USA > Tennessee > History of middle Tennessee Baptists : with special reference to Salem, New Salem, Enon and Wiseman associations > Part 12
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He settled on what is now known as the Allen farm, one-half mile west of where Liberty now stands. Not long after arriving in this community the Holy Spirit touched his heart and changed his course in life. Hav- ing now vowed his allegiance to the Lord the question of his baptism gave him concern. At that time there was no Baptist Church anywhere in this section of country, and no one legally authorized to administer the ordinance. So he made his way through the wilds of an unbroken forest to the State of Kentucky, where he could unite with a regular Baptist Church and re- ceive valid baptism at her hands. The consensus of testimony goes to show that he found a home with old Union Church in Warren County, Kentucky, and was doubtless baptized by either Elder John High- tower or Alexander Devin. These ministers came to that section from South Carolina in 1795 and estab- lished the aforesaid church.
On his return from Kentucky, where he had gone to seek church connection and regular baptism, he be- gan the ministry. He soon succeeded in gathering a band of brethren at Brush Creek, Smith County, and was instrumental in constituting a church at that place on May 29, 1802, he becoming a constituent member of the same (see sketch of said church). Not long after he secured an arm from Brush Creek at Liberty, now DeKalb County, which was constituted into an independent church August, 1809, Elder Bethel again heading the list. Besides these, he assisted in the con-
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stitution of the following churches, viz .: Enon, May 24, 1821; Goshen, July, 1821 ; Sander's Fork (now Auburn), in 1822; Round Lick, July 2, 1803; New Hope, March 27, 1819; and doubtless many others of which we have no record. He was a member of three, and probably four, Associations, viz .: Mero District, Cumberland, Concord and Salem, the latter of which he helped to form. He was prominent in the work of these bodies, acting frequently as moderator and often filling the stand on Sunday. Perhaps no one in this section did more work in his day than Father Bethel, as he was familiarly called.
He was a man of strong physique and had a voice almost like thunder. He was a great exhorter ; tender and sympathetic, he moved his audience at will. A few words from him would often move a large audi- ence to tears. Brother J. W. Bowen, in speaking of him, said: "He was noted for his eloquence." He possessed unquestioned piety, and his moral worth was felt wherever he went. In doctrine he was a strong Calvinist, emphasizing God's sovereign election. His ministerial labors were mainly confined to De- Kalb, Smith and Wilson Counties. However, he was appointed missionary in 1817, and traveled in this ca- pacity. During one of his missionary journeys he fell from his horse, which rendered him a cripple for life. His afflictions were so severe that he did his preaching sitting in a chair the later years of his life. He peacefully breathed his last among friends and loved ones in his home, near Liberty, DeKalb County, Tenn., October 22, 1848. Salem Church erected a slab to his memory, upon which we find the following inscription :
"A church's tribute of respect to their old and much
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esteemed pastor, Rev. Cantrel Bethel, born December 17, 1779, died October 22, 1848, age 68 years, 10 months and 5 days. Few men have ever been held in greater veneration by those who knew him. He was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. Many people were added unto the Lord by his great zeal and faith, the marked sanctity of his life, the efficiency of mighty faith, and the consecration of his soul and entire service to his divine Redeemer, and the furtherance of his kingdom. He died at his post."
His dust sleeps under the shadow of old Salem Church. An unpretentious slab marks his last resting place, but above him towers the house of the Lord, a befitting monument of this old veteran of the Cross, who, in early manhood, planted the standard and un- furled to the breeze the banner of the great King at this place. He fell at his post, and sleeps on the field of battle, while over him waves the banner of victory, and generation after generation will rise up to call him blessed.
ELDER WILLIAM C. BRANSFORD.
This noble man of God was born in the "Old Do- minion" in January, 1792, but emigrated to Middle Tennessee, settling near Dixon's Springs. He came of a Methodist family, but when he was converted he began the study of God's word, which led him to ap- ply to a Baptist church for a Christian home and Scriptural baptism, though bitterly opposed by his entire family. He was baptized into the fellowship of Dixon's Creek Baptist Church by Elder John Wise- man. He was ordained to the ministry by this church some time in the twenties. In 1827 he was called to the care of East Fork Goose Creek (now Hillsdale)
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Church to fill a vacancy caused by the death of their pastor, Elder Malcom Smith. The church greatly prospered under his ministry and, about 1833, he bought land and moved into the community of East Fork Goose Creek Church, where he filed his mem- bership and spent the remainder of his days, serving as pastor of said church as long as he lived. He was an earnest, devout minister and did much service. He assisted in the constitution of Mt. Tabor and Defeated Creek Churches. He also assisted in the constitution of Enon Association in 1850. Being a soldier in the war of 1812 under the command of General William Henry Harrison, he came in possession of a land war- rant, and in 1851 he went to Missouri to locate it. While in that State he was taken sick, and died No- vember 3, 1851. He was a man of exceptional piety. Though he fell away from home and among strangers, yet God was with him and took him home. One of his fellow laborers says he was the best man he ever knew.
ELDER MOORE STEVENSON.
Perhaps no one figured more largely in the plant- ing of the Baptist cause in this section than the one whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He was born in Northampton County, North Carolina. in December, 1759. He was baptized by Elder Lemuel Burkitt, one of the authors of the "History of the Kehukee Association," in the year 1783, in the Old North .State. He had married to Miss Sarah Perry, September, 1779. He moved to Tennessee in 1790, and settled in Sumner County on Station Camp Creek, depositing his membership with West Station Camp Church, of which Elder Patrick Mooney was pastor.
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He was a successful farmer, possessing quite a num- ber of slaves, and gave his attention to this till he was awakened by a visit from Elder James Whitsitt. Soon after this he entered the ministry. He began preaching in 1800, and was ordained probably the same year by Elders Patrick Mooney and Isaac Tona- vine. The first preaching point he established was at Big Cedar Lick (now Leeville), Wilson County. The Lord greatly blessed his labors, and on the 25th day of April, 1801, by the assistance of Elders Patrick Mooney, Clifton Allen and Frank Weathered, he con- stituted Big Cedar Lick Church (now Mt. Olivet), and became the first pastor. He moved his family to Wilson County and settled on Cedar Creek near where it empties into Cumberland River. On April 23, 1802, he moved his membership from West Station Camp Church to Big Cedar Lick. At their conference, May 21, 1803, they extended an arm to Little Cedar Lick, which finally resulted in Little Cedar Lick Church. Besides these, he was instrumental in establishing the cause at the following places, where, in most instances, he lived to see flourishing churches, viz .: Bradley's Creek, Flat Rock, Bethesda, Rutland's, Ridge Meet- ing House, Spencer's Creek and Barton's Creek. He was one of the Presbytery in the constitution of Round Lick Church. He lived to see the following ministers established in his field of labor, where, when he be- gan, there was nothing but a wilderness with only a few pioneer settlers and not a single minister, viz .: Elders Jacob Browning, Joshua Woolen, John Simp- son, Edward Willis, James T. Tompkins, Elijah Mad- dox, William White and Micijah Estes.
Elder Stevenson was well educated for his day, be- ing a man of fine address and pleasing appearance.
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We take the following from a sketch written by Elder James Whitsitt and published in The Baptist of No- vember 30, 1844:
"Elder Stevenson was in easy circumstances. He had a managing, industrious wife, and he generally had faithful overseers, and he gave himself to the ministry. He went forth into Wilson County, where Christ had been but little named by Baptist preach- ers; there he labored day and night, Lord's day and work day, and finally removed into that county, where he died. His ministry was almost wholly confined to that county. ... Elder Stevenson was a sure preacher ; he seldom failed to rise high ; he had the perfect con- trol of himself, in the management of his voice. The doctrinal parts of his discourses were well studied, and coolly and deliberately delivered, without much fatigue ; and by the time he would be through with his doctrine his feelings were generally up and he would launch into exhortations, which were most admirable-he seldom sat down when his congregation were not in tea:'s on their seats. Repentance, faith and baptism was his forte; on baptism he excelled-he drew in a number of Pedo-Baptists by his skillful management of that point. He did not ascend into the more sub- lime or strong points of divinity, and yet he was a strong believer. . . . I need not say that in his senti- ments he was a strong Calvinist, for all were so in that day, so far as it was known."
He died in the prime of life, at 59 years of age, be- ing called from the embrace of the wife of his youth and ten children with which God had blessed their union. He passed from earth to glory March 18, 1818, dying of that dread disease, influenza (more modernly known as lagrippe). His wife survived
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him many years, living to the ripe old age of 84 years. Their dust sleeps together in the old Rutland graveyard, one mile from Rutland's Church. Peace to their ashes.
ELDER JOSHUA LESTER.
The subject of this sketch was born in Halifax County, Va., September 6, 1781. He professed faith in Christ in 1801, and soon after entered the ministry and was ordained in Virginia. He emigrated to this State from Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in the fall of 1835, and settled in Wilson County, near the village of Statesville. He soon gathered about him a band of Baptists and on May 17, 1806, with the assistance of Elder John Jones, the pastor of Spring Creek Church, he constituted them into a church known as Hodge's Meet- ing House, afterward denominated Smith's Fork. This was the third Baptist church constituted in the county-Big Cedar Lick (now Mt. Olivet) and Spring Creek being older. He was called to the care of this new church and served them till July, 1843, when he resigned on account of failing health. On his resig- nation quite a tender tribute was spread on the church book, from which we take the following extract :
"He carried with him a character as spotless as the purest white and as brilliant as the noon-day sun ; and the effulgence of this character which he established while living will serve as a beacon to posterity, while his corporeal powers are slumbering in undisturbed repose within the peaceful mansion of the dead."
He was one of the ablest and most active ministers of his day. He was often called upon to fill the stand at associations and served as clerk of Salem Associa- tion for fifteen sessions. He helped to form the Pres-
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bytery in the constitution of many of the older churches of this section, and served as pastor to many of them. But Smith's Fork is his monument. It was his hand that fashioned it. It was he who opened the way and made the work possible for those who fol- lowed after him.
He had a number of sons in the gospel. Among them I note Elders John Bond, James Bond, Presley Lester, H. W. Pickett, Sr., John Whitlock, and others.
In 1843, when Salem Association was in session at Round Lick, he sent this very touching farewell address by the hand of his noble son in the gospel, Elder John Bond, as follows :
"Dear Brethren: Your annual session has again rolled around. Glad would I be to be with you. For thirty-seven years I missed but two sessions-1840 and the present. From 1806 to 1810 I was a member of the Cumberland Association. There is none that I know of, but my venerable Brother (John) Wise- man, now, I expect, with you that at that time was with me. From 1810 to 1822 I was a. member with the Concord Association. From thence, until afflic- tion prevented me, I have been a member of Salem Association. And although I am still lingering on the confines of life, laboring under a painful disease (cancer of the face) that will terminate my existence, yet I have been spared, while McConico, White, Ezel, Wilcox and Adkinson, of the Cumberland, and Ste- venson, Gordon, Warren, Casey, Cross, Willis, Brown- ing and P. Lester, of the Concord, and Durham, M. Smith, Hooker, Evans, Rucks, Rucker and Jones, of the Salem, have gone home to receive their reward. And now, dear brethren, no more shall I record your proceedings at your clerk's table; no more will the
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name of Joshua Lester appear on the table of churches. As I made a request to my brethren of Concord, I now make the same to you, that, although it has been forty-two years since, I hope, I received divine for- giveness, my Master has given me grace to live so that I have never, I hope, injured his holy cause. And as the eyes of the Lord are over his people, his ears open to their prayers, pray for me, that I may bear my sore afflictions with Christian resignation, and not murmur at his afflicting hand, but that he may give me grace to die like a saint of the Lord. And while I am passing death's gloomy vale His blessed presence may be with me ; and that I may ulti- mately enter into that rest that remains for the people of God. Finally, farewell, dear brethren of Salem. I hope to meet you in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, where we shall meet and no more part. Our afflictions and sorrows will then be over. Oh, glorious hope of perfect bliss. I remain, your much afflicted brother, JOSHUA LESTER."
"September 29, 1843.
Noble saint of the Lord! What a heritage he has left us poor mortals who are struggling on in this world against sin and Satan.
He fell on sleep February 8, 1844, and his body sleeps in the old cemetery at Smith's Fork Church, where most of his ministerial life was spent. Over his grave wave the branches of a cedar tree, where in the win- ter the winds play a requiem to his sleeping dust, and in the summer the birds gather and sing, while his spirit joins in the music on high.
"Peaceful be thy silent slumber ;
Peaceful in the grave so low,
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Thou no more wilt join our number ; Thou no more our songs shalt know, Yet again we hope to meet thee, When the day of life is fled, Then in heaven with joy to greet thee, Where no farewell tear is shed."
ELDER ARCHAMAC BASS.
Elder Bass was born December 29, 1800, one mile north of where Watertown now stands, in Wilson County, Tennessee. He was the son of Ezekiel Bass and an elder brother of Elder Henry Bass. His edu- cation was limited-only such as he could secure at the common schools of his day.
He gave his heart to God and was received into the fellowship of Round Lick Baptist Church November, 1820, and was most probably baptized by Elder Thos. Durham, the pastor. From the very start he became an efficient worker in the church, and in June, 1822, he was chosen clerk to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of John Gill, which position he held till July, 1833.
In August, 1836, he was ordained to the ministry by Round Lick Church, the following acting as Pres- bytery, viz .: Elders Cantrel Bethel, Joshua Lester, William Dale, H. W. Pickett, John Borum, Thomas P. Moore, John Bond and Sion Bass.
The next year after his ordination the division over the mission question came, in which he took a very active part. He was a member of the Association at New Hope when the matter culminated.
His ministerial life was short, a little less than ten years. He did very little pastoral work, preferring to give his time to destitute sections. He traveled
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considerably as missionary. He was called to the care of Round Lick Church a short time before his death, but soon resigned to return to his missionary work. He did much of which we can secure no data. He was a great evangelist and witnessed many conver- sions. Among those he baptized I note Deacon J. S. Womack and Elder William Borum.
A short time before he died he moved his family to DeKalb County and settled on Smith's Fork Creek. He purchased a fine farm here, which he thought would secure his family a living while he broke the bread of life to others. He was giving himself wholly to the work, when the Master said, "It's enough, come up higher." He died as he had lived, full of faith in him whom he served. On an unpretentious slab in the old Salem Cemetery at Liberty, DeKalb County, I find the following :
"Elder A. M. Bass, born December 29, 1800; died September 19, 1845.
" 'For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and faith, and much people were added unto the Lord.'"
The little we have been able to gather concerning this dear brother creates a thirst for more.
His death in the prime of life and the very zenith of his ministerial work was like the withering of a full-blown rose by an early autumn frost. The light was blown out when it shone the brightest. He went from labor to refreshments at high noon.
ELDER JOHN FITE.
The subject of this sketch was one of the early set- tlers of the community about Liberty. Calculating from his death and age, he was born in 1758 or 17.59.
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He was a Presbyterian minister when he came to this country from the State of Maryland. When he landed here, in the very beginning of the nineteenth century, he found this country still a wilderness composed of one continuous cane brake, and the sound of the sav- age war whoop still ringing in the ears of those pio- neer settlers who had cast their lots in the land of the "Crooked River," and the deer were wont to gambol on the hillsides and bruin would come to the cabin door at night and claim his rights. Such was this country when he arrived at Nashville. He helped to cut away the cane and underbrush to construct the first road from Nashville to Liberty ; the work con- suming a period of nineteen days for a number of hands. On the next day after his arrival at Liberty he started back to Nashville to mill on horseback, a distance of fifty-five miles.
When matters became a little settled and he began to hear the doctrines of the Baptists proclaimed, his views were changed and in October, 1809, he cast his lot with the Baptist brethren in Salem Baptist Church, Liberty, Tenn. In May, 1812, he was licensed to preach, and was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry by this church in August, 1815, the Presbytery consisting of Elders Joshua Lester, Can- trel Bethel and Thomas Durham.
From this time he began an active ministry in the Baptist denomination. It was through his ministry the following churches were constituted, viz .: Goshen, four miles north of Liberty. in 1821, with seventeen members ; Sander's Fork (now Auburn), in 1822, with ninety-four members; Prosperity, in 1837. These, with perhaps others, were the fruit of his labors. While he made Liberty his home during his life, yet
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in 1821 he transferred his membership to Goshen and became her pastor, the only one she ever had. In 1837 this church was dissolved and he transferred his membership to the new constitution at Prosperity and became their pastor, which position he held doubtless as long as he was able. He died a member of this church, at the advanced age of 94. We find his name among the delegates of Salem Association, seventeen miles from home when he was 87 years old. He was the father of Elder Henry Fite and Deacon Moses Fite. He has a large progeny who belong to the stand- ard citizenship wherever they live. From the minutes of 1852 we gather the following facts :
"Brother Fite was an ordained minister for many years. He was one of the first preachers of his day, and was efficient and eminently successful in building up the waste places of Zion and in winning souls to Christ. Brother Fite lived a devoted Christian. He was a kind father, a good husband and an honorable fellow-citizen. He professed religion in his twenty- third year, became a Baptist in 1809, and died Feb- ruary 18, 1852, in the ninety-fourth year of his age. He was useful and esteemed in life, much lamented in death, and we have reason to believe that he now rests from his labors, and that his works do follow him."
Rest on, thou dear saint of God, Thy labor done, thy reward begun.
ELDER JOSIAH RUCKS.
The name which stands at the head of this sketch was a household word in the early history of Baptists in this section.
He was born in Chesterfield County, Virginia, August 3, 1757. He became a Baptist and also a min-
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ister long before leaving the "Old Dominion." Much of the vigor of his early ministry was spent in mission work in the State of Virginia. He emigrated to Ten- nessee in 1809, and settled in Smith County. Of what church he became a member we are not informed, probably Round Lick.
We do find this, that when Round Lick moved from Smith to Wilson County in 1820, they lettered off a number of members to form Cedar Creek Church, and Elder Rucks became a constituent member of Cedar Creek Church, in which he lived till his death, August 15, 1836. ยท
While he did much ministerial work at various points, yet his labors crystallized at Cedar Creek and Knob Spring, and more especially at the latter place. He became the first pastor of Knob Spring Church, which was constituted in 1814, and held the position till 1830, when, on account of his advanced age (be- ing seventy-three years old), he was forced to re- sign.
In doctrine he was a strong Calvinist, and wherever he preached he both established in doctrine and built up in numbers.
He was married to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, August 15, 1788. This union was blessed with ten children, and some of the most royal Baptist blood in our sec- tion still flows through the veins of his posterity.
He acted as moderator of Salem Association in 1828 when it convened at Peyton's Creek Church. The sun of his life went down in a cloudless sky, with not a struggle to mar its peaceful setting. He said, "I am going to sleep." "He closed his eyes with his own fingers, and never waked again on earth." Peace- ful sleep from which none ever wakes to weep.
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ELDER JESSE JOHNSON.
Father Johnson, as he was familiarly called, was one of the most useful ministers of his day. It would beggar language to undertake to fully describe this father in Israel and his work, although he was not what would be called a great preacher in the common acceptation of that term. Because he did not belong to the class of renown, his history has been left un- written. We just know enough to get the scope of his work, but have no data as to details.
As to the place of his birth or parents, we know nothing. He was born June 29, 1777, and was once married. His wife lived but a very short while after their marriage, when she went home, leaving him a widower. He decided never to marry any more, and to consecrate all his powers to the work of the minis- try. The first thing we find of him as a minister is in 1824. At that time he is a minister and a mem- ber of Salem Church at Liberty, DeKalb County. He had pushed out into the destitute section near Short Mountain and collected about him a band of disciples. They were evidently an arm of Salem Church. Just where he lived we have no means of knowing. Possi- bly he lived in the Short Mountain vicinity, for in January, 1824, when they had decided to constitute this arm into an independent church, he secured his letter and became one of the newly constituted body, which took the name of Short Mountain. He re- mained a member of Short Mountain Church till 1840, when he transferred his membership to Dixon's Creek Church. He remained here till January, 1845, when he moved his membership to Athens Church in the northern part of Wilson County. This was his Chris-
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tian home till he was called to his home on high, Octo- ber 31, 1856. It might be remarked that after his withdrawal Short Mountain Church began to decline and was stricken from the roll of churches in Salem Association in the year 1854.
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