&ELD
t&lJNTY UKE,, OGWtnfc'ETt COWTT.,
October the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th, 1S3&
—i——
WASHINGTON, (GA.)
l^fllNTE* AT THE NEWS OFFICE
• •••Ml
Ml*
* *
Willi * '
1st, The introductory sermon
Was delivered ;by Elder Otis
Smith, from Xfeiah" 44 chap. 20
ver., " Hefeedeth oo^as'hes i a
deceived heart hath turiied him
aside,' that he cannot deliver his
soul, nor say, Is there not a lie
in ihy right hand V'i; , _
2nd; Ln consequence of the
deatlrof Br: Marshall^ tSje foiv
mcr,CIerk^of .th6 \ Association,
•Br.'fe: M^nSaiidgrs wns'appoin¬
ted Clerk pro tem."
' 3d. Head letters from1 the.chur¬
ches and recorded their state.
4th. Fleeted Br. Je'sse $Iei>
cer Mod.,;and B. VI Sanders
Clerk.-—Received into member
ship the Pine-Grove Church.,
lately^constituted in Columbia
County. *
5tfr.% Appointed »B"o- J.ames
Armstfo'ngy Otis %*mith and" J.
II Walker a corn mi tee on the
Mercer Institute for {Science and
in Jiistiy-Gibsou, Mercer, lrvin,
and Armstrong to arrange prea-
chnigr—Shervvoo I, Robert? gind
Davis** to examine" minutes and
arrange the business,—Stocks,
Harris and J. Lumpkin to au¬
dit the account, of the late Cleiv
and receive Contributions
Ot !. Called for Corresp >ading
let. its; received a letter & fnin
utes from the Ocmulgee associa¬
tion,- by their messengers Fe|fcol ^
&. Aendrick—f <>m the Yellow
rirVer, a. loiter &, niinutti^by -their
ine'sseage s Colley and iialcum
—--vc >m vVashin>coa. a letser
'and .ma j*,es -%m {hei-v a >"e.*
J. V. ju>veiett—aud iwAwiit;
Flint river, aletter by the Breth¬
ren Carter, Milner, & Shockley
—-from theCahawba, a letter—•
frdm the Ebenezer, a letter and
minutes by their messenger 11.
Messer; from the Sarepta, n:in-
utes by their messengers Davis,
Bledsoe & David; from the fcia*
vannah river, a letter and min¬
utes;, from the Western, receiv¬
ed their messengers Reaves <&
• Jennings.s*#•>,i~
7th. Appointed Brethren Da-'
vis, Lumpkin and Harris a com¬
mittee to report on a letter from
the Ocmalgee Association, and
Brethren Sanders, Stocks and
^Valke r a committee' to report
on a letter from the Flint liivev
Association, _
8th Appointed Brother Sher-
woo (^Assistant Clerk: adjo irn-
ed ui ifill half past I) "to Jiorrovy
morning. 1
tfiliirdatf morn. Oct. 13.
Met according to adjournment,
prayer by i5ro. iloberts; called
the roll and read^ the minutes
of yesterday- - v ;
9th. Called for remaining com¬
munication's—read letters from
tiie Churches ofSii iruit, Henry
comity, Paro i, Monroe cou.ity,'
Sardis & vnyrna Baits county;'
andonefVo n .Vl*i3 jnough, \vhicU
were all refered to a "committee,'
consisting of Brethren' Roberts*
Armstrong, Lumpkin 3
& Stiervv^od to rej;} Av')l5 a-*
ifii'yf receive.! a c > n /v-i-ho u'i-ni
fro u I 'jo O-oi, iMr$U. oouaty i'a--
u nn'»ar.va rji £ticlo«
i^ilg ;^43, to&' .djidoiO Jldjr*
V
which we cojnmend as an exam¬
ple, worthy of the' consideration
& imitation of our sisters in oth¬
er neighborhoods^ and the more
so as it is stated to be principally
$ie product of their own labour.
10th. The committee of ar¬
rangement made their report
iwhich was accepted.' M 4 11
11th, Read the Circular of the
Georgia Baptist Convention, &
Jtesolvcd that it meets the hear¬
ty approval of the Association.
12th. Called for the Circular
fvhich was I'ead and accepted;
arid Br. J. Armstrong1 appoint¬
ed to write the next*. 1
"13th. The Committee on the
letter from tfee Ocmulgee As¬
sociation reported the following
resolution viz i Resolved, that
great tenderness and Christian
forbearance be exercised by the
Association while she endeavors
fo convince her sister the Op-
inulgee that she is in error, 2.
Hesolved, that a committee be
appointed to prepare a letter
embracing explanations upon
the subject of our grievances sp
far as a common letter will al¬
low, and that a delegation be
appointed to tear it, who shall
be empowered to act for this
body in the settlement of the dif¬
ficulties between us. The rep¬
ort was accepted and agreed to,
and Br'n. Davis, Harris and
Thornton, appointed to write
the letter; and that Davis, Mer¬
cer, lipberts, Lumpkin," ^horn-
ton, Stocks and Smith be the
delegation to bear it.
14th/ Received a letter £nd
minutes from the Tugalo Asso¬
ciation by her messenger Br. T,
jpHWSfQ, . .
15th. Appointed messengers
to the following associations viz: *
J. B. Battle and W. L. Tucker
to the Ebenezer; and Dr. T. G.
Janes to Write the letter. * Br'n.
Harris, Callaway, Johnston and
Sherwood to the Tugalo; and
br. Johnston to write the letter.
Br'n. Lumpkin, Davis &Thorn-
to the Saluda; & Br*(). Smith
to write the letter. ' Br'n. Shert
wood, Sanders, Davis and Har¬
ris to the Yellow-River; and
Br. Haralson to write the let*
ter. * Br'ri. Harris and Sanders
to the Savannah river; and Br.
L. B. Mercer to write the letter.
Br'n. Ivy and Mallary to the
Hepzibah ; and Br, R. Q. Die-,
kinson to write the letter. Br'n,"
J. Mercer and Callaway to the t
Sarepta; and Br. A. Janes to 1
write the letter.' Br'n. Gilbert,
Perrymani Johnston and gand¬
ers to the Washington; artd Br."
N. M. Lumpkin to write ttye let*
ter,*" Br'n, Blanchard, -Taylor,.
Ivy and Harris to the Edgefield;
and J. B. Battle to write.
the letteK Brn« Moon and 1-^
vy to the Western; and Br. J,'*
Lockhart to write the letter.
16th, Appointed general mee^.
tings in the following order viz:
1st District, Smyrna, Green Co.
Friday before the 5th sabbath
in Jiine 1§33. 2d do., Union,
Warren Co, Fridav before the
5th sabbath in Sept. 3d do.,*
Phillips' Mill, Wilkes co. Frid- ,
ay before the 2d sabbath in Au¬
gust. 4th do., Greenwood Lin¬
coln co. ^Friday before the 5tfi
sabbath in March.
. *
17th, Appointed the next as¬
sociation to be held a^ Reho-
both.in Wilkes county, oji Fri* /
I *
day before the 2d sabbath in Oct.
1^33; and Br. Harris to preach
the introductory sermon, and
Br. V. R. Thornton his altern-
inate; Br. O. Smith to preach
the Mission sermon and Br. Da¬
vis his alternate.
I8th. Appointed Br. Mercer,
Armstrong, Sherwood, Lump¬
kin, Stocks, Davis, Thornton,
and Sanders delegates to repre¬
sent this body in theBaptist con¬
vention for the state of Georgia,
to meet at M'Donough, Friday
before the 2d Lord's tlay in May
next.
19th, Resolved, that we dis
claim any connection with a cer¬
tain Joseph Stephens, who is
travelling about in the charact¬
er of a baptist preacher; that
an extract from this minute be
communicated to the Ecjitor of
the Christian Index. *
20th, The committee on the
letter from the Flint River as¬
sociation made their report, em¬
bracing in it a resolution to re¬
consider our last 3'ears letter to
the Flint River association and
to call to our aid the messen¬
gers of that association, with
a view to acknowledge and ex¬
punge what might be shown to
be offensive in it; but upon the
affirmation of said messengers
that they were neither authoriz¬
ed nor prepared to render any
such aid, the report was re¬
committed to said committee
with the addition of the moder¬
ator, and J. Armstrong to report
pn Monday a Jetter to the said
Association. '
21st, Resolved, that while the
scriptures require, that children
should be brought tip in thu m?r-j
* 3
ture and admonition of tlm
Lord, &.that all should remem¬
ber the sabbath day to keep it
holy; and while sabbath schools,
when well conducted, have had
so happy an effect in promoting-
those important objects, we con¬
sider it a matter much to be re¬
gretted, that they are so much
neglected as they are by so ma¬
ny of our brethren ; and that we
recommend more energy among
our brethren in promoting them.
Adjourned to Monday morning
9 o'clock.
Sunday, The weather being
inclement the congregation was
divided,—brethren Echols and
Reaves preached to the females'
in the house, interesting discour¬
ses, and we trust with good ef¬
fect:—brethren Sherwood and
Lumpkin preached at the stage
to a very large congregation *
who were more attentive than
could be expected from the fre¬
quent showers of ram ; at the
close of Br. Lumpkin's sermon
a collection wastaken ibr Mis -
sionary purposes, when
was taken at the stand, and $ 1.4
Sf some jewellery, in the house*1
frpiu the ladies/ The evening
being more open br. James Da¬
vis preached at the stage follow¬
ed in exhortation by br, G\
Lumpkin.
Monday morning met accor-.
ding to adjournment. Prayer
by br. Reaves, called the roll
aiid read the minutes*
:2id, The report of the finan¬
cial committee wa.^ read and
ajiprftved (viz:) The committee*
appointed io audit the accounts
of the |ate Clerk J. P. Marshall,
report, on exa:uh;,aUc>;i of
" [ 4
Looks and the minutes of flic last
nssocintioji, it appears t'tcre was
in his hands at his death, the
sum of$JL34 88. Your commit¬
tee further report, they*have re¬
ceived (including the collection
on the sabbath) from the chur¬
ches of this body at its present
session, $122 82, to defray the
experjee of printing and distrib¬
uting minutes; $20143, for
home missions; $413 87, for for¬
eign missions; $ 172 38, for the
School Fund ; $210 16, for gene¬
ral purposes, making an aggre¬
gate amount* of $1240 82 cents.
In addition to this sum we have
received a box of jewellery'from
the females of Augusta, estimate
cost $99, supposed to he now
Worth halt that sum. * -
P. S. The following additional,
Voluntary contributions, for mis¬
sions were made. By a member
©f County-Line church, $1 00.
Friendship church by br. # .
Ogle shy for school, , 2 00,
A friend to missions, ^ 1 (Ki.
From the W arreuton ch. 2 00.
^ Colored man 25.
rA Breast Pill by a female, 6 25..
23d, The , Committee on
the Mercer Institute made thi'ir
l-epavt which was accepted (viz:)
The committee, to whom
was rufered the d,utv to ascert¬
ain the amouiitsub^critaeii, with¬
in the bounds of the Georgia
Association, for theWnefit of
the M-.irccr Institute^respectful¬
ly report. ^
i'oon wood.Clutch has sposcrjbed
Oji the 5 year p]-ur,. §lG0,0t)
crccli, do. 135,00 ['
*d »• 1 rear plan, 2-i,37^-159,',37&
1 y. p. * 127'374;
ivi^kue 5 year p. 1«£5,08
lUh^bolh 5 y. p. 160,00
J
' <K 1 y. phrt, ' "• 7,00-107,00*
Goshen I y. p!anr 4 1*8,(JO
Lino/dnton 5 y»»p. 115,00 . *
#1 ->. 1 y. piasi, 1 LjA)-)'—125,00
Sai flis, 5 y- plart, 125,0J
do. one y« plan, 10,00-—13a,05
• Your Co-wnittac also re- t {
port, that Elder Jesse Mer¬
cer has given to ciect a lar<je * 1
House to bo occupied by. *
the Steward &c. &c. ^ 1003,00
The br'n. Stocks, Day's "* -<
Sanders and Armstrong, * , - "
confiding in tha liberality of **
their brethren* friendly to
the school, stand pledged for * i
the same purpose for 300,01?
making an aggregate of $3ol7,37£
24tli, The committee, un the
letters addressed to us bytcer-.
tain churches that had with¬
drawn from the Fjint tliyer As¬
sociation,, reported as ^folh^w^
Rcsohed, that although we;
sincerely syinpatjiize^vi^h th5se
churches in tiieir difficulties! yet
if it were proper "at any time to
grant such a request we deem it
improper and in&xpedejit iioiv, ,
,iif consequence of the differen¬
ces which exist between this &
the Flint river. Association; we
vvjould respectfully rc^comim-tid
to tbo^e churches great jtii^civ-*
ness and torbearance on tiieir
part, while we indulge the hope
thjjt>oth their deferences and
.purs with the said: Association
will yet be amicably adju>t^d.
25th. The com,mittee appum-*
ted tiMvrite aletfvr to tue, jl)ci
ai jigGQ assoei*iti .^reported, JA&
Wibicii was-adopted; ako
eouimittefc 04 "tiie i^litit river let-
ter, to whoultlut matter was re4
tfonfMiTTed, fe^oried a letter to
said a-.soci«ition3 vvUieh \y ts ad4
t»piodr «& the bi4e^ii'cn -Viorcer,
fSu'ndora* oiraituii, t Jui iiijfwi <*?,
£'S
^Thornton, Travis. Stocks, Fib-,
tii.-.. Jit ires ami ( alia v tv- , v*crt':
aj 'pointed nresscng«rs to thati
association with full power to
sertie the differences between us.
26t'*-, Kead. approved and ad¬
opted the letters prepared ioi
the several Associations with
whom we correspond.
27th, The committee appoin¬
ted to prepare a histoiy of this
Association, reported difficulties
w I ich had prevented a comply-
£ii ee; mi which it was resolv¬
ed, That the accomplishment of
&aid design be eonhoed to the
Moderator, on his own responsi¬
bility, but under the patronage
of the association.
28h, Rf'so/V/, That 3.500 cop¬
ies of these minutes be printed
embracing-the constitution^ de¬
corum, <V that the clerk have $35
as a compensatation for his ser¬
vices in superintending, the prin¬
ting and distributing the same.
29th. Revolted,, That this
Association entertains a deep
and melancholy sense of the loss
sustained in the death of Elders
"William Davis, and Jabez Hei-
ades Marshall the late &• much
valued Clerk of this body, in the
year past—and that the one, for
his age, accumulated and pro¬
tracted afflictions.—the other
for his youth, growing worth, fy
inc easing usefulness,—both,
fo; i heir untiring zeal ^indefat¬
igable perseverance, are entitl¬
ed to the warmest^. latest recol¬
lections of all that knew them.
ctfiih, JiEsoLVED, that tha clerk
be requested officially to notilv
the administrators of our dee'd
br. Marshall of the amount that
ren rined in l is 1 ands at his
d**ik, due to this bocjy, say
}
$131 88cents; and that he be-
-'v-"eb\ authorized to recc:-ive So
receipt for the sum of'zlti'J, ill
behalf of this bod},&that the re¬
mainder say &34 bS eta, be allow-*
ed to the heirs of his estate far
extra services i endered as clerk,
31st, Resolved, That we
.highly approve of the example
of those benevolent and pious
females, v, ho influenced h} the*
instructions of the apostle in I,
Timothy 2 ch. v. that " Wa¬
rn en should not adorn them*
selves with broklered hair, or
gold, or pearls, or costly amiy,"
have laid aside the use of those
needless and forbidden orna¬
ments & contributed their worth
to the promotion of the eanse of
him who was meek and lovvh ia
heart.
32d, resolved, That while
we lament the * afflictive dispen¬
sation of divine providence in
taking so soon from their field
of labour, so many of our Mis¬
sionaries in Burmah, we rejoice
with thanks-giving at the happy
success with which the Lord
has been pleased to attend their
short course of service, &. coin?
m« nd those that remain to the
prayers and sympathies of their
brethren among us.
33d, resolved, That we re¬
joice in the happy success which
have attended the efforts of
Temperance societies in banish¬
ing aident spirits from family
use and confineing it almost en¬
tirely to the grog shop.
34th, Granted letters of dis¬
mission to churches at Mineral,
springs, Washington co., Rich
land. Green co., and BeiheJ,
Hancock co. to join the Wat§li«*
ington Association
X
U
P3
E
A
c
"5 *
* #
£ ^
o
JC
vT
"5
a* -
c
s
£
'
*tr—>r
Ok ^
■*11
2 »
u u
- ^
o
u
U)
tee
it
e;
s -
c?
s
WJ
0
v X)
;s
2
CHURCHES,
Powellou^ Hancock co
Mt Zion, do,
Bethel' - do.
Heel), do.
tVhite Plains,-' Greene co,
Smyrna do.
WarrentonJ Warren co
Mineral Spring, Wash.co.
Salem, Taliaferro
Long creek, Warren. ^
Richland, Green.
Williams' Creek, Warren
Bethel', Taliaferro. , j
;Elim, Warren.
Kioltee, Columbia.
Double Branches Lincoln.
Sweet Water, Warren. .
Union, do.
Pine Grove, Columbia,
Sharon. do.
Damascus, do.
Grove, ido.
Aberleen, - do.
Bethel, do. •
Augusta, Richmond co,
Springfield, -- do
i Spirit Creek, do.
{ New-Hope, Lincoln.
^ Bethesda, Greene, cox ^
DELEGATES' NAMES.
OTIS SMITH." C. Buttle/ tohu V.Rabuu.*
Absalom E, Reeves, J. G. GILBERT
Jesse Lockhart, W. Barksdale, Wm. Lattemer.
JOSEPH ROBERTS. J. B. BATLE.
Isaac Motfre, JESSE^ MOON.
V. R. THORNTON. J M. Haughton,
Peter Cody. William Castleberry
Robert Blair, Redding Lewis, i
Benj Allen,* Absalom Funderburk,
Stephen Jones, Sampson Culpeper,
George Hall, Aziral Bruce
Jethro Darden, T. Smith.
I DAV1S^ M. Johnston. L. B. Mercer, A.
G. Janes, E. Meadows, D. Meadows H.Mercer
Adam Broom,* Job Smith.
J. HARRIS, D.Stanford, C. Collins, Cartledge
Eli Lockart, T. Ayres.
E. FERRYMAN, Wm. P. Steed.
G, W. Hardeway,' J.inios Rickerson.
B. M. SA-NDERS, George Darsev.
John Lamar, J. G. Marshall*
Uriah Blanchard, John Cartledge.
GUTR1DGE IYY, Thomas Burton.*
John Skinner, G. A. P. Whitfield.
A Dagna!), J, Boyd.
C. D. MALLARt* J. W. Whitlock.
JACOB WALKER, S Walton, J. Roxbourlh,
S. Matthews. t ,
ROBERT M'GEE.
E. S. TAILOR, J R. Little*" Z. Howard.
T;:G.- Janes, J Mercer, R. V. Asbury,
Janfcs, f?'. L Tucker, R. Q. Dickinson.
fcpiilitM!) Jmkkvfy fiedit, ^Urrt&0B,|24
803
4
2
19
56 29
9
s W
o «
Ig
r£«5
168
62
159
142
J15
'70
53
92
72
119
60
128
353
76
217
77
90
81
48
77
54
67
56
131
1301
347
36
306
2
6 282*4 iO0'
1(0
00
50 '
50
50
00
00
00
50 -
00
00
50
4 00
2 00
5 00
2 45
3 00
2 00'
2 00
16212
33 2 00
1 00
2 00
3 00
3 00
5 00
2 00
1 25
5 Q0
e ,tg
-O
'£ s
K O
i cut
1 50
5 62 1-2
10 S3 3-4
4.
20 00
4 12
5 75
4 00
18 00
-f
12 00
79 121-2
12 50
10 00
-6 25
20 00
V-
6 25
a 25
41 CO]
4 15
53$
%
1
1
1
4 2f>
i
13 2®.
15 50
80 At
' 2Q1
rC
G*
I
O
}
XT'
C?
•g
J -
£2 e
0? a
.-j
e*-t. 7
S» •=
CP £
jg b
xr
^ -I
■p. -c
l- «s
_ n
&• -
«c =
U g
_ -e
County Line Oglethorp
iNi w Hope, Greene.
Beard's, Oglethorpe.
Antioch, do. |
Philips s Mill, Wilkes.
^ Greenesboroueh.
Ebenezer, W ilkes,
Gosheii, Lincoln.
Clark's Station. Wilkes.
Sardis, do. |
Newford, do.
Rehoboth, do.
{ Greenwood, Lincoln.g
I Union, do.
Lincolnton, do.
I Fishing Creek, Wilkes.
Salem, Lincoln.
I Washing on, Wilkes.
I tlepzibah, Lincoln.
^.Friendship Wilkes.
V Brown, L. B. Kinney brew,
(.
16
19
3
1
1
1 <r
* ool
5 62 1-2
! B. atts, Wm, Terrell.
12
1
11:
3v
i 50
8 43 3 4
Brook R. Gresham, W. Callahan.
24
9
9j
5
1
£
178
i 00
10 00
iO Oti
I. LUMPKIN, W.Lumpkin, N.M.Lumpkin
O
12
266
4 00
J. Beaslv and R. M Aycock.
15
o
8
4
1
Joseph S. Foster, Richard Anderson.
12
13
7,
0
1
129
2 50
30 75
15 17
A. SHERWOOD, V. Sanford.
4
7
9
0
106
1 00
11 00
W, Coroelison, J Q. West.
1-1
2
12
3
0
•126
2 00
6 0G 1-4
7 06 1-4
W. W Stokes, W. G. Tatum,* T Simmons.
20
3
1
3
127
1 50
12 50
J. MATHEWS, S. GIBSON,
2 00
14 95
E. CALLAWAY. D CaRRINGTON. I. t. Ir
vin. J. Henderson anr! R. Strozier.
56
1
14
6
3
3
254
3 0(
F. McClendon, Wm. Pool.
8
8
5
3
1
95
2 50
3 00
4 12 1-2
R. Booker, John Frazier.
9
4
14
4
S
1
145
■i oo
10 81 1-4
J. H. WALKER, John Bently.
19
15
1
3
180
i 50
22 00
'•3 oo
Lott House. Z. Grimsley.
4
2
1
o
2
53
1 50
1 00
2 00
Wm. Dallas, W. Stokes,
5
o
12
51
1 50
6 00
J. ARMSTRONG, M. A. Lane, N. Wiley.
12
£
29
5
1
1
18<
3 00
12 00
■2 37 1-2
J. Wright, J. McCord.
9
1
1
59
2 00
3 00
8 00
JESSE MERCER, JOS. CARTER.
c
4
9
2
49
2 <H
4 00
,■0 00
E. Ross, D. Florence.
12
o
6
5
1
71
2 5t
.4 30
Garrett Ogl^shy, Wm. Waltoa.
9
o
o
2
41
1 Of
6 56 1
i)5l
518
>24
17ol<><>
74
(709!:
4 QO
4 (X>
U 50
(pr P. S. William's Creek. $2 00 more in Macon Money for General purposes; Female Society Augusta, for Foreign-Missions, and Box Jewellery. $70 00; Ke-
Biale« at H»reh Church, Hancock county, for Foreign Missions $21 50; Sister at Mount Zion, for Schol Fund $2 00; Fishing Creek, for permanent I'und .'ercei Iti-
«litn(e Si~0 00: (Greenwood. do. do. do. $36 00! John Brooks, Sweet Water, for G. purposes 1 00; R. Booker from savings in sunff, for G. purposes. 8 00;
Columbia onnty Female Missionary Society, for F M. 43 00; Sister Eliza Green for F. M. 2 00; Executors of James Mathews 5 00 for F. M . and 5 00 lor School
fc'iiu) ; R Booker. Bfent for Rehohoth Church, permanent fund 40 00; S. Gibson agent for Clark Station do. do 5 00; B. M Sanders collected and paid over fo
School fund 11 56 14; B M. Sanders f'o. for pernianant fund 2 00; Collection after Miission Sermon $95, one finger ring, one small par ear-rings; Deduct for mien
jlfo' tn< for Gcue al purpose fund 2 00.
ON Monday morning the further following Contributions was Voluntarily made for Missions.—From a female of the Congregation 1,0®; Br. Oglesbv agent far,
9t'if>tiH*hip Church for School <J-2; Firm a friend'for Missions jjj>]; from fhe delegates of Warrenton Church, for her $2; from a coloied man for Missions 25 cents; Froth,
afi nm1, a Breast pin for the same.—Total $6 25 cents.
The ♦< tf»l amount of Money received.—For Minutes,' $122 £2 rents.— For Home Missions, $208 C3 cents— For Foreign.
Jl'ssions $113 —For the School $174 38 ceiits'-^r'or, permanent ftdtool Fund $114 56^eents-^Fm; Gi.eaer&jl
^fsr poses $>219 46 eem^rt-rXottth $1244 7JJ cents*
I»f
*«€'»»»
Wft, tlieCJhurchc of Jesus Christ,
wh«> have been regularly baptized
upon a profession of our faith, are
convinced, from a5 series of experi¬
ence* of the necessity of a eombina-
. tion of Churches; and of maintain¬
ing a correspondence, for the pres¬
erving of a federal union amongst all
th' Churches of the same faith and
order.
And as we are convinced, th«i
there are a number of Baptist Chur¬
ches, w ho differ from us in faith and
practice; and that it is impossible T*-
have communion where there if} 110
union, wd think it our duty, to set
forth a concise declaration of th*:
fa»th and order, uj)on which we in
tend to associate, which is as fol¬
lows :—
1st. We believe in one only true
and living God ; and that there is a
trinity of persons in the Godhead —
tlip Father, the Son, and the Holy
G »»stj and yet, there are not three
G? ds, but one G »d.
2iL We believe that the scriptures
of the oM and New Testament are
the word of God, and the only rule
of faith and practice,
3d. We believe in the fall of Ad¬
am, and the imputation of his sin to
his posterity ; in the corruption ol
hit iun nature, and the impotency of
man to recover himself by his bwn
fr.'O wilt ability.
4fii. We brieve in the everlasting
To.e of God to his people, and the e-
teroal election of a definite number
of the human race, to grace and glo¬
ry : And that there was a covenant
of grace or redemption -made be
tvvoen the Father and the Son, he-
fVle the world began, i>- which their
syJvMtion ij secure, and that they in
pnijicular are r.< deemed.
5 h. We bdiev< that sinners are
jualitiud in the s»^ht oi God, only bv
the righteousness of Christ ita]F>titc&
to them.
6lh. We believe that all those wh»
wiie chosen in ( bust Will be effr*,
tuallv calltd, regenerated, convert*
' d, sane ifird, and supported by the-
spirit and power of God, S6 tha$
(bey .shall peisevere in grace, an4
not one*of them be finally lost.
7iii. W.e believe that good woiks
are the fi nits of faith, and follow af¬
ter Justification, and that they only
justify us in the sight of men and an¬
gels, & are evidences of our gracious
*tate.
8th. YY e believe that there will be
a-resurrection oftSedead, and a ge¬
neral judgment; and that the happr-
ness of the righteous, and the punish*
ment of the wicked will be eternal*
And as for gospel order •
1st. We believe t'hat the visible
Church ofChristisa congregation
of faithful persons, whohtive gained
christian fellowship with each'other^
and have given themselves up to the'
Lord, and to one another, and have
agreed to keep up a Godly discipline^
agieeably to the rules of the gospel.
2d. We believe that Jesus Christ
is the great head of fhe. Church, &
only law giver and that the govern¬
ment is wtfli the body and is the pri¬
vilege of each individual^ and that
the discipline of the Church is inten¬
ded-tor the leclaimibg of those
christians who may be disorderly ei¬
ther in piiociple or. practice; and '
must be faithfully kept up for God's
glory, and'the peace and unity of the
Chinches.
3d. We believe, that water bap¬
tism and the Lord's-supper, al e oidi-
j^mcesoftbe Lord, and are to be
continued tilH-ns second coming.
4th. |VV *' believe, that tiueb<)ie»
vers in Jesua Christ Ure the onijf
p
SuVjccts ofbaptism, and that dipping
fes 1 io mode;
5ib. W «* behove that none but re
gul ulv baptised Church members!
feave a right to commune at theLoi d's
table. i
6th. We believe that it is the thir!
4y of every heave i-born soul to be¬
come a member of the visible Church,
to make a public profession of his
faith, to be legally baptised, so as to
have a right to, and partake of
the Lord's supper at every legal op¬
portunity, through the whole comae
of Ins life".
Huvrng laid dowu a summary of
. the faith and order upon which
We intend to associate; we there¬
fore purpose for the decorum of
©tu association, the following plan
or form of government.
Article 1st. Those members
who are regularly chosen by the
Churches in our union, shall com¬
pose the Association.
2d. The members so chosen, shah
produce letters from their respective
Churches, certifying their appoint¬
ment, together with their number in
fellowship, those baptised, received
by letter, restored, dismissed, ex-
couimuuicatcd, and dead since the
last Association.
3d. *The me .ibers thus chosen 6i
Oonve.ied", snail be denominated the
Georgia Baptist Association.
4ih. This association snail have
no power to lord it over God's bent-
age; nor by which they can infringe
upon any of the internal rights of
the Churches.
5iti. Tho association siiall nave a
moderator and clerk, who shall be
Ghosen hv the members present.
Gin. It new Cliurches desue to be
admitted into tins union, tney shall
pttiUou t»y letter and messengers, &.
.Upon examination, il found oimo-
tlox ind tnderly, shall he received by
the ^ociaiion; and inaniit sied b^
the to K'iat:jr'8 giving the messen¬
gers me rigm band of teUowsmp.
11
7th. No Church in the union shall
have-a lig >t to tnoiv, than i.-' mes5*
seugers, till it snali exceed one Hun¬
dred members ; a'ld then she snail
have a right to an addititional meSH
senger for every fifty after the first
hundred.
8th. Every query sent to the As*
sociation, by an\ Church in the uni¬
on, shall be read, and put to vole by
ihe moderator, whether it siutil bo
debated; ami if theie be a rnajwi ity
for it, it shall betaken ujj,(fc inves¬
tigated ; hut if not, it snail he with**
drawn. TVovided, aiwavs, 'i aat
tiiose be tirst considered which afiect
I lie union of Uj.urches,
ih. Every m>>tiou made and sec*
onded,"' snail come under the obser¬
vation oi the Association ; except it
be withdrawn by the member vvno
made it.
l()ih. Every person who speaks in
debate snail rise from his seat, and
addles the moderator, aim shah not
be interrupted while speaking*
cent he depart from tne subject.
11th. J\o jjerson snail spealt more
than thiee times tc* the same query)
.v uhout leave of the Association.
12ih. There shah be no taluingov
wnispeiui^; in the time of u puolic
speech, nor reflections cast upon Ui(j
speaker.
IJtii. i\o member shall exempt
nnuaeit t-oin the Assoihat.iuu vvilUout
leave from the modeiator.
I4ih. it any meuioer snail breafc
the rules ut this decorum, he anud ue
imifieuiateiy reproved by the mode*
rator,
15tli. It is the business of this As*
soctatiou,
1st. T«« provulefor thegeuerai u*
iiion ot tne Chat cues.
2d. l o Keep up a correspondence
with tuose Associations, ol the same
taith and order, tuat a chain oi com-
iiiuiiiuii may be preserved amon^s^
cue Chuiches.
3u. 1\>g.ve the Chuiches th* oest
advice tney can lti tiia't^rs ot mot*
r
fUiltv; and if thfc communion should
be broken between any of the sister
Churches in the nuifii, to enquire in¬
to the cause of the breach,' and 'use
th fir best endeavours to remove the
difficulty; but if the bi each cannot
be healed, to withdraw from any
cbutch or churches, whoin they shall
look upon to be unsound in piinciple,
Oi unmoral in practice, till they be
re< (aimed.
* 4t!i. To admit any of the brethren
in the ministry as assistants, ifthex
phail judge it to be nec essary. " 1
5ilt. To appoint a secretary to
keep u iiook, and reiiulai ly recoro
the pi ttceedings of e\ery Association,
1# ]
and to see that be is satisfied for
trouble. '
6th. To have the minutes of t.hf
Association read (ami coriected i
need be) and signed by the inoderae
for and clerk, before the Association
rises, and have them printed annual¬
ly, and the'constitution and rules of4
this Body, the present year, and ev¬
ery fourth year thereafter if need be,
7th.. To mend this plan or form of
government at any time when th©
majority 'of the union shall deem it
to be necessary. ' '
8th.1 To adjourn to any time or
.lace which the/ iuaj think, to
most proper* " . * '
Beloved in the Lord,
You are expecting- a word of advice and
admonition from our animal meeting,—and we address you o»
subjects of a practical nature.
ist, On Family Religion. Since the kindly influence of the
gu <t revival has passed a *vay, we fear many families neglect pray¬
er, some in the morning, and others altogether. From this we
im r, «3y* the negligent know whether our inference is correct or
not, that closet or secret devotions are also omitted. V. e need
not expect, the blessing of the Lord,—the manifest tokens of his
presence, upon our public met tings, if we neglect family and clos¬
et feligiou. IN'o doubt the cold lifelessness, the lamentable ap-
oth; apparent in our public assemblies, is to be ascribed to the
fact that we have little or no relgion at home; that our hearts
are not attuned for the services of the Sanctuary by the devotions
of the closet.
.2nd. J'r 'si/mpfvous confidence. While we admit and main¬
tain the dt.-ctrine of implicit confidence in God, and the certainty"
til it t tho.-e who believe "on Him shall not be confounded,' we
ivui-i caution you against the abuse of this consoling sentiment*
Tne kind of confidence whirl, we would warn vou not to entertain^
is tiiat, which vhe god of this world, endeavoured to inject i fo
the mind of the blessed Saviour. This arch adversary oi both
God and man assured the oi edient Kedcemet, just after he had
ascended the banks of .Ionian, that if lie should cast hms-elf
down from the pinacle of the Temple, no danger need bt ap¬
prehended. for the angels were commanded to guard i sim. Je-*
sus as unwilling presumteously to expose himself, and has thus
lelt an exam pi- for all his followers. Let each of them remem-
Jbe: this prudent conduct in their Leader, when they are tempt¬
ed towards the dram shop, and other (h illing places of the devil,
Jesi presuming on their security they pierce themselves throu^U
Willi many sorrows. .
in old vnter relates that a priest was called upon to dislodge
911 oil --"pif'-t from a possessed d 'imek tin spirit answered 1 !iat
he had found her rhe theatre in } !<-• ev n dominion--—sh< v\a3
his iHWi'ul captive, and theruoie ueiiied the li^iit qX the piie&t
112?
This trusting for saftey in G od while we needlessly ex¬
pose ourselves to danger, is the ruin of thousands, .Let us be¬
ware of it. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest hes
fall."
3d, Attention to the rising race. If God has directed us t$
feri.ig up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,
•an we be guiltless in neglecting it! \Ve cannot save their souls
fry means; nor can we make them richly means; but because we¬
ar*' not sure that our exertions will accumulate vast wealth for,
them, do we therefore sit down in indolence or despair. jVo:
if one expedient fail, we try another, and we continue until we
descend to the grave. So let us thus act'ih the moans of salva¬
tion . Let us bring every means in our power to bear upon their
hearts—to arouse their slumbering conciences & win them back
%o God. We fear the. duties to our children are sinfully an4
(shamefully neglected by many of us, " . -
4th, Indifference to the use of means. Because we are not
constituted the efficient cause of the soul's salvation, many of u*
draw the illogical inference, that we need not attempt any thing
in order to save sinners;—and are as indifferent about the means
®f grace; as if God had not appointed any. But nothing is
tnore clear than that the kingdom ofgrace is as much a kiiigdoni
of means, as the natural kingdom. Look at these texts: '-int
Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel." "Tnoat
&halt. both ?ave thyself and, them that hear thee* ' "Faith cOnii
«th by hearing." Novy if the means used by Paul & others were
instrumental in producing regeneration and the exercise of faith;
jso may we expect that our endeavors will result m the sam'e^
happy effects.—And yet how indifferent, how careless are w$
in regard to means!
Our best judgment should be called into requisition to devise
fhe best means to promote the kingdom of Christ. "The liber¬
al soul deviseth liberal things," Isa. 32d„ 8th, and God biess-*
ed the means: nor has he circumscribed the use of tnem. ile
fcas been pleased to mention ploughing and hoeing as the means
of rearing a crop, but has not instructed us whether we should
turn our horse about to the right or to the left,—nor which hand
should govern the hoe: So as the w orld is the field of our la-
bours, he has not confined us to the use of particular means^
but bids us "occupy till I come" with all our talents and all
Our strength. Happy is that servant who when his Lord coug*
eth shall find him so doing.
5th. Punctuality in our contracts: It is admitted, that to
t>e in debt is to be in the fashion, and this fashion would not be
the fruitful source of so many evils, if these d<'bts were paid
When due; but how many pitiful and unjustifiable excuses are
^latje'fw want of punctuality by pra&*sin<j christians I A imi\
r'ie ]
SlfiVM his to f)AV-sa liinch money on a given cYay—fite il,ff
aitives—the bond is pm enu d. What are the apologies! "t
•id not think you would want it'."I rave not o]<i my cotton"
•i ( 1 expected tlie money weeks ago ttiid have not received it.'"
l>ut what have all these pitiiui evasions to do with your solemn
•^ligations? Not a whit more than had Adam's about eating
♦lie forbidden truit. ri he violation of our promises and the dis«
honesty in these matteisis truly a subject of lamentation.
But must 1 never ask tor credit: 'J hi> is not the question.
Our exhortat ion is that ^ou luihl ytntr c<.tilt acts. \\ e thiiik there*
is.a great deal too much cr< dit in our day, and if necessity
should drive you to it. and \ou perceive 3ou cannot meet the
demand when due, go to your cieditor and olitciii» his induK-
yence for further time. P\ this means >011 will save your cha¬
racter tor honesty. lint if he denies any longer credit, sell
your property and pay him, for your reputation as a man and a
christian are at stake. Jt is better for you to sacrifice property
than your christian character.
<ith. Obsirvaucc oj the Sabbath. We have been pained t*
see professing christians violating it by starting on journeys, by
travelling unless in extreme cases,—by permitting their children
to fish, hunt and sport regardless of its sanctit). Talk as muck
as you please about the abrogation of the ancient economy;-—»
where there is not much attention to the Sabbath, there is not
much attention to religion. Jiecklessness of the oi e is gener¬
ally the concomitant of recklessness oi the other. W liile we
admit that there are some professing christians, who suppose
that keeping the Sabbath constitute the very essence of piety;—
we maintain that he who makes no difference between it au4
other days,, is far from the true faith. No nation has ever ad¬
vanced in knowledge and true religion where the claims w hich
God makes on his creatures to devote a portion of time special*
ly to his service, have been disregarded.
Lastly, We would caution you to w atch with keen-sighted
vigilance any encroachments which may be attempted upon join?
independence and sovereignty. We, the Association, are but
men and may unwittingly infringe your internal rights and try
to lord it over your consciences: if we do, boldly yet respectful-1
ly inform us and remonstrate against the first step. Ry so far
as s/, trivial things exceed in value temporal things, in so far
are the rights of conscience move important to be guarded thai?
cirii rights. If as citizens, you would set at nought judicial au¬
thority, which had transcended the constitution of your coun-
tyx; much more will}011 disregard any acts of ours, violating
the principles on which you agreed to associate. Licclesiasti-
cal tyranny is of all others the most intolerable. Industry may
j'oeorttf* tho j*r»i>crty w|noli unGonbiitGuCijal laws huvu
£ * '
fr&tfi (is; Dill: nofhing tvan contribute an equivalent for co'ispim*
_tious rights which have been trampled on and torn .n r Ir/
Tawless power, \ "
JESSE SlERCfiR, Mofhiortr, v
B- M, Saxders, Clerk.
THE C<Sl'l*KoillSE.
Tt wiU be gratifying, no doubt, to all to know that the
«*ulties between this and the Flint river Association, have been'
'happily removed. Though the F. R.Asso, seemed ibr along
Yvhile only disposecTto excuse and justify theii4 course, and the,
Georgia Association delegation as determined in their re^uire-
. ments, yet in the end a; spirit of mutual concession, christian
forbearance and brotherly kindness seemed, almost simultane¬
ously, to fill every heart, and to remove'every mountain and
bury it in the sea of fervent love.—^Jt truly might be said, "ZJe-:
hold, how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell
together in unity !\ - _ The Moderator, *
INFORMATION \yANTED.. ,
,A history of the Georgia Association- havings been long desir^
©d, and a committee having been appointed last year "to collect
Hictsnnd prepare one for the Press"—and this work having failJ
ed by the death of our late lamented J.' P. Marshall, -on whoirt
ffse stress of the labour rested; and the same having been (at the^ >
late Session) confided to the Moderator, on liis own responsibi*
Btjr, nnder the patronage of the Association—Jind as the first
actings and doings of the Association have not beeii preserved ^
It is therefore earnestly requested, if any brother or other per¬
son, into whose, hands these minutes may coirifc, Jias any papers!,
written Gr printed, in his possession or knowledge, relative t#
the proceedings of the Association before the year 1795, (front
which our unbroken file begins,) that he would forward • imme¬
diately all or any Such papers to the Editor now appointed, to
Enable him to proceed with the work assigned him.
And furthermore, should any brother* ,in any of the Associa¬
tions, which have branched off lrom the Georgia Association1,
think it an object worth his labour, and will make out a concisd '
account of his Association, and forward it, it Will be. receive#
with pleasure, to enrich the pages of the proposed History,
The Moderator.1 ,r
Received of tho Clerk r>i" die Association -$73, for printr
|n*g 3,500 copies of these MmtiteK.. * Printer".
* r