Minutes of the Elkhorn Association

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MINUTES

Of the Annual Meeting of the Elkhorn .!lssociation of Baptists, begun and held at Lexington, Kentucky, on Saturday the 8th day of August 1~.

Elder JOHN BRYCE preached the Introductory Sermon. from Sf.

John, iii, 7: "Marvel not that 1 said unto,thee,.ye must be born , again.'"

Letters were received and read, and the me~sengers names eo- rolled from the chul'ches, composing the association, as follows:

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CIIURCHES. MESSENGERS' NAMES.

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~OUTJI,

.fohn Parlier, Wm. Gist, Wm. Polo;

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ELKHORJt. lam, S. H. Craig, J. Higbee, D.I Bryan, N. F~ulkm=i G.T-Mul-

. drow, and R. U. G raves,

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^>'4' ¹ ¹⁶⁷

CLEAR CR. '*L. _~litchum,Sullivan, J. Lancaster, J.

"j , .

and Robert Scarce,

I 111

^{3 180}

GREAT W. Suggett, J. T. Johnson. B. S.;

I

CROSSINGS. Challlber~, S. True, G. I.ong, A.

Payne, *T. Craig, and John I.

Johnson, 54 8 2 Z'/1 4 8 629

BRYAN'S. J.C. RichardsonSen. Asa Thomson, C. Thomson, S. J. Daroaby,

I I I J :

l , M. Patterson. and B. A. Hicks, ,1 ~ 1116~' I 4 289

S " _GROUND.TA],'IPJNG..T' _leas,D. B,laCk, _andA. Hrookir.,g, oM. Duvall, John hu^O^,61

! ,

17' 3' 2

~

5 301

$ILAS. !James E. Durall, *W. B. Chinn, A. i , ;

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Sbropshire, and Jos. ~.Chinn, 30, 8, 7 2 1 180

'NORTH J.Graves,'T. Herndon, *.f.G. Eve, I

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[Er.Kllo-lN.! ana E. Shirley, ' 6 4 1 ~ 11 ^!129

N. ^FORK. ,J. McDonald, S. W. Beehm, *H. .

J :

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JeD, kins, aDd ~.G. HIIGson, " 68 8' 1

51

2

J'

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DAVID'S 'J. Vardeman, E. Daroahy, A. 'VIIo

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FORK. I' ~o!1,H.Elli5, J.Withers,andS. I

W.J hmt, , '2'J l' 4 171

151555

MOUNT 'E. Waller, l\L

~irigJetoD,

^{p. With-}

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,PLEASAN'i'.; ers, E. lIaydon, T. Lyne, 1<:.

I Neal, and P. Rmith, , 7 r: , 113 3 4 2fY1

LON,G LICK.,]. Tinrier, Z. Kh·f,y, *.T. Garwood,

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' *J. R. lee, and H. Kelly, S' I 1 18 1 1 50 .,ETHLEfJl;)J:*J. KjuO' and. Jo~. Furman, 9 7 ] ~ ,40

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^D.lrried

o~~r. m7311~157~14:J;;;;

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CHURCHES.

IIESS~NGERS'

^NAMES.

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- - - - ' - - - = B : : - - - = h - - 2i7-73-161'>-,!U.42i'l940

' I j"Olfg t OlJer.' • v I'"

BIG SPRINGG. Blackburn, T. Suter, and *R. ,..'

I

^Johnson, 25

1 7 VERSAILLES Jacob C. reath sen, Jttcob Creath jr,

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Josephus Hewett, Tho: Bullock, J. Sullivan, S. Nuckols, and J. ,

B. Jessee, 11: 6

GEO.TOwN.John Brtjce, Uriel B. Chambers,

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John Smith, and *R. Heed, 1 1 1 6 2 HARTwoon*E. Scott and "~Po ~hort. 4 1

L: Singleton, J: Shoots, A: Far-

ra, E: Higbee, and S: Ruther-

i'

71

110.

137 PROVID'NCE'IL: Brya. n, W: T: Bryan, B: Arnett, 21

ford, 2 3 6 2 3 169

1st BAP.CH. A braham S: Drake, W m: T: Smith,

I

IN LEX'N. ⁱ William H: Richardson, .Martin

Hoagland, B: Pilcher, and J: D:

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Dawson, Z7 11 13 ,9 2 150

PARIS. G: Gates, W: S: Bryan, *J: Massy, ,

I

*H: Croc:k.tnn"5 "'0: )V: ~1hate,

*J"oyd Warfield, and H: Bledsoe,; 1 8 21/6₁1 346 CANE RUN. ])1: Oxley, P: Stout, and J: ApPle-I

I

ton, 10

11

2 48

AFRICAN C. Under the care of the 1st Baptist:

IN LEX.

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Church at Lexington,

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³⁶ ^{2 4} III 3 460 PLE.tSANT jThOmaS _' _GREEN. and Edward C: StitHer, Henderson, *E: Johnson,:.

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Totlti,429iU2' 2121755564488 This

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denotes those who were absent. Preachers names in Italic:r.

The A~sociation proceeded to the election of Moderator and Clerk. Whereupon brother Thomas Bullock was elected Modera- tor, brother B. S. Chambers Clerk, and brother Beverly If. Hickll

chosen as~istant clerk. .

Letters from Corresponding Associations received and read, and' the Messengers' names enrolled as' follows:

From Bracken-H. L. G. Edwards and William Powel. . 'rates Creek-James E. Duvall, *J. Bonnell,and T. Brownston.

N~rth Distrld-John Smith, W. Orear, 1fJ. Coons, S. Young, 1fJ.

Sudthth, W. M'Call, and B. H. Payne. . Franklin-Benjamin Taylor and Samuel Jessee.

Salem-No letter nor me~senge_r.

South District-E. Fisher, N. Davis, J. Whitehead,

E,M.

^Smitb;,

J. Vaughan, and baac A l l s p a u g h . '

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Long Run-James Robel'is.

Hoon's Creek-James Sims, G. G. Boone, T. V. Bush, W. JlfO'l'to11c, P. Higbee, J. Henry, J. Vallanrligham, L. March. H f:hevis, E.

Bibb, *J. M. Coxwell, *C. E. Williami, and *L. N. Lindsay.

Licking-Thomas P. Dudley and W. Rash.

North Bend-Richard Marrs.

Uuion--No letter nor messenger.

Concord-*H. H. ShIP, *A. Suter, *J. Scott, C. Duvall, and W.

Tandy. .

Baptist-*C. L. Barnes, R. D. Ship, 'ifJ. Bucldey, 1!-D. Jones, W.

W. Penny, and B. Twyman.

A door being opened for the reception of churche~, a letter was presented from the Baptist Church of Jesus Christ at "Pleasant Green," Scott county, by her lHessElngers, *E. Johnson, E. C. Stiffler, and Thomas Henderson, and unanimouslv admitted as a member of this Association, anci the right hand of fellolVship given to the Mes- sengers by the Moderator. The Sulphur Fork Association, presented their constitution by the hands of bro: J. W. Thomas, and asked a correspondence with the Association, which was unanimous-- Iy agreed to by the Association.

, Brethren, J. T. Johnson, W. T. Smith, with the Moderator and 'Clerk, were,appointed to arrang~ the business of the Association,

ana report on Monday n e x t . '

Elder J. Creath Jr. was appointed to write a circular letter, and r.eport on Monday next.

Brethren Thomas Henderson, John B. Je~see, Silas W. Hunt, JamesE. Duvall, and J. G. Chinn, were appointed a committee to write letters to Corresponding Associations, and report on Monday

next. !

Eight Ministers were elected by private ballot to preach on Sun-

~ay as follows, viz:

Elders Vaughan and Dillard, in tbe First Baptist meeting-house.

Elders Vardeman and James E. Duvall, in the First Presbyte-

rian meeting-house. .

Elders John Smith and W. Morton, in the Methodist meetmg- laouse: and

Elders J. Creath Sen. and J. Creath Jr. in M'Chord's church.

Adjourned till Monday morning 9 o'clock.

. . SUNDAY, Aug. 9.

The MinisterR appointed for the purpose, preached. to day to cro~ded and attentive congregations, in the fOllr m!'etmg houses

~hlch had been thrown open by their oWliers for the accommoda- hon?f t~is Association. Much praise is due to those various de- nom illatIOns, f.)f that spirit of accommodation and politeness so emi-- nenUy shown on this occasion. We trust they will find an ample re-

~var~ in that peace of conscierice which is the joy of the Christian, and In a generous retul'll of acts of kindness and liberality, polite-

~~s~, charity, and benevolence, from the members of our denomi·

.,a.tlOn.· ?iT

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:MONDAY, Aug. 10.

The Association met pursuant to adjournment, andwa~ opened for business by singing and prayer, offered by Elder JeremIah Var-

deman. ' b ' f .

The committee appointed fo arrange the usmess 0 the Ass?cla- tiOIl, made a report, which was read and adopted, and the busIDess taken up accordingly.

Elder Jacob Creath Jr. reporte

n

a Circular Letter, which ~as read and re-committed to Brethren Jacob Creath Jr., Jeremiah Vardeman, and J. T. Johnson, who in some short time reported a Circular Letter, which was read and unammously adoIlted, as follows, viz: '

BELOVED BRETHREN:

The brethren and churches composing the Elkhorn As- SOCIation, avail them~elves of the plea,ing task of again ad- dressing you hy circular letter. The friendly feelings which brought this body into existence are highly honorable. to the ChristiilO character, and afford the best opportunIty for strengthening those bonds of love and friendship which cha- racterIze those who profess the one faith, the olle hope, and the one baptism. There is a joy,in mef'ti.lIg ,with our brethren from distant sections of the country, which can only be realized by those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious. When .;.. we meet and mingle together in the spirit -of the gospd, the best fePlings of Ollr hearts are roused into action, and all the Christian virtues are brought to. and concentrated in, that great cause which brought the seed of life amI glory into the world. TillS spirit rencws Ollr energies; and those who par- ticipate in our exercises and labours, return to their hrethren with redoubled vigour, and to their respective rhur'ches, and are prepared to bear an humble part in promoting that holy religion, whose foundel" is thc only begotten Son of God, and which will shine brighter and brighter until the, world shall be illuminated by its heavenly rays.

We entreat you by all that is lovely and heavenly, and Jy the sacred truths of which we profess to be witnesses, that yot1 be rr~yerful. w~tchful, .and diligent in the discharge of every chnstJan duty. Not With the feelings of the formal Pharise!", but with that devotion and humility, which is peculiar to those who ha.ve passcd from death unto life Let us exhort you to prav wItholltccasing. The neglect of this indispensahle duty h~s been t~e cause of ~any pro~essors going ~o .their gr(lves With !nou:nJng a~d heavllless. "h@'n the Clmstlan yields to flhe ImaglDary dJ/lkulties which surround him, and avoids

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prav~r, pe is then in danger of being overcome by temptat1on, nnd' of undoipg hi" OWII sOIlI.

Bllt, brethren, let u~ rememher that it is not enough f(.lr us to kl'ep our garments upspotied from the world. We are wade for society. We owe duties to OUI' fellow men. Our redeemer earne into the world to redeem man from the domin- ion of sin. This he does hy challging his cbarach-r, alid giving bim a relish for pure and heavenly joys. Without such a change, he will forever !!Tovel in the dust, and dilJg to earth.

He will choose this world for his portion; will live like the beasts that perish; alld die almost as thoughtless as they of his future destination. Can we b£'hold our fellow creatures thus sinking, in rapid succession, into a world of. dpspair, and not raise a finger for thPir rescue? Can we be so sclfi~h, so destitute of the benevolent 8pil'it of the gospel, as to be satisfied with our own safety and our own salvation, and not to care for the misery and wretchedness. of others? No; let us feel the stirrings of generous sympathy. Let us awake to the wants and woes of our fellow creatures.

As there is now great agitation in society, we entreat the brethren to be cautious in takillg improper and unwarrantahle liberty with the character of ,.~hose who may difJi~r from them in sentiment, and with whom we stand connected by the strong- est ties and obligations. We should remember that in all _- ses of difficulty and grievancl', there are proper tribunals to which we may resort for satisfaction, to which each individual member is accountable for his sentimentq and practice; and that these tribuuals are accessible to all who subscnbe to the tcnets of the general union. We exhort the brethrL'n there- fore to let their moderation be shown unto all men, and to bear.

one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever thh'gs are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, and whatsoever things areof good report, if there be any virtue, if there he any praise, think on these thin~s. And may the God of love and peace be with you. Amen.

The next Association to be held at Silas meeting.house, Bour,boD County, the second Saturday of August, 1830.

Elder G. Gates appointed to preacb the next Introductory Ser- lOon; and in case of failure, elder Edmunci Waller.

M

Letters to Corresponding Associations were reported, read, and

~. ~ssengers appointed as follows, viz: .

l:t fo Brack.en Association-William S. Bryan, G. Gates, Josephus

1'lCW€tt. - .'

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6

To Tate~s Creek-James E. Duvall, .1. Creath Jr., J. Hewett.

North District--·J. Creath Sr.J. Creath Jr. G. Gates, B. S. Cham- bers, U~ R. Ch:lmhers, J. Hewett. .

Franklin-Gen. Blackhurn, E. Waller, S~ Nuckols, John I. John- . son, P. Smith, Wm. Snggett, John Mitchum.

South District-Thomas Bullock, J. Creath Jr., Josephus Hew- ett, J. Creath Sr.

Long Run--Simeon'Trlle, E. Ha'ydon, Tho: Bullock, S. Nuckols.

B()on's Creek-J. Hewett, J. E. Duvall, .1. Creath Sen. J. Creath .T r. Tho: Bullock ..

Lickin!!,'-Abner Shropshire, John Lancaster, George Blackburn, Jas E. D;-J vall, John Bryce.

Concord-Jas Tinde~, George Blackburn, Mason Dunlll.

Baptist--E. Haydon, G. Blackburn, Jno. McDonald, E. Waller, P. Smith, Tho: Herndon, William Suggett, and Simeon True .

. North Bend-B. S. Chambers, Tho: Henderson, R. C. Graves.

Sulphur Fork--Robert Scarce.

Union-Abner Shropshire. .'

Brethren· B. S. Chambers and Beverly A. Hicks, appointed to su- perintend the printing and ciistribution of the minutes.

On motio!1 of bra: B. S. Chambers, the following resolution was

unanimollsly adopted, viz: _ <i

Resolved, That hereafter the churches composing this assbciation

~hall he represented hy votes in the follow ing manner, to wit:- Every church' shall be entitled to two votes; if composed c;>f cne hundred members, three votes; and one vote for every additional nundred members. And we recommend to the churches in our connection to send messengers to the association agreeably to the number of votes they. will ue respectively entitled to, aClolol'ding to the above ratio.

On m()tion of bro: U. B. Chambers the following statement and .resolution was arlopted, viz:

Our brother Herbert C. Thomson, the general agent of the Amer- ican Bible Society, beiag now present with us, and having visited this State for the purpose of aiding the friends of the Bible in their efforts to promotea more extensive circulation of the holy scriptures, anci especially to furnish all the destitute families in this state that may be willing tq purchase or receive the scriptures. with a copy of the Biule-Resolved, that we recommend to Ollr fellow-cit- izens generally, and particularly to the brethren of our denomina- tion, to organize Bible Societies in the diflerent towns and conO're- gatioris tbroughout the state of Kentucky. b

Adjourned. THO: BULLOCK, Morl'r.

Att. B. S. CHA~fBEr.s, elk.