Torbet, Venture ot Faith (Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1955), tells more about the story of the Convention. Biographical material and correspondence of certain key figures in the work of the Convention have also been consulted.
CHAPTER I
BAPTIST BEGINNINGS AND EARLY ASSOCIATIONS Baptist beginnings ~n the United States are not
Before Awa.kening there were no more than four congregations of Baptists in the colony. With the rapid growth of Baptists in the last half of the eighteenth century, the number of associations also grew.
18 churches, any particular tribulations suffered, and occasion-
THE RISE OF THE SOCIETY AMOHG AMERICAN BAPTISTS
In the early years of the nineteenth century, a new type of anization arose among American Baptists. In the case of Baptists in America, it was the urgency of the missionary cause that led in the community.
29 Baptists had participated in the efforts of certain "union"
Of the societies engaged in missionary endeavors, the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society deserves a special one. Of the societies founded in the Middle States, the Hamilton Baptist Missionary Society deserves the most attention.
CHAPTER II
THE FORMATION OF THE CONVENTION
The subject of the maaorial was the possibility of undertaking a mission to the heathen. In 1820 the title read: •The General Convention of the Baptist denomination in the United States for Foreign Missions, and other important objects relating to the Reason.
MISSIONARY EXPANSION, 1814-1825
Waring, who had already received the approval of the council in 1820, joined the mission in 1824. In its "Address" in 1a17, the council proposed an amendment to the constitution to include home missions within the scope of the Convention's work.
53 the Board.S3
EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOR
Here it is necessary to repeat the tortuaea ot Coluabiaa College and the direction of the Triennial Cenvention. In the same year the Philadelphia Asaociation concluded to raise a sum for the encouragement. The Cbroniqle, IX (April, 1957J, 67-79, gives a briet Jccoun~ot litenfs work at Hopewell. generally to raise money for the cause.•60 Among the students who benefited from this fund in the early years were Edmund Botsford and Samuel Stil~an.
It is impossible to tell how many candidates for the ministry have studied divinity under learned pastors. SaaiQary1 tor purpose or aidiag pious yo.ag_•ea, no1 ia judpent of churches or which are.
Tille and Brown were the two Baptist colleges in existence wbea the Council of the ConTention opened a theological. The society offered to pay the salary of one professor for at least one year. At the annual meeting of the Council in 1818, other societies were invited to share in the mantle. plated work, the Agent was instructed to encourage the tol"llatioa ot. 60 educational societies, and a ca.ittee or five persena was .. appointed to fully carry the interests or the Board.
The instruction is recorded in the authorization of the ISIS in Philadelphia. 01n according to the !ucuat •eetiDI ot the board is announced.!he Jll.-ioall· Ba•tist Kasasiae and Kiaai.
The ConTension found great satisfaction in the conduct of the board of trustees, confident that the debt could be. In 1624 and 1625 the number of students continued to increase.?' But the debt of the institution also rose.
CHAPTER I;II
THE BEGINNINGS OF REACTION
On the basis of the integrity of their aias, and of the suitability and importance of the measures they have pursued and carried out, they respectfully request the Convention for an attentive examination or their conduct, and a. The allegation of its investigation or the conduct of the board and are of unanimous opinion that the board deserve the express approbation and thanks of this convention for their zeal and unr. Schermerhorn had made a tour of the "Southwest" under the auspices of the Connecticut and Massachusetts Missionary Societies.
Judson and Rice, and the mighty effect it had on the people or lewa of IDgland; and especially this good effect, that many poor priests formerly scarcely got their bread, but by encouraging the people in the missionary cause, and winning them into the habit, or giving them money, it is now cheerfully communicated by thousands, so that the ainister who remained at home was now richly provided for.9. For interest, Mills and Scheraerhorn took possession of the “amount or stock• received from• Baptista,.
68 Taylor stated: "I did begin strongly to smell the Hew -
The Federation answered both questions in the affirmative, adding to the second that the usefulness of the United. Because it adhered to and justified its members in support of the principles and practices of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions,. At the regular meeting of the association in October 1822, Lamotte Church presented the same charges as he did.
In Ohio, the earliest response to the mission program came from the southwestern part of the state. At the same time the association ordered a letter from William Staughton, the corresponding secretary of the Baptist Council, to be placed on the table.
FACTORS IN REACTION
While no one has tried to explain anti-missionism in these terms, some have noted that the periods of greatest growth among Old School members occurred during times of economic depression, or in the years immediately following national warfare. Nor is it insignificant that the greatest surge in Old School numbers occurred around 1837, ushering in one of America's most serious depressions associated with the late twentieth century Millerite doctrine. While he mocked what he considered wrong with the modern missionary acheaea, it was over matters such as creeds, baptisa, the celebration of the Lord's Supper that he caused division among Baptists.
Nevertheless, he must be counted among the three great leaders of Western reaction because of his personal ability and popularity, and his influence as a Christian Baptist. The wounded conscience of the weaker brothers could be saved by withdrawing correspondence with the delinquent.
CHAPTER IV
ADVOCATES OF CHANGB IN THE CONVENTION STRUCTURI
It remained only to complete the structure of the convention by making its constituency truly representative of the entire church community. CANDIDUS discussed some of the shortcomings of the convention's current miss-o~ary operations. He was glad that the financial concerns of the College were in such a favorable condition.
The matter before the convention which most concerned CANDIDUS was the expectation that the constitution of the organization would be changed as regards the method of representation. Winthrop Hudson, observing the preparation for the fifth triennial session of the Convention in 1826, has.
THE CONDUCT OF LUTHER RICE
23 Rice was directed to prepare and provide a manuscript account for the benefit of the co. Both the Columbian Star and The Latter Day Luminary enjoyed the patronage of the Board or-tbe Convention. The Committee appointed by the Convention on the matters of the Luminary and Star was instructed to inquire into the state or property which Rice had deeded to the Convention.
The report then continued to confuse the debts due in unpaid subscriptions with the value of the property credited to the Convention. But discrediting Rice was not the ultimate goal of the New York and New England delegations.
109 III. ONE UNDIVIDED OBJECT
At the request of the Trustees, the Convention continued to present a list of nominations at each triennial session. The school has long since ceased to be under the control of the Baptist denomination, as the Convention of 1826 desired. The matter becomes more difficult .ben it is understood that some of the most outspoken advocates.of such a general organization were leaders in the Great Upheaval.46.
As editor of The Aaerican Baptist·Magazine he promoted all these objects with impartiality. The American Baptist Macazine, Y. 5)nEleTenth Annual Report or the ExecutiT Co.aitee of Maaaachuaetts Baptist Education Societr,• The A.erieaa Baptist Xa1azine V (Nov.
CHAPTER V
THE FIELD--THE WORLD
Here, too, it was the Karen who were most receptive to the missionaries' message. The main interest of these new appointees was in presenting the gospel to the Bassa tribes. 19. However, the two issues that most affected the life of the convention were financial.
Between the triennial meetings of 1835 and 18)8, the financial situation of the Convention grew steadily worse. 34;Pastors and Ministers of the Baptist Church throughout the United States. • The letter was addressed to.
Northern moderates on the board were hard pressed in their attempts to distinguish between their private opinions and their official action as members of the board. The Baptist Missionary Ma~asine, IX (dec8Bber rrespondence Between t e liecutive ·C.t- tee of the ·Baptist State Convention and the American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions." In Philadelphia the discussion of the slavery question arose in connection with a resolution. offered by Richard Fuller , from South Carolina.
Fuller proposed a resolution limiting the delegates' actions to missions only.84'. Accordingly, on November 25, 1844, a copy of a prefUilble and resolutions, adopted by the session of the state convention in 1S44, was forwarded to the acting board at Boston.
149 operations or duties [underscores not in original].87
151 declared unconstitutional, a clear violation of the action of the Convention in 1844, incompatible with the.
CHAPTER VI DISSOLUTION, 1845
Christian Index, Georgia, . was most outspoken in his objection to the action. With the adoption of the preamble, the delegates moved on to the resolution proposed by the committee. Similarly, a collection to support the home mission program should be made at closing.
28 The limitation of the three-year convention to the promotion of foreign missions only did not represent a complete victory for the social principle. Educational work, home missions, and foreign missions were all under the control of the same board.
166 The Union was to meet annually, at which time it would
Cone warned that too much time had been spent on amendments to the convention sessions. Dunbar demanded assurances from Francis Wayland that the South would not attempt to disrupt the work of the Union. All attempts to include church representation in the union constitution were unsuccessful.
However, it was the principle of representation that the framers of the Union Constitution wanted to rule out. Despite the great missionary strides made in the next nineteen years, conflict remained.
178 organization. In tke North, Baptists adopted the societal
BIBLIOGRAPHY
PERIODICALS
