Page 82
BLUE RIVER ASSOCIATION
(COUNTIES OF WASHINGTON, HARRISON, CRAWWFORD AND SCOTT.)
The Association was organized in October, 1816, at
Sinking Spring church, in Washington county. Four-
teen churches went into the organization. Elder
Thomas Vandeveer was chosen moderator and James
McCoy clerk. Correspondence was opened with the
following Associations--Silver Creek, Long Run, Ken-
tucky, and Wabash; also with the Baptist Board of
Foreign Missions. The constitution and principles of
the Silver Creek Association were adopted at the first
session; the Articles of Faith were those usually in
favor in Baptist Associations.
At the second session this query was propounded--
"What is the proper authority for licensing a preach-
er?" Answer, "We believe that Jesus Christ has given
his church authority to do business in his personal
absence, therefore she is the proper authority."
Most likely the real question was whether the church
could invite and authorize a council to license, and or-
dain. The membership of the churches at the first ses-
sion was 581; at the third session 709 and at the fifth
session 1,142. At the fourteenth session the Associa-
tion passed a resolution favoring the work of Chris-
tianizing the Indians.
Various questions were propounded from session to
session--as "Is feet-washing to be considered an ordi-
nance?" and "is it consistent with good order to re-
ceive into fellowship members belonging to that body
of people who distinguish themselves by the name
Christian?--being baptized by immersion on profes-
Page 83
sion of their faith, by ministers of that order; and con-
sider their baptism valid?" Answer- "We think that
the church ought to be the proper judge of the validity
of any one's baptism; but advise that the churches be
very cautious in the reception of such members that it
be with united voice; and the act of one church ought
not to be a bar of fellowship with another in this case."
At the session in 1824 the Association declined to
hold any further correspondence with the Baptist
Board of Foreign Missions. In 1831 Elder Royce Mc-
Coy was chosen to write the next "Circular Letter";
it was presented in 1832. This Circular and the treat-
ment accorded it by the Association throws so much
light upon the then existing conditions that a full state-
ment should be made.
CIRCULAR LETTER.
"Dear Brethren and Sisters: We would be thankful
to God for your continued christian regard for each
other, and have sent letters and messengers to per-
petuate union and so forth. May an enemy in no form
whatever make such inroads upon us as to cause schism
and distress; to prevent which we exhort you to live
near to Jesus and cultivate acquaintance and brotherly
kindness with each other. And now we call your at-
tention to the use of those means for the promotion of
true religion which the Lord directed in his inspired
and holy word. Maintaining as we do, and as we think
all genuine Baptists have ever done, from John the
Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, to the present time,
that candidates for baptism and members of the church
