USA > Missouri > History of the Blue River Baptist Association of Missouri > Part 4
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which request was granted, and Lewis Franklin, M. F. Price, Wm. M. Brisco, J. W. Adams, S. B. New, Miles Griffin, and Wm. Langford appointed said committee; which committee, at the next session, reported her diffi- culties settled, and High Point again became a member of the union.
Preaching during the session by Elders G. Minton, S. Hill, T. N. O'Briant, Thomas Stork, H. H. Tilford, F. German, and E. Roth.
Committee on Nominations reported recommending the continuance of the old Executive Board of Missions, viz .: J. Farmer, S. G. Allen, and H. G. Glenn.
Elder B. M. Adams having prepared an essay on Temperance, in compliance with a resolution of the last session, it was submitted by the Committee on Temper- ance as their report. Adopted and printed.
A sermon preached before the Ministers and Deacons' Meeting, on the 3d of October, was also by the Associa- tion ordered to be printed with the minutes.
A motion was made and carried to instruct the execu- tive board to make liberal provision for Independence Church during the ensuing year. A subscription was also opened to aid the brethren in Independence to pay for their house, when about $350 was subscribed, and Brethren L. Franklin, M. F. Price, Wm. M. Brisco, and H. H. Tilford were appointed to solicit further assistance, the indebtedness of said church amounting to about fifteen hundred dollars.
F. German and Joseph W. Warder were added to the list of ministering elders this year; A. P. Williams also is found in the list at this session. R. Bowers, Wm. Thompson, A. H. Dean, Isaac Jacob, and C. G. T. Gibbon are also added to the number of licentiates.
The next annual meeting was with Providence Church
1856
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in southeast of Johnson County, October 3, 1857. Intro- ductory sermon by S. G. Allen. Thirty-four churches rep- resented, and Walnut Grove and Deepwater without repre- sentation. Total membership in the Association, 2,529. Chose R. S. Thomas, Moderator, Wm. A. Durfey, Clerk, and E. Roth, assistant; Wm. Jones, Treasurer.
Elder J. W. Sacry, from North Liberty, Wm. White and Wm. A. Gray, from Tebo, and S. Adkins, from Con- cord, were invited to seats.
Preaching on Sabbath by A. P. Williams, R. S. Thomas, and J. W. Warder.
Committees were appointed on Missionary Operations, Correspondence, Finance, Education, Temperance, Col- porteurage, Sabbath Schools, etc., which committees sever- ally made reports, which were received.
Contributions by the churches at this session, $233.89; pledges from churches, $91; from individuals, $122. Ex- ecutive Board: Jeremiah Farmer, S. G. Allen, and H. G. Glenn.
The names of R. R. Owens, H. H. Tilford, D. W. Ash- burn, and - Luther, added to the list of ordained min- isters, and B. F. Thomas to the list of licentiates.
In 1858, the Association convened with Blue Spring Church on the 2d of October: Elder A. P. Williams, ap- pointed to preach the introductory sermon, and H. H. Tilford, his alternate, both being absent, Elder Wm. M. · Bell, of Saline Association, by request, delivered a ser- mon introductory from Titus 2:14.
Letters from churches were called for and read, and upon motion the former officers of the Association were re-elected. Wm. C. Harding was also elected assistant Clerk. Messengers from sister Associations: Wm. M. Bell, from Saline, J. B. Link, and T. N. O'Briant, North Liberty, and A. Campbell, from Tebo, were invited to
-
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seats. £ Preaching by T. N. O'Briant, Saturday afternoon; J. Gott, at night; R. S. Thomas and J. B. Link, forenoon Sabbath; W. M. Bell, 1 o'clock P. M., and S. G. Allen and A. G. Newgent, at night.
The report of the Committee on Missionary Operations, at this session, was called for, read and adopted, but afterward reconsidered, and the Association went into committee of the whole upon the subject of missions in general, Bro. Harding in the chair, the result of which was a recommendation to submit the whole matter to the Executive Board, with instructions to employ one or more missionaries as the case may demand, so that the destitu- tions in the bounds of the Association may be supplied- which report was by the Association adopted. The Com- mittees on Correspondence, Sabbath Schools, Education, Temperance, etc., made able reports, which were received, adopted, and published with the minutes.
The Executive Board reported as follows: "Your Board regret that we have been unable to secure the services of a missionary for the past year. We are of opinion that we have used all due diligence in the dis- charge of the duties assigned us, and none can more deeply regret the failure to secure an efficient missionary. We have paid out during the year the following: To H. H. Tilford, for Independence Church, $100; A. P. Wil- liams, missionary, $5; and for advertising, $1.50."
The Association, upon the recommendation of the Committee on Nominations, this year appointed Miller W. Easley, Caleb Winfrey, and Martin Rice as the Exec- utive Board.
We find at this session, amongst others, a resolution recommending The Christian Repository, by S. H. Ford.
It was also resolved that the Clerk be instructed to buy a new book, and therein record the minutes from
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where they have been left off, and that in future the Clerk be required to keep a record of the minutes.
G. Foster and J. W. Mimms are this year additional ministering elders in the Association, and A. J. Martin and C. M. Kavanaugh are additional licentiates.
The Association, in 1859, met with Concord Church, October 5th. Introductory sermon by B. M. Adams. Letters from the churches read. Liberty, Big Creek, Mount Pisgah, Pleasant Grove, and Blackwater not represented. Two letters, with two sets of delegates from Independence, claiming a place in the Association, which letters and the matters pertaining, were laid upon the table until the next day. Chose W. P. C. Caldwell, Moderator, and Joseph W. Warder, Clerk; E. Roth, as- sistant. Elders J. Leake and J. Morris, from North Lib- erty, T. V. Greer, from Concord, and Wm. M. Bell were present as messengers from those Associations, and were invited to seats.
Upon the second day of the session, the Association resolved itself into a committee of the whole to take into consideration the matter of difficulty in Independence Church, and as the result of its deliberations recom- mended the appointment of a committee of nine to meet at Independence on Friday before the fifth Lord's day in October, 1859, to inquire into the said matter of difficulty, and make report at next session; and further, that the said Friday be observed as a day of fasting and prayer by all the churches of the Association that God may crown the labors of the committee with success. Said committee was appointed as follows: G. W. Johnson, M. F. Price, W. P. C. Caldwell, J. C. Martin, B. M. Adams, Amos Horn, B. F. Goodwin, J. Gott, J. W. Warder, and W. Langford.
It was at this meeting resolved to continue the plan
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of missionary operations with the addition of an advisory committee of one from each church to meet with the Executive Committee once in every three months, which advisory committee was selected as follows: William Duval, J. Petty, E. Wood, J. Gott, N. P. Brooks, Luke Williams, W. B. Hornbuck, J. F. Wistar, S. T. Hoover, E. S. Payne, J. C. Martin, H. Chism, W. Langford, J. France, S. Adams, W. W. Beasley, G. Kesterson, T. A. Webb, C. G. T. Gibbon, H. Best, W. Adams, W. Dalton, G. Warren, A. H. Dean, A. Horn, G. P. Harding, J. Ashburn, Wm. M. Brisco, Isaac Jacob, F. German, and . Owen Cooper.
A special Committee on Obituaries reported two reso- lutions, expressing the feelings of this Association in rela- tion to the lamented death of R. S. Thomas, late Moderator of the Association, and of W. C. Harding, one of its young and promising ministers.
The Executive Committee made a detailed report of their proceedings during the year, which is too long for insertion here, but from which we learn that Wm. A. Durfey had been kept in the missionary field during the year at a cost of $300, and that small amounts had been paid to other ministers for missionary work. The Asso- ciation re-appointed the same brethren -Easley, Win- frey, and Rice-as the Executive Board for the ensuing year. Wm. Thompson, J. A. Hollis, and Z. B. Adams, are found amongst the ministering elders of this year.
The delegates to the 27th annual session of the Asso- ciation met with Union Church on the 1st of September, 1860. Introductory sermon by Jos. W. Warder. Elected W. P. C. Caldwell, Moderator, and M. F. Price, Clerk, Jos. W. Warder, assistant. Oxford and Aubry Churches in Kansas; Clear-Fork, Elm Spring, and Kingsville, in Johnson County, Mo., and Big Cedar and New Liberty,
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in Jackson, were admitted into the Association. The churches in the union at that time numbered 38, with a. membership of 3,175.
The committee appointed at the last session to visit Independence Church reported that, after a thorough in- quiry and examination, they had found that the claims of the majority to be the church are fully sustained, and that. as such has sovereign jurisdiction in the discipline of her members. The following is the letter of correspondence to sister Associations adopted at this meeting:
" The Blue River Association in Session with Union Church, Cass County, Missouri, to the Sister Associations, Greeting : By the goodness of God we are once more per- mitted to correspond with you by letter and messengers. A number of the churches here have been favored with the outpouring of God's Spirit, and greatly refreshed by the ingathering of precious souls. Our statistics are as. follows: Received by baptism, 305; by relation, 14; by letter, 171; deaths, 43; excluded, 39; dismissed by letter, 174; total membership, 3,175.
The Executive Board made report of their missionary efforts during the year, which appears to have been satis- factory; the substance of which report was that Elder George Milton had labored in their employ in the most. destitute parts of Johnson County, and had organized the churches of Elm Spring and Kingsville, supplying them with 'preaching; and that Elder D. S. Miller had labored as their missionary in the western part of Jackson County and on the eastern border of Kansas, organizing and preaching for the churches of Big Cedar, Aubrey and Ox- ford. Pleasant Grove Church was dropped from the list of churches as having ceased to exist. The list of minis- ters at that time belonging to the Association, with their- postoffice address, was as follows:
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST 29132
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI. 51
B. M. Adams; Morristown, Cass County; Jeremiah Farmer, S. G. Allen, A. G. Newgent, Harrisonville, Cass; Henry Farmer, Pleasant Hill, Cass; Howard Chism, J. J. Robinson, Independence, Jackson; W. A. Durfey, Harri- sonville, Cass; Lewis Franklin, F. German, Sibley, Jack- son; Edward Wood, Blue Spring, Jackson; J. M. Ash- burn, J. H. Luther, J. W. Mimms, J. Lykins, Kansas City, Jackson; D. S. Miller, Santa Fe, Jackson; J. W. Warder, J. A. Hollis, Lexington, Lafayette; E. Roth, Dover, Lafayette; Geo. Minton, Chapel Hill, Lafayette; James White, Greenton, Lafayette; Amos Horn, W. H. Duvall, Fayetteville, Johnson; Wm. Thompson, Austin, Cass; W. P. C. Caldwell, B. F. Goodwin, Z. B. Adams, Wells' Store, Johnson; J. W. Mitchell, Pleasant Hill, Cass; Jonathan Gott, Fayetteville, Johnson; C. G. T. Gibbon, Columbus, Johnson; G. S. Kesterson, Sniabar, Lafayette; A. H. Dean, Austin, Cass.
In addition to the ordained ministers above, the fol- lowing were included in the list of licensed ministers:
J. H. Kemper, Independence, Jackson County; Isaac Jacob, Holden, Johnson; Moses Bailey, Lone Jack, Jack- son; E. N. Farley, J. P. Dewitt, Warrensburg, Johnson; J. Horney, Columbus, Johnson; Charles Whiting, Dover, Lafayette; Asa Nird, Wagon Knob, Johnson; James Car- ney, Fayetteville, Lafayette.
Milton W. Easley, Martin Rice and Caleb Winfrey were continued as the Executive Board for the next year, and Wm. Jones, Treasurer. The contributions of the churches this year were $360, and $138.50 were pledged by individuals to be paid within the year.
This session of the Association was fuller than usual, all the churches being represented but one ( Kansas), and the deliberations of the delegates were characterized by harmony and kind feeling. Having concluded the busi-
MAR 5 1945
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ness of the session, they adjourned to meet in annual ses- sion next year with Austin Church, in the southeast of Cass County, on the Saturday before the first Sunday in Septem- ber, 1861-little thinking that, ere that time should arrive, the land would be suffering the horrors and devastations of civil war, and that years of blood and carnage would pass away before Blue River Association should meet in coun- cil again. Little, indeed, did those brethren think, when they separated at Union Church, and gave to each other the hand of Christian affection and brotherly love, with the expectation of meeting again in one short year at Austin, that before that year should roll around, some of them would meet in hostile array on the field of battle. Yet such was the case. When the time of meeting at Austin came, a few delegates -a very few only -met, and adjourned to meet the next year with Big Creek Church, on the Saturday before the first Sunday in Sep- tember, hoping that perhaps ere that time the storm of war would pass away. Vain hope!
After the adjournment of the Association, at Union, in 1860, the Executive Committee employed A. H. Dean and Geo. Minton to preach in destitute parts and to weak churches, which they continued to do until hostilities commenced in the spring of 1861.
As was said in the close of the last chapture, a few of the delegates who had been appointed by a few of the churches, met at Austin, in September, 1861; and, after appointing Wm. A. Durfey Moderator pro tem., and Luke Williams Clerk, such business only was transacted as was necessary to perpetuate the existence of the Association.
They then adjourned to meet at the same time in 1862, with Big Creek Church, in Cass County. This meeting was never held; as at that time the land was dis- tracted, and covered with violence.
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But at length it pleased the Great Ruler of the Uni- verse to hush the storm of war, and restore comparative peace and quiet to our desolate land.
He hushed at length the war-like fray, Where blood and tears were blended; Five years had come, and passed away: The years of strife were ended.
In the spring of 1866 the Executive Committee, who were elected by the Association in 1860, feeling them- selves (as they say) called upon to put forth an effort to resuscitate the churches, (many of which had become almost or quite extinct, with no preaching or church com- munion in large portions of the Associational territory,) requested Elders Wm. A. Durfey and Kimbro Thompson to visit and preach among the churches, and if possible get them again into working order, with the understand- ing that their claims for compensation would be submitted to the Association when it should again convene.
Elder Wm. A. Durfey, as Moderator pro tem. of the meeting of the Association at Austin in 1861, with the sanction of the Executive Committee, issued a call and notification for the various churches yet retaining life to send delegates to a meeting of the Association at Lone Jack, on Friday, the 21st of September, 1866. To this call quite a number of the churches responded, and brethren who had for years been parted and severed in feeling, met again in harmony and Christian love, to do battle for Christ, in the same little village where four years before some of the brethren of the Association had met in bloody conflict to do battle against each other!
The Association was called to order by Wm. A. Dur- fey, after an introductory sermon by Charles Whiting. M. F. Price was appointed Clerk pro tem., after which letters were read and messengers received from the fol- lowing churches:
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Lexington 265 members, Blue Spring 74, Liberty 37, Harrisonville -, Union 100, Westport 75, Big Creek 73, Lone Jack 182, West Fork 87, Mound Prairie 169, Grand River 82, New Salem 26, Providence 58, Dover 144, Blue Ridge 56, Oak Grove 23, Bone Hill 25, Big Cedar 45, Kingsville 15, Six Mile 24, New Liberty 51, Kansas City 60, Pleasant Valley 24, New Hope 34, Concord 97, Honey Creek 15, Greenton 35.
Jeremiah Farmer was chosen Moderator, M. F. Price, Clerk, and Wm. Jones, Treasurer.
The churches of Honey Creek and, Greenton were re- ceived as new churches into the Association.
Visiting elders were invited to seats. Present: Rev. A. Broadus, agent for Baptist Theological Seminary at Greenville, S. C., and Rev. T. W. Barrett, agent Sunday School Board of Southern Baptist Convention.
The usual committees were appointed, who in due time reported, and their reports ordered printed with the minutes.
The Committee on Missions recommended the employ- ment of two missionaries to devote their time to the mission work.
The Executive Committee, in their report, recom- mended the claims of Elders Durfey and Thompson for labor performed amongst the churches, and a resolution of thanks to Brethren Durfey and Thompson was adopted, and $100 ordered to be paid to Elder Thompson, and $150 to Elder Durfey.
The Committee on Nominations recommended a change in the Executive Board, locating it at Pleasant Hill; which report was amended so as to retain the old Board at Lone Jack.
The contributions of the churches sent up to this meeting was $146; amounts pledged for mission purposes
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by the churches, $265; amount pledged by individuals, $256. 50; and amount paid in by individuals, $140.
Great harmony appeared to be manifested amongst the brethren assembled, and many rejoiced as did the Jews on their return from the seventy years' captivity, to build again the walls of Jerusalem. At the same time some were sad, as were the old men amongst the Jews, when they called to mind the past, and reflected on the great decline in the prosperity of Zion, and upon the absence of so many of the churches represented in 1860, and of so many brethren who took part in the deliberations of that meeting of the Association with Union Church.
Of the thirty-eight churches then represented, thirteen were now absent; and instead of 3,175 members as re- ported then, only 1,829 were reported in 1866. Instead of 33 ordained and 9 licensed preachers then in the As- sociation, there were but 21 ordained and 5 licensed preachers in 1866, and but 15 of these were in the list of those who were numbered in 1860. John Jackson and Joseph White, the last survivors of the original number of ministers in the union of 1834, had been called home by death. So also had Lewis Franklin, Howard Chism, and Z. B. Adams.
Not only those ministering brethren, but others - many others-of the laity-fathers in Israel, and labor- ers each in his own sphere, in 1860-were absent in 1866. Called away by death or by other causes. Amongst the missing names is that of Wm. Adams, whose name as a delegate had appeared in the minutes of the Association from its first organization in 1834.
At the last five sessions of the Association he had ap- peared as a delegate from his church at Warrensburg, the only member of the convention which organized the Asso- ciation at Little Sniabar in 1834, to aid by his counsels in
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the meetings of those after years; he too was now absent, and his name no more appears upon our records, and will not again as a delegate from his church, for he has since gone home to find his name, as we believe, written in the Lamb's Book of Life. But he is still held in remem- brance here, and it is to him we are indebted for the preservation of the minutes of the Association from 1832 to 1860, from which we have been able to compile this history.
The following is a list of ministering elders in the Association at the session of 1866:
Jeremiah Farmer, Henry Farmer, Pleasant Hill; J. J. Robinson, Wm. A. Durfey, Independence; G. L. Black, Blue Mills; J. Lykins, A. Mackett, X. X. Buckner, Kan- sas City; E. Roth, C. Whiting, Dover; A. Horne, Fay- etteville; W. H. Duvall, Columbus; W. P. C. Caldwell, Well's Store; B. F. Goodwin, Green Ridge; D. S. Miller, New Santa Fe; A. H. Dean, Harrisonville; Samuel Shep- pard, Lone Jack; - Reed, Lee's Summit; E. S. Dulin, W. C. Ligon, Lexington; W. H. Farmer, Pleasant Hill. At the same session the licentiates were as follows:
J. H. Kemper, Independence; Moses Bailey, Lone Jack; Geo. Bargers, Harrisonville; Dewitt Bolton, Lex- ington; John Thomas, Independence.
The Committee upon Religious Exercises at this ses- sion appointed Elders Black and Horne to preach on Friday night; Barrett and Dean, Saturday at 11 o'clock; Machett and Durfey at night; and Broadus and Dulin on Sabbath.
The next meeting of the Association was with Mound Prairie Church, in Lafayette County, on the twentieth of September, 1867, and days following. Elder A. Machett had been appointed to preach the introductory sermon, and A. H. Dean as alternate, but, both being absent, it was preached by O. D. Tompkins.
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BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI.
Jeremiah Farmer was chosen Moderator, G. E. Belles, Clerk, and Wm. Jones, Treasurer.
Twenty-seven churches by their messengers were present. Two of them, Holden and Morristown, were new churches asking admission, which was granted.
The visiting elders present were James French, Dis- trict Secretary of Baptist Home Missionary Society, and. J. Kingdon.
No business of marked interest was transacted at this session. From the report of the Executive Board it ap- pears that Elder S. S. Sheppard had labored as a mission- ary for six months of the year with some success. A. H. Dean it appears had also performed some missionary labor, and his claims as a laborer were referred to the next Executive Board.
We also find that a proposition was made to the Asso- ciation by the Trustees of the Lexington Female College to place the institution under the fostering care of the Blue River Association-asking the Association and the- churches to aid in repairing or rebuilding the college buildings. But nothing was done in the matter further than to recommend the appointment of an agent by the college to visit the churches and secure, if possible, the means necessary for that purpose.
Contribution by churches, $142.55; pledges, $110; pledges by individuals, $221. 65; paid by individuals, $92; public collection on Sabbath, $66.85.
Preaching on Sabbath by James French and J. W. Warder.
The list of ministering elders this year was increased. by the addition of O. Tompkins, G. L. Smith, and John Kingdon. At the same time it was diminished by the absence of Wm. A. Durfey, G. L. Black, Charles Whiting, and - Reed. The name also of W. P. C. Caldwell, from.
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some cause, does not appear in the list of ministers this year; but in the minutes of the next year we find it at the head of the list.
The names of G. W. Scholl, J. M. Farmer and A. Olds are added to the list of licentiates of 1867. The Execu- tive Board was removed to Pleasant Hill, and made to consist of Jeremiah Farmer, Wm. H. Farmer and Caleb Winfrey.
In 1868 the Association convened with Harrisonville Church on the 25th of September. In the absence of J. W. Warder and E. Roth, who had been appointed to preach the introductory sermon, Elder C. Blood, of Spring River Association, by request performed that service. Jeremiah Farmer was re-elected Moderator, Hugh G. Glenn, Clerk; Wm. H. Farmer, assistant; and D. L. Shouse, Treasurer.
Mound Pleasant, Enon, Mount Pleasant, and Pleas- ant Ridge Churches were admitted into the union of churches.
The following visiting elders were invited to and accepted seats: E. T. Brown, from Tebo Association; Jonathan Gott and Isaac L. Crow, from Sedalia Associa- tion; C. Blood, from. Spring River; G. W. Hyde, from Mount Pleasant; J. L. Tichenor, from Kentucky; Wm. Hildreth, of Chillicothe; H. W. Brown, of Michigan; Isaac H. Denton, F. F. Richville, A. Hilderbrook, L. Shackleford, A. M. Longfellow, - Roan, and Thomas Rambaut, D.D.
The usual standing committees were appointed, and made the customary reports in favor of Sunday Schools,- Education, Temperance, Colportage, Wm. Jewell Col- lege, etc.
The Executive Committee reported missionary labor performed by Elders Machett, Roth, Sheppard, Miller,
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BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI.
Weaver, and Floyd; and by resolution of the Association the attention of the Board was particularly called to the wants of the church at Holden.
Contributions of the churches, $225.00; and pledges by the churches and individuals to the amount of $130.00.
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