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satisfaction. His election was the more a compliment
for the fact that a majority of the voters of the county
were not of his political faith. In his diary of the
time is found a statement of fervent thanks to God
that he has been able without fear or favor to reach
right decisions in all cases that came before him. In
the preface of his autobiography is to be found the
expression of his maturest views as to the ministry of
those early times; it is all worth quotation:
"As the editor of a western periodical says the only
library possessed by some Baptist ministers was the
Bible, a hymn-book and a religious newspaper. Indeed,
it may be regarded a matter of thankfulness that in
planting the cause of Bible truth in the great West, the
men on whom it devolved were shut up to the Bible al-
most entirely, . . . . because it exhibits the power of
the scriptures to hold together a widely scattered peo-
ple in the same faith and order; and how by simply'
appealing to the law and to the testimony' of the
great Head of the church these simple-minded God-
fearing men were able to carry the interest committed
to their care through the formative state of society
and planted it firmly as an element of power in this
broad land of wealth, already teeming with its millions
of population, and destined in the march of time to
exert almost untold influence upon the religious and
political interests of the world. The importance of
the pioneer fathers to the cause of truth is seen in the
power they exerted on other denominations. While it
is true that the Baptists have not undertaken to anni-
hilate the denominations, it must be admitted that
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they have to a very great extent infused very much
of what may be called the peculiarly Baptist senti-
ment into other organizations. This is especially true
of the three points�immersion for baptism, believers
the only proper subjects for baptism, and a congre-
gational form of church government."
He died in 1861 full of years and usefulness, and
mature in all the' christian graces. Of his sons who
were Baptist ministers in the same Association the
most eminent was Andrew E. Babcock, who was or-
dained in 1853, and was called to rest in 1888. He
was used of God in the conversion of more than a
thousand persons; he planted the first Sunday school in
Fulton county, and bought a library for it from his
own purse; he also assisted in planting many of the
churches of Logansport Association, and it is believed
that in traveling over the country during the thirty-
five years of his ministry (most of this travel was on
horse-back) he covered not less than fifty thousand
miles. The names of the other Babcocks who were
ministers were James R. and C. P. J., of whom no
extended account is furnished in the minutes or other-
wise.
ORLEANS ASSOCIATION--(COUNTIES OF WASHINGTON,
LAWRENCE AND ORANGE).
This Association was formed in Orleans in 1874--
the first anniversary being held with Freedom church
1875. The Rev. A. J. Essex was the first moderator
and the Rev. J. K. Howard the first clerk. The Asso-
ciation began with clear-cut and positive convictions
