USA > North Carolina > Alexander County > A history of beginning and conduct of ye Baptist people, of Jesus Christ, of Alexander County, North Carolina > Part 1
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BAPT BX 6480 A53 B76 1952
WAKE FOREST COLLEGE LIBRARY
FOREST
WAKE FO OLLEGE
1834
CALL NO.
ACCESSION NO. 90835
GIFT OF
Stockton, Callf. Syracuse, N. Y. -
GAYLORD BROS. Inc. ----
BINDER SPEEDY
75
"REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD, CONSIDER THE YEARS OF MANY GENERATIONS : ASK THY FATHER, AND HE WILL SHOW THEE. THY ELDERS, AND THEY WILL TELL THEE." DEUT. 32:7
A HISTORY OF BEGINNING AND CONDUCT OF YE BAPTIST PEOPLE, OF JESUS CHRIST, OF ALEXANDER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF HISTORY I TAKE TO BE THIS: TO PREVENT VIRTUOUS ACTIONS FROM BEING FORGOTTEN ... TACITUS
CONTENTS, HEREIN, COLLECTED AND ASSEMBLED BY :
WILLIAM FRED BROOKSHIRE TAYLORSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
1952
648- A53
B76 1952
Will you who happen to read these pages, search for error and where found please place a page there making any needed correction on the added page with your name also.
Will you in addition to the above, place an extra page wherever needed, and add any facts you may have about the matter there discussed. Please place your name on such page.
If you will do this as requested, the writer feels that you will be doing the Baptist Cause a good deed.
90865
Please, if you ever write or quote any statement or fact of any nature from this writing, tell from what source you found such information.
Please say :
From a History of Beginning and Conduct of Ye Baptist People of Jesus Christ of Alexander County, N. C., By William Fred Brook- shire.
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Some facts about a New Testament Church
1. Christ built it. Founded it. Instituted it. Matt. 16:18 and Col. 1:18.
2. The Bible its charter: 2 Tim. 3:15-17
3. It was a single independent body, more than one such are and were Churches. Acts 2:47 Acts 16:5
4. Its government was congregational. Matt. 18:15-17, L Cor. 5:4, 2 Cor. 2:6-8
5. Believers composed or constituted it. Acts 2:47, Eph. 2:21, 1 Peter 2:15, John 1:12
6. It had two ordinances: Baptism and the Memorial Supper. Matt. 28:19-20, Luke 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:24-25
7. In its membership were individuals of various callings such as Teachers, Pastors, Deacons, Evangelists. Acts 13:1, 1 Cor. 12:28-31
8. Its officers were Bishops or Elders of Pastors and Deacons. Acts 6:1-6, 1 Tim. 3:1-16. It also had a clerk or secretary. Acts 1:15, Acts 2:47, Acts 4:4
9. Its work or mission was to evangeliz e, make disciples. Matt. 28:16-20
10. Its nature was spiritual. 2 Cor. 10:4. Eph. 6:10-20.
11. It was an independent body, separate from the state. Matt. 22:21.
12. Its internal and propigative needs were met by voluntarily offerings. 1. Cor. 9:14, 1. Cor. 16:2.
13. It fellowshiped or associated with other like bodies in its propigation of the faith. 1 Cor. 16:9. 2 Cor. 8:1, 19, 23, 24 and 2 Cor. 11:8. 1 Cor. 16:1-4
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Unto Him be glory in the Church by CHRIST JESUS throughout all ages, orld without end. Amen. Eph. 3:21.
If CHRIST is to have glory in the Church throughout all ages, there must be a Church throughout all ages, and if we are to have Baptist Church History there must be a beginning of that history. We find a record of the first Baptist, the first Baptist preacher and the first Baptist Church in the book called THE NEW TESTAMENT known as the WORD OF GOD.
"Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the LORD, make his paths straight. Mark 1:2-3.
Now in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar ... 1. Luke 3:1. The word of GOD came unto John the son of Sacharias in the wilder- ness, and he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Luke 3:2-3 2.
Now when all the people were baptized, ... JESUS also being baptized, ... Luke 3: 21. And JESUS himself began to be about 30 years of age, ... Luke 3:23.
Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples and looking upon JESUS as he walked, he saith, behold the LAMB OF GOD! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed JESUS. John 1:35, 36, 37.
In Matt. 3:1, John is called Baptist, and in Matt. 11:11, JESUS himself calls John a Baptist.
Since our LORD himself called John a Baptist and he was himself baptized by John and called those whom John had baptized, to himself, he there founded the First Baptist Church. 3,4.
1. See Josephus Antiquities of the Jews, page 538, for his date of this event. (A.D. 29). John A. Broadus thinks it was A.D. 25 or 26. See his Harmony of the Gospels. Edersheim thinks it was A. D. 26. See his Life and Times of JESUS, Vol. 1, page 244.
2. Thayer, Contopoulus, Cremer's and other Creek Lexicons giving dipping, immerse, plunge as the mode or method of baptising.
3. Note the frequent reference in the New Testament to two or three believers form or constitute a church.
4. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, ... Acts 1:21,22.
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I believe that God not only has had people in all ages, but that he has had an organized people.
Christ instituted the Church, he established it in the days of his flesh.
The first thought that I would impress upon the mind is that Christ alone founded His Church. I mean that the Church was established in the days of His sojurn in the flesh; that the work of its construction commenced with the reception of the material prepared by John the Baptist. That organization commenced with the appoint- ment of the twelve apostles, and that by the close of His earthly ministry there existed at least one Church as a model, the Church at Jerusalem."
1. All statements above are from that eminent Baptist, Dr. B. H. Carroll in his "Interpretation of the English Bible."
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Whether the Church was begun here or later, it remains true that CHRIST immediately added to the number and soon began speaking of the Church, he gave commandment- to it to evangelize, baptize and to observe the memorial supper. There were over 500 brethren gathered' to see and hear Christ at one time before he ascended and there were about 120 on the roll before pentecost. 4 Some estimate that this Church reached a membership of from 25 to 50 thousand members.
A Church has been described thus :
"A Church is a Congregation of CHRIST'S baptized disciples united in their belief of what he said and covenanting to do what he has commanded. "
What is a Church?
A band of faithful men
Met for GOD'S worship in some humble room, .
Or screened from foes by midnight's starlit gloom,
On hillside or lone glen
To hear the consels of GOD'S Holy Word
Pledged to each other and their common LORD.
These, few as they may be,
Compose a Church, such as in pristine ages
Defied the tryant's steel, the bigot's rage.
For, when but two or three,
Whate'er the place, in faith's communion meet,
There, with CHRIST present, is a Church complete.6
Some have expressed the start thus: When Jesus called the men out that had been saved under the preach- ing of John the Baptist and had been baptized by him he had the starting point of the Church on earth.
1. See Matt. 18:15-17, see also Paul's reference Phil. Ver 2, and Rom. 16:3,4,5.
2. See Matt. 28:19,20, and Luke 22:19,20.
3. See 1 Cor. 15:6.
4. See Acts 1:15.
5. Read all of Acts.
6. Biblical Illustrator, Galations.
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This First Baptist Church, at Jerusalem, ordained officers, selected one to take the place of Judas, sent out missionaries and transacted other business. "And the LORD added to them day by day those that were saved." Am. S. V. Acts 2:47. This Church was not by herself long for: ... they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." Acts 8:4, and there were soon Baptist Churches established in- Antioch, in Cilicia, in Syria, in Corinth, in Rome and other places. Paul, Barnabas, Apollis, Timothy, Philip and other of the disciples and brethren were ever preaching and spreading the gospel as well as establishing Churches." "And so were the Churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. " Acts 16:5.
Of the laborers of our LORD who established Churches in this early day it is clear that Paul was in labour often and must have out- stripped and out ran the others in this great work, one is thrilled to read his own words about his work as they are found in the Epistles of his own signature. Indeed it was a large era over which the gospel spread during his lifetime. "And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and recieved all that came in unto him. Preaching the kingdom of GOD, and teaching those things which concern the LORD JESUS CHRIST, with all confidence no man forbid- ding him." Acts 28:30,31. "Whensoever I take my journey into Spain." Rom. 15:24. "I will come by you into Spain. " Rom. 15:28.2
Baptists were not long in getting to England as Davis in his history of Welsh Baptists tells us that they suffered terrible3 persecution in the year 300 A.D., they were surely there if they suffered there. He accounts for their origin by tracing them back to Paul at Rome in the year A.D. 63. He also says that Welsh Baptists have always been Missionary Baptists. Benedict, in his history says that the Baptists were old in Wales in 597 A. D. 4 and they had a school and an Association, and that the Welsh Baptists had the fullest confidence that their sentiments have always lived in their mountaineous retreats, from the Apostolic age to the present time. History tells of an old Baptist Church which dates back to 500 A.D. and its record show that it sent out Missionaries just like they did in the days of Paul.
1. There were only Baptist Churches at this time.
2. Tradition and ancient men say that Paul went to Spain.
3. See Davis, History of Welsh Baptists.
4. Benedicts History of Baptists.
5. Hill Cliff Church. See Kenworthy's History.
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The Welsh Baptists have a peculair history. They do not claim to have had any particular connection with the Anabaptists of Europe, but to have originated from the Apostles direct.
"It must have already occured to our readers that the Baptists are the same sect of Christians that were formerly described under the appellation of Anabaptists. Indeed this seems to have been their leading principle from the time of Tertullian to the present time." - From the days of Tertullian down to the present time there have been independent congregations of Christians, holding and practicing Baptist principles who have tenaciously contended for the faith once delivered.
"Were it not that the Baptists have been grieviously tormented and cut off with the knife during the past 12 hundred years, they would swarm in greater numbers than all the reformers." < (The date of this statement being 1524, it would make the persecution go back to 324 A.D. )
"Before the rise of Luther and Calvin, there lay secreted in al- most all the countries of Europe persons who adhered tenaciously to the principles of modern Dutch Baptists." 3
The Albigenses, reformers of the seventh century, so far as the history enables us to decide, were Baptists; and so were the Waldenses and the Petrobrussians, reformers of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, who kept the light of pure christianity burning when everywhere else in the world it was quenched in the slough of Romish corruption.
1. See Edinburgh Cyclopedia.
2. Cardinal Hosius (Catholic) , 1524.
3. Mosheim.
4. See Baptists and the National Centenary.
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The Baptists of America are indebted to Welsh men for laying the foundation of their denomination, to a large extent, in North Carolina and South Carolina, New York and Virginia, and they were first to found a Baptist Church in R. I., Penn., Mass., and Del .-
It appears that the first Baptist Church consitututed on American soil was at New Port, R. I., in the spring of 1638. This Church was founded by Elder John Clark and exists today under the name of "The United Baptist Church, John Clark Memorial. " 2
In 1682 a Baptist Church was organized at Charleston, S. C., and is today a living organism.
Morgan Edwards speaks of Baptists leaving Virginia to escape the intolerant laws there and coming to North Carolina as early as 1695.
Records indicate that the first Baptist Church established in North Carolina was the Chowan, in 1727. This Church had 32 members in 1729. It lived only a few years.
There is an old Baptist Church in South Carolina that traces its connection directly to the old Baptists of Wales.
The most important company from which the Baptists of Virginia arose was, according to Semple, the "third party" and came from New England. They were called the "New Light's" and were under Shubael Stearns, their pastor. ... they went to Hampshire County, where hearing that the people of North Carolina were thirsting for the preaching of the gospel, to hear which some had been known to walk 40 miles; they went a journey of 200 miles to Sandy Creek, N. C., Guilford County, and there November 22, 1755, consitutad a church with 16 members, of which Stearns became pastor.
"Shubael Stearns, Daniel Marshall and Samuel Harriss were the prin- cipal founders of the Baptist interests in the South. They were the first three, and their names should be held in everlasting remem- berance."
Elder Shubael Stearns lies buried at old Sandy Creek Church, in the western section of Chatham County.
1. See Cook's Baptists in All Places.
2. See First Baptist Church, J. R. Graves.
3. See Semple's History of Virginia Baptists.
4. See Cramp's History of the Baptists.
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The old Philadelphia Baptist Association sent missionaries to North Carolina, and so did the New Jersey settlement. To these well in- formed men of God we owe much - for the uniform doctrines and practices which are our heritage.
It is interesting to read some of the covenants and articles of faith of these early Baptists :
Article 31 of The Philadelphia Confession of Faith: "Laying on of hands (with prayer) upon baptized believers, as such is an ordinance of CHRIST, and ought to be submitted to by all such persons that are admitted to partake of the LORD'S Supper. "
Most of the oldest Churches in this country . . practiced the laying on of hands on all newly baptized members.
"Ruling Elders" did not exercise the same function as those of the same name in the Presbyterian Churches of today. They were laymen elected by each Church for itself to assist the minister in the management of the Church, with spiritual rather than temporal fun- ctions, and did not exercise more authority than any other member. 1
"This Church solemly agree to keep up the worship of God in ordinances and prayer and to celebrate the Lord's Supper the first Sabbath in each month."
3rdly We do promise to bear with one another's infirmities and weak- nesses, with much tenderness, not discovering them to any in the Church, but by gospel rule and order, which is laid down in Matt. 18:15,16,17.
"Believing the old and new Testament to be the perfect rule for life and practice and 2ly Repentance from dead works and 3ly faith towards God and 4ly the Doctrine of baptism and 5ly Laying on of hands and 6lý the perseverance of saints and 7ly the resurection of the dead and 8ly Eternal Judgement." +
1. See Vol. 1, N. C. Baptists, G. W. Paschal.
2. From and old Baptist Church Book.
3. From an old Covenant, said to have been written 1757.
4. From an old Book, dated 1783.
One half of the soldiers of the battle of King's Mountain were from the County of Wilkes; this was where American authority was restored and the turning point of the fortunes of America. See Crouch's History, page 57.
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Coming from Virginia and being converted from a wicked state, in 1757, Joseph Murphy was baptized by Elder Shubal Stearns at Deep River, N. C., and was ordained by Elder Stearns in 1760. He labored much in carrying the gospel to the early settlers and established several churches. He worked at Little River in the present County of Mont- gomery, at Shallow Ford on the Yadkin, near the present Forsyth County line, this church had a meeting house as early as 1769, 26 by 30 feet. From this Shallow Ford Church, Murphy with other workers, some of whom were: David Allen, John Cates, Tindance Lane, Jonathan Mulky, Joshua Kebley and other worked up the Yadkin river spreading the gospel. Shallow Ford Church had at least three branches, one near by, one at Mullberry Fields near the Moravian settlement and a third at the head of the Yadkin, now Patterson, N. C. 1
This Church at Mullberry Fields (now Wilkesboro, N. C.) was located a short distance south of the present court house in Wilkesboro. It was established in 1769 or 1770, the building was of logs, had a dirt floor, split logs for a roof, a section was cut out opposite the door to let in air and light, the seats were of split logs with sticks driven into the logs to support them. It was most likely about 24 by 36 feet in size. The land on which the building stood was entered by Morgan Bryan. The second session of Wilkes County Court was held in this building in 1778. 2
The meetings of Mullberry Fields were well attended as there were many settlers around by this time, in 1765 150 men signed a petition for a new (Wilkes) County to be set up.
General William Lenoir, writing of Mullberry Fields and Wilkes County, in 1824 says :
"Surry was frontier country in 1775, including Wilkes, Ashe, and Burke, and extending to the Mississippi river. It was thinly in- habited being an entire wilderness." 3 Then Mullberry Fields Meeting House was the only place of worship in said County. It was built by the Baptists and very large congregations of different persuasions of people attended their meetings. The men generally dressed in hunting shirts, short breeches, leggins and moccasins. The ladies in linsy (flax) petticoats and bed gowns and often without shoes in summer. ... They appeared very orderly and devout at meetings, and going to their homes you would find them living well and they would treat you with great hospitality, giving you plenty of pork, beef bear, meat and vension; also milk, butter, cheese and honey.
1. C. B. Williams in his Baptist History, as well as others think that the church at Patterson was established in 1760.
2. Some of this information was furnished by Dr. J. E. Hodges. See 3. Historical Sketches of Wilkes, by Crouch, Annals of Caldwell by W. W. Scott and Vol. 1 and 2 of Paschal's Baptist History, and other local histories, including one by J. F. Fletcher.
4. See Notes of Morgan Edwards, copy in N. C. State Library.
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Thus we have in General William Lenoir a personal eye witness 1 account of the first Baptist Church near us. 2 And here is an incident that occured there one day while he was there:
The rumor was that mischief was going on by the Torries,' Lenoir went to his horse tied some distance from the house, and as he approached a man ran off from the opposite side of the horse. Lenoir hailed him but he did not stop; he pursued him and found that he had stolen one of the stirrups off his aaddle. He carried the pilferer to Colonel Cleveland, + who ordered him to place his two thumbs in a notch for that purpose in an arbor fork and hold them there while he ordered him to recieve 15 lashes. This was his peculiar manner of inflicting the law and gave origin to the phrase "to thumb the notch." 5,6
1. General Lenoir was a great hero and leader in the war for free- dom. He was engaged at Kings Mountain, N. C., he drove about 900 prisoners by Lenoir, N. C., Moravion Falls, N. C., and Wilkesboro, N. C., on the say to Salem. He was born in Virginia in 1751. He died in North Carolina in 1839. The city of Lenoir is named for him, he lived there for some time after leaving Wilkesboro. He built a fine home on the Yadkin called Fort Defiance. His body was laid to rest there and later Lenoirs occupy the place.
2. See G. W. Greene's Historical papers, April 1829, he says "The oldest Church is the 'Head of the Yadkin', one mile below Patterson, N. C., Organized about 1760.
3. Colonel Cleveland was a rather large man and was tough on those who he had in his hands, it appears that he was a one man court which carried out its sentences, he having executed (or had it done) many. See Crouch's Historical Sketches of Wilkes.
4.
5. For other Items of local history see:
History of Alexander County by W. E. White History of Alexander County by Steve Watts and/or W. C. Watts (To Be Published) History of Caldwell County by W. W. Scott History of Western North Carolina, by Arthur Primitive History of the Mountains by W. L. Bryan School of the Prophets by W. E. Linney History of Brushy Mountain Baptists by Dr. H. G. Duncan Happy Valley by T. E. Hickerson
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The faithful clerks of Mullberry Fields and Head of Yadkin Churches and those of which the Mullberry Field Church was a branch have left us a few notes about their internal affairs, so did Morgan Edwards, a few of these are herewith presented :
In reference to the Head of the Yadkin Church:
Thomas Fields was the first clerk and Elder George McNeil was long pastor of this Church. 1
On Novermber 28, 1773, in relation to Mullberry Feilds Church. Baptized 11, John Prophet, Luke Lee, Alexander Holton, Samuel Rite, John Simson, Susannah Prophet, Susannah Pluacher, Elizabeth Beacon, Elizabeth Lee, Elizabeth Jones, Mary Simson. A total of 30 members. 2
January 22, 1774. - Observed Lord's Supper, and baptized Edward Boone, Peter Butner, William Rite, Orvilla Greene, John Barker, Ann Rite, Hannah Greene, Elizabeth Barker, a total of 38. Chose Alexander Holton a Deacon.
August 28, 1774. - Baptized Daniel Bailey, Bozel Owens, Jessee Band, Cathrine Vannoy, Rebecca Turpin. William Turpin by experience and letter.
Another record shows that: Quilla and Harvah Greene were baptized by Mullberry Fields Church in 1774. 3 These could possibly be the same persons named in the minutes of Jan 22, 1774.
It is shown here that Mullberry Fields Church did: Baptize. Did recieve by Letter by Experience. Did observe the Lord's Supper. Did have at least one Deacon. Did Baptize more than one time a year and also in the winter. 5
1. Greene's Historical Papers.
2. From records of Durchmans Creek Church, G. W. Paschal.
3. By J. E. Hodges.
4. This Bozel Owens may have been the Welch man named Owens living there when the Moravians came there in 1752. See Arthur's History of Western North Carolina, Page 65.
5. See Morgan Edwards notes, copy in the North Carolina State Library. He was here referring to Shallow Ford Church of which Mullberry Fields was a branch. See Paschal's History of North Carolina Baptists, Vol. 1.
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Elder Morgan Edwards was a native of Wales who came to Philadelphia in 1761 to pastor a Church, was in North Carolina during 1772, he made some notes on what he found, the foblowing is from them: -
Speaking of Shallow Fords on the Yadkin he says: 2
Ruling Elders, laying on of hands here admitted, but stand divided about washing feet &.
Speaking of Rocky River, he says:
Ruling Elders, laying on of hands admitted here. Divided about Love-Feasts, washing feet &.
As previously stated, Elder Joseph Murphy was pastor at Shallow Fords Church when Mullberry Fields was established as a branch of that Church, he had a brother William who was also a preacher, the two were called the Murphy boys, below is a description of one of their services:
He "Samuel Harris" "On one of his routes to visit the forts in his official character,' he called at a small house, where he understood there was to be baptist preaching. The preachers were Joseph and William Murphy. Being rigged in his military dress he was not will- ing to appear in a conspicious place, he seated himself behind a loom, God, nevertheless, found him out by his spirit. His convictions now sunk so deep, that he could no longer conceal them. He left his sword and other parts of his rigging, some in one place and some in another. The arrows of the Almighty stuck fast in him, nor could he shake them off untill some time after. At a meeting when
the congregation rose from prayer, colonel Harris was observed still on his knees, with his head and hands hanging over the bench. Some of the people went to his relief and found him senseless. When he came to himself, he smiled, and in all estacy of joy, exclaimed, "Glory! Glory! Glory!'" Daniel Marshall baptized him in 1758. He began at once, like Paul, to preach.
1. Copy of these notes in N. C. State Library.
2 .. This is the Church that established the branch at Mullberry Fields (Wilkesboro, N. C.)
3. See Semple's History of Virginia Baptists.
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Mullberry Fields Church as stated before was established first by the Shallow Fords Church. It appears, however, that it had a rather up and down life, being a branch of one Church, then of another .- Dutchmans Creek Church was established March 5, 1772, having erected a building as early as 1765. Mullberry Fields Church was conneced with this Church for several years,< it was also connected with South Fork of Roaring River and appears to have been finally absorbed by this Church in the 1820s. 3
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