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AUBAMA  BAf>™  HJSTORfCAl  SOCIE1T 


M/NUTES 


SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL    SESSION 


Birmingham  Baptist  Association 


HELD    WITH 


RUHAMA    BAPTIST    CHURCH, 


EAST   LAKE,    ALA., 


SEPT.   29,   30   AND    OCT.   I,   1896. 


The  next  Se^ssicya  of  the  Association  will  be  held  with  the 

Irondale^Baptist  Church,  commencing  on  Tuesday 

before  the  Second  Sunday  in  September, 

1897,    at    10  o'clock,  a.   m. 


BIRMINGHAM,    ALA.: 

DISPATCH    STATIONERY    CO.,    PRINTERS    AND    BINDERS 

1896. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Lyrasis  Members  and  Sloan  Foundation 


http://www.archive.org/details/minutesofsixtythOObirm 


.  ■- 


REV    ANDREW    JACKSON    WALDROP. 


Born  February  7,  1815;    Died  September  13,  1896. 


MINUTES 


SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL   SESSION 


Birmingham  Baptist  Association 


HELD    WITH 


RUHAMA    BAPTIST    CHURCH, 


EAST    LAKE,    ALA., 


SEPT.   29,    30   AND    OCT.   I,    1896. 


The  next  Session  of  the  Association  will  be  held  with  the 

Irondale  Baptist  Church,  commencing  on  Tuesday 

before  the  Second  Sunday  in  September, 

1897,    at    10  o'clock,   a.   m. 


BIRMINGHAM,    ALA.: 

DISPATCH    STATIONERY    CO.,    PRINTERS    AND     BINDERS 
1896. 


OFFICERS. 

Prof.  R.  J.  WALDROP,  Moderator East  Lake,  Ala. 

M.  M.  WOOD,  Clerk  and  Treasurer Pratt  City,  Ala. 

S.  P.  FOWLKES,  Corresponding  Secretary Birmingham,  Ala. 


STANDING    COMMITTEES. 

STATE  MISSIONS. 

J.  B.  Gibson,  D.  N.  Smith  and  R.  S.  McDaniel. 

HOME  MISSIONS. 

W.  A.  Hobson,  D.  H.  Vann  and  C.  C.  Jones. 

FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 

J.  M.  McCord,  H.  A.  Hagler  and  O.  J.  Waldrop. 

RELIGIOUS  LITERATURE  AND   COLPORTAGE  WORK. 

W.  R.  Ivey,  T.  P.  Waller  and  J.  H.  Hagood. 

DENOMINATIONAL  EDUCATION. 

H.  H.  Brown,  R.  M.  Inzer  and  J.  W.  O'Hara. 

MINISTERIAL  EDUCATION. 

J.  P.  Stiles,  W.  S.  Eubank  and  J.  M.  Huey. 

SABBATH  SCHOOLS. 

P.  C.  Ratliff,  J.  S.  Wood  and  W.  R.  Hilliard. 

YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  WORK. 

E.  P.  Hogan,  J.  D.  Heacock  and  H.  E.  Dalby. 

TEMPERANCE. 

R.  M.  Hunter,  Pat.  Felton,  Jr.,  and  R.  H.  Hendon. 

ORPHAN'S  HOME. 

S.  J.  Ansley,  S.  P.  Fowlkes  and  J.  E.  Massey. 

CHURCH    IMPROVEMENT. 

W.  Y.  Browning,  W.  C.  Bryant  and  Milo  Kimball. 

SPIRITUAL   CONDITION    OF   THE  CHURCHES. 

J.  H.  Longcrier,  J.  K.  Pemberton  and  T.  Robertson. 


ORDAINED    MINISTERS. 


Ansley,  S.  J East  Lake 

Asiicraft.  William East   Lake 

Barksbale,  E.  J Blossburg 

Blackweiber,  W.  M Woodlawn 

Braniiam,  M.  T Mt.  Pinson 

Browning,    W.  Y East  Lake 

Carter,  W.  B East  Lake 

Churchwell,   J.  J Argo 

Champion,  J.  L Dolomite 

Cooper,  B.  F Irondale 

Compton,  H.  C Springville 

Craig,  L.  P Bessemer 

Dorman,  I.  W Gurley's  Creek 

Faggarb,  K.  D Avondale 

Folks,  J.  D Trussville 

Franklin,   D.  B Sandusky 

Giles,  B.  F East  Lake 

Gray,  B.  D Birmingham 

Hagler,  J.   H Warrior 

Hale,  P.  T Birmingham 

Henberson,  Sterling North  Birmingham 

Hobson,  W.  A East  Lake 

Hogan,  James Birmingham 

Huey,  J.   M East  Lake 

Ivey,  W.   B Bessemer 

Jernigan,  J.   S Green's 

Jorban,  J.    D Birmingham 

Kent,  J.  M Birmingham 

Lee,  W.  J Adville 

Lee,  G.  T East  Lake 

Lloyb,  J.  B Birmingham 

McCorb,  J.  M East  Lake 

McGaha,   A.   W East  Lake 

Montgomery,  P.  S Springville 

Nalls,   J.  P Birmingham 

Newman,  W.  B Compton 

■O'Hara,  J.  W East  Lake 

Pool,  J.  H East  Lake 

Bobgers,  W.  T Green  Pond 

•Sanforb,  T.  S Birmingham 

Stamps,  M East  Lake 

Thames,  A.  J East  Lake 

Tibwell,  J.  B: East  Lake 

W albrop,  O.   J Bessemer 

Walbrop.  B.   M Huffman 

Walls,  F.  C Mt.  Pinson 

Wkatherly,  J.  H East  Lake 

Wells,  J.  B East  Lake 

Whittle,  W.  A East  Lake 

Williams,  N.   B Birmingham 

Woob,  M.  M Pratt  City 

"Wyatt,  G.  S Ayers 


ORDER    OF    BUSINESS. 


1.  Heading  of  Church  Letters. 

2.  Enrollment  of  Delegates. 

3.  Election  of   Officers. 

4.  Keceiving  Churches  Applying  for  Admission. 

5.  Appoint  Special  Committees. 

6.  Eeceive  Correspondence. 

7.  Return  Correspondence. 

8.  Miscellaneous  Business. 

9.  Eeport  on  Foreign   Missions. 

10.  Eeport  on  Home  Missions. 

11.  Report  on  State  Missions. 

12.  Report  on  Religious  Literature  and   Col  portage  Work, 

13.  Report  on  Education. 

14.  Miscellaneous  Business. 

15.  Report  on  Sabbath  Schools. 

16.  Report  on  Young  People's  Work. 

17.  Report  on  Temperance. 

18.  Report  on  Orphan's  Home. 

19.  Report  on  Church  Improvements. 

20.  Report  on  Nominations. 

21.  Report  of  Treasurer. 

22.  Report  of  Finance  Committee. 

23.  Appoint  Standing  Committees. 

24.  Report  of  Committee  on  Spiritual  Condition  of  Churches. 

25.  Report  of  Executive  Commit.ee. 

26.  Miscellaneous  Business. 

27.  Adjournment. 


PROCEEDINGS. 


East  Lake,  Ala.,  Sept.   29,   1896. 

The  Birmingham  Baptist  Association  met  this  day  in  its 
sixty-third  annual  session,  in  the  meeting-house  of  the  Ru- 
hama  Church,  at  10  a.  m.,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  former 
Moderator,  Rev.  A.  J.  Waldrop,  who  departed  this  life  Sep- 
tember 13,  1896,  was  called  to  order  by  Brother  A.  B.  John- 
ston, Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

After  devotional  exercises,  Brother  S.  P.  Fowlkes  was 
•elected  Temporary  Clerk,  in  the  absence  of  the  former  Clerk, 
who  was  detained  by  a  funeral. 

The  letters  were  then  called  for  and  read  by  brethren  W. 
R.  Ivey  and  P.  T.  Hale,  and  the  names  of  delegates  enrolled 
as  follows,  viz:   » 

Adger — Not  represented. 

Avondale— Rev.  R.  M.  Hunter,  Rev.  R.  D.  Faggard, 
J.  T.  Beard. 

Bellview— M.  R.  Russell,  J.  K.  Pemberton,  Jacob  Kim- 
tall  and  Milo  Kimball. 

Bessemer— W.  R.  Ivey,  J.  W.  O'Hara,  H.  P.  Lipscomb, 
T.  P.  Waller,  A.  A.  Harris. 

Bethany — Not  represented. 

Birmingham,  First— B.  D.  Gray,  N.  B.  Williams,  A.  B. 
Johnston,  C.  F.  Wheelock,  T.  A.  Bell,  T.  P.  Bradford,  R. 
S.  Warner,  Jno.  McKenzie,  Everett  Shepherd,  P.  C.  Ratliff, 
L.  P.  Fleming. 

Birmingham,  Southside— Jas.  Hogan,  Rev.  J.  R.  Lloyd, 
S.  P.  Fowlkes,  Rev.  P.  T.  Hale,  W.  M.  Malone,  B.  J. 
Caffey,  E.  P.  Hogan,  M.  C.  Reynolds,  J.  P.  Stiles,  J.  A. 
Walker. 


THE  SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL   SESSION 


Brookside — T.  S.  Tenny,  L.  B.  Evans. 

Blossburg — Rev.  E.  J.  Barksdale,  Arthur  Brown,  Alfred 
Winters. 

Birmingham,  Second  Church — Rev.  J.  B.  Tidwell,  Ster- 
ling Henderson,  A.  N.  Hawkins,  J.  A.  Hunter. 

Canaan — W.  T.  Crotwell,  J.  A.  Walls,  Beney  Ezell,  L. 
E.  Cooly. 

Concord — A.  W.  Bond,  James  Lee,  Frank  Letcher. 

Dolomite — S.  G.  Robinson,  Cephas  Vines,  J.  J.  Walker. 

Elyton— O.  Wendt,  M.  R.  Rockett,  M.  P.  Lewis. 

Green  Springs — G.  A.  Robertson,  F.  Holden,  M.  M. 
Warren. 

Irondale — A.  J.  Herring,  W.  J.  Cardwell,   C.  M.  Dixon.. 

Johns — Not  represented. 

Mary  Lee — Not  represented. 

Mount  Olive — B.   T.  Darden. 

New  Prospect— E.  P.  Wood,  W.  O.  M.  Franklin,  J.  F. 
McClinton,  G.  W.  Chiles. 

Oak  Grove— C.  M.  Rogers,  T.  E.  Stubbs,  J.  B.  Mc- 
Combs. 

Pratt  City— Rev.  M.  M.  Wood,  J.  H.  Eubank,  J.  W. 
Minor,  Pat.  Felton,  W.  S.  Eubank,  Albert  Webb,  C.  S. 
Lecren. 

Pleasant  Ridge — B.  B.  Waldrop,   T.   Robertson. 

Rocky  Ridge — J.  D.  Folks,  J.  H.  Roper. 

Ruhama — H.  B.  Kimbrough,  Rev.  B.  F.  Giles,  H.  H. 
Brown,  A.  D.  Smith,  R.  J.  Waldrop,  Rev.  W.  A.  Hobson, 
N.  A.  Barrett,  Rev.  Mac  Stamps,  Rev.  Jno.  D.  Jordan,  Rev. 
G.  T.  Lee. 

Salem — Rev.  M.  T.  Branham,  J.  H.  Hagood,  W.  Frank- 
lin, J.  E.  Massey. 

Springdale — Rev.  J.  S.  Jernigan,  L.  A.  Connell,  W. 
H.  Carlisle. 

Springville — Rev.  P.  S.  Montgomery,  R.  M.  Pierce,  S. 
A.  McClendon. 

Trussville— M.  K.  Vann,   S.  R.  McDaniel,  D.  H.  Vann. 


OF   THE   BIRMINGHAM    BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION. 


Union — T.  L.  Johnson,  Theodore  Ryne,  R.  T.  Jones. 
Warrior— D.  N.  Smith,  H.  A.  Hagler,  Peter  Twist. 
Williamsburg — Not  represented. 

Woodlawn— J.  B.  Helm,  Rev.  J.  Sid  Wood,  J.  B.  Gib- 
son, D.  H.  Montgomery,  Dr.  D.  D.  Jones. 

The  election  of  officers  was  next  declared  in  order.  Prof. 
R.  J.  Waldrop  was  elected  Moderator,  M.  M.  Wood,  Clerk 
and  Treasurer,  and  S.  P.  Fowlkes,   Corresponding  Secretary. 

McElwain  and  Pine  Grove  Churches,  organized  since  last 
Association,  presented  letters  for  admission  into  the  Associa- 
tion. A  committee  consisting  of  Brethren  James  Hogan, 
L.  P.  Fleming  and  M.  P.  Lewis  was  appointed  to  examine 
and  report  on  these  applications.  The  report  being  favorable 
they  were  received  and  messengers  enrolled  as  follows: 

McElwain — Thomas  Graham,  William  Byers,  W.  E. 
Mitchell. 

Pine  Grove — Isaac  Perry,  Jas.  P.  Richey. 

Representatives  were  then  received  as  follows,  viz : 

Rev.  W.  C.  Bledsoe,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  A.  E.  Burns  from 
the  State  Board  of  Missions. 

Rev.  A.  R.  Hardy  from  the  church  at  Greensboro,  Ala. 

Rev.  John  D.  Jordan,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the 
Baptist  Young  People's  Union  of  the  South. 

Rev.  J.  R.  Lloyd,  Agent  of  the  Alabama  Baptist. 

Salem  Association — Rev.  J.  P.  Nails. 

Tuscaloosa  Association — Rev.  John  T.  Bealle. 

Rev.  B.  D.  Gray,  Vice-President  of  the  Home  Mission 
Board  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention. 

Rev.    W.  R.   Ivey  for  the   Sunday    School  Board   of  the 
Southern  Baptist  Convention. 

On  motion,  the  hour  of  7:30  p.  m.,  was  set  for  preaching 
the  Introductory  Sermon. 


THE  SIXTY-THIRD  ANNUAL,  SESSION 


The  hours  for  meeting  and  adjournment  were  fixed  as  fol- 
lows, viz:  Meet  at  9  a.  m.,  adjourn  at  12:30  p.  m.;  meet  at 
2:30  p.  m.,  adjourn  at  5  p.  m.;  meet  at  7:30  p.  m.  and  adjourn 
at  will. 

Special  Committees  were  announced  as  follows,  viz: 
On  Nominations — P.  T.  Hale,  H.  A.  Hagler,  J.  B.  Gibson. 
On  Finance—].  P.  Stiles,  P.  C.  Ratliff,  M.  P.  Lewis. 
On  Devotional  Exercises — Pastor  and  Deacons  of  Ruhama 
Church. 

On  motion,  9:30  a.  m.,  Wednesday,  was  set  apart  for  the 
report  on  State,  Home  and  Foreign  Missions. 

The  report  on  Religious  Literature  and  Colportage  Work 
was  called  for.  The  report  not  being  ready  the  item  was 
passed  and  the  report  on  Education  was  called  for.  The 
report  not  being  at  hand  the  item  of  Miscellaneous  Business 
was  called. 

The  special  committee  appointed  at  the  last  session  on 
"Constitution  and  By-Laws"  reported  ready,  and  the  report 
was  read  by  Brother  A.  B.  Johnston,  as  follows,  viz:  See 
page  33- 

The  report  was  discussed  by  A.  B.  Johnston  and  unani- 
mously adopted,  and  ordered  printed  in  the  minutes. 

The  Committees  on  Education  reported  ready.  The 
reports  were  called  for  and  read  as  follows,  viz : 

REPORT  ON  DENOMINATIONAL  EDUCATION. 

Denominational  Education  is  one  of  the  constituent  parts  that  form  the 
foundation  upon  which  all  the  interests  fostered  by  the  denomination  are 
supported.  If  this  foundation  be  laid  broad  and  deep,  State  Missions,  For- 
eign Missions,  Home  Missions  and  the  Sunday  School  will  have  the  mainten- 
ance which  the  lovers  of  these  causes  have  so  earnestly  desired,  and  for  which 
they  have  so  fervently  prayed.  Again,  it  is  in  the  denominational  school 
alone  that  the  hightst  standard  of  morals  can  be  erected,  for  in  no  other  school 
can  Christ  be  held  up  as  an  example  and  His  word  be  taught  as  a  guide. 

Those  who  attend  this  school  are  not  only  prepared  to  attend   to  their 


OF   THE   BIRMINGHAM   BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION. 


own  business  affairs  but  they  are  also  taught  both  by  example  and  precept 
the  Christ-like  Spirit  of  being  helpful  to  others. 

Now  for  our  sons  we  have  our  own  beloved  Howard,  inferior  to  no  other 
educational  institution  in  the  State.  To  prove  this  we  have  only  to  refer  you 
to  her  sons  that  have  gone  forth  into  the  world,  hence  it  has  not  only  the 
right  to  ask  but  good  reason  to  expect  the  patronage  and  support  of  the  Bap- 
tists of  Alabama.  For  our  daughters  we  have  the  Judson,  an  institution 
known  all  over  this  Southland  for  its  faithful  work  and  christian  culture. 
The  modesty,  the  refinement  and  the  christian  conduct  of  her  daughters  are 
sufficient  inducements  to  draw  the  patronage  of  any  Baptist  who  desires  the 
best  educational  advantages  for  his  daughter. 

Now,  these  two  Schools  which  have  done  such  noble  work  in  the  past  in 
preparing  men  and  women  to  be  influential  and  helpful  in  home,  church  and 
state,  still  stand  as  bulwarks  for  those  who  are  committed  to  them,  against  the 
encroachments  of  the  materialistic  and  secularizing  tendencies  of  the  times. 
Indeed,  we  may  say  the  denominational  schools  have  been  in  no  small  degree 
the  conservators  of  morals  and  religion  in  our  state  institutions.  The  public 
sentiment  that  has  been  created  in  a  large  measure  by  the  denominational 
school  demands  at  least  that  the  skeptic  Professor  shall  keep  to  himself  his 
peculiar  views. 

The  tendency  of  denominational  schools  now  is  to  be  less  sectarian  and 
more  christian. 

The  great  purpose  now  is  to  keep  the  intellectual  and  moral  development 
abreast  with  each  other.  In  order  to  be  able  to  teach  the  highest  standard  of 
morals  the  Judson  and  the  Howard  use  the  Bible  as  a  text  book. 

Now,  if  these  statements  be  true,  it  behooves  every  Baptist  who  loves  the 
Master's  cause  and  desires  the  spiead  of  his  kingdom,  to  support,  patronize 
and  work  for  the  Howard  and  the  Judson. 

Although  the  Judson  has  sustained  a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  Dr. 
Averett,  yet  we  are  glad  that  the  Trustees  have  been  able  to  secure  Rev.  R.  G. 
Patric  to  take  charge  of  the  Judson. 

B.  F.  Giles, 
T.  J.  Dill, 
A.  D.  Smith. 

REPORT  ON   MINISTERIAL  EDUCATION. 

It  is  an  admitted  fact  that  Education  is  an  important  factor  to  the  suc- 
cess of  one  in  any  of  the  vocations  in  life.  Education  means  freedom — free- 
dom from  ignorance.  Christ  said:  "Ye  shall  know  the  truth  and  the  truth 
shall  make  you  free."  This  seems  to  be  a  universal  law.  We  are  free  only 
to  the  extent  of  our  knowledge  of  truth.  Is  not  our  knowledge  of  truth  an 
exact  measure  of  our  freedom  ?  Never  before  has  the  imperative  demand  for 
universal  education  of  the  soundest  and  highest  order  been  so  manifest.  The 
ruling  spirit  of  the  age  seems  to  be  freedom.    Men  of  all  classes  are   chafing 


10  THE   SIXTY- THIRD   ANNUAL   SESSION 

under  their  present  restraints,  and  endeavoring  to  cast  them  off.  The  ten- 
dency of  the  times  is  disorganizing.  The  conditions  under  which  we  live  are 
fraught  with  great  peril.  There  is  an  individualism  in  this  age  that  tends  to 
intensify  the  sense  of  responsibility.  Serious  and  thoughtful  minds  are  ask- 
ing the  question,  what  can  save  us  from  anarchy — from  social  and  political 
ruin?     The  answer,  the  only  answer,  is  "knowledge  and  virtue." 

The  widest  and  most  far  reaching  opportunities  are  thus  offered  our 
leaders,  our  christian  educators,  our  ministers.  The  ministers  are  the  formu- 
lators  of  character  in  a  very  large  degree.  They  "set  the  gait"  of  a  large 
proportion  of  their  congregations — especially  the  young.  "  It  matters  not  what 
may  be  our  calling  in  life,  he  needs  the  equipment  which  will  effectually 
multiply  his  sources  of  strength  ;  the  fields  from  which  to  draw  for  mind  and 
heart  inspiration  ;  he  needs  the  views  and  impulses,  the  spiritual  uplift  and 
enlargement  which  spring  from  fellowship  with  other  thinkers,  the  familiarity 
with  every  phase  of  true,  pure,  lofty  thought  and  emotion."  The  christian 
minister  is  no  exception  to  this  rule. 

"  The  Master  went  about  doing  good."  He  gave  sight  to  the  blind,  speech 
to  the  dumb,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  and  feet  to  the  lame  and  halt.  The  chris- 
tian minister  is  performing  like  deeds  in  none  the  less  real  and  none  the  less 
important  sphere  of  heart  and  soul. 

The  Lord  Jesus  came  to  bless  and  save,  and  elevate  humanity  at  every 
point;  to  bring  deliverance  as  deep  and  as  wide  as  human  need.  He  came 
that  men  might  have  life — full,  rich,  abundant  life.  He  came  to  lift  up  the 
moral,  the  physical,  the  intellectual  man.  He  came  to  save,  for  time  as  well 
as  for  eternity.  He  came  that  men  might  have  happier  homes,  broader  minds, 
truer  intuitions,  clearer  views,  sounder  judgments,  purer  souls,  more  lofty 
longings  and  fellowships  and  aspirations.  He  came  to  save  completely  and 
gloriously  this  wondrous,  complex  being — man. 

Should  not  his  ministers,  who  are  to  do  his  bidding,  who  are  to  stand  as 
his  representatives,  be  the  most  completely  rounded  of  all  men  ?  Let  us  con- 
tribute liberally  to  this  part  of  our  denominational  work,  a  work  that  touches 
us  more  clearly  than  possibly  any  other. 

Howard  College  had  within  her  walls  during  the  year  '95  and  '96  thirty- 
three  ministerial  students.  Already,  thus  early  in  the  session  of  '96  and  '97, 
we  have  registered  twenty -six  matriculants. 

The  Seminary  at  Louisville  is  calling  for  more  men  from  Alabama. 

Your  Committee  reports  that  for  the  Associational  year  '94-' 95,  that  we 
the  Baptists  of  the  Birmingham  Association,  numbering  in  our  membership 
3,903  members,  contributed,  according  to  the  financial  report  made  at  our  last 
sitting,  the  sum  of  $392.42,  or  about  ten  cents  per  capita.  It  seems  to  us  that 
we  are  just  "  playing"  at  Ministerial  Education. 

"By  their  fruits  shall  ye  know  them." 

Respectfully  submitted, 

J.  R.  Lloyd, 
R.  J.  Waldrop, 

"  Committee. 


OF    THE   BIRMINGHAM    BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  II 

The  reports  were  discussed  by  brethren  P.  T.  Hale,  H. 
H.  Brown,  W.  C.  Bledsoe,  Secretary  State  Board  of  Mis- 
sions, B.  D.  Gray  and  W.  A.  Hobson,  and  adopted. 

The  Committee  on  Devotional  Exercises  reported  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

"That  Rev.  M.  M.  Wood  preach  the  Introductory  Ser- 
mon at  7:30  to-night,  after  which  memorial  services  be  held 
in  memory  of  our  departed  brother,  A.  J.  Waldrop,  and  his 
son,  Rev.  E.  B.  Waldrop.  That  Dr.  B..  D.  Gray  preside 
over  the  meeting.  And  that  the  Missionary  Sermon  be 
preached  Wednesday  at  11:30  a.  m.,   by  Rev.  W.  R.  Ivey."" 

The  report  was  adopted. 

The  hour  having  arrived,  the  Association  adjourned  to 
7:30  P.   M. 

FIRST   DAY— Night  Session. 

The  Introductory  Sermon  was  preached  at  7:30  p.  m.,  by 
Rev.  M.  M.  Wood,  from  Heb.  11:5.  A*  the  close  of  the 
sermon  the  memorial  exercises  were  held  according  to 
appointment,  Brother  B.  D.  Gray  in  the  chair.  After  read- 
ing 1  Samuel  12:1-5,  anc^  appropriate  comments  by  Brother 
Gray,  memorial  addresses  were  made  by  brethren  P.  T.  Hale, 
G.  T.  Lee,  James  Hogan,  P.  S.  Montgomery  and  W.  A. 
Hobson,  and  the  Association  adjourned  to  9  o'clock,  a.  m., 
Wednesday. 

SECOND    DAY— Morning  Session. 

The  Association  was  called  to  order  by  the  Moderator^ 
and  devotional  exercises  were  conducted  by  Rev.  A.  E. 
Burns,  of  Huntsville,  Ala. 

A  committee  from  the  Mineral  Springs  Association  was- 
received,  and  reported  through  Brother  R.  C.  Greathouse,. 
that  their  Association   desired  help   from    the    Birmingham 


12  THE  SIXTY-THIRD  ANNUAL  SESSION 

Association  in  the  prosecution  of  their  mission  work.  On 
motion  the  application  was  referred  to  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  W.  A.  Hobson,  a  Committee  was 
appointed  to  prepare  suitable  memorial  of  Rev.  A.  J.  Wal- 
drop,  and  his  son,  Rev.  E.  B.  Waldrop.  The  Moderator 
appointed  W.  A.  Hobson,  B.  D.  Gray,  G.  T.  Lee  and  M. 
M.  Wood.     See  report  on  page  29. 

The  hour  having  arrived  for  the  consideration  of  Missions, 
the  reports  were  called  for  and  read  as  follows,  viz : 

REPORT  ON  FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 

God  has  richly  blessed  the  work  of  our  churches  through  their  Foreign 
Mission  Board.  During  the  past  year  735  believing  converts  have  been  bap- 
tized on  the  foreign  fields. 

The  amount  contributed  by  the  churches  of  our  Southern  Baptist  Con- 
vention during  the  last  conventional  year  was  $101,165.00.  Of  this  amount 
Alabama  Baptists  gave  $6,261.00.  On  our  foreign  fields,  $5,553.00  was  con- 
tributed by  our  workers. 

In  our  churches  in  foreign  lands  are  now  4,295  members.  Our  Board  is 
doing  a  vigorous  work  in  Africa,  China,  Japan,  Mexico,  Brazil  and  Italy. 

The  Board  is  deeply  in  debt  and  to  prevent  the  work  suffering  we  ought 
to  enlarge  our  offerings.  Tf  we  are  Missionary  Baptists  in  reality  as  well  as 
in  name,  let  us  heed  the  command  of  our  absent  Lord  :  "  Go  ye  into  all  the 
world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature." 

We  earnestly  recommend  the  "  Foreign  Mission  Journal." 

P.  T.  Hale,  Chairman. 

REPORT  ON  HOME  MISSIONS. 

The  work  of  the  Home  Mission  Board  under  the  divine  blessing  has 
a;rown  into  proportions  gratifying  to  our  people,  and  promising  the  happiest 
results  in  the  future. 

During  the  last  five  years  the  number  of  missionaries  in  its  employ  has 
averaged  about  400.  The  results  of  their  labors  have  been  most  inspiring, 
In  that  time  they  have  baptized  more  than  20,000  believers,  constituted  more 
than  a  thousand  churches,  organized  twice  that  number  of  Sunday  schools, 
and  erected  more  than  500  houses  of  worship  on  their  fields  of  labor.  Of  this 
work  the  distinguished  historian  who  delivered  the  semi-centennial  address  in 
Washington  in  1895  said,  that  it  was  "the  joy  and  marvel  of  our  recent 
history." 


OF  THE   BIRMINGHAM  BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  13 

This  year  the  work  of  the  Board  under  the  trying  conditions  of  the 
country,  is  going  forward  with  most  gratiying  success. 

Our  work  iu  Cuba,  though  suffering  a  temporary  depression  in  conse- 
quence of  the  enforced  absence  of  the  pastors,  is  being  carried  on  by  godly 
women  and  the  brethren  who  are  suffered  to  remain  in  Havana.  Transferred 
to  this  country  these  banished  pastors  are  doing  good  work  in  their  respective 
fields.  Especially  in  Key  West,  brethren  O'Halloran  and  Calejo  are  meeting 
with  gratifying  success. 

So  everywhere  from  all  our  fields  and  from  every  department  of  our 
work  come  the  glad  tidings  of  the  divine  blessing  attending  the  words  of  our 
brethren  and  making  them  God's  power  unto  salvation. 

In  its  work  the  Board  needs  the  constant  sympathy  and  support  of  the 
churches.  To  these  it  owes  its  past  success,  and  without  them  there  would  be 
no  hope  for  the  future. 

There  is  danger  that  in  these  times  when  so  many  weighty  questions  are 
pressing  themselves  upon  public  attention,  that  there  may  be  forgetfulness  of 
our  mission  work.  The  cry  of  hard  times  which  has  filled  the  land  may  lead 
some  to  withhold  their  needed  aid.  Let  our  brethren  remember  that  what- 
ever betides  our  country  or  ourselves  the  Lord's  work  must  go  forward. 

Contributions  have  not  been  sufficient  to  enable  the  Board  to  pay  the 
salaries  of  our  missionaries,  and  they  need  the  meager  sums  they  have  been 
promised  to  procure  the  necessities  of  life.  In  portions  of  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory and  Oklahoma  where  crops  have  failed,  brethren  write  that  our  mission- 
aries must  suffer  unless  we  can  help  them  more  this  year  than  we  have  done 
in  the  past. 

We  take  pleasure  in  calling  the  attention  of  the  Association  to  the  in- 
valuable work  done  by  the  Woman's  Missionary  Union. 

The  amount  raised  by  the  Union  during  the  last  conventional  year,  was 
$33,542.64  an  increase  of  five-fold  in  eight  years.  Had  our  churches  exhibited 
a  similar  increase,  the  Board  would  not  be  cramped  for  funds  to  supply  less 
than  half  of  our  widespread  destitution. 

SUMMARY. 

Summary  of  work  for  the  past  conventional  year  as  follows: 

Missionaries 411 

Weeks  of  labor 12,329 

Churches  and  stations 1,626 

Sermons  and  addresses 58,041 

Prayer  meetings 9,622 

Baptisms 5,617 

Received  by  letter 6,672 

Total  additions 13,295 

Sunday  schools  organized 372 

Teachers  and  pupils 12.635 

Religious  visits 61 ,498 


14  THE   SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL   SESSION 

Churches  constituted  207 

Houses  of  worship  built 92 

Houses  of  worship  improved 146 

Amount  expended  on  houses  of  worship $  86,209 

Bibles  and  testaments  distributed 2,595 

Tracts  distributed,  pages 726,675 

The  State  Board  of  Alabama,  Arkansas,  District  of  Columbia,  Florida, 
Georgia,  Indian  Territory,  Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Maryland,  Mississippi, 
North  Carolina,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Virginia,  Western  Arkansas,  Indian  Terri- 
tory, and  Western  North  Carolina  are  in  co-operation  with  us  in  a  part  or  the 
whole  of  their  work. 

REPORT  ON  STATE  MISSIONS. 

Your  Committee  on  State  Missions  submit  the  following  for  your  consid- 
eration : 

Since  the  meeting  of  your  Association  of  last  year,  we  have  the  report  of 
the  State  Mission  Board  made  to  State  Convention  at  Selma,  in  November, 
last  year.  In  the  report  we  find  much  that  is  encouraging,  as  well  as  some 
things  which  should  cause  us  to  reflect  seriously,  and  give  ourselves  with 
renewed  energy  to  this  branch  of  our  denominational  work.  It  is  a  fact  well 
known  to  all  familiar  with  our  Missionary  efforts,  that  one  great  hindrance 
to  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  work,  is  the  lack  of  funds.  The  field  is 
here,  needing  the  workers,  the  workers  are  here  ready  to  give  themselves  to 
the  work.  But  the  money  necessary  to  carry  it  on,  as  it  should  be,  has  been 
wholly  inadequate.  We  find,  however,  by  the  last  report  of  the  State  Mission 
Board,  that  there  was  last  year  an  increase  in  the  amount  contributed  for  this 
branch  of  our  work.  Also,  the  work  of  our  evangelists  is  spoken  of  and  com- 
mended in  a  manner  that  cannot  fail  to  please  all  true  lovers  of  our  Master's 
cause.  These  with  other  features  of  the  report  should  encourage  us,  and  is 
cause  for  thankfulness  on  our  part.  The  painful  statement,  that  a  large 
majority  of  our  denominatfon  are  anti-missionary  in  practice,  is  one  that 
should  cause  us  to  reflect  and  ask,  why  ? 

We  have  a  great  work  in  our  State,  the  successful  accomplishment  of 
which  depends  upon  our  united  efforts.  Not  of  the  few  who  have  borne  the 
burden  thus  far,  but  upon  the  efforts  of  the  whole  denomination. 

When  the  day  shall  come  (as  it  will),  that  our  people  shall  become  Mis- 
sionary in  practice,  as  in  profession,  this  part  of  our  work  will  make  vigorous 
strides  forward,  and  we  shall  fulfill  more  nearly  the  measure  of  our  respon- 
sibility. 

Your  Committee  feel  they  cannot  commend  too  earnestly  to  your  prayer- 
ful consideration  and  substantial  support  the  work  undertaken  by  our  State 
Board  among  the  colored  people. 

The  plan  of  work  is  one  which  must  commend  itself  to  any  one  at  all 
familiar  with  the  situation,  and  the  necessity  for  the  most  vigorous  efforts, 


OF   THE   BIRMINGHAM   BAPTIST    ASSOCIATION.  15 

along  the  line  indicated  or  some  other  line,  which  experience  may  suggest, 
are  too  apparent  to  need  even  mention  in  this  report.  We  believe  our  social, 
political,  material  and  spiritual  interests  have  and  are  suffering  because  of  our 
neglect  of  this  work  in  the  past.  The  Birmingham  Association,  being  the 
first  in  the  State,  has  grave  responsibilities  restit  g  upon  it. 

The  words  of  our  former  State  Secretary  come  to  us  with  peculiar  force, 
when  in  his  last  report,  he  gives  it  as  his  very  decided  opinion,  that  the  Mis- 
sionary work  should  be  carried  on  at  and  from  the  centers  of  population.  We 
cannot  with  justice,  fail  to  notice  the  help  given  our  State  work  by  .the  stu- 
dents of  Howard  College,  and  feel  that  any  assistance  given  them  by  our 
State  Board  is  more  than  repaid  by  the  work  which  they  are  doing  in  and 
near  our  Association. 

C.  F.  Wheelock,  Acting  Chairman. 

The  reports  were  discussed  by  brethren  Jas.  Hogan,  B. 
D.  Gray  and  W.  C.  Bledsoe. 

Brother  A.  R.  Hardy  addressed  the  Association  and 
asked  the  churches  for  four  hundred  dollars  for  the  house  of 
worship  at  Greensboro.  On  motion  the  request  was  com- 
mended to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

The  hour  of  11:30  having  arrived,  Rev.  W.  R.  Ivey 
preached  the  Missionary  Sermon,  at  the  close  of  which  a  col- 
lection was  taken  for  State  Missions,  amounting  in  cash  and 
pledges,  to  $159. 16. 

On  motion,  the  hour  of  7:30  p.  m.  to-day  was  set  apart 
for  the  consideration  of  the  Young  People's  Work. 

The  hour  for  adjournment  having  arrived  the  Association 
adjourned. 

SECOND    DAY— Afternoon  Session. 

The  Association  was  called  to  order  promptly  at  the  hour 
by  the  Moderator.      The  Minutes  were  read  and  corrected. 

By  general  consent  the  Committee  on  Nominations, 
through  its  Chairman,  Dr.  P.  T.  Hale,  made  a  partial  report, 
as  follows,  viz  ; 


THE   SIXTY-THIHD   ANNUAL   SESSION 


To  preach  Introductory  Sermon,  Eev.  John  D.  Jordan  ;  Alternate,  Eev. 
W.  A.  Hobson. 

To  preach  the  Missionary  Sermon,  Eev.  G.  T.  Lee ;  Alternate,  Kev.  E. 
M.  Hunter. 

Delegate  to  Southern  Baptist  Convention,  W.  S.  Eubank;  Alternate,  Pat. 
Felton,  Jr. 

Executive  Committee :  A.  B.  Johnston,  Chairman  ;  W.  A.  Hobson,  Jas. 
Hogan,  W.  E.  Ivey,  J.  B.  Gibson,  H.  H.  Brown,  J.  W.  Minor  and  E.  M. 
Hunter. 

On  motion,  Dr.  P.  T.  Hale's  name  was  added  to  the. 
Committee,  and  the  report  was  adopted. 

The  reports  on  Missions  being  still  before  the  Association, 
were  further  discussed  by  brethren  P.  T.  Hale,  A.  B.  John- 
ston and  M.  M.  Wood,  and  adopted. 

The  report  on  Religious  Literature  and  Colportage  Work 
was  called  for  and  read  by  the  Chairman,  Rev.  N.  B.  Wil- 
liams, as  follows,  viz ; 

EEPOET  ON  EELIGIOUS  LITEEATUEE  AND 
COLPOETAGE  WOEK. 

The  time  is  not  yet  when  we  can  dispense  with  the  work  of  the  Colporteur. 
It  is  a  source  of  gratification  that  something  is  being  done  in  our  State 
through  this  channel.  Your  Committee  regrets  that  statistics  are  not  at 
hand  for  a  full  exhibit  of  this  work  done  by  Alabama  Baptists  the  past  year. 

The  summary  of  work  for  the  year  ending  November  1,  1895,  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

Colporteurs 42 

(Of  these  14  were  Missionary  Colporteurs.) 

Days  service 6,200 

Miles  traveled 41,340 

Sermons  delivered 3,088 

Addresses  made 1,715 

Churches  constituted 6 

Number  baptized 495 

Baptized  by  others 547 

Eeceived  by  letter 435 

Eestored 57 

Sunday  schools  organized 47 

Ladies'  Missionary  Societies  organized 11 

Prayer  meetings  organized 141 

Prayer  meetings  held 720 


OP   THE   BIRMINGHAM   BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION.  17 

Number  of  visits  to  preaching  stations 383 

Numberof  churches  visited 767 

Number  of  visits  made 8,685 

Subscribers  to  the  Alabama  Baptist  secured 310 

Subscribers  to  the  Foreign  Mission  Journal 134 

Subscribers  to  the  Home  Field 2 

Pages  of  Tracts  distributed 30,166 

Meeting  houses  commenced  or  finished 19 

Money  collected  for  meeting  houses $     494.95 

Money  collected  for  all  missions 1,996.88 

Money  collected  for  Ministerial  Education , 109.80 

Money  collected  for  Bible  and  Colportage 42.40 

Money  collected  for  Church  Building 6.90 

Number  of  books  sold 928 

Value  of  same $     561.42 

Bibles  and  Testaments  sold 1,000 

Value  of  same $    785.97 

It  is  in  no  perfunctory  spirit  your  Committee  would  commend  the  Ala- 
bama Baptist  to  the  favorable  consideration  and  liberal  patronage  of  this 
body.  The  terms  under  which  the  paper  was  given  over  to  the  hands  of  Bro- 
ther J.  G.  Harris,  its  proprietor,  at  the  last  session  of  the  State  Convention,, 
and  the  spirit  of  Co-operative  Christian  enterprise  he  has  since  shown  in  the 
purchase  of  a  new  printer's  outfit,  along  with  its  manifest  improvement  as  a 
readable  journal,  all  together  urge  us  to  awakened  attention  to  this  source  of 
Denominational  Power.     Yet  to  become  a  greater  Power  as  it  is  rightly  used. 

The  new  venture,  the  "State  Mission  Journal,"  is  expected  to  foster  what 
its  name  imports  and  is  before  our  people  for  support. 

The  Foreign  Mission  Journal  is  an  absolute  necessity  to  a  wide  awake 
missionary  spirit  in  our  Southern  Baptist  Zion.  It  is  published  at  Richmond, 
Va.     Price,  35c.  for  single  copies  and  25c.  for  ten  copies  and  more. 

The  Birmingham  Baptist,  of  which  Pastor  Hale  is  Editor,  deals  in  mat- 
ters of  local  associational  interest,  of  which  brethren  wish  to  be  informed. 

Your  Committee  commends  the  "  Young  People's  Leader,"  the  organ  of 
the  Young  People's  Union  Auxiliary  to  the  S.  B.  Convention,  to  be  published 
at  Birmingham,  Ala. 

Bespectfuyy  submitted, 

N.  B.  Williams,  Chairman. 

The  report  was  discussed  by  W.  A.  Hobson  and  others, 
and  adopted. 

SECOND    DAY— Night  Session. 

The  Association  reassembled  at  the  hour  appointed  and 


18  THE   SIXTY-THIRD    ANNITAL   SESSION 

was  called  to  order  by  the  Moderator.  After  singing  and 
prayer,  the  report  on  Young  People's  Work  was  called  for 
and  read  by  the  Clerk,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

KEPOKT  ON  YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  WOEK. 

Your  Committee  would  report  no  addition  to  the  number  of  Unions 
within  our  bounds  since  last  report  to  your  body.  The  Unions  as  reported  at 
your  last  meeting  — thirteen  in  number — are  all  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
and  some  of  them  doing  active  and  lasting  work. 

We  note  with  pleasure  the  coming  among  us  of  our  Brother,  John  D. 
Jordan,  General  Secretary  of  our  Southern  Young  People's  organization, 
and  the  establishment  of  the  headquarters  of  the  organization  at  Birmingham. 

We  are,  if  possible,  more  firmly  convinced  than  ever  of  the  grand  possi- 
bility contained  in  our  Young  People's  movement.  While  there  has  been  no 
systematic  effort  made  for  its  extension,  we  trust  there  soon  will  be,  and  we 
can  be  able  to  report  a  large  increase  in  the  number  of  Unions,  and  to  the 
membership  of  those  already  organized. 

C.  F.  Wheelock,  Chairman. 

The  report  was  amended,  and  addresses  on  the  subject 
were  made  by  W.  C.  Bledsoe,  H.  H.  Brown,  W.  A.  Hobson, 
John  D.  Jordan,  Corresponding  Secretary,  A.  W.  McGaha 
and  B.  D.  Gray,  and  adopted. 

On  motion  of  W.  A.  Hobson,  a  committee  was  appointed 
consisting  of  W.  A.  Hobson,  G.  T.  Lee  and  A.  W.  McGaha, 
to  prepare  resolutions  commending  the  Young  People's  Work 
to  the  Churches,  and  report  Thursday.  (This  report  was 
overlooked. — Clerk.) 

The  Association  adjourned  with  prayer  by  A.  W.  Mc- 
Gaha. 

THIRD   DAY— Morning  Session. 

The  Association  reassembled  at  9  a.  m.,  and  was  called  to 
order  by  the  Moderator,  and  Rev.  P.  S.  Montgomery  con- 
ducted devotional  exercises. 

By  general  consent  the  Moderator  added  the  names  of 
brethren  James  Hogan  and  R.  M.  Hunter  to  the  Committee 
on  Nominations. 


OF    THE   BIRMINGHAM   BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  19 

The  report  on  Sunday  Schools  not  being  present,  the 
report  on  Temperance  was  called  for  and  read  by  the  Clerk, 
as  follows,  viz  :  , 

REPORT  ON  TEMPERANCE. 

Whilst  temperance  means  self-control  in  all  things,  and  should  be 
observed  by  every  one,  it  has  been  given  a  specific  meaning  on  account  of  the 
intemperate  use  of  ardent  spirits.  So  that  when  we  speak  of  Temperance  at 
present,  we  mean  opposition  to  the  sale  and  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  as  a 
beverage.  We  maintain  that  the  liquor  business  is  the  most  widespread  and 
destructive  curse  that  now  afflicts  our  country.  It  engenders  poverty,  breeds 
vice,  instigates  murder,  and  is  responsible,  directly  or  indirectly,  according  to 
reliable  authority,  for  nine-tenths  of  the  crimes  of  the  land. 

We  therefore  urge  total  abstinence  on  the  part  of  all  our  people  as  the 
proper  attitude  towards  this  terrible  evil  of  strong  drink.  Herein  lies  per- 
sonal safety,  the  safeguards  of  a  worthy  example  to  others,  and  the  first  step 
towards  the  complete  overthrow  of  the  rum  traffic. 

We  urge  in  the  next  place  that  our  churches  maintain  a  wholesome  dis- 
cipline over  their  members  regarding  the  pernicious  habit  of  dram-drinking. 

Finally,  we  recommend  that  our  people  everywhere  use  all  wise  and 
legitimate  means  for  the  suppression  of  the  liquor  business. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

B.  D.  Gray,  Chairman. 

The  report  was  discussed  by  brethren  M.  M.  Wood,  G. 
T.  Lee,  A.  B.  Johnston  and  P.  S.  Montgomery,  and  adopted. 

On  motion,  speeches  were  limited  to  ten  minutes. 

The  report  on  Orphan's  Home  was  called  for  and  read  by 
Brother  H.  H.  Brown,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  ORPHAN'S  HOME. 

In  presenting  this  report  the  Committe  think  it  cannot  do  better  than  to 
insert  a  circular  recently  issued  by  Bro.  Jno.  W.  Stewart,  Financial  Secretary 
of  the  Institution. 

It  is  as  follows  : 

"the  baptist  orphanage 

Was  permanently  located  at  Evergreen  two  years  ago  last  November, 
and  the  property  purchased  at  a  cost  of  five  thousand  dollars.  The  debt  has 
all  been  paid,  and  this  valuable  property  is  now  free  from  encumbrance.     It 


20  THE  SIXTY-THIRD  ANNUAL  SESSION 

consists  of  eighty  acres  of  land  lying  on  Main  street,  of  which  thirty  acres  are 
in  farm,  thirty  in  woods  and  twenty  in  pasture.  All  has  been  enclosed  with 
substantial  woven  wire  fence,  and  a  commodious  barn  has  been  arranged. 

In  this  Home  has  been  received  27  boys  and' 31  girls;  and  out  of  it  have 
gone,  by  adoption  13  boys  and  13  girls  ;  by  apprenticeship  2  boys.  We  do- 
not  apprentice  girls,  and  only  apprentice  boys  in  exceptional  cases. 

The  children  attend  the  Agricultural  School  and  most  of  them  are  doing 
well.  They  all  attend  Sunday  School  and  Church,  and  are  under  firm,  steady 
loving  control  in  the  Orphanage,  8  of  them  have  been  baptized. 

We  have  more  applications  to  take  children  than  we  can  approve  for 
want  of  room.  We  are  in  pressing  need  of  a  cook  room,  a  laundry  room,  a. 
dining  room,  and  since  the  terrible  scourge  of  measels  through  which  we  have 
just  passed,  we  find  that  we  greatly  need  a  sick  room. 

Now  that  the  Associations  are  soon  to  meet,  will  not  the  friends  of  the- 
institution  provide  the  means  for  the  addition  of  these  much  needed  appliances  ? 

While  we  are  doing  this,  let  us  also  provide  four  more  dormitories  so  that 
we  can  care  for  at  least  sixty  children. 

Brethren,  shall  we  undertake  to  make  these  much  needed  additions,  re- 
lying on  you  to  help  us  nobly  in  this  as  you  did  in  paying  for  the  property  ?  " 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  our  Home  for  indignent  orphans  has 
been,  under  all  the  circumstances  surrounding  it,  phenominally  successful. 
But  it  appears  also  that  there  is  a  pressing  need  for  additional  accomodations- 
in  the  Institution,  and  as  we  are  making  our  offerings  to  the  Lord  this  im- 
portant branch  of  our  denominational  work  should  not  be  overlooked. 

The  earnest  and  devoted  work  of  Bro.  John  W.  Stewart  in  connection 
with  the  orphanage  is  worthy  of  special  note,  and  we  sincerely  trust  that  the 
Baptists  of  Alabama  will  promptly  respond  to  his  appeals  for  assistance  as 
the  needs  of  the  Home  may  demand. 

H.  H.  Brown,  Chairman. 

The  report  was  discussed  by  Brother  H.  H.  Brown,  and 
adopted. 

The  following  resolution,  submitted  by  Brother  H.  H. 
Brown,  and  after  discussion  by  brethren  Brown,  Lloyd, 
Johnston  and  others,  was  adopted,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  for  the  better  promotion  of  the  business  and  objects  of 
this  Association  in  its  future  meetings,  the  Executive  Committee  be  insiructed 
to  prepare  a  program  of  the  regular  business  to  be  transacted,  naming  two 
brethren  to  lead  in  the  discnsuon  of  each  question  to  be  considered.  The 
said  Executive  Committee  is  further  instructed  to  print  said  programs  and 
furnish  a  copy  to  each  of  the  brethren  appointed  to  lead  in  discissions  a 
reasonable  time  before  the  meeting. 


OF   THE   BIRMINGHAM    BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  21 

The  report  on  The  Spiritual  Condition  of  the  Churches 
was  called  for  and  read  by  W.  R.  Ivey,  as  follows,  viz : 

SPIRITUAL  CONDITION  OF  THE  CHURCHES. 

Your  Committee  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  report : 
From  the  information  furnished  by  the  letters  and  so  far  as  we  can  ascer- 
tain fiom  the  brethren,  most  of  our  Churches  have  had  successful  revivals 
during  the  past  year,  and  many  souls  have  been  born  into  the  kingdom.  We 
are  sorry,  however,  to  learn  that  many  of  our  Churches  have  no  Prayer  Meet- 
ing nor  Sabbath  School.  We  also  deplore  the  fact  that  so  many  of  our 
Churches  have  done  so  little  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  for  which  purpose  th 
-churches  were  organized. 

W.  R.  Ivey,  Chairman 
A.  N.  Hawkins, 

The  report  was  adopted. 

The  report  on  Church  Improvement  not  being  ready, 
brethren  A.  B.  Johnston  and  R.  M.  Hunter  were  added  to 
the  Committee,  and  the  item  was  passed  for  the  present. 

Rev.  W.  A.  Hobson  offered  the  following  resolution, 
•which  was  unanimously  adopted,  viz  : 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  our  Association  has  a  long  and  interesting  histo- 
ry, which,  if  preserved,  would  be  a  valuable  contribution  to  the  Baptist  his- 
tory of  Alabama  and  a  joy  to  the  Churches  of  our  Association — 

Resolved,  That  this  body  appoint  a  Historian,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
collect  and  preserve  such  historical  matter  as  may  be  found  worthy  of  preser- 
vation, with  the  view  of  publishing  the  same  as  early  as  practicable. 

Rev.  W.  A.  Hobson  was  unanimously  elected  Historian, 
and  the  co-operation  of  all  interested  in  the  history  of  the 
Association  is  solicited. 

The  Treasurer  submitted  his  report  as  follows,  viz : 

TREASURER'S  REPORT. 
Dr. 

'To  Cash  from  former  Treasurer $  2  2S 

'To  Cash  from  Finance  Committee  for  Minutes 59  83 

Total $62  11 


22  the  sixty-third  annual  session 

Ck. 

By  Cash  for  Printing  Minutes $46  25 

By  Cash  for  Postage 1  15 

By  Cash  to  Clerk  12  43 

By  Cash  on  hand  2  28 

Total $62  11 

Kespectfully  submitted, 

M.  M.  Wood,   Treasurer. 

The  report  was  received. 

The  Finance  Committee  submitted  its  report  as  follows,, 
viz  : 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON   FINANCE. 

East  Lake,  Ala.,  Sept.  30,  1896. 
Your  Committee  on  Finance  beg  to  report  that  we  have  received : 

For  Orphan's  Home $       40 

For  State  Missions 24  53 

For  Home  Missions  .  34  71 

For  Foreign  Missions 30  56 

For  College  Buildings 14  00 

For  Minutes 46  8S 

Total $151  03 

We  have  hereto  attached  an  itemized  statement  of  the  different  amounts 
contributed  by  each  Church  and  for  what  purposes,  which  we  make  as  an 
exhibit  to  this  report.     All  of  the  above  amounts  have  been  turned  over  to 
the  Treasurer  and  his  receipt  attached  as  a  part  of  this  report. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

J.  P  Stiles,  Chairman  of  Committee. 

Received  of  J.  P.  Stiles,  Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee,  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty-one  and  three  one-hundreths  ($151.03)  dollars,  in  full 
of  all  amounts  received  by  him  as  such  Chairman. 

This  October  1,  1896. 

M.  M.  Wood,   Treasurer. 

The  final  report  of  the  Committee  on  Nominations  was 
read  by  H.  A.  Hagler,  and  after  amendment  was  adopted  as 
follows,  viz : 

REPORT  ON  NOMINATIONS. 

Place  of  Meeting  :  Irondale. 


OF   THE    BIRMINGHAM    BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  23 

Time  :  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  Tuesday  before  the  Second  Sunday  in  Septem- 
ber, 1897. 

Delegates  to  State  Convention  :  Hon.  H.  IT.  Brown,  Capt.  A.  B.  Johnston, 
J.  B.  Gibson,  Hon.  W.  C.  Ward,  T.  P.  Waller,  Rev.  M.  T.  Branham  and  Rev. 
J.  R.  Lloyd.  Alternates  :  Milo  Kimball,  J.  T.  Crotwell,  R.  C.  Pressley,  W.  L. 
C.  Vann  and  J.  W.  Minor. 

The  report  on  Sunday  Schools  was  called  for  and  read  by 
J.  W.  Minor,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

REPORT  ON   SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 

Your  Committee  beg  leave  to  report  as  follows  . 

We  have  within  our  Association  of  thirty-one  Churches  and  four  thousand 
members,  nineteen  Bible  Schools  organized,  with  eighty-eight  officers  and 
teachers,  and  twenty-one  hundred  students.  The  contributions  for  all  pur- 
poses $850.00,  as  reported  at  our  last  session. 

The  work  for  the  past  year  is  as  follows :  Number  of  schools  twenty- 
four,  an  increase  of  five  over  the  year  previous,  with  a  membership  of  seven- 
teen hundred  and  twenty-four  in  regular  attendance.  The  scholarship  dimin- 
ished about  18  per  cent.  The  contributions  for  general  purposes  was  $627.99, 
for  Missions  $173.84,  for  Orphanage  $49.67,  for  Howard  College  $46.31,  for 
Church  Aid  $33.00.  An  aggregate  of  $931.81.  There  were  baptized  into  the 
churches,  from  the  Schools  during  the  year,  ninety  members. 

The  primary  objeet  of  these  organizations  is,  as  we  all  understand,  bible 
study;  not  only  the  letter  of  the  word,  but  the  spirit  as  well,  as  the  Saviour 
promised,  saying,  "I  will  send  the  comforter,  and  when  he  is  come  he  will 
guide  you  into  all  truth." 

In  this  work  is  found  some  of  the  most  zealous  members  of  the  churches, 
who  make  their  religion  an  object  of  study,  prayer  and  application,  seeking 
means  of  growth  and  opportunities  of  development,  and  in  obedience  to  the 
scriptural  injunction,  "  Bring  a  child  up  in  the  way  it  should  go  and  when  it 
is  old  it  will  not  depart  from  it." 

The  fruit  of  Bible  School  work  is  an  evidence  of  the  abiding  presence  of 
the  Spirit.  Year  by  year  does  the  church  gather  the  precious  fruit  of  Bible 
School  work,  which  constitutes  a  very  large  per  cent,  of  the  church  member- 
ship, who  as  a  rule  are  the  most  active  and  progressive,  for  the  reason,  that  in 
the  school  they  receive  a  scriptural  training  in  the  matter  of  liberally  contrib- 
uting to  benevolent,  charitable  and  spiritual  interests,  before  worldly  greed 
and  sinful  selfishness  seizes  them  and  takes  the  place  of  christian  liberality. 
There  is  kept  before  them  continually  the  missions,  their  purpose,  work  and 
needs.  The  orphans,  the  poor  and  kindred  interests,  which  appeal  very 
strongly  to  the  tender  and  sympathetic  heart  of  the  child  and  child-like  spirit. 

This  field  is  open  to  every  church  and  church  member.  The  work  is  such 
that  all  may  be  engaged  and  profitably  so,  either  as  director,  teacher  of  class, 


24  THE   SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL   SEISION 

or  teacher  by  example,  all  of  which  bear  fruit  in  blessing,  and  reward  in  the 
salvation  of  our  own  and  other  children. 

In  the  light  of  progressive  Bible  School  work,  why  not  thirty-one  Schools 
and  four  thousand  scholars,  instead  of  nineteen  schools  and  two  thousand 
scholars  ?  There  are  churches  which  cannot  have  the  entire  service  of  the 
pastor.  But  every  church  may  have  and  enjoy  a  Bible  School  every  sabbath, 
even  though  it  be  small. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

J.  W.  Minor,  Chairman. 

The  report  was  discussed  by  A.  B.  Johnston  and  W.  R. 
Ivey.  The  hour  for  adjournment  having  arrived  the  further 
discussion  of  the  report  was  postponed  to  3:30  p.  m.,  and  the 
Association  adjourned. 

THIRD    DAY — Afternoon  Session. 

The  Association  was  called  to  order  promptly  at  2:30 
p.  m.  After  singing  and  prayer,  the  Committee  on  Church 
Improvements  submitted  its  report  as  follows,  viz : 

REPORT  ON  CHURCH  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  following  Churches  report  improvements  as  follows: 

Avondale $  137  15 

Second  Church  36  35 

Blossburg 115  00 

Bellview 400  00 

Brookside 110  00 

Bessemer 410  00 

Coalburg 12  00 

Dolomite 152  10 

Irondale 400  00 

McElwain  700  00 

Oak  Grove 5  00 

Pratt  City 338  85 

Union 50  00 

Woodlawn 200  00 

Warrior 1,010  45 

Third  Church  725  00 

$4,801  80 
We  beg  to  commend  the  Church  Extension  Society,  organized  under  the 


OF   THE   BIRMINGHAM    BAPTIST    ASSOCIATION. 


2& 


auspices  of  the  Executive  Committee,  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the 
Churches  and  to  their  financial  aid. 

James  Hogan,  Chairman. 

The  report  was  adopted. 

The  report  of  the  Executive  Committee  was  read  by  the 
Chairman,  Brother  A.  B.  Johnston,  as  follows,  viz : 

KEPOET  OF  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

Your  Executive  Committee  beg  to  report  that,  as  shown  by  the  letters, 
^we  have  this  year  contributed  an  amount  for  missions  in  excess  of  the 
apportionment.  The  total  contributions  for  Missions  being  $2,577.73.  For 
Ministerial  Education  $104.32.  For  Orphan's  Home  $242.98.  This  is  a 
result  for  which  we  should  be  thankful,  seeing  that  the  effort  to  raise  money 
for  Howard  College  has  interfered  with  collections  for  each  of  these  objects. 

The  per  capita  contributions  for  missions  runs  from  nothing  in  some 
churches  to  $1.61  in  others.     The  banner  churches  being  : 

Pratt  City $1  61  per  capita. 

Coalburg 1  32  per  capita. 

Third  Church 1  17  per  capita. 

First  Church 1  03  per  capita. 

By  arrangement  with  the  State  Board,  Brother  James  Hogan  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  15th  of  January  our  Missionary  to  work  in  the  bounds  of  this 
Association  at  a  salary  of  $50  per  month  and  his  travelling  expenses,  we  are 
glad  to  report  that  enough  money  has  been  raised  to  pay  his  salary  and  that 
we  have  no  debt  on  this  score. 

He  has  labored  faithfully  and  his  report  is  herewith  annexed. 

The  students  at  Howard  College  have  done  good  work,  which  has  been 
highly  appreciated  by  your  Committee.  We  hope  and  believe  they  will  be 
increasingly  useful,  and  ask  that  any  churches  wishing  the  services  of  these 
brethren   will   correspond    with   the   Chairman    of    this    Committee.      The 

students  report  that of  their  number  here, preached 

sermons  at places,  their  expenses  having  been  paid. 

Under  the  auspices  of  this  Committee  a  Sunday  School  Association  was 
formed  last  January.  It  has  held  only  two  meetings,  one  at  the  South  Side, 
the  other  at  the  First  Church,  the  attendance  and  interest  has  not  seemed  to 
justify  an  attempt  at  another  meeting. 

In  March  a  Church  Extension  Society  was  organized,  of  which  A.  B. 
Johnston  was  elected  President ;  Bro.  H.  H.  Brown,  Vice-President ;  J.  B. 
Gibson,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  The  object  of  this  organization  is  to  aid  by 
gift  or  loan  the  building  of  such  churches  as  may  be  approved  by  the  Society. 
To  this  end  the  contributions  of  the  liberally  disposed  are  solicited. 

It  was  thought  for  various  reasons  desirable  to  change  the  meeting  of  the 
Association  from  Dolomite  to  Ruhama  Church,  and  the  time  from  Tuesday 


26  THE   SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL   SESSION 

before  the  last  Sunday  in  September,  to  Tuesday  before  the  first  Sunday  in 
October. 

Your  Committee  recommend  the  employment  of  a  missionary  to  work  in 
our  bounds  this  year,  and  this  recommendation  meets  the  approval  of  our 
State  Secretary. 

Your  Committee  recommend  that  the  Churches  in  remitting  money  for 
Missions,  State,  Home  and  Foreign,  send  all  their  money  to  Bro.  Bledsoe, 
without  giving  instructions  about  its  object  and  that  he  be  allowed  to  divide 
all  amounts  sent  from  this  Association  for  Missions,  one-third  to  each  board. 

Your  Committee  deprecate  the  action  of  the  Sunday  School  Board  in 
raising  through  the  Sunday  Schools  money  for  the  Home  and  Foreign  Boards, 
without  giving  our  State  Board  credit  and  the  commission  agreed  upon 
between  the  Home  and  Foreign  Mission  Boards  and  the  State  Board. 

Your  Committee  has  expended  all  the  funds  in  its  hands  and  would  like 
to  have  its  treasury  replenished  with  $10  or  $15  for  necessary  expenses. 

We  annex  the  apportionment  for  the  ensuing  year. 

We  commend  the  Greensboro  Church  to  the  favorable  consideration  of 
our  churches  and  recommend  a  liberal  contribution  from  those  to  which  Bro. 
Hardy  may  appeal. 

For  the  Committee, 

A.  B.  Johnston,  Chairman. 

REPOKT  OF  JAMES  HOGAN,   MISSIONARY. 

To  the  Executive  Committee,  Birmingham  Baptist  Association. 

Dear  Brethren: — I  herewith  hand  you  my  report  of  work  done 
from  time  of  my  appointment  to  the  close  of  third  quarter,  time  being  eight 
and  one-half  months. 

I  found  the  need  of  mission  work  much  greater  than  I  had  hitherto 
thought  it  to  be. 

While  I  have  visited  nearly  all  the  churches  in  the  Association,  I  have 
gone  not  to  inaugurate  new  plans  of  work,  but  to  bear  fraternal  greetings  and 
encourage  them  in  their  already  good  begun  work. 

I  have  devoted  my  time  mainly  to  the  destitute  territory  embraced  in 
our  Association. 

The  territory  east  of  Red  Mountain,  beginning  at  the  Water  works  on 
the  Cahaba  river  and  thence  along  Shades  Mountain  to  Oxmoor,  thence  to 
Bessemer  would  require  the  entire  time  of  one  man.  Embraced  in  this 
is  the  Shades  Valley,  with  the  following  towns:  Rosedale,  Oxmoor,  Sumter, 
Ishkooda,  Smith's  Mines,  Reader's  and  Sloss  Mines. 

Below  Bessemer  we  have  Jonesboro  on  the  A.  G.  S.  R.  R.  and  Adger, 
Johns  and  Sumter  on  the  B.  M.  R.  R.  Not  many  white  people  at  Johns  and 
Sumter. 

At  the  Fair  Grounds  (Compton),  we  have  a  promising  mission,  where  we 
hope  to  organize  a  church  on  the  first  Sunday  in  October,  witli  a  member- 
ship of  more  than  twenty. 


OF   THE   BIRMINGHAM    RAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  27 


There  should  be  preaching  at  least  once  a  month  at  the  following  places, 
not  included  in  the  foregoing  report.  Brighton,  two  miles  this  side  of 
Bessemer;  Powderly  and  Cleveland,  on  the  B.  P.  &  B.  Dummy  Line;  Henry- 
ellen,  on  the  Southern  R.  R.,  where  there  is  a  good  house  free  to  all  denomi- 
nations. Also,  Mary  Lee  where  we  have  a  weak  church,  worshiping  in  a 
house  free  for  all  denominations. 

There  is  yet  other  territory  that  needs  our  attention  that  I  have  not  been 
able  to  reach. 

I  have  held  and  assisted  others  in  quite  a  number  of  meetings  during  the 
last  three  months,  with  between  sixty  and  seventy  conversions.  Some  of 
whom  have  not  joined  any  church. 

The  collections  taken  at  churches  I  left,  thinking  it  to  be  the  better  plan, 
requesting  them  to  take  regular  collections  and  forward  to  Dr.  Bledsoe. 

I  wish  to  report  a  new  house  of  worship,  well  on  towards  completion  for 
the  Third  Church.  This  is  a  work  that  I  have  looked  forward  to  with  much 
interest. 

Days   Service 259 

Miles  Traveled 936 

Sermons 1"° 

Addresses ' " 

Received  by  letter,  (in  connection  with  Pastor) 9 

Restored  (in  connection  with  Pastor) 1 

Baptisms  (in  connection  with  Pastor) 11 

Churches  visited -0 

Preaching  Stations 9 

Sunday  Schools  organized 5 

Subscribers  Alabama  Baptist 

Assisted  in  ordaining  deacons  4 

Assisted  in  ordaining  ministers 2 

To  railroad  fare  $13  65 

By  amount  Pratt  City  Church $17  00 

By  amount  received  of  stations  and  others 25  55 

By  amount  received  S.  B.  M.  (Dr.  B.) 75  00 

The  report  was  discussed  by  brethren  A.  B.  Johnston,  G. 
T.  Lee  and  H.  H.  Brown,  and  adopted. 

The  following  resolution  was  offered  by  H.  A.  Hagler, 
and  unanimously  adopted,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  the  delegates  and  visitors  to  this  Association  return  thanks 
to  the  good  people  of  East  Lake  for  their  unbounded  hospitality  since  we 
have  been  in  their  midst. 

The    discussion  of  the  report    on  Sabbath    Schools  was 


"28  THE  SIXTY-THIRD  ANNUAL  SESSION 

resumed  by  W.  R.  Ivey,  and  after  brief  addresses  by  others, 
was  adopted. 

A  motion  was  adopted  that  the  Clerk  be  paid  twenty 
dollars  ($20.00)  for  his  services. 

The  Executive  Committee  was  instructed  to  collect  more 
money  for  printing  Minutes  if  there  is  not  a  sufficient  amount 
sent  up  by  the  churches  for  that  purpose. 

Having  finished  its  business,  "  How  Firm  a  Foundation" 
was  sung,  the  parting  hand  was  extended,  and  after  prayer 
by  Brother  B.  F.  Giles,  the  Association  adjourned  to  meet 
with  the  church  at  Irondale,  Tuesday  before  the  second  Sun- 
day in  September,  1897. 

M.   M.   Wood,    Clerk. 


3n  ITTemortarrL 


Rev.  Andrew  Jackson  Waldrop. 

"The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed." 

Rev.  A.  J.  Waldrop  was  born  in  Christian  County,  Kentucky,  February 
7,  1815,  and  died  at  East  Lake,  Alabama,  September  13,  1896.  His  father, 
Robert  Waldrop,  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Jefferson  County,  Alabama,  in 
1818,  the  son  being  then  but  three  years  of  age.  Here  the  child  grew  into 
manhood,  and  the  man  lived  and  labored  until  the  burden  of  four  score  years 
lay  upon  his  tired  shoulders,  and  he  gently  fell  asleep,  and  in  the  same  beau- 
tiful valley,  whose  streams  and  flowers  and  people  were  dear  to  his  heart,  he 
was  laid  to  rest,  close  by  the  old  Ruhama  Church,  at  East  Lake,  of  which  he 
was  the  beloved  pastor  for  thirty  years. 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  sketch  to  give  a  biography  of  our  departed 
brother,  which  would  require  a  volume  of  many  pages.  We  can  hope  only  to 
be  able,  in  so  short  an  article,  to  give  some  of  the  most  important  facts  and 
leading  characteristics  of  his  eventful,  work-filled  and  godly  life.  His  church 
relation  began  in  1833,  when  he  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Hosea  Holcombe  into 
the  fellowship  of  the  Rock  Creek  Baptist  Church.  In  1842,  nine  years  later, 
he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  at  the  same  church,  the  presbytery  consisting 
of  H.  Holcombe  and  Joseph  Byars.  The  young  man  was  at  once  in  demand 
as  a  preacher.  Possessing  as  he  did,  a  handsome  and  vigorous  physique,  a 
pleasing  address,  a  good  supply  of  energy  and  splendid  natural  endowments, 
with  deep  piety  and  broad  sympathies,  he  was  unusually  well  equipped  to 
battle  against  the  many  disadvantages  of  pioneer  life.  In  accounting  for  so 
useful  a  life  under  such  adverse  circumstances,  we  must  not  overlook  the 
extraordinary  gifts  of  the  man.  Rev.  A.  J.  Waldrop  was  a  born  leader.  For 
a  period  of  almost  a  half  century  he  was  the  most  prominent  figure  among 
the  Baptists  of  North  Alabama.  No  man  was  more  honored  by  the  churches, 
none  more  loved  by  the  people. 

In  1844  he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Canaan  (now  Birmingham)  Associa- 
tion. He  served  in  this  capacity  until  he  was  elected  Moderator  in  1857, 
which  position  he  filled  until  the  time  of  his  death — a  period  of  41  years.  In 
his  ruling  as  a  presiding  officer,  he  was  kind  but  positive,  and  while  he  did 


30  THE   SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL   SESSION 

not  claim  to  be  an  expert  parliamentarian,  his  fine  common  sense  and  a  clever 
idea  of  parliamentary  law  gave  him  good  command  of  a  body. 

As  a  preacher  he  was  didactic,  expository  and  doctrinal.  He  possessed 
rather  the  eloquence  of  facts  than  fancy,  the  rhetoric  of  righteousness  than 
roses.  He  believed  more  in  gospel  than  gush.  His  great  theme  was  "salva- 
tion by  grace,"  and  he  relied  upon  the  Holy  Spirit  as  the  quickening  power 
of  the  Word.  He  never  resorted  to  sensational  methods  as  a  preacher  of  the 
cross. 

Brother  Waldrop  was  in  advance  of  his  day  as  a  Missionary.  He  was 
the  leading  missionary  spirit  in  his  Association  for  almost  forty  years,  travel- 
ing himself  much  of  the  time  as  Associational  Missionary.  No  man  has  done 
more  to  beat  back  the  waves  of  anti-mission  influence  which  once  swept  over 
this  country  than  he.  It  was  due  to  him  and  the  co-laborer  of  his  early  life, 
Rev.  Hosea  Holcombe,  that  the  seeds  of  "Hardshell"  heresy  found  little 
favorable  soil  in  our  Association.  Almost  every  Minute  of  the  Association, 
going  back  even  into  the  thirties,  bears  testimony  to  the  fact  that  Rev.  A.  J. 
Waldrop  was  a  missionary  in  principle  and  in  practice. 

Among  the  many  excellent  qualities  of  our  deceased  brother  was  his 
practical  judgment  in  adjusting  matters  of  dispute  among  his  brethren  and 
churches.  His  work  as  a  peace  maker  was  not  confined  to  his  immediate 
section.  Far  out  into  Central  and  North  Alabama,  in  his  palmy  days,  his 
presence  and  counsel  were  sought  as  a  pacificator. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Bro.  Waldrop  always  wore  the  honors  conferred 
by  his  brethren  with  becoming  grace.  A  meek  and  quiet  spirit  characterized 
his  public  utterances  and  his  private  life.  He  never  arrogated  to  himself  the 
right  to  "  lord  it  over  God's  heritage."  In  his  bearing  toward  his  fellow  min- 
isters he  was  kind  and  encouraging,  but  entirely  free  from  fulsome  flattery 
and  petty  jealousies.  He  took  special  interest  in  the  younger  men  of  the 
ministry,  and  it  was  a  real  pleasure  to  him  to  assist  them  in  every  way  possi- 
ble. It  was  a  principle  of  his  life  to  look  on  the  bright  side,  hence  he  never 
lost  touch  with  the  young,  and  his  own  heart  never  grew  old. 

Few  lives  have  been  subject  to  more  vicissitudes  than  was  his,  and  yet  to 
every  new  relation  he  adapted  himself  with  the  ease  and  naturalness  of  one 
born  in  that  environment.  The  spirit  of  the  croaker  found  no  brooding  place 
in  his  mind.  Years  and  cares  did  not  shut  out  the  joy  of  life  from  his  heart 
nor  the  light  of  hope  from  his  face.  It  would  be  difficult  to  enumerate  the 
strong  points  of  Bro.  Waldrop's  life,  he  had  so  few  weak  ones.  As  a  man  he 
was  honest,  candid,  self-reliant  and  prompt.  He  was  known  as  a  "  minute 
man."  He  was  a  broad-minded  and  enterprising  citizen,  who  believed  in  law 
and  order,  and  always  deprecated  mob  violence  and  the  un-American  spirit  of 
anarchy.  A  favorite  passage  of  Scripture  with  him  was,  "Render  untoC;vsar 
the  things  which  are  Cresar's  and  unto  God  the  things  which  are  God's." 

He  served  his  County  three  years  as  Tax  Collector  and  eight  years  as 
Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court.  Bro.  Waldrop  was  married  five  times.  His  first 
wife,  Miss  Fannie  Lee,  was  the  mother  of  his  eldest  son,  Rev.  E.  B.  Waldrop, 


OF   THE   BIRMINGHAM   BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  31 

deceased.  His  second  wife,  Miss  Sarah  Hood,  was  the  mother  of  his  only 
surviving  children,  Mrs.  Catherine  Montgomery  and  Robert  Judson,  Professor 
of  Mathematics  in  Howard  College,  and  successor  to  his  father  as  Moderator 
of  the  Birmingham  Baptist  Association.  His  last  wife,  Mrs.  Ermine  McGaha, 
was  a  great  comfort  to  him  in  his  old  age.  She  too  has  passed  to  her  reward. 
While  we  mourn  the  death  of  so  good  and  useful  a  brother,  whose  his- 
tory and  life  are  a  goodly  heritage  to  the  people  he  loved  so  well  and  served 
so  faithfully,  and  while  we  shall  miss  the  inspiration  of  his  presence  and  the 
wisdom  of  his  counsel,  we  bow  in  humble  submission  to  Him  who  doeth  all 
things  well,  rejoicing  in  the  noble  record  our  brother  has  left  on  earth  and 
the  blessed  reward  into  which  he  has  entered  above. 

Respectfully, 

W.  A.  Hobson,    Chairman. 


3n  IHemoriarrL 


Rev.  Elisha  B.  Waldrop 

Second  son  of  Rev.  A.  J.  Waldrop,  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ala- 
bama, September  15,  1838,  and  died  November  14,  1895,  at  his  home  near 
Huffman,  Jefferson  County,  Alabama. 

Brother  Waldrop  was  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Malinda 
Barton,  with  whom  he  lived  most  happily  for  only  a  few  months,  when  death 
took  her  from  him. 

His  second  wife  was  Miss  Sue  Bradford,  of  Wetumpka,  Alabama,  to 
whom  he  was  married  March  3,  1868.  To  this  marriage  was  born  two  sons 
and  two  daughters  ;  two  sons,  Thomas  and  Lattimore,  and  one  daughter, 
Fannie,  still  live  with  their  godly  mother  to  mourn  the  death  of  an  ideal 
husband  and  father. 

Brother  Waldrop  was  converted  and  received  into  the  fellowship  of  the 
Ruhama  Church  when  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  to  the  day  of  his  death 
lived  above  reproach. 

In  the  fall  of  1870,  he  was,  at  the  request  of  the  Ruhama  Church, 
ordained  to  the  ministry,  the  ordaining  council  consisting  of  Revs.  A.  J.  Wal- 
drop, James  Grimes  and  J.  J.  D.  Renfroe,  D.  D.  He  was  a  "good  minister 
of  Jesus  Christ,  nourished  up  in  the  words  of  faith  and  of  good  doctrine," 
which  made  his  services  desirable  and  highly  appreciated  by  the  large  num- 
ber of  people  to  whom  he  ministered  in  holy  things  during  the  twenty-five 
years  of  his  ministerial  life. 

Quiet,  but  not  gloomy  ;  cheerful,  but  not  light-minded  ;  strong  in  convic- 
tions, but  not  bitter  in  expression;  industrious,  but  not  over-zealous;  kind 
and  tender  toward  the  erring,  without  fellowship  with  sin;  whether  in  his 
family,  the  private  homes  of  his  friends,  the  pulpit,  or  elsewhere,  his  presence 
will  be  greatly  missed,  and  we  bear  cheerful  testimony  to  the  invaluable  worth 
of  such  a  well  rounded  character,  to  both  church  and  state. 

Peace  be  to  his  ashes  'till  the  "trump  of  God  shall  sound,"  and  abound- 
ing grace  to  his  family  and  loved  ones  until,  one  by  one,  they  joim  him  on 
the  other  shore. 

M.  M.  Wood, 

For  the  Committee. 


OP  THE  BIRMINGHAM    BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  33 

REPORT  ON  CONSTITUTION. 

To  the  Birmingham  Baptist  Association : 

Your  Committee  appointed  at  the  last  session  "  to  look  up  the  Constitu- 
tion and  By-Laws  of  the  Association,  and  if  they  could  not  be  found  to  pre- 
pare a  new  Constitution  and  By-Laws"  beg  leave  to  report: 

First — That  after  some  trouble,  it  has  found  the  old  Minute  Book,  con- 
taining, with  other  matters,  the  Constitution,  Abstract  of  Faith,  and  Rules  of 
Decorum,  of  which  the  date  of  adoption  is  not  stated.  They  were  ordered  to 
be  engrossed  at  a  meeting  held  at  Zion  Church,  St  Clair  County,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1839. 

Second — The  Minute  Book  is  herewith  presented  for  your  consideration. 

Third — Although  the  above  report  fulfilled  the  specific  duty  with  which 
your  Committee  was  charged,  various  reasons  impel  it  to  recommend  the 
adoption  of  the  following,  instead  of  the  Constitution,  Abstract  of  Faith,  and 
Rules  of  Decorum  recorded  in  the  old  Minute  Book  with  their  various  amend- 
ments since : 

CONSTITUTION. 

I.  This  body  shall  be  known  as  "The  Birmingham  Baptist  Association."' 

II.  It  shall  be  composed  of  messengers  from  Missionary  Baptist 
Churches. 

III.  The  messengers  from  any  Missionary  Baptist  Church  may  be 
admitted  into  this  Association  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  members- 
present  at  any  regular  meeting. 

IV.  Any  Church  in  good  fellowship  may  at  her  discretion,  withdraw 
from  this  body. 

V.  This  Association  may  at  any  meeting  declare  a  dissolution  of  union* 
with  any  Church  deemed  corrupt,  either  in  doctrine  or  practice. 

VI.  Any  Church  in  this  Association  with  fifty  members,  or  under,  may 
send  three  messengers,  with  one  additional  for  each  succeeding  fifty  members, 
or  major  fraction  thereof. 

VII.  At  each  session  of  the  Association  a  Moderator,  a  Recording  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer,  and  a  Corresponding  Secretary  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot, 
and  shall  hold  office  until  their  successors  are  elected. 

VIII.  The  meeting  of  the  Association  shall  be  held  annually  at  such 
time  as  the  body  may  select. 

IX.  The  design  of  this  Association  is  to  promote  the  cause  of  true  Re- 
ligion within  the  several  Churches  of  which  it  is  or  may  be  composed ;  and  to 
sustain  the  various  objects  fostered  by  the  Alabama  State  Convention  and  the 
Southern  Baptist  Convention. 

X.  This  Association  has  no  authority  over  local  Churches  nor  any  right 
to  interfere  with  their  internal  concerns. 

XI.  For  the  mutual  benefit  of  the  Churches  composing  this  Association, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  Church  to  forward  with  their  messengers  a  written 


34  THE  SIXTY-THIRD  ANNUAL  SESSIO 

communication  to  each  annual  meeting,  specifying  the  names  of  the  messen- 
gers, statistics  of  the  Church  for  the  foregoing  year,  giving  an  account  of  its 
spiritual  condition,  and  stating  the  names  of  its  Pastor  and  of  any  other 
Licentiates  or  Ordained  Ministers  connected  with  the  Church. 

XII.  In  the  interregnum  between  its  annual  sessions  the  business  of  this 
Association  shall  be  committed  to  an  Executive  Committee  to  be  composed  of 
nine  members,  of  whom  five  shall  constitute  a  quorum,  to  be  nominated  by 
Committee  on  Nominations  and  elected  by  the  Association,  and  which  Com- 
mittee shall  make  report  to  the  next  meeting  of  the  Association. 

XIII.  The  Special  and  Standing  Committees  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
Moderator. 

XIV.  The  messengers  from  the  Churches  shall  be  considered  as  holding 
their  appointment  until  others  are  appointed  to  succeed  them,  and  in  case  of 
emergency  may  be  called  together  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

XV.  This  Constitution  may  be  altered  or  amended  by  two-thirds  of  the 
messengers  present  at  any  annual  meeting. 

CONFESSION   OF   FAITH. 

This  Association  adopts  as  voicing  its  views  of  Religious  truth  the  New 
Hampshire  Confession  of  Faith. 

RULES   OF    DECORUM. 

This  Association  adopts  for  its  guidance  Mell's  Parliamentary  Practice. 

Respectfully  Submitted, 

Committee. 


OF  THE  BIRMINGHAM   BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  35 


Declaration  of  Faith. 


I.  Of  the  Scriptures. — We  believe  the  Holy  Bible  was 
written  by  men  divinely  inspired,  and  is  a  perfect  treasure  of 
heavenly  instruction ;  that  it  has  God  for  its  Author,  salva- 
tion for  its  end,  and  truth,  without  any  mixture  of  error,  for 
its  matter;  that  it  reveals  the  principles  by  which  God  will 
judge  us,  and  therefore  is,  and  shall  remain  to  the  end  of  the 
world,  the  true  centre  of  Christian  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  glori- 
ous in  holiness  ;  worthy  of  all  possible  honor,  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  harmonious  offi- 
ces 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 
transgression  fell  from  that  holy  and  happy  state  ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which  all  mankind  are  now  sinners,  not  by  con- 
straint, but  choice ;  being  by  nature  utterly  void  of  that  holi- 
ness required  by  the  law  of  God,  wholly  given  to  the  gratifi- 
cation of  the  world,  of  Satan,  and  of  their  own  sinful  passions, 
and  therefore  under  just  condemnation  to  eternal  ruin,  with- 
out defence  or  excuse. 

IV.  Of  the  Way  of  Salvation. — That  the  salvation  of 
sinners  is  wholly  of  grace,  through  the  mediatorial  offices  of 
the  Son  of  God,  who  took  upon  him  our  nature,  yet  without 
sin ;  honored  the  law  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 


36  THE  SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL  SESSION 

wonderful  person  the  tenderest  sympathies  with  divine  per- 
fections, is  every  way  qualified  to  be  a  suitable,  a  compas- 
sionate, and  an  all  sufficient  Saviour. 

V.  Of  Justification. — That  the  great  gospel  blessing 
which  Christ,  of  his  fulness,  bestows  on  such  as  believe  in 
him,  is  justification  ;  that  justification  consists  in  the  pardon 
of  sin  and  the  promise  of  eternal  life,  on  principles  of  right- 
eousness ;  that  it  is  bestowed,  not  in  consideration  of  any 
works  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  Freeness  of  Salvation. — That  the  bless- 
ings of  salvation  are  made  free  to  all  by  the  gospel ;  that  it  is 
the  immediate  duty  of  all  to  accept  them  by  a  cordial  and 
obedient  faith;  and  that  nothing  prevents  the  salvation  of  the 
greatest  sinner  on  earth,  except  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  regen- 
eration consists  in  giving  a  holy  disposition  to  the  mind,  and 
is  effected  in  a  manner  above  our  comprehension  or  calcula- 
tion, by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  so  as  to  secure  our  vol- 
untary obedience  to  the  gospel ;  and  that  its  proper  evidence 
is  found  in  the  holy  fruit  which  we  bring  forth  to  the  glory  of 
God. 

VIII.  Of  God's  Purpose  of  Grace. — That  election  is 
the  gracious  purpose  of  God,  according  to  which  he  regener- 
ates, sanctifies,  and  saves  sinners ;  that,  being  perfectly  con- 
sistent 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  excludes  boasting, 
and  promotes  humility,  prayer,  praise,  trust  in  God,  and 
active  imitation  of  his  free  mercy  ;  that  it  encourages  the  use 


OP   THE   BIRMINGHAM   BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  37 

of  means  in  the  highest  degree  ;  that  it  is  ascertained  by  its 
effects  in  all  who  believe  the  gospel  ;  is  the  foundation  of 
Christian  assurance  ;  and  that  to  ascertain  it  with  regard  to 
ourselves,  demands  and  deserves  our  utmost  diligence. 

IX.  Of  the  Perseverance  of  Saints. — That  such  only 
are  real  believers  as  endure  unto  the  end ;  that  their  perse- 
vering attachment  to  Christ  is  the  grand  mark  which  distin- 
guishes them  from  superficial  professors ;  that  a  special  Prov- 
idence watches  over  their  welfare  ;  and  they  are  kept  by  the 
power  of  God  through  faith  unto  salvation. 

X.  Harmony  of  the  Law  and  Gospel. — That  the  law 
of  God  is  the  eternal  and  unchangeable  rule  of  his  moral  gov- 
ernment; that  is  holy,  just  and  good  ;  and  that  the  inability 
which  the  Scriptures  ascribe  to  fallen  man  to  fulfill  its  pre- 
cepts, arises  entirely  from  their  love  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  estab- 
lishment of  the  visible  church. 

XL  Of  a  Gospel  Church. — That  a  visible  Church  of 
Christ  is  a  congregation  of  baptized  believers,  associated  by 
covenant  in  the  faith  and  fellowship  of  the  gospel;  observing 
the  ordinances  of  Christ ;  governed  by  his  laws ;  and  exercis- 
ing 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  duties,  are 
defined  in  the  Epistles  to  Timothy  and  Titus. 

XII.  Of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper. — That  Chris- 
tian baptism  is  the  immersion  of  a  believer  in  water,  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit;  to  show  forth,  in  a  sol- 
emn and  beautiful  emblem,  our  faith  in  a  crucified,  buried, 
and  risen  Saviour,  with  its  purifying  power  ;  that  it  is  pre- 
requisite to  the  privileges  of  a  church  relation,  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 


38  THE  SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL  SESSION 

dying  love  of  Christ — preceded  always  by  solemn  self-exam- 
ination. 

XIII.  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,  both  private  and  public  ;  and  by 
preparation  for  that  rest  which  remaineth  for  the  people  of 
God. 

XIV.  Of  Civil  Government. — That  civil  government  is 
of  divine  appointment,  for  the  interests  of  good  order  of 
human  society ;  and  that  magistrates  are  to  be  prayed  for, 
conscientiously  honored,  and  obeyed,  except  in  things  op- 
posed to  the  will  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  only 
Lord  of  the  conscience,  and  the  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 
our  God,  are  truly  righteous  in  his  esteem ;  while  all  such  as 
continue  in  impenitence  and  unbelief  are  in  his  sight  wicked, 
and  under  the  curse;  and  this  distinction  holds  among  men 
both  in  and  after  death. 

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


MINUTES 


SIXTH    ANNIVERSARY 


WOMAN'S  M/SS/ONARY  UN/ON 


BIRMINGHAM    ASSOCIATION. 


The  Woman's  Missionary  Union  convened  in  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  South,  at  East  Lake,  Ala.,  at  9:30  a. 
m.,  September  30,  1896. 

Mrs.  L.  F.  Stratton,  President  of  the  Central  Committee, 
presided.  She  read  a  portion  of  Scripture,  and  was  followed 
by  Mrs.  Harriet  Wood  in  an  earnest  prayer  for  the  blessing 
and  sanction  of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  Woman's  Work  for  the 
Master — especially  upon  this  meeting  and  the  women  here 
assembled. 

Mrs.  Grant  of  the  Methodist  Church  was  requested  to 
take  charge  of  the  music  ;  and  the  skill  and  sweetness  of  her 
performance,  and  her  beautiful  and  appropriate  selections 
from  Gospel  Hymns  added  much  to  the  interest  of  the 
meeting. 

Mrs.  Wm.  Franklin,  Vice-President  of  the  Northern  Di- 
vision of  the  Association,  made  a  report  of  her  year's  work. 
She  had  visited  most  of  the  Churches,  had  sought  to  arouse 
and  encourage  existing  Societies,  and  to  induce  the  formation 
of  others.  While  the  work  had  not  been  so  successful  as  she 
had  hoped,  the  prospect  was  encouraging. 

In  the  absence,  on  account  of  sickness,  of  Mrs.  Aird, 
Vice-President    of    the    Southern    Division,    Mrs.     Stratton 


40  THE   SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL   SESSION 

reported  in  her  stead.     That  the  work  had  been  prosperous 
would  be  shown  by  reports  of  Societies. 

KEPORT  OF    CONTRIBUTIONS. 

Avondale,  Ladies'  Union $184  18 

Avondale,  B.  Y.  P.  U 42  53 

Bessemer,  L.  A.  S 196  89 

Bessemer,  Mrs.  Ivey's  Class 19  99 

South  Side,  Ladies'  Circle 441  65 

South  Side,  Pastor's  Aid 217  10 

Birmingham  Third  Church,  L.  A.  S 93  40 

Pratt  City,  L.  A.  S 240  37 

East  Lake,  L.  A.  S 251   53 

Trussville,  L.  A.  S 63  00 

Trussville,  Miss  Talley's  infant  class 2  50 

Woodlawn,  L.  A.  S.... 277  53 

Woodlawn,  F.  M.  Soc 13  90 

Birmingham  First  Church,  L.  U 735  40 

Mt.  Pinson,  L.  A.  S 17  50 

New  Prospect,  L.  A.  S 4  70 

Total $2,832  17 

Many  societies  not  reported. 

Mrs.  Abbott  made  an  earnest  address  on  Faithfulness. 

Miss  Mabel  Massey  read  a  bright  and  thoughtful  essay 
on  the  B.  Y.  P.  U.  She  dwelt  on  the  good  accomplished 
and  the  non-fulfillment  of  the  evils  predicted.  There  are 
eleven  organized  Unions  in  the  Birmingham  Association, 
all  doing  good  work. 

Mrs.  Gray  made  an  interesting  and  effective  address  on 
frontier  missionaries. 

Mrs.  Johnson  asked  to  whom  are  these  boxes  sent?  And 
dare  any  of  us  give  to  our  Lord  cast-off  clothing  and  things 
of  no  value  ?  The  discussion  was  participated  in  by  Mrs. 
Harriet  Wood,  Mrs.  Stratton,  Mrs.  Brown  and  others.  Nine 
boxes  were  pledged  for  the  societies  represented. 

Mrs.  Bauerman,  missionary  to  colored  women,  was  pres- 
ent by  invitation,  and  made  a  very  interesting  statement  of 
her  work  and   its  results.      Mrs.  Brown  thanked  her  in  the 


OP  THE   BIRMINGHAM   BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION.  41 

name  of  the  W.  M.  U.  for  her  address,  and  for  the  good  she 
and  her  associate,  Miss  Knapp,  were  doing  in  our  midst. 

Mrs.  Kelley  gave  a  bright  and  much  enjoyed  account  of 
what  she  saw  and  heard  and  did  at  the  Woman's  meeting  in 
Chattanooga. 

AFTERNOON    SESSION. 

Rev.  A.  R.  Hardy  of  the  Greensboro  Church  addressed 
the  Union  in  behalf  of  that  body.  The  ladies  present  pledged 
for  their  societies  $5  1  for  the  Greensboro  church. 

Mrs.  Stratton  spoke  of  the  Central  Committee,  its  appoint- 
ment, duties,  needs,  etc. 

Mrs.  Brown  talked  of  "Our  Missionaries" — Miss  Willie 
Kelley  and  Miss  Anna  B.  Hartwell — supported  in  China  by 
Alabama  women.  Pledges  were  made  for  Miss  Hartwell, 
the  Birmingham  missionary,  to  the  amount  of  one-half  of  her 
salary.     A  collection  was  taken  up  for  the  same  purpose. 

A  resolution  was  passed  thanking  our  Methodist  brethren 
for  the  use  of  their  beautiful  new  building,  and  for  other 
•courtesies,  and  Mrs.  Grant  for  her  delightful  and  inspiring 
music. 

Mrs.  Stratton  offered  the  closing  prayer. 

Mrs.  L.  F.  Stratton,  President. 
Mrs.  I.  C.  Brown,  Secretary. 


42 


THE   SIXTY-THIRD   ANNUAL   SESSION 


REPORT  ON  APPORTIONMENT. 


CHURCHES 


Missions 


Education 


Orphan's 
Home 


Adger 

A  vondale 

Bessemer 

Birmingham,  1st , 

Birmingham,  2d 

Birmingham,  3d 

Birmingham,  South  Side. 

Canaan 

Central , 

Concord 

Dolomite 

Elyton 

Green  Springs 

Johns , 

Mt.  Olive 

New  Prospect 

Oak  Grove 

Pratt  City 

Pleasant  Ridge 

Ruhama 

Salem 

Springville 

Trussville 

Irondale 

Union 

Warrior 

Williamsburg 

Woodlawn 

Brookside 

Coal  burg 

Compton 

Rocky  Ridge 

Blossburg 

Bellview 

Springdale 

Piney  Grove 

McElwain 


$5  00 
25  00 

200  00 

700  00 
60  00 
20  00 

700  00 
20  00 
20  00 
15  00 
60  00 
60  00 
10  00 
5  00 
10  00 
50  00 
20  00 

300  00 
'  25  00 

500  00 
25  00 
40  00 

100  00 
25  00* 
20  00 

100  00 
10  00 

300  00 
10  00 
30  00 
10  00 
20  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
15  00 
15  00 


$2  50 
20  00 

35  00 
125  00 

10  00 

6  00 

125  00 

10  00 

10  00 

5  00 

15  00 

20  00 

5  00 

2  50 
5  00 

10  00 
10  00 
25  00 
10  00 
100  00 
10  00 
10  00 
18  00 
10  00 

5  00 
20  00 

5  00 

36  00 

3  00 

5  00 

4  00 

6  00 


$1  50 

15  00 

20  00 

125  00 

5  00 

4  00 
125  00 

5  00 
5  00 
2  50 

10  00 
10  00 


50 
00 
00 
00 
00 


50  00 
5  00 

50  00 
5  00 
5  00 

12  00 
5  00 
2  50 

15  00 
2  00 

25  00 


00 

50 
00 
00 
50 
50 
50 
00 
50 


FINANCIAL   EXHIBIT    OF   BIRMINGHAM   BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION. 


MISSIONS 

EDUCATIONAL 

HOME   EXPENSES 

Total 

Women's  Young  People's  and 
Children's  Societies 

SUNDAY  SCHOOLS 

CHURCHES 

cp 
QQ 

a 

o 

W 

c 

.** 

'S3 

u 
o 
fa 

2  a 

,43   rt 

«-i    o 

C3 

"« 

o 

CO 

co 

5 

CO 

'3 

IO 

a 

is 

'3 
pq 

cp 
S)C 

Cp 

O 

01 

a 

o 

w 

"c 

cci 
Oh 

6 

so 

09 

a 
% 

$2  00 

10  00 

5  00 

1  00 

u 

G8 

CO 
00 

"V< 

0 

co 
sj 

Ph 

cp 
H 

fa  w 
€  -r 

.2     0 
cS     O 

C  Oj 

co 

"o 
0 

CJ 

CO 

>-. 

ra 
•d 

C 

a 

CO 

CO 

R 

_o 

CO 

$18  58 

0 

a 

CJ 

H 
$3  00 

CO 

CP 

CO 

a 

CP 
Ph 

M 

w 

CP 

a 
w 

147  15 

CP 

a 
0 

K 

CD 

3 

a, 

i~ 

O 

CO 

0 

_o 

"co 

CO 

c 

ad 

3 

CO 

CV 
CO 

s 

CV 

CL, 
H 

Q 

O 
A 
0 

CO 

CP 

a 

0 

w 

'a 

0* 

— 

si 

P    Ph 

>   - 

| 

$  22  39 
■1  is  45 
168  32 

2  65 
26  90 

3  10 
72  07 

190  75 

•jus  33 

2  71 

5  50 

2  50 

43  22 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$148  00 

1,261  00 

186  35 

20  00 

$4  75 

45.  50 

62  22 

3  45 

$738  00 

2.400  00 

1,800  00 

431  65 

$282  85 
1,996  25 
2,537  50 
158  89 
750  00 
400  00 
566  60 
123  15 
120  04 

$115  18 

$1,327  17 

6.304  47 

5,030  77 

663  20 

S14  40 

458  20 

1,678  29 

222  43 

157  08 

68  21 

31   10 

364  00 

79  10 

226  87 

252  33 

10  93 

527  05 

718  95 

29  20 

125  23 

51  68 

50 

91  00 

2.268  81 

'  47  85 

1,753  24 

4  94 

48  43 

131   10 

538  76 

211  62 

1,595  40 

1,266  43 

$5  00 

s4  75         «2  nnn  f\(\ 

Birmingham  First... 

142  52 
63  OS 

10  00 

12,500  00 

45,000  00 

6,000  00 

259  55 

5  36 

21  40 

30  00 
10  00 

398  50 
20  31 

100  14 

196  85 

42  85 
16  00 

Birmingham  Second 
Birmingham  Third.. 

5  36 

42  85 
16  00 

16  00 

11  00 

45 
14  25 

2  15 
2  50 
1  50 
1  58 
1  60 

50  00 
829  90 

72  50 
37  00 
45  89 

25  00 
138  85 

72  00 
146  30 

26  75 

1  000  00 

Bessemer 

71  00 

50  00 

2  90 

42 

16  54 

32  00 
5  38 

15  00 

32  00 

5  38 



6,600  00 

17  00 

•1  60 



2  17 

1  27 

300  00 

:;  en 
1   70 
8  15 

•1  C,(i 
3  00 

12  52 

500  00 

1  40 

9 

( loalburg 

'J;')   00 

60  00 

66  00 

11  64 

1  00 
1  50 
1  50 
1  50 
1  25 
1  85 
1  00 

1  10 

2  00 

1  10 
50 

2  00 
4  00 
1  00 
4  (0 
1  50 
1  55 
1  25 

1  40 

2  00 
1  50 

3  00 

53  36 

2  50 

7  22 

211  25 

0  00 

3  10 

15  00 

Klvtmi 

72 
5  00 
3  00 

2  10 

16  13 

14  85 

15  00 

26  13 
3  88 

16  13 

14  85 

2  ■■ 

8  06 
3  60 

13  07 

;;  00 
9  00 
2  25 

15  00 

10  00 

10  00 

10  00 

1  60 

12  50 

13  20 

100  00 

400  00 

700  00 

4  60 

14  61 

10  77 

2  50 
1  00 
1  00 

47 

1,« 

Mt.  Olive 

1  00 
5  00 

47 

1  50 

20  00 
78  24 
36  20 

2  87 

47 

17  42 

4  08 

2  20 

4  61 

1,000  00 

800  IK) 

Pine  <  rrove 

14  00 
315  83 

75  00 

662  32 

22  00 

1,031  43 

250  00 

Pratt  City 

61  28 

515  00 

60  92 

599  63 

14  70 

452  69 

49  83 
5  15 

142  10 

40  00 

16  00 

59  44 

49  83        44  1^2 

3.500  00 

Rocky  Ridge 

5  00 

117  75 

26  78 

73  97 

6  62 

500  00 

144  53 

12  00 

95  00 

6,0 

Salem  

3  44 

400  00 

Spring  Dale 

2  94 

3  34 

1  25 
37  05 

40  60 
75  00 
197  15 
118  33 
350  00 
560  00 

1  94 



1,000  00 

0  00 

Springville 

1  60 

10  00 
4  45 
9  19 

27  85 

40  00 

83  05 

72  00 

1,130  39 

498  52 

12  00 
24  00 
10  00 

Trussville 

31  80 

85 

16  44 

43  75 

22  00 

130  31 

5  00 

25  00 

33  00 

25  78 

6  31 

14  80 

Uuion 

4  00 

"21  06" 

10  68 

600  ik) 

53  32 

42  65 

15  00 
14  00 

2,017  00 

Woodlawn 

36  08 

309  30 
$1,022  87 

47  14 

$290  45 

59  18 

$447  87 

10  68 
$70  35 

- 

$596  52 

$120  00 

$16  00 

$11  31 

Total 

$400  99 

$791   59 

$655  66 

$22  00 

$449  86 

$169  77 

$2,894  11 

$249  68  1  $66  23 

$10,170  10 

$11,240  57 

$398  25 

$27,098  74 

$109,077  00 

Collections  at  Association  for  State  Missions,  $57.16. 


STATISTICS    OF    BIRMINGHAM    ASSOCIATION,    1896. 


PASTOR 

CLERK 

CLERK'S 
POST  OFFICE 

T3 

o> 

U 

o 
a. 

« 

to 

es 

CO 

U 

<v 

3 

0> 

3 

Increase  by 

Decreased  by 

s 

CD 

a 

co 

d 

CD 

co 

co 

(4 

Ph 

SUNDAY   SCHOOL 

Preaching  Sabbaths 

be 
% 

O) 

■h 
4> 
t>~. 

es 

CO 

U 
O 

a- 

0) 

CHURCH 

COUNTY 

a 

Oh 

PQ 

u 
CO 

.-3 

a 
i> 

a 

co 
es 
j. 

G 

es 

2 
s 
pq 

i—5 

d 

.9, 
"7. 
fl 
u 

X 

w 

co 

s- 

P 
<§ 

CO 

P 

CO 

s- 
<o 
A 
O 
es 

Oi 

03 
so 

33 

0 

O 

CO 

'p. 

B 

Ph 

Superintendent's 
Name 

Post  Office 
Address 

CO 

Ph" 

CO 

~u 

0 
q 

R  M  Hunter 

J.  B.  Alversen 

J.  F.  Graham 

J.  A.  Stratton 

A.  E.  Atwater 

143 

503 
636 
78 
30 
51 
244 
32 
13 
62 
93 
33 
31 
77 
82 
34 
66 

4 

27 
12 

7 

3 
16 

2 
2 
3 

2 
4 
2 
1 

10 
4 
2 

21 
5 

27 

43 

49 

12 

2 

5 

21 

11 

6 

2 

1 

3 

4 

5 

3 

"i 

2 

9 

38 

48 

14 

2 

1 

10 

5 

1 

6 
2 

2 
6 

7 
1 

164 

527 

642 
84 
30 
56 

217 
37 
20 
43 
65 
24 
37 
72 
82 
34 
82 
22 
37 

110 
88 
26 
86 

234 
37 

362 
64 
67 

101 

122 
60 

101 
29 

276 
32 

4070 

14 

3 

23 

9 

6 

6 

11 

7 

"  *5 

140 
201 
247 
99 
60 
50 
90 
63 

"46 

W.  T.  Simmons 

S.  P.  Fowlkes..., 

Birmingham 
Birmingham 
Birmingham 
North  B'ham 

Weekly.. 
Weekly.. 
Weekly.. 
Weekly.. 
Weekly.. 

1st 

Weekly.. 

3rd 

4th 

Yes.... 

u 

a 
it 

a 

Birmingham,  1st 

B    D  Gray... 

P.  T.  Hale 

J   B    Tidwell 

ic 

Birmingham,  2d 

Birmingham,  3d 

C.  Thomas 

t. 

M 

J  M  Huey 

J.  W.  Russell 

2 
2 
1 

J.  K.  Pemberton 
O.  W.  Ward 

Kimbrel 

Bessemer 

Bkssburg 

Brookside.. 
Morgan 

a 

W.  R.  Ivey 

T.  P.  Waller 

8 

45 

K 

J  W.  O'Hara 

W.  D.  Barksdale 
R.  M,.  Inzer 

Blossburg 

J.  B.  Moor 

T.  S.  Teny 

J.  W.  O'Hara 

L.  P.  Craig 

Brookside 

2 

\ 

20 
20 

1 
2 

W.  S.  Harrison 

4th 

a 

9 
12 

J.  H.  Longcrier 

J.  W.  Lee 

W.  C.Bryant 

6 

50 

W.  C.  Bryant 

1st  &  3d 

>. 

Concord  

J.  A.  Baker 

Elyton 

F.  H.  Farrington  ... 
W.  J.  Ray 

D.  R.  Weaver 

L.  C.  Meigs 

Elyton  

2 

14 
3 
1 

10 
1 
7 
3 
5 

1 

1 

2 

7 
7 
6 

7 

46 

50 
50 
43 

M.  P.  Lewis 

Birmingham 

Birmingham 
Irondale 

2d  &  3d.. 

3d 

3d 

a 

« 

Dolomite 

J.  L.  Thurman 

Fred  Holden  ... 

it 

J.  D.  Martin    

G.W.Smith 

B'ham,  L.  &  N.  Car. 

it 

W.  Y.  Browning 

W.  Y.  Browning 

J.  W.  Law  ley 

A.  A.  Hutto 

W.  J.  Cardwell 

8 
17 

ii 

2 

1 
2 

1 

3 

W.  J.  Cardwell 

3d... 

u 

McElwain 

Mt.  Olive 

G.  B.  Moore 

Clay 

42 

88 
86 

1 

2 

New  Prospect  

E.  P.  Reed  

3 
4 

1 
1 

8 
5 

86 
SO 

W.  J.  Franklin 
A.  C.  McCombs 

Stubbs  

Mt.  Pinson... 

4th 
4th  .... 

ti 

M.  T.  Branham 

J.  M.  Huey 

J.  M.  Huey 

J.  B.  McCombs 

Mt.  Pinson... 

It 

S.  H.  Huey 

81 

202 
30 

410 
92 
56 
96 

116 
43 
90 
29 

248 
32 

5 

28 

4 

10 

1 

6 

3 

17 

2 

9 

1 
24 

5 
34 

1 
19 
10 

3 
23 

7 

i 
i 

1 

J 
1 

1 

2 
19 

2 
35 
12 
14 

6 
13 

7 

6 

a 

M.  M.Wood 

M.  M.  Roper  .., 

Pratt  City... 

2 

1 

16 
6 

17 
8 
5 
6 

12 
5 
8 

185 
51 

145 
55 
54 
50 

J.  W.  Minor.... 

Thomas 

Trussville  .... 
East  Lake.., 
Mt.  Pinson... 

Springville  ... 
Trussville 

Weekly.. 
4th 

Weeklv.. 
?d   

It 

it 
a 

a 

J.  M.  Huey 

it 

W.  A.  Hobson 

G.  T.  Lee 

H.  F.  Wood.... 

"l 
1 

50 
15 

7 
2 

R.  J.  Waldrop 
L.  Cobb.... 

Salem  

Mt    Pinson 

it 

Springdale 

M.  T.  Branham 

P.  S.  Montgomery... 
B.  F.  Giles     

J.  S.  Connell 

G.  W.  Hicks 

1st 

1st  &  3d 
1st  &  3d 

1st 

1st  &  4th 

a 
u 

it 

Springville 

J.  B.  Herring 

2 
1 

P.  S.  Montgomery... 
R.  H.  Hendon 

a 

Trussville 

D.  H.  Vann.... 

1 

1 

1 

90 

35 

1A5 

it 

J.  D.  Martin  ... 

R.  T.  Jones 

H.  A.  Hagler 

it 

it 

J  .G.  Lowrey 

Williamsburg 

W.  H.  Connell 

W.  M.  Blackwelder. 

Wm.  Hicks 

F.  M.  Wood 

19 

27 

15 

3 

17 

165 

Woodlawn.... 

Weekly.. 

it 

u 

Compton 

Blou 

nt 

14 

14 

324 

32 

151 

45 

230 

Total 

3949 

228 

380 

2390