ALABAMA BAPItST ffiSTORlCAL SOOm
aVC I INT XJ T E! S
I
FIFTH ANNUAL 8 IC S S 1 O IN
I SHELBY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION,
BETHESDA CHURCH,
SHELBY COUNTY, ALA.
FROM THE llTH TO THE 14tu OCTOBER, 18^6.
SELMA, ALABAMA:
PRINTED AT THE SELMA REPORTER JOB PRINTING OFFICK.
1857.
6 0
]M:i]\rTTa?:E3s
FIFTH ANNUAL SESSION
SHELBY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION,
BETHESDA. CHURCH,
SHELBY COUNTY, ALA. FROM THE llTH TO THE 14th OCTOBER, 1856.
SELMA, ALABAMA:
PRINTED AT THE SELMA REPORTER JOB PRINTING OFFICE.
1857.
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MINUTES.
The Fifth Anniversary of the Shelby Baptist Associatiox, was held with Bethesda Church, Shelby county, commencing on Saturday, the 11th October, 1856.
The introductory Sermon was preached by Elder Noah Haggard, from 9th verse, 3d chapter of 1st Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians,
After a short recess, the delegates present, assembled in the Meeting- House, were called to order by Elder T. P. Ilolcomb, the former Modera- tor, and Prayer offered by brother J. F. Brasel. Letters from the Churches composing this Association were then called for, received, read, and the following named brethren found to be deputed to sit and act as delegates in the Association, viz :
CHURCHES. DELEGATES.
Beaver Creek. — S. Clabough, W. E. Coker, A. A. Sterrett. Mt. Horeb. — P. 0. Mosely, I. A. Lawler, R. A. Mosely. Bethesda. — J. D. Teague, J.H. R. Garden, C Salser, *E. Vick, (Alternate.) Beulah. — James S. Duyck, Asa Wyatt, *Hiram Straciner, Henly Web- ster, (Alternate.) Liberty. — T. P. IIolcomb, J. C. Gilbert, J. G. Walton. Union. — Henry Lawley, Wm. VVyatt, *Wm. Lucus. Sarepta. — J. C. Hand. Jordan Jones, Wm. W.Atkinson, ^James Butler,
(Alternate,) Shoal Creek. — Richard Wood, *J, B. McMath, Hiram Holsomback. Providence. — T. E. Meroney, Tliomas J. Freeman, Levi A. Honeycut. Mt. Hope. — *John Lowery, *J, Price, W. Langston. Cahaba Valley. — T. L. Miles, *Elisha Fancher, *L. T. McGuire. Enon.— J. F. Brasel, Allen Brasel, *C. H. Collier, *W. V. Arnold. Freedom. — Not represented.
It being suggested that delegates were in attendance from several other Churches, with letters and petition, asking to unite with and join this Association, on motion, it was unanimously agreed, to give permission at this time for such to be presented ; whereupon, the Montevallo Church, Shelby county, was received by letter and petition presented by her dele- gates, brethren E. King and Noah Haggard. Also, Spring Creek Church
Note. — Ordained Ministers in suali. caps— the names in Itaiict Licentiatei- ^denotes absent.
waa received by letter and petition, presented by her delegates, BennAt Davis, B. M. Davia, Jno. T. Thweat. Alt o, the Cahaba Church was received by petition and letter, presented by her delegates, Garland Jones, Elias Glenn, *John P. Martin. Also, Mt. Pisgah Church, St. Clair county, waa received by petition, and letter presented by her delegates, Ephraim Frost, Jesse Cauady, *Jas. Truss. Also, Mt. Pleasant Church, St. Clair county, was reeeived by petition and letter presented by her delegates, '^L. Turner, *1I. W. Inzer, Robert Martin, *J. Fulmer. The Montevallo, Cahaba, and Mt. Pisgah, were newly constituted Churches. The Spring Greek and Mt. Pleasant Churches, presented letters showing that they were regularly dismissed from the Coosa lliver Association.
The Association then proceeded to elect a Moderator and Clerk, elected Elder T. P. Ilolcomb, Moderator, and A. A. Sterrett, Clerk.
Visiting ministering brethren were then invited to seats with us, which was accepted by Elder Wm. II. Carroll and Elder Grimes.
The Association then received correspondence and minutes from sister Associations : from Coosa River by Elder J. M. Scott and J. II. Posey ; from Canaan by Elder J. C. Gilbert of this (Shelby) Association; brother Blakely was also received as a messenger from Cahaba Association.
Appointed brethren King, Clabough and Frost, and the delegates from Bethesda Church a committee to arrange preaching during the session of t'lis body.
The committee on preaching appointed brother Fulmer, to preach at the meetinghouse to-night, T, E. Maroney, J. D. Teague and Jesse A. Collin?, to preach on Sabbath in the order named ; brother Teague to preach the ftiissionary Sermon at 11. o'clock, according to appointment of last Asso- ciation.
After prayer by brother Scott,*atljourned until 9 o'clock Monday morn- ing.
On Sabbath, services were conducted by the persons named by the comj niittee in the order named. At the conclusion of the Missionary Sermon by brother Teague, a collootion was taken for domestic Missions in the bounds of the Association nmouuting to twenty-nine dollars.
Monday morning, 9 o'clock. Association met, after singing and prayer by brother Haggard, proceeded to call the roll and mark absentees.
Keceived correspondence from the Mulberry Association from her mes- senger brother Abram Adams, ^vho presented letter and minutes.
Brother Collins, agent of the Indian and Domestic Board of Missions being present, was invited to sit with us and deliver an address on the
Bubject of Missions at some suitable time during the Association.
On motion, the 8th rule of the decorum was so amended as to permit the Moderator to take the vote of the Association either by standing or otherwise.
Amended the 9th provision of the constitution of this Association bj adding the following :
" But any member of this body may introduce a querry when its settle* ment tends to the peace, harmony and welfare of the Churches."
The following messengers to sister Associations were appointed : to Canaan, T. E. Maroney, and Garland Jones ; to the Coosa Eiver, Noah Haggard, Samuel Clabough, T. P. Holcomb, H. W. Inzer ; to the Mul- berry, Noah Haggard, J. G. Walton, Thos. J. Freeman, Levi A. Honey- cut, Wm. H. Carroll, T. P. Holcomb, J. D. Teague, James S. Duyck ; to the Cahaba, N. Haggard, Wm. H. CarroU, Allen Brasel ; also, to the Baptist State Convention, Brethren E, King, N. Haggard, W. H. Carroll, Allen Brasel, J. G. Walton. Brother King requested to write the letter.
The following committees were appointed :
On Finance. — E. King and J H. R. Garden.
On Documents. — Jordan Jones, J. C. Gilbert.
Appointed the next Association to be held with Enon Church, Bibb co., about five miles above Centreville, on the road to Montevallo, on Saturday before the 2d Sabbath in October, 1857.
Appointed J. C. Hand, to preach the next Introductory Sermon, J. G. Walton, Alternate, W. H. Carroll, to Preach the Missionary Sermon, J. C, Hand, Alternate.
The Committee on Finance reported as sent up by the churches and re- ceived by them for Minutes $25,50, and for Associational purposes $20,45, which report was received and said committee discharged, said sums be- ing paid over to the Treasurer.
Brother Webster, offered the following amendment to the first article of the constitution of this Association :
" To strike out all, after the words ' Ordained Ministers,' in the fifth line of said article, and insert in lien thereof, 'whose membership is within the bounds of the Association, whether said Minister be a delegate or not.' "
An opportunity being given to brother Collins, agent of Domestic and Indian Missions, to present the claims of those Missions, he did so in a short and pertinent address ; after which, a collection was taken up for those Missions amounting to $24,45 cash, and 24,45 in pledges. Permis- sion being given, brother Collins, in a few and pertinent remarks, urged
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the claims of the Southwestern Baptist, published at Tuskegee, Alabama, for patronage.
After singing and prayer by the Moderator, adjourned until 9 o'clock, Tuesday Morning.
Tuesday morning the Association met pursuant to adjournment, and af- ter prayer by brother Walton, proceeded to business.
The first thing in order being the motion to amend first article of the constitution of this Association, which, on motion of brother Webster, was continued until next session of this body.
The committee on Documents reported that they had examined the doc- nmerts submitted to them as well as the time limited would allow, that they find nothing therein requiring notice on the Minutes, but they recom- mend to the reading community, the Tennessee Baptist, published by <^jrares, Marks & Co., Nashville, Tennessee, and the Southwestern Baptist, by Henderson, Tuskegee, Alabama.
Directed any money in the hands of bretliren collected for domestic Missionary purposes, to be paid over to the Treasurer of this body, except that in the hands of brother King, collected for our present Missionary, J. - (x. Walton, which he will pay over to him, whereupon brother Jordan •Jones, of Sarepta Church, paid $10, brother Iloneycut, from Providence Church paid $G,50, brother Mosley and Clabough. the amount of the col- lection on Sabbath, $29.
Brother King, of the Executive committee, appointed at the last session, made the following report :
According to appointment, the committee appointed by the Shelby As- aociation in October, 1855, met at Mt. Horeb Church, on Saturday before the 2d Sabbath in December, 1855, and organized by appointing E. King, ''hairman, The following Churches were represented:
Beaver Creek, by brother Clabough : the Church sent up no pledge, but a pledge of $5 each, was made by brethern Clabough and
Sterrett, $10,00
!VIt. Horeb Church, by brother Mosely, pledged 10,00
Bethesda, by brother Garden, pledged 30,00
Beulah, by brother Webster, pledged 4,00
Liberty, by brother Brashei-, pledged 5,50
Shoal Creek, by brother King, pledged 20,00
Oahaba Valley, no delegate, hut a pledge of 10,00
$89,50 Since the meeting of the committee at Mt. Horeb, a pledge from Enon
Church of $15,00
$104,50
Elder J. G. "Walton, was appointed to labor in our bounds as a Mission- Rry, and being recommended to the Board of Domestic Missions of the Southern Baptist Convention at Marion, he was adopted and appoint- ed by them a " Home Missionary" for nine months, and a pledge made of one hundred dollars towards his support, brother Walton to report to said Board.
The committee have but little knowledge of the progress and success of the Mission, and request that brother Walton (being present) be allowed to report to the Association, that we may know in what manner he has la- bored, and the success attending the same. Respectfully submitted,
E. KING, Chairman.
Thereupon, brother "Walton, the Domestic Jlissiouary, made the follow- ing report, to wit : "I commenced my labors ou the first of April, and have been engaged the most of the time in your service, except a short time occasioned by sickness in my family. It will be remembered that I was appointed to labor in your service for the term of nine mouths, which will include the balance of the year. I have labored principally in th« destitute portions of our Association, and have traveled 1,460 miles, deliv- ered 83 Sermons, and 16 exhortations, made 116 religious visits to families and persone, visited 6 churches, attended 6 prayer meetings, assisted iu the constitution of a church at one of my regular preaching places, re« ceived three by experience, baptised one, attended three protracted meet- ings, one of which has just closed at our church (Liberty) where God gra- ciously revived us, and thirty more added to our number. At most of the places where I have preached, a deep interest was manifested — many came to the anxious seat for prayer — several have professed faith in Christ, and among them, one, a Universalist, who told me if there was a Baptis* Church near him, he would join it. I have been kindly received by all, and the people in those destitute regions desire that the preaching of the Gospel shall be continued among them. In conclusion, permit me to say, that I humbly trust God has blessed my leeble efigrts to the everlasting good of some souls, who I am unable to name in this report,
IlespectfuUy submitted, J. G. "WALTON",
Domestic Missionary.
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Brother Garden, from the committee on Missions, made the following re, port, to-wit : " The Missionary enterprise is no longer a matter of expe- rience. If the Scriptures were silent upon this subject, the success of a
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Gary, a Judson, or a Bowen, sufficiently proves that ignorant, sinful and degraded humanity can be taught that there is a God, a Heaven, and a Hell, and that ho has a soul to be saved or lost, and the only way to be saved is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But the Scriptures are not silent upon this subject. The christian baa only to open his Bible and search to understand his duty. The command is to preach the Gospel to every creature, and as we are the recipients of the Gospel, freely we have received, (the command is) freely give. And if it be a blessed thing to give bread to a child perishing of want, what must it be to give to those who are perishing for the bread and water of life, that bread of which, if a man eat he shall never die, and that water which if a man drink, he shall never thirst. Jesus Christ has come into the world and done the work which the Father gave him to do. He conquered the powers of darkness, led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men ; he has purchased the church with his own blood and purified unto himself a pecu* liar people zealous of good works. He has given this v>'ork to his church as an instrument to do.
Preach the Gospel to every creature is the command. Now if all the Ministers were turned loose and should give their time wholly to studying and preaching the word (a state of things which the Scriptures require) they never could carry out the command. Inspii'ation has given the best interpretation of the scope of this command, in these words — " Let him that hearcth say come.'^ That the first Desciples so understood the theory of the manner in which the Gospel was to spread, is evident from their labors.
They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. Who were they ? Men and women, into whose houses, Saul the persecutor had entered, when he made havoc of the church. To laymen, not ministers, did the Apostle write, " Ye shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life." It will not be doubted that it is the purpose of God to re- generate the world thi'ough the agency of his churches. The duties which christians owe to the unconverted, we have indicated in the above.
An example in the manner of their performance and of their efficacy, is furnished by the labors of the Karen laymen. There is a power in a per- Honal appeal, in a private, affectionate application of the truth to the indi- vidual conscience and heart, far greater than can be ordinarily attained to in the pulpit or in any ge'aeral addresses to the masses of people. And the fact that the knowlege of the Lord is to " Cover the whole earth as the waters cover the bed of the great deep, till one shall not have occasion to Bay to his neighbor, know ye the Lord, but all shall know him from the
least to the greatest," indicates clearly that it is the duty of christians to Bay to their unregenerate neighbors, " Know ye the Lord." Allof-whicli 18 respectfully submitted. J. G. WALTON",
J. H. R. CARDEN".
Directed the Treasurer to pay over to brethren Hand and Teague, on ac- count of past services as Missionaries within the bounds of this Associa- tion, the money in his hands, except thirty five dollars,
Concluded to dispense with the publication of the constitution, abstract of principles, and rules of decorum, in the Minutes of the present Session, as heretofore contemplated.
Brother Duyck, offered the following resolution upon the subject of Mis- eions in our bounds, to-wit :
" JResoIved, That we, as an Association, accept the'voluntecr services of our Ministering Brethren, to labor in destitute communities within the Association, and that we raise all the funds we can, by voluntary contri- butions by our next session, and the same be distributed to each one ac- cording to his labors," which was adopted.
Mt. Hope Church, by W. Langston, her delegate, presented a letter asking dismission from this body, which was granted, and the clerk au- thorized to write the letter.
Directed the clerk to superintend the printing of the Minutes, that ho retain ten dollars for his services, that six hundred copies bo printed, that one hundred be reserved for correspondence, and that the clerk write tho corresponding letter, and have the same printed with the Minutes.
Brother King offered the following resolution :
Eesolved, That we recommend to the Churches of this Association that in appointing delegates to attend the Association, that they select those who are willing to attend and stay until the Association closes.
Appointed brothers King agent of the 2d district, and Sterrett of the 1st, for distributing the Minutes, itc. After singing and prayer by the Moderator, adjourned; T. P. HOLCOMB, Moderator.
A. A. Steruett, Clerk.
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Oor*3:»esi>oa3Lc5B.iii.s Xjottez*.
The Shelby Association to Sister Associations, sendeth Christian Salutation:
Dear Brethren : Receive this, our letter, as evidence of our Christian regard and desire to continue correspondence with you. The presence of your messengers and good news communicated by your letters is cheering. "We have enjoyed a pleasant and harmonious meeting, God has graciously revived his work in some of the Churches of our body the past year. May the good work continue until all shall be embraced in it. The next Ses- sion of our body will be held with Enon Church, five miles above Centre- ville, Bibb county, Saturday before the 2d Sabbath in October next.
May Cod bless, revive and prosper you.
Brethren, pray for us, that we may be steadfast, immovable, and alwayp abounding in the work of the Lord. T. P. HOLCOMB, Moderator.
A. A. Sterrett, Clerk.
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TREASURER'S STATEMENT.
Amount on hand according to statement in last Minutes, $ 4 60
Dec. 10, 1855. Received of brother E. King, collected of "Liberty '
Beulah and Bethesda Churches, ' 7 OO
$11 50 Jan. 14, 1856. Paid brother league; for self, and brother Hand $7,00
S4 50 March 9, 1856. Paid brother J. D. Teague,. 4^50
Oct., 1856. Received of Brethren Mosely and Clabough, (collection
taken up on Sabbath,) $29.00
" " Received of brother Jordan Jones, from Sarepta Church, . 10,00 Received of brethren Honcycut and Freeman, from Prov- idence Church g 50
Received of bro. King, of Finance committee, amount sent up by the Churches for Minutes and Associational pur- poses 45^95
« < . $91,46
" Paid brother Hand, balance due for services as
Domestic Missionary in 185-1, $13,95
Paid brother Teague, do, 13,95
Paid •' " part of balance due him
for services in 1855, viz : 28,55
Paid for printing Minutes 25,00
Paid Clerk 10,00— $91,46
A. A. STERRETT, Treasurer.
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