TENNESSEE STATE RECORDS - CHURCH ASSOCIATION RECORDS - MINUTES OF THE SWEETWATER ASSOCIATION OF BAPTISTS, 1870 ==================================================================== 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 ==================================================================== MINUTES OF THE SWEETWATER ASSOCIATION OF BAPTISTS 1870 Minutes of the Fortieth Anniversary of the Sweetwater Baptist Association, held at Zion Hill Church House, McMinn County, Tenn., September 16th and 17th, 1870 Nashville: Printed by Paul & Tavel, No. 48 Union Street, between Cherry and College. 1870. The two Sweetwater United Baptist Associations convened as one body at Zion Hill Church House, McMinn county, Tenn., Sept. 16th, 1870, in the 40th Annual Session of each. Instead of the regular appointee, Eld. Postell preached the Introductory sermon from Rev. 22:9- "Worship God." Opened with prayer, led by Eld. M.C. Higdon. Letters called for, read, and delegates' names enrolled. Elected I.B. Kimbrough and M.C. Higdon, Moderators; and A.J. Cate and W.F. Long, Secretaries. The newly constituted Church, Mt. Salem, Polk county, Tenn., petitioning for membership, was admitted. Also the newly constituted Church at Loudon, Tenn., was admitted upon petition. Received corresponding letter from Liberty Association, N.C., by delegates, Silas Rose and G.S. Bledsoe. One from Valley River, N.C., by W. Phillips and M. Landere. One from Hiwassee, by Wm. Rose. One from Ocoee, by G.D. Oviatt, I.T. Agee, A. Cavett, O.G. Frazier and John Boon. Admitted Dr. D.M. Breaker, from the Tennessee Association. Invited visiting Ministers to seats with us. Invitation was accepted by Elders Jas. Givings, Isaac Stephens, I.R. Chestnutt, J.S. Russell, and Jesse Corn of N.C. Adopted an Order of Business, which see. (sic) Appointed Corresponding Delegates to the following Associations: - Tennessee - G.H. Coltharp, J.B. Lee, N.B. Goforth, J. Janeway, and J.H. Sams. Liberty, N.C. - T.A. Higdon, F. Lindsey, M.C. Higdon, and J.P. Houston. Ocoee - I.R. Chestnutt, G.H. Coltharp, I.B. Kimbrough, J. Janeway, J.B. Lee, and J.L. Burns Hiwassee - J.P. Kefauver, J. Janeway, G.H. Coltharp, N.B. Goforth, and I.B. Kimbrough Valley River, N.C. - T.A. Higdon, M.C. Higdon, Thos. Postell, S.A. Caldwell, and D.E. Hedgecock. Appointed the following committees: On Preaching - Pastor and delegates of Zion Hill Church Resolutions - J.B. Lee, W.C. Lee, and T.A. Higdon Finance - R. Spradling and Wm. Stapp Queries and Requests - J. Janeway, D.E. Hedgecock, C. Denton, T.A. Higdon, W.C. Lee, W.S. Callaway, G.D. Oviatt, I.T. Agee, Anderson Cavett and Wm. Rose Missions - Dr. D.M. Breaker, N.B. Goforth, T.A. Higdon, and E. Clayton Obituaries - Luther Lillard, N.B. Goforth, J. Brannom Digest of Letters - Dr. D.M. Breaker and G.B. Cate Sabbath Schools - S.H. Cate, W.S. Callaway, N.B. Goforth On motion of Eld. J.B. Lee, agreed to spend half-an-hour in devotional exercises on to-morrow morning. Adjourned until 8:30 o'clock to-morrow morning. Prayer, led by Eld. Cavett. 8:30 o'clock, A.M. Sept. 17th, 1870 After the morning devotional exercises, opened with prayer, led by Eld. E. Clayton. Minutes of yesterday called for, read, and approved. Roll called, and absentees' names stricken out. Committee on Resolutions presented the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That the word 'United' be dropped from the name of the Association, and the Churches are requested to discontinue it in their letters. Committee on Finance offered a report, which was re-committed. After which, the following was received and adopted: Your Committee on Finance report that the amount received for Associational purposes, eighty-four dollars, ($84.00) and twelve dollars, ($12.00) from R. Spradling, from last year's funds. Wm. Stapp, R. Spradling Committee on Queries and Requests made a majority and minority report. Both were re-committed. Adopted the following report from the Committee on Missions: Your committee takes it as settled, that the Association appreciates the importance of Missions, and that the Churches intend to do their duty. We, therefore, confine ourselves to the task of preparing a plan of operations upon which we can unite. We are fully convinced that the work to be done in East Tennessee can not be acomplishd. Boards appointed by the District Associations, and earnestly recommend that this Association co-operate with the General Association, and do its Mission work through the Board of that Association. There are many important points in East Tennessee which ought to be occupied at once, and which the General Association is aiming to take charge of immediately. With the funds on hand, and what this Association can furnish, the Board will be able to do the work effectually; and this Association will share in the advantages of the arrangement. We, therefore, believe this to be the best plan we can recommend. Respectfully submitted, D.M. Breaker, Chairman. After refreshments, adopted the following report from the Committee on Obituaries: Your committee report that no deaths have been made known to them as occurring in the last year. Luther Lillard, Chairman Adopted the following: DIGEST OF LETTERS 1. Rig (sic) Creek. Nothing beyond statistics 2. Chestna. In a prosperous condition 3. Conasauga. At peace among themselves 4. County Line. In a cold state 5. Eastanallee. Say nothing of their condition 6. Ebenezer. In a very prosperous state 7. First Sweetwater. In peace and harmony 8. Friendship. Decreased by dismissions 9. Hiwassee. A slight increase in membership 10. Hopewell. No letter or delegate 11. Little Hope. Making but little progress 12. Mt. Harmony. Declining in numbers, but working for Jesus 13. Mt. Zion. No letter or delegate 14. Madisonville. Report nothing but statistics 15. New Hopewell. Ask the prayers of the Association 16. Pleasant Hill. No letter or delegate 17. Prospect. Languishing 18. Sweetwater. Making some progress 19. Salem. Nothing except statistics 20. Shady Grove. In a healthy state 21. Telico. A small increase in numbers 22. Union Fork Creek. No letter or delegate 23. Zion Hill. Show a decrease by dismissions 24. Zion. No letter or delegate 25. Liberty. Nothing beyond statistics 26. Liberty. In a healthy condition 27. Smyrna. Maintaining their ground 28. Christianburg. In a prosperous state 29. Lebanon. Say nothing of their condition 30. Union (McMinn). Revived and strengthened 31. Mine City. Have a good glorious revival: 71 added to the church 32. New Friendship. Prospering 33. Ocoee Union. A diminution by dismissions 34. Springtown. no report of condition 35. Notchy Creek. Nothing beyond statistics 36. New Zion. No letter or delegate 37. Rogers' Creek. In a prosperous condition: 24 added by baptism 38. Goodfield. Nothing except statistics 39. Old Friendship. Prospering greatly: 25 added by baptism 40. Greasy Creek. In a healthy state 41. Shoal Creek. Making some progress 42. New Providence. In peace among themselves 43. Hopewell. No letter or delegate 44. New Hopewell. As the prayers of the Association 45. Pleasant Grove. No report of condition 46. Hiwassee Union. Cold and declining 47. Ocoee. Say nothing of their state 48. Good Hope. Have had a season of refreshing 49. Big Spring. Doing no good 50. Holly Springs. Nothing except statistics 51. Mt. Pleasant. In a good condition Respectfully submitted, D.M. Breaker, Chairman Adopted the following report from the Committee on Queries and Requests: Whereas, a request from the Ocoee Church was presented, asking a geographical line to divide the Sweetwater Association; and whereas many of the Churches have gone into the consolidation with that view, we therefore recommend to the Churches that the following line be considered: Beginning at Lebanon Church, Meigs county, and running thence past Rogers' Creek Church; thence to Zion Hill; then by Shady Grove to the North Carolina line. We further recommend, that the Southern division meet at Ocoee Church House, Polk county, Friday before the 2nd Saturday in September, 1871; and the Northern division meet at New Providence Church House, Friday before the 3rd Saturday in September, 1871. All of which is respectfully submitted, T.A. Higdon, Chairman Agreed that the Northern division, as contemplated by the above report, be known as the "Sweetwater Baptist Association," and the Southern as the "Eastanallee Baptist Association." Adopted the following report from the committee on Sabbath Schools: Nothing is more shamefully neglected among us than the training of our children in the Sabbath School; and yet, no duty is more imperative, or of greater interest to the Church We can more effectually reach the children through the Sabbath School than through the pulpit; the press, or any other means within our reach. Other have long since learned this, and have been using it to our disadvantage. Hence, we urge it as a duty upon every Baptist, to take with him his children to his own Church, where they may be taught the word of God by our own people. And as much as it is important that one thing be taught at time, we would recommend to the Churches the adoption of the "Uniform Lesson System." We would, also, urge the brethren to contribute liberally in procuring sound Baptist Literature for the use of our schools. We would, also, recommend "Kind Words," published at Memphis, Tenn., to the favorable consideration of every Baptist. As help to Teachers, we would recommend the "Baptist Teacher" published at Philadelphia. All of which is respectfully submitted, S.H. Cate, Chairman Agreed that Eld. I.B. Kimbrough preach the Introductory sermon at the First Session of the Eastanallee Baptist Association, and Eld. W.C. Lee be Alternate. Appointed I.B. Kimbrough, J. Janeway, N.B. Goforth, T.A. Higdon, S.H. Cate, and J.B. Lee, delegates to the General Association of East Tennessee Baptist. Agreed to take up a collection for that body on to- morrow. Agreed that Eld. J.P. Kefauver preach the Introductory sermon and Eld. J. Janeway be Alternate, for the next Session of the Sweetwater Baptist Association. Ordered twelve dollars paid over to Missionaries, for work done. Agreed to have twenty-five hundred copies of the Minutes printed, and distributed among the Churches; and that the Secretaries draw upon the Finance Committee for funds to defray expenses for the same. Ordered twenty-five dollars paid to the Secretaries, for their services. Appointed G.H. Coltharp and J.B. Lee delegates to the Hiwassee Missionary Baptist Association. Read and commended the following report from Eld. T.A. Higdon: I have labored in the ministry all the time during the past year. Preached one hundred and forty-eight sermons. Resulted in one hundred and sixty professed converts, and one hundred and twelve baptisms. Received four hundred and twenty dollars. Agreed to append the programme of the Ministers and Deacons meeting to the Minutes, at no cost to the Association.* Ordered the Finance Committee to demand a settlement with the Treasurer, Thomas Stephens. Recommended Eld. N.B. Goforth as a suitable Sunday School Missionary. Appointed S.H. Cate, W.C. Lee, A. Haun, and R. Spradling, delegates to the Union Association. Minutes of to-day read and approved. Adjourned to the times and places appointed for the two Associations. After singing, and a sermon, and a re-union of hands in token of Christian fellowship, engaged in prayer, led by Eld. S. Haun. Then parted; love, peace and harmony prevailing. I.B. Kimbrough and M.C. Higdon, Moderators A.J. Cate and W.F. Long, Secretaries. *no program furnished us CHURCHES AND DELEGATES New Hopewell - J.S. Raper and L.D. Honeycutt Eastanallee - I.B. Kimbrough, N.B. Goforth and W.B. Callaway Chestna - G.H. Coltharp and John Right Zion Hill - T.J. Russell, J.L. Burns, John Copeland, Gideon Cate and Wm. S. Edgeman Spring Town - J.T. Hammonds New Providence - Jos. Atkinson, A.T. Morgan and A. Lee Rogers' Creek - A. Haun, S.H. Cate and R. Spradling Big Creek - P. Isbell and W. Isbell Ocoee - W.C. Lee, Luther Lillard and Louis Shambling Little Hope - C. Denton and Milton Morrison Christianburg - E. McDaniel and J. Sands Union (McMinn) - Jos. Neil County Line - J. Janeway and Thomas Wallis Old Friendship - S.A. Caldwell and R.C. Ferguson New Friendship - Anderson Cambell and A.J. Cate Liberty - E.L. Miller Mt. Harmony - D.M. McReynolds Mine City - T.A. Higdon, Thos. Postell, F. Lindsey and P. Huston Conasauga - E.T. Kirksey and D.H. Kimbrough Big Spring - G. Cate and J.C. Cate Telico - Wm. Stapp Sweetwater - Wm. Reagan Bethlehem - Julian Brannom Ebenezer - Phillip Giles and P. Milligan Shady Grove - John King, Burl Blanton and Geo. Lee Shoal Creek - A.C. Davis, Isaac Dennis and J.R. Buckner Lebanon - I.W. Leg and Alfred Cate Goodfield - David Neil Holly Springs - D.E. Hedgecock and Jerome Griffits Ocoee (Union)- M.C. Higdon and Eli Rymer Salem - W.F. Long and A.J. Bayless Smyrna - J.H. Fester Mt. Pleasant - Isaac Stalcup and Charles Medaris Greasy Creek - Elijah Clayton and John Bates First Sweetwater - Wm. B. Lenoir Prospect - J.P. Galyan, J.A. Robinson and J.W. Taliafferro Liberty - Allen Ware and John Baker Good Hope - Thomas Moorland Friendship - Wm. Morris, J. H. Lusk and J.B. Cook Hiwassee - W. L. McKnight Hiwassee (Union) - Jes. Rucker and F.M. Presswood Pleasant Grove - Benj. White, S.A. Ritchey and S. Ritchey Notchy Creek - S.M. Rucker, R. Lane and J.H. Lane NEW CHURCHES Mt. Salem - Paul Clarks Loudon - J.B. Lee and J.H. Sams CHURCHES, COUNTIES, PASTORS, TOTAL MEMBERSHIP, CLERKS, POST OFFICES Big Creek, Monroe, J.S. Russell, 123, P. Isbell, Madisonville Chestna, Monroe, Jas. Russell, 133, J.H. Coltharp, Madisonville Conasauga, McMinn, J.L. Burns, 47, E.T. Kirksey, Cantrell's X Roads County Line, McM. & M, D.M. McReynolds, 55, Pres. Cleveland, Sweetwater Eastanalle, McMinn, I.B. Kimbrough, 106, J.M. Dodson, Riceville Ebenezer, Monroe, A.B. Billne, 141, O.R. Roberts, Belltown First Sweetwater, Monroe, J.B. Lee, 54, E.A. Taylor, Sweetwater Friendship, Polk, C. Denton, 103, J.A. Bryant, Cog Hill Hiwassee, McMinn, I.B. Kimbrough, 75, O.M. Liner, Charleston Hopewell, Monroe, _______ Little Hope, McMinn, C. Denton, 32, Wm. McKenney, Cog Hill Mt. Harmony, McMinn, I.B. Kimbrough, 78, W.L. Rice, Mouse Creek Mt. Zion, Monroe, __________ Madisonville, Monroe, J.P. Kefauver, 74, E. Kimbrough, Madisonville New Hopewell, Monroe, I.R. Chestnut, 47, J.B. Wilson, Madisonville Pleasant Hill, Blount, __________ Prospect, Loudon, J.S. Coram, 201, I.W. Taliaferro, Philadelphia Sweetwater, Monroe, I.B. Kimbrough, 294, W.E. Johnson, Philadelphia Salem, McMinn, C.R. Hoyl, 98, P.M. Long, Riceville Shady Grove, Monroe,J.S. Russell, __, G.W. Williams, Jalappa Telico, Monroe, J.M. Best, 43, M.J. Sloan, Madisonville N.F. Creek, Monroe ___________ Zion Hill, McMinn, J.L. Burns, 166, W.S. Edgeman, Athens Zion, Polk ___________ Liberty, McMinn, I.R. Chestnutt, 31, C.H. Guthrey, Athens Liberty, McMinn, C.H. Eaton, 51, J.N. Rogers, Riceville Smyrna, Polk, John Norman, 74, I.A. Foster, Benton Christianburg, Monroe, S.M. Haun, 171, E. McDaniel Lebanon, Meigs, I.Z. Kimbrough, 48, J.W. Legg Union *McMinn), McMinn, J. Janeway, 75, Wm. Foster Mine City, Polk, T.A. Higdon, 226, J.W. Hill, Ducktown New Friendship, Bradley, A. Johns, 131, A.J. Cate, Chatata Ocoee Union, Polk, M.C. Higdon, 73, N.W. Ruions Springtown, Polk, E. Clayton, 74, David Smith Notchy Creek, Monroe, _______, 60, __________ New Zion, ________ Rogers' Creek, McMinn, A. Haun, 135, R. Spradling, Athens Goodfield, Meigs, J. Janeway, 75, B.F. Lillard Old Friendship, Polk, M.C. Higdon, 84, J.M. Rymer Greasy Creek, Polk, E. Clayton, 50, G.B. Smith Shoal Creek, McMinn, A.C. Davis, 96, Isham Dennis New Providence, Monroe, S.M. Haun, 63, Alex. Rider Hopewell, __________ New Hopewell, McMinn, ________ 39, J.M. Miller Pleasant Grove, McMinn, I. Givens, 20, Sl Ritchey, Cantrell's X Rd Hiwassee Union, Polk, J.A. Wormach, 97, F.M. Presswood Ocoee, Polk, W.C. Lee, 230, G.W. Harbison Good Hope, Meigs, I.Z. Kimbrough, 81, R.C. Powell Big Spring, McMinn, _______= 45, J.C. Cate, Mouse Creek Holly Springs, Monroe, E. Clayton, 34, J. Friffits Bethlehem, Monroe, J. Brannon, 70, S. McCoukey Mt. Pleasant, McMinn, D.M. McReynolds, 69, C.C. Stalcup Mt. Salem, Polk, S.A. Caldwell, 18, M.A. Lanning Loudon, Loudon, J.B. Lee, 22, F.H. Johnson, Loudon