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glory"; this stood for twenty-one years, although
some objected to it, and then was changed to the fol-
lowing: "We believe that he that endureth to the
end shall be saved."
From some expressions in the Articles we should
infer that the ruling conviction was Arminianism and
open communion.
Elder Benoni Stinson, more than any other man
should be regarded as the father of the Association.
He states that he was led to advocate open communion
in this way; a Cumberland Presbyterian minister had
rendered most acceptable service in a revival meeting;
every member of the church came to love him for
his plain loving presentation of the gospel; but on
Sabbath was communion service and of course this
minister was not invited to join in the celebration of
the ordinance; "I must confess to you brethren that
I felt mean, and there and then I told my people that
I intended to invite all of God's people to the Lord's
table." Whether he would have consented that senti-
ment was to govern us in such cases, rather than con-
sistent loyalty to principle, is quite doubtful, if the
case has been put in the abstract.
In 1831 Elder Stinson was made general mission-
ary, and the Liberty Association was in correspond-
ence with the Free-will Baptists. Early in the history,
the matter of an institution of learning was taken up,
and the final result of the discussions and efforts was
the founding of what is now known as Oakland City
College--located in Oakland City. The largest mem-
bership of the Association was reached in 1899, when
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it was 1,786. The ministers who are regarded as
most prominent, in this body in Indiana are: Elders
William Reavis, George P. Cavanah, James G. Ensle,
Jacob Speer, J. G. Lane, H. C. Cockrum, A. H. Polk,
and G. W. Moore. Elder Stinson died in 1870.
UNION ASSOCIATION
(COUNTIES OF DAVIESS, KNOX, PIKE AND SULLIVAN).
This Association was organized in 1824, and was
formed of that part of the Wabash District Associa-
tion that lies on the Indiana side of the Wabash river.
It began with eight churches, six ordained ministers
and 360 members. Ten years after the organization
another Association was formed from it--Curry's
Prairie--including the churches lying east of the Wa-
bash river, and north between Vincennes and Terre
Haute, including the latter. The Union Association
had to contend with the teachings of Alexander Camp-
bell also, and although some inroad was made into
the membership, the Association grew steadily in num-
bers and efficiency; in 1847 the statistics being sixteen
churches and 644 members. At the Jubilee meeting
in 1874 the reports showed twenty churches and 1,380
members; the Rev. J. L. Irwin was moderator and
Hamlet Alien, clerk. At this session a historical
paper was read by the Rev. T. N. Robertson, one of
the oldest and ablest ministers of the Association. In
an incidental way he gives many facts of interest as
to other Associations: "In 1826 she, that is Union
Association, opened correspondence with Lost River,
Salem and Little Pigeon Associations, which was con-
