USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Shrewsbury > A history of Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia : including the Woodbridgetown and Salemville churches in Pennsylvania and the Shrewsbury church in New Jersey > Part 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > Salemville > A history of Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia : including the Woodbridgetown and Salemville churches in Pennsylvania and the Shrewsbury church in New Jersey > Part 24
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"It shall be the duty of the moderator to preserve order during the deliberations of the association; and he shall have a casting vote in case of an equal division.
"The secretary shall keep a record of the transactions of the association at its annual meetings, and shall record the same in a book, to be provided for that purpose, which shall be presented at the annual meetings of the association, together with all valuable papers belonging to the association, and shall deliver the same to his successor.
"Art. 4. All resolutions shall be presented in writing, and no resolution or motion shall be put by the moderator, or debated by the members of the association, unless said resolutions shall have been seconded.
"All resolutions or motions shall, in ordinary cases, be decided by a majority of the members of the association; but in all cases, when requested, they shall be decided by the churches; i. e., the delegates of each church shall give but one vote, which shall be decided by a majority of its representatives.
"Art. 5. This association shall choose annually, a corresponding secretary, whose duty it shall be to correspond with other associations, with the General Conference, and with every other body whereby the cause of truth may be advanced; and shall submit his correspondence to the examination of the association at its annual session.
"Art. 6. This association shall not interfere with the internal con- cerns of the churches of which it is composed, so as to infringe on their independence; but shall act as an advisory council when necessary. In case any church shall depart from the faith, or become corrupt in
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practise, this association may inquire into such defect, and labour with them; and if they cannot be reclaimed, they may be dropped from the association.
"Art. 7. All elders not examined and ordained by the Presbytery of the General Conference, or this association, shall be examined by a committee appointed by the association, before they are admitted as members thereof.
"Art. 8. This association shall, at its annual meetings, appoint a number of delegates (the number to be agreed on annually) to repre- sent this association and to represent it to the General Conference at its meetings.
"Art. 9. No alteration shall be made to these articles, unless such alterations shall have been presented at a preceding annual meeting and approved by a majority of the churches represented."
The Second Annual Session of the South-Western Asso- ciation was held at New Salem, Virginia, beginning August 20, 1840. The introductory discourse was preached by Lewis Bond, in the absence of Ezekiel Bee who had been appointed for that purpose.
The association organised with Lewis Bond as moderator, and Henry R. Stillman and Jepthah F. Randolph as secre- taries. Stillman Coon appeared as a delegate from the Western Association. The churches reporting were -as follows :- Lost Creek, New Salem, South Fork of Hughes River, and North Fork of Hughes River, in Virginia ; Woodbridgetown of Penn- sylvania ; Pike and North Hampton of Ohio. The last named was known the year before, as the Temperance Reform Church of Pike. The grievances presented the preceding year by two Ohio churches were, at this session, referred to a com- mittee, who reported that, in their belief, a committee should be appointed to labour to effect a reconciliation, either in per- son or by writing, and Rev. Stillman Coon and Lewis Bond were named as such committee. Lewis Sammons was appointed a delegate to the Western Association, and William F. Randolph as his alternate. The association adjourned to meet with the church at North Hampton in Pike Township, Clarke County, Ohio, at 10 o'clock A. M., on the Fifth Day of the week before the second Sabbath in October, 1841.
The Third Annual Session of the South-Western Asso- ciation convened at the time and place appointed, and the introductory sermon was preached by Lewis A. Davis, after which the association organised for business by the appoint-
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ment of John Forsythe as moderator and Lemon Lippincott and John Babcock as clerks. The following churches reported :- From Virginia; New Salem and Lost Creek. From Ohio; Pike and North Hampton. The Woodbridgetown Church, of Pennsylvania, made no report. The South Fork of Hughes River, and North Fork of Hughes River churches, in Virginia, also failed to report.
Aside from the discord existing among the Ohio churches there appears to have been entire harmony and union through- out the sessions of the association, for the report of the com- mittee on the state of religion expresses gratitude for the harmony and union apparent in most of the churches.
At this session of the association, Bethuel C. Church pre- sented himself as a candidate for ordination, when the asso- ciation took the following action :-
"RESOLVED, That we believe that he [Bethel C. Church] ought to be ordained and that the case be referred to the Presbytery of this association, who shall examine and ordain him if they think proper."
At this early date the temperance question received con- sideration, as is shown by the following preamble and resolu- tion, which were unanimously adopted :-
Whereas, Intemperance is a prolific source of evil, moral and physical; therefore,
"RESOLVED, That this association sustain the cause of tem- perance as advocated by its friends in the United States."
Joshua Hill was appointed a delegate to the General Conference for the ensuing year.
The Presbytery evidently took favourable action upon the question of the ordination of Bethuel C. Church, for, at the close of the association, he was ordained. The ordination sermon was preached by Lewis A. Davis.
The Fourth Annual Session met according to appoint- ment, with the church at Port Jefferson, Ohio, on October 13, 1842. The introductory sermon was preached by Joshua Hill. Simeon Babcock was appointed moderator, and William F. Randolph and Richard C. Bond, secretaries.
Reports were presented from the Lost Creek and New Salem churches, in Virginia; and the North Hampton Church, of Ohio. The Woodbridgetown Church, of Pennsylvania ; the South Fork of Hughes River, and the North Fork of
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Hughes River churches, of Virginia; and the Pike Church, of Ohio, failed to report. The following churches of Ohio were admitted as members of the association :- Port Jefferson, Jackson Centre, Sciota, and Stokes. Lewis A. Davis was appointed delegate to the Western Association, with Joshua Hill as his alternate.
Through a committee, a claim was presented for mis- sionary work within the bounds of the association. Joshua Hill was appointed an agent to preach upon the Sabbath ques- tion whenever a suitable opportunity should offer.
While the report of the committee on the state of religion shows that there was a commendable degree of union existing among the churches, it appears that the Pike Township Church had voted itself out of the association, and a committee consist- ing of Rev. Peter Davis and L. D. Ayres was appointed to "visit, inquire the cause, and admonish the brethren of said church, and report to the next association."
The Lost Creek Church presented a request for the ordi- nation of Richard C. Bond. This request was referred to the Presbytery, which acted favourably upon it, and the ordination took place on the First Day of the week, the last day of the session. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Lewis A. Davis, the consecrating prayer was offered by Rev. Peter Davis, and the charge to the candidate was given by Rev. Lewis A. Davis. The right hand of fellowship was offered by Rev. Joshua Hill. The benediction was pronounced by Richard C. Bond.
The Fifth Annual Session of the association convened at Lost Creek, Virginia, October 18, 1843. The introductory sermon was preached by Richard C. Bond, after which the association organised with Joshua Hill as moderator, and Jonathan Bond and Benjamin Franklin Bond as secretaries. The following churches reported :- Lost Creek, New Salem, North Fork of Hughes River, and South Fork of Hughes River, from Virginia ; Woodbridgetown, from Pennsylvania ; North Hampton, Port Jefferson, Sciota, Jackson Centre, and Stokes, from Ohio. The church of Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, was admitted to membership in the asso- ciation.
The committee appointed the previous year to inquire into
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the cause of the withdrawal of the Pike Church from the association, rendered a report, which was adopted, and the church dropped from the association.
A petition was presented by William F. Randolph, which set forth that the New Salem Church had difficulties existing in it and that it refused to have these difficulties adjusted. The subject of this petition was prominent throughout this session of the association, and a committee, consisting of Rev. Thomas B. Brown and Benjamin Franklin Bond, was finally appointed to inquire into these difficulties and report upon them.
Notwithstanding the dissensions within the organisation itself, and within some of the churches of which the asso- ciation was composed, the report of the committee on the state of religion was a very hopeful one, and Sabbath reform and Sabbath observance were especially emphasised.
The association met for its Sixth Annual Session with the church at Jackson Centre, Shelby County, Ohio, October 9, 1844. Rev. Joshua Hill preached the introductory sermon, Richard C. Bond was elected moderator, and Eli Forsythe and James Hill, clerks.
The missionary committee reported that Richard C. Bond had laboured among the churches since February last, under an appointment from the Missionary Association, that he had spent one hundred and twenty-two days, travelled fifteen hun- dred and seventeen miles, and preached eighty-nine sermons.
A plan for missionary operations for the coming year was adopted, recommending that the association be divided into two districts, with the Ohio River as the dividing line, and that the churches in each district be requested to raise money to support a missionary. An executive committee in each district was appointed to carry out the plan.
The following churches reported to the association :- North Hampton, Port Jefferson, Jackson Centre, and Stokes, of Ohio; Lost Creek, and North Fork of Hughes River, of Virginia. The New Salem, and South Fork of Hughes River churches, of Virginia, failed to report; as did the Sciota Church of Ohio; the Madison, Indiana, Church; and the Woodbridgetown Church, of Pennsylvania.
The committee which had been appointed the preceding (17)
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year to inquire into the difficulties existing in the New Salem Church, failed to make a report, and Rev. Joel Greene and Lewis Bond were appointed a new committee, and requested to report at the next annual meeting of the association.
Richard C. Bond was appointed a delegate to the General Conference and Lewis A. Davis was appointed a delegate to the Western Association. It was also voted that the associa- tion should be divided, making the Ohio River the line of division, and that the division should take effect after the next annual session.
The Seventh Annual Session of the South-Western Asso- ciation, according to previous appointment, convened with the New Salem Church, October 8, 1845. The introductory ser- mon was preached by Rev. Richard C. Bond, after which the association organised by the appointment of Rev. John Davis as moderator and Isaac F. Randolph, secretary. The follow- ing churches reported :- Lost Creek, New Salem, and North Fork of Hughes River, of Virginia; and the Jackson Centre and Port Jefferson churches, of Ohio. The South Fork of Hughes River Church, of Virginia, made no returns, nor did the Woodbridgetown Church, of Pennsylvania. The North Hampton, Sciota, and Stokes churches of Ohio, and the Mad- ison Church of Indiana, also failed to report.
Richard C. Bond was appointed agent for preaching on the Sabbath question for the ensuing year.
Concerning the difficulties previously reported as existing within the New Salem Church, drastic action was taken by the association and the incident apparently closed.
The Eighth Annual Session of the association was held with the Jackson Centre Church, and began on the 8th of October, 1846. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. Joshua Hill. Rev. Simeon Babcock was appointed mod- erator, and Eli Forsythe and James Hill, secretaries. The following churches reported to the association at this ses- sion :- Lost Creek and New Salem, of Virginia ; Jackson Centre, Stokes, Port Jefferson, North Hampton, and Sciota, of Ohio. The report of the committee on the state of religion shows that religious conditions were at a low ebb throughout the association. The action taken two years before, dividing the association, was rescinded, as repugnant to the feelings of
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the body. Missionary work received prominent attention at the hands of the association, which resolved itself into a missionary body, and each member was requested to pay quar- terly at the rate of one cent, or more, per week to support the missionary work of the association. Each church was to be provided with a treasurer for this fund, and the treasurers were appointed by the association. Rev. Joshua Hill was appointed an agent to lay this subject before the churches and, if possible, secure favourable action by them. The treas- urer of each church was expected to visit and solicit subscrip- tions from the members of his respective church.
The Ninth Annual Session was held with the church at Lost Creek, Harrison County, Virginia, beginning the 4th day of October, 1847. In the absence of Rev. Joshua Hill, who had been appointed to preach the introductory sermon, Samuel D. Davis preached from Psalm CXIII, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity," ctc.
Eli Bond was appointed moderator, and William F. Ran- dolph and Joshua G. Babcock, secretaries. The following churches reported :- Lost Creek, and New Salem of Virginia ; Jackson Centre, Stokes, North Hampton, and Sciota of Ohio. The South Fork of Hughes River, and North Fork of Hughes River churches, of Virginia; the Port Jefferson Church, of Ohio; the Woodbridgetown Church, of Pennsylvania; and the Madison Church, of Indiana made no report.
The association adopted the following resolution :-
"RESOLVED, That the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Asso- ciation, in its efforts to propagate the Gospel in foreign lands, is entitled to the warmest sympathies and vigorous support of our entire denom- ination; that we anxiously commend the mission in China to the prayers and liberalities of the churches; and that we especially request the ministers and the churches of this association to adopt the plan recommended by Walter B. Gillette in the Sabbath Recorder of Feb- ruary 25, 1847."
The association met for its Tenth Annual Session with the church at Jackson Centre, Shelby County, Ohio, on the 12th day of October, 1848, at 10 o'clock A. M. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. Joshua Hill. Joshua Hill was elected moderator, and Eli Forsythe and Benjamin Clement, secretaries. The following churches submitted annual
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reports :- Lost Creek, and New Salem, of Virginia ; and North Hampton, Port Jefferson, Sciota, Jackson Centre, and Stokes, of Ohio. The South Fork of Hughes River, and North Fork of Hughes River churches of Virginia ; the Woodbridge- town Church of Pennsylvania; and the Madison Church of Indiana all failed to report. The report of the committee on the state of religion set forth that the churches of Wood- bridgetown, Pennsylvania; and Madison, Indiana, were believed to have become extinct by deaths and removal of families to more western parts. The tone of the committee's report is, nevertheless, upon the whole a confident and encour- aging one.
The action of the previous year recommending the adop- tion of a plan for regular contributions for missionary work, seems to have failed for lack of co-operation of the churches. Vigorous resolutions were adopted, however, commending the work of the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Association and the American Sabbath Tract Society, and endorsing the Sabbath Recorder.
A resolution was adopted, strongly condemning secret societies, on the grounds that "their real tendency is anti- Christian and that they are dangerous to the true interests of society."
The minutes of the association as published in the Sabbath Recorder, of November 2, 1848, are accompanied by a letter from Rev. Samuel Davisson, who says that while the attendance from the churches of Ohio was good, there was but one delegate from the churches in Virginia, and there were but two ordained ministers in attendance belonging to the asso- ciation. The only other ordained minister in the association, Rev. Lewis A. Davis, having become physically incapacitated for professional duties, had removed to another part of the state. Rev. Samuel Davisson speaks in high terms of the apparent zeal and good spirit, both of the clergy and laymen, and com- mends the efforts made by the association to have missionary work done, and explains that the association has been badly hampered because of the restricted financial resources of its church membership. Of the ministers, he says nothing but praise. Lewis A. Davis had exhausted himself physically, by
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riding, practising as a physician, and labouring beyond his strength as a preacher of the Gospel in a comparatively new country, and had left his field of labour because he did not know how to deny urgent applications, even when he knew they were taxing him beyond his strength. Rev. Samuel Davisson called attention to the fact that while there were several men licenced to preach, there was but one ordained minister, Rev. Peter Davis, among the churches in Virginia. He also believed that the association should be divided, as had been previously proposed, for the reason, that as it now existed, it was really two associations holding biennial meetings, instead of one holding annual meeting.
The Eleventh Annual Session of the association convened with the church at Lost Creek, Virginia, on the 11th day of October, 1849, at eleven o'clock A. M. The introductory dis- course was preached by Samuel D. Davis. Rev. Peter Davis was appointed moderator, William F. Randolph, clerk, and Jacob Davis, assistant clerk. The following churches reported to the association :- Lost Creek and New Salem of Virginia ; and North Hampton, Jackson Centre, and Stokes of Ohio. The South Fork of Hughes River and North Fork of Hughes River churches of Virginia, and the Port Jefferson and Sciota churches of Ohio made no report.
Rev. Peter Davis, on the second day of the session, resigned his office as moderator, on account of the infirmities of age, and James Simpson was appointed in his place. The question of dividing the association, with the Ohio River as the dividing line, was again raised, but was left over until the next annual session, and all the churches of the association were requested to present their views on the subject at that time.
The report of the executive committee on missions showed that Benjamin Clement had laboured a few weeks among the churches of Ohio and that the committee had corresponded with Rev. Azor Estee of Petersburgh, New York, and had arranged with him to come and engage in missionary work within the bounds of the association. The report of the com- mittee was adopted and the corresponding secretary was instructed to communicate with Rev. Azor Estee and request him to come upon the field at once.
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The Lost Creek Church requested the ordination of Sam- uel D. Davis to the work of the gospel ministry, but as there was but one ordained minister in attendance, Rev. Peter Davis, and he preferred to have assistance in the work, the ordination was deferred until another time.
The Twelfth Annual Session of the association was held with the church at Jackson Centre, Shelby County, Ohio, begin- ning October 10, 1850, at eleven o'clock A. M.
Rev. Azor Estee, who had been appointed to preach the introductory sermon, was not present at the meeting, and his place was filled by Rev, Rowse Babcock. The association organised with Rev. Rowse Babcock as moderator, and Eli Forsythe and Joshua G. Babcock, clerks.
It was voted that the association should be divided, with the Ohio River as the dividing line, and that the part lying north of the Ohio should be called the Ohio Seventh Day Baptist Association. It was further decided that the aims and work of the Ohio Association should be similar to those of its predecessor, the South-Western Association.
Strong temperance ground was taken by the association and a vigorous protest made against war and secret societies. The work of the Sabbath Tract Society was endorsed. The following churches reported at this association :- Lost Creek, New Salem, and South Fork of Hughes River, of Virginia ; North Hampton, Port Jefferson, Jackson Centre, and Stokes, of Ohio ; and Woodbridgetown of Pennsylvania, the latter report- ing a membership of five. The North Fork of Hughes River Church, of Virginia ; and the Sciota Church, of Ohio, failed to report.
Rev. Lewis A. Davis, who two years before was reported as incapacitated for ministerial work, was in attendance upon the association, in which he took an active part, and the asso- ciation recommended that the executive committee engage him as a missionary.
THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION.
The churches of western Virginia met on April 14, 1851, with the Middle Island Church, at a house belonging to Jepthah F. Randolph, on the Meat House Fork of Middle
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Island Creek,1 at the mouth of Wolf Pen Run, and organised themselves into the Virginia Association.
The new association met for its First Annual Session with the church at New Salem on the fourth day of September, 1851, at 10 o'clock A. M. Rev. Azor Estee preached the introductory sermon. Samuel D. Davis was appointed mod- erator, Jacob Davis and Jepthah F. Randolph, secretaries, and George J. Davis, treasurer. The following churches reported to the association :- Lost Creek, New Salem, Middle Island, and South Fork of Hughes River. The church at Woodbridgetown, Pennsylvania, was received as a member of the new body. The following topics were presented for dis- cussion :-
"Is it Christian duty to hold any office whatever under the political government ?"
"What is our duty as Christians with respect to the subject of war?"
"What is our duty with respect to using and trafficing in intoxi- cating drinks?"
"What is our duty as Christians with respect to American Slavery?"
"What is our view of the doctrine of Christian Equality?"
"Is it consistent with our Christian profession to unite with secret societies ?"
The following resolution was adopted :-
"RESOLVED, That we approve the enterprise now in progress of establishing a High School at West Union and recommend its support and patronage to all the members of our denomination."
This is the first appearance of the subject of education in the minutes of these associations.
The Second Annual Session of the Virginia Association was held with the church at Lost Creek on the 2d day of December, 1852, at II o'clock A. M. Ezekiel Bee preached the introductory sermon. Ezekiel Bee was appointed mod- erator, Jepthah F. Randolph and Moses H. Davis, secretaries, and George J. Davis, treasurer. The following churches
I. This was not the residence of Jepthah F. Randolph, but was an unoccupied dwelling house on his farm. The house subsequently was occupied by the follow- ing :- Mrs. Jane Childers, Joshua Wright, Asa F. Randolph, Tillman H. Burcher, Elhanan W. Davis, and William H. H. Davis. The house was built by Josiah Bee. It was used at one time as the temporary home of Rev. Alexander Campbell, while he conducted a series of revival meetings in a grove near by.
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reported :- Lost Creek, New Salem, Middle Island, South Fork of Hughes River, and Woodbridgetown.
The action taken at the previous session as regards the proposed academy at West Union, was repeated at this session in even stronger terms.
The Third Annual Session of the Virginia Association convened at New Milton, Doddridge County, Virginia, on the second day of September, 1853, at 12 o'clock M.1 The intro- ductory sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel D. Davis. Sam- uel D. Davis was appointed moderator : Jepthah F. Randolph, secretary ; Moses H. Davis, assistant secretary; Ezekiel Bee, treasurer ; and Asa Bee, corresponding secretary.
The following churches reported :- Lost Creek, New Salem, Middle Island, and South Fork of Hughes River. The report of the committee on the state of religion was an encour- aging one.
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