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Full text of "Minutes of the second annual session of the Mount Moriah Baptist Association (Ala.) 1893"

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AMSASA  EAKmr  BEsmKiAi  soam 


MINUXEIS 


OF    THE 


SECOND  ANNUAL  SESSION 


OF  THE 


HELD   Wli'H   THE 


l_it>erty    Ohurch; 


TUSCAI_OOSA    COUIVJ-rV,    ALABAMA, 


From  Vie  29lli  lo  the  SOVi  of  Sept.,  1893, 


liUllTON  f;  WKATniiRFOUD,  PKrNTEUS,  Tl'SC ALOOSA,  ALA. 


MINUTES. 


Liberty  Chukch,  Friday,  Sept.  39,  1893. 
morning   session. 
The  Second  Session  of  the  Mount  Moriah    Baptist   Associa- 
tion convened  with  Liberty  Church,  at  11  o'clock    A.  M.     The 
Introductory  Sermon  was   preached  by  Rev.  J.    E,    Wilson,  of 
Tuscaloosa  Association,  from  Matthew,  11:28.29,30.  (Bro.  Wil- 
son preached  the  Introductory  Sermon   by  request.) 
Adjourned,  to  meet  at  2   o'clock. 

EVENING     SESSION. 

The  Association  reassembled  at  2  o'clock.  Hymn  No.  50  in 
Psalmody  was  sung,  and  prayer  was  offered  by  Wm.  Hannah. 
The  former  Moderator  being  present,  he  called  the  Association 
tf)  order.  J.  M.  Gwin  acted  as  Clerk.  Letters  of  the  several 
churches  were  read.  Went  into  the  election  of  Moderator  and 
Clerk,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Elder  William  Hannah 
Moderator  and  J.  M.   Gwin  Clerk. 

By  motion,  received  and  adopted  order  of  business. 

Opened  the  door  for  reception  of  new  churches. 

Received  Shoal  Creek  and  New  Bethel  Churches.  They  were 
seated  bv  the  moderator  extending  to  theiiT  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship. 

Received  correspondence  as  follows: 
Tuscaloosa  Association — Revs.  J.  G.  Lowery,  J.  E.  Wilson,  and  J.K.Halman. 
Harmony  Association — Bro.  S.  Y.  Herring. 

Retained  correspondence  as  follows: 
Tuscaloosa  Association — Jackson  Kizziah,  E.  D.  Herring. 
Harmony  Association — M.  L.  Burchfield,  Rev.  Jackson  Kizziah. 
Birmingliam  Association — Rev.  J.I.  Gilhert,  and  J.  N.  Burchfield. 
Mud  Greek  Association — W,  1.  Gilbert,  and  A.  Gilbert. 
.North  River  Association — Rev.  J.  I.  Gilbert,  A.  Gill)ert. 
Shelby  Association — Rev.  Win.    Hannah. 

Appointed  Committees  as  follows: 
Devotion — W.  B.  Patterson,  .1.  .VI.  (Gilbert,  and  Deacons  of  Liberty  Church. 
Finance — R.  R.  Kennedy,  E.  H.  F.  Herring,  J.  D.   Hannah. 
Documents— J.  M.  Gilbert,  W.  I.  (Gilbert.  M.  L.    Burchfield. 
Nominations — J.  N.  Burchfield,  S.  B.  Hannah,  A.  Gilbert. 
Deceased  Memliers — E.  D.  Herring,  J    H.  Stringf'ellow,  J.  R.  Patterson. 

On  motion,  adjourned  to  Saturday  morning  at  9  o'clock. 

Saturday,  Sept.  30. 

Association  met,  pursuant  to  adjournment.       Prayer  by  Rev. 
J.  E.  Wilson.     Minutes  of  yesterday  read  and  adopted. 
Bro.  R.  D.  Burrows  was  received  as  a  visiting  minister. 


The  Committee  on  Finance  reported: 

We,  your  Coiuniittut' report  that  we  find  for  Minutes,  $7.50 ;  for  Asaocia- 
tional  I'urposop,  $4.!)0:  Association  Book,  50c.  ;  For  Missions,  $5.42. 

R.  R.  Ke.s'nedy,  Chairman. 

The  Committee  on  Documents  reported: 

Some  of  the  churches  ask  for  the  prayers  of  the  Association.  Brethren,  let 
us  not  forget  their  request.  We  find  that  Lil)erty  cluirch  reports  a  flourishing 
Saliltath  school,  and  sends  $8.(i7  for  niis.^ions.  Prude's  Creek  reports  a  flour- 
isting  Sahltath  school.  Davis'  Creek  reports  a  good  Sabiiath  school,  and 
sends  75c.  for  home  niission.s.  New  Bethel  reports  a  flourishing  Sabbath 
school,  and  sends  $1.00  for  missions.  A  request  comes  from  Antioch  Church 
for  the  next  session  of  this  body.  Let  us  urge  you  all  to  give  full  statistics  of 
your  Sabbath  schools  at  the  next  Association.  M.  L.  Burcufield,  Chm. 

The  Committee  on  Nominations  reported: 

We  recommend  that  the  next  meeting  of  this  body  be  held,  with  Antioch 
Church,  commencing  on  Thursday  before  the  4th  Sabbath  in  October,  1894, 
23  miles  north-east  of  Tuscaloosa;  Rev.  Jackson  Kizziah  to  preach  the  intro- 
ductory sermon,  Rev.  J.  I.  Gilbert  to  preach  the  missionary  sermon  Sunday 
morning  at  11  o'clock.  J.N.  Burchfield,  Chairman. 

The  Committee  on  State  Missions  reported: 

We  as  Missionary  Baptists  do  believe  in  the  Bible  in  all  of  its  fullness,  and 
feeling  that  it  holds  out  an  idea  of  missions  in  sending  the  Gospel  to  those  who 
have  it  not,  for  they  are  a  people  possessed  of  a  soul  just  as  precious  in  the 
sight  of  God  as  ours.  The  Gospel  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to  all 
that  believe  it,  just  the  same  to  the  heathen  as  to  us.  Now,  faith  comes  by 
hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  Word  of  God,  and  how  can  they  believe  on  him  of 
whom  they  have  never  heard?  And  how  can  they  preach  except  they  be  sent? 
The  Gospel  is  the  only  power  of  God  unto  salvation.  It  brings  back  to  them 
the  rememl)rance  of  the  God  they  have  forgotten.  They  have  the  same  longing 
after  life  that  we  have.  They  rejoice  as  we  do,  and  feel  as  we  do,  and  weep 
as  we  do.  Inasmuch  as  our  Lord  and  Master  commands  us  to  go  and  to  preach 
the  Gospel ;  he  did  not  say  to  preach  it  at  home  only,  but  to  go  into  all  the 
world  and  preach  it  to  every  creature.  In  our  own  State  there  are  those  who 
do  not  have  the  Gospel  as  we  have  it,  and  therefore  there  ought  to  be  some- 
thing done  even  in  the  State  of  Alabama,  to  enlighten  those  who  are  at  Qur 
doors  and  with  whom  we  come  in  contact  every  day  ;  and  we  arc  contaminated 
with  their  evil  practices,  more  or  less.  Brethren,  can't  we  do  something  to 
help  those  miserable  creatures  who  come  across  the  water,  and  have  never 
known  anything  but  to  bow  down  to  stocks  and  stones,  and  to  worship  Gods 
made  with  hands.  It  is  our  duty  to  give  the  Gospel  to  those  who  have  it  not 
and  to  do  all  we  can  to  build  up  the  kingdom  of  our  Master.  The  Lord  has 
piomised  us  the  heathen  for  an  inheritance  and  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth 
for  a  possession.  The  land  is  ours,  let  us  go  and  possess  it.  Inasmuch  as  we 
cannot  all  go  in  person,  we  can  give  up  our  means  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel. 
There  are  more  laborers  in  the  field  to-day  thau  ever  before,  and  the  field  is 
widening,  and  all  foreign  parts  send  the  Macenonian  cry,  come  over  and  help 
U8  ere  we  die.     Humbly  and  prayerfully  submitted^ 

E.  1).  Kennedy.  Chairman. 


The  Home  Missions  Committee  reported: 

We  recommend  itinerant  work  in  this  Association,  and  leave  it  to  the  body 
long  to  l)e  rememljered.  Wm.  Hannah,  Chairman. 

The  Committee  on  Foreign  Missions  reported: 

The  command  of  the  Master  to  teach  the  Gospel  to  all  nations  rests  upon  us. 
Believers  in  Christ,  the  obligation  to  either  go  or  send  a  substitute.  The  com- 
mission was  given  to  the  church  to  do  this  work.  They  wore  to  begin  at  Jeru- 
salem and  go  into  Judea,  Samaria,  and  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth- 
When  we  think  of  the  perishing  millions  of  human  beings  who  have  never  heard 
of  the  way  of  salvation,  and  remembering  that  they  are  lost  without  tt,  our  duty 
is  clear.  All  the  nations  of  the  earth  are  now  open  to  the  Gospel.  God  has 
set  before  us  an  open  door,  and  says  to  us,  go  in  and  possess  the  land.  We 
have  much  to  encourage  us  in  this  work.  God  has  wonderfully  blessed  ouj 
labors.  But  our  mission  fields  all  need  more  men.  God  is  putting  it  into  the 
hearts  of  men  and  women  to  carry  the  Gospel  to  the  people,  but  we  need  the 
money  to  enable  them  to  go.  Brethren,  we  mnst  awake  to  the  responsibility 
of  giving  the  Gospel  to  the  world  and  give  more  liberally  of  our  substance.  Our 
prayers  and  our  contributions  must  go  up  together.  It  is  more  blessed  to  give 
than  to  receive.  Respectfully  submitted,  A.  Gilbert,  Chairman. 

Adjourned  for  refresements. 

The  Association  reassembled  at  2  o'clock.  Singing,  and 
prayer  by  the   Moderator. 

The  Report  on  Temperance  was  read,  and  after  discussion 
adopted: 

Wine  is  a  mocker  and  strong  drink  is  raging,  and  whosoever  is  wise — Prov. 
20:7.  His  eyes  shall  l)e  red  with  wine,  and  his  teeth  white  with  milk. — Gen- 
42:12.  Who  hath  babbling,  who  hath  wounds  without  cause,  who  hath  redness 
of  eyes?  They  that  tarry  leng  at  the  wine. — Prov.  26:30-32.  Woe  unto  them 
that  rise  up  early  in  the  morning  that  they  may  follow  strong  drink,  that  con- 
tinue until  night,  until  wine  influence  them. — Isa.  5:11.  Therefore,  my  peo- 
ple are  gone  into  captivity,  because  they  have  no  knowledge,  and  their  honora- 
ble men  are  famished  and  their  multitude  dried  up  with  thirst. 
•  Respectfully  submitted.  Wm.  Hannah,  Chairman. 

On  motion,  received  Rev.  J.  N.  McFalls  as  a  corresponding 
delegate  from  Mud  Creek  Association. 

On  motion,  received  Bro.  J.  T.  Robertson  as  a  delegate  from 
Birmingham  Association,  and  the  brethren  were  seated  by  the 
Moderator  extending  the  riglit  hand  of  fellowship. 

On  motion,  she  Report  on  deceased  members  was  laid  over 
until  the  next  session  of  this  body. 

The  Report  on  education  was  read,  and  after  debate  was 
adopted  as   follow^: 

We  are  glad  to  note  the  increasing  interest  on  the  subject  of  education  all 
over  our  country.  Good  schools  are  being  established  and  competent  teachers 
are  in  demand,  not  only  in  our  towns  and  cities,  but  in  the  rural  districts.  In 
addition  to  these  common  schools,  we  have  Howard  College  for  our  voung  men 


anil  till'  .ludsoii  Institute  loc.iti'il  at  .Maiioii.  Ala.,  and  llic  (Iciitral  FemtiU- 
College  at  Tuscaloosa,  tor  our  girls.  Tliese  are  grand  institutions  lor  tije 
training  of  our  young  people,  and  preparing  them  for  the  responsibilities  of 
life:  and  thev  are  the  property  of  the  Baptists  of'Alal)ania.  We  would  urge 
upon  our  people  the  iinpoitance  of  higher  education.  Begin  with  the  common 
schools,  hut  do  not  stop  there.  Uur  colleges  are  doing  a  great  work  for  our 
denomination.  Let  us  stand  by  them  and  give  them  our  sons  and  daughters 
and  prayerg  and  contributions.  Also,  Howard  College  has  a  class  of  young 
ministers  who  are  being  trained  for  work.  We  tan  make  no  better  investment 
of  our  money  than  to  invest  it  on  the  men  who  are  to  be  the  pastors  of  our 
churches.     An  educated  pastor  will  educate  the  people. 

Respectfully  submitted,  W.  P.  Naue.mokk,  Chairman. 

On  motion,  it  was  ordered  that  3^0  copies  of  the  minutes  be 
printed,  and  that  the  ClerU  have  the  remainder  of  the  fund  for 
his  services. 

On  motion  a  Committee  on  Periodicals  was  appointed,  con- 
sistintj  of  W.  I.  Gilbert,  and  J.  N.  Burchfield,  to  report  at  the 
next  session  of  this  body. 

On  motion  the  Clerk  was  instructed  to  mail  Bros.  Crumpton 
and  M.  M.  Ward  a  lot  of  our  minutes. 

We,  the  brethren  composing  the  Second  Annual  Session  of  the  Mount  Mo- 
riah  Association  do  extend  our  thanks  to  the  members  of  Liberty  ehurch,  and 
vicinity,  for  the  hospitable  manner  in  which  they  have  entertained  us  while  in 
session  here. 

The  minutes  were  read  and   adopted.  ■ 

On  motion,  the  Association  adjourned,  to  meet  with  Antioch 
church,  on  Thursday,  before  the  4th  Sabbatii  in  October,  1894, 
34  iniles  North-east  of  Tuscaloosa. 

Sang  a  hymn  and  took  the  parting  hand.  Prayer  by  Elder 
R.  D.  Burrows.  Wm.  Hannah, 

}.  M.  GwiN,  Clerk.  Moderator. 

The  Missionary  Sermon  was  preachi-d  by  J.  G.  Lowery,  Sirti- 
day  at  1 1  o'clock. 


ORDER  OF  BUSINESS. 

1.  Read  Letters  and  enroll  ii.imes  of  delegates 

i2.  Klect  otfieors. 

3.  Open  door  of  Asaneiation  fur  reception  of  chnrc:h(!S. 

4.  Rec^eive  corresj)ondents. 
.').  Return  correspondence. 

().     Appoint  committees  on  Devotion,  Finance,  Dodumentfi,  Nomination. 

7.  Stantiing  (yommittees  on  State,  Home,  and  Foreign   Missions,  Tem- 

perance, Education,  Sunday  Schools,  Deceased  Members. 

8.  Reports:  on  Nomination,  Docnments,  Finance. 


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