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 27
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 27
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Rev. Alexander McLearn was present as a delegate from the Eastern Association, Rev. Clayton A. Burdick from the Central, Rev. Joshua Clarke from the Western, and Rev. Asa G. Crofoot from the North-Western. Rev. Arthur E. Main and Rev. and Mrs. David H. Davis appeared as representatives of the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society.
The report of the committee on resolutions, as adopted, pledged the hearty support of the association to the missionary work of the denomination and recognised the imperative demand for the re-inforcement of the medical department of the Shanghai (China) Mission. It strongly endorsed Sabbath reform, took advanced temperance ground, and urged the loyal support of Salem College.
The report of the committee on the state of religion was very brief, and deplored the lack of religious spirit throughout the association. Special interest this year, as for the past two years, centred around the cause of education. The com- mittee on education reported that Salem Academy had changed its name to that of Salem College to correspond with its courses of study, that the faculty of the college had been enlarged and otherwise strengthened, and that certain pledges amounting to from five hundred dollars ($500.00) to seven hundred dollars ($700.00) had been secured for the next succeeding four years for current expenses. There were about one hundred students enrolled in the institution ; four courses of study besides music and art were taught. In short, Salem College was fairly launched upon its career. For some years past there had been a growing custom of having special ser- vices during the association, representing the different interests of the denomination. This year is found an hour devoted to each of the following :-- Women's work, missionary work, publishing interests and Sabbath reform, young people's work, and educational work.
The Twenty-first Annual Session of the association was held with the Ritchie Church beginning on the Fifth Day of the week, May 26, 1892, at 10 o'clock A. M. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel D. Davis, who presided
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as moderator. The recording secretaries were Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner and Ray F. Randolph; the corresponding secre- tary, Franklin F. Randolph.
The following churches were represented :- Ritchie, Greenbrier, Roanoke, Middle Island, Salem, Lost Creek, West Union, and Conings. Rev. Oliver D. Sherman represented the Eastern Association, Rev. Alphonso Lawrence the Central, and Rev. Samuel R. Wheeler the North-Western.
All of the denominational interests were recognised in the report of the committee on resolutions. The work of the American Sabbath Tract Society as well as the work of the Seventh Day Baptist students of Morgan Park (Chicago) Theological Seminary received special notice.
The report of the committee on the state of religion indi- cated a low ebb of spiritual life. The report of the committee on education was devoted almost wholly to the work of Salem College and the encouraging outlook for that institution.
Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner was sent as a delegate to the other associations.
The association was convened for its Twenty-second Annual Session with the church at Lost Creek on the Fifth Day of the week, May 25, 1893, at 10 o'clock A. M. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. Lely D. Seager, who presided as moderator. The recording secretaries were Festus P. Ford and Preston F. Randolph, and the correspond- ing secretary, Moses H. VanHorn. Letters were read from the Salem, Roanoke, Lost Creek, Conings, Middle Island, West Union, and Greenbrier churches.
Rev. Lewis F. Randolph appeared as a delegate from the Eastern Association, Rev. Lucius R. Swinney from the Central, Rev. George P. Kenyon from the Western, and Rev. Stephen Burdick from the North-Western.
The report of the committee on resolutions endorsed the position previously taken by the association concerning mis- sionary work and Sabbath reform work, and the study of the Bible. It also commended the work of the Home Department of the Sabbath School. The attempt previously made to change the time for the meeting of the association having failed, it was now voted that the time be changed to the Fifth Day of the week before the last Sabbath, but one, in May, provided the other
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associations would take corresponding action.
The report of the Sabbath School committee, while com- mending the condition of the Sabbath Schools and the excellent work that they were doing, deplored the neglect of institute work. The report of the committee recommended an earnest effort to secure the attendance at the Sabbath School of more of the adult members of the church.
The report of the committee on education was a lengthy one, being in reality an epitome of the history of Salem College for the past year. It closed with a strong appeal to the friends of the college for financial help.
The committee on the state of religion reported revival meetings in most of the churches during the year, resulting in upwards of fifty additions to the church membership of the association.
The association sent Rev. Lely D. Seager as a delegate to the other associations.
The association convened for its Twenty-third Annual Session with the church at Roanoke on the Fifth Day of the week, May 17, 1894, at 10 o'clock A. M.
The introductory sermon was preached by Darwin C. Lippincott, a licentiate member of the Salem Church. The moderator was Samuel B. Bond; the recording secretaries, Luther A. Bond and Flavius J. Ehret ; the corresponding sec- retary, M. Wardner Davis.
Letters were read from the Roanoke, Salem, Ritchie, Conings, Lost Creek, Greenbrier, Black Lick, Middle Island, and Copen churches.
Rev. Frank E. Peterson was present as a delegate from the Eastern Association, Rev. Asa B. Prentice from the Cen- tral, Rev. Mordecai B. Kelly from the Western, and Rev. Eugene H. Socwell from the North-Western.
On application from that church, the Black Lick Church, near Long Run, in Doddridge County, West Virginia, which had recently been organised, was received as a member of the association. The report of the committee on resolutions, while re-iterating former utterances upon the questions of tem- perance, missionary work, and Sabbath reform, emphasised the need of systematic, reverent study of the Bible.
The report of the committee on education was full of grati- (19)
REV. SANFORD LAFAYETTE MANSON.
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tude for the successful work of Salem College, and pledged it the heartiest support of the association. The sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) was raised at the association toward liquidating the debt of the college.
This session of the association was note-worthy for the prominent part taken in it by the young people ; the moderator being a young man, a student of Salem College ; and the com- mittee-work, as well as the other parts of the work of the association, was performed largely by young people.
Rev. Samuel D. Davis was sent as a delegate to the other associations.
The association convened for its Twenty-fourth Annual Session with the church at Salem on the Fifth Day of the week, May 16, 1895, at 10 o'clock A. M. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. William L. Burdick. The moderator was Moses H. VanHorn ; the recording secretaries, Samuel B. Bond and Flavius J. Ehret; and the corresponding secretary, M. Wardner Davis.
Letters were read from the following churches :- Lost Creek, Roanoke, Ritchie, Middle Island, Black Lick, Salem, and Greenbrier.
Rev. Benjamin F. Rogers was present as a delegate from the Central Association, Rev. Sylvester S. Powell from the Western, and Rev. Darius K. Davis from the North-Western. Rev. Oscar U. Whitford was present as a representative of the South-Western Association, and also in the interest of the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society.
The report of the committee on resolutions appears to have laid special emphasis upon the desirability of an earnest, evangelistic spirit, and a steady spiritual growth. The report of the committee on education centred about Salem College, and the discussion of the report emphasised the difference between utilitarian training and a purely academic education, and also the superiourity of denominational schools over schools under control of the state.
The committee on the state of religion deplored defections from the Sabbath because of business interests.
Rev. Marcus E. Martin was sent as a delegate to the other associations.
The Twenty-fifth Annual Session of the association was
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held with the church at Greenbrier, beginning on the Fifth Day of the week, May 21, 1896, at 10 o'clock A. M. The intro- ductory sermon was preached by Riley G. Davis, a licentiate member of the Greenbrier Church. John H. Wolfe presided as moderator. Samuel B. Bond and Miss Beatrice Lowther acted as recording secretaries. The corresponding secretary was Mrs. Iva Randolph Rosier.
The following churches were represented :- Salem, Ritchie, Salemville, Roanoke, Lost Creek, Black Lick, Middle Island, and Greenbrier. Rev. Judson G. Burdick was present as a delegate from the Eastern Association, Rev. J. Allison Platts from the Central, and Rev. Willard D. Burdick from the North-Western. The appointed delegate from the Western Association not being present, Miss Susie M. Burdick acted in that capacity. The American Sabbath Tract Society was represented by Rev. Abram Herbert Lewis, and the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society by Edward B. Saunders.
The report of the committee on resolutions urged a higher state of religious activity ; that greater prominence be given Sabbath reform in our evangelistic work; and that denomina- tional work as a whole, should receive the support of our people.
The committee on the state of religion, while rejoicing over successful revival meetings in several of the churches, deplored the fact that but three of the churches of the associ- ation had pastors and that a large part of the church member- ship were without pastoral care. An increase of nineteen in the membership was reported.
The report of the committee on Sabbath Schools was hopeful.
Darwin C. Lippincott was sent as a delegate to the other associations.
The Twenty-sixth Annual Session of the association was held with the church at Salemville, Pennsylvania, beginning May 27, 1897, at 10 o'clock A. M. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. Mazzini G. Stillman. Flavius J. Ehret presided as moderator. Mazzini G. Stillman and Ahva J. C. Bond were recording secretaries. Mrs. Marcella Stillman acted as corresponding secretary.
There were eight churches represented by letter or dele-
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REV. GEORGE W. LEWIS.
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gate, as follows :- Salem, Ritchie, Middle Island, Greenbrier, Black Lick, Lost Creek, Roanoke, and Salemville.
Rev. Oliver D. Sherman was present as a delegate from the Eastern Association, Rev. Orpheus S. Mills from the Cen- tral, Rev. William L. Burdick from the Western, and Rev. Theodore J. VanHorn from the North-Western. Rev. Abram Herbert Lewis represented the South-Western. Rev. Oscar U. Whitford was present as a delegate from the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society, Rev. Abram Herbert Lewis from the American Sabbath Tract Society, and Rev. Boothe C. Davis from the Seventh Day Baptist Education Society.
The report of the committee on resolutions, while strong regarding denominational interests, was in no sense note- worthy.
The committee on the state of religion reported a number of revival meetings and a very steady spiritual growth in most of the churches.
Riley G. Davis was sent as a delegate to the Eastern, Central, and North-Western associations, and Samuel B. Bond to the Western.
The Twenty-seventh Annual Session of the association was convened with the Middle Island Church on the Fifth Day of the week, May 19, 1898, at 10 o'clock A. M. The intro- ductory sermon was preached by Darwin C. Lippincott. The association was presided over by Ernest F. Randolph as moderator. Xenia E. Bond and Beatrice Lowther were recording secretaries; and Rev. Mazzini G. Stillman, corre- sponding secretary.
The following churches were represented :- Lost Creek, Greenbrier, Salem, Black Lick, Roanoke, Middle Island, Salemville, and Ritchie.
The delegates from the other associations were as fol- lows :- Rev. Martin Sindall from the Central, Rev. James L. Gamble from the Western, Rev. D. Burdette Coon from the North-Western and South-Western. No delegate was present from the Eastern Association.
The report of the committee on Sabbath Schools notes as a cause of encouragement, that in nearly all the churches reporting revivals, the increase in church membership was largely from the Sabbath Schools.
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The committee on the state of religion reported several revival meetings with additions to the membership in growth and spiritual power, and reported five churches as having pastors.
The report of the committee on resolutions recommended and urged upon the people the practise of some plan of systematic giving for denominational work.
Flavius J. Ehret was sent as a delegate to the other asso- ciations.
The Twenty-eighth Annual Session of the association was held with the Ritchie Church, at Berea, beginning on the Fifth Day of the week, May 18, 1899, at 10 o'clock A. M. The introductory sermon was preached by Riley G. Davis. Avah John Clarence Bond presided as moderator; Xenia E. Bond and Flavius J. Ehret acted as recording secretaries, and M. Wardner Davis, as corresponding secretary.
Letters were read from all the churches. Rev. Herman D. Clarke was present as a delegate from the North-Western Association, Rev. Clayton A. Burdick from the Central, Rev. Willard D. Burdick from the Western, and Rev. Oscar U. Whitford from the Eastern. Edward B. Saunders was present in the interest of the South-Western Association. Rev. Abram Herbert Lewis, corresponding secretary of the American Sabbath Tract Society, was also present. Rev. Oscar U. Whitford represented the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society.
The report of the committee on Sabbath Schools showed that ten Sabbath Schools had been maintained in the Asso- ciation during the past year.
The report of the committee on the state of religion showed that the resident membership of the churches in the association numbered five hundred and eighty, a net loss of seventeen during the year.
The work of the committee on education was confined to an Educational Hour, conducted by Rev. Theodore L. Gardi- ner, president of Salem College. Rev. Boothe C. Davis, president of Alfred University; Rev. Oscar U. Whitford, corresponding secretary of the Seventh Day Baptist Mission- ary Society; Rev. Abram H. Lewis, corresponding secretary of the American Sabbath Tract Society; and Rev. Theodore
REV. ELLIS ADELBERT WITTER.
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L. Gardiner, president of Salem College, took part upon the programme.
Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner was sent as a delegate to the other associations.
The Twenty-ninth Annual Session of the association was held with the church at Lost Creek beginning on the Fifth Day of the week, May 17, 1900, at 10 o'clock A. M. The intro- ductory sermon was preached by Rev. David W. Leath, and was followed by an address by the moderator, Roy F. Ran- dolph. The recording secretaries were Xenia E. Bond and Flavius J. Ehret. Samuel B. Bond acted as corresponding sec- retary.
Letters were read from the Lost Creek, Greenbrier, Conings, Salem, Salemville, Berea, Black Lick, Roanoke, and Middle Island churches.
The Eastern Association was represented by Rev. Samuel H. Davis, the Central by Dr. Herbert C. Brown, the Western by Rev. James G. Mahoney, the North-Western by Rev. Sanford L. Maxson, and the South-Western by Rev. Oscar U. Whitford. The Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society and the American Sabbath Tract Society were represented by their corresponding secretaries, Rev. Oscar U. Whitford and Rev. Abram H. Lewis, respectively. The Seventh Day Baptist Education Society was represented by Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner, president of Salem College; and by Rev. Boothe C. Davis, president of Alfred University.
The report of the committee on Sabbath Schools, and that of the committee on the state of religion contained nothing note-worthy.
The report of the committee on resolutions urged a greater consecration to Christ, a more active service, and a more liberal giving for the salvation of lost men. It also pledged the support of the association to the missionary work recently initiated in British Central Africa. At this session of the association, the sum of two hundred and five dollars ($205.00) was pledged toward liquidating the debt of Salem College. Rev. Mazzini G. Stillman was sent as a delegate to the other associations.
The Thirtieth Annual Session of the association convened
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with the church at Salem on the Fifth Day of the week, May 16, 1901, at 10 o'clock A. M.
The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. Darwin C. Lippincott. It was followed by an address by the mod- erator, Aldis L. Davis.
The recording secretaries were Flavius J. Ehret and Dora Gardiner. The corresponding secretary was Samuel B. Bond.
The following churches were represented :- Salem, Lost Creek, Ritchie, Middle Island, Greenbrier, Black Lick, and Conings.
The delegates from the other associations were as fol- lows :- Rev. Leon D. Burdick from the Eastern, Rev. John T. Davis from the Central, Rev. Lester C. Randolph from the Western, and Rev. Ellis A. Witter from the North-Western.
By request of that body, Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner appeared as a delegate from the South-Western Association.
Rev. Judson G. Burdick represented the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society; Rev. Abram Herbert Lewis, the American Sabbath Tract Society; Rev. Boothe C. Davis, the Seventh Day Baptist Education Society. Rose Palmborg, M. D., medical missionary to Shanghai, China, was also present.
The committee on the state of religion shows twenty- seven accessions to the membership of the churches of the association during the year.
The committee on education conducted a special educa- tional service on the second day of the association, in which the following speakers took part :- Rev. Boothe C. Davis, president of Alfred University; Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner, president of Salem College; Rev. Ellis A. Witter, and Rev. Lester C. Randolph.
On the last day of the session, a special service was con- ducted, dedicating the new house of worship of the Salem Church. Rev. Abram Herbert Lewis preached the dedicatory sermon ; and Rev. Boothe C. Davis, Rev. Theodore L. Gardi- ner, and Rev. Samuel D. Davis assisted in the service.
Moses H. VanHorn was sent as a delegate to the other associations.
The association met for its Thirty-first Annual Session with the church at Salemville, Pennsylvania, on the Fifth
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SHOWING CHURCHES IN THE
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THE SOUTH-EASTERN ASSOCIATION
Day of the week, May 15, 1902, at 10 o'clock A. M. The intro- ductory sermon was preached by William L. Davis. S. Orestes Bond presided as moderator. The recording secre- taries were Harold Stillman and Charles C. Wolfe. Rev. Mazzini G. Stillman acted as corresponding secretary.
The following churches were represented :- Salem, Lost Creek, Middie Island, Greenbrier, Black Lick, Ritchie, Conings, Roanoke, and Salemville.
Rev. George B. Shaw was present as a delegate from the Eastern Association, Rev. William C. Daland from the Cen- tral, Rev. William C. Whitford from the Western, and Rev. George WV. Hills from the North-Western. The South-West- ern Association was not represented. Rev. Theodore L. Gardi- ner represented the American Sabbath Tract Society; Rev. Ellis A. Witter, the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society ; and Rev. Arthur E. Main, the Seventh Day Baptist Educa- tion Society.
The report of the committee on the state of religion showed a net increase of eighteen in the membership of the churches of the association. The ordination of Charles C. Wolfe, who had been chosen as a deacon of the Salemville Church, took place in the afternoon of the last day of the session. Rev. Theodore L. Gardiner, Rev. William C. Daland, Rev. Mazzini G. Stillman, and Rev. George B. Shaw took part in this service. Ahva J. C. Bond was sent as a delegate to the other associations.
The South-Eastern Association, unlike its predecessors, the old South-Western and the Virginia associations, was built upon a substantial foundation. As a legitimate result, denomi- national spirit has been fostered and developed, community of interest has been accentuated, and structural solidarity has been established and maintained.
To this end, doctrinal discussions have been avoided, and church embroilments sedulously guarded against; and the concrete results place the wisdom of such a course beyond the pale of doubt.
The number (five) of churches originally composing the association, has, from time to time, been increased by seven in all; vis., Roanoke (West Fork) ; Jackson Centre, Ohio; Conings (Bear Fork) ; Salemville; Copen; West Union; and
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Black Lick. Of these the Jackson Centre Church, for reasons of convenience to itself, has become a member of the North- Western Association ; and the West Union and Copen churches have become extinct. The others all preserve their identity, and the most of them maintain a state of normal activity.
Not only that, but the original churches have grown, not merely in numbers, but in organisation and power, both spiritual and material.
The greatest result accomplished by the association has been the establishing and maintaining of Salem College, whose history is discussed in a subsequent chapter of this book.
The South-Eastern Association has before it a most prom- ising future ; and it likewise has the ability and desire to ful- fill these promises.
£
XXII.
MISSIONARY WORK.
A
ALTHOUGH situated at a remote dis- tance from other Seventh Day Bap- tist churches, the new settlers in Virginia struggled hard to keep in close touch with the rest of the denomination.
In the year 1808, Rev. John Davis attended the annual session of the General Conference, held with the church at Hopkinton, Rhode Island, as the representative of both the New Salem and Lost Creek churches, and had expected to attend the annual session of the General Conference at the same place three years afterward, but his plans changed, upon his determination to remove to the state of Ohio.
In the spring of 1817, Manning Dunn, a licentiate mem- ber of the Piscataway Church, made a visit to the Virginia churches.
At the annual session of the General Conference held with the church at Hopkinton, Rhode Island, in September, 1817, a plan for missionary work to be undertaken under the general direction of the General Conference was submitted, which was adopted the following year, at the annual session held with the church at Berlin, New York, in September. A board of man- agers was elected. Rev. William Satterlee, Rev. Amos R. Wells, and Rev. William B. Maxson were recommended by the General Conference to be employed to do missionary work for the following year. To Rev. Amos R. Wells was assigned the task of making a missionary journey to New Jersey, Penn- sylvania, western Virginia, and Ohio.
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He made his first visit to the Virginia field in the following winter, (1818-19), accompanied by Rev. Samuel Davis, of the church at Salem, New Jersey. There appears to be no record of this visit, further than some general references to it in the report by Rev. Amos R. Wells, of his second visit a few months afterward, in the summer of 1819.
On his second visit, Rev. Amos R. Wells was unaccom- panied. He reached Lost Creek about the 10th of July. Since his visit the preceding winter, he says "the Lord has been car- rying on his good work, in a manner, before this, unknown in these parts, particularly within the bounds of the New Salem Church."
Here he spent some three weeks in faithful missionary labour, and in the first part of August, he regretfully pursued his journey toward the Mad River Church in Ohio. After remaining there as long as he felt that he had time to remain, he returned, contrary to his previous plans, through Virginia. He conducted more meetings, after which several candidates for baptism presented themselves. In all he baptized thirty- five persons in Harrison County, Virginia, during this visit.
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