\
OF TKE
APPALACHY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION,
XIELD AT
Jtimdj Creek, Morgan County, Georgia,
A
ON
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the 5th, 6th, and
1th of November, 1836.
ATHENS:
PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE "SOUTHERN BANNER,11
MINUTES, &c.
1. The Introductory sermon wcs delivered by brother Jesse Merce/.
from Philippians, ii ch. and the latter clause of the 12th v.—" Work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
2. The letters from the churches were read, the names of the dele¬
gates enrolled, and the state of the churches minuted.
3. Elected brother John Hendricks Moderator and LiUleberry Bostwick
Cle.rk.
4. Invited ministering brethren to seats with us.
5. On motion, read the Constitution and Decorum.
6. Resolved, That this association become a constituent member of
the Georgia Baptist Convention, but do not consider the churches or any
member thereof bound to give to or favor that body unless they wish so
to do.
7. Elected the brethren John Harris, Alexander Awhry, Daniel Mai.
or, John Hendricks, and Thomas Swift, as the delegates of this body to
the next Georgia Baptist Convention, to be hold at Van's creek, near
RucUersville, Elbert county, to commence oa Friday before the first
Lord's day in May next.
8. Appointed messengers to bodies, with which we agree to corres¬
pond and persons to write, (viz.) to the Yellow River Association, John
Harris.and Thomas Swift—J. Harris to write; to the Sarepla Associa¬
tion, John Hendricks and Littleberry Bostwick—J. Harris to write ; to the
Gtorgia Association, Robert Woodward and John Hendricks—J. Harris
to write; to the Oakmulgee Association, Jeremiah Sparks and Robert
Woodard—J. Harris to write; to the Central,Association, John Harris,
Alexander Awbry, and Daniel Major—J. Harris to write.
9. On motion, agreed that the standing committee of the church at
this place bo requested to arrange the preaching during this meeting.
10. The brethren appointed to arrange preaching reported that bretn.
reu John Harris, Jesse Mercer, and John Hendricks, preach oh the Sab¬
bath.
11. Adjourned until Monday morning, 9 o'clock—prayer by brother^
Mercer.
12. The brethren appointed to preach on Sunday came forward in
the order of their names and preached to a large and attentive congre¬
gation, and we hope with some good effect.
4
13. After the sermon by brother Mercer, took up a collection of fifty-
one dollars sixty five cents for missionary purposes, which was ordered
to be sent up to the Georgia Baptist Convention, to be applied as the do¬
nors intended.
14. Monday morning. Met according to adjournment—prayer by
brother Moderator.
15. The circular called for, read and adopted.
16. On motion, Resolved that our constitution and decorum be pub¬
lished again in our minutes.
17. Appointed general meetings as follows, at Freeman's Creek
(Clark county) on Friday before the fifth Sunday in April next, and at
Sandy Creek (Morgan County) on Friday before the fourth Sunday in
June next.
18. Agreed that this body have a called session at Freeman's Creek
(Clark county) on Friday before the fifth Sunday in April next.
19. Resolved, That the monies sent up by the churches to this body
be an associational fund, ajad that the brother clerk be treasurer, and mat
he be authorised to settle with the former clerk.
20. Appointed the next annuai session of this body to be held at Hoi-
'and Spring (Morgan county) to commence Saturday before the first Sun-
day in November 1837.
21. Appointed brother John Hendricks to preach the next introducto¬
ry sermon, and brother John Harris to write the next circular.
22. Collected the money for printing the minutes, and ordered that
the Clerk superintend the printing and distribution of six hundred copies,
and that he receive for his services twelve dollars.
23. The business of the association being through, brother John Har¬
ris preached and was followed by brethren E. Dyer and the moderator
in exhortations, which produced considerable excitement in the congre¬
gation, and after singing and prayer the meeting was adjourned.
JOHN HENDRICKS, Moderator.
Littlebekey Bostwick, Clerk.
CONSTITUTION.
We the churches of Jesus Christ who have been regularly Baptized
upon a profession of our faith, are convinced from a series of experience,
of the necessity of a combination of churches, and of maintaining a cor¬
respondence lor the preserving of a federal union amongst all the church¬
es of the same faith and order. And as we are convinced that there are a
number of Baptist churches who differ from us in faith and practipe, and
that it is impossible to have communion where there is no union, we
think it our duty to set forth a concise declaration of the faith and order
upon which we intend to associate, which is as follows :
1. We believe in one only true God, and that there Is a trinity of per-
5
aons in the Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and yet,
there are not three Gods, but one God.
2. We believe that the scriptures of the old and new Testament are
the word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice.
3. We believe in the fall of Adam, and the imputation of his sin to
his posterity, in the corruption of human nature, and the impotehcy of
man-to recover himself by his own free will ability.
4. We believe in the everlasting love of God to his people, and the
eternal election of a definite number of the human race to grace and glo¬
ry ; and that there was a covenant of grace or redemption made between
the father and the son, before the world began, in which their salvation
is secure ; and that they in particular are redeemed.
5. We believe that sinners are justified in (he sight of God, only by
the righteousnes of Christ imputed to them.
6. We believe that all those who were chosen in Christ, will be ef¬
fectually called, regenerated, converted, sanctified, and supported by the
spirit and power of God, so that they shall persevere in grace and not one
of them be finally lost.
7. We believe that good works are the fruits of faiih; and follow
after Justification, and that they only justify us un the sight of men and
angels, and are evidences of our gracious state.
8. We believe there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a general
Judgment, and that the happiness of the righteous and the punishment
of the wicked wili be eternal.
And as for Gospel order: 1. We believe that the visible church of
Christ is a congregation of faithful persons who have gained christian
fellowship with each other, and have given themselves up to the Lord,
and to one another, and have agreed to keep up a Godly discipline
agreeable to the rules of the Gospel.
2. We believe that Jesus Christ is the greai head of the church, and
only lawgiver, and that the government is with the body, and is
the privilege of each individual, and that the discipline of the
church is intended for the reclaiming of those christians who maybe
disorderly, either in principle or practice, and must be faithfully kept up
for God's glory and the peace and unity of the chuu hes.
3. We believe that water baptism and the Lord's supper, are ordinan¬
ces of the Lord, and are to be continued until his second coming.
4. We believe that true believers in Jesus Christ are the only subjects
of baptism ; and that dipping is the mode.
5. We believe that none but regularly baptized church members have
a right to commune at the Lord's table.
0. We believe that it is the duty of every heaven born soul, to be¬
come a member of the visible church, to make a public profession of
his faith, to bo legally baptized, so as to have a right to partake of the
Lord's supper at every legal opportunity, through the whole course of his
life.
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Having laid down a summary of the faith and order upon which wo in¬
tend to associate, we therefore purpose for the decorum of our associa¬
tion, the following plan or form of government.
Aht. 1. Th'ose members who are regularly chosen by the churches
in our ulnion shall compose the association.
2. The members so chosen, shall produce letters from their respect¬
ive churches certifying their appointment, together with the number in
fellowship, those baptized, received by letter, restored, dismissed, excom¬
municated, and died since the last association.
3. The members thus chosen and convened shall be denominated the
Apaalachy Baptist Association.
4. This Association shaii have no power to lord it over God's herit¬
age ; nor by which thev can infringe upon any of the interna! rights of
the churches, neither shall this association attempt'to regulate the fellow¬
ship between the churches composing this body, but sho shall give the
Lest advice she is able, provided she is requested by any of the church-
' es, but the advice shall not be binding, for we know of no scripture to
authorize an association to settle difficulties in churches.
5. The association shall have a moderator and clerk, who shall fee
chosen by the members present.
6. If new churches desire to be admitted into this union, they shall pe¬
tition, by letter and messengers, and upon examination if found orthodox
and orderly, shall be received by the association, and manifested by the
moderators giving the messengers the right hand of fellowship.
7. No church in this union shall have a right to more than two mes¬
sengers until it shall exceed one hundred members and then she shall
have a right to an additional messenger for every fifty after the first hun¬
dred.
8. Every query sent to the association by any church in the union
shall he read and put to vote by the moderator, whether it shall be deba¬
ted, and if there be a majority for if, it shall be taken up and investiga¬
ted, but if not, it shall be withdrawn,
9. Every motion made and seconded, shall come under the observa-
tion of the association, except it be withdrawn, by the member who made it.
10. Every person who speaks in debate, shall rise from his seat and
address the moderator, and shall not be interrupted while speaking except
he depart from the subject.
11. No person'shall speak more than three times to the same subject
without leave of the association.
12. There shall be no talking or whispering in the lime of a public
speech, nor reflections cast upon the speaker.
13. No member shall exempt himself from the association -without
leave from the moderator.
14. If any member shall break the rules of this decorum he shall be
immediately reproved by the moderator.
15. It is the business of this association to keep up a correspondence
7
w ith associations of the same faith and order, if deemed practicable, that
a chain of communication may be preserved among the churches,
10. This association considers the several churches composing this
union, at fall liberty to act for themselves in regard to all benevolent insti¬
tutions. This body also shall grant letters of dismission to any orderly
church in this union who may apply far the same, without requiring her
to give a reason for wanting a letter.
17. To admit any of the brethren in the ministry as assistants, if they
shall judge it to be necessary.
18. To appoint a secretary to keep a hook, and regularly record the
proceedings of every session of this body, and see that he is satisfied for
his trouble.
19. To have the minutes of this association read, (and corrected if
reed be) and signed by the moderator end clerk, before the association
rises, and have them printed it they think proper.
20. To amend this plan or form of government at any time when a
majority of the union shall deem it necessary.
21. To adjourn to any time and place which they may think the most
proper.
C'jislSCIJJLA. 1*2.
The Ministers and other brethren who compose the Appalacby Bap- ,
list Association, to the churches they represent send christian fellowship.
Dear Brethren—Another annual revolution is completed, and by
the providence of God we are convened for the purpose of deliberating up¬
on our mutual interests and the promotion of the kingdom of the blessed
Lord. While we regret to learn through your communications of the
cold and declining state of practical Godliness among you, we yet have
cause to rejoice that there is a spirit of harmony and love which abounds
among the brethren and which characterize the churches composing this
>edy. And as we are at this time permitted to address you, according
to custom, we would endeavor to divert your minds from the many fluc¬
tuating and jarring interests which has caused so many desolating inroads
of discord and confusion, which has put our world (both politically and re¬
ligiously) in such commotion, by calling your attention to a more strict
observance of the many christian duties which are obligatory on the fol¬
lower of the meek and lowly Jesus. We are told in the scriptures that
to fear God and to keep his commandments is the whole duty of man,
from which it is evident that the fear of the Lord is not only a duty which
his creature man is bound to observe, but that the fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom; so in connexion we see every necessary duty plain¬
ly laid down by the commandments of the Lord in his written word for
the guidance of the wav-worn pilg^i through this world of snares and
dangers to that mansion of rest not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens..
But the duties incumbent upon the christian are loo many to be end-
merated within the bounds of this address, neither is it our object to point
Ihem out singularly but to invite your attention to the observance of then.
The Saviou- said to his immediate followers, ''Then are ye my disc >'03
indeed if ye do whatsoever I command you." Again, "If ye know tin se
things happy are ye if ye do them and again, " He that hath my com-
mandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth
me shall be loved by my father and I will love him and manifest myself
to him." So brethren, tn keeping the commandments of Godwe have the
consolation of not only loving God but also receiving the smile of the ap¬
probation of-God in the ace of Jesus Christ bearing us on the wings of
love through all the troubles of'his boisterous world ; so upon the o her
hand we may attribute most of the bickerings and strifes, the many con¬
tentious and divisions which so often rend churches and embitter the so¬
cial relations between individuals, together with the- many doubts and for-
bodings v. hich disturb the conscience and depress the soui, to a partial
or an entire neglect of duty. Let us then press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us strive to keep
the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace. And let us consider one
another to provoke into lc :, and to good works.
A nd as we have therefore t.ypor-".pity iet 03 do good unto all men, as.
pecially unto them who arc of the household of faith. Finally, brethren,
farewell. Bp -erfeei. be Osgood com for*, be of one mind, live in peace,
and the God of love civ. pc. 0 8 Hal be with you. Am tn.
JOHN iiENDRICfcS, Modcraic-r.
j.ittlebekey bostv/ick. clerk.
'STATE OF THE CIIUKCHES.
Preacher's names in Small Capitals ; Absentees marked thus, (*).
Churches Co. Delegates Names.
Freeman's Creek,
Clark county!
Holland Spring,
Morgan County.
Lexington,
Oglethorpe C'ty.
Sandy Creek,
Morgan County
Burmar Bible,
Ceneral purposes,
John T. arris and
Daniel Major?
Jorcnjk .. Sparks u; u
Robert VVoocurd.
John Hendricks and
Wm, I'rajtt.*
Thomas Sv ift. A.
Awbry, L. Bostwick
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