MINUTES
OF THE
CONCORD BAPTIST ASSOCIATION,
MELD AT BRADLEY'S CREEK M. H., RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENM.,
SEPTEMBER 2, 3 & 4, 1837,
Introductory discourse by Elder William H. White, from Acts 10: 43.
Chose Elder James Whitsitt Moderator, and Elder Presley Lester Clerk.
Letters from nine Churches were read, and the following names enrolled.
Churches.
MillC'reek.
L. Cedar Lick.
Concord.
Union.
Nashville.
Enon.
Bethesda.
Bradley's Creek.
Barton's Creek.
White's Creek.
MESSENGERS' NAMES.
3James Whitsitt, Bernard Phillips.
3 James McFarlen, William Bilbro.
2!Everett Owen, Solomon G. Morton.
4John Bond.
2Robt. B.C. Howell,3.G. Hall.
2| Albert Jones.
3iBenjamin Morriss.
2[Presley Lester, E Jones.
4.R. D.Cypert, Wm- Davis
11 William Kiric, Robert Cunningham.
Baptised. |
By Letter.
Restored. |
i
ce
a
a.
Excluded. |
2
7
4
16
9
7
1
8
15
1
7
1
1
9
1
4
2
1
The above last named church was received on her petition.
CORRESPONDENCE-
Elder Joshua Lester from Salem Association took his seat, and present¬
ed copies of their last year's Minutes.
The following ministering brethren, being present, were invited and
look seats. Peter Fuqua, Wm. H. White, James Bond, Williamson Wil¬
liams, William Dale, Cantrel Bethell, William Bond and Hiram Young.
Appointed brethren J. Bond, B. Phillips, J. McFarlin, S. G. Morton and
R. B. C. Howell to arrange the unfinished business of this Association,
and report on Monday.
Appointed brethren Jones and Bilbro a committee of finance.
Elders Whitsitt, Howell and Bethell are requested to occupy the stage
cn to-morrow, and that worship commence at 10 oclock.
2
Adjourned until Monday morning, 9 oclock.
Monday Morning, met on adjournment. Prayer by the Moderator.
Called the names of messengers.
The Committee of Arrangement reported, and they were discharged.
The rules of decorum were read.
The request from Barton's Creek church came up for consideration.
They wish to be supplied with monthly preaching. Elders Peter Fuqua,
and Wm. H. White agree to supply them.
The request of Enon Church was introduced for consideration. They
request monthly preaching. Elders John Bond and B. Phillips agree to
comply with their request, and Elder Thomas Fuqua is also requested to
attend them.
Appointed Elders John Bond, Wm. H. White and Presley Lester, cor¬
responding messengers to the Salem Association.
The Committee of finance reported from the churches this year $15,18.
Brother Whitsitt appointed treasurer, and superintendent of printing
the minutes, and that the number printed shall go to the extent of the
funds, and that he distribute them to the churches.
Elder Presley Lester is requested to deliver the introductory at our
next meeting; Elder John Bond his alternate.
Appointed the next meeting of this body to be on Mill creek, with the
Concord church in Williamson county,on the Saturday preceding the first
Lord's day in September, 1838, at 10 o'clock.
The business being closed, the Moderator delivered a short exhortation
to brotherly love, to christian forbearance and practical things. Elder
Kirk prayed, and the hymn, "Blest be the tie that binds"&c., was sung,
and thus the brethren took leave of each other in the house, by giving
the hand. ,
As far as can be recollected, the ministers belonging to the Churches
here represented whose names do not appear on the minutes are as fol¬
lows. Elder Micajah Estes Jacob Melton and John Morton. And of
licenciates there are in the Nashville Church brethren Muse, Smith and
Wasson; in Mill creek brother Rachels, and in Bradley's creek two
brethren Taylor.
JAMES WHITSITT, Moderator.
Presley Lester, Clerk.
CIRCULAR.
The Ministers and other Delegates, belonging to the Concord Baptist
Association, to the churches they represent wish grace mercy and peace.
Beloved Brethren—The Minutes will give you the outlines of our pro¬
ceedings; but we think it will be more satisfactory to you, that we give
a fuller detail of the meeting. The introductory was delivered in a fine
spirit. Elder Bethell followed in an exhortation which was both appro¬
priate and animating. The delegates then retired to the house, and as
soon as the business common for the first day was closed they returned
3
td the stage, and with the Ministers and brethren who were already there,
continued in prayer and supplication, exhortation and singing until even¬
ing ; the congregation were then requested by one of the senior Minis¬
ters to bring provisions with them on the ensuing day, by which they
might be refreshed, and that there would be a recess for that purpose.
The service on the Lord's day commenced in singing, exhortation
and prayers by Elders Fuqua and Hall. The time of day at which
preaching was to commence arrived. Elder Howell proceeded. He read
1st* Thes. 2; 4. ''But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with
the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth
our hearts." He closed his discourse about the turn of the'day, when a
recess took place for refreshment, the citizens having provided for
themselves and foreigners. And after a short time spent in that way the
Congregation seated themselves; when Elder Whitsitt read Heb. XI; 15.
16. (too lengthy to repeat.) Elder Bethell followed and read Isa,iah 35th
Chapter, and after making some general remarks he entered into an ex¬
hortation in which he was very pathetic; leaving the stage he went
down among the people, taking some in his arms, and many by the hand,
and many came and bowed at the stand imploring mercy. The^ minis¬
ters were much engaged, prayers were offered up for the mourners, and
there was much exhortation and the brethren and sisters sung finely and
thus continued until evening. After the business closed in the house on
Monday we went to the stage, and found a largg assembly, and there ap¬
peared to be an increased anxiety, and several proposed that the meeting
should be protracted, but as the ministers had made no arrangement of the
kind and as several of them had appointments to take them off, it was de¬
clined.
We are much pleased with the hospitality of the people on Bradley's
creek, and whether we have done tbem any goal, time alone will prove.
Our conduct on Lord's day, to some may have been a little singular; but
pefrhaps it is an improvement, for a hungry congregation is an impatient
one, be they saints or sinners.
There is another small item, that perhaps it would be well to notice.
The Concord Church on the second Lord's day in last month, consulted
with herself, and instructed her delegates, provided there was any pros¬
pect of success, to apply for our next session to be there. Accordingly
they did so.
And now, dear brethren, permit us before we close this short address,
to exhort you to "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made
us free." "Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord,forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
Pray for your ministers, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified;
However eminent Paul and Apollos might have been in the ministry yet
they could not succeed without the power of a divine hand. If you wish pros¬
perity in your churches, pray for your ministers. For the ungodly Christ
poured out his blood at the foot of his cross. And surely you will pour
out your prayers for them at the foot of his throne. "Have fervent charity
among yourselves, for charity shall cover a multitude of sins." "Put on
therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kind¬
ness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering; forbearing one ano¬
ther, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any;
4
feven as Christ forgave you, eo aiso do ye. And above all things put
On charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Finally brethren, faic-
wfell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peapc,
and the God of lovq and peace shall be with you.
(£5=From the number of copies ordered outx the churches intend to la
very liberal, as it is presumed they will not let Minutes lie dead on their
hands.
Paid for printing 1,500 copies, $15,00,
f C. CARPENTER & CO. PRINTERS, NASHVILLE.
BAPTIST TRACT DEPOSITORY,
DEADERICK ST. NASHVILLE.
Kept by J. C. Carpenter & Co., Agents of the Baptist General Tract
Society,
They keep constantly on hand a large supply of TRACTS, compris¬
ing a variety of 150 different publications, which will be Sold at 100 pages
ror 10 cents. They have also for sale, besides bound volumns of tracts,
the following NEW 1300Kj3.
Memoirs of Wm. Carey, D. D,.
" John Stanford, D. D.
u Wm. Staughton, D. D,
" 'Roger Williams
" Mrs. Judson
Malcom's Bible ^Dictionary
Ripley's Notes on the Gospels
" Review of Stuart on Baptism
Judd's a "
Church Member's Gude
Spirit of Holiness
Eight Views of Baptism, by Wm. Hague
A Glance at thC Baptists
Female Scripture Biography, 2 vols.
Guide to the Lord's Supper,
Onward, by Br. Bedell
Watts and Rippon's Hymns, large and small size
Do. Plain and Gilt binditig,