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The Barnwell Baptist Association, by Clara Johnston Hitt, 236 pages, published 1914 |
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The Barnwell Baptist Association, by Clara Johnston Hitt, 236 pages, published 1914 |
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The Barnwell Baptist Association 1856-1865
ORGANIZATION IN 1856.
The Savannah River Association covered so great an extent of territory that
the delegates found it inconvenient to attend the annual meetings. Some
of the churches in Barnwell District had for some time desired to form a
new association. Delegates from several churches met at the Friendship church
on Saturday before the fifth Sunday in August, 1856, and adopted measures
for the formation of a new association. The three men most active in the
formation of this new association were Rev. W. T. Sanders, living below Barnwell;
Rev. J. K. Johnston, living just north of Barnwell, and Rev. John
Brooker, of Double Ponds: In October the Double
Ponds church was regularly dismissed from the Edisto Association, and in
November twelve churches likewise from the Savannah River Association for
the formation of the, new association. These churches were
:
On Saturday before the first Sunday in December these churches and
The delegates at this first meeting in 1856 were:
Great Saltketcher — Rev. J. M. Hoover, J. Kinard.
Springtown— D. Dowling, J. W. Matheney, H. W. Kennedy.
Rosemary— Rev. J. K. Johnston, Rev. S. E. Woodward,
W. Stansell.
Friendship— R. H. Kennedy, G. G.
Morris.
Double Ponds— Rev. J.
Brooker, J. J. Brooker,
Mount
The pastors of the churches from which these delegates came were Rev. W.
T. Sanders, pastor of Springtown, Philadelphia and Mount Olivet; Rev. J.
K. Johnston, pastor of Rosemary and Gent's Branch; Rev. W. S. Johnson, pastor
of Columbia; Rev. J. M. Hoover, pastor of Great Saltketcher and Bethel; Rev.
George Walker, pastor of St. John's ; Rev. Michael
Hiers, pastor of Bethesda; Rev. W. C. Baxley, pastor
of Friendship and Long Branch; Rev. J. Brooker,
pastor of Double Ponds.
At the first meeting of the Association at Springtown in 1856 Rev. Thomas
Dawson preached the Introductory Sermon, after which he was called to the
chair. The letters of dismission were read and
the names of churches and delegates enrolled.
The committee appointed at the convention at Friendship to draft a Constitution
and Rules of Decorum reported through their chairman, Rev. J. K. Johnston.
The committee recommended the adoption of the Constitution and the Rules
of Decorum of the Savannah River Association. The report being accepted the
Constitution was then adopted article by article substituting "Barnwell Baptist
Association" for "Savannah River Association." The Rules of Decorum were
also adopted with slight changes.
The Association then elected by ballot as permanent officers
Rev. Thomas Dawson, Moderator; D. Dowling, Clerk, and A. F. Free,
Treasurer.
The Moderator appointed two committees : Finance
and Preaching. The first Finance Committee consisted of A. F Free, L.
Brooker and J. E. Harley. The name of only one
of these appears on the list of delegates.
The churches sent up to this meeting and collected at it, $211.11. Of this,
$24.87 was for minutes, $36.25 for Foreign Missions, $15 for Southern Baptist
Publication Society, $15 for Domestic Missions, $25.66 for Permanent Education
Fund, $3 for Widows and Orphans' Fund.
It is interesting to note that all the churches except one sent a small amount
for minutes and all except three contributed to Associational Missions, while
only five contributed to Foreign Missions.
Rev. John K. Johnston preached the Charity Sermon and a collection amounting
to $40 was taken. This is included in the $211.11 and was divided by vote
of the Association between a Permanent Education Fund and Association
Missions.
.Two resolutions of great importance were passed. One looking toward the
spirituality of the body and its meetings was introduced by Rev. W. T. Sanders.
It provided for the setting apart of Saturday for devotional exercises and
for the celebration of the Lord's Supper on the Lord's
day. The other, introduced by Rev. J. K. Johnston,
was as follows: "Resolved, That the Association requests the churches in
our union to raise and send up to our next meeting, one dollar for each and,
every member, to be used by this Association in sending the gospel to the
destitute in our bounds."
Resolutions were also passed endorsing the publications of the Southern Baptist
Publication Society, and recommending to the churches the organization of
Bible, Missionary, Tract, Sunday School, Education,
and Temperance Societies.
The first General Committee consisted of Robert Kirkland, H. D.
Varn, H. W. Kennedy, J. L.
Brooker, and S. E. Woodward.
The churches were divided into two divisions for union meetings. In the first
division were Friendship, Great Saltkatchie,
After an interesting and harmonious meeting the Association adjourned to meet with the Great Saltkahatchie church on Friday before the fourth Lord's day of September, 1857. Rev. W. C. Baxley was appointed to preach the Introductory, and Rev. W. T. Sanders, the Charity, Sermon.
THE FIRST SESSION AFTER ORGANIZATION -
1857.
The first session of the Barnwell Association after its organization (its
second session as an organized body) convened at Great
Saltkahatchie church near Buford's Bridge,
Rev. W. C. Baxley preached the Introductory Sermon. His text was "Oh Lord,
my God, Thou art very great." Ps. 104:1.
Committees on Preaching, Finance, Correspondence, Nominations, Time and Place
of Next Meeting were appointed. On motion all ministers present were invited
to seats and participation in deliberations.
At this meeting Bro. W. D. Rice led in prayer.
Saturday and Sunday were spent in devotional exercises. Rev. W. T. Sanders
preached the Charity Sermon on Sunday. At the same hour Rev. T. Dawson preached
at the stand. The Lord's Supper was celebrated in the afternoon. Deep seriousness
pervaded the meetings.
The General Committee reported the employment of two missionaries during
the year : Rev. S. E. Woodward and Rev. W. C. Baxley.
They were paid one dollar per day for 110 days' service and for preaching
104 sermons.
The General Committee for the ensuing year was composed of R. Kirkland, H.
D. Varn, H. W. Kennedy, W. R. Chitty, Willis
Stansell, George I.
Priester, and James P. Harley.
All of the fourteen churches were represented at this meeting and reported
increase in membership. It is interesting to note that there had been no
changes in the pastorates. The delegation from the churches was fuller and
changed slightly in personnel. T. J. Counts, D. H. Rice and B. S. Sweat
represented Springtown and F. J. Sanders was one of the
representation from
The General Committee was instructed to appropriate fifty dollars out of
the Association Mission fund to purchase books to be sold and distributed
by our missionaries, the profits, if any, to be accounted for to the General
Committee. The books handled were to include those of the Southern Baptist
Publication Society. This is the beginning of our great Colportage
work.
One hundred and fifty dollars was subscribed by the churches to defray the
expenses at
The churches sent up $581.26. Of this $24.50 was a minute fund, $268.43 went
to Associational Missions, $68.75 to Foreign Missions, $3.71 given by the
colored people of Springtown and Great
Saltkahatchie to African Missions, $87.87 to the
Permanent Education Fund, $53.10 to Widows and Orphans' Fund, $25 to the
Baptist Publication Society and $2 to the Association Fund.
The next meeting was appointed to 'meet' at Rosemary church on Friday before
the second Sunday in November, 1858; Rev. W. T. Sanders to preach the
Introductory, and Rev. Thomas Dawson, the Charity, Sermon.
THIRD SESSION - 1858.
Rev. W. T. Sanders preached the Introductory Sermon from II Peter
1:10.
Rev. W. T. Sanders was reelected Moderator and T. J. Counts was made
Clerk.
Briar Creek and Healing Springs were received into the
Association.
Sermons were preached on Saturday by Rev. A. P. Norris, Rev. Wm.
Brooker, and Rev. Thomas Mason; and on Sunday by
Rev. Wm. Richards, Rev. Wm. Brooker, Rev. W. S.
Johnson and Rev. T. Dawson.
On Monday corresponding messengers were received from the
Rev. Wm. Richards made an appeal to the brethren and secured contributions
for. the Baptist church in the City of
The General Committee reported the employment of Rev. S. E. Woodward and
Rev. W. C. Baxley as missionaries. They had preached 230 sermons, baptized
a large number of converts, and distributed more than 300 volumes and
tracts.
Bro. John Sullivan had been placed at school but while prosecuting his studies
he had been called to his heavenly reward.
The next meeting was appointed at Double Ponds church with Rev. George Walker
to preach the Introductory, and Rev. W. T. Sanders, the Charity,
Sermon.
FOURTH SESSION - 1859.
Rev. W. T. Sanders was reelected Moderator and T. J. Counts Clerk. The
Blackville Baptist church was received into the Association. Messengers were
received from the
Rev. M. T. Sumner, Financial Secretary of the Domestic and Indian Board of
the Southern Baptist Convention, addressed the Association on the subject
of his mission and received a contribution of $123.
The following resolution on Sunday Schools was adopted:
"Resolved, That a committee of brethren be appointed in each Union Meeting
District, whose duty it shall be to visit the churches of said district and
use their influence to excite an interest in the Sabbath School cause, and
endeavor to organize a Sabbath School in each church and report the result
of their labors to the next Association."
A great revival wave had spread over the whole country in 1858, resulting
in a new enthusiasm for Sunday School work. About
this time Rev. W. D. Rice was appointed State Superintendent of Sunday Schools
for
On Sunday the Charity Sermon was preached by the appointee, Rev W. T. Sanders,
and another by Rev. A. P. Norris. Collections were taken amounting to forty one
dollars.
"The General Committee, to which the cause of Associational Missions had
been entrusted, reported that Bro. J. O. McLemore had been employed during
the year both as missionary and colporter.
Brother McLemore, in his report, stated that he
had preached one hundred and forty sermons, and distributed about four hundred
and fifty volumes of books, and one thousand five hundred tracts. He stated
that he had met with much destitution, which loudly demanded greater efforts
in this department of Christian labor. According to the letters received
from the churches, one hundred and seventy persons had been baptized during
the Associational year.”
The venerable T. Mason led in prayer at adjournment. The next meeting was
appointed to meet at
FIFTH SESSION - 1860.
The Moderator, Rev. W. T. Sanders, had to leave on account of sickness. Rev.
Thomas Dawson was called to the chair and then elected Moderator. T. J. Counts
was reelected Clerk.
Williston church was received into the Association through her representative,
Bro. J. B. Armstrong.
The meeting was a very full one following a year of "unprecedented drought,
cutting off the staff of life" and facing "the dark and dismal cloud that
hovers threateningly and fearfully in our political horizon."
It is interesting to note the delegates to this meeting: Elijah Johnson and
B. B. Cave represented Columbia; J. M. Hoover, J. B. Boynton and J. M. Williams,
Great Saltkahatchie; D. H. Rice, S. H. Rush and
T. J. Counts, Springtown; S. E. Woodward, J. P. Hair and N. Ashley, Rosemary;
Wm. Ross and H. C. Chitty, Double Ponds; R. Kirkland, H. D.
Varn and W. K. Weekley,
Philadelphia ; Geo. Walker, G. B. Hickman and J.
Chasseroe, St. John's; W. M. Fender and J. W. Beard,
Bethesda; W. C. Baxley, C. B. S. Ray and J. J. Morris, Friendship; J. R.
Turner, S. Eaves, . and T. Dawson,
Of these, T. J. Counts and W. H. Dowling survive in this year,
1914.
Sixteen of these churches reported a membership of 2,105, of which 689 were
blacks.
It is interesting to note that J. B. Armstrong was on the Finance Committee
and on the Committee to Examine the Treasurer's Report.
Messengers were present from
On Saturday morning Bro. B. F. D. Perry, of the
Savvannah River Association, preached; and in the
afternoon Bro. L. Cuthbert, of the
After "a solemn prayer meeting" on Sunday morning three sermons were preached
by Rev. G. Walker, in the house; Rev A. P. Norris, in the Association house
and Rev E. F. Randall in the grove.
A collection of $52.73 was taken up and divided between the Permanent Education
and Association Mission Funds.
After preaching in the afternoon by Revs. T. Dawson
in the church and W. T. Sanders in the Association house, the Lord's Supper
was celebrated in the church.
Very many of the churches reported the abandonment of the old practice of
meeting but once a month, "but meet together often and engage in worship."
One hundred and ninety seven were baptized into the membership of the churches
during the year.
Bro. Robert Kirkland, chairman of the General Committee, reported the employment
during eight months of the past associational year of "Rev. G. Walker as
missionary and colporter at a salary of thirty
dollars per month; who reports, that he has preached one hundred and five
sermons, baptized four persons, and visited about two hundred families in
our bounds, ands' succeeded in distributing Bibles, Testaments and other
religious books to the number of three hundred volumes. He also states to
your committee, that there is still much need and encouragement to continue
the colporter business in our Association, as there
are still destitute sections in need of light from religious books and the
living ministry."
The committee also reported that they had received Bro. J. F.
Buist, a well known and worthy brother, on
recommendation of the Examining Board of this Association as our beneficiary
at the Theological Seminary in
The General Committee for the ensuing year was appointed as follows: R. Kirkland,
T. J. Counts, H. D. Varn, Jones M. Williams, C.
M. Dewitt, R. H. Kennedy, W. P. Walker, and J. W. Matheny.
Resolutions were adopted endorsing Dr. B. S. Sweat as a physician, a citizen,
a Christian and minister of the Gospel and expressing a sense of loss at
his determination to move West.
Bro. Austin Boylston reported for "Committee of Sabbath Schools" District
No. 2. He stated that nearly all the churches in the district had been visited
and that a growing interest in Sunday School work
was manifest. The same Sunday School Board was continued with the request
that they furnish statistics of the Sabbath Schools in our bounds to the
next Association.
After prayer by Brother T. Mason, the Association adjourned to meet with
the Healing Springs church, on Friday before the second Sabbath in November,
1861, at 11 A. M., Rev. W. C. Baxley to preach the Introductory, and Rev.
W. T. Sanders, the Charity, Sermon.
SIXTH SESSION - 1861.
The Moderator, Rev. Thomas Dawson, being absent, Rev. W. T. Sanders was elected
to that office. T. J. Counts was reelected Clerk.
Allen's Chapel was received into the body through her delegate, Bro. W. A.
Faust. The standing rules were changed with respect to the hour for meeting,
and with respect to the celebration of the Lord's Supper, which was to be
omitted.
Since the last Association, South Carolina had seceded from the Union only
to be followed by the other Southern States, Fort Sumter had been fired upon,
and now the news came during the meeting of the capture of Hilton Head and
the landing of Federal troops on Morris Island. All was stir and excitement
at this meeting. We find this resolution in the minutes:
"Resolved, That the hour from 10 to 11 o'clock A. M. on tomorrow be set
apart for the offering at a throne of mercy, our earnest and solemn supplications
in behalf of our bleeding country and those of our friends who are exposed
to dangers, trials and sufferings in defense of our country's rights, and
that we earnestly request all Christians present to unite with us in our
supplication."
The fifth standing rule was suspended for this meeting and there is no record
in the minutes of even a devotional hour. Haste is everywhere evident in
the proceedings of that memorable Saturday. Haste in order that men might
offer themselves on the altar of their country.
The churches sent up $278.94 against $608.97 sent up the year
before.
The General Committee reported a year of "unusual difficulties and severe
trial for the work committed to their trust."
Elder G. Walker had served as Missionary and Colporter (see below - FOC)
for two and a half months at $30 per month. He reported scarcity of money
and an unsettled state of things in our government as making it impossible
to sell but few books. He had traveled 522 miles, visited sixty five families
and preached thirty four sermons.
Elder W. C. Baxley had served as Missionary four months at a salary of $25
per month. He reported a lack of interest generally. The Committee recommended
the distribution among the soldiers through the agency of the State Convention
of books still on hand.
Many names of those who had pledged support to the beneficiary appear in
a list of those who had failed to pay.
Bro. Willis Stansell offered resolutions looking
to the employment of Rev. W. C. Baxley as Associational Missionary. Brother
Baxley had become almost blind and unfitted for pastoral work. He was employed
to preach where and when he pleased at a salary of $20 per month.
It was resolved that the churches be asked to send up money to the next meeting
for a permanent fund for the support of the old preachers.
The churches reported only thirty four baptisms during the year.
Sunday's collection was divided between the Domestic Mission Board at
The Committee on Sabbath Schools was discontinued. The Barnwell Baptist Sunday
School Association had been organized in Barnwell in the preceding May with
Rev. J. L. Shuck as President and W. H. Duncan, Secretary.
(Of the charter members of that organization only Rev.
W. H. Dowling survives, 1914.) This Sunday School Association was
an independent body made up of members of churches of two or more associations,
the first meeting being held in the Barnwell church, which then belonged
to the Savannah River Association.
After a feeling address by the Moderator the Association adjourned to meet
with the
SEVENTH SESSION - 1862.
Rev. W. T. Sanders, who so long had been prominent in the affairs of the
Association, and who was the appointee to preach the Introductory Sermon
at this meeting, had contracted disease while in service as a soldier and
had passed to his final reward. Rev. W. J. Morcock
by request preached from Mark 13:37.
The Charity Sermon was, preached on Sunday by Rev. J. F.
Buist from the text, "For to me to live
is Christ, to die is gain," after which a large
contribution was secured for the purposes of the Association.
On Monday appropriate resolutions were adopted in reference to the death
of the late Moderator, Rev. W. T. Sanders.
The General Committee reported their inability to continue operations owing
to the unsettled state of things.
A resolution was adopted recommending the "Confederate Baptist" published
at
Rev. George Walker was appointed to preach the Introductory, and Rev. F.
J. Sanders, the Charity, Sermon at the next meeting at
EIGHTH SESSION - 1863.
Brother David H. Rice was elected Moderator, and T. J. Counts was reelected
Clerk.
Messengers were present from the
The principal subject claiming the attention of the Association was the spiritual
condition of the soldiers in the Southern army. The South Carolina Colportage
Board had taken into its hands the spiritual interests of the soldiers, and
was supplying the troops in
On Sunday the Charity Sermon was delivered by Rev. F. J. Sanders. Rev. J.
F. Buist was appointed to preach the Introductory,
and Rev. Lewis H. Shuck, the Charity, Sermon, at the next meeting of the
Association at Great Saltkahatchie church in November,
1864.
NINTH SESSION - 1864.
Bro. D. H. Rice was reelected Moderator and T. J. Counts, Clerk. Messengers
were present from the
Rev. Dr. Rambant presented the claims of the Domestic
Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. This Board was sending missionaries
to all parts of the Southern army.
On Sunday the Charity Sermon was preached by Rev. Lewis H. Shuck. He was
followed by Rev. W. D. Rice, of Sumter, Superintendent of Colportage Work
in
The Association adjourned to meet in Blackville in November, 1865. Rev. J.
E. Chambliss was appointed to preach the Introductory, and Rev. J. F.,
Buist, the Charity, Sermon, at that
meeting.
TENTH SESSION - 1865.
The tenth annual session of the Barnwell Baptist Association was held, with
the Blackville Baptist church, Friday before the second Sunday in November,
1865.
Rev. J. E. Chambliss preached the Introductory Sermon from Rom. 5:1: "Therefore,
being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus
Christ."
The Moderator, Bro. D. H. Rice, being absent, Rev. L. H. Shuck was called
to preside and was elected Moderator. Rev J. E. Chambliss was made Clerk.
Dr. L. Brooker is named as one of the tellers on
this occasion.
Bro. A. F. Free, who had been the efficient Treasurer since the organization
of the Association, stated that owing to his books having been burned by
the Northern armies he had been unable to prepare a report and requested
the assistance of a committee. Rev. J. F. Buist,
Rev. J. M. Hoover, and Bro. Jas. Boynton were appointed to assist
him.
On motion all ministers and lay members from other associations were invited
to seats with us. Rev. B. F. D. Perry, from the Savannah River Association,
and Rev. S. B. Sawyer, from the
It is with deep sorrow we learn of the desolation of
Saturday was, as usual, devoted to religious exercises, and many hearts were
refreshed by the precious truths as it is in Jesus.
Rev. J. F. Buist preached the Charity Sermon to
a large and eager congregation.
The General Committee through their chairman, Jones M. Williams, reported,
"That owing to the distracted state of the country, the past year has been
one of great difficulty for its operations." That the funds had become worthless
and that they were forced to suspend business. That there
was great destitution both in books and preaching, and recommended steps
toward relief as soon as practicable.
The General Committee for the ensuing year was appointed as
follows : Jones M. Williams, Willis Stansell, C.
M. Dewitt, and the Clerk (Rev. J. E. Chambliss) and the Treasurer (A. F.
Free).
Resolutions expressing pleasure at the resumption of the exercises of the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at
Resolutions were also passed requesting the churches, in view of the scarcity
of ministers and the destitution of the field, to pray the Lord of the harvest
to send forth laborers into his harvest.
The moneys sent up and collected at this meeting amounted to $103.40. Of
this $29.05 sent by Great Saltkehatchie, Rosemary,
Double Pond,
Rev. F. J. Sanders was appointed to preach the Introductory, and Rev. L.
H. Shuck, the Charity, Sermon, at the next meeting at Williston, in November,
1866.
Footnotes (added by FOC to clarify for us "modern types"):
"Col-porter: Colportage is the distribution of publications, books, religious
tracts by carriers called "colporteurs". The term does not necessarily refer
to religious book peddling.
Etymology: The term is an alteration of French comporter, "to peddle" as
a portmanteau or pun with the word col (Latin collum, "neck"), with the resulting
meaning "to carry on one's neck". Porter, is from Latin portare, "to carry".
History: The American Tract Society, an evangelical organization established
in 1825 to distribute Christian literature, reported in its 24th annual report
in 1849 "Colportage including 106 students from 23 different colleges or
seminaries for their vacations.... [T]he colporters have visited 341,071
families...[and] sold 377,258 books." In Christ in the Camp: or, Religion
in Lee's Army (1887), Dr. John William Jones refers to the chaplains carrying
bibles and tracts during the American Civil War as colporteurs. In addition
to public preaching, distributing literature was a large part of the work
of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. The American Bible Society
and the American Tract Society were among the largest organizations involved
in colportage in the United States. D.L. Moody founded the "Bible Institute
Colportage Association" in 1894 to distribute tracts and books. Now known
as Moody Publishers, they continue to publish religious materials with proceeds
supporting the Moody Bible Institute. The Seventh-day Adventist Church calls
their book distributors "Literature Evangelists", but until about 1980, the
term "colporteur" was used to describe SDA literature evangelists. Also,
Jehovah's Witnesses who were active in the full-time ministry were called
colporteurs until 1931. Today, those participating in the full-time ministry
are called "pioneers".
There are probably numerous errors, despite my checking. Please try
to be very explicit about where errors are in the text when you
Email me.
FOC
Copyright ©2000-2018, Frances B. K. Bundy, all rights reserved. This
document is copyrighted and may not be sold, nor given to anyone who may
attempt to derive profit from same.
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