Unknown County GaArchives Church Records.....Georgia Baptists Benevolent Copyright Date 1874
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 26, 2005, 10:21 am

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
MISSIONS, EDUCATION, TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES, SUNDAY-SCHOOLS, ETC.

  As all these objects are nearly akin, it is thought proper to connect them
together in this sketch of the Baptists in Georgia. The first two ministers that
ever constituted churches in this State were friends of missions and education,
to wit., Daniel Marshall and Edmund Botsford, Both acted as missionaries— one as
a foreign, the other as a domestic missionary. Marshall's flaming zeal carried
him to the Mohawk Indians—Botsford traversed the wilderness from Ebenezer, near
Savannah, to Kiokee, above Augusta, to bear the glad tidings to his neighbors,
who were "perishing for lack of knowledge." (See their biographies.) Abraham
Marshall spent a great portion of his life as a traveling preacher, (a domestic
missionary,) and was untiring in his efforts, with his brethren of the General
Committee, in favor of missions and education. He educated both his sons at
Franklin College, Athens, and in 1815 preached a sermon before the trustees of
that institution, in which he distinctly urges the importance of ministerial
education. (See his biography.) In 1793, Silas Mercer established a classical
school on his own premises, and continued it until his death in 1796. Here his
own son, Jesse Mercer, then a married man and an ordained minister, pursued a
course of study in the languages, which he had commenced with Rev. Mr. Springer
two years before. In 1805, at Bark Camp, A. Marshall reports that they had
petitioned the Legislature for a charter of a college, but without success. In
1805 the circular of the Georgia Association, by Jesse Mercer, notices some of
the objections and fears entertained by some in regard to the General Committee.
Some feared that one object of the body was to commune with
poedo-Baptists—others, that they aimed to establish religion by law—and others,
that they intended to have a learned ministry only. These are most tinumphantly
refuted.

  In about 1806 the "Mount Enon Academy" (a literary and theological school,)
was opened, and was continued some five or six years. It had funds, supposed to
be worth some three or four thousand dollars, and for a short time enjoyed some
prosperity under Mr. Thomas H. Dixon, and subsequently under Rev. C. 0. Screven.
But from causes unknown to the writer, it was finally abandoned. No systematic
plan for educational purposes was attempted for several years. But even during
this period, the cause of education found many warm friends among our people in
this State. In proof of this, it need only be mentioned that some $20,000 were
drawn hence for the Columbian College, District of Columbia.

  In 1813 the Savannah River Association formed a standing committee for
domestic missions. In 1814 the Georgia Association, after having read the
minutes of a mission society in Savannah, recommended those friendly to unite in
forming a similar body at Powelton. Accordingly, in May, 1815, a large society
was formed, and had the next year in its treasury $483 43 3/4. In 1816, the
committee raised for the purpose the preceding year, reported rules touching the
grand missionary design—twelve trustees were chosen, called "The Mission Board
of the Georgia Association." This board had existence till 1825, when the
business was turned over to the State Convention. In 1816-'17 the Ocmulgee
Mission Society was organized, and one in the Sarepta, perhaps a year earlier.
Similar movements in favor of this object were made in the Sarepta and Ebenezer
Associations about this time.

  In 1819, Rev. F. Flournoy was appointed agent to the Creek Nation of Indians
to consult in regard to a school, and in 1820 the plan for Indian reform was
formed, and was to be under the direction of the Ocmulgee, Georgia and Ebenezer
Associations. In 1821, the Ocmulgee appointed delegates to aid in forming the
General Association, which was done at Powelton, Hancock county, in June, 1822.
In the same year the mission society of said Ocmulgee Association was voted to
be incorporated by a unanimous vote. Strange, that now, in 1874, that
association is anti-missionary! But so it is.

  The above, though nothing but a brief sketch, would seem to be sufficient to
prove as clearly as that the sun produces light, that the Baptists in this
State, as a people, have always been friendly to ministerial education,
missions, etc. And yet it is doubted by many at home and abroad.

  The Temperance Cause is believed to have found its first friends and advocates
among the Baptists. The first society formed in the State was at Eatonton, and
was suggested by Deacon Thomas Cooper and Rev. A. Sherwood, D. D., now of St.
Louis. A State Temperance Society held its anniversary for several years in
connection with the sessions of the Georgia Eaptist Convention. Afterwards it
was located in Milledgeville, and was held during the sittings of the Legislature.

  On the subject of Sabbath-schools, we will treat at large in our notices of
the State Convention, Associations, etc.



Additional Comments:
From:

GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
BY
J. H. CAMPBELL,
PERRY, GEORGIA.


MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
J. H. CAMPBELL,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/unknown/churches/gbb195georgiab.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 5.9 Kb