Unknown County GaArchives Church Records.....Georgia Baptists Columbus Association Copyright Date 1874
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COLUMBUS ASSOCIATION.

  This body is situated in the western part of the State, including the churches
in Talbot, Harris and Muscogee counties, and a few others. It was organized at
New Hope, now Mulberry meeting-house, in Harris county, November 21, 1829. By
previous invitation, elders John Milner, James Carter, James Henderson, S.
Stamper and B. Strickland, from the Flint River Association, and Z. H. Gordon
and Jacob King, from the Echaconna Association, attended as a presbytery.
Brother J. Milner was called to the chair, and J. King nominated secretary. The
letters from twelve churches were then read, viz; from Talbot county, Valley
Grove, New Providence, Talbotton, Antioch, Bethel, Concord; from Harris county,
Bethesda, New Hope, (now Mulberry,) Lebanon, (now Hamilton,) Mount Olive; from
Muscogee county, Bethel and Columbus. The churches being found in order, were
constituted on the articles of faith of the Flint Eiver Association, which are
the same as those of the regular Baptist churches. Elder Anderson Smith was
elected moderator, and Clark Blanford, of Hamilton, clerk. The number of
members, four hundred and fifty-four; baptized this year, one hundred and
thirteen. The bounds of the Association, were then defined and laid off into
districts, viz: first, Harris county; second, Talbot county; third, Muscogee
county; fourth, Randolph, Lee and Marion counties. A. Smith the only minister in
the body.

  The second session of this body was held with the Talbotton church, on
Saturday before the second Sabbath in October, which has ever since been the
time of its sessions. John Ross was elected moderator, and C. Blanford, clerk.
The country being new, and the churches scattered over a large space of
territory, and having none of the. bonds which previous acquaintance create to
bind individuals together, it could not be fairly expected that there should be
found amongst them all that union and sameness of sentiment and feeling which
are found in older and longer established unions. And although the ministers
were not men of literary attainments, they may be truly said to have been men of
sound mind and amiable character.

  The third session of this body was held with the church at Mount Carmel,
Muscogee county, in 1831. J. Ross, moderator, C. Blanford, clerk. Number of
churches, twenty-five; communicants, one thousand and eighty-seven. Ministers
now in this body, were John M. Gray, Anderson Smith, G. B. Waldrop, Hiram
Powell, Barclay Martin, J. English, J. W. Pelham and Peter Eldridge.

  At this meeting of the body, a package of the minutes of the Georgia Baptist
Convention was laid before it by R. Fleming, who was then traveling as a
domestic missionary; but such was the opposition of many of the brethren
present, that although it was moved by J. M. Gray that it be received and
noticed in a friendly way in their minutes, yet it was rejected, and not noticed
in their minutes. Ross and Martin were desirous that the minutes of the
Convention should be received and noticed as above, and some of the private
members desired it. Although they appeared, as an Association, unwilling to hold
correspondence with the Convention, and were disposed to stand aloof from all
the benevolent enterprises maintained and defended by that body, yet they passed
a resolution disapproving of candidates treating at elections, and earnestly
desired their members and their fellow-citizens to unite with them, in
endeavoring to put down such pernicious practice. This resolution was introduced
by B. Martin, and defended with much zeal and ability. Had it not been, it
probably would not have passed.

  The fourth session of the Association was held at Sardis church, in Marion
county. J. M. Gray, moderator, A. Smith, clerk. Churches, thirty-two; members,
one thousand five hundred and thirty-nine. The rapid increase of population in
the country, and the multiplication of new churches, made it necessary, in order
to supply the wants of the people, for the ministers to spend much of their time
in traveling and preaching. Amongst the most active were Ross, Gray, A. Smith
and H. Powell.

  The following resolution was passed, (but not without serious opposition by
the moderator, and some others,) viz.: "Whereas, certain men, under the name of
apostolic Baptist ministers, viz.: James Wilson, James Reeves, Cyrus White, John
Holmes, B. H. Willson, J. Travis, John Reeves, W. Byars, W. Presley. B.
Strickland, E. Strickland and Moses White, have published a faith differing from
the orthodox Baptists, and as they have already caused divisions among us, we
recommend the churches composing this Association to discountenance all such men
as ministers." This resolution was opposed on account of its inquisitorial aspect.

  The fifth session was held with the church at Mount Zion, Randolph county.
Churches, forty-three; members, one thousand eight hundred and six; ministers,
eleven; licentiates, four. J. Ross, moderator; A. Smith, clerk. The number of
churches now in the body, and the extensive space of country over which they
were spread, made it desirable that another Association should be organized out
of churches in the southern bounds of this body; hence, the following churches
took letters for that purpose, viz.: In Stewart county, Antioch, Richland,
Fellowship, Mount Paran, Liberty and Bethlehem; in Sumter county, Shiloh,
Providence, Bethesda, Bethel and Spring Creek; in Randolph county, Mount Zion,
Mount Sinai, Pataula, Bethlehem and Antioch; in Early county, Smyrna and Liberty
Hill. These churches were organized into an Association called Bethel, at
Richland church, in Stewart county, on Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in
November, 1833.

  The sixth session at Bethesda, Harris county, 1834. J. Ross, moderator, and A.
Smith, clerk. Churches, thirty; members, two thousand five hundred and
eighty-eight; ministers, ten; licentiates, ten. During this year, the
Association sustained a severe loss in the death of Elder J. M. Gray, one of her
most active and able ministers. He died on a tour of preaching, at a Mr.
Pitman's, Alabama, after having taken a dose of lobelia on lying down at night.
(See Biographical Sketches.) The churches this year enjoyed the greatest revival
ever experienced in this country—eight hundred and five baptisms. The ministers,
under the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit, were waked up to untiring zeal
in the discharge of their sacred duties. The spirit of missions took possession
of most of them; meetings were held and protracted, and hundreds flocked to hear
and learn the truth as it is in Jesus. The style of preaching was altered.
Sinners were told they must repent or perish—must believe or be damned. Those
churches only, however, which enjoyed the ministrations of the effort preachers
were visited with revivals, as will be seen when we notice the churches
separately. It is remarkable that, as a body, this Association, as yet, was much
opposed to the benevolent institutions. In spirit she was missionary, but in
practice she was not; for, at this session, when a friendly letter from the
Convention was presented by delegates from that body, viz.: Jeremiah Reeves and
T. Dawson, desiring to open correspondence, it was rejected, and not noticed in
the proceedings of the day. They were merely invited to preach, which they did,
but they left before adjournment. The ministers of this body were all the
advocates of missions. What but an unjustifiable dread of responsibility could
have been the cause of their not entering decidedly into the work of spreading
the gospel in connection with the friends of benevolence? The character which
the ministers and the Association sustained abroad authorized the expectation
that she would have come out in concert with the friends of missions long before
this.

  The seventh session was held at Bethel, Talbot county. J. Ross, moderator, and
R. Fleming, clerk. Churches, twenty-nine; members, two thousand six hundred;
baptisms, two hundred and twenty-two. Nothing special done at this meeting,
except that she still rejected correspondence offered by the Convention through
Elder J. H. Campbell.

  The eighth session was held at Bethel, Muscogee county. The Association now
becomes more of a business-doing body, and though she would have readily united
with the Convention, by an overwhelming majority, yet for the sake of some who
were opposed, the advocates declined urging the matter. The following resolution
was passed unanimously: "Resolved, that this body approves of the objects of the
Convention, but regarding the feelings of some of our dear brethren, we deem it
prudent, for the present, to postpone a correspondence, so far as we are
concerned." The brethren, C. D. Mallary and J. E. Dawson, were present, and
they, with the delegates from that body to this, did much good; and it is
believed that by their able counsel, exhortations, prayers and sermons, they
made an impression of the most favorable kind respecting educated ministers,
missionary and temperance societies, etc. The Association recommended a meeting
to be held at County Line, Talbot county, for the purpose of devising a plan by
which to supply with preaching the destitute in and around the bounds of this
body. This meeting was held on the Friday and Saturday before the fourth Sabbath
in November, 1836, and a domestic missionary society was formed. Elder T. J.
Hand, by appointment, preached the introductory sermon, and J. Moon on the
subject of missions on the Sabbath. A collection for missionary purposes was
taken, and $116 were raised. This may be considered the starting point in
missions by the Association. Elder George Granberry wrote the circular letter
this year, and selected as his theme the importance of remembering "the Sabbath
day to keep it holy;" also, the duty of Christians in supporting the gospel
ministry, at home and abroad. The sin of visiting, traveling and starting to
market on Sunday, or Saturday evening, has been too common in the country
generally, for which we ought to be ashamed and repent. With but one solitary
dissenting voice the following resolution was passed: "Resolved, that we fully
concur with the Ebenezer Association in the opinion that the difference of
sentiment entertained by members, churches and Associations, in relation to the
mission cause, and other benevolent efforts, should not affect fellowship." This
year correspondence was opened with the Central Association, by a very large
majority.

  The ninth session was held at Union, Marion county, (now Fellowship, Macon
county.) Elder J. Ross, who had been the moderator, having departed this life,
(June 17, 1837,) J. Perryman was elected moderator, and E. Fleming continued
clerk. The rules of the Baptist State Convention for the reception of
beneficiaries were published in the minutes this year, which no doubt had a good
effect in removing prejudice from the minds of some, and correcting error in
others. The churches were recommended to send up to the nest session
contributions for the purpose of supporting one or more missionaries, in her own
bounds and parts around. The society which had been organized at "County Line,"
agreeable to the advice of the last session, reported by her secretary, R.
Fleming, the proceedings, and was recommended to go on in the management and
direction of its business.

  The circular letter this year was written by Elder H. Powell, on the subject:
"Ye are the light of the world." The ministers and lay-members are urged to
their several duties in a clear and sensible manner; "the stool of do-nothing"
is made out to be a very poor thing, and creeping and crawling, in religion, a
very slow way to press toward the mark for the prize.

  Horeb and Upatoie churches, in Talbot county, and Bethel, in Meriwether, did
not represent themselves at this session, owing to their opposition to the
missionary spirit, which they evidently saw would pervade the body. They
subsequently united in forming a new Association, which, by way of eminence,
they called "The Apostolic Baptist Association." In this they were joined by
remnants from Ariel, in Crawford, from Mount Carmel, in Muscogee, and Valley
Grove, in Talbot, and some others. These were very small churches. They declared
non-fellowship with all the churches friendly to the benevolent institutions,
and closed their doors against all the liberal ministers who advocate, as they
say, the "society system." 'Tis passing strange, that amongst these, as amongst
some other opposers of missions, there should be efforts made to impress upon
the public mind the belief that the mission societies are connected with the
abolitionists, and that the advocates of missions are abolitionists! It is
difficult to believe that they believe what they say in this respect. Again,
they endeavor to brand the advocates of the Bible, tract, mission,
Sunday-school, education and temperance societies with disaffection towards the
government, with designs to subvert and overturn the glorious fabric of the
republic! Now, who that knows his A, B, C, in the rise and downfall of nations,
does not know that the general defusion of education, morality and religion is
indispensable to the perpetuity of a republican form of government? And what is
the tendency of all the above societies? Our sapient opposers say, "to subvert
the government!"

  The tenth session was held with the church at Hamilton, 1838. Perryman,
moderator; Fleming, clerk. Churches, twenty-nine; members, two thousand and
seven hundred; ministers, fourteen. The introductory sermon by G. Granberry.
There were present about thirty-five preachers, including those belonging to the
body—a larger number than ever before assembled in Western Georgia. This was one
of the most pleasant, interesting and profitable meetings ever enjoyed by the
Association. But one spirit seemed to pervade this large assemblage of the
worshipers of God. An extensive revival had been enjoyed in a large portion of
the churehes only a few weeks previously, and the members were fully prepared,
in their feelings and judgment, to enter into the wide and delightful field of
benevolent operations.

  Eight delegates, viz.: J. Ferryman, Robert Fleming, George Granberry, Jesse
Moon, G. B. Waldrop, Hiram Powell, W. Henderson, Samuel Harris, were elected to
bear a letter to the Georgia Baptist Convention, petitioning to become a
component member of that body at its session in 1839, at Richland, in Twiggs
county. This was a perfectly unanimous act of the body. At this meeting, also,
the domestic mission society, formed two years previously, paid over into the
hands of the treasurer of the Association the funds of said society, and the
Association took the business under her patronage and management. The sum sent
up by the churches amounted to $200 25, which, with the sum collected in the
congregation after a sermon by Elder J. E. Dawson on Sabbath, amounted to $356
25. The missionary operations are now carried on by an executive committee,
viz.: Jesse Carter, M. A. George, John Neal, Springer Gibson, James Boykin, and
George Granberry, treasurer, and James Perryman, chairman of the committee. This
committee had in its employ, as a domestic missionary, G. W. Key, and expects,
by the help of the Lord, to keep at least one minister constantly in its service.

  The auxiliary society, which for several years past had been acting in concert
with the Convention, dissolved, and will transmit its donations to benevolent
objects, to the Convention, through the delegates from the Association.


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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