Minutes of the Towaliga Primitive Baptist Association,
Convened with the Church at High Shoals, Monroe County, GA.
On The 2d, 3d and
4th days of September, 1847.
Printed at the office of the Georgia Jeffersonian,
Griffin, Ga.
Minutes.
1st. The Introductory Sermon was preached by bro.
Allen Cleaveland, from St. John 3d chap. and 14th and 15th verses, "And as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted
up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life."
After forty minutes intermission, the delegates assembled in the house, and
after prayer by bro. William Moseley, read letters from twenty-seven churches, minuted
their state, and enrolled the names of their messengers.
Bro. M. Lowrey,
the Moderator, requested the Association to release him, in consequence of his age
and infirmity.
Then proceeded to organize the body for business, by electing
brother William Moseley Moderator, and brother S. W. Bloodworth Clerk.
2nd.
On motion, called for and received correspondence from sister Associations, as follows,
viz. from the Primitive Western, a letter and minutes, by her messengers, brethren
I. Russel, D. Keath, and C. Webb; from the Ocmulgee, a letter and minutes, by her
messenger, bro. James H. Montgomery; from the Yellow River, a letter and minutes,
by her messengers, brethren G. W. Lowrey, W. C. Norris, N. Center, D. Montgomery
and J. Kean; from the Bulah, a letter and minutes, by her messengers, brethren Josephus
Barrow, T. Higgan, and G. Crawford; from the Itchaconna, a letter and minutes by
her messengers, brethren W. C. Cleaveland and W. McKenney; from the Primitive Ebenezer,
a letter and minutes, by her messenger, bro. W. M. Cooper.
3d. On motion,
appointed brethren T. C. Trice, A. Cleaveland, and Daniel Godard, a committee to
arrange the business to come before the Association: Also appointed brethren M.
Lowrey, R. Cleaveland, and W. Dismukes, to unite with the delegation of this church,
brethren John Mullens and Joseph Carter, a committee to arrange the preacher during
the Association.
4th. Received and read a communication addressed to this
Association by a committee consisting of the brethren Thos. Stocks, B. M. Sanders
and P. H. Mell, appointed by the Georgia Association to confer with us and endeavor
to remove the unhappy difficulties that sever us as a denomination.
Prayer
by bro. W. C. Norris. Then adjourned until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Friday
Morning, 9 o'clock. Met according to adjournment. -- Prayer by bro. W. C. Cleaveland.
5th. On motion, called on the Arranging committee for their report, which was
read and adopted for action.
6th. Called the roll and read the decorum.
7th. Invited visiting ministering brethren present, of our faith and order to
seats with us.
8th. On motion, appointed a committee, consisting of brethren
T.? C. Trice, Wm. Moseley, and A. Cleaveland to confer with the committee from the
Georgia Association, and report the result of their labors tomorrow morning.
9th. Appointed bro. A. Cleaveland to write the corresponding letter.
10th. Appointed correspondence to sister Associations, as follows: viz. to the Primitive
Western, to convene with the church at Mount Zion, Troup county, commencing on Saturday
before the third Sunday in October next, brethren Wm. Dismukes, Jas. Killpatrick
and T. C. Trice; to Bulah, Ala., to convene with the church at Rocky Mount, Tallapoosa
county, commencing on Thursday before the third Sunday in this month, brethren John
Mullins, Wm. Dismukes, G. W. Falkner, James Killpatrick and S. W. Bloodworth; to
the Yellow River, to convene with the church at Yancy's Creek, Dekalb county, commencing
on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in this month, brethren Mathew Yates, B. Thornton,
B. Haygood, H.
Barron, and M. Lowrey; to the Itchaconna, to convene with the
church at Ebenezer, Upson county, commencing on Friday before the third Sunday in
this month, brethren J. McKenney, D. Wood, W. O. Smith, W. Trice, W. Willis, J.
F. Walker, T. C. Trice, and Z. Hughley; to the Upatoie, to convene with the church
at Phillippi, Marion county, commencing on Thursday next, by letter and minutes
only; to the Ocmulgee, to convene with the church at Newhope, Jones county, commencing
on Saturday before the second Sunday in this month, brethren J. M. Middlebrooks,
J. Dickey, M. Lowrey, D. Godard, G. Wright and A. Middlebrooks; to the primitive
Ebenezer, to convene with the church at Pleasant Plains, Wilkinson county, commencing
on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in this month, George Wright, A. Ware, John
Mullins, and S. W. Bloodworth.
11th. Appointed bro. Joseph Godard to preach
the next Introductory Sermon, bro. Wm. Moseley his alternate, and bro. A. Cleaveland
to write the next circular letter.
12th. Appointed union meetings as follows:
viz for the first district, with the church at Smyrna, Monroe county, commencing
on Friday before the fifth Sunday in July next. For the second district, with the
church at Newhope, Upson county, commencing on Friday before the fourth Sunday in
April next. For the third district, to be held with the church at Rose Creek, Pike
county, commencing on Friday before the fourth Sunday in July next.
For the fourth district, to be held with the church at Bersheba, Henry county, commencing
on Friday before the fourth Sunday in August next. Prayer by bro. Josephus
Barrow. Adjourned until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Saturday Morning, 9 o'clock. -- Met according to adjournment. Prayer by bro.
M. Lowrey.
13th. On motion, again took up the item of calling for correspondence,
and received a package of minutes from the Upatoie Association, by her messenger
bro. Wm. McCord.
14th. Called on the committee appointed to confer with the
Georgia Association to make the report. They report as follows:
We the committee appointed by the Towaliga Primitive Baptist Association to meet
the delegation from the Georgia Association, in order, if possible, to settle the
unhappy difference that has severed the union of the two Associations and the Baptist
denomination generally, report that they have discharged the duty assigned them;
and after the most serious and prayerful deliberations, have been unable to come
to any satisfactory adjustment of said difficulties, but would recommend to the
members of our body christian forbearance and courtesy towards our brethren who
differ with us.
William Moseley,}
Allen Cleaveland,} Com.
Thomas C.
Trice,}
Which report was adopted.
15th. Called for the circular letter
prepared by bro. D. Godard, which was read and adopted.
16th. Called for
the corresponding letter, which was read and adopted.
17th. Appointed the
next session of this body to be held with the church at Ramah, Monroe county, commencing
on Thursday before the first Sunday in September, 1848.
18th. On motion,
agreed to print the letter addressed to us from the Georgia Association in these
minutes, as follows:
The committee of the Georgia Baptist Association to the
Towaliga Association.
Dear Brethren: The 14th article of the minutes of the last session of the Georgia
Association reads as follows, viz. "Appointed a committee consisting of Thornton,
Sanders, Stocks, Stokes and Mell to labor with those Associations once in correspondence
with us, in order, if possible, to bring about a reconciliation. All necessary correspondence
left with the committee." A majority of this committee have found it convenient
to attend the present meeting of your body, with a view to promote, as far as practicable,
the object of their appointment. Our Association is impressed deeply with
the obligation enjoined by the Scriptures on all christians, "to keep the unity
of the spirit in the bonds of peace." It is peculiarly afflictive to them,
to contemplate the present divided state of the churches that hold the same articles
of faith, and practice the same church decipline, and have appointed this committee
to labor on their behalf for a better understanding with those Associations of their
brethren, with whom they once corresponded, but from whom they are at present so
unhappily disunited. Will the brethren of the Towaliga Association be pleased to
recognize us in the character of our appointment, and unite with us in one effort
to remove whatever obstacles may be in the way of a renewal of our correspondence.
Thomas Stocks}
B. M. Sanders} Com.
P. H. Mell}
Sept. 1st, 1847.
19th. On motion, called on the committee appointed last year to meet with the
Central Association. According to their request, the brethren Wm. Moseley, S. W.
Bloodworth, and Daniel Godard, report, they attended, but for want of a quorum they
done nothing further than to tender them the letter printed in our minutes of last
year.
20th. Resolved, that we notice with feelings of the deepest regret the death
of our beloved brother Francis Douglass, who departed this life on the 2nd day of
August last. Under this melancholy and sad bereavement, we cannot but mourn, but
not as those who have no hope, for from the evidences left behind, we have the pleasing
assurance that our loss is his eternal gain.
21st. Called for and received
the church contributions, amounting to $42; balance unexpended in the hands of the
clerk, $17.37; total, $59.37.
22nd. Agreed to have two thousand copies of
these minutes printed, and that the clerk have twenty dollars for attending to the
printing and distributing the same.
The committee on preaching report, that
bro. G. W. Lowrey preach on Sabbath, followed in exhortation by bro. T. C. Trice
-- forty minutes intermission, bro. W. C. Norris to preach, followed in exhortation
by bro. W. Moseley.
Read the minutes and then adjourned.
William Moseley,
Moderator.
S. W. Bloodworth, Clerk.
Sunday, September 5th, 1847. --
The brethren Lowrey and Norris came forward in the order of their names, and preached
with much zeal, and notwithstanding the weather was quite inclement, they had a
very large and altogether unusually attentive auditory, and we trust, from the unsurpassed
manifestation of the presence of the Lord amongst them, that much, yea, very much
good will result from their labors, together with the labors of the ministering
brethren generally, that have labored amongst us, as we believe the Lord attended
both speaker and hearers during the meeting.
S. W. Bloodworth, Clerk.
Circular Letter.
The Towaliga Primitive Baptist
Association to the Churches composing the same.
Dearly Beloved in the Lord: According to our former custom, you will expect an
address in the order of a circular letter, which of course, must be short; as it
would seem unreasonable to offer a lengthy piece for publication in the small compass
of a common Minute. As usual, we have selected a portion of God's word, in order
to train the mind of the reader to the subject, as well as us to write. We propose
for the few intended remarks, the expression of the wise man Solomon, found in the
7th chapter of Ecclesiastes and 29th verse, "Lo, this only have I found, that
God hath made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions." In order
to do that justice properly due it, we might do well to notice the character of
the writer, and why and wherefore he thus wrote. In attending to holy writ, we have
an undoubted right to suppose he had been instructed from on high, or he would not
have so fully differed from the great body of the fallen sons and daughters of men,
and thereby has proven that he loved his God, and that he was the rightful king
to rule in the room and stead in his father David, all of which his peaceful reign
went to prove. See James 3 and 13, "Who is a wise man and endowed with knowledge
among you, let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness and wisdom."
And we are of the opinion that his was in consequence of light being first afforded
that brought him to know that God "hath made man upright," and it was
the same source that enabled him to discover that man had "sought out many
inventions, none of which was for man's good, or God's declarative glory; as a proof
of which, we offer his language found 2d Chron. 1 chap. 10 verse, "Give me
now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for
who can judge this they people that is so great." We find a fervent desire
to rule for Israel's good, as well as to be to the praise of his glory who first
trusted in Christ, and readily glorifieth the God of Israel by acknowledging the
faithfulness of God in the full performance of that promise made by him to his father
David; see 2d Chron. 6 chap. 10 and 11 verses. --The Lord therefore, hath performed
his word that he hath spoken, "for I am risen up in the room of David my father,
and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and
have built the
house for the name of the Lord God of Israel; and in it have I put the ark, wherein
is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the
children of Israel."
We find he was not only the choice of the Lord to rule his people, and to build
him an house, but that he himself was to be his
servant, and to render obedience
unto his Heavenly Father, in all things whatsoever he commanded him. He evidently
must have had a clear view of the fall of man, and of the entire fallibility of
the human family, although man once upright, soon a fallen being, becomes an opposer
of truth and
righteousness, and readily engages in seeking out many inventions,
all of which stood opposed to the great object for which he was created. Although
the house was built for the Lord, and he himself was pleased to acknowledge the
offering, at the time of the dedication of the same, and it has even proven to the
admiration of the Queen of Sheba by seeing the wisdom of Solomon, and the house
he had built, the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance
of his ministers, &c, she was constrained to say, "and behold one half
of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me," and did conclude, "happy
are thy men and happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee,
and hear thy wisdom." Yet after all this, the inspired servant of the Most
High was ready to say, "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man
upright, but they have sought out many inventions," and with all these things,
both king and subjects remained unsaved.
We now call your attention to one
who of God is "made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and
redemption," whose moving cause was love; "who loved us first, and gave
himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity," and save us from
all our inventions. This is he that could love his neighbor as himself; this was
the God-man that could die for his enemies, who death and the attendant miracles
wrought at the same time, constrained the centurian to acknowledge him a righteous
man, through whose wisdom and power, joined with pity, was to build for his subjects,
and has built, "a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens." The
first was but a faint figure of a building, which grand invention was formed before
Adam's dust was fashioned to a man. This is the wise master builder, long foretold
by the prophet Isaiah 53 and 6, "All we like sheep, have gone astray, we have
turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us
all." Paul 2d Cor. 5 chap. 21 verse: "For he hath made him to be sin for
us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
-- Now let us hear what the Lord saith by his servant David, Psalms 85, verses 9
and 10: "Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him, that glory may dwell
in our land. Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed
each other." One that could say "And behold a greater than Solomon is
here," "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again."
This looks like one that had power to lay down his life and power to take it up
again. Well might he have said to Peter, "Upon this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." We conclude this
looks like some of "the sure mercies of David," and are of the opinion
that "they never shall be confounded that put their trust in him." But
as he
was to king Solomon so will he be to his people; for he will give grace
and glory, "and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."
We now use for your encouragement the language of the prophet. Micah, chap. 2, v.
10: "Arise ye and depart, for this is not your rest," &c. & c.
God who is rich in all blessings, provided through the merits of his dear Son, well
knows the wants of his fainting pilgrims while here below, and though doubts may
often arise, He well knows what will prove for their good and his glory. This wise
master builder is to be the Peace, and this is what the child of grace needs. He
has promised by his servant Micah, and especially in 5th chap. verse 5, "And
this man shall be the Peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when
he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds and
eight principal men." And now, brethren, we exhort you in the conclusion, to
have no confidence in the flesh, but as much as in you is, "to live in peace
with all men," remembering that the Apostle James says, chap. 1, verse 27, "Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless
and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
These things having done, your conscience will be
at peace through life, a serenity
and calm resignation in death, and the God of peace and of power will raise you
where trouble and sorrow will never follow.
Corresponding Letter.
High
Shoals, Monroe county, Georgia,}
September 4th, 1847.}
The Towaliga Primitive
Baptist Association, to her sister Associations, with whom she corresponds, sends
christian salutation.
Dear Brethren: -- We have great reason to be thankful to our kind and Heavenly
Father, for the privilege of meeting together in an associate capacity. Our churches
have been generally represented, and from the letters which they have sent up, there
appears to be peace and harmony among them. The deliberations of our Association
have been conducted in the most harmonious manner, and Christian love, and forbearance
is manifest among us. We have been refreshed by the coming of your messengers, and
their preaching has been with power and energy to a large and attentive congregation.
We hope their labors will be blessed and the fruit be seen many days to come. We
solicit a continuation of
your friendly correspondence, and desire an interest
in your prayers. And now, dear brethren, we close this our letter of correspondence
by subscribing ourselves yours in the bonds of the Gospel.
The next session
of our body will set with the church at Ramah, Monroe county, commencing on Thursday
before the first Sunday in September, 1848.
William Moseley, Moderator
S.
W. Bloodworth, Clerk
State of the Churches.
(Ordained Ministers; Licentiates
- **, Absentees - *)
Information below is from a table and the information
is listed in the following order -District, Church name, County, Delegates Names,
# Baptised, # Rec'd by letter; # Restored; # Dism'd by letter; # Excommunicated;
# Rec'd on Faith; # Dead; Total Number; Money for Minutes & c.; Sunday for meeting;
1, High Shoals, Monroe, John Mullins, Joseph Carter, 3, 2, 0, 4, 2, 1, 1, 43,
1.50, 2
1, Smyrna, Monroe, E. McCord, John McKenney, 1, 4, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 53,
1.50, --
1, Sandy Creek, Butts, J. Morris, A. Gorey, 0, 2, 1, 4, 1, 0, 2, 66,
2.00, 3
1, Hunting Shoals, Monroe, Meshack Lowrey, G. W. Head, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1,
0, 0, 38, 1.50, --
1, New Fellowship, Monroe, John Webb, D. Proctor, 5, 2, 1,
2, 0, 0, 0, 44, 1.50, --
1, Ephesus, Monroe, John W. Simmons**, A. Middlebrooks,
0, 0, 6, 5, 0, 0, 0, 39, 1.50, 1
1, Sharon, Monroe, Z. Hughley, Allen Wood, 0,
1, 0, 4, 2, 0, 0, 56, 1.50, 2
1, Liberty, Butts, David Berry, G. C. Thaxton,
0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 1, 0, 18, 1.50, --
2, Ramah, Monroe, Benjamin Haygood**, Benjamin
Rogers, 4, 1, 0, 3, 1, 0, 2, 30, 1.50, 1
2, Mount Gilead, Upson, John Weatherly,
Wm. O. Smith, 3, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0, 1, 25, 1.00, 3
2, New Hope, Upson, John Dickey**,
J. M. Middlebrooks, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 43, 1.50, 4
2, Shilo, Pike, David Wood,
William Willis, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0. 22. 1.00, 2
2, Emmaus, Upson, J. F. Walker,
William Trice, 0, 4, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 75, 2.50. 1
2, Union, Monroe, Edmund Dumas**,
William Cole, 3, 1, 1, 3, 2, 0, 0, 30, 1.00, --
3, County Line, Pike, Daniel
Godard, John E. Duke, 4, 6, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 61, 1.50, 3
3, Rose Creek, Pike, Allen
Ware, James K. Holsey, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 35, 1.00, 4
3, Bulah, Henry, J. W. Driskell, Dolphin Lindsey, 0, 0, 0,
0, 0, 0, 0, 26, .75, --
3, Shoal Creek, Pike, Thomas C. Trice, Henry Jones,
1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 59, 2.00, --
3, Hopeful, Fayette, Matthew Yates, Blackman
Thornton, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 2, 25, 1.75, 2
3, Mount Pleasant,
Henry, Joseph Godard, S. W. Bloodworth**, 2, 3, 0, 2, 0, 0, 1, 34, 1.50, 3
3, Harmony, Pike, William Dismukes, George Wright, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1, 1, 1, 41,
1.50, 1
3, Concord, Pike, Allison Speir*, James Kilpatrick, 0, 0, 0, 4, 1, 0,
0, 18, 1.00, --
4, Bersheba, Henry, William Moseley, Wm
H. Miller, 2, 2, 0, 4, 0, 0, 0, 71, 3.00, 4
4, Phillippi, Henry, [No Representation}
4, Lebanon, Henry, R. H. J. Holly*, Lewis Hand, 0, 1, 0, 1, 3, 0, 1, 35, 1.50, 2
4, Bethel, Butts, Henry Barron, G. W. Falkner, 2, 0, 0, 2, 3, 0, 0, 36, 2.00,
1
4, Walnut Creek, Henry, Allen Cleveland, Rick Cleveland,
0, 5, 0, 7, 0, 0, 0, 40, 1.50, --
4, Hebron, Henry, William Bennett, L. B. Jackson*,
0, 2, 0, 3, 1, 0, 0, 46, 2.00, 1
Recapitulation. -- Since the last
Association, Baptised 30; Received by Letter 40; Restored 5; Dismissed by Letter
60; Received on Confession of Faith 3; Dead 14; Total number 1,109. Amount of funds
$59.37 cents; Printer's Fee $25; Clerk's Compensation $20; Balance unexpended in
the hands of the Clerk $14.37 cents.
Transcribed by Linda Blum-Barton
from digital images provided by Allen Sullivant who is in possession of the original
brochure.
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was last updated on -02/04/2016
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By Linda Blum-Barton