all lands. The board of the American Indian mis- sion association is located in Louisville. They have a weekly newspaper and a monthly magazine published in the state. The subject of education, too, has engrossed a large share of their attention. The Georgetown college is under their patronage, and is one of the most respectable and flourishing literary insti- tutions in the West. The Western Theological institute of the Baptists is situa- ted in Covington. We have not the means of arriving at the precise number of Baptists now ( March 1817), in the state ; but there are in the General Union, 42 associations, 685 churches, and at least 65,000 members. To these add the 7.085 anti-missionary Baptists, many of whom claim to be United Baptists, and differ from the great body of their brethren only in relation to the propriety of missionary and kindred institutions, and we have the present grand total of the Baptists in Kentucky, 72,085 members, which we are sure falls under the actual number. The proportion of the Baptists to the population of the state may safely be set down at one to pleven. Thus it will be seen that the Baptists have steadily and rapidly increased-that they have come triumphantly through every trial. Hitherto hath the Lord helped them.
In looking over the list of the early Baptist ministers, the pioneers of the gos- pel in our state, we cannot choose one for a biographical sketch, agreeably to the suggestion of the compiler of this work. Out of a host equally deserving, it would he invidiou, to make a selection. Besides, the brief space that remains for us, would not allow of justice to any one of them. We will therefore let it suffice to submit some characteristic anecdotes and sketches of several of them.
WILLIAM HICKMAN, as the first preacher in Kentucky, claims of course, the first attention. He commenced his ministry in this state. Then he returned to Virginia, and for several years labored there with great success. In 1784. he be- came a permanent resident in the state. Here he encountered peculiar trials. The country was sparsely populated, while tribes of wandering savages were continually making depredations on the property and lives of the settlers. But Mr. Hickman was not silent because of danger. He traveled extensively. and even in the most distant and exposed settlements, and at the peril of his life, bore the tidings of salvation. Elder John Taylor said of him in 1822, " Though now about 76 years of age, he walks and stands erect as a palm tree, being at least six feet high, and of rather slender form. His whole deportment is solemn and grave, and is much like Caleb, the servant of the Lord, who at fourscore years of age was as capable to render service in war, as when young. This veteran can yet perform a good part in the gospel vineyard. His style of preaching is plain and solemn, and the sound of it like thunder in the distance; but when he becomes animated, it is like thunder at home, and operates with prodigious force on the consciences of his hearers." He was pastor a number of years to the church at the " Forks of Elkhorn." He baptised, it is thought, as many persons as any minister that ever labored in the state.
LEWIS CRANE was the founder of the first worshipping congregation in ken- turky. He had been a valiant champion of the cause in Virginia. He was sev- eral times imprisoned in that state for preaching the gospel. The first time. be was arrested in company with several other mtasters. The prosecuting attorney represented them to be a great annoyance to the comity by their zeal as preachers. ". May it please your worships," said he, " they cannot meet a maan upon the road, but they must rom a text of scripture down his throat." As they passed on to prison, through the streets of Fredericksburgh. they united in singing the lines,
" Broad is the road that leads to death," &c.
113
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
They remained in prison one month, and while there, Mr. C. preached through the grate to large crowds, and was the means of doing much good. Once after this, he say imprisoned three months. Mr. Taylor says of him, " He was in the gospel ministry near sixty years, and was about eighty-seven when he gave up the ghost. As an expositor of scripture, he was not very skillful, but dealt closely with the heart. He was better acquainted with men than with books. He never dwelt mach on doctrine, but most on experimental and practical godliness. Though he was not called a great preacher, perhaps there was never found in Kentucky so irteat a gift of exhortation as in Lewis Craig : the sound of his voice would make men tremble and rejoice. The first time I heard him preach. I seemed to hear the sound of his voice for many months. He was of middle stature, rather stoop shouldered, his hair black, thick set and somewhat curled, a pleasant coun- tenance, free spoken, and his company very interesting ; a great peace-maker 5mong contending parties. He died suddenly, of which he was forewarned, saying, I am going to such a house to die ; and with solemn joy he went on to the house, and with little pain, left the world."
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