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.
This
page was last updated on -01/24/2009
Compilation Copyright 2006-Present
By Linda Blum-Barton
