USA > Missouri > History of the Blue River Baptist Association of Missouri > Part 2
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HISTORY OF THE BLUE RIVER
or whether it is not, I leave for themselves to decide and answer; and whether the Elders Farmer, A. P. Williams, White and Ricketts, preached a doctrine or adopted a practice-differing from the ideas, sentiments and advice contained in the above circular, we leave for those who knew them long and well to decide. Those ministers have all gone home to receive their reward, except our worthy Moderator Jeremiah Farmer; but they are still held in kind remembrance by those who knew them in their labors and their trials here, and especially by the hundreds who were brought to a knowledge of the truth through the ministration of the Gospel at their hands.
But good as the advice was which those founders of the Association gave in that circular, it seems to have been forgotten in a short time by some of those who gave it. Three years afterward, Henry Avery, one of the preachers who was in the constitution of the Association, and one of those who appeared to have voted to adopt the above circular, was himself called upon to write a circular letter to the churches, in 1839. That circular was written in opposition to all benevolent institutions. It seems that the mole-hill of missionary and other societies had been swelled into a mountain, and a conscience was to be dic- tated to brethren, pointing out the path in which they must walk, forbidding them to use their influence finan- cially or otherwise in aid of benevolent institutions. The circular was rejected by a vote of 25 to 11.
Two years later still, when the Association met at Little Blue in 1841, some of those who were not satisfied with the toleration or non-committal policy of the Asso- ciation, and in order, as it seems, to force the Association to take grounds for or against those benevolent institu- tions, sent up from Bethlehem Church a request or query -
to know " Whether Blue River Association is in favor of
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BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI.
those new institutions, commonly called benevolent or missionary, or whether she is not?" Which request was taken up on the second day of the session. and after an animated debate the Association responded that, " As an Association, we will have nothing to do with that matter. and would recommend to the churches to let that ques- tion alone; and at the same time we recommend that churches and brethren be left free to act in these matters as their conscience may dictate, and that it be no bar of fellowship." This was but reiterating the advice and carrying out the principles and sentiments contained in the circular written by J. Warder, and adopted by the Association five years before.
This response to the query from Bethlehem was not satisfactory to the minority, the result of which was that in a few months the churches of Big Sniabar, Mount Zion, Bethlehem, and Mount Pleasant, together with a majority of Big and Little Blue churches, proceeded to organize the Mount Zion Regular Baptist Association; but that all the preachers who were originally in the constitu- tion of Blue River Association, except two, stood upon the Regular Baptist platform and went into the Mount Zion Association, as might be inferred from the article in the Messenger of Peace, was not the case, only two, so far as we know, went into the Mount Zion Association -those two being John Warder and G. Fitzhugh. It is possible that Henry Avery did also, but we think he had died be- fore the Association was constituted. Robert Fristoe, Moses A. Stayton, Enoch Finch, and William Simpson had also, we think, been removed by death. Thomas A. Stay- ton, Hiram Savage, William B. Savage, and Jesse Butler had been called to other fields of labor. Joab Powell. John Jackson, Joseph White and John T. Ricketts re- · mained in Blue River Association, and James Savage re-
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HISTORY OF THE BLUE RIVER
fused to go with either party; Pleasant Garden - the church to which he belonged -refusing, for two years, to go into any Association: it finally, however, joined the Mount Zion Association, when Elders Savage and Ousley. and a minority of the church, refused to go with it, but withdrawing from it they formed another church, which aunited with the Osage Association.
The next meeting of the Association was with Hope .. wyell Church, ( now Harrisonville,) September 17, 1842.
Introductory sermon by Elder Jeremiah. Farmer. Fif- teen churches were represented, with a membership of 977. Big Creek Church (now Index) and Greenton Val- ley, new churches, were admitted into the associational union. Corresponding messengers present from Little Platte and Fishing River. Elected John Farmer, Moder- ator, and James Waddell, Clerk. A. P. Williams, John Farmer and Jeremiah Farmer selected to preach on Lord's day. At this session of the Association, the fol- lowing preamble and resolutions were adopted:
1st. WHEREAS, The churches of Big Sniabar, Mount Zion, Bethlehem and Mount Pleasant have declared a non-fellowship with this Association, for the ground she assumed on the subject of missions at our last meeting:
Resolved, That they be dropped from our list of churches as no longer members of this body.
2d. WHEREAS, Our brethren who have rent off from us and formed the Mount Zion Regular Baptist Association. in setting forth the causes which induced them to do so, have misrepresented the facts in the case - whether igno. rantly or designedly we will not say;
Resolved, That we feel called upon, to give the public correct information on the subject.
Ist. They say that we enjoin that the mission cause be no bar of fellowship; when we only recommend ( see Min- utes of last year).
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BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI.
2d. They say that we showed, plainly, that we had no Christian fellowship for them, and virtually excluded them from the privileges of the Association. We ask in what particular part of our conduct did we show no fel- lowship? Was it in electing John Warder to the office of Moderator? Was it in the appointment of our yearly meetings? With what churches were those meetings appointed (see Minutes of last year)? We gave one to Big Sniabar, one to Mount Zion, and one to Mount Pleasant. In this we showed, as well as felt, the utmost impartiality. And we deny, positively, excluding in any sense of the word these brethren from any privileges of the Associa- tion whatever.
Therefore, Resolved, That we call upon our brethren of the Mount Zion Regular Baptist Association to take back in the minutes of their next meeting, the word "enjoin, " and insert in lieu of it the word "recommend," ( the one we used in our resolution; ) and that they either point out the particular instance wherein we either showed the want of Christian fellowship or virtually ex- cluded them from any privilege of the Association, or else clear us of the charge and thereby show a disposition to do us justice.
3d. Resolved, That we recognize that part of the Big and Little Blue churches that remain with us and abide by original grounds, as the Big Blue and Little Blue churches of Jesus Christ, and that we receive their mes- sengers, viz .: J. W. Campbell, B. M. Adams, D. Lykins, L. S. Montgomery, and A. Hendricks, as the legal represent- atives of these churches.
4th. Resolved, also, That we recommend to these churches a course of forbearance and Christian tenderness toward their erring brethren. That they show by their conduct that they are the children of that Saviour whose
1
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HISTORY OF THE BLUE RIVER
law is forbearance, tenderness and love. It was further
Resolved, That we do not believe it to be the duty of the individual members of churches, that have declared non-fellowship to this Association, to ask letters of dismission from them, and that it is the privi- lege of any church belonging to the Association to receive such members without one. A committee was also appointed to visit the churches of Pleasant Grove and Pleasant Garden, which had neither went into Mount Zion Association nor represented themselves in this, for the purpose of evincing the affection the Association has for them, the interest she feels in their welfare, and to inquire into the reasons of their non-representation.
The ordained ministers belonging to the Association at that time appear to have been, Joab Powell, John Jackson, Joseph White, William White, Benj. White, J. T. Ricketts, John Farmer, Henry Farmer, Jeremiah Farmer, A. P. Williams and Lewis Franklin.
Licentiates, B. M. Adams, David Lykins, Humphrey Thompson, Elijah Thompson and Jas. H. Renfro.
In 1843 the Association convened with Lexington Church on the 9th of September. Introductory sermou by A. P. Williams. John Farmer, Moderator, and James Waddle, Clerk, Jabez Shotwell, assistant.
Wm. H. Farmer, messenger from Spring River, Thomas Fristoe from Mount Pleasant, Z. Worley from Kentucky, Bluford Scott, a licentiate from Concord Asso- ciation, Brethren Matthias Cline and James Fulkerson, from Platte River, and other preaching brethren invited to seats; and Elder Z. Worley, Thomas Fristoe and Wm. H. Farmer were selected to preach on Sabbath.
Basin Knob Church (since changed to Lone Jack ), Mound Prairie, West Fork of Little Blue, and First Baptist Church in Richmond, were received into the union
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BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI.
of churches. The last named church remaining with us, however, but one year, uniting then with the North Liberty Association. Nineteen churches, with a total membership of 1,181.
The circular letter, written by A. P. Williams, who was appointed at the last session to write on the " Origin, Design and Utility of Associational Meetings among Bap- tists," was called for, read, debated, amended and adopted by a vote of 44 to 16-an able and interesting essay, containing a large amount of historical and Bible truth in a small compass. The churches of Pleasant Grove and Pleasant Garden having failed to give satisfactory replies to the committee appointed to visit them, were dropped from the list of churches.
Among the resolutions adopted we find the following:
Resolved, That we feel mortified at the treatment the Fishing River Association saw fit to mete out to our mes- sengers and letter at their last meeting; but we leave their conduct to the decision of the Judge of the whole earth; we judge them not. The Fishing River Associa- tion having, as it appears, refused to receive the letter, or recognize the messengers as Baptists, on account of the action of the Association on the mission question in 1841.
The next meeting of the Association was with Clear Creek Church, in Benton County, on Saturday, September 14, 1844. Introductory sermon by Elder Henry Far-
mer. John Farmer, Moderator, J. T. Ricketts, assistant, and W. C. Ligon, Clerk, with James Borthick, assistant. Correspondence received from Saline, North Liberty and North Grand River Associations, and letters of corre- spondence sent to North Grand River, Spring River, Con- cord, Liberty, Platte River and Mount Pleasant. Elders John Farmer, Henry Farmer, Lewis Franklin and Wm. C. Ligon chosen to preach on Sabbath.
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HISTORY OF THE BLUE RIVER
At this session the Association appears to have de- parted from its original non-committal policy, in relation to benevolent institutions, by passing the following reso- lutions:
Resolved, That we recommend to the prayers and the contributions of our churches the claims and necessities of the American and Foreign Bible Society; also,
Resolved, That we recommend to each of our churches to establish Sabbath Schools at some convenient place - within their bounds.
We have, in the minutes of this year, for the first time, a full list of the ordained and licensed preachers of the Association, with their postoffice addresses, as follows:
ORDAINED MINISTERS.
William Duvall, Warrensburg, Johnson County; John Freeman, Harrisonville, Benton; John Farmer, Pleasant Hill, Van Buren; Henry Farmer, same; Jeremiah Farmer, Independence, Jackson; Lewis Franklin, Fort Osage, Jackson; Amos Horne, Warrensburg, Johnson; John Jackson, Harrisonville, Van Buren; David Lykins, West- port, Jackson; Wm. C. Ligon, Lexington, Lafayette; Joab Powell, Independence, Jackson; John T. Ricketts, Calhoun, Henry; James Renfro, Benton, Warsaw; Hum- phrey Thompson, Harrisonville, Van Buren; Joseph White, Greenton, Lafayette; Wm. White, Warrensburg, Johnson; Isaiah T. Williams, Warsaw, Benton.
LICENTIATES.
Barzela M. Adams, Independence, Jackson County; Wiley Farmer, Cool Springs, Lafayette; Wm. Gray, Cal- houn, Henry; Elijah Thompson, Harrisonville, Van Buren; Hosea Williams, Pleasant Hill, Van Buren.
Brin Zion Church with 20 members, Grand River with 70, and Mount Pleasant with 10, were received into the Association at this session. Total number of communi- . cants in the 21 churches represented, 1,300.
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BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI.
The twelfth annual session of the Association was held with Union Church, situated two miles west of Pleasant Hill, September 17, 1845. Introductory sermon by Wil- . liam C. Ligon. Letters and messengers from 23 churches, showing a membership of 1434. First Baptist Church in Independence, New Salem, near Independence, and Con- cord, in Lafayette County, were received as new members of the Association.
Alvin Brooking, of West Fork Church, was chosen Moderator, and Wm. C. Ligon, Clerk.
Correspondence from sister Associations being called for, Elder J. B. Calloway, from Liberty, Brother Joel Ball, North Liberty, Jas. Williams and Charles Hodges, from Platte River, and Wm. Burt, from North Grand River, presented testimonials and were received.
Elders Calloway, Franklin and Ligon were chosen to preach on Sabbath, and Elder A. P. Williams, expected to be present, was requested to preach a funeral discourse. commemorative to the late Moderator of the Association .. He, however, not arriving, said discourse was delivered by W. C. Ligon.
Continued correspondence with Saline, Liberty, North. Liberty, North Grand River, Spring River, Concord, Platte River and Mount Pleasant Associations ..
Among the other proceedings of the Association, we find the following:
WHEREAS, It has pleased the Great Head of the Church to remove by death Elder John Farmer, late Mod- erator of this Association; therefore,
Resolved, That we will ever cherish a fond recollection of the impartial manner with which he presided as Mod- erator of this body; that his death has left a vacuum in our ministerial ranks not easily filled; and that society has lost a highly estimable member.
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HISTORY OF THE BLUE RIVER
The list of ministering brethren had received an ac- cession during the year of Elders R. M. Miller and Fred- erick Snyder, (superannuated. ) R. M. Adams and Wm. Gray had been ordained. and the list of licentiates had been increased by the addition of Wm. P. Sellers (Pleas- ant Hill), Charles Amet (Lexington), and Peter and An- drew Brown (Warsaw).
To the minutes of that session, ( Twelfth Annual Ses- sion held with Union Church,) is appended a historical sketch of the different churches then composing the body. from which we take the following extracts:
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN LEXINGTON,
Constituted, in 1824, with 20 members, by John Warder, Wm. Tharp, and Robert Fristoe.
In the spring of 1840, a revival commenced under the preaching of A. P. Williams, which continued to an extent for two or three years, and resulted in increasing the number of members from 25 to 250. Elder A. P. Wil- liams ministered to the church, in the character of pastor. from 1840 to the close of 1843, since which Elder W. C. Ligon has discharged the duties of that office.
SIX MILE.
The letters from this church furnish no means by which any portion of its history can be compiled. From oral information we are authorized to say it has existed for many years. Elder Lewis Franklin is at present (1845) her presiding moderator and pastor.
LITTLE BLUE,
Constituted in 1832. by Elders Thomas Stayton and James Savage, and numbered 9 members. She appears to have prospered but little, and, in 1842, was rent in twain by the agitation of the mission question. The present church was at that time a minority of 15 who
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BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI.
were favorable to missions. On a division of the church, they yielded up their claim to the meeting-house, and were accustomed to meet either in the open air or in private houses. They have since built them a meeting- house and are now in circumstances of comparative pros- perity. This church is now known as Blue Spring.
HIGH POINT,
In southeast corner of Johnson County, was constituted on the second Saturday in June, 1832, by Elders Wolf and Embree, and appears to have proceeded harmoniously to the present time.
BLACK WATER,
Dates the time of her constitution on the 15th day of July, 1832, and consisted originally of but 6 members. The constituting presbytery were Robert Fristoe, James Savage, and Enoch Finch .. She appears to have pros- pered, numbering, in 1845, 40 members, after having dismissed a sufficient number to constitute two other churches.
LIBERTY,
Was constituted in May, 1836, with 10 members, by Eld- ers Joseph White, John Warder, Wm. Simpson, V. S. Dillingham, and James Savage. Elder Joseph White labored with acceptance as her pastor until the current year. Elder Amos Horne is her present pastor. She appears to be in circumstances of prosperity.
HOPEWELL ( NOW HARRISONVILLE ) ..
Elders John Warder and Thomas Stayton constituted this church on the 18th of October, 1835.
UNION.
This church appears to have been constituted with 6 members on the 9th of December, 1837, by Elders John Jackson and James Savage. Elder Jackson discharged
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HISTORY OF THE BLUE RIVER
the duties of pastor until 1843, since which time Elder Henry Farmer has officiated as pastor. Protracted and camp-meetings appear to have been greatly blessed in building up this church.
CLEAR CREEK.
This church was constituted August 17, 1839, by Elders John T. Ricketts and James Richardson, and con- sisted of 10 members. The circumstances connected with the constitution prove its members to have been the uncompromising advocates of benevolent institutions which characterize this age of Christian effort; and their cur- rent history establishes the fact of their highly commend- able consistency.
BIG BLUE ( WESTPORT).
William Tharp, Thomas Stayton, and G. Fitzhugh constituted this a Regular Baptist Church, and in this character it prospered for a time. In 1842 a diversity of sentiment was found to exist in regard to missionary and their kindred associations, which resulted in the exclusion of 10 members who were favorable to such efforts. The present church has grown out of the excluded members. They have been faithfully ministered to by Elders Henry and Jeremiah Farmer, whose labors have been blessed in building up the church, the number of its members having more than quadrupled since its organization.
POST OAK.
This church was constituted August, 1840, of 10 members, by -Elders John Farmer, Joseph White, John Jackson, and Jeremiah Farmer. Elder William White was ordained as pastor of the church. She appears to have prospered greatly under his ministry until 1844; she then suffered some declension. Elder White resigned the pastoral office during the year, and was succeeded by Elder Amos Horne.
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BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI.
NEW HOPE.
Elders John Jackson and John Farmer constituted this church of 16 members in 1841. She immediately called Elder Jeremiah Farmer to the pastoral office, in which he continued to labor up to the present time (1845). The church has moved on prosperously and harmoniously. Brethren H. P. Thompson and Elijah Thompson were licensed to preach by this church in 1842, and the former ordained in 1844.
BIG CREEK, (NOW INDEX, M. R.)
Elders John Farmer, William Ousley, and Wm. White constituted this church at the house of Bro. Wm. Smith, Van Buren (Cass) County, July 16, 1842, with 16 mem- bers. Elder Ousley served them for a short time after it was organized, since which time it has been under pas- toral care of Elder Henry Farmer.
GREENTON VALLEY,
Was constituted by Elders Joseph White and A. P. Wil- liams, at the house of the former, on the 13th of August, 1842, and consisted of 12 members. She was originally an arm of the First Church in Lexington. She has been generally prosperous. Elder Henry Farmer supplies them with preaching.
BASIN KNOB ( NOW LONE JACK, M. R.)
Elders Joab Powell, Joseph White, Henry Farmer, and Wm. White constituted this church on the 29th of October, 1842, of 14 members. Immediately after the constitution Elder H. Farmer was chosen pastor, under whose ministry she appears to have prospered greatly.
MOUND PRAIRIE.
This church was constituted with 50 members in the autumn of 1842. She also was a branch of the First Church in Lexington, and the fruits of a protracted
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HISTORY OF THE BLUE RIVER
meeting conducted by our indefatigable brother, A. P. Williams. She is supplied with preaching by Isaiah T. Williams and Charles Amet on Lord's day, and by Elder W. C. Ligon on the third Saturday in each month.
WEST FORK OF LITTLE BLUE.
This church was constituted by Elders Henry Farmer and Thomas Stayton on the 2d day of December, 1842, with 16 members dismissed from Pleasant Grove for that purpose. From her letter to the late Association, it will be seen that she has enjoyed general prosperity. " The Lord abundantly blessed us with a gracious revival of His work under the pastoral care of Bro. Jeremiah Farmer. under whose labors we have increased from 16 to 103 members."
BRIN ZION.
Elders Elias George, of Morgan, and Jesse G. Berk- ley, of Cooper County, constituted this church on the 26th of December, 1843, of 6 members, at which time Isaiah T. Williams was ordained to the ministry. From her letter she appears to have been generally prosperous. She is supplied with preaching by Elder James Renfro and two licentiates, Andrew and Peter Brown.
GRAND RIVER.
This church was organized by Elders John Jackson and Jeremiah Farmer, on the 4th day of April. 1844, and consisted of 32 members. Her letter complains of cold- ness. She appears, however, to have doubled her numbers under the ministry of Elders Jackson and Jeremiah Farmer.
MOUNT PLEASANT.
Elder J. T. Ricketts and James Renfro constituted this church, with 10 members, on the 26th of August. 1844. She has recently engaged the services of H. P. Thompson as pastor.
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BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI.
FIRST CHURCH IN INDEPENDENCE.
This is a new church and united with the Association at its present session (1845). She was organized by Elders Lewis Franklin, H. P. Thompson, and A. P. Wil- liams on the 3d of April, 1845, of 12 members.
NEW SALEM.
This church is also of recent organization and was re- ceived into the Association at its present session; consti- tuted on the 31st of March, 1845, by L. Franklin, H. P. Thompson and A. P. Williams.
CONCORD,
Lately constituted, having been organized on the 31st of August, 1845, of 20 members, by Elders Joseph White, Joab Powell and Wm. White.
The next meeting of the Association was appointed to be held with New Hope Church, on Friday before the sec- ond Lord's day in September, 1846.
And now, in closing this chapter of the history of this Association, let me indulge in a few reflections and reminiscences which have been called up by an examina- tion of the minutes of the transactions of the Association for the first eleven years of its existence. In those rec- ords I see the names of brethren, dear brethren and fathers in Israel, who have long since been called from earth to the enjoyment of a higher life and a happier as- sociation in the realms of heavenly bliss. Again I see the names of others whose lot has been cast in distant lands, laboring now in other parts of the Master's vine- yard; brethren whose faces I shall see no more upon earth, and whose voice and whose counsel will be no more heard in the meetings of Blue River Association. A few, and but few indeed, of all those ministers and brethren whose names I find in the records of the Association, during the first eleven years of its existence, can I call
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HISTORY OF THE BLUE RIVER
to mind as now having a place in our union of churches. But though the pioneer Baptists of Missouri have nearly all passed away, the cause which they espoused still lives and will endure. That cause has been onward and upward, and though the whole of that phalanx of Baptist minis- ters who organized the Blue River Association in 1834, have laid down their armor and have crossed over the river, there to rest from their labors, their places have been filled by others, who have come at the call of the great Captain of our Salvation, who has not left Him- self without witnesses to testify for Him, and in His name and in His strength to conquer.
Though some of the churches which then united to form that sisterhood of churches, have left us, and others . ceased to exist, their places have been filled by others stronger and more efficient; and instead of the 10 churches which originally constituted that sisterhood, there were seven years later 22, and in 1874, 51. And though of the 384 Baptists which were originally in the union, all, with perhaps but one exception, are gone, yet others have come to fill their places, and the number, as has been seen, grew in eleven years from 384 to near 1,500, and at our last session in 1874 amounted to 5,002. Truly have we grounds for encouragement, and cause for the utmost gratitude to the Great Head of the Church for His pro- tecting care and His loving kindness.
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