Unknown County GaArchives Church Records.....Georgia Baptists Ebenezer Association Copyright Date 1874
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EBENEZER ASSOCIATION

  Was formed in March, 1814, of churches chiefly from the Hepzibah and Ocmulgee.
The minutes of a session held in August of the same year are printed: Thirteen
churches; nine baptized — total, five hundred and seventy-five. The presbytery
from the Ocmulgee were Joseph Baker, V. A. Tharpe, D. Wood, H. Hooten and E.
Talbot. Fulgam and Taylor, officers. Circular letter by ______ Love. Churches
dismissed by the Ocmulgee to form the Ebenezer were Mount Nebo, New Providence,
Ramah and Trail Branch.

  The session for November, 1816, was at Mount Horeb. Dozier Thornton, Jesse
Mercer and Luther Rice were present, and preached on Sabbath. Opened
correspondence with Baptist General Convention. In 1817, at Wood's
meeting-house, voted to stop correspondence with the General Convention. Agreed
to appropriate the surplus funds in hand to itinerant preaching in lower parts
of the State. Baptized eighteen. Two new constitutions joined — Camp Creek and
Antioch.

  In 1818, at New Providence, agreed to resume correspondence with the General
Convention. Received circular from Kentucky Mission Society. Appropriated $50 00
for expenses of corresponding messengers. The minutes show twenty-one churches,
thirty -two baptized, eight hundred and seventy-six members. In 1819 the session
is at Rocky creek. Introductory sermon by Eden Taylor. V. A. Tharpe and Ezekiel
Taylor were officers. A committee is appointed to co-operate with one from
Ocmulgee Association in making arrangements for Indian reform. For corresponding
messengers, $58 00.

  At Ramah, in 1820, agreed to concur in the plan for Indian reform. Appointed
trustees and ministers are requested to explain this matter to the churches and
suggest plans to raise funds. The institution to educate young ministers,
suggested by the General Convention, was under consideration. "We are of opinion
that such an institution appears laudable, but are not prepared at present to go
into it." Twenty-five churches,-and fifty-six baptized. Circular letter, on
ministerial support, by brother Fulgam — an excellent article. In 1821, at
Myrtle Spring, John Ross preached the introductory sermon. Theophilus Pearce and
John McKinzy officers. Adam Jones, Thomas Glenn and Joseph Sharpe, trustees for
Indian reform, in connection with committees from Ocmulgee and Georgia
Associations. Churches twenty-eight, baptized thirty-eight; total, one thousand
and eighty-five. Brother McKinzy wrote circular "On the Universal Spread of the
Gospel." The importance of exertion in this cause, and of translating the Bible,
urged with clearness-and warmth. All this by Kev. John McKinzy!*
* He became an anti-missionary.

  The church at Mount Horeb provided for the Association in 1822. Read the
report of Indian reform. Unanimously agreed to aid in the laudable pursuit.
"Resolved, That brother Compere, missionary for Indian reform, be invited to
take a tour of preaching through our bounds and solicit contributions for that
purpose." The subject of uniting with the General Association of Georgia is laid
over until next year. Next year, in 1823, at Stone creek, "Took under
consideration the reference of last year relative to the General Association,
which was thrown under the table!" "Took under consideration the Indian reform,
as to whether we continue or discontinue, and it was discontinued! Preachers on
the Sabbath were Perryman, Hooten and Blackstone. Churches twenty-eight,
baptized sixty-seven, members one thousand and forty-eight.

  Cool Spring church entertains the session of 1824. Agreed to continue
correspondence with the General Convention. Moved to reconsider minutes of last
year in relation to Indian reform—lost! Moved to correspond with the General
Association—lost! Circular letter on practical duties, by Taylor.

  Nothing of interest is recorded in the minutes of 1825 at Rocky creek. In 1827
resolutions were passed lamenting the death of Tharp and Pearce, formerly
moderators of this body. Circular on brotherly love by J. McKinzy.

  Trail branch is the seat of the session in 1828. Circular by C. A. Tharp, on
"If thou put thy brethren in remembrance of these things," etc. Nine impostors
are advertised, among them the famous Counsellor or Counsel, who has imposed on
the churches near thirty years. The great revived which was then in progress in
the Ocmulgee, Georgia and Flint does not seem to have extended into the Ebenezer.

  In 1829, at Woods' meeting-house, John Ross was moderator and C. A. Tharp,
clerk. John Gray produced a circular, which was rejected, and a committee
appointed to write one. Four churches dismissed, probably to form the
Itchaconna, on the west side of the river. At New Providence, in 1830, the
anti-missionary spirit still seems to have been dominant, as bad been the case
for several years preceding. All found in the minutes is the receiving and
appointing correspondence, etc. Four new churches join, and several are
dismissed to form the Houston Association. Baptized four hundred and ten; total,
fifteen hundred and two.

  The session for 1831 is at Poplar spring, Laurens. Three new churches join.
Campbell and Sherwood are received as messengers from Georgia Baptist
Convention. Six brethren agree to attend next session of Convention at Powelton.
Circular on missions by H. B. Hathaway, of Dublin church. The year following at
Camp creek, Campbell and Shorter, messengers from Convention were refused a
seat! Nothing interesting is found in the minutes of 1833 and 1834. These
sessions were at Big Sandy and Hopewell. In 1835, discontinued correspondence
with Georgia and Washington Associations, because they were in correspondence
with the Central Association.

  The reader will see he has been following a body, prone to changes. From 1816
to 1823, when she became settled in her opposition to benevolent institutions,
her changes were as frequent as the annual revolutions of the earth.

  The session for 1836 was at Beersheba. Renewed correspondence with Georgia and
Washington Associations, having heard their reasons for corresponding with the
Central; also, opened correspondence with the Central. The following query was
discussed one whole day, viz: "Are the Institutions of the day, such as
Missions, etc., consistent with the articles of faith of this Association?"
Answered in the affirmative by an overwhelming majority. Upon this, seven
churches withdrew, with Absolom Black, Adam Jones, etc., ministers. These
churches hold annual meetings and publish their minutes declaring themselves to
be the true Ebenezer Association. In 1837, the session was quite harmonious. An
executive committee was appointed to manage the business of the body with
reference to domestic missions, etc: Correspondence from Georgia Convention,
cordially received.

  At New Hope in 1839, domestic missions are reported to be prosperous. $255
were paid out for this object alone. Churches twenty-seven—about a dozen
ministers. Great improvement in the churches of this body of late years.



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.


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