TENNESSEE STATE RECORDS - CHURCH ASSOCIATION RECORDS - Hiwassee Baptist Association Minutes, 1877 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Edna Clack Woodchippy@aol.com ==================================================================== "The spelling and puncuation in these Minutes are not necessarily what one would expect today. These Minutes were transcribed as closely as possible to the original." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Minutes of the Fifty-fifth Annual Session of the Hiwassee Baptist Association, commencing at Concord Church House, Meigs County, Tennessee, on Friday before the fourth Saturday in September 1877" East Tennesseean Print: Kingston, Tenn, 1877 PROCEEDINGS According to appointment, eld J.K. Chastain delivered the introductory sermon from Revelations, 2d chap., and the latter part of the 16th verse: "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life." After which an intermission of 15 minutes was given, when the delegates were seated in order, and after prayer by former moderator, E.S. Bailey, letters from fifteen churches were read and the following account taken: Churches, Delegates, and Total Membership Concord - J. Harmon, F.M. Odom, J.C. Johnson, J. Edgmond 129 Shilo - Eld A.D. Morrison, E.S. Bailey, E.M. Ewing J.C. Clark, C.C. Durham 169 Pisgah - M. Spradling, Wm. Tillery, T.G. Owens 82 Hind's Valley - C. Hickey, C. Fitzgerald, F.M. Newport 36 Walnut Grove - P.A. Davis, J.N. Davis 84 Macedonia - G. Monger, P. Goodwin, J. Monger 21 Paint Rock - M. Sharp, E.W. Culveyhouse 75 Yellow Creek - J.G. Ewing, G.H. Wade, Wm. Giles, J.S. Clack 129 Mt. Zion - J.O. Daniels, Wm.S. Price 44 Fellowship - Eld. J.K. Chastain, F. Wolsey, J.P. Moulton, A.C. Ewing, J.R. Holimon 70 Ten Mile - J.O. Sharp, J.M. Ewing, B.H. McCallon, Eld. M.E. Jones, J.B. McCallon 62 Galyon's Gap - J.P. Galyon, G. Scott 28 Old Friendship - Eld. J. Johnson, W.R. Clack, W. Wyrick, Mc. Clack 18 Town Creek - J. Soward 24 Mt. Pleasant - R. Gibson 9 1. The association then organized by choosing E.S. Bailey Moderator, and M. Sharp, Clerk. 2d. An invitation given to new churches. 3d. Called for corresponding letters, and one received from Stockton's Valley, by her delegates, Elders J.L. Sewel and A. Bertram, who were invited and took seats with us. 4th. Appointed one delegate from each church, together with Concord church, a committee on preaching. 5th. Appointed A.C. Ewing and P. Goodwin a committee on Finance. 6th. Appointed J.B. McCallon, J.P. Galyon, J.G. Ewing, J. Johnson, M. Spradling and the Moderator and Clerk a committee on Arrangements. 7th. Appointed eld. J.B. McCallon to write our corresponding letter to Stockton's Valley Association, and appointed eld J. Johnson, A.D. Morrison, G. Owing, J.P. Moulton and J.P. Galyon to bear the same to them when convened with the church at Mill Creek, Monroe county, Ky, the 2d Saturday in September, 1878. 8th. Appointed M. Sharp, Treasurer. 9th. The committee on Preaching reports Bertram and Galyon for to-night. 10th. Appointed W.R. Clack, J.K. Chastain and A.D. Morrison a committee to prepare an obituary of brother elder Asa Neport, preparatory to being appended to our minutes. 11th. Prayer by eld J. Johnson, then adjourned till half after nine o'clock Saturday morning. SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS 1. Met according to adjournment; prayer by A.D. Morrison. 2. Called for the report of committee of Arrangement; report read, received and committee discharged. 3. Called the roll and absentee's name stricken out. 4. Read the Rules of Decorum. 5. Called for the report of the committee on Preaching; report read, received and committee discharged, which report is as follows: To-day Morrison and Sewel; at night, Johnson and Sharpe; Sabbath, Bertram and Sewel. 6. Took into consideration the request of Town Creek church, asking aid in the ministry, and appointed elders J.B. McCallon and J.P. Galyon to attend them in October and December; Johnson and Chastain in November and January; Morrison and Wolsey in March and July; Jones and Owens in April and August; Chastain and Bailey in June; Sharp and Scott in May and Sept. 7. Called for report of the Finance Committee, which shows present contribution $20.10; in treasury 6o ct, total $20.70. 8. Appointed a Union Meeting at Hind's Valley, the 2d Saturday in October next; Chastain and Morrison attend the same; Also, one at mount Zion the 4th Saturday in October next - Morrison, Johnson and Sharp attend same. 9. Called for corresponding letters - one to Stockton's Valley, read, received and ordered to be signed. 10. We request all our ministering brethren to devote all the time they can this year in preaching to the destitute in our Association, and also advise the churches to encourage them as in olden times. 11. Called for Obituary of eld A. Newport, which was read, received and ordered to be appended to our minutes. 12. Appointed next Association at Macedonia, Roane county, Tenn, commencing Friday before the 4th Saturday in September, 1878, M.E. Jones preach the introductory, J. Johnson alternate. 13. Agree to have 800 copies of our minutes printed, the clerk superintend the printing and distribution thereof; that he be allowed $5 for his services. 14. Minutes read, approved and ordered to be signed; then after prayer by A. Bertram, adjourned to time and place above named. E.S. Bailey, Moderator; M. Sharp, Clerk TRIBUTE OF RESPECT Your committee would beg leave to offer the following in regard to the death of our worthy brother Asa Newport. Elder Asa Newport was born in Knox county, Tennessee, October 7th., 1802, and died at his residence in Rhea County, Tenn., December 15th, 1876 - constant in his friendships, and open, manly and magnanimous in his dislikes. He was frank and candid, and in his word absolute reliance was reposed. He had the warmest sympathy for the destitute, and his ear was ever open to the appeals of the poor. To those sterling virtues were united the experience and practice of the religion of Jesus Christ. He joined the church at Bullock's Pen (afterwards called Hind's Valley), in November 1829, and lived a most acceptable member until his death, beautifully exemplifying the character of a true christian. After struggling against his impressions of duty, he began his ministry about the year 1832 as a licentiate, and was ordained to the full work of the ministry, July 1838. He was chosen pastor of Hind's Valley Church in the year 1840, and served them acceptably in that capacity until his death. He was faithful and punctual in his attendance at church and liberal in his contributions to all of its enterprises. He ardently loved the church, and delighted in its spiritual success; and that religion which had been his solace in life, was his support in death. He seemed to fully realize the power of that promise. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Thee." He labored for nearly half a century in the ministry, and was several times chosen moderator of the Hiwassee Association, and at the time of his death enjoyed the affection of the entire brotherhood, and shared the full confidence of all who knew him. But his life work is finished, and he has been called home to glory by the voice of our redeemer; called home from this world of woe, selfishness and deceit, to that celestial world above, where the redeemed, the ransomed host forever bask in the glorious effulgence (sic) of "Him who doeth all things well." We will miss brother Newport greatly, but our loss is his eternal gain. In view of the above facts, Resolved 1st, that while we as an association bow in humble resignation to the providence of God, we express the deepest sorrow in giving up one so devoted to the church, and that for him we will ever cherish the most grateful memory. 2d. That we tender our warmest sympathy to the aged and much afflicted wife, children, relatives and friends of brother Newport, and pray that their faith in Christ may mitigate their sorrow. 3d. That this "Tribute of Respect" be published in our minutes, and that a blank page in our Association record be set apart to contain the same. Wm. R. Clack A.D. Morrison J.K. Chastain