Minutes of the ninth annual session of the Troy Baptist Association (Ala.) 1892

•V3

MINU'TKS

-OF THE-

RimtE (3innu®l peggion

-OF THE-

TROY ASSOCIATION

i

-HELD with-

eS

Sl)ilol) Cl)urct), Pifc^ Coupfcy, Ala.,

SEPTEMBER 9, 1892.

W. H. BARNETT,
J. P. WOOD,
M. A. WOOD,

Moderator,

Clerk,

Treasurer.

1893:

MESSENGER PBINT,

Troy, Ala.

ordgr of bi j^iive:©©.

1. Association called to order by Moderator.

2. Appoint Committee on Credentials.

3. Introductory Sermon.

4. Elect Moderator, Clerk and Treasurer.

5. Visiting brethren invited to seats.

6. Receive petitions from churches desiring membership.

7. Appoint committees to report during session —

On religious Exercises.
On Finance and Auditing
On Documents and Kequests.
On Nominations.

8. Call for Correspondence.

9. Read Rules ot Order.

10. Hear Reports from Committees and Treasurer.

11. Return Correspondence.

12. Appoint Committees to report next meeting —

On Home and State Missions.

On Foreign Missions.

On Sabbath Schools.

On Temperance.

On Education.

On Bible and Colportage.

On Indigent Ministers.

13. Hear Miscellaneous Business.

14. Call Roll and erase absentees.

15. Arrange for printing minutes.

16. Correct minutes and adjourn.

mkstute:^.

The Ninth Annual Session of the Troy Association met
with Shiloh Church September 9th, 1892. After an informal
session and devotional exercises, conducted by Elder J. L. Young-
blood, consuming the morning hours, the association adjourned to
2:30 o'clock p. m.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Brother W. H. Barnett, former Moderator, called Associa-
tion to order. In the absence of the former Clerk, Brother J. P.
Wood was elected Clerk pro tem. Letters from Shiloh, Orion,
Olustee and Troy First Baptist Churches were read by the Clerk.

The following Committee on Credentials was appointed, viz:
Eider J. L. Youngblood, N. A. Adams and W. A. Morrison, who
reported as follows :

Delegates from Shiloh Church : — M. A. Wood, R. B. Parks*
W. G. Carlisle, Thos. McDowell, J. R. Turner, C. J. Mahoney,
Samuel Fleming and J. H. Wood.

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Olustee Church : — W. H. Barnett, ,W. A. Morrison, J. W.
Carter.

Orion Church : — Duncan Graham and N". A. Adams.

Troy First Baptist Church: — Elders J. F. Purser, A. N.
Worthy, J. L. Youngblood, L. H. Bowles, and Brothers J. P.
Wood, J. D. Murphree, W. S. Coleman and B. W. Starke.

On motion of Elder A. N. Worthy the temporary officers
were made permanent, viz: W. H. Barnett, Moderator ; J. P«
Wood, Clerk ; M. A. Wood, Treasurer.

The Moderater, in appropriate remarks, returned thanks for
continued confidence.

The Moderater announced the following committees to
report at this session :

Documents— A. N. Worthy, B. W. Starke and W. S.
Coleman.

Finance — M. A. Wood, S. Flemming and D. Graham.

Nominations — J. D. Murphree, R. B. Parks and J. R*
Turner.

Sunday Schools — M. A. Wood, W. S. Coleman and W. A.
Morrison.

Fokeign Missions — A. N. Worthy, J. F. Purser and D.
Graham.

Bible and Colportage — J. F. Purser, J. D. Murphree and
N. A. Adams.

Home and Foreign Missions — L. H. Bowles, J. F. Young-
blood and B. W. Starke.

Education — E. M. Shackelford, C. J. Mahony and W. A.
Adams.

Temperance — J. D. Murphree, S. Fleming and R. B.
Parks. '

Religious Exercises — M. A. Wood, R. B. Parks and W.
G. Carhslo.

Indigent Ministers — J. L. Youngblood, J. H. Wood and

S. Fleming. *>

Correspondence was called for.

Elder W. A. Cunibie responded from the Geneva Asso-
ciation.

On motion of Dr. Worthy correepondence was proposed to

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Geneva Association. Elder J. L. Youngblood was named as the
delegate.

CORRESPONDENTS APPOINTED.

Salem Association — Elder J. F. Purser, Brother J. jD.
Murphree.

Centennial Association — W. S. Coleman, D. Graham, B. W.

Starke W. H. Barnett.

Montgomery Association — W. H. Barnett, J. A. Dennis,
J. M. Carter.

Eufaula Association — J. P. Wood, F. S. "Wood.

On motion, thirty minutes of morning session be spent in
Devotional exercises.

Adjourned to 8:30 o'clock Saturday morning.

The introductory sermon preached by Elder John F. Purser
to a highly appreciative audience; we trust much good was
accomplished thereby. The sermon was a very able one.

SATURDAY MORNING SESSION.

Devotional exercises conducted by Brother Cumbie.
The minutes of the previous session were read and approved.
Motion by Brother J. D. Murphree to print Constitution and
By-Laws and Order of Business in fortn-coming minutes. Carried.

HOME AND STATE MISSIONS.

The report of the Committee on Home and State Mission*
was read by the Chairman and adopted:

REPORT.

Your Committee to whom has been assigned the duty of report-
ing on Home and Stat© Missions, are glad to report that both causes
are still making some progress.

In the absence of any data we will not attempt to give a detailed
account of the work, nor the statistics of the 'same since our last
meeting.

The Home Mission Board while pushing the work already in
hand, are, we learn, contemplating new fields of special effort. New

Orleans, that great city of vice and Godlessness, is especially at-
tracting the attention of this Board and a movement is being in-
augurated by which our Bantist denomination will be very ably
represented there in a stnrt while.

The work in Cuba is progressing finely and at the present rate
of progress in that Island, it will soon be taken for our blessed Lord.

4

Our State Mission Board have done a good year's wprk, and
we have only the suggestion to offer that they be furnished with
more money.

It might be well to suggest here that quite a number of our
country churches are languishing on account of not having regular
stated services, and a few of them are without pastors. This is fre-
quently caused for want of better acquaintance between the minis-
ters of our denominations and the churches and this might be great-
ly facilitated by our state Board keeping a registry of the minis-
ters in the state — their residences and churches in charge, and fur-
nishing this information to such churches as maybe without pastors,
or furnishing to such ministers as may be be without churches with
names of such churches as may be without pastors.

L. H. Bowles, Ch'm.
B. W. Starke,

J. L. YOUNGBLOOD.

FOREIGN MISSIONS.

The report of the Committee on Foreign Missions was read
t>y Brother J. F. Purser. After a full and free discussion par-
ticipated in by Brothers Purser, Youngblood, Starke, Worthy,
Oopeland, it was adopted:

REPORT.
Your Committee on Foreign Missions beg leave to say that it is
impossible to present such a report as its great importance demands;
not for lack of material from which to cull important and interest-
ing facts, but to attempt to do so, would necessarily exclude it from
your printed minutes, as it would require too much space, therefore
one must be contented with such an abridgement as the circum-
stances demand, and hoping that what may be found in this report
will be acceptable to your body and profitable withal.

First — The churches in their organized capacity on th« scrip-
tural plan are charged with the responsibility of evangelizing the
whole world, nor can this obligation be shifted or in anywise evaded
without incuring guilt and sin. All the means for tue accomplish-
ment of this grand purpose of the great head of the church are not
left to conjecture. The Bible is replete with instructions, which
were understood and acted upon by the first churches. After a few
centuries, the reign of persecution was so terrible that the churches
had a hard struggle for their very existence and lives, consequently
the Mission work done by them In former years was suspended or
feebly maintained for very many generations, until about one hun-
dred years ago the spirit of modern Missions sprung up. Since this
awakening the churches now seem to have, in a measure, thrown off

their lethargy and are again coming up to the help of the Lord
against the mighty.

Second — At the time above indicated, the Holy Spirit found in
one of the English churches William Carey, whom He doubtless
called and qualified (with as much certainty as was the Apostle
Paul to his great work) to open up and lead the way towards the
evangelization of the world. So Carey gathered about him men of
like faith and trust, and thev formed themselves into the first Mis-
sion Society of modern times, and Carey was its first Missionary.
Likewise did the Lord call f.'om America the sainted Judson and
others to labor in the heathen lands. These men of God in the be-
ginning of their work labored under incalculable difficulties and
hardships, which we cannot understand at this distance of time and
place. We may have some appreciation of their trials, if we consider
that they had to learn to speak the language of the heathen, trans-
late the scripture into their tongue, suffer persecutions and impris-
onment for assailing the gods of heathens, etc. No wonder that
they had to endure and labor for more than a dozen years before a
single convert. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord *-.*■*
their works do follow thera." This brings us to look and see what
results have grown out of apparently unpromising and small be-
ginnings.

Third— This part of this report will be held in grateful remem-
brance by every lover of Jesus, which may be regarded as nearly
accurate as human industry and carefulness could attain to, and
may be found in the Independent*, a religious newspaper, whose
columns show no extraordinary veneration to the Baptist. In its
issue of January 21st, 1892, last, it gives five columns of "General
Statistics of Missions," being the latest returns of all the Protestant
Missionary Societies of the world. These statistics, well studied,
will force the conclusion that

"The morning light is breaking
And the darkness disappears."

The American Board ,

Amer. Baptist Mission Union i

Methodise Church I

Presbyterian Church (.North)

Missionaries altogether I

362

389
498

1,761

CHURCHES.

380
681
327
202

1 592

MEMBERS

36.921
76,603
34,574
18,011

,109

That it may be seen "what great things the Lord has done for
us, whereof we are glad."

Your committee points with pardonable pride, but with no de-
nominal exultation, how far the Baptist exceeds in membership the

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other denominations. Who can tell what wonderful results will be
accomplished by these workers for Jesus in the next decade.

Reports from the Mission fields fn India are not only encour-
aging, but surprising. Dr. Penticost, who has been on a visit to his
old home, states the condition of affairs in his Mission to be most
prosperous. Of course he speaks understandingly. His exact words
are here copied, and are as follows, viz : "It will no doubt be a mat-
ter of surprise to many for me to say, that the burning question to-
day in India in all Missionary circles is not how shall we multiply
conversions." Strange, is it not ? But he continues, "But how shall
we overtake with Christian training and instruction those who are
pouring in upon us faster than we have teachers to care for them."
He is imploring the churches to send forth more laborers into this
field of three hundred millions of souls, and he firmly believes the
field is "white unto the harvest." No wonder that such reports
should spring the energies of God's people and determine them to
make strong efforts in this Centennial vear to place in the field one
hundred additional laborers. Respectfully submitted.

A. N. Worthy, Chairman,
John F. Purser,
D. Graham.

NOMINATIONS.

The report of the Committee on Nominations was read ana
adopted :

REPORT.

Your Committee on Nominations beg leave to make the follow-
ing report :

To Preach the Introductory Sermon. — Brother L. H. Bowles, J.
F. Purser, alternate.

To Preach on Missions. — Brother J. L. Youngblood.

Delegates to attend State Convention. — Brothers J. F. Purser
L. H. Bowles, J. L. Youngblood, W. H. Barnett, J. M. Carter, J. S,
Yarbrough, N. A. Adams, M. A. Wood, Sam Flemming and A. N.
Worthy.

To Attend the Southern Baptist convention Brother J. F. Pur-
ser, P. L. Mosely, alternate.

Respectfully Submitted,

Joel D. MuRPREE,'Ch'm.

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EE PORT ON DECEASED AND INDIGENT MINISTERS.

The report of the Committee on Deceased and Indigent
Ministers was read and adopted:

EEPOET.
Your Committee is happy to report that death has not visited
the ranks of our Ministers the past year; nor are any of Jthem in
need of special material aid from this hody.

John L. Youngblood, Chairman.

TEMPERANCE.

The report of the Committee on Temperance was read, and
pending adoption, we enjoyed admirable addresses by Brothers
Murphree and D. I. Purser, of Birmingham. On motion Brother
Murphree's address was requuested for publication in the Ala-
bama Baptist.

EEPORT.
Your Committee on Temperance make the following report :

That, As an Association of Baptists, we recognize the sad fact
that the liquor traffic is among, if not the worst foe to our homes, to
the Church, to our country, to Christianity and to civilization. That
it causes poverty, promotes crimes, fosters immorality, generates
disease, destroys life, increases public expense and corrupts politics.

Resolved, That to protect and encourage the whiskey traffic in
any manner in our midst, is to imperil the peace and happiness of
our families, to disgrace our profession, and to threaten the destruc-
tion <q€ our civil institution. That it is the duty of good people
everywhere, especially the Church, to use their influence to sup-
press this great evil. Joel D. Murphree, Chairman.
The Asseciation then adjourned to 3:00 o'clock p. m.

BIBLE AND COLPORTAGE.

The report of the Committee on Bible and Corportage was read
and adopted without provoking any special comment :

REPORT.
U:: Your Committee on Bible and Colportage has but little to report
Bro. Newman, the only colporter that is doing any work within the
bounds of this association, has rendered efficient service in the dis-
semination of Bibles and religious books and tracts. His labors are
not confined to Troy associations, but he goes wherever he feels
that good can bo accomplished in scattering the words of truth in
South-east Alabama. It is a noble work in which he is engaged and
ehould be encouraged. The Alabama Baptist, our State paper, has a

s

large and increasing circulation and is doing an immense amount of
good in furnishing its readers with information of what is being
done by our denomination all over the State. It is a papeF that
should be read by every Baptist in the State. The Southern Baptist
Convention, whose duty it is to furnish Sunday School literature, is
now getting out a new series, which we feel assured will be an im-
provement on the old Kind Word literature used in former years

J. F. Purser, Chairman.
Adopted.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

The report of the Committee on Sunday Schools was read and

adopted. *

REPORT :

Your Committee find, upon investigation, that there are only
two churches that maintain Sunday Schools regularly. That one
other church, (Olustee,) unite with the Methodist in their Sunday
School work and that it is controlled by the Methodist denomina-
tion, and that Shiloh church, for want of interest! in the work, has
failed to have a school for the first year in several. It has been the
observation of your Committee that a large per cent of the ingath-
erings of the church where Sunday Schools have been kept up has
been from this source. That they yield more readily to the invita-
tions of the gospel and through this working influence they give
more liberally to the demands of the cause. We recommend this as
a fruitful field for the working christians and as a place where all
can work that have a mind to work. M. A. Wood, Chairman.

FINANCE.

The report of the Committee on Fiaance was read and

adopted:

REPORT.

TROY CHURCH.

For minutes • • •$ 10 00>

Pastor's salary 1,500 00

Missions 800 00-

Sunday school collection 150 00-

Incidental expenses 150 00

Ministerial education 100 00

Dr. Hale's church 35 00

Ladies Aid Society 00 —

ORION CHURCH.

For Missions 8 00

For minutes 1 50

Pastor's salary 200 00

Sunday school -..- 7 00 —

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OLU8TEE CHURCH.

Olustee church (subscribed) 10 00

For minutes i 00

For Missions 00

SHILOH CHURCH.

For Missions 00

For minutes 3 50 —

Respectfully submitted. D. Graham, Chairman.

EDUCATION,

The report of the Committee on Education was read and
adopted.
Brother Moderator : —

Your committee on Education beg to submit the following re-
port :

REPORT.

We find upon investigation that all of the schools of our denom-
inations haye been fairly successful durinj; the past year. The sem-
inary at Louisville Kentucky, which began its career years a 50 with
five matriculates, had upon its rolls the past year more than two
hundred and fifty students; Dr. Jno. A. Broadus and his band of
devoted co-laborers, are evidentlv doing a grand and glorious work.
The attendance at Howard College, though good, was not so large
as it was the year previous; but under all the circumstances Dr.
Riley and his able faculty did well to enroll as many students as they
did — about two hundred. Our female institute, the Judson, has had
its capacity taxed to accommodate the hundred and sixty-nine no-
ble young ladies who matriculated last session, its worthy Presi-
dent, Brother S. W. Averett is a competent energetic educator and
deserves the rich success that has so far crowned his efforts.

It is a source of congratulation to us that the Baptist of Amer-
ica have so rapidly risen from the bottom to the top of the list in
this work of denominational education. It is estimated that we
have endowments alone to the amount of thirteen million dollars,
having increased within about twenty-five years from three mil-
lion dollars and this estimate does not include a large amount in-
vested in school property, such as buildings, grounds, etc. In ad-
dition to this, comes the crowning proposition to endow a first-class
Baptist University at Chicago, with at least ten million dollars, a
consummation devoutly to be wished for.

In commending this work of our denomination, it is not to be
supposed that we imply any hostility t* other schools; for we ap-
precinte the good work the good work they are doing; but we fur-
ther recognize the fact that there is room for all, that all have- a
work to perform, that the work of each class of schools must be sup-

10

plemented to that of all the others. Then, let as as Christians, not
fight one another hut join in with every other agency that is labor-
ing for the upbuilding of God's kingdom in thi6 world and fights its
enemies, ignorance and vice and superstition.J
Respectfully submitted,

E. M. Shackelford, Ch'm.

AFTERNOON 8ESSION. \

The Association was called to order bv the Moderator.

DOCUMENTS.

The report of the Committee on Documents was read and
adopted.

REPORT.

Your Committee on Documents offer the following report : We
find nothing of interest claiming the attention of the Association.
We find in their letter ^Orion church asking that next session be
held with them, but the delegates reprtsenting that churfch have
kindly consented to withdraw their application in favor of Troy
church and they, recommend that the next session be held with said
Troy church at the usual time of holding the same on Friday before
the second Sunday in August. Respectfully submitted,

A. N. Worthy, Chairman.

COMMITTEES TO REPORT AT NEXT SESSION.

Bible and Colportage: — J. D. Murphree, R. B. Parks and J. A.
Dennis.

Foreign Missions : — A. N. Worthy, D. Graham and J. F. Purser.

Sunday Schools: — B. W. Starke, S. Flemming and N. A.Adams.

Temperance:— G. wW. Andrews, jJ. M. .Carter and M. W.Pen-
nington.

Home and State Missions :— L. H. Bowles, J. [S. Yarbrough and
J. H. Wood.

Education :— E. M. Shackelford, J. M. Carter and M. A. Wood.

Bro. Younblood offered the following resolutions: "That the
thanks of the body be tendered this Church and community for the
very hospitable manner in which they have entertained this Asso-
ciation and the visitors." Carried.

RELIGIOUS EXERCISES.

Bro. Cumbie to preach Saturday night; Bro. D. I. Purser, of Bir-
mingham, to preach Sunday at 11 o'clock a. m.; Elder J. F Purser at
3 o'clook p. m.j

The' Association adjourned to meet with Troy church, Friday
before the second Sabbath in August, 1893. ,4

11

CONSTITUTION.

Article I.
This Union of Churches shall be denominated the Troy Associ-
ation, and shall be composed of members chosen by the different
Churches in our Union, who, on producing letters from tbeir re-
spective churches certifying their appointment, shall be entitled to
seats. The letters so produced shall express the condition of their
churches, respectively, viz : The members received by baptism
letter, restored, dismissed, excommunicated and oead, since the last
Association, and also moneys contributed to the various denomina-
tional interests, which letter shall be read and the delegates' names
enrolled.

Article IT.

The Association shall annually, upon convening, proceed to
choose from the members present, a Moderator, Clerk and Treasurer.

Section 1. The Moderator shall preside over the deliberations
of the body and appoint all committees unless otherwise ordered.

Sec. 2. The Clerk shall keep and preserve on file for the use of
eacn session, a correct minute of the proceedings of this Associa-
tion, and shall attend to the printing and distributing of the same.

Sec. 3. The Treasurer shall safely keep all moneys paid to
him by the Association, or otherwise, and pay the same only on
order of the Association, and take receipts for the same.

Article III.

Each Church shall ber entitled to three delegates and when its
membership exceeds fifty, then one for each twenty-five or frac-
tional part thereof.

Article IV.

Any church applving for membership may be admitted into
this Union on sending their delegates to any meeting with a peti-
tion and by those delegates agreeing to the abstract of principles
and the Constitution adopted by this Association. Said church to
be received by a unanimous vote and the right hand of fellowship
extended by the Moderator,

Article V.

At each session a committee shall be appointed to select breth-
ren to address the next session on the following subjects : Missions,
Sunday Schools, Education, and Temperance.

Article VI.

This Association shall have no power to interfere or infringe
upon the internal rights and privileges of the churches, and shall
pass no resolutions touching the liberty of the churches, or individ-
ual members thereof. But each church shall be considered a sover-
eign and independent body.

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Article VII.
There shall be no matter of dealing introduced by any individ-
ual member but it shall be sent up by a church or churches clearly
set forth in writing. Then the Association may take it under con,
sideration and a decision by a majority shall be an advisory answer
Article VIII.
Any church may at any session make application for dismissal,
and if said application is refused, then may withdraw at her own
discretion.

Article IX.
It shall be the duty of this Association to encourage the work
of Sunday Schools, education, temperance, and all missionary enter-
prises fostered by our denomination.

Article X.

Amendments to the Constitution may be made by a vote of two-
thirds of the members present.

RULES OF ORDER.

1. At every annual meeting: of this Association, immediately
after the delegates' names are enrolled, tellers shall be appointed by
the Chair, and the Association shall proceed tt choose from among
their number a Moderator, Clerk and Treasurer, who are to hold
their office until new ones are chosen.

2. The Moderator shall take the chair every day at the hour to
which the Association shall have adjourned on the preceding day ;
shall immediately call the members to order, and on the appearance
of a quorum, shall cause the minutes of tne preceding day to be
read.

3. He shall preserve order and decorum; may sneak on points
of order in preference to other members, risiutj from his seat for
that purpose; and shall decide questions of order, subject to an ap-
peal to the Association, by any two members, on which appeal no
member shall speak more than once unless by leave of the Associa-
tion.

4. He shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting.

5. Questions shall be distincly put; those voting in the affirm-
ative shall say aye, and those of a contrary opinion no. If the Mod-
erator doubts, or a division be called for, the delegates shall divide;
those voting in the affirmative shall first arise from their seats, and
afterwards Uiose voting in the negative.

6. In all cases of election, the Moderator may vote; in other
cases, he shall not vote, unless the body may be equally divided; in
that event he shall give the casting vote. He may speak on any
question, provided he shall call some other member to the chair
while he is speaking.

7. When any member is about to speak or deliver any matter
to the Association, he shall rise from bis seat and respectfully ad-

13

dress the Moderator, and shall confine himself to the question under
debate and avoid personalities.

8. If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgress the
rules of the Association, the Moderator shalJ, or any member may,
call him to order; in which case the member so called to order shall
immediately sit down unless permitted to explain; and the Associa-
tion shall, if appealed to, decide on the case, but without debate. If
there be no appeal, the decision of the Chair shall be submitted to;
if the decision be in favor of the member called to order he shall
be at liberty to proceed; if otherwise, he shall not be permitted to
proceed, in case any member object, without leave of the Associa-
tion.

9. When two or more members happen to rise at once the Mod-
erator shall name the one who is to speak first.

10. No member shall speak more than once on the same ques-
tion, without leave of the Association, unless he be the mover, pro-
poser or introducer of the matter pending, in which case he shall be
permitted to speak in reply, but not until every member choosing to
speak shall have spoken.

11. Every member who shall be in the house when a question
is put shall give his vote, unless the Association, for special reason,
excuse him.

12. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by
the Chair; or, being in writing, it shall be handed to the Moderator
and read aloud before debated.

13. Every motion shall be reduced to writing, if the Chair or
any member desire it.

14. After a motion is stated by the Chair, or read aloud by the
Clerk, if shall be deemed to be in possession of the body, but may
be withdrawn, by leave of the Association, at any time before a de-
cision or amendment.

15. When a question is under debate no motion shall be enter-
tained but to adjourn, to lie on the table, for the previous question,
to postpone to a day certain, commit, amend, to postpone indefi-
nitely; which several motions shall have precedence in the order in
which they are arranged, and no motion to postpone to a day cer-
tain, to commit, or postpone indefinitely, being decided, shall again
be allowed during the session.

16. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, except the
Association be engaged in voting.

17. A motion to lay on the table shall be taken without debate;
and shall always be in order, except a member be speaking, or the
body engaged in voting.

18. On a previous question there shall be no debate. All inci-
dental questions of order arising after the motion is made for the
previous question, and pending such motion, shall be decided,
whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate.

19. ±he previous question shall be in the form: "Shall the
main question be now put?" It shall only be admitted when de-
manded by a majority of the members present: its effect shall be to
put an end to all debate, and bring the Association to a direct vote
upon amendments reported by committee, if any; upon pending
amendments, and then upon the main question.

20. No motion or proposition on a subject different from that
under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment.

14

21. When a motion has been once made and carried, the affirm-
ative or negative, it shall be in order for any member of the major-
ity to move a reconsideration thereof, on the same or succeeding
business day, and such motion shall take precedence of all other
questions, except a motion to adjourn.

22. No member shall absent himself from the house without
leave of the Moderator; or leave the meeting without leave of the
Association.

23. Should any member of the Association absent himself be-
fore the close of the session, without permission of the body, he
shall be marked in the minutes as absentwithout leave.

ARTICLES OF FAITH.

I. Of the Scriptures. — We believe that the Holy Bible was
written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heav-
enly instruction ; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end
and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that its re-
veals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is,
and shall remain to the end of the world, the true centre of Chris-
tian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct,
creeds and opinions should be tried.

II. Of the True God. — That there is one, and only one, true
and living God, whose name is Jehovah; the Maker and Supreme
Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness;
worthy of all confidence and love; revealed under the personal and
relative distinctions of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;
equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmo-
nious offices in the great work of redemption.

III. Of the Fall of Man. — That man was created in a state of
holiness, under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgres-
sions fell from that happy and holy state; in consequence of which
all mankind are sinners, not by constraint but by choice, being by
nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God,
wholly given to the gratification of the world, of Satin and of their
own sinful passions; and therefore under just condemnation to eter-
nal ruin, without defense or excuse.

IV. Of the Way of Salvation. — That the salvation of sinners
is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial office of the Son of God,
who took on him our nature, yet without sin, honored the Jaw by
His personal obedience, and made atonement for our sins by His
death; being risen from the dead He is now enthroned in Heaven
and uniting in his wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with
divine perfections, He is in eyery way qualihed to be a suitable, a
compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.

V. Of Jtstification. — That the great Gospel blessing, which
Christ of His fulness bestowes on such as belieye in Him, is justifi-
cation; and justification consists in the pardon of sin and the prom-
ise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed,,
not in consideration of any work of righteousness which we have
done, but solely through His own redemption and righteousness;
that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with
God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.

VI. Of the Freenbss of Salvation. — That the blessings of
salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate
duty of all to accept them by cordial and obedient fath; and that

IS

nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, ex-
cept his own voluntary refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ,
■which refusal will subject him to an aggravated condemnation.

VII. Of Grace in Regeneration. — That in order to be saved,
we must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration consists
in giving a holy disposition to the mind ; and is affected in a manner
above our comprehension or calculation by the power of the Holy
Spirit, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; and
that its proper evidence is found in the holy fruit we bring forth to
the glorz of God. >

VIII. Of God's Purpose of Grace. — That election is the gra-
cious purpose of God, according to which he regenerates, sacrifices
and saves sinners; that, being perfectly consistent with the free
agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the
end; that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness,
being infinitely wise, holy and unchangeable; that it utterly ex-
cludes boasting and promotes humility, prayer, praise, trust in God,
and actiye imitation of His free mercv; that it encourages the use
of means in the highest degree; that it is ascertained by its effects
in all who believe the Gospel; is the foundation of Christian assur-
ance, and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and
deserves our utmost diligence.

IX. Of the Perseverance of Saints. — That such are only
real believers as endure to the end; that their persevering attach-
ment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from
superficial profession ; that a special Providence watches over their
welfare, and that they are kept by the power of God through faith
unto salvation.

X. Harmony of the Law and Gospel. — Tuat the law of God
is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that
it is holy, just and good; that the inability which the Scripture
ascribes to fallen men to fulfill its precepts, arises entirely from
their 'ove of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them,
through a mediator, to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one
great end of the Gospel, and of the means of grace connected with
the establishment of the visible church.

XI. Of a Gospel Church. — That a visible Church of Christ is
a congregation of baptised believers, associated by covenant in the
faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of
Christ, governed by His laws and exercising the gifts, rights and
privileges invested in them by his word; that its only proper officers
are bishops or-pastors, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and
lues, are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.

XII. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. — That Christian
baptism is the immersion of a believer, in water, in the name of the
Father, Son and Spirit, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful em-
blem our faith in a crucified and risen Savior, with its purifying
power; and that it is a prerequisite to the relatives of a church rela-
tion and to the Lord's Supper, in which the members of the church,
by the use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying
love of Christ, preceded always by self-examination.

XII. Of the Christian Sabbath. — That the first day of the
week is the Lord's Day, or Christian Sabbath, and is to be kept
sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular labor
and recreations, by the devout observance of all the means of grace,

16

both private and public, and by preparation for that rest which re-
maineth for the people of God.

XIV. Of Civil Government. — That civil government is of
Divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human so-
ciety, and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously
honored and obeved, except in the things opposed to the will of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and Prince
of the kings of the earth.

XV. Of the Righteous and the Wicked. — That there is a
radical and essential difference between the righteous and the
wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of
the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly right-
eous in his esteem; while all such as continue in impotence and un-
belief are in his sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinc-
tion holds among men both in and after death.

XIV. Of the World to Come. — That the end of this world is
approaching; that at the last day Christ will descend from the
heaven and raise the dead from the grave for final retribution; that
a solemn separation will then take plack; that the wicked will be
adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy;
and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in
heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness.

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