TENNESSEE STATE RECORDS - CHURCH ASSOCIATION RECORDS - Hiwassee Baptist Association Minutes, 1884 ==================================================================== 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 Sixty-Second Annual Session of the Hiwassee Baptist Association, Begun and Held with Ten Mile Church, Meigs County, Tenn. September 26th and 27th, 1884 Printed in Pikeville, Tenn., by Sequachee Advance Job Print. 1884. By request of J.B. McCallon, who was the Alternate of Elder M. Sharp, deceased, James Johnson delivered the introductory sermon from Matthew 16th chapter and 18th verse. After an intermission of fifteen minutes, the Delegates met in the house and, after prayer by Elder A.D. Morrison, letters were received from the following Churches, and the following account taken: Churches, Delegates and Total Membership: Concord - J. Edgemon, L.D. Clark, Lins. Matthews, F.M. Odom, G.G. Jones, Kimble Edgemon, T.H. Gallant 110 Paint Rock - W.E. Pope, P.P. Brown, Thos. Brown 97 Fellowship - J.K. Chastain, W. Baker, P. Dake, A.C. Ewing, J.R, Hollomon 74 Galyon's Gap - J.P. Gallaher 19 Macedonia - J.W. Waller, Lewis Waller 19 Yellow Creek - G.H. Wade, J.C, Ganison 112 Ten Mile - J.B. McCallon, E. Ewing, J.C. Sharp, L.C,. Wasson, J. Ewing, J. Thompson, M. Bryan 73 Old Friendship - J. Johnson, M. Clack, J. Stinecipher 16 Walnut Grove - J.M. Davis, J.F. Guinn 94 Mt. Zion - G.W. Smith 34 Town Creek - J.Monger, J.A. Soward (no numbers given) Hind's Valley - C. Hicky 26 Shiloh - A.D. Morrison, E.S. Bailey, A.C. Guffy, J. Harmon, S.S. Smith 136 Pisgah - M. Spradling, Thos. Gibson 76 Clifty Springs - _____ Graves (Newly constituted) 11 The Association then organized by choosing J.B. McCallon, Moderator and James Johnson, Clerk. 1. Called for corresponding letters; received one from Stockton Valley Association by the hands of her delegates, viz: Elders J.D. Hopkins, Joseph Deck and A.J. Thomkins; also one from West Union by the hands of her delegates, Elders S.B. Pierce and C.C. Terry, al of whom took seats with us. 2. Appointed Elders A.D. Morrison, J.B. McCallon, J. Johnson, and brethren Thos. Brown and Robert Haggard to bear our corresponding letter to Stockton Valley Association when convened with the church at Spring Creek, Jackson county, Tenn., on the second Saturday in September, 1885. Brethren J.R. Hollomon, J.K. Chastain and J. Johnson to bear our corresponding letter to West Union Association when convened with the church at Buffalo, Scott county, Tenn., on Friday before the second Saturday in October, 1884. 3. Elders A.D. Morrison, J.K. Chastain, brethren J.N. Davis, G. Wade, Lewis Waller, together with the Moderator, Clerk and corresponding delegates where appointed as a committee of Arrangements, to report to morrow morning. 4. One delegate from each church with Ten Mile church were appointed as a committee on Preaching: to-night, C.C. Terry and Joseph Deck. 5. A.C. Ewing and George Smith, committee on Finance. After prayer by J.K. Chastain, the Association adjourned until to-morrow morning at 9:30 o'clock. SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS Saturday Morning - Met according to adjournment; prayer by S.B. Pierce. 1. Called for report of committee on Arrangement which was read, received, and committee discharged. 2. Roll called and absentees stricken out. 3. The Rules of Decorum and Posers of the Association read. 4. Called for report of committee on Preaching, which is as follows: Saturday, A.J. Tompkins, S.B. Pierce and Joseph Deck; Saturday night, J.K. Chastain, J.D. Hopkins; Sabbath, S.B. Pierce and J.D. Hopkins; all in the order of their names. Read, received and committee discharged. 5. James Johnson appointed Treasurer for the present year. 6. Called for report of committee on finance. Report present contributions, $17.50. 7. Appointed our next Association to be held at Walnut Grove Church House, Meigs county, Tenn., commencing Friday before the fourth Saturday in September, 1885. 8. J.B. McCallon was appointed to preach the Introductory Sermon, and A.D. Morrison, Alternate. 9. A.D. Morrison and J.B. McCallon were appointed to write answer to Mt. Zion's request. Answer: Mt. Zion church gives notice that John James, who holds credentials as an ordained minister, has been excluded from that church for unchristian conduct, and he refuses to give up his credentials. The church asks this to be appended to the minutes, and the public warned against him as an impostor. 10. J.B. McCallon, J.K. Chastain, James Johnson, J.R. Hollomon, E.S. Bailey, J.L. Waller and F.M. Odom were appointed to attend a meeting with the Town Creek church, on the fifth Saturday in November next. 11. Ordered 700 copies of these minutes printed, the Clerk to superintend the [printing and distribution of the same, and that he be allowed $5.00 for his services. 12. We request the churches to send up contributions to defray the ordinary expenses, and an additional amount to divide among our corresponding delegates. 13. The Association tenders it's thanks to the M.E. Church South, for the use of their house, and to the public for their friendship and hospitality. 14. Corresponding letters read, approved and ordered to be signed by the Moderator and Clerk. The Association then adjourned to the time and place above named. Prayer by S.B. Pierce. James Johnson, Clerk J.B. McCallon, Moderator OBITUARY Elder Martin Sharp, son of Meredith and Elizabeth Sharp, was born November 1, 1823, in Grainger county, Tennessee. In his second year his parents removed to Roane county, while society was in its rough, confused state, and the people were without present opportunities and advantages. It will not be thought singular if, midst such surroundings, one of young Sharp's temperament was found in the lead of the fun-loving. rowdying, drinking and frolicking, though honest, pioneer boys; it is certain that such was the fact: but in 1842, under the ministry of Elder Geo. Luttrell, God called him by his grace, and revealed in him his son Jesus Christ. This change was too patent to all to pass unnoticed, as it was manifest in all of his conduct and conversation. In September, 1842, he joined the Baptist Church of Christ, in session the third Saturday, at Pleasant Grove meeting house, and was baptized by Elder L.B. Johnson. Brother Sharp soon developed rare gifts, singing, public prayer and exhortation; so that he was soon recognized by the Church as a rising leader in Israel, having at once reached the front in usefulness and in the confidence of the brotherhood, which maintained and increased to the end of forty years of Church membership. He was properly called a sweet singer in Israel, and in his earnest exhortations, like our bold eagle, careened in the midst of the tempest, and in impassioned native eloquence rent the veil covering the sinner's heart, then pointing him to the cross of Christ as the only refuge of the soul burdened by sin. He was chosen Clerk of the Church, which service he performed acceptably for about ten years. He was licensed to preach about 1856. He removed to Meigs county in 1865, and united with the Baptist Church at Pisgah, and by it was called to ordination, and came under imposition of the hands of presbytery composed of Elders A.D. Morrison and J.B. McCallon. He was soon called to the pastorate of Pisgah Church. In 1869 he returned to Paint Rock Valley, and was chosen pastor of his mother Church, which he filled acceptably to the Church and creditably to himself, except an interval of two years, to the end of his life. He was chosen Clerk of the Association in 1876, which was continued till his death; which sad event transpired on Friday, June 6, 1884, 10 o'clock.P.M. The final illness was short, but attended with great sufferings. The chain is broken, the link is not lost, only out of reach for the present. He "rests from his labors, by which he obtained a good report of them without." In his doctrine, he proclaimed salvation by grace, giving all of the glory to God. A Baptist in the strict sense, yet charity for all. He is gone, to Grainger no bolder son was born; to Reare (Roane?), no more patriotic son was given; Paint Rock never had a more devoted member; the Association, no more acceptable minister. A considerate husband, an indulgent and exemplary father. Brethren, be ye also ready, the summons will soon come.