MINUTE S OF THE HELD AT GROVE CHURCH, COLUMBIA COUNTY, GA., flu the 8Hi, 9th and lltli October, 1817. PENFIELD, GA.: TRINTED AT THE 'INDEX' OFFICE. 1847, MINUTE S. Grove, Columbia County, Oct. Sth, 1S47. The Introductory Sermon was delivered by Elder V. R. Thornton, from 1 Cor. i. 21, "For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God; it pleased God by ;lhe foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." Read the letters from the Churches composing the body. Elected Elder B. M. Sanders, Moderator, and P. II. Mell, ••Clerk. Appointed the following Committees: On Preaching, breth¬ ren Neeson, Darden, (Jartledge, Holtzclaw and Dallas. On Finance, Butler, French and F. T. Allen. On Nominations, I. T. Irwn, C. L. Bolton and Samuel Johnson. On Business, Harriss, Crawford and Thornton. On Decease of Ministers, C. M. Irvin, Robert and Stokes. Received letters of correspondence from the following bodies: From Sarepta Association, a letter and no messengers. From the Rock Mountain, a letter and minutes by brethren Gibbs and Bacon. From the Hephzibah, a letter and minutes by the brethren Perryman, Polhill, Evans and Dye. From the Saluda, a letter and minutes. From the Flint River, a let¬ ter and no messengers. From the Washington, minutes only. Invited ministers of our own and other evangelical denomi¬ nations to seats with us; brethren J. S. Baker, Wyche Jack¬ son, W. Richards and T. Morgan, accepted the invitation. Adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. Prayer by brother Perryman. Saturday Morning, 9 O'clock. Met according to adjournment. Prayer by bro. Irvin. Read and adopted the Report of the Committee on Business. The regular business having been suspended for the pur¬ pose, it was voted unanimously to change the 6th item of the 4 15th article of the rules of this body, so as to make it read " and the constitution and rules of order" annually. Received a letter of correspondence and minutes from the Central Association, by brother J. B. Walker; a letter from the Edgefield Association; and a letter and minutes from the Tugalo. Appointed a Committee to report on the state of religion in the Churches, consisting of C. M. Irvin, Steed, Crawford and E. Callaway. Appointed the following correspondence: To the Central Association, to meet with the Church at McDonough, Saturday before the fourth Lord's day in Au¬ gust next, Stokes, Crawford, C. M. Irvin and Sanders. To the Washington, Black Spring, Baldwin Co., Saturday before the second Lord's day in September, Akins, S. Jones, H. C. Peak, J. Gunn. # To the Sarepta, Salem, Oglethorpe Co., Saturday before the fourth Lord's day in September, Crawford, W. Jackson, J. M. Jackson, 0. Battle, Sanders, Thornton, Cox and West. To the Tugalo, Clark's Creek, Franklin Co., Ga., five miles N. E. of Carnesyille, Saturday before the third Lord's day in September, Sanders and Kennedy. To the Western, (time and place unknown,) Thornton and Holtzclaw. To the Edgefield S. C., Mt. Lebanon, nine miles north of Hamburg, Saturday before the second Lord's day in Septem¬ ber, Neeson, Harris, Cliatt, Dagnall, Kennedy and W. Jackson. To the Saluda, S. C., Hephzibah, Anderson District, Friday before second Lord's day in August, T. Morgan, R. Gunn and West. To the Edisto S. C., (place unknown,) Saturday before first Lord's day October, G. H. Cliatt, Collins and Kennedy. To the Hephzibah, Bark Camp, Burke Co., Saturday before the fourth Lord's day October 1843, Thornton, Harriss, C. M. Irvin, Cliatt, West, Robert and Neeson. To the Appalachee, Sugar Creek, Saturday before third Lord's day September, Crawford, J. M. Jackson, Akins, H. C. Peak and J. R. Young. 5 To the Rock Mountain, Liberty, Gwinnett Co., Saturday before second Lord's day September, C. M. Irvin, Stokes, Harley, J. M. Jackson and J. R. Young. To the Ebenezer, Laurens Hill, Laurens Co., Saturday be¬ fore third Lord's day October, Dunavent, S. Jones and G. A. P. Whitfield. To the Flint River, Mount Olive Church, Pike Co., ten miles S. W. from Zebulon, Saturday before fourth Lord's day September, D. Pascliall, J. Gunn, Whitfield and Richards. STANDING- RESOLUTION. Resolved, That when a minister or other member of this body shall be present at the meeting of any Association in correspondence with ours, by presenting a copy of our last minutes, containing his name, he is to be recognized as our messenger to such Asso¬ ciation. , Appointed General Meetings as follows: First District, White Plains, Friday before third Lord's day in July. Second District, New Hope, Lincoln, Friday before the third Lord's day in August. Third District, Phillip's Mills, Friday before fifth Lord's day April. Fourth District, Ebenezer, Friday before the fifth Lord's day in July. Appointed a Committee to write aform of corresponding let¬ ter to sister Associations,—Committee, Irvin and Robert. Appointed the next meeting of this body with the Church at Phillip's Mills, Taliaferro Co., Friday before the second Sabbath in October next. Read and adopted the form of corresponding letter to sister Associations, prepared by the Committee, and instructed the Committee to furnish the messengers with copies of the same. Read the Report of the Committee appointed to labor with those Associations once in correspondence with us, and laid it over to Monday morning. Voted that the Clerk receive thirty-five dollars for his ser¬ vices, and be instructed to publish, with a neat cover, as,many minutes as can be obtained for the remainder of the money in hand. Committee on Nominations report, E. Calloway ta preach G ihe Introductory sermon next year, C. M. lrvin alternate ; N. M. Crawford Missionary sermon, and L. J. Robert his al¬ ternate. Brother Baker, the Agent of the Southern Baptist Publica¬ tion Society, having made some remarks showing the designs and importance of that Society, the following resolution was presented by brother Thornton and unanimously adopted :, Resolved, That we approve of the organization of the Southern Baptist Publication Society, and cordially recommend it to the liberal patronage of our churches. Elected the brethren Sanders, Stocks, Thornton, Crawford, West, Callaway, Stokes, C. M. Irvin, Harriss and Mell to rep¬ resent this body in the Georgia Baptist Convention to meet in Griffin, Friday before the first Lord's day in May next. Made the Report of the Financial Committee the first thing in order Monday morning. Instructed the Financial Committee to pay over the amount in hand for the Publication Society to brother Baker, and the amount for Indian Missions to brother Thornton, the Agents ,of those Societies respectively. The Committee on Decease of Ministers presented the fol¬ lowing report, which was adopted: The committee on the decease of Ministers, Report: Regarding it as a matter of de¬ vout latitude unto God, that no minister of the gospel has been called by death from ftiis field of labor, we would recommend that prayer be offered expressive of our grati¬ tude for this renewed expression of Divine goodness. C. M. IRVIN, Chairman. According to the recommendation, a season was spent in prayer—the Moderator leading. Adjourned to 9 o'clock Monday morning. Prayer by bro. Robert. The Sabbath was devoted to religious exercises. Brethren Crawford, Sanders and Thornton preached in the order of their names. After the Missionary sermon by brother San¬ ders, .a collection amounting to $54 27 was taken up. Monday Morning, 9 O'clock. Met according to adjournment. Prayer by brother Gibbs. Read and adopted the Report of Financial Committee. Appendix A. 7 Voted to divide the amount collected on the Sabbath eqltaT' ly between the Foreign and Domestic Missionary Boards. Read and adopted the following Report of the Committee' on the state of the churches : The committee to whom was referred the state of religion in the churches, make the' following Report : Impressed with the magnitude of the subject, your committee have endeavored to ob¬ tain all the information they could, in the time allowed them. They first examined let¬ ters from the respective churches, and find thirty-seven ot them complain of great cold¬ ness, and by reference to their statistical report, you will find they have good cause for this complaint. At this lamentable state of things, your committee were led to inquire' into some of the causes. This inquiry was made of many of the delegates: Is there a regular prayer meeting in your church? No. Was the response. This fact is men¬ tioned both as an evidence of the sad decline of religion, and as one of the prominent causes which has conspired to produce this melancholy state of things. Chufch mem¬ bers seem almost to have forgotten the vows they have taken upon them—the obligations they are under to God—to one another—to the church, and to the world. But few, ve¬ ry few are praying that the word of God might have free course and be glorified,- Anoth¬ er fact your committee would mention, as an evidence of the spiritual declension of our churches is, that the contributions for benevolent purposes have been decreasing for sev¬ eral years past. But a few years ago, near four thousand dollars were placed in the hands of the Financial committee for the objects under the patronage of this Association. The contributions this year do not much exceed one-third of that amount. Our num¬ bers are as great, pecuniary matters just as easy, but the churches seem to have lost their energy, and suffered the world, and not religion to get hold upon their affections. Every lover of Jesus should wee}) at this sad state of tilings, and pray most earnestly, Wilt thou not revive vis again that thy people may rejoice in thee. The remainder of the churches ha ve not, all of them, been blessed with God's special visitations. They say, '"nothing of special interest," but "the prospect of something good." But your committee with devout gratitude, record the gracious dealings of the Holy Spirit with a few of the members of our body. God has been pleased to visit some, thus encouraging those who have to take up the lamentable cry, "coldness, barrenness" to pour out their complaint unto him, an.I seek his salvation. In view of this awful declension of religion, your committee would recommend that each church in the Association be requested to appoint a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer to God for the outpouring of lilts Spirit upon us, and for the gracious revival of his work in our midst, C. M. IRVIN, Chairman. Took up the Report of the Committee appointed to labor with Associations formerly in correspondence with us, laid . over from Saturday, and adopted it. Appendix B. The following Resolution was presented by brother Thorn¬ ton, and unanimously adopted: Resolved, That in our opinion, liio correspondence between different Asso¬ ciations involves the christian fellowship of the Associations so corresponding. Gave to the delegates to the Convention the right to fill any vacancies in their number, by members of this body. Appointed a Committee consisting of Thornton, Sanders,. Stocks, Stokes and Mell, to labor with those Associations, once in correspondence with us, in order, if possible, to bring about a reconciliation.—All necessary correspondence left with the Committee. After remarks and prayer by the Moderator, the Association adjourned. B. M. SANDERS, Moderator. P. H. Mell, Clerk. NAMES AND POST OFFICES Baptist Minister© hanging to tl}e (Georgia ^ssoriatiou* E. T. Akin, White Plains. W. D, Atkinson, Penfield. J. S. Baker, " T. J. Beck, Appling. B. M. Blanchard, Lombardy. I. N. Bolton, Mallorysville. E.Callaway, Washington. J. A. Carter, " G. H. Cliatt, Bellair. C. Collins, Culbreath's. W.R. Cox, Washington. N. M. Crawford, Penfield. J. L. Dagg, " A. Dagnal, Eubanks. M. Dunavent, Thompson. J. C. Gunn, Double Wells. R. Gunn, " J. M. Hall, ' W. J. Ha"rley, Powelton. Juriah Harriss, Appling. John Howell, Penfield. C. M. Irvin, Powelton. J; M. Jackson, Washington. Wyche Jackson, Rehoboth. M. Johnston, Powelton. S. Jones, Shoals of Ogeechee. A. L. Kennedy, Red Oak. M. A. Lane, Washington. W. T. Lane, Danburgh. P. H. Mell, Penfield. T. R. Morgan, Philomath. H. Neeson, Appling. H. C. Peak, Greenesboro'. J. Peak, Milledgeville. W. W. Prather, Rehoboth. T. W. Rhodes, Appling. W. Richards, Penfield. L. J. Robert, Washington. B. M. Sanders, Penfield. L. G. Steed, Raysville. W. P. Steed, Lombardy. W. PI. Stokes, Mayfield. V. R. Thornton, Public Square. J. Q. West, Aonia. G. A. P. Whitfield, White Oak. II. Williams, Penfield. X R. Young, Lexington. Ben Ardis, (African.) Moses Dent, " Moses Golphiiy " Ccesar Horton, " Henry Johnson, " Peter Johnson, " George Key, " Kelly Low, " Sutton Matthews, (Af.) (APPENDIX A.)—The Committee onFinance have received from the Churches composing the Georgia Association and from individuals Churches. Antioch,................... 2 Bethel, Crawfordville, 3 Bethlehem,, Bethel, 1 Baird's,...... 3 Beaverdam, . 1 Bethesda, 2 Clark's Station, 1 County Line, 1 Damascus, 1 Double Branches,. 1 Ebenezer, Wilkes,......... 1 Elim, 2 Fishing Creek, 1 Friendship, 1 Greenwood, 2 Goshen, 1 Greensboro', 2 Grove, 2 Hephzibah, 2 00 Horeb, 2 50 Kiokee, 1 80 Lincolnton, 1 50 Long Creek, 2 00 Mount Zion, 1 50 Newford,. 2 00 Minute Fund. 00 00 00 00 50 50 50 50 00 55 50 00 50 00 00 50 00 00 General Purposes. 39 25 12 00 3 00 14 21 00 00 10 36 16 00 12 75 00 50 Foreign Mission. 29 25 2 00 52 40 4 10 10 3 00 00 00 50 13 50 13 44 7 75 Domestic Mission. 13 25 Marion B'd. Dom. Mission. 8 25 10 12 13 10 2 20 21 30 40 95 00 00 00 00 00 13 44 4 00 5*75 Indian Mission. 36 00 4 5 10 00 30 00 II 75 3 3 13 15 7 7 33 13 2 1 7 State Dom. Miss. So. Pub. Society. 70 30 42 50 00 10 00 00 44 00 50 70 19 40 00 10 75 14 9 00 00 10 17 00 00 as follows:, Totat,. 41 25 39 00 13 00 32 25 4 50 21 75 17 10 11 50 15 00 22 55 69 05 12 36 29 20 4 30 22 37 35 00 77 00 25 35 18 00 67 00 94 55 41 82 11 00 20 50 15 45 ClIL'RCHKS. New Hope, 1 New Providence, 1 J'enfield 2 Pine Grove, 1 Powelton, 3 Minute Fund. 50 50 00 00 00 Phillip's Mills, 2 50 Rehobotb, 2 00 .Salem, Lincoln,........... 1 50 Sardis, 3 50 Shiloh, 1 00 Sharon.......... 75 Smyrna , 1 75 SweetWater, 2 00 Union, Lincoln,. Union, Warren, 2 50 Warrenton, 1 00 White Plains, 3 00 Washington 1 50 Williams Creek, 2 00 Springfield, African, 4 00 Thankful, •« 1 50 Spirit Creek, " .. 2 10 Kbenezer, " 1 00 General Purposes. 6 50 18 25 2 00 6 85 17 25 5 00 2 00 47 50 Committee's Report- —Continued. So. Pub. Foreign Domestic Marion B'd. Indian St&ta Mission. Mission. Dom. Mission. Mission. Dom. Miss. Society. 24 62 • • • .... .... .... 9 m • • • 10 00 .... 12 00 25 00 11 95 9 10 .... 26 75 • • • 3 82 • • • .... .... 20 12 • • • • 9 20 7 00 .... 50 • • • • f , 11 00 .... .... 7 35 ♦ • • t 7 35 • • f .... .... 7 60 * • • • 50 .... .... .... 1 00 ;;;; 1 00 2 10 .... 1 00 10 00 ♦ ♦ • • • » • • 2 00 .... .... 1 18 • • • 9 13 8 18 .... .... 1 50 — 50 1 50 — 2 50 20 00 8 80 4 00 .... .... « • • • 11 00 .... .... .... 14 15 • • • f 12 50 22 00 .... .... 20 83 • • • • 20 83 20 83 .... 2 00 • • • • • • 5 00 .... 8 00 • f ♦ .... .... .... 2 50 — Totlt- 26 12 11 50 *93 30 4 82 39 82 13 50 16 70 9 60 21 75 8 10 12 75 20 24 14 85 35 30 12 00 51 65 65 95 24 25 17 00 3 50 5 07 1 50 $87 95 192 68 261 57 65 80 225 24 275 42 102 75 59 75 •f90 of this for Brother B. M. Sanders' subscription, in part, to Southern Board Publication Society, 11 For brother Geo. Pearsey, Missionary to China, from the Bethesda Church, 5 00 For China Mission, from Antioch Church, 2 00 For " Kiok6e " 21 00 28 00 For S. Publication Society, from the Greensboro' Ch'h, to constitute brethren P. H. Mell, C. A. Davis and V. Sanford, ($10 each,) life-mem's. 30 00 Mt. Zion, in part to constitute bro. W. H. Stokes life-director of S. P. Society, 16 50 46 50 For distribution of Bibles in Georgia : From Powelton Church, 7 00 From Penfield " 5 50 From Spirit Creek " 1 00 13 50 tv,. \ ru li ) Wm. R. Moss, 15 00 r or AtlantaCnureh by > -p t • u u • ^_ J ) Bro. Junah Harriss,.. .10 00 25 00 From bro. I. T. Irvin,sen'r: For Marion Board of Missions, 5 00 For Southern Board of Foreign Missions,.... 5 00 For Indian Missions, 5 00 15 00 From a sisterof White Plains Church, for bro. Davis' Miss'n,.. 5 00 From Mrs. Mary Ray, for Marion Board, 5 00 From old bro. Jacob Thomas, deacon of Springfield Af. Church, for Gen. Purposes, 1 00 For Church at Atlanta, by bro. Wm. P. Steed, 5 00 From Shiloh Church, for African Mission, 60 RECAPITULATION. General Purpose, 190 68 Foreign Mission, Southern Board, 266 57 Domestic Mission, 65 60 Marion Board, Domestic Mission, 240 24 Indian Mission, 280 42 Atlanta Church, 30 00 China Mission, 28 00 Distribution of Bibles,. 13 50 Minute Fund, 87 95 Southern Publication Society, 106 25 State Domestic Mission, " 102 75 African Mission, 50 Collection on Sabbath, 54 27 •Whole amount of cash, $1468 93 All of which is respectfully submitted. D. E. BUTLER, ) H. L. FRENCH, > Committee. • F. T. ALLEN, S Report of the Committee appointed to labor with the Associations once in correspondence with us. A majority of your Committee attended the meeting of the Primitive 12 Towaliga Association, and requested a conference on the subject of our differences. We were kindly received, and a Committee appoint¬ ed to confer with us. We had a friendly meeting with this Commit¬ tee, and in conference with us they admitted that they had no objection to our doctrines, nor to our being missionaries; but that they did have' objections to the connection there was, between our benevolent Socie¬ ties, and the churches and Associations, in our missionary operations. They also objected to the Resolution passed by the Georgia Associa¬ tion some years since, " That they did not consider Associational cor* respondence of so sacred a nature as to interfere with the fellowship of either of the parties corresponding." They also objected to this As¬ sociation having correspondence with the Central while it held in its union the Eatonton church, until said church had given satisfaction to the Ocmulgee Association that had withdrawn from it. Your Committee were not able to see any force in the objections urged by the primitive brethren, to our manner of conducting our be¬ nevolent operations. We were gratified to learn that their objections were not to the operations themselves, but only to the manner of our conducting them. With regard to our correspondence, while our constitution and our practice confined it to Associations of " our own faith and order," your committee could not be convinced that minor differences between brethren of the " same faith and order" ought to break off correspond dence, but rather encourage it, with the hope of removing all sucli differences. With regard to the Eatonton church, your Committee maintained that different Associations might most honestly entertain different opin¬ ions in such matters and that such difference of opinion ought not to be a matter of affliction lo charitable brethren. These appeared to be the principal difficulties in the way of the re¬ newal of the correspondence with our brethren of the Towaliga, Your Committee lament that they have to report that they were not able to satisfy the Committee of said Association, that these were not good cause for discontinuing their correspondence, and especially for their resolutions of non-fellowship. Their Committee reported to their Association that they were not able to effect a reconciliation, but re¬ commended christian courtesy and forbearance toward the members of our body, which was approved by the Association. While we are compelled to differ widely with our primitive brethren in the opinions they entertain in their justification of their non-fellow¬ ship, we would recommend a reciprocation of christian courtesy, in the hope that when all our feelings are properly subdued by the influ¬ ence of the blessed Spirit, the principal hindrance to our re-union will be removed. We were not able to attend the meeting of any other of those Asso¬ ciations with whom we were instructed to labor, but wrote a friendly letter to the Ocmulgee, a copy of which we have reserved, subject to the examination of your body. THOS. STOCKS, B. M. SANDERS, P. H. MELL. " CHURCHES. o £ NAMES OF DELEGATES Absentees thus (*) 'Powelton, Hancock .. Stokes,.... Mount Zion, do do o Horeb, do do White Plains,. . . Greene . .. Harris, .... £ f Warrenton, Warren, . . Harley,.... N-t \ New Providence, do Beck, CfJ Long Creek, do Gunn, .... £ Williams' Creek, do Carter, .... Beth'e), Crawford. Taliaferro,. Thornton,. . Elim, Warren, . . Gunn, . . . . f Kiokee, Columbia. . Harriss, . . . Sharon, do Steed, Darrtascus, do Harriss, . . . , Grove, do Beck _o "S Bethlehem, do Kennedy, . . SO Thankful,...." . do Henry J'h'n Spirit Creek,." .. do Peter J'h'n Ebenezer, do New Hope, Lincoln,... Carter, .... Pine Grove,- Columbia.. Collins,.... C. JVI. Irvin, W. J. Harley, T. W. Latimer, A. Jackson,* T. C. Nee] W. H. Stokes, Thomas Whaley E.T.Akins, S.Johnson, W.W.Moore, E.P.Jarrell.'* J. M. Roberts,* G. B. Barksdale T. J. Beck. Thomas Cooper, Stephen Jones,* John Veazey,* Jethro Darden, S. R. Culpepper,* J. Chapman,* Wra. Peak, J. W. Reynolds,* Radford Gunn,* J. C. Gunn, J. Harriss, C. Collins, A. Dagnall, J. Cartledge. . D. L. Marshall, A. L. Kennedy W. Merriwether, A. J. Hutchinson.* H. Neeson, H. Cliatt S. Crump, H. Evans,* S. Mosely, E. Lockhart, W. P. Steed, F. T. Allen, M. Dunavent, G. W. Hardaway,* KelJy Low, George Key, Benjamin Ardis Henry Johnson, Peter Johnson, Isaac Burch, W. L. Hawes,* N. Ramsay, E. B. Wilkerson, B. F. Bolton,* a po K 9) CO 2 c 3 1 4 14 10 1 1 2 98 62 160 3 1 6 11 2 0 2 62 13 75 2 0 1 3 1 0 5 65 47 112 3 7 9 10 3 0 5 128 76 204 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 27 18 45 3 0 4 12 5 0 0 64 18 82 4 11 2 10 2 1 2 77 22 99 4 0 3 2 1 0 5 77 25 102 4 1 5 16 1 1 4 166 31 197 3 4 12 30 2 1 1 126 3 1 1 7 1 0 1 244 1 1 0 3 0 0 1 i2 50 62 2 0 0 5 ] 1 1 3(1 4 5 0 7 1 0 2 118 4 0 1 4 0 0 1 is 106 124 1 0 3 4 1 0 0 58 14 72 2 1 7 9 3 0 0 98 17 115 4 0 3 4 0 0 2 107 22 129 3 45 8 11 19 15 20 1256 1256 4 20 3 0 5 1 2 110 110 21 0 2 13 h 10 332 332 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 64 64 3 3 0 4 5 0 1 44 6 50 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 20 27 47 CHURCHES. ( Betliesda, Shiloh,. . Smyrna Phillips' Mills,. Antioch, Baird's, County Line,... Greenesboro, , .. Pentield | Goshen, Clarke's Station, Sard is, Newford, Rehoboth, Greenwood,. .. Lincolnton,.... Salem, Lincoln,. Hcphzibah, Fishing Creek,. Washington, ... Friendship, Bearer Dam,... Ebenezer, Union, Lincoln,. Total,... o Greene . .. do do Taliaferro,. Oglethorpe, do do Greene . .. do Lincoln,.. . Wilkes . . . do do do Lincoln,... do do do Wilkes. .. do do do do Lincoln,... Thornton,. Sanders, .. Louderinilk Thornton,. Vandivere,. do Callaway,. Me! I, Sanders, .. Bolton,.. .. Bolton,.. .. Callaway,. Bolton,.. .. Callaway,. VV est, Lane, West,. ... Carter, .. • Lane, Robert, ... Mathews,. Callaway,. West,.... NAMES OF DELEGATES. Absentees.thus (j|) V. R. Thornton, W. Toggle, jr., E. iS. Hunter,||. . W. Mom-riefJI J. Howell,j| J. W. Champion,|| II. C. Peek J. Smith,|| N. Cooper, W. Jewell,[I L. Elwards, J. R. Young, ( W. O. Cheney,|| J. G. Hollzclaw, <_'. D. Kin- ) } nebrewJJ J. H. McWhortcr,|| 11. L. French, 2(> 16 1 "tr-j w 3 s H) 0 12 0 21 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 o 01 (I o o i 5 3 0' 1 24 247 109 329 97 451115 'A * X 4i 101 '2! .'jf; 41 HI: 5 0 : 0 171 7*2 38 97 :i7 4" 42 0.") 95 G- 3fi 41)' 43 (iI! i!ii 4Q| 84 :-K»! 149 7o! 1'li . . | 155 85 j 253 431 115 43! 81 4| 101 54 91 38 j 80 68 210 501 145 651 180 221 81 11| 47 18! 53 14) 57 42 103 145 26 139 105 43 20 63 44 18 62 4'J 52 95 33 10 51 //04'G73G 15 CONSTITUTION. (AS AMENDED.) . the diuretics of Jesus Christ, who have been rejmlarlv baptized upon a profession-' Of our faith, are convinced. from a series of experience, of the nceemty of a combination ot churches, and oi maintaining a correspondence for the prcFervinj* of a federal union amongst all i)»e churches of th-,* same faith and order. And. as ivc- are .convinced that there are a number of Baptist churche® who differ from us in faith and practice, and that it. ts impossible to have communion where there is no union, we thin!; it our duty to set iorth a concise declaration of the faith and order upon which v.e intend to associate, which is follows :— , ^ e believe in one only true and living God ; and that there is a trinity of persons in the Godhead—the Father, the Son. and the iioly Ghost; and yet there arc not three Gods, but one God. 2d. We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the word of Goc!, and the only rule of faith and practice. 3-.1. We believe in the fall of Adam, and the imputation of his sin to his posterity ; in the corruption of human nature, and the- itnpotency of man to recover himself by his own free will ability. 4th. 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 glory ; and that there was a covenant ot grace or redemption made between the Father and the Son, before the world began, in which their salvation is secure, and t hat !hev in particular are redeemed. 5;h. We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God only by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. 6th. We believe that all those who were chosen in Christ will he effectually called, re¬ generate;!, converted, sanctified, and supported by I be point and power of God, so that they shall pi-rsevcre in grace, and not one of (hem he finally lost. 7th. We believe that good works are the fruits of faith, and follow afier justification, ■and that they only justify us in the sight of men and angels, and are evidences of our gra¬ cious state. 8th. We believe that 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 will be eter¬ nal. And as for gospel order:— 1st. We believe that the visible church of Christ is a ennsrecation of faithful perrons, 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, agreeably to the rules of the gospel. 21. We believe that Jesus Christ is the great ITead of the church, and only law-giver, and that the government is with the body and is the privilege of each individu il; and that the discipline of the church is intended ior the reclaiming of those christians who may be disorderly either in principle or practice ; and must be faithfully kept up for God's glory, and the peace and unity of the churches. 3.1. We believe, that water baptism and the Lord's supper, are ordinances of the Lord, and are to be continued till his second coming. 4th. We believe, that true believers in Jesus Christ are the. only subjects of baptisms, and that dipping is the mode. 5th. We believe t hat none but regularly baptized church members have a right to com munion at the Lord's tabic. 6th. We believe that it is the duty of every heaven-born soul to become a member of the visible church, to make a public profession of his faith, to be legally baptized, so as to have a right- to, and partake of the Lord's supper at every legal opportunity, through the whole course of his life. Having laid down a summary of the faith and order upon which ive intend to asso¬ ciate' we therefore purpose for the decorum of our association, thho shall be chosen by the members present. 6th. If new churches desire to be admitted into this union, they shall petition by letter nnd messengers, and upon examination, if found orthodox and orderly, shall he received by the Association, and manifested by the Moderator's giving the messengers the right hand of fellowship. 7th. No church in the union shall have a right to more than two messengers, till it shall exceed one hundred members; and then she shall have a right to an additional mes¬ senger for every fifty after the first hundred. 8th. Every query sent to the Association, by any Church in the union, shall be read, and put to vote by the moderator, whether it shall be debated; and if there he a majority for it, it shall be taken up and investigated; but if not, it shall be withdrawn. Provided, always. That those be first considered which affect the union of churches. 9th. Every motion made and seconded, shall come under the observation of the As¬ sociation; except it be withdrawn by the member who made it. 10th. 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. 11th. No person shall speak more tnan three times to the same query, without leave of the Association. 12th. There shall be no talking or whispering in the time of a public speech, nor re¬ flections cast upon the speaker. 13th. No member shall exempt himself from the Association without leave from the moderator. 14th. If any member shall break the rules of this decorum, he shall be immediately reproved by the moderator. loth- It is the business of this Association; First, to provide for the general union of Churches. Second, to keep up a correspondence w ith those Associations, of the same faith and order, that a chain of communion may be preserved amongst the churches. Third, to give the churches the best advice they can ill matters of difficulty; and if the communion should be broken between any of the sister churches in the union, to en¬ quire into the cause of the breach, and use their best endeavors to remove the difficulty; but if the breach cannot be healed, to withdraw from any church or Churches, whom they shall look upijm to be unsound in principle, or immoral in practice, till they be re¬ claimed. Fourth, to admit any of the brethren in the ministry as assistants, if they shall judge it to be necessary. Fifth, to appoint a Secretary to keep a book, and regularly re¬ cord the proceedings of every Association, and to see that he is satisfied for his trouble. Sixth, to have the minutes of the Association read (and corrected if need be) and signed by the moderator and clerk, before the Association rises, and have them and the consti¬ tution and rules of this body printed annually. Seventh, to amend this plan or form of government at any time when the majority of the union shall deem it to be necessary. Eighth, to adjorfrn to any time or place which they may think to be most proper. fteceived payment from the Clerk, for printing 2500 copies of these minutes. J. T. BLA1N, Printer.-