TENNESSEE STATE RECORDS - CHURCH ASSOCIATION RECORDS - Hiwassee Baptist Association Minutes, 1895 ==================================================================== 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 Seventy-Third Annual Session of the HIWASSEE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, which convened with Shilo Church, Roane County, Tennessee, September 27, 28 and 29, 1895. (The minutes have a mis-print as to which session it is. It is printed as the Sixty-third, but is actually the Seventy-Third - EC) Officers: J.L. Waller, Moderator. J.B. McCallon, Clerk. Next Introductory Sermon: P.R. Brown, Alternate, J.B. McCallon Time and Place of Next Meeting: On Friday before the fourth Saturday in September, 1896, Hind's Valley Church, Roane County, Tenn. Dayton, Tenn., Leader Print 1895 (page 1) (The same printing error was repeated on page 1 as to which session this was. Also, an apparent printing error had been corrected in pencil as to the number of members for Shilo Church. All pencil corrections appear to be the hand writing of W.R. Clack) Churches and their Delegates: Pisgah - J.C. Crane, Mort. Webb, J.B. Bidwell, T.J. Gibson - 66 members Hind's Valley - J.C. Abel - 31 members Concord - J. Edgeman, J.M. Ewing, D.S. Farrel, A.S. Walker, J.C. Johnson, H.S. Guffee - 156 members Shilo - J.J. Butler, E.C. Bailey, R.E. Ewing, M.L. Bailey, G.E. Proffitt, J.M. Barnard, J. Snow - (Members printed as 49, changed in pencil to 91 -EC) Fellowship - J.R. Hollomon, J.C. Fuller, J. L. Chastain, P.H. Hollomon - 61 members Paint Rock - Eld. P.R. Brown, Bro. J.C. Price, Robt. Webster - 101 members Mt. Zion - Eld. J.M. Ledford, Bros. G.W. Smith, Wm. Smith, J.R. Smith - 33 members Ten Mile - Eld. J.B. McCallon, J. Thompson, J.W. Sharp, E.M. Ewing, J.K. Peak - 59 members Old Friendship - A.C. Ewing, W.R. CLack, H.B. Clack - 22 members Macedonia - Eld S.A. Waller, J.L. Waller - 36 members Byrd's Branch - W.M. Beard - 27 members Pleasant Hill - Robt. Atchley, Wm. Sharp, J. Lemon, Enoch West - 33 members Fairview - M.W. Teasley, J.W. Givens, J. Clifton, G.W. Burns - 26 members (page 2) Bro. J.L. Waller elected Moderator; Elder J.B. McCallon, Clerk. Correspondence from Sister Associations: Stockton Valley Association - Elders J.L. Garrett and A.J. Young. Appointed A.C. Ewing to write a letter to them; to be borne to them by Elders J.M. Ledford and M.W. Teasley and Bros. J.L. Waller, J.R. Smith, G.W. Givens, and M.L. Bailey, when in session at Caney Branch Church House, Clinton County, Kentucky, the second Saturday in September, 1896. West Union Association - Elder W.S. Rich. Bro. J.R. Holloman appointed to write a letter to them, to be borne by Elder S.A. Waller and Bros. J.R. Hollomon, W.R. Clack, and J.L. Chastain, to Marsh Creek Meeting House, Whitley County, Kentucky, Friday before the second Saturday in October, 1895. Walnut Grove Association - Elders J.H. Wierick and J.W. Whaley and Bros. T.W. Francis, E.D. Lynn, H.M. Shubert, J.W. Ferguson and G.W. Payne. Bro. W.R. Clack appointed to write them a letter to be borne by Elders P.R. Brown and J.B. McCallon and Bros. T.J. Gibson, E.M. Ewing, J.C. Johnson, A.S. Walker, H.S. Guffee, Jas. Rose, G.E. Proffitt, W.M. Sharp, M.S. Bailey, Mortimer Webb, A.C. Ewing, J.L. Chastain and J.R. Hollomon, to their session at Union Grove Meeting House, McMinn County, Tennessee, on Thursday before the third Sunday in August, 1896. Committees Appointed: Unfinished Business: Elders S.A. Waller and P.R. Brown and Bros. J.R. Hollomon, A.C. Ewing and J.W. Sharp Preaching: At Walnut Grove, Elders J.W. Whaley and J.M. Ledford; at Bailey's Seminary, Elders J.L. Garrett and A.J. Young; at Shilo, Elder W.S. Rich and E.A. Taylor. Finance: J.J. Butler, J.M. Ewing and T.J. Gibson Adjourned Prayer by Bro. E.A. Taylor SECOND DAY Prayer by Bro. W.S. Sharp Committee Reports: Preaching: Today, Elder A.J. Young and Bro. R. Atchley. Tonight at Shilo, Elder J.M. Ledford and Bro. M.W. Teasley. At G.W. Hackler's, Elders S.A. Waller and S.W. Rich. At Walnut Grove, Elder P.R. Brown and Bro. J.L. Waller. Sunday, 10:30 a.m. pulpit, Elders A.J. Holt and J.L. Garrett. Finance: Balance in the hands of former Treasurer $ 2.30 Present Contribution from the Churches 18.00 Total amount on hand $20.30 Committee Report on the exclusion of P.J. Parker: (See previous Minutes for details of the problem) The Committee found that the Church At Galyon's Gap acted too hastily and advise her to allow P.J. Parker to come to their church meeting ....... We further conclude that Paint Rock did not act with the caution due to so grave a question as the reception of P.J. Parker to membership and restore him to all privileges of the ministry. We therefore advise the church to rescind her act receiving him, just leaving him where she found him, without deciding as to guilt or innocence. We are informed and believe that Galyon's Gap stubbornly refuses to accept our advice and denies having made such an agreement. Paint Rock accepted the advice and acted accordingly. We are informed and believe that P.J. Parker uncomplainingly bears his trials and seems to be living the Christian life. We lastly advised that if the case reached the present stage that any church in whose bounds he resides would be justified in his reception to membership and to the ministry if she wishes to do so. And we hold the church at Galyon's Gap in suspension till such time as she will comply with the committee's advice and abide by promises made. Report Adopted. Elder A.J. Holt, from Cumberland Association, was present. Next Meeting at Hind's Valley, Roane County, near Glen Alice. Annual sermon to be preached by P.R. Brown with J.B. McCallon, alternate. J.B. McCallon elected Treasurer. Obituary of Elder James Johnson to be included in Minutes. 800 copies of Minutes to be printed. Elders P.R. Brown and J.B. McCallon are requested to each preach two weeks per month to the destitute places in our bounds, this year. Requested Elder A.J. Holt to address the audience relative to the Orphans' Home at Nashville, Tenn. Bro. E.A. Taylor addressed the audience on general education. Elder S.W. Rich delivered a two minutes' talk that captured us all. Prayer by Elder J.L. Garrett. "Received of A.C. Ewing $8.50 in full for printing these Minutes. A.N. Brown, Editor Dayton Leader." OBITUARY IN MEMORIAM Elder James Johnson was born in Rhea County, Tennessee, on May 27, 1818. Under the tuition of his devotedly pious father and mother he never used a profane oath, even through life. And this was the more remarkable because he grew up in the crude and wild condition of the country before civilization had made much progress. But little literary training could be had. Two or three months, at most, in the old field schools of that period for a few years was an advanced education. In this condition of affairs Bro. Johnson reached his thirteenth year when he became conscious of his lost condition. For a little more than a year he gave but little thought to any other subject. When he had reached his fourteenth year the light shone into his dark mind and it pleased God, who called him by His grace, to reveal in him His Son, Jesus Christ. Immediately he conferred not with flesh and blood, but joined the church at Old Bethel. He was shown his sinful and helpless condition and pointed to Christ under the ministry of Elder Daniel Briggs, who was one of the pioneer and able ministers of that or any other time. Bro. Johnson's changed life bore unimpeachable testimony to a regenerated nature, which was a characteristic of the man through life and presented him as a Christian of the highest type, a hero of the faith, and a faithful minister of the gospel. In 1840 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Thompson, of the neighborhood in which he was raised. To them were born three sons and two daughters, who survive their father. Three others died in infancy. This marriage was, in all respects, a happy one till about 1854, when his wife died. He bore his affliction without murmuring, in that sweet submission that said, "Thy will be done." In 1864 he was united in marriage to Miss Amy Clack, his surviving but grief-smitten widow. Again Bro. Johnson was fortunate in his choice of a partner, as he found a helpmate indeed in every department of their life's labor--they in full enjoyed each other's confidence and unsullied affection to the end. In 1867 he was licensed to preach. His ministerial zeal, which appeared to be according to knowledge, led him to the strong entrenchment of confidence in him by his brethren in all of the churches, as well as by an exacting public. He soon developed in the pulpit the correct expositor of "The principles of the doctrine of Christ;" the wise counselor, the eloquent exhorter, the judicious disciplinarian, and faithful pastor. In 1868 he was ordained to the full work of the ministry by prayer and imposition of hands of the presbytery composed of Elders J. B. McCallon, A. Newport and R. T. Howard. He sometimes reached sublime heights when exhorting sinners to repentance. He went among them with Christ crucified, Jesus and the resurrection his only theme, "the broken spirit, the broken and contrite heart" the only human sacrifice allowed upon God's altar, then "testifying both to the jews and also to the greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ;" lowly and still lower humility the only way to reach the throne of grace; obedience to the ordinances and teachings of the gospel the evidences of a regenerated nature. He was the most of his ministerial life pastor of four churches, which were fairly successful, never having any confusion among them, but "endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. He was a living practical embodiment of the principles which he taught. A devotedly tender husband, a gentle father , thus securing obedience from his children; a kind neighbor with an open ear and hand to hear the cry and to relieve the wants of the needy poor, and with songs and prayers and consoling promises ever ready to enter the homes of the sorrowing, the sick and dying; an impartial magistrate; a faithful friend, and all that enters into the make-up of a good man. For several years he was afflicted, but uncomplainingly bore it. His last sickness was attended with great suffering. But in it all his theme was religion, and as long as his mind was clear his confidence was unshaken in the love and ability of his Savior. He died March 29, 1895, aged 76 years, 10 months. The high esteem in which he was held was manifested by the immense concourse of people in attendance at his funeral services conducted by his life-long friend and fellow laborer, Elder J. B. McCallon. His remains were laid to rest in the Newport Cemetery. The assemblage was largely composed of the aged from Rhea, Cumberland, Roane and Meigs Counties. ~~~~~~~~~~ Found stuck between the pages of these Minutes was a hand written Committee Report, signed by W.R. Clack, A.C. Ewing, and A.N. Stinecipher. "We, your Committee appointed at our last meeting to see Bro. F.S. Brady, to learn the cause of his nonattendance at church would report as follows: - We visited Bro. Brady, and was treated very kindly by him. He appeared real proud to meet us and especially to learn that the church had not withdrawn her fellowship from him. He expressed an earnest desire to be retained as a member of our body. - He said his opportunities had been bad to attend our church meetings since he returned home from Knoxville, but thought he would meet with the church on Sunday of our next meeting. - Under the circumstances connected with this case, we would recommend that the church bear patiently with the Brother, and that we throw around him the mantle of Christian charity. This Jan'y 14-1896. Com W.R. Clack A.C. Ewing A.N. Stinecipher