Columbia (Bntoetsitp mtJjeCiipofltogcrk THE LIBRARIES Bequest of Frederic Bancroft 1860-1945 ^y. J*. Throgmorton, D. D. W. P. Throgmorton, D. D. A BIOGRAPHY By Clarence Hodge. Author of "Life Pictures of the Past, "Pen Pictures of Palestine/' "Our Baptist Wishbone," etc. Egyptian Press Printing Co., Marion, 111. rut* Copyright 1917 By Clarence Hodge. CONTENTS PART I. — BIOGRAPHY. Page I. LIFE OF DR. THROGMORTON OUTLIN- ED IN BRIEF ------ 7 II. THE THROGMORTON ANCESTRY - - 16 III. EARLY MEMORIES OF TENNESSEE - 20 IV. GROWING UP IN ILLINOIS - - - 30 V. BUILDING HIS FIRST CHURCH AT NEW BURNSIDE ------ - 38 VI. FULL TIME PASTORATES, BENTON AND MT. VERNON, ILL., LOUISIANA, MO., FORT SMITH, ARK., DUQUOIN AND MARION, ILL. ------ 44 VII. HIS EDITORIAL LIFE ----- gg VIII. ORGANIZATION OF THE NEW STATE ASSOCIATION ----- - 82 IX. FIFTY DEBATES - - - - - - - 111 X. INCIDENTS, ANECDOTES, TRIBUTES, REMEMBRANCES AND IMPRESSIONS 122 PART II. — SERMONS, EDITORIALS AND AD- DRESSES. I. CHARACTER SKETCH OF DEACON J. W. HEATON -------- 141 II. ORDER OF THE ORDINANCES — DOC- TRINAL SERMON - - - - - 150 Page III. FOUR ESSENTIALS TO SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM — DOCTRINAL SERMON - 167 IV. "ONCE IN GRACE ALWAYS IN GRACE" — DOCTRINAL SERMON - - - 178 V. WHAT AMEHICA OWES TO BAPTISTS — MEMORIAL ADDRESS - 192 VI. THE BAPTIST PROGRAM — EDITORIAL 212 VII. SHALL WOMEN KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT? — EDITORIAL - - - - 219 VIII. A VALUATION OF THE PREACHER — EDITORIAL ------- 228 IX. TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS OF LONG AGO — EDITORIAL RETROSPECT - 236 ILLUSTRATIONS. W. P. THROGMORTON, Frontispiece .... CAMPMEETING TABERNACLE AT MANLY'S CHAPEL - - 9 OLD POINT PHEASANT BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE --------- 23 MRS. W. P. THROGMORTON ----- 141 B. F. RODMAN, SECRETARY OF THE ILLINOIS BAPTIST STATE ASSOCIATION - - 107 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MARION, ILL. - 62 PREFACE. It was my judgment that a biography of Dr. Throgmorton should be written while he was yet with us, so that he might lend his advice in its preparation for the press. After many talks with him, he assented for the attempt to be made. It has been two years now since the first line was written. During that time I have had special opportunities for gathering material for the publication. We visited his old birth-place in Tennessee together, besides going over his ear- ly scenes in Illinois, and visiting his pastorates in this and other states. I went over as much as twice all the bound volumes of the Baptist Banner, the Baptist News and the Illinois Bap- tist, and noted their contents carefully. I read his published debates and his History of Frank- lin Association and his tracts, printed years ago. Besides, it was my very great pleasure to help him twice in revival work at Marion, and to see him stirred up over the salvation of men. Also it has been a source of real satisfaction to be in- timate with him in his office as editor, to see him at work, to learn his methods and to get his view-points of life and service. Again and again I have enjoyed the hospitality of his pleasant home. I have gone on many outings with him and thus seen him from every angle. With all this first hand knowledge and acquaintanceship at my command I do not hesitate to pronounce him a remarkable man. From several sources material was received, for which thanks are extended. Especially do I name Deacon J. W. Heaton in this connection. Many of the brethren would have gladly written appreciations, but these have been limited for lack of space. It is thought that the work as it stands is fair and accurate and not overdrawn in any respect. In selecting sermons, addresses and editori- als, those that were doctrinal were included first, thinking his written thoughts on these sub- jects would be of prime benefit to his readers, especially to the coming generation of ministers. Then, a few of his best editorials and retrospect- ive subjects were selected, and this filled the space. The book is sent forth with the hope that it will be read and passed on to those who need it. It is not complete nor free from fault, but the reader is asked to think of the character instead of the errors and the writer will not have done his work in vain. Clarence Hodge, Marion, 111. INTRODUCTION. It gives me great pleasure to learn that a Bi- ography of Dr. W. P. Throgmorton is to be pub- lished in the near future, as there is no man in all Southern Illinois who is better known and more highly esteemed than he. I have known him for something like forty years, and have known him intimately for twenty-five years, and for five years we lived together as one family, and our associations together were always the most pleasant. I can truly say that those who know him best love him most. He is most cer- tainly an amiable Christian gentleman. As a preacher he has but few equals. As a debater he has no superiors. Baptists need have no fear of their cause suffering any loss in his hands, no matter what the opposition may be that he is called upon to meet. While he is not naturally combative, nevertheless when the truth is attacked he is competent to defend it from ev- ery angle. However he always does it with the kindest Christian courtesy. I have been with him in eight different debates and I never saw him get rattled or treat his opponent ungentle- manly or in a way unbecoming to a Christian. His arguments were so clear-cut and precise that his audience could always get them very readily, as they left no room for any misunderstanding. As a preacher he possesses the clearest and most definite understanding of the Scriptures and presents them in the simplest and most log- ical manner of any man I ever listened to. Even the most obtuse need not fail to comprehend his meaning. As a pastor he is one of the best organizers that I ever knew, and the only reason why he is not always a complete success in every particular in this line is that he is so over-burdened with other duties that he has not time to work his or- ganization. Nevertheless, he never makes a failure but is always dearly beloved by his entire membership. There are many members of the "various churches which he has served as pastor who will ascribe their conversion to his labors in their midst. As editor, it is hardly necessary that I should attempt to give my commendation of his ability and adaptation for that work, for thou- sands of his readers can bear testimony to that fact. I venture the assertion that nine tenths of his readers, when they get the paper, look first of all for what Brother Throgmorton has to say. While possibly it may be true that not all his readers agree always with all that he says, yet his statements always carry great weight with all his readers ; for no man has toil- ed more earnestly and labored more assiduously for the Baptist brotherhood than he. Eternity alone will reveal the untold benefits that have ac- crued to us through his untiring efforts. As a friend he is loyal in every respect, and will not hesitate to deny himself to favor his friends in every particular. Many there are who have shared his benevolence and enjoyed his 6 INTRODUCTION 7 friendship. In many instances his generosity has been imposed upon, as he is so big-hearted that he has allowed many persons to take ad- vantage of his charity. He has been deprived of many a dollar by trying to assist some ungrate- ful fellows. His hand has always been open to the needy and the outcast, and wherever oppor- tunity afforded he has ever been ready to extend a helping hand. Every community where he has lived can bear testimony to these facts. And as a man it is utterly impossible for me to estimate the worth and power of his influence on the community, on the church, on Southern Illinois and on the world. He has moulded the life and character of more people in Southern Illinois than any other man, and the Baptist brotherhood owes more to him than any other man for his timely assistance and wise leader- ship. In other words, it might be truthfully said that he is surely a born leader, and his leadership has always tended toward a higher and a better life. His life and work most certainly demon- strates the possibilities of a self made man. Marion Teague, DuQuoin, Illinois. CHAPTER I. LIFE OF DR. THROGMORTON OUTLINED IN BRIEF. The purpose of Chapter One is to show in brief the whole of Dr. Throgmorton's very suc- cessful record to date, and reveal the hidden sources of his splendid worth. In other words, this chapter proposes to display a bird's-eye view for the help of hasty readers. When it is read, it is believed that the other chapters will be wel- comed with more interest. Thus, the one who ex- pects to read the entire book will be the better prepared for it. For the first page of a book usually decides the reader's tastes for or against it. One can not foretell in America who will be renowned, much less define his birthplace. It xii&y be in a modern city, but it is more likely to he in an out of the way place, where no one ever dreamed any person great could come up. In- deed, it was in a district of this kind that Wil- liam Pinckney Throgmorton was born. The date of his birth was September 19, 1849. The place was within three miles of old Manlyville, Henry County, Tennessee. Turn to "Old Memories Re- vived," chapter three, for an extended account of that section of the country. "Who's Who in America" always throws light on the ancestry of anyone who is so fortu- nate as to get his name in its illustrious pages. Dr. Throgmortons' ancestry is easily traced to the invasion of England by William The Con- 53 O LIFE OUTLINED IN BRIEF 9 queror in the eleventh century. As they are prominently mentioned among those who assist- ed in subduing the land. The reader is referred to the next chapter for the historical facts in the case. His own immediate forebears were residents in and around Manlyville, his father's name being Lewis and his mother's, Margaret Morton. The family and relatives were in the habit of attending the yearly camp meeting at Manly's Chapel and camping out in shacks for a week. The same custom prevails until this day among those who live in that neighborhood. They go and stay several days, and old ties are renewed. It is a lonely, religious spot, surrounded by deep woods, and the heart of man is moved to draw nigh to God. The mother and son and father went there when the child was yet an infant. The father died in that land, while his son was but two years of age, and his body sleeps in the old Manly's Chapel burying ground in an unmark- ed grave. Yearly thereafter it became a pilgrim- age and a shrine, until the lad had grown to the age of fourteen. It was as natural for him to be religious as for the birds to sing. He but fol- lowed in the footsteps of his faithful mother. The mother remarried, after a widowhood of two years. This time it was to J. W. Gallemore, and to this event is referred the final cause that led to Dr. Throgmorton's coming to Illinois. Destiny is busy with us all, never more so than in death and re-marriage. The stepfather soon 10 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON moved from Manlyville to the neighborhood of Buchanan, close to old Point Pleasant Baptist church in the same county, where they were liv- ing when the war broke out. To avoid service in the Confederate army, J. W. Gallemore and a friend fled to Illinois in September, 1863, making the journey on mule back. In October of the same year his wife and stepson, who was then fourteen years old, fol- lowed. His education up to that time was gained in the "old field" schools, which he describes in the closing article of this book, under the title of "Teachers and Schools of Years Ago." For other incidents connected with his early life see Chapter Ten. His stepfather had stopped in Johnson coun- ty, Illinois, near Vienna, and thither the mother and son went in October, 1863. August 22, 1865, the mother died and was buried near Grantsburg. See Chapter Four. After that be- reavement the son went with relatives to Grassy precinct in Williamson county where he lived for two or three years. While teaching school and boarding at the home of David Baker, in the winter of 1867-8, his heart was lost to a daugh- ter in the house. The following September (the 24th) he was married to Eliza Catherine Baker. She was sixteen and he was nineteen. All the years since that time they have been as one in all of life's problems and the hand of Providence seems to have directed that they should have no children but should adopt as their own the de- LIFE OUTLINED IN BRIEF 11 nomination to which they belong. In all essen- tial respects they have given their lives to its up- lift. Had there been children it might have been otherwise. He professed conversion in July, 1870, and at the monthly meeting of Pleasant Hill Baptist church in Grassy precinct, on July 2, following, he was approved for baptism. He was immersed into the fellowship of this church by Dr. D. R. Sanders July 3, 1870. At the August meeting he was licensed to preach "in the bounds of the church," and in December, 1871, he was ordained to the full work of the ministry by the same church, Rev. D. R. Sanders and Rev. David Culp constituting the ordaining council. He taught school at Pleasant Hill, also at Oaks in the same community, and at Parker, New Burnside and Ozark. In the fall of 1873 he was called to the care of Hopewell Baptist church in Johnson county. His first revival meeting was held with this church and out of it sprang the organization of the First Baptist church of New Burnside. He built his first church there which still stands. He pastored other churches in the country during his period of teaching school. Perchance more Baptist preachers have come out of school houses in the country than from any other single source, save the farm, and usually they went from the farm to the school room. The school room is a good place to train a man for larger service. The school teacher used to have the first place in the commu- 12 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON the spring of 1877. It had run a short time at Ew- ing. Illinois, and died from natural causes. He agreed to become editor, if the paper were re- moved to Benton, and the brethren Would as- sure its running expenses for three years. This was done and he brought out his first edition in August, 1877, at Benton. He was called to the care of Benton church for part time. In June, 1880, he took charge of the Benton church for all time, and continued in that relation with one in- termission, during which time he preached twice a month, till January, 1887, when he removed to Mt. Vernon, 111. Here he was pastor for three years, and the Baptist Banner was discontinued, being sold to the American Baptist Flag of St. Louis. From Mt. Vernon he moved to Louisiana, Mo., where he remained for two years and four months. In June, 1892, he was called to Fort Smith, Ark., and moved to that field in the following August. He continued there til November, 1895. His suc- cess in these pastorates was pronounced and flattering, which proves his pastoral power and his genius for organization, and conducting church building campaigns. He has practically built five churches. But the lure of the editor's chair was not to be set aside. It continued with him, and in his case it has been true, "once an editor always an editor." The desire is uppermost. So when an opening came through Dr. Marion Teague of Du Quoin, 111., it was accepted and the Baptist LIFE OUTLINED IN BRIEF 13 nity, along with the "Man of God," and the "old time doctor." In fact, William Pinckney Throg- morton as a young school teacher developed those characteristics that have since made him famous. His name became known to the Baptist broth- erhood of Southern Illinois through his "Debat- ing Societies," and his ability in "rough and tumble" discussions. He also defended the Bap- tist position, when pressed, so vigorously that Lis victories were pronounced. He did not seek debate, nor yet did he shun it. He was in line with that long list of illustrious sons of flip Ar^er- ERRATA: Se- From page U read page 13, then ^ page 12. ke ed __ ^„„ uioiuij, wnicn came largely through the "old field" school house debating society and the country church. The change now has been from fostering American statesmen in embryo to that of training future business men who shall control the statesmen, or developing ball players for major league companies or sending out scien- tists who shall revolutionize the thought of the schools and sometimes make place for doubt in- stead of faith. The old way, at least, made pos- sible a man like Dr. Throgmorton. For that reason it is commented on in passing. His ability was soon recognized. He was ask- ed to become editor of The Baptist Banner, in 12 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON the spring of 1877. It had run a short time at Ew- ing. Illinois, and died from natural causes. He agreed to become editor, if the paper were re- moved to Benton, and the brethren would as- sure its running expenses for three years. This was done and he brought out his first edition in August, 1877, at Benton. He was called to the care of Benton church for part time. In June, 1880, he took charge of the Benton church for all time, and continued in that relation with one in- termission, during which time he preached twice a month ' T ^"arv. 1887, when he removed to Mt. Vei Her Baptis the Ar Mt. Vernon u^ __ he remained for two years anu ^_ June, 1892, he was called to Fort Smith, ArK., and moved to that field in the following August. He continued there til November, 1895. His suc- cess in these pastorates was pronounced and flattering, which proves his pastoral power and his genius for organization, and conducting church building campaigns. He has practically built five churches. But the lure of the editor's chair was not to be set aside. It continued with him, and in his case it has been true, "once an editor always an editor." The desire is uppermost. So when an opening came through Dr. Marion Teague of Du Quoin, 111., it was accepted and the Baptist LIFE OUTLINED IN BRIEF 13 nity, along with the "Man of God," and the "old time doctor." In fact, William Pinckney Throg- morton as a young school teacher developed those characteristics that have since made him famous. His name became known to the Baptist broth- erhood of Southern Illinois through his "Debat- ing Societies," and his ability in "rough and tumble" discussions. He also defended the Bap- tist position, when pressed, so vigorously that Lis victories were pronounced. He did not seek debate, nor yet did he shun it. He was in line with that long list of illustrious sons of the Amer- ican soil who climbed np out of adversity into the limelight of later day achievements, and se- cured for themselves recognition by dint of per- severance. He was also following in the wake of American progress through two hundred years of its history, which came largely through the "old field" school house debating society and the country church. The change now has been from fostering American statesmen in embryo to that of training future business men who shall control the statesmen, or developing ball players for major league companies or sending out scien- tists who shall revolutionize the thought of the schools and sometimes make place for doubt in- stead of faith. The old way, at least, made pos- sible a man like Dr. Throgmorton. For that reason it is commented on in passing. His ability was soon recognized. He was ask- ed to become editor of The Baptist Banner, in 14 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON brethren of this section of Illinois once more welcomed to their midst Dr. Throgmorton and wife, who moved to Du Qnoin to live in Novem- ber, 1895, and to take up the task of editing "The Baptist News," at that place. The success of the paper was as good as the times and circum- stances could produce. It was ably edited and most of the old Banner subscribers or their de- scendants took the paper. It was a favorite in Baptist families all through Southern and Cen- tral Illinois. At Du Quoin Dr. Throgmorton was also pas- tor of the First Baptist church for six years and seven months. His interest in the Baptist News was finally sold to the Central Baptist of St. Louis, and he continued to edit The Illinois De- partment in that paper for three years. In all he remained in Du Quoin nine years and was wonderfully successful as pastor, and only let go the paper, when his finances could no longer stand the strain. He has never made any money editing Baptist newspapers. He was called to Marion in December, 1904, and thinking it the voice of duty, he went. He has been there now over twelve years, pastor of the church part of the time, and editor of The Illinois Baptist since November, 1905. Thus, since August, 1877, he has been an edi- tor almost continuously. During that time he has been editor-in-chief of the Baptist Banner, The Baptist News and the Illinois Baptist, and associate editor of the Baptist Flag and the Cen- LIFE OUTLINED IN BRIEF 15 tral Baptist, besides doing pastoral work most of the time. The last ten years have witnessed the forma- tion and building up of the Illinois Baptist State Association, which is aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention, and whose chief factor has been and is now the justly honored editor of The Illinois Baptist and pastor of the widely known First Baptist church of Marion. The editor has celebrated his sixty-seventh birthday, as well as his forty-eighth wedding anniversary, and the sands of time still run with measured strength for him. CHAPTER II. THE THROGMORTON ANCESTRY. The Throgmorton name is one of a noble lineage, whether spelled Throcmorton, Throck- morton or Throkmorton, or more accurately Throgmorton, it is all the same, and those who bear the name spelled in any one of the ways mentioned are all from the same family tree. The earliest known record is found in Hume's History of England, and states that the Throg- mortons were of Norman stock. They came over with William the Conqueror in 1066, A. D., and he settled upon them large estates and gave them honorary titles, which they maintained for five hundred years, or until the Reformation. Sir Nicholas Throgmorton (1531-71) was Queen Elizabeth's ambassador in France, where he was imprisoned as having sided with the Huguenots, and was repeatedly ambassador to Scotland in the troublous period 1561-67. In 1569 he was sent to the London Tower as being- concerned in the scheme of marrying Mary Queen of Scots to the Duke of Norfolk. It appears that later Sir Nicholas and Sir John Throgmorton, who were heads of the family in Queen Elizabeth's reign, and were Catholics in faith and practice, were both beheaded in the Tower. Sir Nicholas' daughter, at one time high maid to Queen Elizabeth, and afterward the wife of Sir Walter Raleigh, died of a broken heart. The estates being confiscated the remnant of this once noble family scattered to various parts 16 THE THROGMORTON ANCESTRY 17 of the world. The name however is still perpe- tuated in England. One of the principal thoroughfares of the City of London is named, "Throginorton Row." On this row lie buried kings and princes who once made the arms of England famous. Probably the first of the per- secuted family to reach America must have land- ed in Boston about 1636, for we find John Throg- morton's name mentioned as being one of the twelve who were first enrolled in the Colony of Providence, Rhode Island, which was founded by Roger Williams in 1636. John Throgmorton, gentleman, was specially singled out by Roger Williams in a letter written to explain why he founded the colony, and he is there called "lov- ing friend" and neighbor. It is also ascertained that three Throgmorton brothers came to America early and settled on the Potomac river. From there their children went to the Carolinas, and then to the states be- yond. Now they are found in at least fifteen of our states. Lewis Throgmorton's father, whose name was Thomas, lived and died in North Carolina. He was married to Rosana Wilkinson, who mov- ed to Tennessee with her sons, Josiah, James P. and Lewis, in 1833. When James P. moved to Il- linois in 1863 she came along, but died in 1865, near Grantsburg, Johnson County, Illinois. She was a woman of strong character, and im- pressed her growing grandson, William Pinck- ney, with the excellence of her life. 18 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON The ancestry on his mother's side, while not traceable as far beck as on the father's side, yet had its enduring influence. They were Virgin- iiins and Carolinians. Margaret J. Morton, mother of W. P., was the daughter of George Simeon Morton. He was married to Elizabeth McSwain. The Morton's were of English ances- try, while the McSwains were Scotch-Irish. George S. Morton was in the war of 1812 and fought under Jackson. His father's name was Thomas, who was in the war of the American Revolution. The Mortons and McSwains were both of a very staunch, sturdy stock. Margaret J. Morton was one of a family of sixteen children, all of whom have passed to their reward. While there were many excellent mem- bers of that large family, it is no disparagement to say that she was the favorite child. She was not only loved by her home folks and kinfolks, but also by the neighbors and friends. And as she left to come to her new home in Illinois, she was most lovingly missed and mourned. This tribute is paid her by one of her relatives, who remembers her well, and who lives now at Puryear, Tennessee. Such a mother and grand- mother, like that of Timothy, could not but make possible a noble offspring. Such an ancestry is one to be proud of. His mother was thrice married, the first time to Julius Throgmorton, then to Lewis, father of W. P., and last to J. W. Gallemore. THE THROGMORTON ANCESTRY 19 The Mortons were Baptists, but his mother after her marriage was converted and joined the Methodists. The Throgmortons of that day were nearly all Methodists. CHAPTER III. DR. THROGMORTON'S MEMORABLE TRIP BACK TO TENNESSEE. The trip was made from Paris, county seat of Henry county, and the Doctor was like a boy again all day long. It was reported for the Illi- nois Baptist in the Doctor's own way. And no one else could have done it as well. "We secured a 'Ford,' and a good chauffeur for the day, and before 8 A. M., were ready for the start. Before leaving town we called at the drug store of our kinsman, Dr. Isaac McSwain, to shake hands with him and exchange words, but he was not in. However, two of his sons were and we passed the time o' day with them, and left greetings for their father, and began the day's travel. "We went first to Manlyville, which is about thirteen miles a little southeast of Paris, and is the village within two or three miles of which we first saw the light of day. It was fine to spin across the country and feel that we were breath- ing the air of our boyhood home. "Manlyville is hardly as large a place as it was when we saw it last, which was forty-eight years ago. We believe it now has only one gen- eral store, which is kept by a Mr. Dowdy, whose very name revived childhood's memories. The Dowdys were there sixty years ago. "From Manlyville we took a run to old Man- ly's chapel where we saw the M. E. church and the old camp ground which are among our earli- 20 MEMORABLE TRIP TO TENNESSEE 21 est memories. The old chapel is there and the old 'camps' or cabins are there. We suppose a camp meeting has been held there every year for more than seventy years — possibly one hun- dred years. "With our step-father and our mother we 'camped' there each year for a number of years. We imagined we could identify the very 'cabin' in which we slept sixty years ago. "The old 'arbor' or 'stand' in which camp meeting services were held is there apparently just as it was when we had last seen it forty- eight years before. % Many are the wonderful old time Methodist shouting scenes we have witness- ed and wondered at under the roof of that old 'shed.' "The main changes that seemed most appar- ent to us were that everything on the grounds had shrunk up. The meeting house was smaller, the 'arbor' was smaller, the 'camps' covered far less ground and were themselves each smaller than memory had them pictured on her walls. The old cemetery also seemed smaller. Some- where in its ground sleep the bones of our father, but the grave cannot be identified, which we greatly regret. Could we have found it, we would long ago have marked it with a marble slab. But God knows, and he will in the resurrection morn- ing call the dust to life again. Blessed be his name. "After spending an hour at the chapel we went to some of the home scene places. First we 22 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON came to the old 'Squire Dick Throginorton' place which is near by where formerly stood the first school house we ever attended, but which has long since disappeared. Even the grave yard which was located near the old school house has for years been closed and there is not even a road leading thereto. " 'Uncle Dick Throginorton' was murdered in the early part of the year 1864, by a guerilla, named Tom Scales. We have been told it was one of the most unprovoked killings of all those bloody years. Scales was noted as a man who loved to see blood flow. He was afterwards shot to death for his crimes. "The 'Uncle Dick' Throgmorton place is much as it was years ago, except that the Negro cabins are gone and that one section, the old kitchen of the main building, has been taken away. The house is occupied by a Mr. Green Hastings and family. "Going west next, about half a mile, we came to a double hewed log house where about three years of our boyhood was spent. This house is made up of two rooms with a wide hall between. It did not look half so large as we had it pictured in our mind. We saw the first piece of ground we ever worked. It was a tobacco patch and we were taught to use the hoe in cultivating the young plants. It had been about fifty-seven years since we had seen this old place and its grounds. It is now occupied by a family named Khoades. Within half a mile of this place we were born • *~^ MEMORABLE TRIP TO TENNESSEE 23 September 19, 1849, and there two years later our father died. But the old cabin in which our life history began was torn down more than fifty- eight years ago. We have a very indistinct mem- ory of how it looked. "We next turned our Ford's nose to the Northward, and passing through Springville, came to 'the sulphur well,' which is to us a his- toric spot. Seeing it is one of our very early memories. We believe it has the strongest stream of any spring or well we have ever yet seen. We remember that in our boyhood days, a fence rail eight feet long pitched into it endways would be almost shot out by the force of the waters, which make quite a brook as they flow away from the well. The water is strongly impregnated with sulphur, but is beautifully clear and is said to have fine medicinal qualities. A summer resort was established here a few years ago, but it does not appear to have been well kept up. Plenty of money and plenty of advertising would make it a big thing. ,,* r r~~~~~ Point Pleasant Baptist Church. "Our next objective point was old Point Pleasant Baptist church, which is about four miles west of the Mouth of Sandy, and on the Mouth of Sandy and Buckhannon road. We reached the old church at about 1 P. M. It was here that we attended services when a boy from ten to fourteen. Here our grandparents, the father and mother of our mother, belonged. Also a number of their children. Our mother, however, 24 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON was a Methodist, the result we presume of hav- ing married into a Methodist family. About fifty yards from the old Point Pleas- ant church was a school house where one year we attended school. During this time we obtain- ed a good start in what was the schooling of that day. Our teacher was a Mr. Simmons, and we think he was probably one of the best of that time. He was called "Ep" Simmons, the full name being Epaphroditus Simmons. He was a good instructor but a great believer in the use of the rod. Woe to the pupil who dis- obeyed him. He taught what was called "open school" — that is, we all studied "out loud." When we all turned loose on a spelling lesson, it was a sight to see us and hear us. We were encouraged to spell as "loud" as we could. One of Mr. Simmons' rules was that no pupil was to whisper to another in school. If he wanted to say anything and spoke out, it was all right, but if he whispered and was caught — and he was mighty apt to be caught — he got a licking. The Old Preacher. "The preachers at old Point Pleasant, as we remember them, were Elders James Gray, Fra- zier Gray, a brother named Marida and one nam- ed Hopkins. One of the deacons of the church was Lewis Wimberly, a mighty fine man. We remember most prominently the brown jeans 'hunting shirt' which it seems to us now, he al- ways wore. Another thing we remember is that Point Pleasant was a 'foot-washing' church. We MEMORABLE TRIP TO TENNESSEE 25 don't think it had any Sunday school in those days. Our step-father moved into the Point Pleasant neighborhood about the year 1858. An- other church near us was a 'Hardshell' church, and not so very far was the Bethel M. E. church near Buchanan. We visited both these, but never attended a Sunday school till we came to Illinois, after we were fourteen years of age." Conscription. "One of the striking incidents which we re- member in connection with Point Pleasant church occurred on the third Sunday in Sep- tember, 1863. The morning service was held as usual. Brother Frazier Gray on that occasion preached a funeral sermon in honor of some one who had been dead for some months. At the close of the service, when the congregation had all gotten out into the church yard, a Confederate officer stood on the church door steps and an- nounced that he had been required to conscript every man of military age present into the Con- federate army, and asked all, from eighteen to forty-five, to step into line. Sentries had been placed at various points on the roads to prevent the escape of any. Accordingly everybody lined up and all were duly sworn into the Confederate service. They were then instructed to go to their homes and to return to the church the next morning at 10 o'clock to take up their march to the Southward. "Among those thus conscripted was our step- father, Mr. J. W. Gallemore. Instead of report- 26 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON ing for Confederate service the next morning he struck a bee line for Illinois. With our mother we followed later, and so, in October, 1863, were located to finish our boyhood years in this best state in the Union." His Grandfathers Old Log Home. "The old place has been deserted and no one has lived there for some years. We could not get our machine nearer than within a quarter of a mile of the old buildings. A Mr. Moody kindly helped us to find them. But when we reached them we could easily identify them, though we had not seen them for twenty-seven years and though they are much dilapidated. The old 'big house' was there and the kitchen was there. Both were much smaller and they were much closer together than memory pictured them. The three great oaks which were big trees sixty years ago, are still there in the old yard. They must be more than two hundred years old. They do not seem much larger to us now than memory had them sized up fifty years ago. We went down the hill to the spring. It was filled up and was completely gone. The old 'spring house,' ev- ery vestige of it was gone. The creek near by in which we used to fish, when a lad, is now a very small branch. We used to think it was pretty big. "Ah, the happy times of long ago, which we spent at that old place. We thought of them as we looked over the almost wreck of what had been and were glad we had seen them. Thank MEMORABLE TRIP TO TENNESSEE 27 God for pleasant memories and pleasant dreams. Though they never return, they make life fuller and richer. Surely the boy who has grand parents who have a home and who does not think that home the best place on earth to visit, has a differ- ent kind of grand parents from what we had. But now our grand parents are gone and all their sons and daughters are gone, and the children of those sons and daughters who are yet on this side are well on in years. "So teach us to number cur days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom'." "We got into the old 'big house' and Brother Hodge, who delights in relics, found something to his liking. He found the board on which the old clock sat for more than fifty years and the old gun racks which are perhaps older still. He has an old 'flint lock' gun to match them, and they will help out his museum of 'antiquities'." Getting back to our "Ford" we found it and our chauffeur awaiting us. After a little run we got out of the woods and rough track back into the main highway, and struck out for Pur- year, a station on the N. C. & St. L., a distance of about fourteen miles, where we were to take a train for Paducah. We reached Puryear just a few minutes af- ter 4 p. m., all in good shape, and just in time to miss the heavy rain which immediately fol- lowed. It poured and poured for an hour or so. After coming into Puryear we went to the only hotel in the place. It is kept by a Mrs. Mc- 28 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Laren, the widow of Dr. McLaren. She prepar- ed as fine a supper for us as any man could want to sit down to. And we were certainly two hungry men, as we had failed to find dinner at the regular hour. So Mrs. McLaren's fine, fat, fried chicken, hot biscuits, and other things to match, were exactly to our liking. Some drummer had told Mrs. McLaren before supper who we were — that is, that we were a Bap- tist preacher and that our name was Throgmor- ton. So while we were eating, conversation was opened up. She said, "There is a young man named Throgmorton, a commercial traveler, who comes here sometimes, and I am always glad to see him. I have told him about a cousin of mine whose maiden name was Morton, whom I greatly loved and always called aunt. Her name was Margaret. She married as her last husband a man named Gallemore, but her for- mer husband was a Throgmorton, and they had a son named Will Pink, whom I have always wanted to see." Eight there we interrupted her and said: "I am that very boy, and that Mar- garet Morton was my mother." She said, "You don't say so." It turned out that Mrs. McLar- en was a daughter of Dr. Weldon, whose wife was an own cousin of our mother. So unawares we had come into the home of a blood relative. We were glad and she was glad. She told us many things which were good to hear. One was that our mother was a universal favorite among all the relatives on account of her special good- ness of heart. MEMORABLE TRIP TO TENNESSEE 29 So you see we had a great day. Counting turns back and forth and losses by means of mistakes, our "Ford" must have traveled about seventy-two miles. Part of the time the roads were fine. Some of the time they were very bad. One thing that struck us most forcibly was that the country is so thinly settled. There is evi- dently room for ten-fold the population that is now there. And the land is fine. More people is the great need. We noted also that much to- bacco is still raised. Many new barns were seen (hiring the day. At various points Brother Hodge took snap- shots with his camera. Two or three pictures were taken at the old campground. One at the "Uncle Dick Throgmorton place." One at the home where we lived awhile when a small lad. One at old Point Pleasant. One at our grand- father's old place. Yes, and one at Manlyville. It was not a good day for picture-taking. So the work may not prove satisfactory. We got back to Marion Friday noon full of the revival of old memories, and much refreshed in body and spirit. "How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood, When fond recollection presents them to view — The orchard and meadow, the deep tangled wild- wood, And every loved spot that my infancy knew." CHAPTER IV. GROWING UP IN ILLINOIS. At the age of fourteen and in the fall of 1863, some time in October, Dr. Throgmorton came with his mother to Southern Illinois and stopped in Johnson county, near Vienna, where pre- viously his stepfather, Wes. Gallemore, had pre- ceded them, on account of a desire not to serve in the Confederate army. Following The Pioneer. It was yet a new land, still in the depths of timbered tracts, much of it swampy. Chills and malaria and fever abounded. The pioneer still held sway. He lived in a log cabin under very primitive conditions. He in- herited the pioneer powers of endurance. He learned the craft of making much of few oppor- tunitis. Into this land came the young Throgmorton to thrive where others failed, to live where others died, to grow where others merely existed. It was Providence making opportunities for a man- ly boy. It was the call of a lad to a Canaan that he should afterwards possess. The Old and the New. He was a connecting link between the old and the new. He was grafted on to the old, and has lived in the new. But his life is as simple as that of any pioneer who ever lived. He is un- spoiled by the arts of modern times. He has the bearing of a man who was raised on the ground. 30 GROWING UP IN ILLINOIS 31 He describes the pioneer simplicity of every- thing, especially the pole cabin, with its clap- board door and puncheon floor, its ever-present stick and clay chimney, its bright wood fires, its pot-rack, its rifle and chopping axe, its home- made bed, its homespun clothes and its desolate dreariness, where companionship was limited. The boy of fourteen easily fell into the hab- its of such a land, because he knew the life of the log cabin in Tennessee. But his mother, who was older, could not forget her old home, and she lived not quite two years after coming to the new state. The Big Boy. He was large for his age, and they called him "Billy Pink," and "Willy Pink," short for William Pinkney. His mother was a rare, winsome woman, and devoted to her large son. They lived for a short time in the same humble cabin with Mrs. Mary A. Gil- lespie, who recently died at Creal Springs. Mrs. Gillespie described his mother as being a small woman, with a sweet disposition and a strong faith in God. The house was what is called a double log cabin, with an open hallway be- tween and a kitchen attached to the side. It had a rock chimney, and was situated on a hill. Here the youthful "Billy Pink" read his Bi- ble under the directions of his mother and spent hours talking with some of his Throgmorton kin- folks in a nearby Campbellite settlement about their views, and he always took the side of the 32 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Baptists. The word soon went out among them that he would be a Baptist. Mrs. Gillespie stated that he was exceedingly sharp then for his age and knew how to hold his own in a personal con- troversy. The qualities that made him famous were beginning to sprout. His future was being moulded by his trend of thought. He got his knowledge of the Bible first hand and became a Baptist through taking the Baptist part. It is inevitable; for where we talk for a thing we come to believe it, His Mother' 8 Death. The spirit that had lived in happiness amid the hills of Tennessee pined amid the new scenes of its adoptd state and soon forsook its body for a home in heaven, where many brave spirits had gone during the war that had raged between the states, and had left no home without its spec- ter. His mother passed to her reward August 22, 1865, and was buried in the Bethlehem church cemetery, near Grantsburg. It was an event worth recording; for the soul of a saint had en- tered into rest, and the mother of a great boy had left him alone. She had shaped his soul, guided his steps, impressed her own spotless life upon his nature, given him the benefit of her Southern temperament, and lodged in his bosom an unquenchable respect for God's Word. This was worth more than a wealthy patrimony, more than an official position, more than a pretentious name. GROWING UP IN ILLINOIS 33 His Early Education and His Library. Such education as he got was that of the common schools and what besides he picked up by reading and observation. He was a leader in his classes and readily absorbed all the teacher knew. He succeeded in reading all the books the neighbors had, but these were few, and order- ing books then was not much of a habit with them. Even yet the homes among us do not have enough good books on their tables and in their book cases. He says the people should more and more direct the reading of their children. He read such works as the early pioneers pos- sessed; books of adventure, travel and history; as "Daniel Boone," "Pioneers," "Land We Live In," "Life of George Washington," "History of United States," and he got acquainted with Dick's works on Astronomy and Philosophy. He also read a book of "Stories From the Ancient Classics," which impressed him very much. He persevered, however, and has become a well-read man. His library consists of many of the best books in the English language. In fact, he has bought books and acquired books until he has accumulated a store of them that really pleases the mind of a student. Many of his books are rare and some of them are prized. He left the Grantsburg neighborhood about February 1, 1866, and went with his uncle, J. P. Throgmorton, to Grassy Precinct, Williamson county. In a short time he entered school at the "Baker school house," where Pleasant Hill Bap- 34 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON tist church is now located, and attended about two months. The teacher was a Miss Nettie Tay- lor of Ohio, a most efficient woman. During this time in school he boarded at the home of 'Squire John Allmon, who lived something over a mile northwest of the school house. At this same school house, in the following summer, he taught a subscription school of three months and had his first experience in teaching young ideas how to shoot. In the fol- lowing fall (1866) he contracted for the Oaks school, and with fear and trembling came to Ma- rion to be examined for a certificate. The su- perintendent was Rev. D. G. Young, a Baptist minister, who now lives at Golden City, Mo. The result was entirely satisfactory to the young would-be pedagogue, as the superintendent bragged on him for being so well posted, and gave him a first grade certificate.. A School Teacher. The next year he secured the Pleasant Hill (or Baker) school, but after teaching nine days was prostrated with typhoid fever, which put him out of commission till in January following. Of course he lost that school, as another teacher had to be employed. He was fortunate, how- ever, to secure the Oaks school again, as the teacher there resigned about two and a half months before his time would have expired. During this two and a half months he boarded at the home of his future wife, and this may have GROWING UP IN ILLINOIS 35 had something to do with the formation of the life partnership which followed. His Marriage to Eliza C. Baker. At the age of nineteen he was married to Eliza C. Baker, daughter of David Baker, at the old home on Baker Ridge, September 24, 1868, at about 4 p. m., in the presence of relatives and friends. This was, without doubt, one of the very best steps of his long life, and it has proved a blessing to him continually. Were his wife to be taken, it is firmly believed that he would be one of the loneliest men in the world. Mrs. Throgmorton is one of the best of wo- men, pleasant, patient, true to her duties and responsibilities, ever ready to be of assistance, a real help-meet. Without her Dr. Throgmorton would have been severely bereft. She has filled out his life like a landscape with all the particu- lars present. In her life may be summed up the special characteristics that make for success in a model minister's wife. She was born in Tennessee and her parents emigrated to this state in 1854, when she was two years old. She has a host of kinfolks in the Ba- ker and Sanders connections, and her brother, M. L. Baker, of the firm of Duncan & Baker, lives in Marion and is one of the county's most substan- tial citizens. Again in School. In the spring and summer of 1868 he attend- ed a select school for young men at Stonefort, Saline county, taught by W. E. Chitwood, who 36 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON was considered one of the finest instructors in the country or in surrounding counties. Here he studied algebra and geometry and made prog- gress in other advanced studies. It was a great school for him and the young men who were with him. Among the young men were several who afterwards became prominent in business and professional life. One of them was Rev. J. H. Blackman, of Harrisburg. Another Dr. G. J. Baker, of Herrin, who a year or so ago passed away. Also J. C. B. Smith, a lawyer of Marion, and Brother D. C. Smith, now of Willow Springs, Mo. Rev. J. Y. Reid might also be mentioned. He is now a prominent minister in the M. E. Church. Still Teaching. He taught school from 1867 to 1877, when he moved to Benton. Perhaps some of his old schol- ars would be interested in reading the names of the schools he taught: Oaks, 1867-8; Birdwell, 1868-69 and 69-70; Pleasant Hill, 1870-72; Birdwell, 1872-3 and 73-4; Wilburn, 1874-5 and 75-6 ; and Ragan, 1876-7. There was no better training in that day for his life work than that of school teaching. He developed all round from the first and be- came a man at last whom the community de- lighted to honor. Let the reader please turn to the next chapter and to "Incidents and Anec- dotes" regarding his life for further proof of the value school teaching was to his career. GROWING UP IN ILLINOIS 37 Joining the Church. He professed conversion at home in the neighborhood of old Pleasant Hill Baptist church, Williamson county, and joined the church July 3, 1870, and was baptized into the fellowship of the same church by Elder David li. Sanders. Just one month later he was li- censed to preach at the Saturday business meeting, and the next day tried to preach his first sermon. He Was ordained to the ministry in the same church in December, 1871, Elders D. R. Sanders and David Culp, presbytery. He did very little preaching until the fall of 1873, when He was called to the pastorate of Hopewell Bap- tist church, in Johnson county. CHAPTER V. BUILDING HIS FIRST CHURCH. It was in August, 1874, that Dr. Thrognior- tou held his first protracted meeting. He had teen pastor of Hopewell, which was then located a mile and a quarter south of New Burnside, for almost a year, and the meeting wound up the year. There were forty-three baptized, about thirty joining Hopewell, and the rest Zion Hill, Pope county. It was a meeting of unusual pow- er. Many men, heads of families, were reached. Among them were G. W. Smoot, Dr. W. R. Mi- zell, J. C. B. Heaton, three of the Wise brothers, and other good men and women, who have influ- enced the life of the land where they have since lived. New Burnside Baptist Meeting House. Out of this great revival meeting grew the idea of a Baptist meeting house at New Burn- side. As many of the newly baptized members of Old Hopewell lived in and near New Burnside, they naturally wanted a church in the town, where people without conveyance could attend. So the present building was started before the church was organized, and in the spring of 1875 the New Burnside church was constituted in the building which was incomplete. It was successful from the start. Baptisms occurred right along, the people stood by the young preacher, and despite intense opposi- tion helped him complete the building and es- tablish the church on a rock, where it has since 38 BUILDING HIS FIRST CHURCH 39 flourished. The same house of worship is stand- ing today, and with an addition of a basement, presents a nice view to the passing traveler and is a suitable building for all purposes of wor- ship. The church has advanced to twice a month preaching and is prospering at present, under the wise leadership of Bro. W. L. Motsmger. Thus a strong church was established, through the ag- gressive ministry of Dr. Throgmorton, at New Burnside. This was his first church building. The last was that of the First Baptist church of Marion, costing $35,000, which is an honor to his denomi- nation in this day of expensive church buildings. In between these two he put up the house of wor- ship at Mt. Vernon, after the destruction of the old by the great cyclone of 1888, and also built the beautiful First Church at Louisiana, Mo., and rebuilt the house of worship at Du Quoin, Reminiscences of Deacon J. W. Heaton, Sr., New Burnside. "The first time I ever saw the man, or boy ne was then, he came to my house to get a school. I was one of the school directors at that time, and went with him to another school director, and we hired him. "Immediately after signing up for the school he returned to Grassy, in Williamson county, and married him a wife. (That event occurred (September 24, 1868.) When school conmmenced he would sometimes walk twenty miles to see his 40 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON wife on Saturday and be back for school again on Monday morning. "He boarded at my house. I had children of all sizes at that time, and when the mud and snow came, he would take the least one on his back one-fourth mile to school. "The next year we gave him the school again. As it was such a long walk to his father-in-law's, he concluded to set up housekeeping for himself. The only house to be had was a little log cabin in the corner of old Aunt Sallie Robinson's yard, for which he paid |2.50 per month. When I asked him why he paid such a price for so small a cabin, he replied that, 'Liza was lonesome and might run off, if he put her off by herself.' I had a good log house out in the middle of my field, which I offered him rent free as long as he want- ed it. He promptly accepted the offer, moved in and stayed there several months. (Brother J. C. B. Heaton sent him a photograph of the cabin, and he wrote about it in the Illinois Bap- tist, as follows: 'It was chinked and daubed, and had a stick and dirt chimney. More than once did we have trouble with that chimney when it caught fire. And yet, with our better half, we do not know that we ever enjoyed a happier six months.') "He organized a debating society in the school house the first winter, and kept it going until he began to develop such a polemical disposition that he attracted the attention of the whole country. I thought I saw in him the making BUILDING HIS FIRST CHURCH 41 of a one-horse Baptist preacher. I called the attention of old Father Morton to what I thought I saw and he, being a leader of the Baptist hosts at that time, took him in charge to see what there was in him. He tried him out, having him preach a few times in the church where he was pastor. "So he called in Brethren W. B. Lewis, C. H. Caldwell and Wilson Vancleve to hear him preach. They saw in him big possibilities, but thought he should be properly ballasted before turning him loose on the country. He was wad- ing out, they thought, into water that was too deep for -a boy of his age and experience. After eleven o'clock meeting they decided it would be a good time to line him up on a few points. But when they got what they thought was a strangle hold on him, about one o'clock, it took them until sundown to get loose. He convinced them that he was well able to defend his positions against all comers. "Still they were unwilling to let it go at that and they brought in other help and fought it out at church, other meeting places and through the new Baptist Banner, until he made believers of the whole bunch. During this discussion I saw that he had a clear head, that he came to his conclusion after carefully considering a question from all angles, and when once he settled on a point he stuck to it like a bull-pup in a dog fight. (Uncle Jim Heaton uses forceful language. ) 42 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON About this time New Burnside began to as- sume some prominence as a trading center, and he saw we needed a Baptist church. Some Cainp- bellite brethren saw the same opportunity, and sought to preempt their claim. They seemed to swarm from all quarters and settle at Burnside. They had their Elders, Crim and Wilson, two noted debaters, and W. H. Boles, at that time a budding preacher, and all semed to have a con- suming desire to squelch the Baptists and pos- sess the town. "The young Throgmorton was our only de- fense. He was still teaching school, and every dollar he got he laid it by to put into a Baptist church. Our Campbellite brethren soon learned that our boy, Throgmorton, was like a hair man, when he was set down upon in one place he came up in another, and the more they fought him the more his 'bull-pup' disposition devel- oped. They challenged him for a debate, and he promptly accepted. They put up their best avail- able man. After two days' effort he broke down, and they called off the debate, saying they would down Throgmorton if it cost $100.00. They brought out the best debater they had in South- ern Illinois, and the debate was renewed, to their discomfiture again. Bro. Throgmorton being only a beardless young man at this time, it was a bit- ter pill to the Campbellites to have their old war horses so mercilessly lambasted by him. "About this time the Baptist Banner printed at Ewing was in great need of a right man for BUILDING HIS FIRST CHURCH 43 editor. The brethren there determined that the man who could so successfully defend the Baptist cause against such men as he had met at New Burnside would make a good editor. So they sent E. R. Link down here to see if he could be induced to take charge of the paper. But Link missed him. He was out in Union county preaching for a charge there. Then Link interviewed me, and I decided that our boy Throgmorton should go, if the brethren would finance the enterprise just as they should. When he came home I met him and told him about the proposition and he agreed to go. After a time I visited him at Benton to see how he was performing. I found him with an old horse power ground hog thresher staked down, and a printing machine attached tc it, and one horse operating it. To my certain knowledge that was the first printing machine in these five counties. 'I said, 'My boy, I'll turn you loose; if you can not get the pie you will take the dump- liners. Signed : J. W. Heaton, Sr." i &» CHAPTER VI. HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES— BENTON, MT. VERNON, LOUISIANA, MO., FORT SMITH, ARK., DU QUOIN, AND MA- RION. Besides his ten years of work among the churches of his neighborhood training, he has pa stored town and city churches almost thirty- six years. The first one of these was Benton, 111., the next, Mt. Vernon, 111., then came Louis- ana, Mo., Fort Smith, Ark., DuQuoin, 111., and Marion, 111., his last pastorate, over which he still presides. It is impossible to give in a brief biography much of the story of each pastorate. Much must be left out. Benton, July 28, 1877 to December 31, 1886. "We arrived at Benton on the 28th of July, 1877. Our impression of the town is a good one. There seems to be quite a number of live busi- ness men here ; and when the B. & E. R. R. places us in better communication with the outside world, we predict that Benton will be one of the best business points in Southern Illinois. It has the country around it, and the necessary enter- prise, we think, to make it so. "We are glad to find there is a good Baptist church here. It numbers upwards of two hun- dred members. They have their new brick house for worship almost completed." — From his first issue of Baptist Banner, August 8, 1877. 44 HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 45 Honor For the Country Pastor, At first he served the Benton church on the once a month plan. During a part of that time he supplied two ne/ghboring churches, Mt. Zion and Town Mount Prairie, also still retaining New Burnside. To his honor be it said that he was a country preacher in fact and indeed. The great P. H. Mell of Georgia, who remained a pastor of coun- try churches to his dying hour, was president of the Southern Baptist Convention for fifteen years, an honor that is coveted by the strongest men in the denomination. The country preacher is nature's nobleman. God has a use for him above his fellows. When the roses are distributed on the streets of gold, I think many of them will go to the men who held once a month country pastorates ; for their lot was hard, their toil was severe, and their re- ward shall be glorious. All honor to the man who pastors a country church ! This is life's most dif- ficult job, if well done. Four Hundred Dollars Salary at First. Beginning with January 1, 1880, he preached every Sunday for Benton First, except a brief time in 1882, When he preached twice a month, after which he preached for full time till the close of the pastorate. His once a month salary was |120.00 per year. His full time salary at the beginning was $400.00. The last year of his pastorate there it was |1,200.00. The reason for that increase was 4 6 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON his purposed resignation in December, 18SG, to go to Du Quoin, having received a call there. The Benton church did not wish him to leave and so made their supreme effort to retain him. Twelve hundred was a large salary for that place at that time. So he remained there one more year, fol- lowing which he went to Mt. Vernon and became pastor there. Eventful Years. His nine years work at Benton was eventful, but prosperous. He met many difficulties, but everything was so managed that on the whole he was successful and happy. He likes to say, that no better people ever lived than were the Baptists of the First church of Benton in those years. They were good citizens, believed in progress, were sound in faith, and liberal with their means ; and they believed in their pastor and stood by him. Not a year of the nine and over was fruitless. The field was not large, but each year there were additions. Twice they had great revivals. One of them was in January, 1882 ; the other in Feb- ruary, 1885. In the 1882 revival Brother J. Car- roll Harriss helped him, and Dr. Throgmorton was highly pleased with him. They have been great friends ever since. Brother Harriss tells many incidents of that meeting with evident relish. Many of the leading citizens of the town came into the church. The 1885 revival was con- ducted by the pastor, and was one of his most suc- cessful meetings. A large number of good people HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 47 were reached and the effect was telling in every way for the upbuilding of the cause. He names other men, who helped in meetings at Benton as follows: J. M. Bennett, J. C. Wil- son, David Culp, W. W. Hay, Calvin Allen. Ev- ery one of whom has crossed the river of death. Names of Prominent Members. He thinks it would be difficult to give names of his Benton flock and speak of their virtues without undue discrimination. He, however, names the following: Deacon Levi Browning stands out among them prominently, as a man thoroughly devoted to God and to his church. When he was in the mercantile business, his store closed when week day service came. For years he led the song service and his place was never vacant unless he was sick. His time, his means, himself — all were the Lord's. John Ward was another good deacon. C. A. Akin was for years church clerk. Judge R. H. Flannigan, now of East St. Louis, was at Benton in those days. Judge D. M. Browning, first, coun- ty judge, later circuit judge, still later, Commis- sioner of Indian Affairs under President Cleve- land, was one of the church's stand-bys. C. C. Payne was as faithful as the days were long. There was no better man than T. C. S. Hawkins. Multitudes always said and do yet, that "Deacon Wesley Payne is the best man in town." He is still living though now well past eighty. Dr. Z. Hickman was in those days the same efficient Sunday school teacher, Bible student and sue- 48 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON cessful physician that he is now. George Ross now of Washington, D. C, was the pastor's right hand man, ever loyal. Another brother who mov- ed to Benton two or three years before Dr. Throg- morton was there, was Deacon J. T. Chenault, who was a strong supporter of the church and a man most competent in business and in work. In each case the good wives of these men named were worthy of mention also. Many others were worthy to be named, also, but space will not per mit. Serious and Trivial Difficulties. Every church has its little ups and downs, and then its serious ones. Benton was no excep- tion to this rule. They had in those days some who opposed the organ in the church. Good people they were, too. Some likewise good, did not believe in having a baptistry. They said they did not want to see people baptized in a cellar. There were people equally good and sincere who objected to special songs and could not endure a solo, a duet, a trio, or a quartet. Others opposed any kind of entertainment in the house of wor- ship. To keep on good terms with all these and yet have the things he wanted was not an easy thing for the pastor. Yet he succeeded fairly well and nearly every one of them was the pastor's friend. The most serious thing during his Benton pastorate was a strife that arose concerning the prohibition question. He was then as now, strongly opposed to saloons and preached against HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 4 9 them and insisted that the man who voted for them, signed a petition for them, or rented his house for saloon purposes, should be excluded from fellowship. Out of this grew a controversy, which for the time caused much bitterness which finally resulted in the organization of a Second Baptist church. For a year or so the new church did not get recognized in the association, but it finally adopted a church covenant that gave it full fellowship, which it has retained ever since. In connection with the peaceable settlement between the two churches was a laughable inci- dent. The peace conference's joint committee held its meeting at night and at near ten o'clock reached its agreement — one satisfactory to all concerned. It was agreed that immediately the bells of the two churches should be rung — -late as it was. In the town there was no fire alarm bell or whistle, and the custom was to awaken the town when there was a fire by ringing the church bells. The committee did not think of this. So st the late hour Brother J. J. Miller and others went to the second church and Dr. Washburn and Dr. Throgmorton went to the first church to ring the bells. While Dr. Throgmorton went in- to the belfry, Dr. Washburn remained outside. When the bells rang out the people were not long in waking up and getting out on the streets. Here came a host of them to the church where Dr. Washburn was standing outside. One excited gentleman rushed up to him exclaiming, "Where is the fire?" In his peculiarly impressive way 50 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Dr. Washburn replied : "It is the fire of heaven." Mad as a hornet the man shot back : "The h it is!" There was a lot of mad people on the streets that night. The next day, some of the hot-headed ones had the bell ringers arrested and they were tried for raising a false alarm of fire, and were found guilty and a fine assessed. How- ever, they never paid the fine as it was later re- mitted. The controversies have passed, the bitterness has been silently buried, time has entombed the dead issues of other days, and the Doctor thinks kindly of people in the town of Benton. While memory's gilded chain measures the pathway be- tween the present and the past, and gently closes the intervening space of forty years, there comes to mind only that which pleases, and what was once unpleasant now seems but a dream which has been forgotten forever. Preparing to Move. From the files of the old Baptist Banner of August 18, 1886, the following editorial is signif- icant : "We believe in long pastorates. Just as long as a minister suits a people and they suit him, they ought to remain together. There should never be a change just for the sake of a change. The old minister, if he has his people's hearts, can do more with them and for them than any other living man. Still there come times when there ought to be a change. That time is when pastor and people have grown apart in thought HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 51 and feeling, as well as where there is open antag- onism. The pastor ought always to have percep- tion enough to understand when this comes to be the case and when it is so, he should suffer no false notions of pride or ambition to hinder him from tendering his resignation at an early day." This was written at the commencement of his tenth year. He closed his work with December 31st, 1886, and took charge a< Mt. Vernon First Baptist church January 1, 1887. The Banner had already been moved, and two issues sent out from Mt. Vernon in December. Tribute to Mrs. Throgmorton. Before closing the Benton chapter Mrs. Throgmorton's dutiful life should be mentioned. When they first moved to Benton they went to housekeeping in the upstairs rooms of Uncle Levi Browning's noted old residence, situated on the Southwest corner of the public square, where Aunt Tabitha, the widow of Uncle Levi, still re- sides. In these rooms they lived about three years in a very simple way. It must be remembered also that when they moved to Benton forty years ago, Benton's first railroad was only building and had not yet reach- ed the town. They had mail hacks or stages, to Mt. Vernon and DuQuoin, and traveling was all done overland. Ewing College had been estab- lished by Dr. Washburn some ten years previous. Benton had been given the opportunity to secure tlie college, and had raised something like $2,500 and then let the proposition lag, and fall 52 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON by the way. Benton was the stopping place from the South for Ewing College and on North. While Dr. Throgmorton (with old George) was away on his tours, working up subscribers for the paper, Mrs. Throgmorton was doing two women's work at home. She folded the papers and assisted in mailing them. She did the visit- ing and seeing the sick. She looked after his mail, and kept up his correspondence. She did her own housework, and kept boarding house a part of the time for transients — those overland travelers from the South and North. And in a thousand ways she made herself useful to him in his wider work of reaching the people. In this way she was doing what she could to advance his life along the lines that have brought him to the front. It is an old saying that a wife either makes or breaks a man. Mrs. Throgmorton has largely helped to make Dr. Throgmorton what he is today, a man of the people, beloved by a large following of Baptist people in Illinois and elsewhere. This is woman's better sphere and her sublime work, making a home. Moved to Aft. Vernon, Illinois. When he became pastor of the First Baptist church of Mt. Vernon, in January, 1887, he found a very weak church organization, especial- ly in finances, and the membership on paper numbered but 129. His predecessor was Brother J. J. Midkiff, whose name had already appeared in the columns of the Banner, and who has con- HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 53 sistently upheld Baptist interests in this part of the state throughout the years. Leaders in the Work. When he went there the leaders in the work, as he now recalls them, were : A. C. Webb, G. W. Reed, J. W. Herrin, John Bray, Thomas Kimbro, C. R. Poole, Chas. Heiserman, Henderson Daily, A. J. Williamson, Mrs. G. W. Morgan, Mrs. Shew and Mrs. M. T. Howard. There were others al- so, and many others came in at an early date. Church Prospers. From the beginning the work prospered. Dur- ing his first year, there were more than 100 ad- ditions and much financial strength was added. Two meetings were held, both of them successful. In the second one, he had the valuable assistance of Dr. J. J. Porter, who was in evangelistic work at that time. He was a great preacher. Soon after the meeting he married one of the church's best young women, Miss Dollie Carpenter, and took her away. Cyclone Feb. 19, 1888. On February 19, 1888, during his second year at Mt. Vernon, there came a cyclone that de- stroyed the church building, wrecked a consider- able portion of the city and caused twenty-nine deaths. This put the church out of doors until a new home could be erected. For the new struc- ture they received help from a multitude of Bap- tists both in and out of the state. A new site was selected and a beautiful house of worship was built, at a cost of about |10,000.00. This 54 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON was dedicated in November, 1888, Dr. John A. Broadns of Louisville, Ky., preaching the ser- mon. The dedication pledges were taken by Bro. E. S. Graham. Revivals. During the summer preceding the dedication a revival meeting was held in East Mt. Vernon, in which were 150 additions to the First church. In this meeting the inimitable and lovable Bro. Calvin Richardson was the assistant. He was then the Associational Missionary, but has since gone to his reward. "Bro. Cal" is remem- bered by a host of people in this section, who loved him for his works' sake. Soon after the dedication of the new house, Dr. Throgmorton had Major Penn, the great Texas evangelist, with him for four weeks in meetings. In these meetings 104 persons claimed conversion. It was a wonderful campaign. Maj. Penn's method was to invite seekers forward to front seats, where they were not talked to, ex- cept in the public address by any one. Major Penn was a great singer, and it was the magic of his voice that led thousands to Jesus. His song books were widely circulated in the Southwest, where he labored mostly during his eventful years. Results. At the conclusion of Dr. Throgmorton's pas- torate of three years the results were, a new and beautiful house of worship, a total number of ad- ditions of 297, and a total membership of more HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 55 than 400. Circumstances, all of which were con- trolled by divine Providence, worked out these great results. During the first three months of 1890 he did evangelistic work, being interrupted a little by the epidemic so prevalent, "Lagrippe." In March he conducted a very successful meeting at Ben- ton, his former home. Pastorate at Louisiana, Missouri. The first of April, 1890, he began work as pastor at Louisiana, Mo., and continued there for two years and four months. It was a pleas- ant field. He had a delightful flock and the peo- ple heard him gladly. In the fall he had the help of his old friend, E. S. Graham of Upper Alton, in a series of meetings, in which there were many additions. A little later, in January, he had Dr. S. M. Brown of Kansas City, editor of The Word and Way, for a few days, when still others were added to the membership. Dr. Brown is one of the geniuses of the Baptist denomination. As editor, author, lecturer, preacher, and evangel- ist, he has become widely known, and his assist- ance in revivals is always a treat. Neiv Building Erected. In the spring of 1891 a building campaign was launched. The old house of worship was out of date and somewhat out of repair. A new location was secured and one of the best houses of worship in Northeast Missouri was erected. It was dedicated in November, 1891, without a dollar of indebtedness. The sermon was preached 56 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON by Major W. E. Penn, and with that began another series of meetings, which continued for one month, and the campaign was a success. He remained with the church until August, 1892, when he left for Fort Smith, Ark., from which place he had received an urgent and un- expected call. To leave the many kind friends at Louisiana was a task. He mentions the Mc- Cunes, the Tinsleys, the Marshes, the Stranges, the Milroys, the Ayers, the Headricks, and a large number of others — all the best type of people. Bethany "Near By." In addition to the work in Louisiana, he had a charge in the country, three miles out of the city, a church called Bethany. It was to him somewhat like Bethany, near Jerusalem was of old to the Master. It was a place where he al- ways found a welcome, and where there was rest from the wear and tear of the city church work. He often speaks of his friends at Bethany church, in Pike county. Mo. Call to Fort Smith. About the first of June, 1892, he received a telegram stating that he had been unanimously elected to the pastorate of the First Baptist church of Fort Smith, Ark. He answered by mail, asking a few questions, which the clerk of the church there, Bro. John Ayers, promptly an- swered. He wrote again, telling Bro. Ayers that he would make a definite answer in ten days. After careful consideration and prayer, without HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 57 ever seeing Fort Smith, and without ever hav- ing been seen by any member of the church, he accepted the call. — (Baptist News, Nov. 16, 1895.) On the Field. He reached Fort Smith, Ark., on Friday be- fore the second Sunday in August, 1892, and found a cordial and hospitable people. The church had a membership of about 300, and a plain frame building, in which to worship. It was a sound Baptist church and under good discipline. The pastor he followed was Bro. A. J. Kinkaid, who had left the work well cared for. However, there was no young peo- ple's society, and the church had adopted the practice of local communion. That is, not even visiting Baptists in good standing were invited to commune. Dr. Throgmorton did not endeavor to disturb the communion situation, because there were some things in the surroundings which made it wise to have the local communion policy. How- ever, he organized a B. Y. P. U. at once, which runs till now. Not many things occurred outside of the usu- al course of pastoral work and life while he was there. He was in Ft. Smith three years and three months, and each year had fair success in the way of increase in members and growth in benef- icences. 58 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Evangelistic Efforts. In the spring of 1893 he held a meeting with- out evangelistic help. In the spring of 1894 he had Bro. E. S. Graham with him again. In the spring of 1895 he conducted another meeting himself, and in the fall of 1895, just before he left the field, he had Evangelist Hurlbutt with him for two weeks. He was a great preacher, but they had only limited success. Events of Interest. During the three years and three months he welcomed 119 into the church, a great many of them becoming useful members. He baptized one Indian, who did not turn out very well. He also baptized the famous hangman, George Male- don, who, it was said, had broken eighty necks. He was reared a Catholic, but his wife and chil- dren were Baptists. Judge Parker, famous for sentencing so many people to hang, lived just across the street from the Baptist church. He was a fine old gentleman. On his forty-third birthday Dr. Throgmorton sat in the court room and heard him sentence five men to be hanged by the neck till they were dead. However, three of the condemned men escaped the gallows at last. In the summer of 1894 Brother Throgmor- ton was in a great anti-saloon fight. It took in the whole county and was waged without gloves. He spoke at various points in the county, but the whiskey forces won. The time was not yet ripe for prohibition. Now HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 59 the whole state of Arkansas is dry. No good work is ever lost. On the last night of his stay in Fort Smith he baptized four converts, and then at 1 :30 a. m. left for DuQuoin, 111. At DuQuoin. He returned to DuQuoin at the urgent re- quest of many of his friends and former sub- scribers, to begin another paper. The first issue was put out as a Thanksgiving number, 1895. Living With the Teagues. For more than five years after coming to DuQuoin he and his wife made their home in the residence of Dr. Marion Teague, not as board- ers, but rather as partners in the affair of house- keeping. They made a happy combination home. Not a single difference arose during that time. It is a noteworthy fact that Dr. Teague and his excellent wife have lived together for over 55 years without the remotest semblance of a family quarrel. From November 3, 1895, to January 1, 1897, Dr. Throgmorton devoted himself to the new paper, the Baptist News, to preaching, to evangelism, and to securing new subscrib- ers. Brother Teague was partner and busi- ness manager of the paper, and also pas- tor of the First Baptist church. January 1, 1896, he preached for Bro. Teague through a seven weeks' series of meetings, which resulted in 187 additions to the church, about 150 of them by baptism. 60 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Pastor of The Church. January 1, 1897, he began as pastor of Du Quoin the first time and continued in the work two years and seven months. During this period there were 189 additions to the church by bap- tism. In the meeting in the winter of 1897-8, he had no outside help except Brother J. C. Harriss for a few days. Again in 1898-9 he had Brother J. S. Edmonds for a short period, and also Brother J. W. Beville and two of the Duncan sisters of White Hall. In 1899, he re- called Brother E. S. Graham for the revival, which continued four weeks and he conducted two more weeks himself. A goodly number made professions and united with the church. About August 1, 1900, he gave up the work because of being overburdened with tasks. During a good part of this two years and seven months, in addition to serving as pastor and editing the Baptist News, he also edited the local daily paper of the city known as the "Du Quoin Evening Call." Most of the time Brother Teague was in the newspaper work with him, but perhaps a year before he gave up the pastorate Brother Teague retired. He spent a good deal of his money to make the Baptist News a suc- cess. His Successor. His immediate successor was Brother Walter H. Harriss, a son of Brother J. C. Harriss. He held the pastorate till about November 30, 1901, HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 61 when on account of failing health he gave up the work. Recalled. After Brother Harriss' resignation the church then recalled Dr. Throgniorton and he re- sumed the pastorate, as he remembers, December 1, 1901. The latter part of that year and the be- ginning of the next was spent in remodeling and enlarging the house of worship. Neiv House. In March, 1902, the new house was dedicated. He has frequently said that considering conveni- ences and its cost, it is the best house of worship in the state. He then held a revival meeting in which Evangelist R. F. Kilgore assisted and which resulted in 108 additions to the church. In the first quarter of 1903 he had a great Sunday school revival contest, On the first Sun- day of the contest the attendance was 213. On the last Sunday it was 1,032. To be sure not all the recruits were held, but from that time on the Du Quoin Baptist Sunday school has been larger and better than before. He says that a Sunday school contest properly conducted is an excellent movement. It will bring into the Sunday school those who were never there before, and thus get them closer to the church and make them easier to reach with the gospel. Following this Sunday school contest he had Evangelist L. D. Lamkin as helper in special ser- vices, and a large number were gathered into the church. 62 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Getting Ready To Change. He says that in 1904 he began to feel that he should possibly get ready to change his field of labor. He asked his people to confirm their re- gard for him especially by an increased attend- ance at prayer meeting. They agreed to do this, and as usual he held an evangelistic effort. The number of additions was not so great, but good was done. In the fall of this year he received a call to the pastorate at Marion. He regarded it as providential and decided to accept. So on the night of November 30, 1904, he clos- ed his work at Du Quoin, after he had lived there nine years and twenty-seven days, during which time he had served about six and a half years as pastor, and during all the time had been closely identified with the church work. There were re- ceived 909 into the fellowship of the church in nine years, and progress was made in every way. "It would be hard to overpraise the Du Quoin church as it then was. A fine body of men and women made up its membership. And during the nine years there was never, so far as he "knows, any bitterness or strife. There never was a church fuss. The deacons and the preachers were men the truest." Now the church is under the pastoral care of Brother C. W. Culp and is still one of the best Baptist churches in the Southern section of the state. Removal to Marion. He removed to Marion, December 1, 1904, and began his pastorate there. He continued in the i& i\ a ^ ■«w» o. HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 63 work just a year and a half, during which time the church was bountifully blessed. More than 200 names were added to the membership list. Becomes Editor of The Illinois Baptist. In the summer of 1905, a movement was set in motion to begin another Baptist paper in Southern Illinois, which culminated in the birth of the Illinois Baptist, the first issue of which ap- peared on Thanksgiving day, 1905, with Dr. Throgmorton again as editor. He soon decided that to run the paper and serve the church was too much work for one man. So May 31, 1906, he closed his pastorate and from that date on till August 1, 1913, devoted his work entirely to The Illinois Baptist. His successor in the pastorate was Brother H. A. Todd, who served a year and a half and closed his work. The Lord greatly blessed his labors. Organization of The Illinois Bajitist State Asso- ciation. In the fall and winter of 1906-7 came the con- troversy which culminated in the organization of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Since which time Dr. Throgmorton has made it a su- preme part of his work to promote the prosperi- ty of that body. From the beginning he has been chairman of its Board of Missions. Other Pastors. Following Brother Todd, Brother E. L. Carr, now of Martin, Tenn., became pastor of Marion First. He held the place during 1908, and till near the close of 1909. In January-February, 64 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON 1909, Dr. Tkrogmorton led a protracted meeting for Brother Carr, in which there were many con- verts, and which was his last work of this kind until February, 1917. He has been wonderfully successful in his evangelistic work. Following Dr. Carr in the pastorate came Brother George TV. Allison. He began January 1, 1910, and continued to July 31, 1913, when he removed to East St. Louis, where he had accepted a call to the First Church of that city. While in Marion he was very popular as a pastor and preacher. During his pastorate was inaugurated the building campaign which resulted in the pres- ent attractive house of worship. Dr. Throgmor- ton was associated with him in the work of plan- ning and pushing the enterprise from the start and had the honor of being chairman of the build- ing committee. It was a disappointment to a great many people that Brother Allison changed pastorates before the work was finished. How- ever, all things considered he thought it was wise to pursue the course he did and so tendered his resignation. Thereupon the church at once called Dr. Throgmorton as his successor by a unanimous vote. He said, "Before I accept, one thing must be done. You men who have means must get back of our indebtedness and help us to get the money to push our building enterprise to completion. If you will do this, I will accept and the Lord will- ing, will stay with you till the house is finished and everything paid out." What he asked was HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 65 done and since August 1, 1913, he has been pas- tor of the Marion First Church and at the same time editor of The Illinois Baptist. Rather a heavy undertaking for a man who is now sixty- seven years of age, but he has stood the strain fairly well so far, and yet holds a roseate view of life and its work. Revivals Again. During his three years and a half pastorate he has been copiously showered with blessings. The church has grown in numbers and in liberal- ity, and in most all the Christian graces. Each year he has had a great revival. In 1914 Evan- gelist Lamkin was with him and had 102 ad- ditions. In 1915 he had Evangelists Lamb and Wolslagel and there were 122 additions. In 1916 he had Dr. L. R. Scarborough and Evangelist H. C. Mitchell, and there were 104 additions. And then again before the close of 1916 he had Evan- gelist Clarence Hodge for a fifteen days meeting and there were 24 additions and the church ex- perienced an old fashioned spiritual renewal. Besides all these, there were many additions be- tween meetings. The End Not Yet. The church and pastor are going right on and the editor and the Illinois Baptist are doing likewise. And there is joy in the camps of Israel for his lengthened years of usefulness. Browning says : 66 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON "Grow old along with me The best of life is yet to be, The Last for which the First was made ; Youth shows but half ; See all nor be afraid.'' Preferments, Honors, Distinctions. In 1884, when he was pastor at Benton the Illinois Baptist General Association was held with it. It was the first time that body had ever assembled that far South. In October, 1886, while still pastor at Benton, he was elected Moderator of the General Asso- ciation at Springfield, which was an unsolicited and unexpected preferment. In October, 1890, his church at Mt. Vernon en- tertained the General Association Every year after he began to attend the meet- ings of the General Association, which was in 1882, he was on the Board of Missions of the body, while in the state, up to 1907. He preached the annual sermon before the General Association at Aurora, in 1898. In November, 1892, his church entertained the Arkansas Baptist State Convention at Fort Smith. In November, 1893, he was honored by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention that year at Conway by being elected as its president. He preached the commencement sermon for Conway Female College, in the spring of 1903. He delivered the address before the Ministers' HIS ALL-TIME PASTORATES 67 Education Society at Ouachita College, Arkadel- phia, Ark., in the spring of 1904. Preached commencement sermons for the fol- lowing high schools : Du Quoin, Marion, Herrin, Creal Springs and Bowling Green Mo. Gave the commencement sermon at Ewing College several times. Also one before Creal Springs College. He delivered the commencement sermon at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at Fort Worth, Texas, in May, 1916. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, an Odd Fellow and a most kindly Christian gentleman. As pastor, preacher, debater, author, editor and denominationalist he has multiplied himself endlessly. CHAPTER VII. EDITOR. Dr. Throgmortou was scarcely more than a beardless boy when he moved to Benton July 28, 1877, and took charge of the Baptist Banner. The paper had been suspended, after having been is- sued for one year and eleven months. Its sub- scribers were few and it had no standing worth while. It was a dark outlook for the young edi- tor, but his optimism is apparent in his saluta- tory. He writes like he had the faith to do big things, and says he is assured of an editorial ex- istence for three years. The salutatory smacks of success that has in part been realized. Read it as a message of forty years ago : "Salutatory. "To the Baptists of Southern Illinois : "After a long suspension the Banner again goes forth among you. In assuming its editorial care we fully realize the responsibility that rests upon us, and the difficulties that lie out before us. We have weighed them well and were we seeking our own best interests financially we should not have assumed the task "But we are seeking, we trust, the best in- terests of the cause of Christ. And His cause we believe to be the cause of Baptists. The Banner is certainly necessary for the good of the Baptist cause in Southern Illinois. This is so clear that we shall not stop to prove it, knowing as we do that most brethren admit it. 68 EDITOR 69 "We are also confident of success. True there have been former failures; but never be- fore was the paper started on such a basis as it now has to uphold it. It is sustained by nearly one hundred brethren and friends — good and true — in such a way as to make a failure impos- sible for three years. "The brethren and friends named have pledged enough in behalf of the paper, to enable it to meet all financial difficulties with perfect success for three years to come. There is no doubt, the Lord being with us, that we shall suc- ceed. "Now, brethren, what we want is that you subscribe for and read the paper. We propose to give you sound and profitable matter. We de- sire to talk to you from time to time about those matters which are of supreme interest to God's dear children — the doctrine and commandments of Jesus. "We also want you to talk to us and to one another through the Banner. We want to make it an organ of general communication, and inter- change of ideas, and a power in developing the latent talent that exists among you. "Brethren, shall it not be as we say? We be- lieve you will answer affirmatively "As to the policy which will be pursued in the management of the paper, our great aim shall be to benefit Baptists, to build up the Baptist cause. Accordingly we shall labor for the good 7 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON of our denominational interests generally and shall urge their claims upon you. "But especially shall we contend for the good old doctrines of grace and for the ancient 'land- marks which the fathers have set.' "Brethren, we believe you want all this done ! Then, let all come up like men to the work. Sub- scribe for the paper, get others to subscribe, and pray that God will enable us to do a glorious work." His Zeal In Securing Subscribers. He went out among the folks, called on them face to face, presented his plea, got their hearing, secured many new names for his paper, became acquainted with the real, unterrified Baptists of the territory in their homes, and saw what he had to do to make good. He wrote out of a first hand experience for a constituency that was slow to take hold. He built up his cause from sheer energetic ef- fort, from tenacious, persistent plodding, from courageousness that despair never conquered. It was the pluck of pertinacious determination which finally yielded him results. He got on "Old Tom," his stout old horse, and rode across this land until it had no places he did not know. He was a stranger but once, for who- ever saw him always remembered him. His giant figure was a way mark that never went out of mind. "There comes Throgmorton," grew to be a familiar sentence at all religious gather- ings of the Baptist people. EDITOR 71 His Tours. The first tour he took in the interests of the Banner occupied eight weeks, included forty-five different speaking places and fifty-five addresses. His purpose was to secure three thousand sub- scribers for The Banner. While he got many new subscribers, he never reached his goal. Thir- teen hundred was the largest number of copies of the Banner ever printed at one issue. These tours continued right along for several years and the people he met, the acquaintances he formed, the subscribers he secured have been with him ever since, or their descendants are still his supporters and helpers. They believe in him, love him, follow him, all because he has made himself one with them, been their friend, their type of a man. When the associational season rolled round he was on hands with "Old Tom" or "Old George'" — for the first horse was traded off — and made himself a part of every program. He added honor to the occasion and made the people glad they were there. They had something to talk about, something to take home and tell to their children. They had seen and heard the great young editor, whose fame was being fixed among them, as the North Star among the constellations of the heavens ; he was their greatest man. And he stood for something. He always stood for something. He was the same the year round, only stronger as the years came and went. He grew in circles as the cycles went 72 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON round. He became known as the man of the hour among the Baptists. This reputation he has upheld. For forty years his light has not dimmed, nor his strength abated. He has grown in wisdom, widened in vision, deepened in cul- ture, until his life means more to his people than that of almost all other men combined. It is the old fashioned faith they have in him that has stood the test of time and survived the shock of change, and the maneuvers of lesser men. He is a steady clock of progress for his people, and he represents in widening growth the life of his land. An editor that has thus built has a monu- ment too deep and high for tarnishment and his name and influence are like the gentle showers that bless the earth. The towering form of Dr. Throgmorton among the editors of the Baptist Conventions and associations is easily distin- guished today, and the long look backward to where he began forty years ago makes one know that there is no place like an American opportu- nity for success and leadership. The tours of "Old Tom and George" with their master on their backs have been superseded by tours to the Southern Baptist Convention in special cars pro- vided for the occasion. This, in brief, is the rec- ord of reward for his long years of editorship. Items From The Banner. At Herrin's Prairie he stopped with Brother D. R. Harrison. In June, 1878, he first met Bro- ther J. Carroll Harriss at Ewing, and stated that he had desired to make his acquaintance EDITOR 73 for a long time. He met many strange brethren at the Ewing commencement that year. On another tour of the churches he visited Hew Burnside and found Brother D. R. Pryor and Brother John Rodman assisting the pastor, Brother Calvin Caldwell, in a good revival meet- ing. "The B. & E. Railroad is now completed to within four miles of town, and nothing prevent- ing, the neigh of the iron horse will soon be heard within our corporate limits." "We will take a few loads of wood on sub- scriptions to The Banner. Also a few dozen chickens." Elder Hosea Vise is mentioned as moderator of Franklin Association. He served in that ca- pacity for thirty-seven years. The name of Dr. John Blanchard is seen often in The Banner. Later in the News a whole page was devoted to a description of his wonderful life. The Baptist Convention of Southern Illinois did a good work for some time, but its day of usefulness ended, because it seemed the people were not then well enough up with general de- nominational interest to foster it successfully. "Banner and Gleaner" were consolidated and appeared from Cairo, Illinois, September 14, 1881. Hall and Throgmorton, editors and pro* prietors. But March 15, 1882, he was back to Benton. He thinks he lost a thousand dollars 74 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON by that move. High water and other inconveni- ences made it pleasant to return to Benton. Dr. Throgmorton wrote the "History of Franklin Association of United Baptists/' dur- ing 1879 and 1880, and it was published in The Banner and then in book form October, 1880. It is a well written book and has many interesting historical notes and sketches. The first Baptist church of Benton entertain- ed the Baptist General Association of Illinois, October 13-17, 1884, and was complimented for the hospitality and courtesies extended to the visitors and messengers present. The editor printed a great many of his ser- mons during the life of The Banner, and they read well. Banner Moved to Mt. Vernon. The last issue of The Banner appeared at Benton, November 24, 1886, and December 15, of the same year it made its appearance at Mt. Ver- non, 111., where it was finally discontinued in January, 1887. This represents the first period in the life of Dr. Throgmorton as editor. The Baptist News. There was evident interest in the publication of The Baptist News, or such a business man as Dr. M. Teague of Du Quoin could not have been led to back it. He bought the printing plant out- right from the factory that did the work for The Baptist News. He gave his time and attention to getting it started and managed it successfully, and later sold out to Dr. Throgmorton and A. W. EDITOR 75 Essick. Brother Teague was pastor of Dn Quoin Baptist church for about twenty years and is one of the best men in the bounds of the new State Association. He and his good wife have no chil- dren and for long years they have been deep- ly interested in the work among the Baptists of Southern Illinois, and this may account for his having a large share in recalling Dr. Throgmor- ton from Fort Smith, Ark., and helping him get the new paper on its feet. At least, such men should be honored in our midst, and be encourag- ed to endow such worthy enterprises with their means. Busy Editor. The Daily Du Quoin Call was established in the first year of Dr. Throgmorton's stay in Du Quoin, and for a time he was editor of this Daily Call, pastor of the church and editor of The Bap- tist News. Names in The News. There were several features to the News, which the Banner did not have, prayer meeting topics, pioneer's corner and a historical page, and there were names not seen in the former pa- per. "Porter Points" appeared regularly for sev- eral years, as did "Lines From Leavitt." "Hook- er's Hits" came in at odd times. "Pryor's Para- graphs" were a prized feature, as were his ser- mons. Dr. John Washburn contributed several noteworthy articles, a series on the "Beginning of Ewing College" being specially noteworthy. There were thirteen articles by "Observer" under 76 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON the caption, "Words of An Old Timer," which de- serve special mention. These were written by Brother W. S. Blackmail, and were the founda- tion for his book which he afterwards published, entitled, "The Boy of Battleford." Dr. E. W. Hicks contributed fifty-five illustrated articles on "Illinois Baptist History," which are worthy of much praise. They should have been put into book form before now, for their value is easily seen. "Pioneer Corner" was edited by the Pio- neer Preacher, W. F. Boyakin, of Blue Rapids, Kansas, and was a feature enjoyed by all. His stories should be gathered up and preserved. Al- so in the Old Banner there was a series of "Re- miniscenses" of early pioneer days by Father Hosea Vise of Macedonia, 111., which should be kept. Editorials by Dr. Throgmorton reveal his stores of logic, his cool control, his love of de- bate, his Baptist loyalty, and his desire to keep the faith "once for all delivered to the saints." Occasional articles appeared from various breth- ren, as Dr. Austen K. deBlois, Dr. J. Bulkley and S. C. Fulmer. Brethren J. J. Midkiff, J. C. Har- riss, Cal. Allen, W. J. Moore, Danbury, Rodman, Wallace, Garner, Snioot, Carr, Lee, Ridge, Bar- ber, J. K. Trovillion and many others, wrote for the news notes and now and then had articles and sermons in the paper. Sold to Central Baptist. The Baptist News was sold to or consolidated with the Central Baptist of St Louis, Mo., June 14, 1902, after seven years of strenuous effort to EDITOR 77 keep it going. The sale was made for the reason that the editor believed he could not longer stand up under the strain of doing two men's work, w hich he had been doing for almost all the time. The News did not pay enough to support him in- dependent of a pastorate. He explains this in his "Editorial Retrospect" (Sept. 19, 1916) which has been placed at the close of this chapter, to which the reader is referred. He edited the Illi- nois Department in the Central Baptist for a time and then was silent with his pen until The Illinois Baptist was founded. The Illinois Baptist. The Illinois Baptist began at Marion, Illinois, Thanksgiving number, 1905, just ten years after the Baptist News had been issued at Du Quoin, Illinois. It had the support of a founding fund for five years which guaranteed the editor's sal- ary. People rallied to it and its total issue ran up to 5,200. The most the Baptist News ever had was 3,200. And the Baptist Banner reached but 1,300. So the people have become more in- terested in their denominational paper. The editor introduced his famous Resolution for Amendment to the Constitution of the Old Illinois Baptist Convention at Carbondale, Illi- nois, in October, 1906, and the following Janu- ary the organization of the New State Associa- tion occurred at Pinckneyville, Illinois. The paper was the medium through which this was ef- fected. Its influence was potent and powerful. 78 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON As long as its editor lives the people will follow him, for he is now safely fixed upon strong and enduring foundations, established after forty years work in the ministry. The Proposed New General Association. It was proposed to enlist the unenlisted churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, amounting to 10,000 churches more or less, in this New General Convention, and an agreement was reached at Little Rock to that end. The Il- linois Baptists agreed to co-operate with such a movement if 500 churches could be secured to go into it in four months. The meeting was held in March and by July only 392 churches had agreed to go into it, 135 of those being in Illinois. The attempt was abondoned by The Illinois Bap- tists, as a waste of time. Dr. Gambrell says: "After the division, it was on my suggestion that these stalwart Illinois Baptists turned to the Southern Baptist Convention." Admitted Into Southern Baptist Convention. At Baltimore in May, 1910, the Illinois Bap- tist State Association's messengers were admit- ted to fellowship in the Southern Baptist Con- vention without a hitch or a jar, and the entire work is lined up with that body in spirit — though some of the missionaries of the Baptist Missionary Convention are still supported by the State Association as that body feels it is honor bound to do. Brother J. O. Raines, associate editor of The Illinois Baptist, Corresponding EDITOR 79 Secretary of this Convention, is a most worthy and faithful brother. The Illinois Baptist is the channel for all the organized work for the Southern Baptist Con- vention in Illinois. Its editor is Southern born. He is tempera- mentally a Southern Baptist, and has always been, though he worked with the Northern breth ren until the defection from the old line, became so pronounced that he could not longer tolerate it. Some have tried to make it appear that party political feeling instigated the organization of the State Association. This is not true. The supporters of the State Association come from all parties. Dr. Throgmorton has been heard frequently to say : "I am Northern in my politics, but Southern in my religion." Now, the Illinois Baptist is in its best years. It is a child of the State Association, made so in 1910, and is on a safe basis. It is issued by the Egyptian Press Printing Company of Marion, 111., a member of that firm being a staunch Baptist, while the other member is a Christian gentleman. The firm is composed of Casey & Felts, Hon. Jas. H. Felts being the Baptist member. The work is done as reason- ably as could be obtained. The paper is due many years of useful service. 80 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Publishing Board Members. Terms Expires 1917. — G. W. Danbury, Du Quoin; J. A. Musgrave, West Frankfort; Loren Felts, Harrisburg. Term Expires 1918.— W. S. Wilson, Pinck- neyville ; M. Ozment, Johnston City ; D. C. Jones, West Frankfort. Term Expires 1919. — J. K. Trovillion, Brown- field ; T. J. Wheeler, AVest Union ; S. A. Stearns, Marion. Officers. Chairman, J. K. Trovillion, Brownfield. Clerk, G. W. Danbury, Du Quoin. Editorial Secretary, W. P. Throgmorton, Marion. Executive Committee. J. K. Trovillion G. W. Danbury M. Ozment. Editorial Retrospect. (September 19, 1916.) "Thinking of our birthday and of our life work, made us think of our connection with Bap- tist newspaper work in Illinois; and it seems that we are not a mere amateur. We began our editorial career August, 1877. at Benton, when we took charge of the Baptist Banner. We continued in that work five years and three months, when the Banner was suspend- ed. The suspension lasted one year. In Novem ber, 1883, the Banner was revived beginning its second record at Benton. In the fall of 1886 it was moved to Mt. Vernon and continued to come EDITOR 81 out regularly there till about February 1, 1888, wheu the enterprise was given up. Thus four years and three months were added to the length of our editorial life. In November, 1905, the Baptist News was born and we were called to Du Quoin to take editorial work again. The News lived till in June, 1902, when its list was given over to the Central Baptist of St. Louis. So passed and end- ed six years and seven months more of Baptist newspaper work. For three years following we were off the tri- pod. But in November, 1905, the Illinois Bap- tist saw the light and it has continued until now. The probability is that it is a fixed and settled enterprise among Illinois Baptists. On next Thanksgiving day it will be eleven years old. So we have had editorial charge of The Illi- nois Baptist, we may say, ten years and nine months. The total of our editorial life to date is twenty-six years and ten months plus. We like the work. We also like the pastor- ate. A great deal of the time we have been both pastor and editor. Either is enough for any one man, but circumstances have made it necessary for us to carry both. Some day, if the Lord spares us, it will be so, that we can step out of the pastorate and do only the work needed for and through the paper. At least we think that day will come." CHAPTER VIII. ORGANIZATION OF NEW STATE ASSO- CIATION. Historical Preface. The Illinois Baptist State Association was organized in the house of worship of the First Baptist church of Pinckneyville, Illinois, on Thursday, January 31, 1907. It is proper in connection with the minutes of the preliminary meetings and first annual meeting to give some account of the causes and of the steps taken which led to the complete or- ganization of this body. The first thing which made a movement to- ward the new organization necessary was a con- dition as to doctrine and practice related more or less closely to The Illinois Baptist General As- sociation, or as it is now called, "The Illinois Baptist State Convention." There were ministers in good standing in churches connected with the state body who, it was reported, denied the Deity of Jesus Christ, and some who denied the full inspiration and authority of the Holy Bible as the revealed will of God, and some who were loose on the terms of communion at the table of the Lord. Prof. Geo. B. Foster, for example, was a min- ister in regular standing in a church connected with the Chicago Baptist Association. He was also in good standing in the Baptist Ministers' Conference of Chicago. 82 ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 83 This Prof. Foster wrote and published a book, entitled, "The Finality of the Christian Ke- ligion," in which he repudiated the full inspir- ation and authority of the Bible and denied the Deity of Christ. The question of censuring this book was brought before the Chicago Baptist Ministers' Conference and discussed. There seemed to be no controversy as to what the book said. When the vote was taken twenty-two Baptist ministers out of seventy voting, went on record as refus- ing to censure the book. Dr. B. H. Carroll said of this book : "It is downright treason to Jesus Christ to receive this book as a Christian produc- tion, to give it Christian greeting." Another minister — an Illinois man — said of it that the book seemed to him to teach that Prof. Foster "would have us believe that there is no personal or external God; that there is only a human Christ; that there was no atonement for sin; that there was no miracle and so no Christ risen from the dead; that there was no credible revealed will of God." One of the twenty-two ministers of Chicago who would not vote to censure Dr. Foster's book was a member of the board of missions of the old state convention. Many felt that it was highly necessary that the line be drawn in conventional fellowship against Unitarianism and open communion as thus showing themselves among us. 84 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON As to loose views on communion they were becoming entirely too common among us. John Y. Aitchison, pastor of the First Baptist church of Galesburg, had published a booklet, entitled, "What Saith the Scriptures?" in which he took open communion ground. In this booklet he said thus : "There is no authority for either pas- tor or layman to regulate the attendance at the Lord's supper, that matter being left entirely to the conscience of the individual believer." Writing an "Explanation" of the remark just quoted, Mr. Aitchison said this: "Yes; this church (the Galesburg First) and all other churches in this district, and so far as I know most of the large Baptist churches in Iowa, Illi- nois and Wisconsin where I have been pastor, (I do not mean the churches I have served simply, but the churches with which I am familiar,) are practically open communion churches. I do not know of a close communion Baptist church in practice today. I know of some which still hold the theory but not the practice We as Bap- tists acknowledge that others are Christians who are not Baptists, and give them fellowship in every walk of life, except the Lord's supper. Now I maintain that we are unscriptural, unlogical and uncharitable in so doing." And this brother, J. Y. Aitchison, is a mem- ber now of the state mission board of the "Illi- nois Baptist State Convention." (Later on one of the secretaries of the Northern Baptist So- ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 85 cieties for the Middle West district, located at Chicago. ) Dr. A. B. Greene, pastor of the First Baptist church of Evanston, had declared (in effect) that there is no more Scripture for what is com- monly called restricted communion than there is for infant baptism! Dr. Johnston Myers, pastor of the Immanual Baptist church, had said: "I believe that close communion is passing away." And these men, thus expressing open communion views, were all prominent in State Convention work. Only by disregarding the facts can any man contend that there were not Unitarians and open communionists prominently related to the old State Convention. It was felt by some Baptists who had worked with the Old Convention, that it should wash its Lands of these Unitarian and open communion t-eresies by drawing the line against them. So at the annual meeting of the Illinois Bap- tist General Association, as it was then called, W. P. Throgmorton, editor of The Illinois Bap- tist, proposed an amendment to the constitution of the body, so worded as to draw the line against the undersirable things. The proposed amend- ment was worded as follows: "By a Baptist church in this constitution is meant such a Baptist church as avowedly holds and distinctly teaches, among other Bible ten- ets, the following: The full inspiration and authority of the Bible as the written Word of 86 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Gel; the absolute necessity of spiritual regenera- tion ; salvation by grace through faith in Christ's atoning blood; Scriptural baptism and member- ship in a Baptist church as orderly and essen- tial prerequisites to communion at the Lord's supper as observed among our people." But by a vote of about three to one the propos- ed amendment was voted down. Thus the old couvention refused to draw the line. If Unitari- an! sm and open communionism were in they might stay in. In other words the old conven- tion refused to make either Unitarianism or open communion a bar to conventional fellow- ship, j Of course, this did not mean that all the churches or ministers of the old convention were Unitarians or open communionists. Indeed, the convention, after voting down the proposed & j lendment, affirmed its belief in the Deity of Christ and in baptism and church membership as conditions to communion in a resolution adopted by an almost unanimous vote. What the brethren of the old convention did commit themselves to, was the principle that on these questions liberty must be allowed and that neither Unitarian nor open communion Bap- tist churches are to be barred from conventional fellowship. After the Carbondale meeting was over some brethren felt that they could not be loyal to their convictions of truth and continue longer in such a combination as the old convention had declar- ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 87 eel itself to be. They did not feel that they could conscientiously remain where they were likely to be yoked up with men who deny the old faith and seek to do away with the old prac- tice of Baptists. Accordingly, Brother W. P. Throgniorton of Marion, sent out a great many notes of inquiry to brethren in and out of the ministry, asking them to vote, for or against, on the question. It was not practical to take a vote from all the brethren, and cards were sent to only a number in each of the associations canvassed. A few sent in their votes declaring themselves in favor of remaining with the old convention, though most of these declared themselves willing to stand by the majority vote thus taken. The great body voted for a new organization. During November, following the taking of the vote, a call for a meeting was sent out for signatures. This call read as follows : "A Call for a Baptist Meeting I hereby join with others in calling a meeting to be held in the house of worship of the First Baptist church of Pinckneyville, Illinois, on De- cember 6th, 1906, beginning at 10 :30 A. M. The purpose of this meeting is the formation of a Baptist State organization to be based on strict Baptist principles. I accept this card as my call to be present at the meeting, and I hereby agree to stand by and support the new organization when thus found- 88 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON td, whether I am iu attendance at the meeting or not. I expect to attend." Accordingly, the meeting was held at Pinck- neyville, December G, 190G, as called, and the question of organization was considered. A general form of organization was agreed upon and a proposed constitution was approved. It was agreed to submit the question of organiza- tion and the proposed constitution to the church- es for their approval or disapproval, and that if as many as two hundred churches should ap- prove a meeting should be called to be held at Pinckneyville, Illinois, January 31, 1907, and the organization then and there completed. An address to the churches was read, approv- ed, and ordered published. It was as follows : Address. L'easons For The Organization of a New Bap- tist State Convention. 1. Some brethren and churches cannot any longer work with the old convention. Their im- mediate reason for this is that the old convention, or general association, refuses to draw the line against Unitarian and open communion Bap- tists. Whether all men count this reason good or uot, it is felt to be amply sufficient by those who urge it. 2. These Baptists who are thus shut out by their convictions from co-operation with the old convention, ought not to be idle. There is plenty of work for them to do, and the obligation is on them to aid in evangelizing this great state. ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 89 They feel this obligation so fully that they can not rest without making an effort to meet it. 3. The purpose of Baptist State Mission Work is to plant and foster true Baptist church- es. The old convention has refused to define what it means by a Baptist church and, there- fore, what it is willing to fellowship as a Baptist church. We do not wish to assist in the planting and supporting of any Baptist churches, except such as are to stand for the old Baptist faith and practice. Therefore, we need this new organiza- tion. 4. There are hundreds upon hundreds of churches in this state and especially in the cen- tral and southern parts of this state, that do not and never have co-operated to any very appre- ciable extent with the old convention. The old convention has not been able to reach them, or if it has reached them it has not been able to enlist them. We believe these churches, at least a great many of them, will be in such sympathy with the new organization that they will give it their sym- pathy and support and do mission work as never before. 5. Baptists have a perfect right at any time to form an organization for missionary purposes. This is in entire harmony with Baptist polity. It is not always wise to form a new organization but we believe that, in this case, it is wise. Because we believe it is wise and needed, therefore, we are for it, and ask all who are in sympathy with us, to unite in the enterprise. 9 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON 6. It is our desire to ally with the new or- ganization, brethren and churches who are agreed with its spirit and purpose. We do not ask those who do not see with us in this thing to join in with us till they do see as we do. We do not wish to precipitate a discussion of the pro- priety of uniting with this movement in a church in such a way as to cause disruption or even strife in the local body. But we do ask brethren and sisters, no matter where they belong, who are agreed with us as to the necessity of this work, that they join with us in supporting the move- ment. We also appeal to every church which is agreed with us to come at once into co-operation. 7. Finally, we believe God is in this move- ment; He desires that the Baptists of Illinois stand for the integrity of His word, for the glory of His churches, for the propagation of the pure gospel. So we say to all Baptists everywhere in our great state, "Come with us: we will do you good; you will do us good; for the Lord has spoken good concerning Israel." Following the December meeting the cam- paign began. The question of the new organiza- tion was brought before the churches with the result that when January 31, 1907, came it was found that more than the required number had taken favorable action. The following is the list by associations : Alton Association — East St. Louis First, East St. Louis Second, East St. Louis Alta Sita, Liberty of Walshville. Total, 4. ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 91 Apple Creek — Blue Mound, Honey Creek, Unity. Total, 3. Bloomfield— Villa Grove. Total, 1. Big Saline — Columbus, Golconda, Goodhope, Big Saline. Total, 4. Bay Creek— Nebo. Total, 1. Centralia — Bethel, Fairman, Kinmundy, Sandoval, Zion Hill, Bethany, Shobonier, Mar- shall's Creek, Central City, Patoka, Salem First, Iuka, Diamond Spring. Total, 13. Clear Creek — Hopewell, Dongola, Makanda, Bethel, Shiloh, Anna, Mission Chapel, Cobden, New Hope, Big Creek, Lake Milligan, Beech Grove, Alto Pass, Mt. Olive, Ava, Limestone, Delta, Mill Creek, Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Val- ley, Antioch. Total, 21. Central Illinois — Franklin. Total, 1. Franklin— Herrin First, Mt. Zion, Ten Mile, Macedonia, Thompsonville, Mt. Pleasant, Jack- son Grove, Union, Pleasant Valley, Benton Sec- ond, Bethel, Christopher. Total, 12. Fairfield— Norris City, Dahlgren, Pleasant Grove, Hickory Hill, Mill Shoals, Pleasant Hill, Ellis Mound, Walnut Grove, Blue Mound, New Salem, Thackery, Tennessee Bend, Long Prairie, Zion, Union Grove, Ditney Ridge, Middle Creek, Beaver Creek, Knight's Prairie. Total, 21. Louisville — Effingham, Watson, Blue Point, Jackson Township, Iola, Second Little Prairie. Total, 6. 9 2 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Mt. Erie — Bloom, Barnhill, Sims, Unity, Wayne City, Samaria, Antioch, New Zion, Ziff, Indian Prairie, Mt. Zion, Olive Branch, New Massilon, Bethany, Six Mile, Enterprise, Brown's. Total, 17. Macoupin — Honey Point, Pleasant Dale, Shi- loh. Total, 3. Mattoon — Mt. Zion. Total, 1. Nine Mile — Cross, Ellis Grove, Fairview, Nine Mile, Sunfield, Renault, DeSoto, Holt's Prairie, Oak Grove, Galum, Willisville, Baldwin, Du Quoin First, Richview, Elkville, Pujol, Steele- ville, Nashville. Total, 18. Olney — Dundas. Total, 1. Peoria — Brimfleld. Total, 1. Palestine — Lawrenceville, Mt. Olive, Olive Branch, Island Grove. Total, 4. Rehoboth — Bayle City, Bingham, Mt. Zion, Bethel, Bethlehem, East Fork, Mt. Carmel, New Hope, Mt. Tabor, Pleasant Mound, Hopewell, Van Buren, Corinth, Liberty. Total, 14. Salem South — Bethlehem, Mt. Vernon Sec- ond, Pleasant Grove, Salem, Pleasant Hill, Oak Grove, Bluford, Lebanon, Belle Rive, Moore's Prairie, Kell, Harmony, Woodlawn, New Hope, Garden Prairie, Antioch, Panther Fork. Total, 17. Sandy Creek — Bethel, Hillview, Oakland, Sheffield, Straut, Walkerville, Kampsville. To- tal, 7. Saline County — Bankston Fork, Harrisburg McKinley Avenue, New Salem, South America, ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 9 3 Stonefort, Carrier Mills, Raleigh, Rileyville, Liberty, Unity, Union Grove, Equality, Galatia, Long Branch. Total, 14. Springfield — Stonington. Total, 1. Union — Azotus, Cedar Creek, Grantsburg, New Burnside, Ozark, New Hope, Friendship, Metropolis First, Ganntown, New Liberty Mace- donia, County Line, New Prospect, Simpson, Hillerman, Pleasant Grove, Cole Springs, Reeves- ville, Vienna First, Waldo, Brookport. Total, 21. Williamson — Creal Springs, Carterville, Grassy Creek, Hurricane, Lauder (Reeves), Ma- rion First, Union Ridge, Palestine, Pleasant Hill, Johnston City, Coal Bank Springs, Crab Orch- ard, Providence, Indian Camp, Antioch, Cana, Pigeon Creek, New Hope. Total, 18. Westfield— Clarksville, Enon. Total, 2. Total number of churches, 226. All these churches were represented at Pinck- neyville in the meeting of January 31, either by messenger or letter, or both, and it is certain that no more enthusiastic meeting of Baptists had ever before been held in the state, and it was demonstrated that no movement among our peo- ple had ever so completely won the Baptist heart, especially in the south half of our great state. The clerk's minutes of the January meeting showing what was done, and the further record of the first annual meeting at Herrin, Oct. 22- 24, 1907, with the report of the work of the Mis- sion Board, show that the movement was no 94 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON spasin, but was one into which our pastors, preachers and people were putting their hearts and their means. So the Illinois Baptist State Association is here. It stands for the old Bible faith and the old Bible practice, and it draws the line against those who would destroy that faith and who would abandon that practice. Its mission is to maintain what it stands for and to be a channel through which the churches may co-operate in preaching the gospel and doing the work which is enjoined upon them in the great State of Illi- nois. Trusting in God and asking in Jesus' name for great things, it goes forward with a faith which looks for fulfillment. It appeals to every loyal Baptist in the state to stand with it, work with it and under God assist it in bringing great things to pass. Resume. Resume of the work of the Illinois Baptist State Association: The Illinois Baptist State Association, from the day of its organization, January 31, 1907, has made a good record. All along it has had the hearts of our Baptist people and they have been for it and in it. They have felt and still feel that it is the organization which they need. On the day of the organization Judge R. H. Flannigan of East St. Louis, was elected moder- ator; J. K. Trovillion of Brownfleld, assistant moderator ; Charles E. Hitt of Carterville, secre- ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 95 tary; J. D. Hooker of McLeansboro, assistant secretary. The constitution which had been pro- posed was adopted and necessary blanks were filled. The first Mission Board was nominated and elected as follows: W. P. Throginorton, J. V. Williams, F. M. Agnew, James A. Baker, A. L. Smith, R. W. Lee, W. H. McCann, S. B. Yoder, J. L. Payne, H. P. Cravens, C. E. Perryman, J. W. Reed, W. P. Chamness, W. A. Fuson, O R. Nelson, J. R. Kelly, E. L. Wendell, A. M. Stamp- er, J. S. Bright, J. B. Sikking, Z. Hickman, W. R. Mizell, T. R. Kerr, J. D. Mathias, Ed Leek, J. M. Rendleman, D. R. Harrison, J. L. Hender- shott. Eighteen of these were ordained minis ters ; twelve were laymen ; six of these have since departed this life, four of whom were ministers. Committees were also appointed as follows: On State of Religion, Christian Stewardship, Sunday School Work, Young People's Work, Re- ligious Literature, Auditing Accounts and Con- sulting with Treasurer, Christian Education. The Mission Board proceeded at once to its work and elected Brother B. F. Rodman of Du Quoin as Superintendent of Missions under the title of Financial Secretary, and the following were chosen as District Missionaries or Evange- lists: Thomas D. Davis, J. C. Myers, J. R. Mc- Duffy, T. F. Lowry, and H. L. Derr. Some of these began work at once. Others later. Help was voted to the following named churches : Alta Sita, Winstanley, and the East St. Louis Second, all of East St. Louis. The pastors to be helped 9 6 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON at these places were W. H. Barnes at Alta Sita; Harold Reeder at Winstanley and M. Culp at the Second church. Assistance was also voted to A. M. Kirkland as missionary pastor at Mt. Car- niel. What is called the first annual meeting was held with the First Baptist church of Herrin, C. E. Ferryman, pastor, October 22-24, 1907. The reports for the first eight months showed good work accomplished. Four new churches were or- ganized. Many churches were aided by our evangelists in holding revival meetings. Two churches were aided in work on building. The amount of cash collected was $3,509.47. The number approved for baptism, 238; the number added to the churches otherwise was 122. Total asking for membership, 360. At this meeting Judge R. H. Flannigan was re-elected as moderator, and Charles E. Hitt of Carterville was re-elected clerk. The annual sermon was preached by Pastor H. A. Todd of Marion. The total number of messengers from churches, life members, annual members and members of standing committees, footed up 391. Ko strict account of visitors was kept, but it was thought that all told the attendance footed up more than 700. The second annual meeting was held with the First Baptist church of Marion, Dr. E. L. Carr, pastor, October 27"29, 1908. D. K. Barber preached the annual sermon. Judge R. H. Flan- nigan was again elected moderator and G. W. ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 97 Danbury of Du Quoin was elected clerk. The total enrollment of attendance at this meeting- was 482. Kesults under the work of the State Association were reported for the year as fol- lows : Approved for baptism, 1,296 ; added to the churches otherwise, 547; total asking for mem- bership, 1,843. The total cash raised, $10,535.85. During this year Dr. C. F. J. Tate, then of Car- bondale, was state evangelist. The third annual session was held with the First Baptist church of Marshall, Dr. A. M. Kirkland, pastor, October 26-28, 1909. Judge R. H. Flannigan was again elected moderator and G. W. Danbury, clerk. The annual sermon was preached by Dr. E. V. Lamb of East St. Louis. The Mission Board reported results for the year's work as follows : Number of men employed, fifty ; approved for baptism, 1,349 ; added to the church- es otherwise, 417; total asking for church mem- bership, 1,763 ; churches organized, seven ; Sun- day schools organized, seventeen ; houses dedicat- ed, seven; churches aided in supporting pastors, twenty-two; cash collected for State Association work, $11,938.12. The total enrollment showed an attendance of 306. The fourth annual session was held with the First Baptist church of Pana, W. A. Fuson, pas- tor, October 25-17, 1910. Preacher of the an- nual sermon, Pastor H. B. Cox of Harrisburg. Dr. M. Teague of Du Quoin was elected moder- ator and G. W. Danbury was continued as clerk. The total enrollment of messengers and visitors 98 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON was 341. The report of the Mission Board show- ed the following: Approved for baptism, 1,217; added otherwise, 459; total asking for church membership, 1,676; churches organized, eight; Sunday schools organized, eleven; houses dedi- cated, four; churches aided in supporting pas- tors, thirty-five; number of employes, sixty-two; cash collected for the work, $14,331.97. The number of contributing churches was 493. This year we had visitors from the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Lansing Burrows, rep- resenting the Sunday School Board of Nash- ville, Tennessee, and Dr. B. D. Gray, represent- ing the Home Mission Board of Atlanta, Ga. The fifth annual meeting was with the First Baptist church of East St. Louis, Dr. E. V. Lamb, pastor, October 24-26, 1911. Pastor J. B. Webb of Anna preached the annual sermon. Dr. M. Teague of Du Quoin was re-elected moderator and G. W. Danbury of Du Quoin, clerk. The to- tal enrollment showed an attendance of 520. The report of the Mission Board gave the following : Approved for baptism, 972 ; added to the church- es otherwise, 536; total asking for church mem- bership, 1,508; new churches organized, three; Sunday schools organized, nine; houses of wor- ship dedicated, seven ; churches aided in support- ing pastors, thirty-seven; number of employes, fifty-four; amount collected for State Mission work, |14,658.04 ; amount raised for Church Edi- fice work, |4,675.00; total raised for State Mis- sions and Church Building, f 19,333.04 ; total col- ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 99 lected for Home and Foreign Mission work, 14,910.09. The sixth annual meeting was held with the First Baptist church of Harrisburg, H. B. Cox, pastor, October 22-24, 1912. The enrollment of attendance was 508. The annual sermon was preached by Pastor H. H. Wallace of Herrin. Pastor E. V. Lamb was elected moderator and G. W. Danbury of Du Quoin was re-elected clerk. The report of the Mission Board showed results as follows: Number approved for bap- tism, 920; number added to the churches other- wise, 387; total asking for church membership, 1,307; number of new churches organized, four; number of Sunday schools organized, fifteen; houses of worship dedicated, eight; number of churches aided in supporting pastors, twenty- three; number of employees, forty-five. Total cash raised for State Mission work, f 15,902.49. At this meeting Dr. A. U. Boone was present to represent the Baptist Sunday School Board of Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. J. W. Porter of the Western Eecorder, Louisville, Kentucky, was in attendance and preached a great sermon. Dr. W. D. Powell of Kentucky also attended. The seventh annual meeting was held with the First Baptist church of Du Quoin, H. H. Wallace, pastor, October 28-30, 1913. The total enrollment of attendance was 425. These figures would have been much greater had it not been for the bad weather. This was the first year in which our annual meeting had met with unfavor- 100 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON able weather conditions. The report of the Mis- sion Board showed figures for work as follows: Approved for baptism, 1136 ; added to the church- es otherwise, 515; total number asking for church membership, 1651 ; new churches organiz- ed, ten; Sunday schools organized, twelve; houses of worship dedicated, eight ; churches aid- ed in supporting pastors, eighteen; number of employees, forty-two; cash collected for State Mission work, f 16,837.11. The annual sermon for this meeting was preached by J. D. Hooker, Mc- Leansboro. W. A. Fuson of Pana was elected moderator and G. W. Danbury of Du Quoin was re-elected clerk. Among the visitors were Dr. J. B. Gambrell of Dallas, Texas, and Secretary A. E. Brown, representing the Home Mission Board. The Baptist Sunday School Board of Nashville, Tennessee, was represented by Dr. I. J. Van Ness. The eighth annual meeting was held with the First Baptist church of Marion, W. P. Throg- morton, pastor, October 20-22, 1914. The total enrollment at this meeting showed an attendance of 850, just exactly twice that of the preceding year. W. A. Fuson was again elected moderator and Dr. G. W. Danbury, clerk. The annual ser- mon was preached by Pastor E. M. Ryan of Car- mi. The visitors were Dr. Victor I. Masters of Atlanta, Georgia, representing Home Missions; Dr. R. M. Inlow of Little Rock, Arkansas, who delivered an address on State Missions; Dr. L. R. Scarborough, representing the Southwestern ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 101 Baptist Theological Seminary of Fort Worth, Texas; Dr. T. B. Ray, of Richmond, Virginia, representing the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention; Brother J. T. Henderson of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Secretary of the Layman's Movement of the Southern Bap- tist Convention. The report of the Mission Board showed the following figures: approved for bap- tism, 1222 ; added to the churches otherwise, 516 ; total asking for church membership, 1738; new churches organized, eleven; Sunday schools or- ganized, five; houses of worship dedicated, five; number of employees, sixty-two; total collected for State Missions, $17,634.27; total for Home Missions and Church Building, $3,768.10; total for Foreign Missions, $6,323.87. The ninth annual meeting was held with the First Baptist church of Johnston City. Clarence Hodge, pastor, October 26-29. The annual ser- mon was preached by Pastor Julian Atwood of Jonesboro. H. H. Wallace of Herrin was elected moderator and Dr. G. W. Danbury was re-elected clerk. The total enrollment showed an attend- ance of 1346. Among visitors were the following : Dr. L. R. Scarborough of the Southwestern Bap- tist Theological Seminary; Dr. J. F. Love of Richmond, Virginia, representing Foreign Mis- sions; Dr. B. D. Gray of Atlanta, Georgia repre- senting Home Missions; Missionary John Lowe of China; Missionary Y. H. Shahbaz of Urmia, Persia; Brother J. T. Henderson of Knoxville, Tennessee. The report of the Mission Board gave 102 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON the following figures : Number approved for bap- tism, 1242 ; added to the churches otherwise, 442 ; total asking for church membership, 1684; new churches organized, four; Sunday schools organ- ized, three; houses of worship dedicated, five; number of employees, fifty-six. Total cash colect- ed for State Mission work, $18,760.80. Total col- lected for Home Missions, $2,627.51. Total for Foreign Missions, $4,252.82. The tenth annual meeting w T as held with the First Baptist church of Harrisburg, Dr. A. E. Booth, pastor, October 24-27, 1916. The total en- rollment of attendance at this meeting was 1748. Brother W. S. Wilson of Pinckneyville was elect- ed moderator and Dr. G. W. Danbury of Du Quoin, clerk. The annual sermon was preached by Pastor G. W. Allison of East St. Louis. Among visitors were the following: Boyce Tay- lor of Murray, Kentucky; Dr. J. W. Gillon of Nashville, Tennessee; Dr. L. B. Warren of At- lanta, Georgia, representing the work of Church Building; Dr. K. G. Bowers of Paducah, Kentucky; Bro. W. S. Wiley, representing the Baptist Sunday School Board; Missionary W. B. Bagby of Brazil; John Isaac of Urmia, Persia. The association has grown in work, in pro- gressive spirit, in breadth of vision, and in re- sults achieved. Every thing points to its perma- nency. It is made up of a homogeneous constit- uency of brethren who support the State As- sociation and who will never affiliate with the ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 103 Illinois Baptist State Convention nor with the Northern Baptist Convention until those bodies materially change in doctrine and practice, or un- til the State Association changes, neither of which results is likely to come to pass very soon. The State Association and the associations which fraternize with us are a unit in standing for the old faith and the old practice of Baptists, and the Southern Baptist Convention with which the State Association is connected is likewise. Retrospect and Prospect. The Ilinois Baptist Association has perhaps done more for the building up of Christ's King- dom, in Central and Southern Illinois than any other one agency during the past ten years. It has a constituency of more than 500 Bap- tist churches which are hearty in its support. They are thoroughly attached to it because, as they believe, it stands for true Baptist ideals and holds the faith of the Baptist fathers. Within the ten years of its history the rec- ords show that under the labors of its evangel- ists and missionary pastors 11,332 have been approved for baptism ; 4,547 have been added to the churches by letter and otherwise; making a total of 15,879 who have asked for church mem- bership In the ten years the amount collected for State Missions has been, as reported, f 145,027.77. An average of more than f 14,000.00 per year, all in contributions from individuals and churches. 104 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON The association has no endowment fund as yet of any kind. During the first two years the summaries given in the reports of the Mission Board do not give the number of new churches organized nor does it give the number of new Sunday Schools. But during the past eight years, fifty three new churches were planted and the number of Sunday schools organized was seventy-two. Besides this, money has been raised for Home and Foreign Missions, for church building and for Education. Since the spring of 1910, the as- sociation has been in alignment with the South- ern Baptist Convention, and this has given our people a breadth of vision which otherwise would hardly have been realized. In few sections of our great country has there been greater progress in all that is denominationally good than among the Baptists of the State Association. The past ten years has not been a bad test. Every year has been one of growth. There has not been seen the least tendency in the body to disintegration or to a letting up in service. The State Association seems as truly to be entrenched as an organization in the affections of the broth- erhood, as does any local association. Take for instance, Clear Creek Association or Franklin. Who could think of these local bodies as coming to naught? The State Association is a combination of dis- trict associations, of churches and of individual Baptists brought together under a movement as ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 105 dear to the conservative, orthodox Baptist heart as life. Some of the enemies of the State Associa- tion have said, "AVhen W. P. Throgniorton dies the State Association will be no more ;" but there is not the least indication that such an event will follow our brother's demise. Leadersip is im- portant, but God will see to it that among the consecrated Baptists of Illinois, no matter what man of prominence is called home, there shall be no lack of leaders. Our work of missions and evangelism will be carried right on; we must come to our own in Educational and Orphanage work. We must con- tinue to maintain the standard of sound doctrine and orderly practice. We must continue to live and to do. Illinois Baptist State Association Mission Board. Officers. Chairman, W. P. Throgniorton Marion. Secretary, C. W. Culp Du Quoin. Secretary of Missions, B. F. Rodman Du Quoin. S. S. and B. Y. P. U. Secretary, Thomas C. Ury Jonesboro Cor. Sec'y Woman's Auxiliary, Miss Mary North- ington Marion. Executive Committee. W. P. Throgniorton, M^arion; M. Teague, Du- Quoin; H. B. Cox, Eldorado; C. W. Culp, Du- Quoin; W. E. Williams, Eldorado. 106 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Members. Term Expires 1917. — M. Teague, Du Quoin; A. E. Booth, Harrisburg; T. R. Kerr, Golconda; W. R. Mizell, New Burnside; N. M. Antrobus, Manchester ; Ira M. Biggs, Dupo ; Marion Drake, Oblong; W. T. Brydon, Albion; D. K. Barber, East St. Louis; J. H. Felts, Marion. Term Expires 1918. — W. P. Throginorton, Marion; H. B. Cox, Eldorado; Chas. Bersche, Casey; R. W. Lee, Thompsonville ; W. P. Charn- ness, West York ; W. E. Williams, Eldorado ; T. F. Harley, Odin; T. E. Ervin, Patoka; A. P. Gregory, Roodhouse; W. M. Ewing, Burnt Prai- rie ; L. D. Smith, McLeansboro. Term Expires 1919. — W. E. Baker, Golconda; G. W. Allison, East St. Louis; T. J. Wheeler, West Union ; W. A. Fuson, Pana ; G. L. Huggins, Marshall; F. M. Agnew, Makanda; T. W. Tate, Cairo; C. W. Culp, Du Quoin; John W. Dye, Christopher. ! B. F. Rodman. B. F. Rodman was ordained to the ministry in the First Baptist church of Benton in Febru- ary 1879, under the pastorate of Dr. W. P. Throginorton. For some time however, he did not give himself wholly to the sacred calling, but continued to work in a mill where he was em- ployed for eighteen years. The pressing needs of his young and growing family seemed to de- mand all his time and means. But in the fall of 1883, when Franklin as- sociation and the Illinois Baptist General As- B. F. Rodman, Secretary of Missions DuQuoin, 111. ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 107 sociation began co-operation and a man was needed for the Franklin association field, Broth- er Throgmorton said, "B. F. Rodman is the man for us." So in company with Brother E. S. Gra- ham, he went to the mill and told Brother Bod- man what was wanted. It was a "clear case of calling out the called." Immediately Rodman be- gan work and from then till now has given him- self wholly to the Lord's service. Until the formation of the "New State Associ- ation," he continued in the employ of the old State Body, with the exception of just a few weeks which were immediately before his em- ployment by the new. From Jan. 31, 1907, to now he has served the State Association as faithfully as any man could serve any organization, and while he and Dr. Throgmorton had worked shoulder to should- er before, since that time their fellowship has been more intimate still — the one as field sec- retary and the other as chairman of the Board of Missions. Together they have carried heavy burdens when necessary and together they have rejoiced in the pleasures of success. Brother Rodman has the fullest confidence of the brethren, and we presume that no man in the State Association comes as near knowing them all by name and face as does he. He visits a multitude of churches each year and he every- where finds a welcome. He and Dr. Throgmorton are nearly of the same age, the latter being his senior by less than 108 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON one year. It is good to know that both men are robust yet and that each possesses a physique which shows little indications of yielding to the passing of the years. J. 0. Raines. Before the Illinois Baptist was launched, Bro. J. O. Raines was publishing a paper at Manchester, 111., called the "Primitive Mission- ary." It was devoted to the interests of Foreign Missions, especially in Syria, which were in charge of the "Baptist Missionary Convention." His paper was merged into the Illinois Baptist when the latter began publication, and Brother Kaines has been one of the associate editors ever since, and has devoted himself chiefly to the paper, to the cause of foreign missions and to evangelism. The field of the Baptist Missionary Conven- tion has expanded till it takes in work in Syria and Persia as well as in Galilee. With this work the State Association has been more or less identified from the beginning, while for several years it has also fostered the work of the Rich- mond Board of the Southern Baptist Conven- tion. Brother Raines is a man of great push and en- thusiasm, and has worked arm in arm with Dr. Throgmorton in all the enterprises of the State Association. He is a good man. Woman's Auxiliary. The Woman's Auxiliary of the I. B. S. A., was organized at Herrin October, 1907. Mrs. J. ORGANIZATION OF STATE ASSOCIATION 109 A. Leavitt of Ewing was the first president, The next year, at Marion, Mrs. W. P. Throgmorton was elected to the chair and has been president ever since. She has been faithful and untiring in all her efforts and is greatly beloved by the women. The first field secretary for this woman's work was Miss Dora Lee Cain of Auburn, Geor- gia. She began her work in January, 1911, and continued till June of 1912. Miss Cain was a very competent woman and was most efficient in service. In October, 1912, Miss Julia Price of Virginia became the field worker but served for only about six months, when conditions made it necessary that the work be suspended. After this no field worker was employed till July 1915, when Miss Mary Northington of Clarksville, Tenn., was secured, and she has proven to be the woman for the work. Under her supervision the work has grown wonderfully and interest is constantly increasing. Last year the contribution from the women footed up to nearly $5,000, and many other indications of progress have appeared. State, Home and For- eign Missions and Education are emphasized. Just now under the auspices of the Woman's Auxiliary there are six girls in the Louisville Woman's Missionary Training school. The wo- men are also working for the Building and Loan Fund of the Baptist Home Mission Board of Atlanta, Ga., and are raising $1,200.00 as a memorial for Dr. and Mrs. W. P. Throgmorton. 110 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON This great gain in the Woman's work has been largely due to the wide-a-wake methods and consecrated leadership of Miss Northington, who has made a large place for herself in the people's hearts of the State Association. CHAPTER IX. FIFTY DEBATES. No men among us could better testify to the greatness of Dr. Throgmorton in debate than Dr. M. Teague and Dr. G. W. Danbury, both of Du Quoin, 111. Bro. Teague makes this observation : "If you have never heard Bro. Throgmorton in debate, you have never seen him at his best. I have heard a great many men in debate but I have never seen his equal. I moderated for him in twelve or thirteen debates and he was always pleasant, if his opponent would let him be. He would give the other fellow rope and then wind him up and ut- terly crush him. He did more than any other person to set aside the old Hardshell views that once reigned in this country and he kept Camp- bellism from over-running the land." Dr. G. W. Danbury says he moderated for Dr. Throgmorton in fifteen debates, beginning at Fulton, Kentucky, with the one with Potter. As a result of that debate many prominent Hard- shells have come to us. He further states that Dr. Throgmorton's great strength rests in his clearness in stating a position, and always stat- ing it within the limits of absolute facts. He always makes statements as to facts which he can prove. Also he refrains from taking advan- tage of an adversary's mistakes. His simplicity is the most remarkable quality about him. 111 112 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Throgmorton-Potter Debate. Editorial clipped from "The Baptist" of Memphis, Term., Dr. J. R. Graves, Editor : "For many years there have been rumors of war between what is known at the Antimission- ary, or Hardshell Baptists, and the Missionary, After much crossfiring and correspondence the agreement was reached to meet at Fulton, Ky., on July 12, 1887, and discuss the question, 'Who are the Primitive Baptists?' Eld. W. P. Throg- niorton, editor of The Baptist Banner of Illinois, was chosen to represent the Missionary Baptists and Eld. Lemuel Potter of Indiana, was chosen to represent the Antimissionary. "The weather was warm but a pleasant place had been prepared in a beautiful grove, and promptly to the hour a large congregation had assembled, which continued to give close atten- tion to the arguments adduced on both sides. When we beheld the upturned faces of the eager multitude, as important truth was being poured into their ears, with their patient endurance of six hours per day attendance upon the word, we could but pity as we hardly pity any other class, that large portion of people who set themselves in hostile array to oral discussions. Our observa- tion is, that our brethren are converted to debates when they attend and see for themselves. They fail to find the fuss and fire and flying fur, fan- cied by them from their fearfulness. "Bro. Throgmorton, who represented the Mis- sionary side is 37 years old and weighs 250, and FIFTY DEBATES 113 stands six feet, four inches with ease. He is the picture of health and speaks with deliberation and decision. He was fully prepared with his affirmation argument which occupied him the first two days, with an extra session of two hours the night of the second day. "Elder Potter is forty-five years old, five feet six inches high and weighs 150 pounds. He is thoroughly prepared on his side of the question, and made the best showing that can be made. He is deliberate, has himself well under control, and is a pleasant speaker and good debater. Nothing was said or done, during the whole dis- cussion by either speaker that was discourteous or that jeopardized a single rule of debate. The community which was hitherto indifferent, turn- ing out at first through curiosity, soon became thoroughly interested and acted as though it was good and pleasant to be there. Both sides ac- knowledge a debt of gratitude to the whole com- munity. "Brother Danbury of Jonesboro, Midkiff of Anna, Teague of DuQuoin, and Blanchard of Hartsville, were present from Illinois. Bro. Dan- bury graced the moderator's chair for the Mis- sionaries, while Eld. Kirkland of Farmington, Ky., presided for the other side. Elder Cook of Fulton was chosen umpire but was seldom in his place as it soon become evident that his services would not be needed. "Two shorthand reporters were engaged to take the speeches for publication in book form, 114 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON and by agreement no report of the arguments is allowed to be published in the papers. "It is the opinion of this writer that the best argument and historical references that have yet been prepared on these issues will be found in this book. It will be the best document for devel- oping missionary and educational interests among our people. Stated salaries for preachers, missionary boards, and mission and educational questions will be developed in this book." Dr. S. M. Brown in Word and Way (Feb. 1897.) "Dr. W. P. Throgmorton of the Baptist News is a debater. He believes it to be his sacred duty to discuss matters with a brother, especially a Campbellite brother who is d} T ing for a 'spute.' He is, in our judgment, the best debater now living. To begin with he is a Christian. He weighs about 260 pounds with no surplus flesh. He is sensible and kind. He does not debate to get a victory for himself. He stands up for God's truth. Now we have always been skeptical on the debat- ing business, but if anybody on earth could get us into one, it would be Bro. Throgmorton. He does not seek debate, but if they just will have it, he is not afraid." Campbellite Praise. From Banner and Gleaner, Sept. 28, 1891, then edited by W. P. Throgmorton and J. N. Hall. "If we copy a sentence or two complimentary of our worthy senior Editor (W. P. T.), while he FIFTY DEBATES 115 is away from the office, it will not be deemed out of place, especially when the source of it is con- sidered." Elder B. A. Howard, of the Campbellite church, in reporting the debate at Wingo, Ky., for the Apostolic church (Edited by W. L. But- ler with whom Dr. T. debated), has this to say about Bro. T." 'Bro. Throgmorton, the Baptist, is tall, fair complexion, light hair and blue eyes. If he were a lady I should call him a blonde. He is a pleasant kind-hearted, genial Christian gentleman, and one of the ablest debaters I have ever heard in a discussion of any kind. 'His pleasant countenance, gentlemanly de- meanor and Christian spirit, manifested in his intercourse with all those around him, makes friends of those who differ from him and pro- claim him a polished gentleman. His opponents are almost forced to exclaim, 'What a pity he is not the champion of a better cause !' And though he is not so logical and clear as his opponent, I have never witnessed more ability in attempt- ing to answer unanswerable arguments. His tact and shrewdness in disposing of his opponent's strong points and in making them appear weak, and even frivolous, are of the highest order. If he were to affirm that white is black, and make an argument in the presence of his friends, they would be almost irresistably drawn to his con- clusion, and be ready to swear he had proven his proposition. His coolness and self-control while 116 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON listening to arguments, that would bring con- sternation to a weaker man, are wonderful in- deed. His nonchalance under the most discourag- ing circumstances is surprising, and when he is pressed to the wall by his opponent, he exhibits the most perfect apparent indifference.' "This man was there. He felt, oh so keenly, the sharp Damascus blade, as its repeated strokes fell on the now decomposing carcass of his be- loved system. We are glad to note, however, the spirit of fairness and candor that Bro. Howard exhibits in giving to Bro. T. the honor due him." J. N. H. Dr. Throgmorton in Debate. Dr. Throgmorton said the way to do was to get a strong plea, which you believed with all your heart, and get other folks to think it the greatest thing in the world. Dr. Throgmorton once remarked to me, "We preachers do not throw ourselves into our ser- mons as we should. Now, when I used to debate, I felt the importance of the hour. I must be ready to meet every argument of the other man. I must impress the audience in that way and the moderator in that way, and the opponent in that way. I must be on the alert and use all my powers of mind to meet the occasion. I remember that without taking a scrap of a note, I could reply to my opponent, taking up his argument step by step, requoting his Scripture proofs and refuting him at every turn." FIFTY DEBATES H7 "If we could so preach in that way all the time, we would do much more good. But many times, sad to say, we appear indifferent to the great task before us. Possibly if we had two thousand men like Lee Scarborough we could take the world. Thus far, he represents my ideal of what a preacher should be." "It is a great thing to feel there is an emer- gency and that I am right in the midst of it. Thus I used to feel in debate." Dr. Moody's Estimate. Dr. J. B. Moody in 1892 told Dr. Lipsey of Taylorville, Ark., that Dr. Throgmorton was the best debater in the Southern Baptist Convention. That was while Dr. Throgmorton was pastor at Fort Smith, Ark. Porter's Praise. Dr. J. J. Porter, heard Dr. Throgmorton de- bate with Briney in August 1898 and wrote his impression of Dr. T. in the following language : "Bro. Throgmorton is rather slow and sure- footed ; knows where all the weak points are and is rather inclined to let his opponent play while he builds up his temple of truth. Then from that structure he gets the range of his adversary and turns his heavy guns on him and the result is the fortifications of error go up and down in smoke and ruins." Dr. Danbury on the Daily-Throgmorton Debate. The Daily-Throgmorton debate has come and gone, and I, having had the privilege of hearing every word of the same, thought it might be of 118 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON some use to those who did not hear it, to say something of my impressions of the same. As to the men, Mr. Daily is a fine appearing man, and speaks with force, as well as eloquence. He impresses one with the thought that he wants to be known as a scholar and to this end he en- deavors to make it appear that what he says is not to be called in question. He is not clear how- ever in his statement of the position he takes, nor does he appear to get the force of his oppo- nent's arguments. He frequently misquotes, as well as misapplies the argument of his opponent. He does not seem to care for the rules of con- troversy, as he did not, in this discussion, at- tempt to define his position at any time. His affimative speeches were delivered principally from manuscript which he read quite well. Brother Throgmorton on the other hand is clear in statement, quick to comprehend an argument, logical from first to last. He does not deal in sophistry, but from the start goes to the question in debate telling what he means by each term in the proposition that all may know what the point at issue is.. Mr. Daily in this debate gave more time to what was not in the questions being debated than he did to the questions under consideration. It appeared to me that he was not satisfied with the questions as stated. It frequently occurred that he would state what ought to have been the question instead of trying to prove his position. Yet he had signed both propositions as satisfac- FIFTY DEBATES 119 tory and spent four days trying to make the people believe that he should have been allowed to discuss something else. It frequently seemed he made statements that would involve him in the most absurd positions. As to the arguments on each side it was in my judgment one of the greatest victories for the position held by Brother Throgmorton that could have been gained. Some of the positions taken by Mr. Daily were that the Gospel was to call out those for whom Christ died, and to make known to them the fact that they were God's children by exciting in them a conviction for sin and making them know that they were vile sinners, while at the same time they were really born of God and the elect of God. Brother Throgmorton showed that if this was the case that the Holy Spirit made them believe a lie, to which Daily did not reply. I wish that all of our Baptist people could have heard this dis- cussion for themselves as I did. I suppose that the arguments will come out in book form in the near future, so that all will see for themselves. Get the book and read it carefully and you will see that the old gospel will always stand the test of controversy. We need not be afraid to have the test made from any point of view. Those who think religious con- troversy is a bad thing will see that they are mis- taken I think. I wish that questions of this kind could be discussed frequently before the people, 120 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON that they might have both sides and decide for themselves. The Marion Debate. (From the Illinois Baptist, August 5, 1911) If we do not miscount, this is the forty-ninth public oral discussion in which we have been one of the principals. For the sake of having the record in print and that it may be kept, we give a list of the men with whom we have debated and the number of discussions with each, and the de- nominational affiliation of each : Seventh Day Baptist, — Robert Lewis (2). Total, 2. Methodist,— H. M. Pender (1); C. M. Cagle (1); Rogers (1). Total, 3. Presbyterian,— R. P. Mitchell (1) ; Wiley (1); Total, 2. Universalist, — John Hughes (3). Total, 3. Christadelphian, — Thomas Williams (1). To- tal, 1. Seventh Day Adventist, Rees (1) ; To- tal, 1. General Baptist,— T. A. H. Laslie (1). Total, 1. Mormon, — Isaac Smith (1). Total, 1. Disciple, — W. H. Boles (1) ; Matthew Wilson (1;) Wright Williams (1); W. L. Crim (4); —Stone (1); W. T. Mason (1); W. L. Butler (1); George Tate (1); J. C. Stark (2); J. F. James (1); — Blaylock (1); James Hill (1) ; J. A. Harding (2) ; U. M. Browder (2) ; J. C. Creal (1) ; C. M. Wilmoth 1) ; J. T. Hinds (1) ; FIFTY DEBATES 121 G. B. Hancock (1) ; Marion Boles (1) ; J. B. Briney (2) ; T. S. Hutson (1). Total 28. Old School Baptist, — Lemuel Potter (2) ; — Dalton (1) ; S. F. Cayce (2) ; J. B. Denton (1) ; John R. Daily (1). Total 7. In a few cases we are sorry we have not been able to give initials of names. Total number of debates held, FORTY- NINE. Of these discussions three were held in Ark- ansas; four in Kentucky; six in Missouri, and one in Indiana. The remaining thirty-five were held in Illinois. We hope to live and see yet many good days. Life is full of good things and we have reason to expect still better things in this world than have yet come to us so far. We hope on suitable occasion to have one more public discussion so as to round out the fiftieth. After that, so far as we can see, we are willing to leave joint oral de- bates to "the boys." We have several of them who are growing in strength year by year. (This wish of his was gratified at Ewing, August 13, 1912, when he debated the second time with John R. Daily, Old School Baptist. The debate was pub- lished in book form. ) CHAPTER X. INCIDENTS, ANECDOTES, TRIBUTES, ES- TIMATIONS, IMPRESSIONS AND RE- MEMBRANCES GATHERED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. The anecdotes, incidents and tributes in this chapter about Dr. Throgmorton could have been multiplied many fold. Only such as furnish- ed a special view of his life were selected. He has been the means of assisting scores of young men in preparing for the ministry, but the cases se- lected show how he judged men. When he helped a young minister he usually succeeded. His life is woven into the texture of his section until any place can reproduce many incidents which re- veal his character. "Twit Fool." The following incident is supplied by Mr. O. R. Morgan of Vienna. It occurred at the time Dr. Throgmorton was christened, when he was two years old. On that very day he was taken by his mother to a Methodist meeting in the home of her uncle David Mac Swain, to be sprinkled. When the Methodist minister sprinkled the water on his baby head, he cried out, "Twit fool, twit fool." "Early Childhood Change." When he was nine or ten years old the Smith boys and he would play out on the creek almost all day on Sundays. He got in the habit of using language that was unbecoming to the manly life, and he was convicted that it was wrong. He had 122 INCIDENTS, ANECDOTES, TRIBUTES 123 been much interested in reading the Old Testa- ment, and at length one Sunday afternoon he slowly decided to quit the use of bad words for- ever, and that he would never permit any lan- guage to go from his lips that could not be used in the presence of his mother. He dated his "great change" from this occasion. Phrenologist Scott. Once while he was teaching school at Pleas- ant Hill in Grassy Precinct, a blind man by the name of John Scott visited the school. He was a Phrenologist and read the scholars heads, telling them what they would become in life. When he got hold of the teacher's head, it was large, so powerfully moulded, and so impresive in its shape, that he exclaimed, "This is not a school teacher in a country district; this is a United States Senator." The incident was long remembered by the pupils. It was a pleasant pre- diction of his greatness. Playing Marbles. Dow Martin, who grew up in Grassy Pre- cinct, and went to school to Dr. Throgmorton, re- lates this incident. He and his younger brother were left at home on a Saturday to split up a stack of stovewood, while their father and mother were away at Anna for the day. They were doing well until their teacher, Mr. Throgmorton, came by with a satchel of books on his arm and banter- ed them for a game of marbles. They played marbles till 4 o'clock and then he plunged in with an axe to help them make up 124 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON for lost time. First lick out he broke a handle, and for this he left them twenty-five cents, and taking up the other axe he soon had a pile of stovewood much larger than they could possibly have had without their game of marbles. In this way he won the righ regard of the boys, and made them his lasting friends. Those who have known the Doctor the longest have loved him the strong- est. Recess at School. He taught several terms of school during his young manhood and always he was as often on the playground as the pupils. It was his delighf to have fun with them. While he was a great big giant without any meat, and could seldom get clothes to fit his un- common body, yet it never held him back from play, even if he tore his coat, split his pants, broke his suspenders, and skinned his shins. F. M. Wright of Creal Springs was also a pupil of Dr. Throgmorton's in 1868-69, and he gives an account of the way the Doctor joked his pupils. The old time treat was customary on Christ- mas, and he told them that he was not intending to treat them that time. They were up in arms about it. To get them in a good humor, he let them take off his suspenders and tie him. It was easy to break the bands that bound him, but his scholars were tickled over it. INCIDENTS, ANECDOTES, TRIBUTES 125 Memorizing Scriptures. F. M. Wright also states that the Doctor trained his pupils to memorize the Scriptures. They would memorize chapters of books of the Bible and repeat them to one another. Always he entered into the contest and led the way. The Doctor could repeat Matthew, Mark, Acts, Eo- mans, James, First and Second Peter, and First, Second and Third John. In this man- ner he trained his remarkable memory for its fu- ture work. He knew the Scriptures. Riding a Wagon over the Ozarks. Years ago Dr. Throgmorton and Uncle Bobbie Link were driven over the Ozarks on a campaign tour by James W. Heaton. Uncle Bobbie was making the race for the Legislature on the Pro- hibition ticket. Dr. Throgmorton was making speeches for him, and Uncle Jim was the "under- striker." Uncle Jim's team was a large gray mare and a small stout bay mule. They fairly flew over the ground in getting from one place to another. As they bumped over those rough roads Uncle Bobbie would remark between high jolts ; "Well, it seems that the worr>e the roads the faster we go!" And with that Uncle Jim would give his old gray mare a rap with the lines and away they would fly like boys on a frolic. Sapling stops His Ox Wagon. Dr. Throgmorton bought a forty acre farm in Grassy Precinct. East of the house was a deep valley, and the down hill to it was steep. Once he borrowed a wagon and an ox team from 126 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON "Uncle" Jim Sanders with which to do some haul- ing and came across this valley with them. The oxen became unruly, having a new hand to drive them, ran away and hung up on a sapling. He hallooed for his wife to bring an axe. She came with it to the top of the hill, and when she saw the fix he was in, it was impossible for her to restrain her laughter. Seeing that she was enjoying the situation too much, he exclaimed, as he waved his hand; "Go back to the house; don't come down here; no telling what I'm going to do." He did, in fact, cut the sapling down, released the wagon and drove the load of poles home. But a man does not know what he might do in such a case. It is as bad as plowing a pair of mules in new ground. "Thirteen Feet High/' He taught two terms at Welburn school house near Creal Springs. One day he was trying to get a large class of youngsters to judge of the length of a foot. He showed them how long it was. He had them to guess at the length of a number of things. Then he stood up before them and asked an over grown boy to tell how high he looked. The boy eyed him up and down, and replied, "About thirteen feet !" It was a stunning moment. It showed the effect of his great height on the boy's imagination. In a Barber's Chair. Wherever Dr. Throgmorton goes he is looked up to. As he passes down the street of a town that is unused to seeing him, people stare at INCIDENTS, ANECDOTES, TRIBUTES 127 hiin and crane their necks to get a good view of him. In the fall of 1916 he stopped off in Flora between trains and went into a barber shop to get shaved. There were three chairs in the shop and he took the one fartherest from the door. After coming out, and returning to the depot he was followed by the barber next to the door who had made a wager with the other two that his guess of Dr. T's weight and height would be closer than the other two. When he came into the depot he said, "Pardon me, but how much do you weigh and how tall are you?" Dr. T. replied, "My fight- ing weight is 260 pounds and my height is a frac- tion over 6 feet and 4 inches." The barber popped his fists together and exclaimed, "I've got 'em on both points!" His Influence On A Crowd. His commanding height, his self-possessed de- meanor, his authoritative manner, his positive conviction, and his natural simplicity make him listened to with attention by all men. While those who admire him follow his every word with bated breath. His long time standing in his sec- tion of the land, his fifty debates wherein he has demonstrated his superiority over his many op- ponents, and his almost thirty years as editor, give him a long reach wherever he goes. His word is respected as law and gospel. What he says is almost final. It shows the power of a person- ality in securing results. 128 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON How Bro. Rodman teas Pushed Out to Preach It was Dr. Throgmorton who did it and it happened in this way. While Dr. Throgmorton was pastor at Benton they had quarterly Sunday School concerts. Book of Kings was assigned for one concert, and Brother Ben was assigned King Asa for his paper. He took the Bible and the Baptist Teacher and wrote out as complete a history of King Asa as he could and memorized it. The house was packed with people, faces towards him, and they listened while he spoke it. When he had finished, he sat down by Dr. Throgmorton, who said to him, "Why can't you talk that way about Jesus?" And he kept after him until he promised to preach. After that he ordained him, and thus he was started in the ministry. Bro. Rodman has been one of Dr. Throgmorton's most faithful co-workers, and is one of the state's noblest men. R. W. Lee's First Impressions of the Big Preacher. First time he saw Dr. T. was thirty-four years ago. In 1883 the Franklin association met at Mt. Pleasant and Brother Lee went. He was just be- ginning the ministry, and he said he did not know how he would act in the presence of that big preacher, whose reputation had spread abroad in the land, and who had come out from Benton. Old Franklin had been doing little along the line of missions. Dr. T. led the discussion for an associational missionary, and later he and INCIDENTS, ANECDOTES, TRIBUTES 129 R. W. Lee and W. L. Payne were appointed as a board to employ one. When the hour for noon dismission arrived Dr. T. arose and asked for that young Brother Lee. When he was pointed out he walked down the aisle and taking his hand, placed his arm around him and said, "We are yoke fellows. Let us go out here and sit down on a log and do something." Bro. Lee says that in a few minutes he felt perfectly at home with him, and in a short time they had agreed on employing a missionary. They decided on Bro. W. EL Carner but he could not get away from McLeansboro at that time. Later the Board met and Dr. T., said, "We've got a preacher working here at Benton in a flour mill, and we will take him out and make him a missionary." That was Brother Ben Rod- man and he has been a missionary worker in one position and another from then till now. The date of his employment by the Franklin Association Mission Board was Oct. 23, 1883. August 1869. Near Ozark is the old Robinson burying ground. Here in August 1869, Dr. T. was pres- ent at the burial of Elder J. L. Morton's first wife, and just at the time of the lowering of the body into the grave, the almost total esclipse of the sun for which that year is noted, occurred. At the same hour, in another state, Brother Dan- bury was asking his sweetheart to become his wife. The eclipse was an event by which such a 130 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON strange coincidence as a marriage and a funeral were recorded. A Baptismal Incident. At Mt. Vernon in the summer of 1888 he had a great revival meeting in which there were more than 100 converts. On a certain Sunday he bap- tized 45 persons in a stream near by. Baptizing the candidates he would quote an appropriate scripture as they came up out of the water. Com- ing out with one lady he quoted, "And Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water," etc. The sister rapturously clap- ped her hands and loudly cried, "You bet he did." About 2,000 people were in easy hearing and it is needless to say that they were visibly affected by the sister's odd speech. J. D. Hooker's Loving Remembrance. I want to offer a word, if it were my last word, even a feeble word, of appreciation of one of the best friends of my heart and life. In the long ago, when I was younger, I was so anxious to attend school and prepare myself for life's great tasks, but so poor, I was not able to cut loose from other ties and launch out in preparation for life's future work. I had a family and I must provide for it. How to do it and be in school too, was such a hard question for me to solve. I have often thought our folks were the poorest folks that ever were folks, but I sup- pose its honorable to be poor. In these years of long ago when I was so hungry to go to school and so anxious to pre- INCIDENTS, ANECDOTES, TRIBUTES 131 pare myself, I was almost in despair when my dearest and best friend, Dr. William Pinckney Throgmorton, came to me and said, "You go to school and I will stand by you for $75.00 a year and if I do not get it from others for you, I will pay it myself." I went and I want to tell your readers that Dr. Throgmorton has been to me more than any living man! Bro. Kobert M^ick used to send a check to Bro. Throgmorton for me once a year. How large that check did look to me ! God knows how I did and do appreciate his kindness and the kindness of others. I will never forget his help to me. Bro. Throgmorton's life has come into my life so that I have become a part of him. It is true it is only a small part of him, but I am glad of the part. My life has been small enough as it is, but God alone knows how very small and feeble it would have been had it not been for Dr. Throgmorton. May he live many years longer to hold up the banner of Jesus and when at the last, his body grows weary, his eyes dim, his limbs feeble and the call of promotion shall come, he will have the blessed consolation of knowing that he has helped many a boy and young man to make his life better and help the world to be better because he lived in it. God bless him. I shall always cherish his memory for he has been more to me than anyone in all the wide, wide WO rld. J- D. Hooker. 132 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Tribute of Dr. F. M. Agnew. Dr. F. M. Agnew, minister and M. D., of Ma- kanda, 111., has known Dr. Throgrnorton for al- most fifty years. Dr. Agnew bears the denomina- tional distinction of having served as Clerk of Clear Creek Association fifty-two consecutive years. It is believed that this is the longest ser- vice of the kind on record. In a private letter ordering a set of the author's books, he remarks : "J. E. Graves, J. B. Moody and W. P. Throg- rnorton have been my Baptist Tri-umvirate, not as to government, but as to advice and direction in Scriptural and Theological subjects, and they are named in that order, because it is the order of occurence in time but if you wish to trans- pose them I have no serious objections. I regard Brother Throgrnorton as the peer of either of the others, and as they never had to face the trials of faith and the organization of a new associa- tion as he, I am disposed to doubt that they would have succeeded as well as he. He has also shown the spirit of his Master in that "when he was re- viled he reviled not again." Appreciation by Rev. H. A. Smoot, D. D. Pastor First Baptist Church. Fre&ericktown, Missouri. I am glad to write a word of appreciation for what Dr. Throgrnorton has done for me. Dr. Throgrnorton heard me preach one night at a Baptist associational meeting in Southern Illi- nois. INCIDENTS, ANECDOTES, TRIBUTES 133 The next morning he came to me and asked me if I had any plans about going to college. I replied, that I was making my plans to go to Ewing college. He asked when I expected to enter the school there. I replied, either the follow- ing winter or spring term of school. I said as soon as I can get enough money ahead I expect to en- ter. He said, if you were helped financially could you arrange to start for Ewing next week and be there for the opening of the fall term. I said yes, and the arrangements were made. At this time I was twenty years old. I enter- ed Ewing College at the beginning of the fall term and started with the work as laid down in the catalogue for the A. B. degree. I took the work laid down in the catalogue term after term, year after year, and at the close of my sixth year I received my A. B. degree. During my first year in school Dr. Throgmorton helped me to the extent of $100.00. After the first year I served as pastor of churches, preaching every Sunday the other five years I was in college. After the first year my churches paid me a sufficient amount to pay all my expenses in school. The $100.00 given me the first year by Dr. Throgmorton was a great help to me and gave me a good start, that made it possible for me to obtain work as pastor with the churches, which enabled me to finish my college course. I have always counted Dr. Throgmorton as one of my warmest and best friends on earth. 134 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON I offered to pay back the f 100.00 to Dr. Throgmorton, but he said : "No, but if you ever find an opportunity to help some one as I have helped you that will be all right." I am glad to say that it has been a pleasure for me to help others to obtain an education. I have known of Dr. Throgmorton helping several others in school as he helped me. As pastor, editor and friend of education, no man has ever done as much for Southern Illinois Baptists as Dr. W. P. Throgmorton. His work in Southern Illinois will be a monument to him and his memory for centuries to come. I pray that our Heavenly Father will give him many more useful and happy years on this earth and then I feel sure that he will have a great reward in heaven. Tribute of G. W. Allison, Pastor First Baptist Church, E. St. Louis. In a great brotherhood like our denomina- tion, especially amongst the preachers, there grow up strong bonds of friendship. As one re- flects upon the whole, all of whom he loves, and yearns for their success, there are some whose faces stand out more clearly than others. This is a very natural thing. Intimate association and similarity of view and taste are factors that inevitably weave men soul to soul in strong bonds of love and friendship. "Birds of a feather flock together," and so it ever is, men of like senti- ments naturally associate together. I do not say this inferring that I feel myself, the equal of INCIDENTS, ANECDOTES, TRIBUTES 135 the man of whom I write this little sketch. But I do know that despite the gulf between our ages, separated as we are by more than thirty years, there never was from me a moment of strained or forced association. Never have I enjoyed the. association and fellowship of a younger man more than I did the pleasant memories of close association with Dr. W. P. Throgmorton. So free and harmonious was our fellowship that to me there never came the thought of any differ- ences whatever. Never did I tire or wish for more pleasant and sympathetic associations. Few friends have meant so much to me and none have meant more. I never could forget the first time I met Dr. Throgmorton. It was at the Mobile and Ohio depot on the station platform at Jonesboro. We were on our way to the Clear Creek Association which met that year at Mill Creek. I had heard much of the man but nothing from any friendly source. The opinion I had of him was so much in contrast to what I found him to be. This day of which I speak, he was seated upon a baggage truck doing some writing in a tablet. I at that time was working the field in the interest of Ew- ing College. With two heavy grips I came up to the place where he was sitting. "Hello, there!" came the hearty and genial greeting. "Who is this?" I told him and he answered by saying that he had heard of me and was glad to hear of some good work that I had been in at the college. This reference was to a large number who had 13 6 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON been led to Christ during that previous fall and winter. The next word he said was put in a question: "Do you feel called of God to preach?" I answered that I did. Immediately he followed with this question: "Do you feel like Paul said he felt, 'Woe is me if I preach not the gospel'?" Again I answered that I did. My heart was stir- red for he had touched the one thing which to me was the dearest treasured wish of my soul. And to deepen the impression in my soul he held out that big hand cf his as he said: "Well, shake again, for that is just the way I feel about it." And closed by saying: "My name is Throgmor- ton." From that hour on we were the closest of friends, and feelings sprung up in my heart which never have diminished but rather grown stronger and stronger. He entered into a dis- cussion of my plans for going to school, and be- fore I was aware of what I was doing I had laid my whole heart bare as to my ambitions and he had gotten me to tell him all about myself. He looked at me and continued: "I go a great deal on first impressions and somehow I just believe in you. If you don't mind I will send you each month $5.00 to help defray your expenses." I told him I did not know how or when I could ever repay him, but he would not listen. He said : "Never you mind. I take a delight in doing this sort of thing for young fellows every now and then. And all you have to do to repay me is just to go and make good." And each month that I INCIDENTS, ANECDOTES, TRIBUTES 137 was in college after that time with the regular- ity of the calendar came a check for $5.00. From this time on the man became a friend and brother. It seemed that we had always known each other. And it was my great pleasure to go as the pastor of the First Baptist church of Marion, the first church I served full time. To have him as a member of that church and a con- stant companion meant much to me. He was studious, benevolent, consecrated and loyal in his habits. Upon leaving college of course I was anxious to carry on my study. In this he en- couraged me and helped me no little in turning me loose in his library and suggesting valuable lines to pursue. In the three and one-half years that we were associated together, and it was an every day association, not once did we cross each other. Never did he criticise my work or methods. He was always encouraging me and holding me up before the people It was in him that I saw the truth of the statement: That strong character is the result of strong convic- tion. Such a man is a wonderful blessing to a young preacher just beginning to get his bear- ings. I felt as easy in his presence in my congre- gations from the first time he heard me as if he were my own kinsman. Never did his presence or attitude do otherwise than bless and encourage me. When the question of the new church build- ing came up he was with me and for me. He ac- cepted the plans and worked with me as if the 138 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON whole thing was his own proposition. No man did more physically, spiritually or financially. I had the chance to see him contrasted with other men. Many who bitterly opposed him be- cause of his firm stand for his convictions con- cerning the Baptist position to my certain knowledge have greatly misunderstood him. It has often been said that he constantly agitated the divided situations in the state. Of such a single case I do not know. I know of cases where he could have so done but did not. I know him as one of the biggest and best men that it has ever been my privilege to meet. May the Father increase his tribe. Often in the midst of his struggles and toils I have seen him as Goldsmith's words depict the preacher : "As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm, Tho' round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head." PART II ADDRESSES, SERMONS, EDITORIALS, SKETCHES, DOCTRINAL DISCOURSES. Mrs. W. P. Throgmorton CHAPTER I. A CHARACTER SKETCH— DEACON J. W. HEATON OF NEW BURNSIDE. (Copied From Illinois Baptist, May 18, 1912) The other week our old friend, Deacon J. W. Heaton of New Burnside, 111., made us a brief visit. He is a man whom we are always glad to see, and the sight of him wakes up stirring and pleasing memories of the past. We have known him since our boyhood. The first time we ever met him — to form his acquain- tance was at his hospitable home in Johnson county about August, 1868, near where the town of New Burnside now flourishes. We had seen him a time or two before this but did not get ac- quainted. He was then a man of about thirty- five years of age, full of energy and full of af- fairs. He was a large farmer for that section and quite a stock man. In everything he was a hustler himself and everyone on the place had to hustle too. No grass grew under the feet of either his boys or his hired men. The purpose of our visit was to secure the place as teacher for the "Birdwell School Dis- trict," of which Brother Heaton was a director. When we reached his place he was away on some business, but we remember distinctly of meeting his wife, his daughter Rettie, and Nat, his young- est boy. Doubtless we saw others of the family at the same time, but only those three on that oc- casion do we remember. 141 142 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON Specially do we recall Nat — a stolid, inde- pendent sort of a little fellow, who was fully set to dispute every inch that anybody claimed on him. Kettie was a fine, quiet, bright little girl of about eleven. Nat is now a ranchman in California, and Rettie (now Mrs. Kennedy), lives in the same state. The mother years ago entered into her rest. She was a good, Christian woman, devot- ed to her home, her husband and her children. Blessings on her memory. When the deacon came in and found out our business he took to us at once and was soon on the way with us to meet the other directors. To make the story short, we secured the school, and were employed for six months at a salary good for those days. From the start Brother Heaton adopted us. He was our true friend and counsellor and help- ed us out of many little difficulties and misun- derstandings, constantly gave us good advice and was truly a father to us. With our young wife (we had been married for only a short time) we visited in the Heaton home as freely as we would in the home of our own father and felt just as welcome. It was truly an "Old Kentucky Home" (for the deacon and his wife are Ken- tuckians) where there was no stiffness or con- straint, and the visitors, such as we, at least, did not have to feel that they were company. At that time only two of Bro. Heaton's sons were old enough to do farm work. These were A CHARACTER SKETCH 143 "Brack" (J. C. B.) and Langhorn. The latter died in his early teens and J. C. B., is now on a fruit farm near the old home place. He has made a success and is one of the leading horticulturists of the state. In fact he is an authority where fruit and fruit trees are concerned. With him in the same work is his younger brother, J. W. Jr. They are a fine pair of men. Brother Heaton's oldest child was a daughter, Mary. She became Mrs. James Arnold, a good Christian housewife, and reared a nice family of children. Her death occurred something more than two years ago. A much younger daughter, Effle, is a successful teacher in California. All the Heaton children, except Nat, who are living, are Christians and Baptists of the right sort. They are true to their training and ready to sup- port what they believe in with their means. Like most men who lead strenuous lives and do things, Deacon J. W. Heaton has and has had his eccentricities. None of them, however, very bad ; some of them extra good. One has been this ; he would ride through swamps and over moun- tains to win a point, meet an engagement, serve a cause that he thought was right, or help a friend. Then on occasion he would pull on a friend. But so far as we know, no friend ever finally suffered on his account. Sometimes in the midst of pressing business cares and perplexities, he was absent minded. Once on a "Big Four" train, as he was nearing the station at which he desired to stop, he was 144 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON busy talking with some one that he did not notice and failed to get off when the call was made. The train pulled out and took him out of town. Just then he came to himself, reached for the bell rope and pulled. Of course, the train slowed up. As he was making his way off, the conducter came rushing up and exclaimed, "Don't you know you can't stop this train that way?" "I have done it," said he, as he jumped off and started back to town. This was an index to his character. He was a man that could act in an emergency. It is told of him that on another occasion he had ridden into New Burnside and hitched his horse. When night came he was so absorbed that he forgot the animal and walked back home, leav- ing the horse out all night. Not often, however, did anything alive suffer under his care. He be- longed to that class of whom the wise man speaks, "The righteous man regardeth the life of his beast." Years ago one day when Reynoldsburg was his nearest post office and trading point, he said to one of his boys, "Langhorn, you get on a horse and go to Reynoldsville and back just as quick as you can." He had it in his mind to send for something important, but forgot to tell the boy what it was. Langhorn, a chip off the old block, made the trip and came back with nothing, and was rather rejoiced to see his father nonplussed. Men who concentrate their powers often do absent minded things like these. Their whole be- ing is swallowd up in the dominating issue. A CHARACTER SKETCH 145 Another peculiarity of Bro. Heaton in the years of his greatest activity, was his ability to go to sleep any moment under almost any cir- cumstances. Anywhere in the midst of all sorts of noises he could lie down and be off in slumber- land by the time his eyes were closed. This was a great thing for him. It enabled him to recuper- ate in the midst of stress and strain. He would awake in a few minutes refreshed and ready for the fray. We have read it somewhere of the first Napoleon that he could go to sleep at will amidst the roar of battle and awake completely rejuve- nated in a little time. In his palmiest days Bro. Heaton was a great lover of horses. He kept some fine stock and would not tolerate an animal that was "poky." He fed well, drove fast and rode fast. Out riding with his oldest son he would say, "Ride up, Bracky ; ride up ; fast riding makes fast horses." Somehow everything under his direction moved. He could take a plug horse and make him trot as if possessed. Riding or driving, his horses or mules had to go. Even now, or at least this was the case a year ago, Bro. Heaton will get on a horse and ride as glibly as a young man. As soon as the horse feels himself under the old brother, he feels that something possesses him. The horse- man's instinct communicates itself to the horse. As a citizen, Bro. Heaton has always stood for the best things. Years ago when the old "C. & V." railroad went through and a town was to be established, two sites were in the contest. One 146 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON was under Eonian Catholic influence and would possibly have been a saloon town. The other was the present site of New Burnside, for which Bro. Heaton stood, nobly seconded by his friend Captain Mark Whiteaker. They won out and es- tablished the town on a no-saloon basis. The deed to every lot sold had in it a special prohibi- tory clause providing that it should never be used for saloon purposes. At one time it was thought that this prohibitory condition was doing injury and preventing the growth of the town. Even the temperance people began to think it had better be left out. Heaton and Whiteaker's best friends begged them to yield that point. Captain White- aker would have yielded but Bro. Heaton said "Never," and stood firm, though he stood alone. The outcome has been that everybody honors him for it. New Burnside has never had a licens- ed saloon and the community and all the sur- roundings generally have been noted for morality and good citizenship. For this outcome Deacon J. W. Heaton, we think, deserves more credit than any other man. We give him this bouquet now without waiting to put it on his casket. We have already spoken of the hospitality of the Heaton home. In fact the virtue of hos- pitality is a virtue of the entire "Heaton tribe," as the old deacon loves to call his family. We would not hesitate to call on any of them, day or night, for any favor which hospitality or friend- ship enjoins. They would go through rain and snow and slush and darkness to grant it A CHARACTER SKETCH 147 As a supporter of public gatherings and a dispenser of hospitality which they call for, Bro. Heaton was unexcelled. For years he owned a spacious country home. On big Baptist meeting days, he would give a general invitation like this :"Everybody that will, go to my house. I can feed you all. Them that I can't sleep, I will sit up with." And he never had any lack of company. Brother Heaton became a Christian when a young man. Up to the day of his conversion, as we have the story, he was very wicked. Attend- ing a revival meeting one night, he was stricken by an arrow of conviction, went forward for prayer and was saved in that same hour. From that time on he was true and faithful — a genuine Christian and a sure-enough Baptist. He may have erred sometimes in method, but his aim was always right. When we first knew him he was a Baptist Deacon and through all the years he has looked forward and upward. Nothing wishy- washy could ever catch him. He was one of the leading spirits in the or- ganization of the New Burnside Baptist church and in the erection of its house of worship. We suppose he put more money into that building than any other four men. In those days he was financially in good shape. We verily believe he would have paid for the entire structure rather than to have had the enterprise fail. When it came to paying his pastor and promoting good interests generally, he was of the same spirit, His heart was always warm, his purse was al- 148 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON ways open and his hand was always ready to aid in work which he approved. Nothing hurts the old brother now more than his inability to contribute as he would like when appeals are being made for denominational and benevolent work. We do not mean that because he is poor in his last days he carries a long face. He does not. Really he is happy. But the joy of giving on occasion is a blessing greatly missed. Had he been like many other men, he could have "cut and carved" and could have saved a competency at the expense of his creditors . But he is not built of that kind of timber. He let everything go to meet his just obligations. So now he walks in conscious integrity, having made a record for honesty of which any man may be proud. At the same time he has food and rai- ment — plenty of life's real necessities and com- forts — and is therewith content. Brother Heaton's age is now about eighty- three. So he is where the shadows lengthen far to the eastward ; but as he looks back over his pil- grimage, he can be glad. He has been loyal and faithful ; he has fought a good fight ; he has run a good race. When his children and friends think of his life story as he has lived it they rise up and call him blessed. And as he looks upon his children, he finds joy in them, because they are an honor to the training which he gave them. We trust that before he crosses the River, he will hear of the conversion of the only one who is not A CHARACTER SKETCH 149 yet a Christian and that his years in the "light of the evening time," may be many. Such men as this sketch tells about are the pillars of the church and of the social structure. Their worth can not be fully estimated. To them we take off our hat ; we honor them ; we wish them the best there is and the best there is to be hereafter. This, not only because of such things as we have mentioned, but because of — "That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love." Never until such men come to get their crowns will the full story of their rich lives be known. CHAPTER II. ORDER OF THE ORDINANCES. Text. — "'Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things and keep the ordi- nances as I delivered them to you." — 1 Cor. 11 :2. Generally speaking it is agreed among Bap- tists that there are two ordinances which have been committed to the keeping of the church. These two ordinances are the Lord's Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Both are equally the Lord's, and the two are equally sacred. Each in its place has its importance. These ordinances are to be kept as to their form, as to their design, as to their administration and as to their order. The church which would have the apostolic appro- bation must remember all these things. Neither one of these ordinances has anything to do with making a man a child of God. A man must become a child of God before he has any- thing to do with the ordinances. Both of them are for Christians — never for the unconverted. Men are saved "by grace through faith," before and without participation in these ordinances. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." See John 6 : 47. For a man to be baptized without having been saved is a great sin. For a man who is not a Christian to partake of the Lord's Sup- per is to desecrate that sacred feast. In this sermon I am to discuss the order of these ordinances. That is, I am to consider this question : To which of these ordinances should a Christian come first? or does it make any differ- 150 ORDER OF THE ORDINANCES 151 ence? A very few religionists tell lis it makes no difference. For instance, the Open-Communion Baptists tell us if a Christian happens to be where the Lord's table is set, before he is bap- tized, it is all right for him to partake. If he happens to have opportunity to be baptized first, let him submit to that rite. The order, they say, is a matter of no consequence. My position in this sermon is that the Lord's baptism should always be first. That is to say, it is the immediate duty of the saved believer to be baptized. Then, after that, in the Scriptural way he should partake of the Lord's Supper. Al- ways in the New Testament this was the order. When Jesus, the Master, instituted the ordi- nances, this was the order. Baptism was first. In the third chapter of Matthew is the first New Testament mention of baptism. This baptism was administered by John and multitudes received it at his hands. Finally Jesus himself came, and was baptized. Some three and a half years after this, as the record is given in the twenty-sixth chapter of Matthew, the Lord's Supper was instituted. So in the institution of the ordinances, Jesus and his disciples came to baptism first ; afterwards, to the Supper. "But might not the order of institution be a matter of indifference? And might it not be that afterward the order of observance was a matter of indifference?" I think not. However, let us see. Take the great Commission as found in Mat- thew 28 : 19, 20, which is the charter under which 152 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON the church keeps the ordinances till this day: "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all na- tions, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have com- manded you ; and, lo, I ani with you alway, even to the end of the world." The first thing the church is to do, according to this commission, as it goes, is to make dis- ciples. A disciple is all one with a Christian. Jesus said, "Whosoever he be of you that for- saketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my dis- ciple." See Luke 14 : 33. A person who has thus done is certainly a Christian. The next thing in the great Commission is baptism. First, make dis- ciples ; next, baptize them. In other words, first a Christian; next, a Baptist. A scripturally bap- tized person is a Baptist. One may be a Chris- tian and not be a Baptist, but he cannot be a real Baptist without first being a Christian. The man who says, "I am not much of a Christian, but I am a mighty good Baptist," does not properly understand. You cannot be a good Baptist unless you are a good Christian. The next thing in this great Commission is to teach those who are bap- tized to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded. Among these things is the observ- ance of the Lord's Supper. So the order of the great Commission is first, conversion; next bap- tism ; after that, communion. ORDER OF THE ORDINANCES 15 3 First, make disciples ; second, make Baptists ; third, train the Baptists in the doing of what Christ has commanded. "Your argument seems plain enough, Brother Throgmorton, so far as the great Commission is concerned. But are you sure the Apostles and those who taught under their immediate direc- tion, understood and applied the great Commis- sion as you do?" Nothing could be plainer than that they did. In the second chapter of Acts we have the account of the first sermon preached after the giving of the great commission. It makes fine reading. Its end was that many were brought to believe. In the forty-first verse we see the result immediately following: "Then they that gladly received His word were baptized." Note the order. First, they gladly received the word, or to tell it in different language, were joyfully converted; next, they were baptized. Reading on into the next verse, we find where the Lord's Supper came in: "Then they that gladly received His word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they (those who were bap- tized and added) continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and fellowship, and in break- ing of bread and in prayer." Now note the order : First, conversion ; next, baptism ; next, being add- ed to the church; AFTER this the BREAKING OF BREAD, or participation in the Lord's Sup- per. Who has a right to change this order and put communion back before baptism? No one has, 154 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON unless he can find authority elsewhere in the New Testament. Take another New Testament example, found in Acts 8 : 5-12. Here we have an account of a very remarkable revival under the ministry of Philip. The twelfth verse gives the summing up : "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Plainly the order here was, first con- version. "They believed, and this means that they were converted. Jesus says, "He that be- lieveth on the Son hath everlasting life." If they had everlasting life they were certainly Chris- tians. Next, "they were baptized, both men and women." Some time after this no doubt they came to the Lord's table. The point is, they did not come to the Lord's table before they came to the Lord's baptism. The teaching is, first, con- version; next baptism; AFTEK that, commun- ion. Why should any individual Christian, preacher or otherwise — why should any church — want to teach converts to do differently from what New Testament converts did as shown in Acts 2 and in Acts 8? Let us consider another case, showing how work was done under the great Commission. Let us take the first revival meeting held for Gentiles. The record is in the tenth chapter of Acts. Cor- nelius, the Gentile, was instrusted to send for Peter, who when he came was to tell him words whereby he and his house should be saved, ORDER OF THE ORDINANCES 155 (Acts 11 : 14,) and tell him what to do. When the apostle came he found Cornelius and quite a company of interested people waiting for him. To them he preached and told the story of Christ's life, death and resurrection. They listened with open ears and open hearts. In the forty-third verse we find the words whereby they were to be saved: "And to him give all the prophets wit- ness that through His name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." Cornelius and those with him at once took in the gracious message and were saved. The next verse says, "While Peter yet spake these words the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, and they spake with tongues and magnified God." Here were the first Gentile converts under the preaching of the apostles. If the Lord's Supper be as some people claim a token of Christian love and fellowship it would have been nice for the Jewish Christians who were present to have sat down at the Lord's table with these new Gen- tile converts as a token of the fact that they loved them and recognized them. But Peter did nothing of the kind. He turned to the Jewish brethren who were present and put the question to them, "Can any of you forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" Then we are told in the next verse that, "he commanded them to be bap- tized in the name of the Lord." So the order here was, first, conversion; next, baptism. After this some time no doubt the baptized converts came to 156 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON the Lord's table. But the baptism was before the communion. Why then should a man be censured as narrow and close when he insists on the same order which the New Testament enjoins? In this New Testament order is the sum and substance of what some people sneer at as "close communion. " It is New Testament communion. With one more New Testament example I think Ave may close the argument as to order and consider it settled. In Acts, eighteenth chapter, we have an account of Paul's work in planting the church at Corinth. The summary may be con- sidered as found in the eighth verse : "And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized." Plain enough. Those who thus believed were converted. Every true believer is a true convert. So at Corinth it was, first conversion; next, baptism. Some time afterward they came to the Lord's table. Paul gives these same converts directions as to the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinth- ians, eleventh chapter. I hope the order is now so impressed on your minds and hearts that you will never get away from it. New Testament order is, first, that a man should be converted ; next, that he should be baptized; after that — never before that — that he should come to the Lord's table. This is New Testament order and this is the order of Baptist teaching and practice. As to this order all denominations who practice baptism at all (open communion Baptists excepted) are agreed. I know that in their practice they do not always seem to be agreed to it, but in their stand- ORDER OF THE ORDINANCES 157 ards, they are. Dr. Wall, the learned Episcopal- ian who wrote the celebrated History of Infant Baptism says this : "No church ever gave the com- munion to any persons before they were baptiz- ed. Among all the absurdities that ever were held, none ever maintained that any person should partake of the communion before he was bap- tized." The idea that unbaptized people may come to the Lord's table was a doctrine which Dr. Wall had not heard of. Open-communion Baptists were a people he did not know about. Dr. Griffin, a Presbyterian scholar, says this : "I agree with the advocates of close communion in two points : 1. That baptism is the initiatory ordinance which introduces us into the visible church; of course, where there is no baptism there are no visible churches. 2. That we ought not to commune with those who are not baptized, and of course, are not church members, even if we regard them as Christians." Dr. Hibbard, a learned Methodist author, says: "In one principle Baptist and pedo-bap- tist churches agree. They both agree in rejecting from communion at the table of the Lord, and in denying the rights of church fellowship to all who have not been baptized." The same author says further: "The charge of close communion is no more applicable to the Baptists than to us (pedo- baptists) ; inasmuch as the question of church fellowship with them is determined by as liberal principles as it is with any other protestant churches. So far I mean as the present subject 158 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON is concerned, i. e., it is determined by valid bap- tism." It appears then that where Baptists separate from their brethren of other denominations, is not at the Lord's table. The separation is before they get to the Lord's table. It is at the baptis- try. Baptists believe that only immersion is bap- tism. They do not regard those who have receiv- ed only sprinkling or pouring for baptism as hav- ing been baptized at all. Let ns remember this: Baptists, pedo-bap- tists, and the New Testament are all agreed that in gospel order the Lord's Baptism must come before the Lord's Supper. But an objector says : "I have a difficulty. You Baptists do not invite all who have been immers- ed to the Lord's table." You are right about that. Immersed persons in other denominations are not invited to the Lord's Supper in Baptist churches, because there is one other point in gos- pel order. Different sects cannot possibly eat the Lord's Supper together. The Lord's Supper can only be observed by the undivided body of Christ which is the church of the New Testament. Suppose we improvise an ideal open commun- ion occasion. Before us is a pew full of Meth- odists, and we will say that every one of them is a real Christian and that every one of them has been immersed. A second pew is filled with Pres- byterians, and we will say that every one of them is a Christian and has been immersed. A third pew is occupied by Congregationalists ; and ORDER OF THE ORDINANCES 159 we will say that every one of them is a Chritian and every one has been immersed. A fourth pew is full of Baptists ; and we will say every one of them is a Christian and has been immersed. Be- fore these is a table on which are the loaf and the fruit of the vine. Thanks are given, the loaf is broken and eaten by all these. Thanks are again offered and the cup containing the fruit of the vine is partaken of by all these. BUT THIS IS NOT THE LORD'S SUPPER. A congrega- tion such as this cannot observe the Lord's Sup- per. Let us prove this: I do not want to be harsh ; I do not want to be unkind. I will give you what Paul says. In my text he says: "I praise you that ye remember me in all things and keep the ordinances as I delivered them to you." Then in 1 Cor. 11 : 17-20, he says : "But in giving you this charge, I praise you, not that ye come to- gether not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all when ye come together in the church (congregation) I hear that divisions (schisms) exist among you : and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies (factions) among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When therefore ye as- semble yourselves together, IT IS NOT POS- SIBLE TO EAT THE LORD'S SUPPER." I have quoted from the Revised Version. In that church at Corinth were at least four different sects or factions. Some were of Paul ; some were of Apollos ; some of Cephas, and some of Christ. 160 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON See 1 Cor. 1 :12. On this account it was not pos- sible for that church to eat the Lord's Supper. Xow in this improvised occasion which I have brought before you there are four sects or fac- tions. Therefore they cannot eat the Lord's Sup- per. If I were a Methodist or a Presbyterian I would be as strict a communionist as I ani now. Different sects CAXXOT eat the Lord's Supper together. Another man comes with this objection : "It is the Lord's table and surely all the Lord's chil- dren have a right to come to it." Yes, it is the Lord's table and for that very reason the church which observes it must keep the Lord's directions concerning it. If it were OUR table we might do as we please with it, but, as it is not ours, the case is different. As it is the LORD'S we must observe the Lord's law concerning it. Bap- tists are noted for hospitality at their own tables. But the Lord's law as to HIS table is that first a man should be converted ; after that he should be immersed and come to the table in the undivided body of Christ where alone the table can be set. Even the Lord's children, while they have a right at the table, have no right to come to it contrary to His law. A man's children have no right to come to his table contrary to his rules. John Smith has five boys and they have a good mother. Mr. Smith decides to go to the great Northwest and try to make a fortune for them. He has very strict but wise rules by whch he governs them. Before he ORDER OF THE ORDINANCES 161 goes away he has a talk with his wife and she agrees that to the best of her ability she will manage the boys according to his rules. So away he goes and leaves his wife and children at home. For a time everything goes on well. One of Mr. Smith's rules has been that no boy should come to the breakfast table without having first washed his face and combed his hair. After a few days, Johnnie, the youngest, gets up late one morning. The other boys, all ready in due form, are at the table eating their morning meal. John- nie is in a hurry to join them. So with face un- washed, hair unkempt, only one suspender in place, no coat on, he comes and down he sits at the table. His mother says: "My son, you are not ready for your breakfast yet." Johnnie re- plies, "I guess this is my father's table. I'm his son and I have a right here." The mother re- plies, "Yes, my boy, you are your father's son and this is your father's table ; but you must not come to your father's table contrary to your father's rules. So go at once and perform your morning ablutions and get ready." Everybody says, "Good for the little woman; she is right." So the Lord's children must come to the Lord's table only as He directs. Those who come must first have been converted; after that they must have been immersed and then they must be in fellowship in the undivided body or church. A church cannot change the rule and be loyal to its Lord. 162 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON "Well, all this seems to be pretty clear, but there is one Scripture in my mind that I would like for you to explain. Paul says, 'Let a man examine himself and so let him eat!" Yes; the apostle says that, and it is in perfect harmony with all we have been saying. We are to inter- pret all such expressions by their limitations. No- body believes that just any man in the world, no matter who he is, may eat. Some are not to be eaten with at all. So what are the limitations? Let me illustrate. This fall there is an election. A president and a congress are to be chosen. W T e are to have a great time. The great parties will have their candidates before the people and their platforms will be published and great meetings will be held and wonderful speeches will be made. The question will be, What is a man to do? I say, Let a man examine the candidates and the platforms and so let him vote. And every- body says this is right. But here is a good Ger man who has not been naturalized. He loves our country and our institutions. He has cross- ed the ocean to be with us. Must he examine the candidates and so vote? Not much. The judges, sworn to maintain the election laws, will not permit it. He lacks his naturalization pa- pers. Such expressions as 1 Cor. 11: 28 are al- ways to be understood inside the law governing the matter in hand. The law as to the order of the ordinances is that communion at the Lord's table must come after baptism and church membership. Inside this law, let a man examine ORDER OF THE ORDINANCES 163 himself and so let him eat, but he must not go outside the law to eat. Another objection to the order of the ordi- nances as Baptists teach and practice, is put this way : "If you Baptists would give up your close communion, you would be more popular. You would take the country. I would "Behold the place where Jesus lay, An angel said of old; We say the same; His grave you may In water here behold. This ordinance is plainly given; 'Tis left upon record ; Though not to save or take to heaven, But show we love the Lord." CHAPTER III. FOUR ESSENTIALS TO SCRIPTURAL BAP- TISM. (A Sermon.) Text :— "One Baptism."— Eph. 4 : 5. The peculiarity of a Christian is that he loves God and the people of God. "He that loveth not knoweth not God." The expression of this love is obedience to what God commands. Jesus once said to the disciples, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." In the same chapter he also said, "If a man love me he will keep my words." One of the very first impulses felt in the new heart is the desire to do what God commands. As soon as Jesus was revealed to Saul of Tarsus as his Savior and Lord, Saul's first question was, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" In fact, the acceptance of Jesus, as Lord, is as neces- sary to salvation as the acceptance of him as Savior. The word to the inquirer is, "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved," which is equivalent to saying, "Accept Jesus as Lord to rule you and Savior to save you and you shall be saved." Luther said that he had rather obey than to work miracles, and the Bible says to obey is better than sacrifice. One of the plain commandments in the New Testament is, "Be baptized." Baptism cannot be neglected without disobedience to the Lord and Savior. For a man to say, "I love my Savior, but I will not be baptized," is a misnomer. Such 167 168 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON talk is plain proof of one of two things : Either the one who thus speaks, does not know that baptism is commanded, or else he does not love God. The surest proof that a man does not love God is his declaration that he will not obey Him. A Quaker may say, "I will not be baptized," and not show the spirit of disobedience because he does not believe that baptism is now command- ed. And love can be manifested by doing only what it conscientiously believes is laid upon it. Neglect of baptism in the case of a conscientious Quaker is a sin of the head and not of the heart. Of course, sins of the head are recorded against us, but there is a great difference between a wilful sin and a sin committed unwittingly. The word baptism, in its various forms, oc- curs in the New Testament about eighty times. God sent John on purpose to baptize. Jesus walked more than sixty-five miles on purpose to be baptized. Just before he ascended to his Fath- er, he commanded his people to administer it to the end of the world. All through the Acts of the Apostles we see where the Holy Spirit enjoin- ed it and where it was submitted to by those whom the apostles taught. It is an ordinance which is stamped with the divine approval just as truly as the stars and stripes are stamped with the approval of our government as the em- blem and ensign of our great union of states. I once knew a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher of whom it was said — I didn't hear him say it — that he declared that if he had every passage ESSENTIALS TO SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM 169 which contained the word baptism in all the New Testament, on one leaf of his Bible, he would cut it out and throw it away. He said the dis- cussion of it caused lots of trouble and it was not essential anyway. Such a man is as disloyal to Christ at heart, as is the soldier entrusted by his commander in chief with orders to deliver to a subordinate at a given point, and who instead of delivering them,_declares that they are of no use, throws them in the fire and goes on his way. Such a soldier, when found out, will always be court-martialed and severely punished. Will the great Master of earth and heaven be less severe? He is the judge of all the world and will do right. We will leave it to Him. Now if baptism is commanded and if the com- mand ought to be obeyed, what is essential to it that it may be obeyed? Every loyal spirit will want to be sure on this point. If he does not want to be sure, he betrays a carelessness which is criminal and a disregard for the will of his Savior and Lord. Let me say then that the first essential to scriptural baptism is, 1. That there must he a proper subject. To administer the form to one who is not a proper subject, would amount to nothing for good, and would be disobedience on the part of one or both the subject and the man who administers the rite. An unconscious infant is not a proper subject for baptism. It can have no faith of its own ; it can have no conscience in the matter of its own. In Heb. 11 : 6 we read, "Without faith it is impos- 170 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON sible to please God." In the work of John the Baptist, we find that he baptized only such as confessed their sins. See Matt 3 : 5, 6. This, in- fants cannot do, because they have no sins to confess and because if they have them they are not competent to make the confession. In John 4 : 1-3 we find that Jesus baptized only disciples, and infants cannot be disciples. A disciple is one who forsakes all that he has that he may win Christ. See Luke 14 : 33. This, an infant, can- not do. In the great Commission Jesus com- mands the baptism of disciples to the end of the world, and does not command the baptism of in- fants. In fact, there is not the shadow of the sign of a command or of an example in the New Testament that infants were ever baptized under the ministry of John, Jesus or the apostles. How then can a man sprinkle or pour water upon an infant, and say, "I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," without taking the three sacred names in vain? The only proper subject is a true believer, one who has gladly received Christ as his Sav- ior and who has the sense of sins forgiven. In Acts 2: 41, we read, "Then they that gladly re- ceived his word were baptized." In Acts 8 : 12, we read, that the men and women who believ- ed were baptized. In Acts 10 : 47, 48, we find that those who had received the Holy Spirit were commanded to be baptized. In Acts 18: 8 we read that in the great revival in the City of Cor- ESSENTIALS TO SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM 171 inth, "Many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized." And so it always was. In 1 Peter 3 : 21, we are taught that baptism is THE LANGUAGE of a good conscience. This good conscience is an inward sense that all is well. So no person can be scripturally baptized unless he has so trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation as to feel that his sins are taken away and that he is therefore CLEAR before God. "Baptism is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but is the ANSWER of a good conscience toward God." Here then is the first essential to scrip- tural baptism : The subject must be a believer in Christ who feels that his sins are forgiven. 2. The second essential to scriptural baptism is the proper action. The Scriptures recognize just one action as baptism. That action is im- mersion. We know this first from the meaning of the word itself. Baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo, which, according to the scholarship of the world, means to immerse. John Calvin says that it is certain that immer- sion was the practice of the ancient church. The learned Moses Stuart says, "Bapto and baptizo mean to dip, to plunge, to immerse, as is granted by all the world. All lexicographers and critics of any note are agreed in this." The learned Prof. Anthon says, "Sprinkling and pouring are out of the question." Not one of these men quoted was a Baptist, but each was a pedo-bap tist and submitted to the custom of sprinkling and pouring on the ground that the church had 172 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON a right to change the form which Christ had commanded. Just how they could do this and satisfy their consciences is a question not for me to solve. Good men sometimes do strange and unaccountable things. The circumstances of baptism as recorded in the New Testament point to immersion as the act. For example read Mark 1 : 5, 6, "And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him IN the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.'' They were not baptized at the river, nor by the river, nor near the river, but IN the river. It would be utter nonsense to take a person down into a river to pour or sprinkle a little water on him, when either of those actions could be per- formed just as well or better out of the river. Concerning the baptism of John, in another place we read, "And John was baptizing at Enon near to Salem, because there was much water there." It does not take much water, for either sprinkling or pouring. It does take much water for immersion. In Acts 8 : 36-38 we have the account of the baptism of the Ethiopian. He and Philip were riding together in the Ethio- pian's chariot and Philip preached Jesus to him, in such a way that he accepted him as Lord and Savior. "And as they went on their way they came to a certain water; * * * and they went down both into the water and he baptized him, and when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip," etc. ESSENTIALS TO SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM 173 The order of events here occurring are about thus: First, they came TO the water; second, they went down both INTO the water; third, he baptized him; fourth, they came up out of the water. No such incidents need to have occur- red except in the case of an immersion. There is no need to go down into the water nor to come up out of the water in a case of sprinkling or pour- ing. Some very futile and foolish arguments have been advanced in discussion of this passage. One man said, "You can't tell who of the two was baptized." Anybody with good common sense will understand that the man was baptized who wanted to be. I will say this: If any man will read this passage carefully and not be satisfied who was baptized, I will agree that such a read- er ought not to be baptized. He is entirely irre- sponsible. No New Testament circumstance properly considered points elsewhere than to im- mersion. I could quote pedo-baptist scholars by the score on this point, but it is not necessary. Immersion is the proper action for scriptural baptism. Even those who advocate sprinkling and pouring admit that immersion is proper and right and is obedience to the command to be baptized so far as the action is concerned. 3. Another essential to scriptural baptism is the proper design. A true believer might be immersed with no design at all. He might fall off of a foot-log into deep water by accident and be immersed and come up out of the water, but this would not be scriptural baptism. The sub- 174 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON ject is all right; the immersion is all right; but the design is wrong. A true believer might be immersed to cure rheumatism, but this would not be scriptural baptism. The design would be wrong. In fact, the design of baptism is the es- sence of it in the final analysis. Jesus was bap- tized that he might be made manifest to Israel. At his baptism he was declared to be the Son of God. So the baptism of a true believer now is to set forth in symbol the death, burial and resur- rection of our Lord. In Rom. 6 : 3, 4, we are said to be baptized into his death. This means with reference to his death. We are said to be buried with him by baptism into death. That is, our baptism declares our union with him by faith in h is death and burial, and our resurrection in the act of baptism declares our faith in his resurrec- tion, and also declares our intention to walk in that newness of life which he has given us. The same thing is seen in Col. 2: 12, "Buried with him in baptism wherein also ye are risen with him." That is to say, the design of baptism is to set forth in a picture, acted out, the great facts of the gospel and our faith in them — the death, the burial and the resurrection of our Lord ; and any baptism which does not have this meaning, is not scriptural baptism. Some min- isters who do not believe in immersion will_ad- minister it rather than lose a member. That is to say, they immerse to please the candidate and not to please God. The direction of one ritual which I have read is like this: "Then shall the ESSENTIALS TO SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM 175 minister sprinkle or pour water upon the head of the candidate (or if the candidate desires it, immerse him in water) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Plainly such an immersion is only to please the candidate and does not please God. Paul says, "If I yet please men, I should not be the servant of Christ. See Gal. 1 : 10. "To please the man and not his God, They will immerse him in the flood." 4. There is yet one more essential to scrip- tural baptism. We may have the proper sub- ject; we may have the proper action; we may have the proper design; but there must be some one to administer the ordinance. Does it make any difference who this some one is? If not, the Devil could administer scriptural baptism. The fact is somebody is as plainly commanded to baptize, as believers are commanded to BE bap- tized. And it is as certain that the New Testa- ment points out who ought to baptize, as plainly as it does who ought to be baptized. It made a great deal of difference with Jesus who baptized him. When he desired baptism he was at Nazareth of Galilee where he had been brought up. Not far from Nazareth there was plenty of water. There were, no doubt, moun- tain streams with beautiful pools in them deep enough for the purpose of immersion. And Je- sus could have found some friend, no doubt, who would have gone with him to one of these pools and at his request would have gone down with 17 6 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON him into the water and would have raised him up out of the water. But Jesus did not want baptism at such hands, however good and ami- able such a friend might have been. He might even have been a rabbi. But Jesus wanted to be baptized by the man whom God had sent. God had sent John the Baptist on purpose to bap- tize. So we read in Matt. 3: 15, "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized OF HIM." That is to say, Jesus walked sixty-five miles across that rough country to be baptized by a proper administrator — the one whom God had sent to baptize. Now suppose I want to be baptized today. Ought I not to fo- low Jesus' example and try to find some one whom God has sent to baptize? Is it likely that God sends men to baptize who have not themselves been baptized? Is it likely that He authorizes organizations to ad- minister baptism who try to prevent every one they possibly can from being baptized and try to persuade a candidate to accept some other ac- tion in place of baptism and when they can not succeed in this, rather than lose him, adminis- ter immersion to him? I do not think the au- thority to administer scriptural baptism rests in any such hands. Hence, when persons come to our Baptist churches and ask admission on an immersion received from such a source, we will not accept them unless they be reiminersed. We say to them, "Your church is as good as your baptism. If you will not repudiate its baptism. ESSENTIALS TO SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM 177 you ought not to repudiate it. Go back to it and stay with it." In the 19th chapter of the Book of Acts we find the New Testament authority for reimmersion. Paul met, as the record there shows, twelve disciples who had been immersed, but there was a defect which made their immer- sion unscriptural. So they were immersed again and the defect was corrected. So let it ever be. Let us be sure as to the proper subject, the proper action, the proper design, and the proper administrator, and then go ahead. With- out all these there is no scriptural baptism. "Down to the sacred wave The Lord of life was led, And he who came our souls to save In Jordan bowed his head. "Buried in Jordan was our Lord As well as in the tomb, And in obedience to his word We imitate the Lamb. CHAPTER IV. "ONCE IN GRACE ALWAYS IN GRACE." "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"— Rom. 8:35. The doctrine of this sermon is what is com- monly called "Once in Grace Always in Grace." By this I mean that if a man should be made a child of God while I am preaching, that man is as sure of heaven at last as if he were already there. Once a child of God always a child of God. When God regenerates a man he does a work never to be undone. So, "I to the end shall endure As sure as the earnest is given ; More happy but not more secure Are the justified spirits in heaven." Various objections are made to this doctrine, a few of which I will notice first. Some tell us that angels fell and lost heaven and are now in hell. "Surely," they say, "if an- gels, good and pure, thus finally apostatized, so may a saint." This looks plausible. Angels did fall and lose heaven. And before their fall they were pure and good. Now they are hopelessly lost. But let us see. On what ground did angels stand? Whatever that ground was, it failed them and they went down. They stood on their own goodness. As long as they were good they maintained their place in heaven ; but when they 178 ONCE IN GRACE ALWAYS IN GRACE 179 sinned one time they lost that goodness and down they went to perdition. "God spared not the an- gels that sinned, but cast them down to hell." Christian, if God had dealt that way with you where would you be now? You would be in hell, for you have sinned every day since your conversion. But you are still in grace. The difference between you and the angels is this: They stood on their own righteousness. It fail- ed and they went down. You stand on the right- eousness of Christ. It cannot fail, and there- fore you cannot go down. "Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wis- dom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."— 1 Cor. 1 :30. Christ is made your righteousness. "But," we are told, "Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden were righteous and perfect and they sinned and were driven out." Yes; and their case was parallel with that of the angels. They stood on their own righteousness. It failed them when they sinned one time, and they were driven out of the garden. God does not deal with us as with them. When we sin "we have an ad- vocate with the Father Jesus Christ the right- eous." — i John 2:1. We rest on the righteous- ness of Jesus Christ — not on our own — and we are just as secure from going down as is the foun- dation on which we rest. "On Christ the solid rock, I stand." All other ground is sinking sand." 180 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON "But," says a man, "I can show you in the New Testament cases where Christ's real dis- ciples fell and were lost. Judas Iscariot is a case. He was a disciple of the Master. He was an apostle. But he fell and was lost. This looks like a case made out. But the fact is, — Judas was never a true child of God. He was never regenerated. In John 6 : 70, Jesus said to the twelve, "Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you IS A DEVIL?" The next verse says that he spoke this of Judas Iscariot. Judas was then one of the twelve. He was spoken of as a disciple. But he was not a child of God. He was a devil. Later on we learn that he was a THIEF. Let us read from John 12 :2-6, "There they made him a supper: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anoint- ed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should be- tray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor, BUT BE- CAUSE HE WAS A THIEF, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein." This does not look much like he was a Christian, does it? He was a devil and he was a thief. And this was be- fore Satan had put it into his heart to betray Jesus. ONCE IN GRACE ALWAYS IN GRACE 181 In the seventeenth chapter of John we find the Savior mentions him in his prayer as the son of perdition : "Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the SON OF PERDITION that the Scriptures might be ful- filled." John 17 :12. In Acts 1 :24, 25, we learn what became of this devil, this thief, this son of perdition : "And they prayed and said, Thou, Lord which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou has chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place." Judas fell by trans- gression, but he did not fall from grace and lose his religion. He fell from the ministry and from the apostleship, and the purpose of his fall was that he might go to his own place. He was not where he rightfully belonged and he transgress- ed and fell that he might go where he did belong. He was a devil; he was a thief; he was the son of perdition. He died and went to perdition where he belonged. Judas' case is no case of apostasy of a true child of God. He was never a true child of God. "But," says another, "I find where persons departed from the faith. In 1 Tim. 4 :1, 2, Paul says: 'Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doc- trines of devils : speaking lies in hypocrisy : hav- ing their conscience seared with a hot iron.' They could not depart from what they did not 182 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON have and their conscience could not become seared as described unless they were fully and finally lost." This looks like a case. But let us see. I be- lieve we can find the very parties of whom Paul speaks. He tells of what shall take place in the latter times. In 1 John 2:18, 19, we read the fulfillment: "Little children, it is the last time, and as ye have heard that anti-Christ shall come, even now are there many anti-Christs ; whereby we know that it is the last time. THEY WENT OUT FROM US, (Paul said, 'Many shall de- part'), but they were not of us; for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out from us that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." So they never were real saints. "Yes, but these must have had faith, else they could not have departed from it, and if they had faith they were real children of God." That would be true if they had saving faith. But faith often means the system of faith or doctrine. In fact, this is what "the faith" generally means. They departed from the doctrine. You know one may be very orthodox in doctrine and know noth- ing about the faith that saves. Robert G. Inger- soll was brought up to believe the Bible, but he departed from that teaching. He forsook the faith in which he was reared. This does not mean that he was ever a true Christian. "What about the second chapter of Second Peter?" In this place many think they find the ONCE IN GRACE ALWAYS IN GRACE 183 doctrine of ultimate apostasy, or of its possibil- ity, beyond a doubt. But I think not. The cul- mination of Peter's argument is in the last verse wherein he sums up the character of the apos- tates and the facts concerning them ; "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his vomit again: and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." When a dog casts forth his vomit, because he is sick, that does not change his dog- nature, nor does it give him a new nature. So when a sinner gets so sick of some of his evil habits that he quits them, this does not neces- sarily mean that his nature has been changed, or that he has been made a partaker of the divine nature. When a filthy sow is taken and washed from the filth she so much delights in, it does not change her nature in the least, nor does it give her a new nature. She is the same sow that she was before. So when a man by reformation is made outwardly clean, it does not necessarily follow that his old nature has been changed or that he has been made a partaker of the new nature. This was just the case with these peo- ple of whom Peter speaks. In fact, he as much as tells us so. He says, "It is happened unto them according to the true proverb." What is the true proverb? "The dog is turned to his OWN vomit again," and, "the sow that was washed to HER wallowing in the mire." It was just as natural for these people to do as they did, as it was for these animals to do as they did. Is 184 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON this descriptive of one who has been born again? Surely not. Nowhere are God's children spoken of either as dogs or as hogs. Many other objections are brought against the doctrine of "once in grace always in grace," but these are all I will notice just now. My first reason for believing in the doctrine of "once in grace always in grace" is the nature of the new birth. The new birth is not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. See John 1: 13. Being made a child of God is not a mere form. It is not a being baptized. It is not simply turning over a new leaf and doing better. It is a being born from above. It is a new creation. Je- sus said, "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." When one is thus born again he is as truly God's child as he was before the child of his earthly father. As he was before a partaker of human nature, he is now a partaker of the divine nature. See 2 Peter 1:4. And this divine nature stays with him. He can no more be separated from it than he can be separated from his human nature. The fact that he is the son of his earthly father cannot be undone. No more can the fact that he is the son of his Heavenly Father be un- done. Once a child of God always a child of God. In 1 John 3 :9 we have this : "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin : for his seed remain- eth in him : and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Everv Christian man is two men. He ONCE IN GRACE ALWAYS IN GRACE 185 is the son of Adam and as such has the old Adam nature. He is a son of God. And as such has the "Divine nature." As Adam's son, having Adam's nature, he sins every day. As the son of God, being made a partaker of the Divine na- ture, he can no more sin than Christ can sin. For this reason his final apostasy is utterly impossi- ble. God the Father loves his children with more than a mother's affection. How wonderful is a mother's love! Poets have written about it: orators have discoursed in burning words con- cerning it : but only she and God know its depths. If her son goes astray her love and her prayers will follow him, and when all others have for- saken him she still believes in him and believes that in some way he will be brought back to the right. She would willingly die for him. And yet a mother may forsake her children. Let us read: "But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my hands." — Isa. 49:14-16. After the mother has forsaken her children God still clings to his. He has graven their names on the palms of his hands and as Toplady expresses it, "My name from the palms of His hands, Eternity can not erase." 4 186 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON So it is that John says, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall ap- pear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."— 1 John 3 :2. My second reason for believing this doctrine, as I give it here, is the exceeding rich and gra- cious promises. Take for instance John 6 :37. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." Suppose one who comes should be cast out and be lost in hell? Where would this promise be? Jesus said, "I will in no wise — under no cir- cumstances — cast out a single one that comes." I might believe a great many things. I might be- lieve that some day the sun will cease to shine; that some day the moon will no more make her way across the face of the skies; that some day the stars shall be no more ; that some day the en- tire universe shall subside into nothingness as does the bubble upon the ocean wave that bears it — but never, never, NEVER, so long as Je- sus has said, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" can I believe that the hum- blest and weakest child in all the good Father's family shall so sin and fall as to be eternally lost. Another promise is found in Col. 3:3, 4, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Notice where our life is. It is hidden ONCE IN GRACE ALWAYS IN GRACE 187 in God. It is with Christ. It is Christ. And can Satan scale heaven's mountain, and climb over the parapet which surrounds the throne, and press through the angelic bodyguard, and ascend the steps to the throne, and reach out his slimy hand and thrust his cruel claws into the heart of the Father and snatch therefrom the treasure which heaven is pledged to keep for- ever?" Surely not; surely not! "Well, if I believed that doctrine, I would do just as I pleased. I would take my fill of sin." And you claim to be a Christian? How much sin does it take to fill a Christian? If a Christian could do just as he pleased, would he not please to do the will of God? The surest sign that one is a Christian is that he has the spirit of Christ, and that spirit seeks always to know and to do the Lord's will. If you are refraining from sin simply because you are afraid of hell, the best thing for you to do is to repent and believe the gospel. You are not yet a Christian, and you know nothing about either saving grace or pre- serving grace. "But when Christians sin, as you admit they do, and go astray, may they not continue astray till they are finally lost?" Well, that depends. If they were left to themselves the case would be hopeless; but — "How think ye? If a MAN have a hundred sheep, and one of THEM be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray?" — Matt. 18: 12-14. Sure- 18 8 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON ly, if a man is thus careful about one sheep, the good Shepherd will be careful about his flock. He will follow the weakest lamb that goes astray and never cease following till he finds it and brings it back. Let us read again : In the tenth chapter of John, Jesus speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd and of his people as the sheep. This is what he says : "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me ; and I give unto them eternal life." What kind of life is this? How long will it continue? It is eternal life. It is not life which we have today and which ceases to be tomorrow, or the next year, or the next century. It is life without end. "Yes," says a man, "One may have eternal life and that life will not cease to be, but he may lose it and cease to have it. It is like this: A man may own forty acres of land on which is an ever- lasting spring. He may lose the land, fool it away, and so lose the everlasting spring. Of course the spring is still everlasting, but the man hasn't got it. Just so a man may lose his eter- nal life." Very ingenious indeed. I imagine that Jesus foresaw this very argument, and so he guarded against it. Let us read again : "I give unto my sheep eternal life and they shall NEVER PERISH." John 10 :27, 28. "His honor is engaged to save The meanest of His sheep." "When the children of God go astray, how does he go after them and bring them back?" ONCE IN GRACE ALWAYS IN GRACE 189 Suppose a mother has a three year old boy who, every time the yard gate is open, slips out and runs away? What does she do? She will go after him because she loves him. At the first she will probably only chide him for running away. In a day or two he commits the same offense again. In the exercise of mother love and care, she goes after him again. This time she per- haps chides him somewhat sharply. In a week or so he again slips out and is gone. This time when she goes after him and finds him, she is per- haps somewhat severe. Possibly she may try what virtue there is in the business end of a good switch. And so she brings him back. Thus her love will follow after that boy as long as he lives and as she lives. But she may fail to get him to be finally what she wants him to be. But God will never finally so fail with any of his. When his children go astray he goes after them. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye en- dure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons. . . . But if ye be without chastisement whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons." — Heb. 12 : 6-8. If you can do wrong and not suffer, you are not God's child. The most wretched man in the country is the real child of God, who is living in sin. His Father makes him miserable. He lays his hand heavily upon him. He may take away his treasures. He may blight his hopes; he may bring his ambitious projects to naught ; he may prostrate him on a 190 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON bed of affliction ; he may break his neck, if need be. All to bring him back to what he ought to be. Now let us read from the eighty-ninth Psalm : "If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their in- iquity with stripes. Nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail."— Ps. 89: 30-33. Whatever is needed to bring them back, that he lays upon them; and he never finally fails. Let us read Psalms 37 : 23, 24 : "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord : and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utter- ly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." Thus have I given you just a little of the testimony which tells us of God's keeping grace. As the climax of this sermon I wish now to quote Konians 8 :28-39 : "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be con- formed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren. More- over, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justi- fied; and whom he justified, them he also glori- fied. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him ONCE IN GRACE ALWAYS IN GRACE 191 up for us all, how shall he not with him also free- ly give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that jus- tifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also niaketh intercession for us. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations or distress, or perse- cution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are kill- ed all the day long; we are accounted as the sheep for the slaughter. Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." "How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word ; What more can He say than to you He has said, You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled? "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for re- pose, I will not, I will not, desert to His foes ; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never, forsake." CHAPTER V. WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS. Address delivered at Old Bethel Church Centennial, observed Wednesday, September 1, 1909, at Old Bethel Church, St. Clair County. Published by vote of the meeting. — C. H.) America is great. It is a great thing to be an American. Every true American would rather be what he is, a citizen of the great republic, than to be a titled personage or even a prince, in any other country under the sun. America is the land, in the first place, where every man is free to worship God as his consci- ence may dictate. One of the bottom planks of the true American platform is that the state must keep its hands off the conscience. If a man is a Christian, well and good. If he belongs to any sect of Christians, the state still says, well and good. If a man is not a Christian at all, if he rejects the Bible, still the government says it has no right to interfere with him. Robert G. Ingersoll in his day could talk as he pleased. He could make, what many consider, his terrific onslaughts on the Bible and none could say him nay. If a man wanted to hear him and follow him and go back on the religion of his fathers, the state would not interfere. If a Mo- hammedan wants to build a mosque on his own land with his own money, he is free to do so in this country. If the Chinaman wants his joss house and can find a place to put it, he may wor- 192 WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS 193 ship in it as he pleases, and no man dares to mo- lest him or make him afraid. If the Buddhist wants to build a temple in New York or in San Francisco, or in St. Clair county, there is no law to prevent his doing so, if he can find the means with which to do so. In this great country thought is free ; religion is free ; the conscience is free. We have it, as the prophet said long ago, "All people will walk ev- eryone in the name of his God, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever." "They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree ; and none shall make him afraid." America is a land where every man is part of the government. Our nation is based on the idea that all men are born free and equal, so far as the law is concerned. Every man, who comes to see the daylight under our stars, is free and is a prince waiting for his kingdom until the day of his majority when he becomes a king. This was not always the case. The time was when we had slavery in this great republic. Millions of men and women were held as property and were sold as horses and cattle, under the protection of the stars and stripes. It was held that the black man was born inferior to his white brother and was destined to be " a servant of servants to his brethren." But since the war of the 'sixties all this is changed. Every man, regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude, is a free man, 194 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON and before hini the avenues are open. To every one America means opportunity. The path to wealth is open, and every man, as he seeks it, has the protection of the strongest government under the sun, while he seeks it honestly. The path to learning is open. The children of the poorest may enter the school house and there obtain the keys of knowledge which will open to them the wonders of the world. Our free school system in every state is for all ; and I say, "Palsied be the hand and silent the tongue" that would seek to destroy the American idea of free education for all. We have said in the past: "Come along, come along ; make no delay ; Come from every nation, come from every way; Bring your books and slates along and don't be a fool, For Uncle Sam is rich enough to send us all to school." And so with limitations let us continue to say. I believe the time is here when greater re- strictions shoTild be placed on foreign immigra- tion ; not that I want a Chinese wall to shut out the worthy, come from wheresoever they may; but there are strangers who are passing freely through our gates and bringing with them no- tions and habits which mean harm to our coun- try. The path of honor is open to all. In some countries the boy must be brought up to the trade or calling of his father. If the father lives with his nose on the grindstone, so must the son WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS 195 live, but in our country the son born of the poor- est parentage, may reach the highest place of preferment. And the fact that a candidate for honors is of what men call humble origin, is not in his way when he comes before the people. A few years ago when the present governor of Minnesota (Governor Johnson) was a candidate for the office of chief magistrate for that com- monwealth, some of the opposite party under- took to defeat him by circulating the story that he was a child of the poor house. The result was that though he was the candidate of the minority party, he was overwhelmingly elected. We all know about the boyhood of Lincoln and Garfield and Jackson and Johnson and Hen- ry Clay and a host of others. In America "a man's a man for a' that," and is entitled to all the good there is, and to all is open the road that leads to the good— PROVIDED that in going after the good and in occupying the road he must not interfere with the rights of his neighbor. He is entitled to all that his neighbor is entitled to, and his neighbor is entitled to all that he is en- titled to. I may do as I please with my own, if I do not injure my neighbor. I may strike out with my fist as I please, but if I strike so far as to hit my neighbor's nose, I have gone beyond the limit. My liberty ends where my neighbor's rights begin. I must have an eye to my neigh- bor's rights. True Americanism means the golden rule : "All things whatsoever ve would that men 19 6 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON should do to you do ye even so to them." "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." I am not required to love my neighbor more than I do my- self, but to love him as myself. I want every good thing there is for myself, and I want every good thing there is for my neighbor. I must love my enemy, so as to desire his good ; but I am not required to love him as I do myself or my neighbor. My neighbor is my benefactor, and every true American is a benefactor to every oth er true American, because each stands for the protection and welfare of the other. America is the most rapidly growing of all the nations. It has the best institutions. It is the wealthiest nation on the face of the earth. It has before it the happiest outlook of any nation in the world. My topic today is, What America Owes to Baptists. My answer to this question is, Near- ly Everything. It is true that the Western Con- tinent was discovered by a Roman Catholic, but our national greatness and principles and liber- ty did not come from that source. All our dis- tinctive ideas, which are worth holding, were held by Baptists, long before any other people on earth had dreamed of them as possible. When, the world over, nearly everybody held that the church and state should be united, the Baptists said, No. During the middle ages when the voice of the pope was to the people who submit- ted to him as the voice of God, with the Baptists the voice of the people under God has always WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS 19 7 been paramount. In all Baptist ecclesiology there is no court which can reverse the voice of the people. In the church Baptists make all men free and equal. Each member of the church has a voice equal to that of every other member. So our people interpret the Bible and so they prac- tice. There is no king but King Jesus. There is no nobility except that of character. There is no true greatness except that which serves. When Judas, by transgression, fell from his apostleship that he might go to his own place, his successor was not chosen by the apostles, but by the whole company of disciples which made up that first church of Jerusalem. In that same church, when deacons were to be chosen to have charge of the financial prob- lems which had arisen, they were chosen by the whole company of the church membership. Uni- versal suffrage was the rule of the first church. If a brother is to be excluded from church mem bership, he is not put out simply by the voice of the ofiicials, but all the members are entitled to vote, and if they say that he must go out, out he must go. He is then without part or lot in the privileges of church membership. In a Bap- tist church today every member has his voice. If a pastor is to be called, or if some policy of work is proposed, or if any action of any kind is to be taken, the poorest, the most ignorant, the youngest, has his voice. And in the result his voice counts for as much as does that of the rich- est, the oldest or the most learned. If a man ex- 198 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON ercises any power beyond his own vote, it is sim- ply because of the influence which he may have over others. If he can induce another to vote his way that is his privilege, but there is no compul- sion. Every man is free. "In Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond or free, male nor female; ye are all one in Christ Jesus." The story is told that when Thomas Jefferson was studying the problem of government and considering what method of government would be best for the new republic, he visited a little Baptist church in the country and attended its business meeting. He there saw the position held by the pastor as moderator and the power held by the people, and his mind was made up. Thomas Jefferson held to the idea of human equality and fraternity and here was a govern- ment based upon the idea. True it was ecclesi- astical but it would apply equally well to the secular; and so we have this land of the free in which both civil and religious liberty prevail and in which every citizen is the equal of his brother. And this America owes to the Bap- tists. Another thing America owes to the Batpists is the idea of local self government Wherever you find a Baptist church you will find an inde- pendent organization. It controls its own af- fairs. It is independent in the management of its local concerns. No other church, however rich or strong or great, can interfere with it. Un- der the King it is sovereign. Each Baptist church WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS 199 is an independent republic. The Baptist idea is liberty for the individual and liberty for the community. So we have the American idea which permits communities to govern them- selves. True Americanism means the largest liberty for the individual and the largest liberty for the local community consistent with the safe- ty of the state. Another thing America owes to the Baptists in large measure is the destruction of human slavery. It is true that when we had slavery we had Baptist churches, but every Baptist church everywhere, whether its members so understood or not, was a protest against slavery. The free government of the church, the equality of its members, their brotherhood in Christ Jesus, the golden rule which Jesus had given, all were a protest against human slavery. This old Bethel church, whose centennial we are here to cele- brate, was organised as an anti-slavery church. James Lemen, Sr., whose monument we unveil tomorrow, was opposed to slavery. Dr. J. M. Peck, the founder of Shurtleff college, says this about him : "Our subject was a born anti-slavery leader, and by his Christian and friendly argu- ments he induced scores of masters in Virginia to free their slaves. This quickly caught Jeffer- son's attention, and he freely confessed that Mr. Lemen's influence on him had redoubled his dis- like for slavery, and though himself a slave hold- er he most earnestly denounced the institution.'' Mr. Jefferson freely confessed that to James Le- 200 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON men, Sr., was due the fact that an anti-slavery clause was inserted in the ordinance of 1787. So in the transfer of our great northwestern terri- tory to the United States regard was had to an anti-slavery provision. Mr. Jefferson further says: "Before any one had ever mentioned the matter James Lemen, by reason of his devotion to anti-slavery principles suggested to me that we (Virginia) make the transfer and that sla- very be excluded; and it so impressed and in- fluenced me that whatever is due me as credit for my share in the matter is largely if not wholly, due to James Lemen's advice and most righteous counsel." Then speaking of Mr. Lemen's work in the northwestern territory Mr. Jeffrson went on to say: "His record in the new country has fully justified my course in inducing him to set- tle there with the view of properly shaping events in the best interests of the people." Dr. Peck tells us still further about Mr. Lemen as follows : "Mr. Lemen created the first eight Bap- tist churches in Illinois, having them especially declare against slavery and intemperance. When General William Henry Harrison became gover- nor he and his territorial council went over to pro-slavery influences and demands, and carried Mr. Lemen's seven churches, which he had then created, with them. For some months he labor- ed to call them to anti-slavery grounds, but fail- ing, he declared for a division and created his eighth church, now Bethel, near Collinsville, on strictly anti-slavery grounds, and this event WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS 201 opened the anti-slavery contest in 1809 which fi- nally in 1818 led to the election of an anti-sla- very convention which gave Illinois a free state constitution. Jefferson warmly approved Mr. Lenien's movement and sent his new church twenty dol- lars, which with a fund which the members col- lected and gave, was finally transferred to the church treasury without disclosing Jefferson's identity. This was done in order not to disturb his friendly relations with the extreme South. But Jefferson made no secret of his antipathy for slavery, though unwilling that the facts should be known that he sent James Lemen to the new country especially to defend it against slavery, as he knew it would arouse the resentment of the extreme pro-slavery element against both him and his agent and probably defeat their movement, In the contest as to whether Illinois should come into the union a free state or a slave state, James Lemen, Sr., was in the forefront of the battle with the forces which stood for free- dom, and was no doubt the greatest factor in bringing the victory against slave sentiment. So Illinois, the keystone in the arch of states, came into the union clear of slavery. And this was due to the leadership of James Lemen, Sr., a stal- wart Baptist. Thus the state which furnished Abraham Lincoln as president and U. S. Grant as leader of our forces in the war of the 'sixties, was on the side of union and freedom when the great war came instead of being with the states 202 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON which sought to break up the union. And this America owes to the Baptists. Another thing which America owes the Baptists is the prevalence of temperance senti- ment, and which in community after community, and state after state is wiping out the liquor traffic. I am told that the first temperance res- olution as well as the first anti-slavery resolu- tion, ever adopted by a public meeting in Ameri- ca was adopted by Baptists. The churches found- ed by James Lemen, Sr., in Illinois were all ar- rayed against intemperance as well as slavery. And it is a fact that nearly every Baptist church in the United States taboos both the drinking and selling of intoxicating liquors. In the New Hampshire Covenant, which is the one most gen- erally adopted when Baptist churches are con- stituted, I find this : "We engage to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating liquors as a bev- erage." Thus it is that every true Baptist church is an anti-liquor society and that every Baptist preacher who is true to his calling stands for so- briety and for the destruction of the whisky traf- fic. If there is anything in this world that makes me tired, that thing is to find a Baptist church lax on the temperance question. If there is any- thing that makes me thoroughly ashamed, that thing is to find a Baptist preacher who is not outspoken against the curse of curses. Every Baptist church, if true to its principles, is a bulwark against the encroachments of the drink- ing saloon. Every member of every Baptist WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS 203 church claims to have been to the cross and to have been washed in the blood of the Lamb ; and if that will not make a good man or a good wom- an, nothing else under the heavens will. So I maintain that a Baptist church ought to be the best society on earth ; and so it is that people ex- pect great things of you Baptists, and so it is that they scoff at you and scorn you when you fall below what they expect by arraying your- selves with the forces of evil. Take the states where Baptists are strongest and there you will find the best temperance sentiment, Take Geor- gia ; take Alabama ; take Mississippi ; take North Carolina; take Tennessee. In all these states the liquor business is outlawed. Another thing America owes to the Baptists is that sturdy American sense of manly inde- pendence and that sense of fair play which is willing to allow men to work out their destiny. The Baptists hold that a man must come to Christ for himself. They believe in training children aright and in the education of the young, but they believe that each one when he comes to the years of accountability must decide his religious course for himself. Hence we do not bring infants into the church. We do not baptize them. We do not believe in what they call "Federal Holiness" which makes children church members because their parents are church members. When the man of sin sat prince of kings and from his throne of darkness ruled the world, Baptists, hidden away though 204 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON they were, cried from their hiding places, and maintained that the state should be free from the church and that the church should be free from the state. They said, Hands off the con- science. When Luther and the other reformers came out of Rome, they failed to come all the way. They still held to a union of church and state, and they still held to a practice whose whole tendency is to obliterate the line between the visible kingdom of God and the world. In- fant baptism was the pillar of Popery and it be- came the pillar of the union of the church and state under the Reformation, and its tendency was to nullify the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ's atoning blood and the right of individual preference and judgment in religion. The doctrine of the Baptists of that time was that the visible kingdom of God on earth was to be made up of men and women pro- fessing holiness, which holiness grew out of a changed heart and life, and that without this changed heart no man was fit for membership in the church of Christ. And when in Holland la- ter on they were once given opportunity to be supported by an alliance with the state, they re- fused. Baptist doctrine has ever been, a free church in a free state. From nowhere else did the doctrine of religious liberty as America has it today, come. When the Puritans came to America and landed at Plymouth Rock, they came that they might worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience, but they WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS 205 were not willing to grant to others what they wanted for themselves. They persecuted both Baptists and Quakers even to the whipping post and to the jail. They were not willing to have a government in which thought should be free and in which truth and error might have an open field for conflict. Baptists held that the con- science should be free. Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Is- land, was the great American apostle of religious Liberty. While he was never a Baptist in regu- lar form, he was a Baptist in principles and at heart. He believed in Baptist doctrine and advo- cated freedom of the conscience. He contended that it was not right for the magistrate to punish anybody for any violation of the "first table." On account of his urgent advocacy of Baptist princi- ples the Puritans drove him from them. The sentence of banishment was passed October 9, 1635. A little later he fled from Salem to avoid being arrested and carried back to England. La- ter on he established Rhode Island colony on the basis of the strictest principles of civil and re- ligious liberty. Only one religious test was laid upon the citizens of this colony : A man must not assail the doctrine that the conscience must be free. I suppose this was on the idea that to as- sail this doctrine was really treason against the colony. And here was the first organized secu- lar government on earth where the conscience was free. The historian, Bancroft, has this to say concerning Roger Williams: "If Copernicus 206 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON is held in perpetual reverence, because on his death bed he published to the world that the sun is the center of our system; if the name of Kep- ler is preserved in the annals of human excel- lence for his sagacity in detecting the laws of planetary motion; if the genius of Newton has been almost adored for dissecting a ray of light and weighing the heavenly bodies in a balance- let there be for the name of Roger Williams at least some humble place among those who have advanced moral science and made themselves the benefactors of mankind." He stood for the greatest of all the great foundation principles of secular government — a free church in a free state. And so thoroughly imbued were the peo- ple of Rhode Island colony with these princi- ples that they were the last of all the colonies to come into the compact of states which forms our government as it now is. They never would agree to come in till freedom of conscience was placed in unmistakable terms in the constitution. More to Baptists than to any other peo- ple is due the fact that not simply religious toleration but religious liberty is ingrafted irrev- ocably into the fundamental law of our nation. In New England and Virginia where Baptists abounded, they never ceased making an active campaign until this great feat was accomplish- ed. They wanted freedom of conscience for themselves and they wanted everybody else to have it. And they were as zealous for a secular government in which every citizen was to be the WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS 207 equal of his fellow as they were for freedom of conscience. So it was that during the war of the ^Revolution, every Baptist, almost without ex- ception, was a patriot. Hosts of them were sol- diers. Many of their preachers were soldiers, serving not only as chaplains but fighting in the ranks. George Washington, after he was presi- dent, addressed a communication to a Virginia convention of Baptists in which he bore testimo- ny to the truth of the facts in general of which I have spoken. True civil and religious liberty mutually sup- port each other. In fact, religious liberty is the factor which produces civil liberty. A religious system which is a despotism in itself will never favor a free state. Despotism in either church or state is afraid to trust the people. The one maxim which it hates is that which says of ev- ery person, "To his own Master he standeth or falleth." Baptists hate despotism. So we can honor a man as a man when he differs with us. We would like to see every man a Christian; we would like to see every Chris- tian a Baptist; but we can recognize manhood and true worth of character wherever we find it. And this is Americanism. Not much are true Americans in the habit of blacklisting a man be- cause of his religion, unless his religion be regard- ed as dangerous to the state. We now have a Uni- tarian as president. We have had presidents who were members of different Protestant churches. We have had presidents who were members of 208 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON no churches at all. The people have trusted them and they have filled their places well. Ee- ligious liberty and freedom of conscience pro- mote toleration of differences to the uttermost point. We are all Americans and as long as a man is true to America we give him the hand of fellowship as an American. With malice toward none and with charity for all we glory in the liberty and in the rights of American citizen- ship. And this feeling found its origin in this free land in that sentiment which made Rhode Island colony the first real free, secular govern- ment on the face of the earth. In our country there are perils which are con- fronting us. There is the power of corporate greed ; there is the materialistic spirit of the age. There is anarchy which shows its red hand in so many places and in so many ways. There is the class spirit which would shut every one out from every good thing, except those who belong to it- self. And these dangerous elements are gaining force from various sources every year. Should one of them come fully to dominate our country, it would mean goodbye to American institutions. And wherein shall we find protection and safety? In our country we have the happiest homes up- on which the sun shines in all his journey around the world. But even in these without something back of them and above them, we cannot find full protection and safety. We educate our children in the schools. On every hill top and in every valley, on every prairie and in every hamlet, is WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS 209 the little red school house to be found. And it is great We cannot do without it. But we must Took elsewhere for that which will save us from the evils which threaten us. Our safety is in God; in the religion of Jesus Christ; in the gos- pel of salvation. If we can but have a consider- able number of our people saved by ^the gospel, they will be the salt of the earth. And the bet- ter* view we have of God, the better conception we have of Christ as a personal Savior, the purer the oospel is preached in all its saving power, the beZ for our country. And to get all these things in the best way and the fullest way, the Baptist idea must prevail. The Baptist idea is that between the soul and God, there is no priest but Christ; there is no gospel except the doctrine that the risen Christ meets the sinner in his own soul at the point of saving faith and gives him eternal life. . , No nation can go utterly to the bad in which there is a considerable element of men thus sav- ed Jesus said to such, "Ye are the salt of the earth " "Ye are the light of the world." Ten such men in the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah would have saved those cities from destruction God spares the world for the elect's sake. And our Baptist people are the best representatives of this light, this salt, and these elect on earth today. We do not mean that other people are not good. We do not mean even that others do not preach and teach saving truth; but we do mean that the Baptists have the clearest vision, 210 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON and that their preaching and teaching takes the veil out of the way of others, more successfully than does that of any other people under the sun. So we may say that America owes its very life to the Baptists. There are sinks of iniquity in New York that are indescribable. There are scenes of sin in Chicago too shameful to be men- tioned. In all our great cities and in many sec- tions of our country there are moral blights and pestilences fearful to think of. But so long as we have the truth, and the teaching, and the churches, and more especially Baptist churches Avith their teaching, we have the salt of the earth and on account of the salt, God will spare our country. To a Baptist we owe our national hymn. It was not merely accidental that "America" was written by a Baptist. It was fitting in the provi- dence of God that it should be so. When S. F. Smith wrote those words he did not think that he was making himself immortal. He dashed them off in a few minutes without apparently much thought, but from ocean to ocean and from the lakes to the gulf our people make them the expression of their patriotism today and will through the years. God guided the hand that wrote those lines and it is no small honor to a Baptist, every time he hears the words sung, to remember that they were written by one of his people, and it is pardonable, that he should take a pride in it and rejoice in it. WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BAPTISTS 211 "My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died Land of the pilgrim's pride; From every mountain side Let freedom ring. Our fathers God to thee, Author of liberty, To thee we sing; Long may our land be bright, With freedom's holy light; Protect us by thy might, Great God our king." May the God who is over all and blessed forever, prosper our nation and our Baptist peo- ple, to whom America owes so much; and may Old Bethel church live and be a light-house to guide men into the harbor of safety and peace till He comes whose right it is to reign. CHAPTER VI. THE BAPTIST PROGRAM. (Editorial in Illinois Baptist, May 21, 1910.) The Baptist program is based on the author- ity of Christ. He said, "All power is given unto me both in heaven and in earth." He himself made this fact the reason for the program which he laid down. When he said this he was speak- ing to "the eleven" on a mountain top in Gali- lee. They had met him there by appointment. The program has in it five numbers. Four of them are to be carried out by his disciples. The fifth is his part. The first number in the program is, "Go." Christ's first disciples might have sat down in Palestine and there have ended their days. A Christian now may sit and sing, "Hallelujah ! 'tis done! I believe on the son: I'm saved by the blood of the crucified One." But the Baptist program can never thus be carried out. Many are very insistent on certain parts of the program. They want to see disciples made. They want to see disciples baptized. But that is about all with them. They can not rest till their own children are converted and they are anxious about their neighbors. But some are almost as narrow as the old brother who is said to have prayed, "Lord, bless me and my wife, and my son, John, and his wife; us four and no more." 212 THE BAPTIST PROGRAM 213 Talk to this kind about "going" and they are as blank as the First church of Jerusalem seemed to be for a number of years. That church sat for a long time and did not look beyond its own immediate dooryard. God permitted persecu- tion to come on it and scatter its membership and thus compelled it to "go." I know Baptists whose sole interest is in their own immediate neighborhood. If they are asked to do something for district missions, they will say, "Will the missionary be sent to help our church? I gave some last year and I have never seen him. If I give more I want to know we will get help." Often talk like this comes from churches that ought to be ashamed to think of asking for help. They have good houses of worship, wealthy mem- bers and able pastors. They are abundantly able to take care of their own local work and to help "the regions beyond." But they have not read the first number on the Baptist program, — "Go." I have known churches to pay money in- to the missionary treasury and then when per- chance some missionary has come to them and helped in a meeting with them, they have objected to his taking a collection because they claim they have already paid for the work. No wonder many such churches take the dry rot, or paralysis, or "sleeping sickness" and are spewed out of the Master's mouth. We are to go and we are to keep going. We are to reach out into adjoining communities, and 214 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON into neighboring countries, and to points all over our state, and to all needy sections in all the states of our own great country, and into all the world. The command to "go" contemplated Je- rusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. I have known some pretty good people to say, "I am willing to help for home work; but I don't believe in 'Furrin' Mis- sions." How important it is that we get fully laid on the consciences of such men the fact that the first number in the Baptist program is, "Go," and that it means go into all the world and all nations. Such brethren need to get the spirit of the Indian Christian's song which he recited for the brethren. The first verse ran thus : "Go on ; go on ; go on ; go on ; Go on; go on; go on; Go on ; go on ; go on ; go on ; Go on; go on; go on." The chorus was likewise. Let all our preach- ers lay stress continually on the command to go. Go! Go! Go! Let the changes on the word be rung, till they reverberate in all the chambers of every Christian's soul. Of course the great mul- titude of our people cannot go personally to the fields far away, but we can all go through those whom our means may send. To give is equivalent to go. THE BAPTIST PROGRAM 215 But the going must have a purpose. To make a great bluster and have a great sound of trum- pets, and a mighty display generally amounts to nothing except as it leads to the accomplishment of a purpose. Fuss and feathers amount to lit- tle. This brings us to the second number in the Baptist program : "Make Disciples." This means that, having gone to men, we must so teach them that under the divine leading they may be brought to the cross and salvation. To be made a disciple means to be made a child of God — to be saved. Jesus said, "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." See Luke 14 : 33. So to make a disciple means something. It does not mean to persuade people to "stand up" or "come for- ward," or "sign a card." It means to teach them that they lay themselves and all that they have on God's altar. In other words, it means to bring them to saving faith in Jesus Christ. This is the greatest thing that one man can do for another. We have some who want to stop here. They say this is the great thing and that all beyond this is subsidiary. So they say: "Go to; let us hold union meetings and all go in together and save souls. Let us agree to say nothing about baptism or preserving grace." And we have Baptist (?) evangelists who are ready to pander to this idea and go back on the Savior's Great Commission. They can make a big display in 216 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON this way and can get more shekels per sermon for the preaching they do. We have heard of this kind who have gone to weak Baptist church- es to hold meetings and who, after getting on the ground, have persuaded such church to turn the effort into a union affair with the result that the poor weak Baptist church has gained very little — has really been weakened — and other de- nominations have been built up. He has been the talk of the town and he has been well paid in dollars and cents. We must remember the third number in the program, "Baptizing Them;' When disciples are made the next thing is to baptize them. What right has a Baptist to padlock his mouth so that he cannot say, "Why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized? 1 ' He has no such right. It is disloyal- ty to Christ and conscience for him to do so. Nullification is bad in state or church. An at- tempt to nullify law on the part of a citizen of the state gets him into trouble. And shall not God have an eye to the man who for policy, or popularity or pelf, nullifies his law? Surely he will. Let no Baptist forget that the third num- ber in the Baptist program is laid down by the Master himself, "Baptize them," In other words,, "Make them Baptists." And there is still another number. Many preachers and churches seem to feel that when we get a man baptized, our work is finished — re- garding him. They appear to have about the no- tion of the old lady who had been a Methodist THE BAPTIST PROGRAM 217 and became a Baptist. Telling about it, she said, "I had been a Methodist for years, and they were always after me for money. Finally I got so tired of it I quit and joined the Baptists, because I thought with them it was 'dip and be done with it'." But the Baptist program has a fourth number which runs like this -."Teaching them (the Baptists or baptized disciples) to ob- serve all things ivhatsoeuer I have commanded you" And here comes in the more arduous work. To become a disciple and to be baptized may take place in a day, but the process of build- ing character goes on through a lifetime. The model church "continues steadfastly in the apos- tles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking bread and in prayers." We are to teach missions. We are to teach giving. We are to teach the doc- trine. We are to declare all the counsel of God. We are to be faithful to the end — faithful till death. Then comes the fifth number in the Baptist program. And it is not only a fifth number. It is like an accompaniment to a piece of music which runs all the way through the song. It is Christ's part and the extent to which he fulfills it depends upon the extent to which we carry out the other four numbers. If we carry them out as he orders, this is his : "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Bap- tists, Baptists! Stick to your program. Here it is as he laid it down: 218 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON "Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit ; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, / am with you alway, even to the end of the world." Matt. 28 : 19, 20. CHAPTER VII. SHALL WOMEN KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT? (Editorial.) In New Testament times there were, in most countries, customs which Christians were requir- ed to observe, that in our age and in our country- do not exist. There is a saying that "custom is law," and when custom does not make void the law of God, this saying is true. Often divine law cannot be kept without the observance of customs which in themselves are of no force. All the force they have is given them by their relation to the divine law. In our country and time it is the custom of friends when they meet, especially if they have been separated any length of time, to shake hands. Custom makes shaking hands a sign of friendly regard. If one refuses to shake hands with a man, that refusal is a sign of enmity, and is an insult. Sometimes we advise men who have had a fuss to shake hands and make peace. The cus- tom of shaking hands may be so related to peace that to refuse to shake hands would be a sin. In China custom is different. There when friends meet, instead of shaking each other's hands, they shake each his own hands. In New Testament times there was a form of greeting called "the holy kiss." It, like our hand- 219 220 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON shake, was a token of friendly regard. The ob- servation of the holy kiss was enjoined by the apostles at least five times. Paul commands it in Rom. 16 : 16, 1 Cor. 16 : 20, 2 Cor. 13 : 12, 1 Thess. 5 : 26. Peter enjoins it one time. See 1 Peter 5: 14. These commands however do not in letter ap- ply to us today. It was anciently a custom so important that to disregard it would have been a shame! In our day the handshake takes the place of the kiss, and to disregard the hand-shake would be a shame. The duty of brotherly love and friendly re- gard is unchangeable. The custom by which obedience to that duty is expressed may change, or may be different in different ages and coun- tries. In Bible times it was the custom when a guest came in from the dusty highway, for the host to provide water that the guest might wash his feet. To neglect this courtesy was a shame and a sin. It would have been an utter disregard of the law of hospitality in that age and in that country. Now when the weary and travel-tired guest comes in the host brings a refreshing drink of water, and furnishes water that the guest may wash his hands and face. To disregard this cus- tom would show discourtesy, and would be such a breach of hospitality that it would be a sin. In the city of Marion it would be a shame for a man to go to church or appear in a social SHALL WOMEN KEEP MOUTHS SHUT? 221 gathering, "barefooted." Such a thing is not permitted and if it were to occur would be count- ed a shame. It would be a sin. Yet a few years ago there were communities where going bare-foot to either of the places named, was no offense to any one, and showed no lack of respect for occasion or place. It was not a shame at all. The duty of showing proper respect for peo- ple, for occasions and places, is unchangeable. The customs by which obedience to that duty is expressed may change from time to time, or may be different in different countries at the same time. In our country and time it would be a shame for a man to sit in church during public worship with his hat on. It would show irrev- erence, and is not permitted. In some countries, when people enter a sa- cred place, they take off their shoes. There the bare feet express the same thing that the bare head does with us. Each custom in its place and time is a duty, and its non-observance is a sin and a shame. The duty of showing respect and reverence at the proper place and time, is unchangeable. The customs by which that respect and rever- ence are shown may be different in different times and places, but; to observe the customs in their times and places is as much a duty as are the respect and reverence themselves. And now we are reaching the matter in hand. 222 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON A woman in the home is the subordinate of her husband. She is due him respect, reverence and obedience (in the Lord). This relation be- tween husband and wife is unchangeable. Custom expressing these relations may dif- fer in different places and ages. Any custom which repudiates these relations is wrong, and to practice such a custom is not permitted, be- cause it would be a shame. In Corinth, in Ephesus, in Greece, in Rome, in most of the ancient world, it was not the cus- tom for good women to speak or teach in public. If a woman spoke or taught in public, she was set down as impure, and as denying that rever- ence and subjection which was due her husband — if she had one. The customs of those times and countries made public speaking on the part of women mean these very things. Among us in our coun- try, however, this is not the case. Neither was it so among the Jews in Bible times. In our country women teach in our Sunday schools — often mixed classes of men and women. Ofter they teach in public schools and in the colleges mixed classes of young men and young women. But they do not think, nor does any one else think, that by so doing they repudiate the relations which God has made unchangeable between man and woman in the home. In our country young ladies sing before mix- ed audiences and on graduation day they often speak before such audiences. But in so doing, SHALL WOMEN KEEP MOUTHS SHUT? 223 they do not declare any repudiation of God's unchangeable law as to the relation between man and woman in the home. We are proud of such young women. Among the Jews it was not uncommon for women to speak and teach. There was for ex- ample, Deborah. There was also Miriam. There were many prophetesses. But none of these by what they did repudiated the reverence, respect and obedience which were due her husband. In many oriental countries today this could not be. It could not have been in ancient Cor- inth, Ephesus, Greece and Eome. Paul said to the Corinthians : " Let your wom- en keep silence in the churches, for it is not per- mitted unto them to speak, but to be in subjec- tion as the law also says. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame (in Corinth) for a woman to speak in the church." — 1 Cor. 14 : 34, 35. The reference here is to wives — women who had husbands. They could not speak publicly without dishonoring their husbands, because the public speaking woman was in that city consid- ered as impure. It was therefore a shame in Corinth for women to speak in the church. In that place and time it meant lack of loyalty, re- spect, reverence for their husbands, just as for a man in Marion to sit in church with his hat on would show lack of reverence for the place of worship. 224 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON There is one other passage which, it is thought by many, ought to shut the mouth of every good woman in the church. It is 1 Tim. 2: 11-14: "Let woman learn in quietness, Tvith all subjection. But I permit not women to teach, nor to have authority over the man, but to be in quietness. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived; but the wom- an, being deceived, was in the transgression." There is not a word in this passage to indi cate woman's position in the church. Woman's subjection is to be to her own husband — not to some other woman's husband. In the church her status is seen in the following : "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female ; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." — Gal. 3: 28. Let it be remembered all the time that the silence of woman as a requirement, is based on the relation of that silence to her subjection to her husband. When her speech anywhere repudiates, or in public esteem, repudiates her reverence for her husband, she is to keep still. She is not to speak or teach publicly or privately where so doing reflects on her relation to her husband. Let it also be remembered that in both the famous passages — 1 Cor. 14: 34, 35 and 1 Tim. 2 : 11-14 — the directions concern only women who have husbands. There is no reference to young women, nor to widows nor to old maids. SHALL WOMEN KEEP MOUTHS SHUT? 22 5 It is safe we think to infer that any speaking or teaching or praying, done by women with the approval of the Master or of the Holy Spirit, was right, and that to give 1 Cor. 14 : 34, 35 and 1 Tim. 2: 11-14 an interpretation which would contradict this is wrong. Now let us look at some facts. Priscilla, a woman who had a husband, taught Apollos, and taught him with her hus- band as co-laborer. See Acts 18 : 26. So for a woman, in the presence of her husband, to teach another man, does not contradict 1 Tim. 2 : 7-11. Anna, the prophetess, a widow, at the pre- sentation of Jesus in the temple, prophesied in public. While Simeon, a prophet, was speaking, she came in and "gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem." See Luke 2 : 38. The inference is clear that a goodly number were present, and we know there were at least two men. The Spirit of God did not through Anna con- tradict what in 1 Cor. 14 : 34, 35, he said through Paul. What was a shame in Corinth in the church was not a shame in Jerusalem in the tem- ple. Neither was it at Asheville, North Caroli- na, in the Southern Baptist Convention. In Matt, 15 : 22-28, we are told of a Canaan- itish woman who came to Jesus and who in the presence of his disciples called aloud on the Master in behalf of her daughter. She cried af- ter him so persistently that the disciples were 226 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON disturbed. They begged him to send her away. Had it been a shame there and then for her to have called aloud on him in public, would he not have rebuked her? But he did not rebuke her. He granted her request and praised her faith. And in this he does not contradict the Holy Spirit in 1 Cor. 14 : 34, 35. The speaking publicly of women in Corinth indicated lack of reverence for their husbands. The crying aloud in prayer publicly of this woman in Palestine, indicated faith in the Master. On the day of Pentecost the women as well as the men spoke in public as the Spirit gave them utterance. That women were present see Acts 1 : 14 and Acts 2 : 1. That the tongues of fire were on the women, see verse 3, and that they, as well as the men were filled with the Holy Spirit, see verse 4. Also on that day the women prophesied. See Acts 2: 14, 17, 18. And this was all in the church and in public, and was un- der the direction of the Spirit. The Spirit inspired Paul to write 1 Cor. 14: 34, 35 and 1 Tim. 2: 7-11. Does he contradict himself? Far be it. For God's "hand maidens" and "daughters who had husbands" to have spoken publicly in the church at Corinth would have been a shame and would not have been per- mitted, because it would have indicated lack of reverence for their husbands, but at Jerusalem in the church on the day of Pentecost it was not a shame and was permitted, because there it re- SHALL WOMEN KEEP MOUTHS SHUT? 227 fleeted on no woman's purity nor on her loyalty to her husband. Just so at Asheville, N. C, when two good women spoke before the Southern Baptist Con- vention, it was not a shame and was just as per- missible as on Pentecost, because it indicated no disregard for any womanly obligation to home or husband. In Psalm 68: 11, we have this prophecy: "The Lord gives the word; the women that pub- lish the glad tidings are a mighty host." This is the rendering in what is called "The Baptist Bible," published by the American Baptist Pub- lication Society. Women then are publicly to tell the gospel story. Not where it would bring them or the gospel into disrepute as in Corinth and like places, but in places like Palestine and like the United States of America in such ways as never to show lack of reverence for their hus- bands. Let our good women go on as they are going. They can be trusted more fully than we, to keep their places. Let them speak on suitable occa- sion ; let them teach ; let them pray, in our meet- ings. Until they show disloyalty to the law of the home as given in Eden, never say them nay. CHAPTER VIII. A VALUATION OF THE PREACHER. (Editorial.) "Preachers' boys are the worst on earth." This is a common saying, but is as far from the truth as it could well be. Once in a long while there is a preacher's boy who is bad. Eli's sons were a hard lot. We remember one preacher whose boy was hanged by the neck till he was dead. But generally speaking preachers' boys are the best to be found. It is strange that more of them do not go wrong than do. Their fathers are so much of the time away from home; and even the best of mothers have a hard time con- trolling boys. Preachers' boys have boy nature just as do others and they do not like to have it said that they are tied to their mother's apron strings. Besides the devil counts a preacher's boy as prey specially to be sought. Every preacher's boy caught is a feather in the devil's cap. It makes a strong odor against religion and tells against the preacher's influ- ence. People say, "That man can't manage his own boys. Why should he be trying to teach us what to do with ours?" Paul makes it one quali- fication of a pastor that he should rule his own house well. However when we look through the history of the past, we find that preachers' boys have a marvelous record for good. They have been 228 A VALUATION OF THE PREACHER 2 29 among earth's greatest and most successful in almost every noble pursuit. Somewhere we have a partial list of these. We tried to find it for this article, but it has eluded our search. We hope to discover it and publish it later. As an old friend of ours used to say, "It will make pretty reading." "Preachers know nothing about business. They are not men of affairs. When they under- take to give business advice, or undertake to in- terfere in community management, they lose out." The facts show to the contrary. Preachers are competent to do business and they are men of affairs. Many a preacher gets along on an income that would so stump some of his critics that they would throw up their hands, quit and spend their time grumbling at fate and hard times and at the government. We have in mind now a preach- er whose salary, so far as we know, never exceed- ed six hundred dollars a year, who had a wife and five children— four sons and one daughter. He kept his family under a good roof and cloth- ed them comfortably and fed them well. All five children grew up, and he managed to give each of them a fair education. Two of the sons are now successful business men. The other two are practicing physicians and rank high in the profession. The daughter is well married. The old folks— and they are not old to hurt— left to themselves are living to them- selves as when they first started out together— 230 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON are in comfortable circumstances. And this is no very unusual exception at all. The fact that his people follow him and are glad to aid him in carrying out his plans, demonstrates his general- ship. He is a manager indeed. Witness the work of Johnston Myers of Chi- cago. See what is being done by some of the young men on the field of our State Association. Consider Reeder at Winstanley (East St. Louis), Marlin at Grayville, Culp at DuQuoin, Motsinger at West Frankfort, Booth at Harrisburg. These men are leading hundreds who are gladly follow- ing them to marvelous accomplishment. Such preachers are men of affairs and are demonstrat- ing their ability to manage big plants that turn out big things. See what Hodge is doing at Johnston City, Musgrave at Carter ville, the three years work of Mitchell at Herrin where Brother Gore is now located. See Allison as he leads the great First church of East St. Louis. Likewise Pepper as he wrestles with the Lansdowne problem in the same city. We say such preachers are men of affairs and are capable of running any big in- dustrial plant which demands business ability of a high order. It is also the rule that preachers re-enforce their business ability with strict and religious economy. They are careful about making debts and when they do make them, they are careful to pay them. They will suffer for comforts in their homes rather than suffer in their reputa- A VALUATION OF THE PREACHER 231 tion. They know the value of a good name, es- pecially to a man in their sacred calling. And the preacher generally has this good name. So true is this statement that it is rarely any trou- ble for a preacher to get credit. He has a face value not common to men of most other callings. So it is that when the exception occurs, and a preacher shirks paying what he owes, it makes a great scandal and people talk about it and won- der about it as they would in the case of a man of no other calling. , The preacher lives in the thought that "the just man walketh in his integrity." Water and a crust for his table with a good name rather than rich viands and a soul that fears to look a creditor in the face. Then as to public interests and especially as to public morals, who has not seen the preach- er's power demonstrated? In the face of per- sonal risk he has often spoken out when others would not do so, for law and order and righteous- ness. And thus many a carousing, shooting and killing community has been completely trans- formed. We think as we write of some situations which formerly existed here in our own state. We think of places we used to see and hear of in Wil- liamson, Saline, Hamilton and adjacent counties. The doggery popular — found often at a cross- roads as well as in the villages, and other things to match. But there were preachers in those days whose voices were heard for the right. Some said to 232 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON them, "You had better let politics alone and preach the gospel." The devil has always had a fashion of professing great solicitude for the preaching of the gospel when such solicitude suit- ed his purpose. But those preachers back there kept hammering away and making sentiment, till in the counties specially named, there is not to- day one single licensed dramshop to be found. All honor to such men as Hosea Vise, W. S. Blackman, T. W. Chamness and a host of others whose names we might write did space permit. Suppose we would ever have had the present desirable conditions as to morals, temperance, ed- ucation and good things generally, had not the preachers been at their job? Never! You take a community of happy and pros- perous homes; where the fields are fruitful and the gardens beautiful ; where the children are ro- sy-cheeked and comfortably clad, and where the young people are bright, intelligent and aspiring — certain it is, the preacher is there and has been there with his teaching of "peace on earth, good will to men." The preacher left oiTt in such a community for the past few years, would show things dilap- idated, uncultivated, non-progressive — and un- healthful. If thousands of dollars, in the absence of the preacher, had been donated each year to help that community, it would have been like pouring treasure into a sink-hole, and the re- cipients would continually have been begging for more. But the preacher's ministry has produced A VALUATION OF THE PREACHER 2 33 a fibre of manhood and womanhood worth more than money values can measure in bringing ma- terial blessings and happy homes. Where the school house is a shack, where there is no care for highways, where homes are poorly kept, the window lights out, the roofs leaky, the door yards not cared for, the boys and girls not taught good manners — where these things are, the preacher has not cut much figure. But let him get in and stay long enough and things will change. We heard of a preacher named Lakey who visited once in a home some- thing like the ones just referred to. The good woman said, "Make yourself at home, Brother Lakey." "All right," said he, "I'll take the ash- es out the first thing." The wisest preacher does not perhaps proceed exactly as Brother Lakey did, but by indirection, he as surely goes after the same result. The preacher does far more for public order, peace and safety than does the police force. He is a bulwark against sin and crime. He does more for public health than does the physician. All his teaching points to better sanitary condi- tions and methods of living. He does more for prosperity in material things than would an al- lowance of thousands from the treasury of the state. He is everlastingly proclaiming a rule of life which promotes honesty, industry and econ* omy. He does more to drive out gloom and to promote happiness than do all the places and sources of ordinary pleasure and amusement. He 234 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON teaches an attitude of mind which makes peace abide as the ocean : "Whatsoever things are hon- est, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoev- er things are of good report; if there be any vir- tue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Years ago there used to be a story told about McLeansboro. In early days the place had no church, and of course the preacher's influence had not come in. It was counted a desperately hard town. Some declared that it was worse than perdition itself. Profanity, fisticuffs, drunk- enness, prevailed. Tom Marshall, a representa- tive in congress, lived in McLeansboro. It leaked out some way in Washington that he was from a town that had no church. He was laughed at and his pride was so awakened that he wrote home, "I'll give a lot to any church that will build a house of worship on it." Soon McLeans- boro had a church and a preacher and in a few years was transformed. It has long been one of the best towns morally in this part of the state. It has fine church buildings, prosperous business and a first class citizenship. A testimony to what the preacher means to the community. We have all heard of Liberal, Missouri. As the story goes it was a town started by infidels, with the idea that it should never have a church, and to demonstrate that there could be a good town without the Christian religion. It flourish- ed mightily for a little while, and was advertised A VALUATION OF THE PREACHER 235 as the only city on earth that had no God, no heaven, no hell, no church, no saloon. How did it get along without the preacher? It soon be- came such a hell that infidels said, "We can't stay here ; it is not a fit place in which to bring up our children." So the preachers were permit- ted to come in, and the usual results followed. The town grew better. You can have your city government, your police force, your courts, but the preacher does more for the community than they all. Who then would want to swap off the work of the ministry for some other calling in which results do not abide? Brother Preacher, be glad that God has so honored you as to place you in such a noble avocation. Magnify your office. Fill it well. Then when your record is completed, the coronation day will give you a crown of glory. Christian Father, feel happy if God lays his hand on your son and makes him feel that lie must be miserable or preach the gospel. Christian Moth- er, pray that your baby boy in the cradle, may grow up and be anointed of God to proclaim the unsearchable riches. "I love to tell the story of unseen things above, Of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love." CHAPTER IX. TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS OF YEARS AGO. (Editorial Retrospect.) Very close to the children of many parents is the preacher. We talked somewhat about the preacher last week. Very close to the children of nearly all parents is the school teacher. The school teacher is therefore a great moral and religions force and counts tremenduously in hu- man affairs whether we consciously reckon with him or not. Thinking of the school teacher put us into a reminiscent mood and we went back in mind to the early schools we attended and to the teach- ers who instructed us in the days before our years had counted ten. The Old Log School House. The first teacher we ever had was a man named McCutcheon. We were so young that we do not remember much about him or his school, or his pupils. About all we can call up concern- ing him is that he was rather an elderly man, had a pleasant smiling face and was a little deaf. A year later we attended school in the same place again. This time the teacher's name was Collins. He was a local Methodist preacher, a smooth going old gentleman and the scholars had an easy time. The most vivid recollection we have of him is a slight punishment which he gave us and another boy for playing 'Jack in 236 TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS OF YEARS AGO 237 the Bush,' in 'time of books.' The game was played with hazel nuts. One boy held the nuts in both hands, and shaking them, said, 'Jack in the bush.' The other boy in the game said, 'Cut him down.' The first boy said, 'How many licks?' The other boy made his guess. If he guessed the exact number, he won the nuts. If he missed he had to pay a forfeit of as many nuts as he guessed over or under. It was really gambling on a small scale. Another boy and we were very busy with this game and the teacher, catching us, slipped up on us, and about the time one of us said, "Cut him down," Mr. Collins said, "I'll cut YOU down." and bumped our heads together good and hard. This was the only time we ever suffered cor- poral punishment of any kind in school. Not be- cause we were such a good boy, but because we were lucky. We don't remember learning to spell or learning to read. We don't even remember learn- ing the multiplication table. However, we did learn these things, and we rather think it was in Mr. Collins' school. We can very distinctly call to mind that we studied geography in this school and that on the map of the United States appear- ed the 'Great American Desert,,' which now blos- soms as the rose. We got the idea that it and the Sahara desert of Africa were very much alike. This first school house in our memory was in the neighborhood of Manlyville, Henry Coun- ty, Tenn. We wanted to see it when we were in 238 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON that section last fall, but learned that it had long- been gone and that there was then no roadway to the place where it stood. So we could not say, "The old school house was altered some." It had entirely disappeared. Of the boys and girls who were with us in that school, we remember scarce- ly any. Most of them have already gone on be- fore us into the Great Beyond, though a few still remain on this side. The names and the faces of all these fellow pupils are no doubt recorded on the tablets hid- den away in our subconscious being, and some day we may be able to call the forgotten images up and live over in memory the scenes and inci- dents which seem now forever gone. Memories of the Old School Teacher. Our next school experience was in the north- east corner of the same county in the same state. The house was located near the "big road" run- ning from Buckhannon to the Mouth of Sandy, and was about four miles west of the last named place. The name of our teacher here was Epaph- roditus Simmons. People generally knew him as 'Ep.' Simmons. He was a man of strong char- acter, a good instructor, and a good manager. We never knew a teacher who could more com- pletely control a lot of boys. His will was law. And yet we all liked him. The rule in this school was that the first pupil to reach the school house in the morning was to have the privilege of reciting first when lesson time began. As soon as he arrived his TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS OF YEARS AGO 239 first duty was to build a fire, if one was needed. Then he was to begin studying his lessons. There was no waiting for 8:30 or 9 o'clock to begin work in that school. Of course when several pu- pils got in before the teacher, there was some- thing doing in the way of fun and play, but a strict watch was kept, and when the form of the master appeared in sight, coming down the road, everybody went to his book and was hard at a\ ork. School having begun and the teacher being ready for recitation, his word was, "Come, the first." At once the pupil who had reached the school house first that morning went promptly forward, feeling that, for that day at least, he had won an honor. There was little uniformity of text books and in a majority of cases, except in spelling, the pupils recited singly. It was a marvel how many lessons the teacher heard and how much was learned. Mr. Simmons had a regulation that during school hours his pupils could converse as much as they liked, provided they did not whisper. This rule was inexorable. If a pupil violated it and was caught, he was sure of a licking. And he was nearly sure to be caught, for the teacher had a sharp eye and a wide range of vision. The whipping was generally one to be remembered. Mr. Simmons was not cruel, but he believed that disobedience should be punished. In this we think he was right. Most of the old time teachers were bulwarks for law and order, because they taught 24 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON respect for authority and because they punished the disobedient. The sentiment against capital punishment by the state, which we hear so much of nowadays, did not come from the schools of a former generation, but is the product of a. weak sentimentalism which exalts supposed kindness ;it the expense of justice. The only national gov- ernment ever given to men direct from heaven had capital punishment in it. God is not too good to punish sin. He is so just that he MUST punish sin. And so he would have human gov- ernment to be in principle, whether in the home, the school or the nation, though he limits the authority to administer capital punishment to the nation or state. It was the rule in most of the old fashioned schools during study hours for the pupils to "study out loud," though what was called the "si- lent school" was not unknown. The teacher who advocated the "silent system," however lost in popularity on that account. The "open school" was thought to be the best. Mr. Simmons taught an "open school." The pupils read aloud, spell- ed aloud, ciphered aloud, parsed aloud, conversed aloud. Sometimes, especially when it was the hour for much spelling and everybody got going, the noise was almost deafening and could be heard for quite a distance. It was ludicrous to listen to. But the children learned. And they learned not only to spell, but they learned well whatever they studied. The curriculum was not extensive, but spelling, reading, writing, gram- TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS OF YEARS AGO 241 mar and Ray's Third Part Arithmetic were studied and re-studied and gone over and over again till the pupils knew them better than like studies are known by many high school stu- dents of today. In fact the spelling and reading of some high school graduates are distressing to see and hear. Where the "open school" prevailed the noise did not seem to militate against thor- oughness in the least. We do not however wish to be understood as anxious to see a return of the "open school" method. We are only stating a fact. In Mr. Simmons' school, spelling was a big thing. Twice a day we had recitations from big spelling classes. We used the old "blue back ele- mentary" and the "common school Webster's dictionary." And many were those who learned to be good spellers. On every Friday afternoon we had a spelling match. These contests were as full of thrill as the game of town ball or the foot race. We remember Mr. Simmons offered a premium to the pupil who won most "head marks" in the spelling classes during the school and and to the last day. It was our distinction to win. The prize award- ed us was a copy of "Ray's Third Part Arithmetic." We prized it highly, and used it to good purpose till, in subsequent years, we could solve every problem in it, from beginning to end. Besides we felt that winning in the con- test was a great honor. 242 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON In that school we received our start in what- ever we had later of the ambition to acquire knowledge and to excel. We learned to love learn- ing, to love reading, to prize books. The conse- quence was that whatever came our way, in the shape of a book, was read. Our chief regret now is that not enough books came of the right sort. Yet on the whole those we read inspired us to seek the good and to have visions of great things which we fully expected to reach later in life. Of course many of those early visions have not been realized and never will be. Still we are glad we had them and were stirred by them. The teachers of those days were men and women of noble ideals. In a few things they made mistakes. For instance, in many cases they led boys to under-rate life on the farm, and to aspire to the clerkship, or to trade, as something superior to tilling the soil. But in moral prin- ciples, in loyalty to country, in teaching respect fo?> true manhood and womanhood, their instruc- tions were right. And they had great influence, not only with their pupils, but with the parents of their pupils. The school teacher was a man highly honored by his patrons. Whatever there is of good in middle aged and older men and women of the present as they are found in our country, is largely to be ascribed to the men and the women who wielded the birch and taught the young idea how to shoot, in the log school houses of those earlier days. TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS OF YEARS AGO 243 Epaphroditus Simmons doubtless years since went to his long home. But he still lives in the lives of some whom he taught, and his works follow him. He was not so well drilled in "normal methods" nor did he have so much polish as some who teach today, but we are sure that he wrought as well, considering the appliances he had, and that in some respects he did more thorough work. In a stone's throw of the old school house in which "Prof." Simmons taught was the meeting house of the old Point Pleasant Baptist church. Thus it was that the culture given in the little log school house and the simple gospel teaching of Baptists went together in that same commu- nity. And both influences are there yet. The old school house is gone, but within a few hun- dred feet is another and better one to supply its place. The old church building with some chang- es and repairs, is just where it was. It was our pleasure to be on the ground a few months ago and to feel swelling up in our heart the memo- ries of the days long gone. Thank God for the country church and its gospel. Thank God for the country school and what it is doing. Together the two make for the best there is on earth, while the gospel of the one points us to the "brighter bliss of heaven." (Dr. Throgmorton is himself a product of the old time school. His advance beyond their curric- ulum was all obtained by private study and per- sonal effort, and illustrates what self-culture can 244 BIOGRAPHY OF W. P. THROGMORTON do. The only scholastic degree he ever received was that of Doctor of Divinity, given him by Ewing College at its commencement in the year 1890.— C. H.) THE END. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES This book is due on the date indicated below, or at the expiration of a definite period after the date of borrowing, as provided by the library rules or by special arrangement with the Librarian in charge. DATE BORROWED DATE DUE DATE BORROWED DATE DUE C28 (747; MIOO COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 0035521090 33?. 5 T416 938.5 Hode< T416 y* P» Throgmorton : DC PHOTOCOPY — t