M I N U T E S

of the

Eleventh Meeting

of the

Muddy River Association

Begun and held at

Grandpier Meeting House in Pope County, Illinois

Saturday preceeding the third Lord's

day, and days following in September 1831

Agreeably to appointment, Elder Wilson Henderson preached the introductory sermon from the 4th chap. of 2nd Kings, 38, 39, 40, & 41 verses: "And there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the Prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and see the pottage for the sons of the prophets, and one went out into the field to gather herbs, and formed a wild vine, and gathered thereof, wild game his lap full, and came and threw them into the pot of pottage; for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to eat; and it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot: and they could not eat thereof, But he said then bring meal; and he cast it into the pot, and he said, pour out for the people that they may eat; and there was no harm in the pot."

The association then convened, and being opened with prayer by Elder Stephen Stilley, proceeded to business.

1. Letters from the following Chruches were received and their messengers enrolled.

2. Chose Elder Stephen Stilley, Moderator, Brother John Lockhart, Clerk, Brother Johathan Floyd, Assistant Clerk.

3. Received a letter of correspondence from the Litle River Association, by the hand of their messenger, Elder James Mansfield, who was invited to a seat with us. Elder Gehon to write a letter to that association, & Elder Rondeau and C. H. Clay bear the same.

4. Received no Letter nor messenger from the Illinois association. Request Brother Lockhart to write and forward a letter to them at their sitting in 1832 and reserve a copy of the same.

5. Received a Letter of correspondence from the Salem Association, Ind., by the hand of their messengers Elder Elihu Holcomb and Brother Burchfield, who were invited to a seat with us. Elder Rondeau write a Letter to that Association and that Brother Samuel Seaton bear the same.

6. Received a Letter of correspondence from the Little Wabash Association, by the hand of their messenger, Elder Moses Pearce, who was invited to a seat with us and Brother Floyd to write a Letter to that Association and that Elders Henderson, Rondeau and C. H. Clay bear the same.

7. Received a letter of correspondence from Cape Girardeau Association, by hand of their messengers, Elders Brown & McIntosh, who were invited to seats with us, Elder Rondeau to write an answer to that Association, and Brothers C. H. Clay, Floyd and Wamock, bear the same. Also that Brothers Stilley, Rondeau, & McCool visit them at their sitting in 1832.

8. Received a Letter of correspondence from the Muddy River Bethel Association; by the hand of their messengers, Elders Moore & Browning, who were invited to a seat with us. Elder Gehon to write an answer to that Association and that Elder Henderson and Brothers Waggoner and Lockhart visit them at their sitting in 1832.

9. Appointed Brothers Floyd, Gehon, Henderson and Rondeau & Stilley, a committee of arrangement to report on Monday Morning.

11. Adjourned until Monday Morning 10 o'clock.

1831

Ordained = O Licensed preacher - L

12. Sunday worship was opened by Elder Rutherford from Hebrew 12th chap. and 25th verse. "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh, "&. Elder McIntosh from St. John, 8th chap. & 36th verse, "If the Son therefore shall make you free &". Elder Holcomb from Solomon's Song, chap. 8 & part of verse 5, "Who is this that cometh? &". Elder Moses Pearce from Jeremiah, 16th chap. & 14th verse, "Behold I will send for many fishers, &".

13. Monday met according to adjournment, and after prayer by the Moderator, proceeded to business.

14. Called for the committee's arrangement, which was read, received, and the committee dismissed.

15. Our next Association to be held at Wolf Creek meeting house, Gallatin County, Ill. to commence the Saturday preceding the third Lord's day in October, 1832. Elder Rondeau to preach the Introductory Sermon, in case of failure, Elder Stilley. Worship to commence at 11 o'clock.

16. Appointed Brothers Wamock, Gehon, Rondeau, and C. H. Clay a committee of finance, who report that they have received from the Treasurer $3.37 and from the Churches as their contributions $8.37, and a donation of $2.25 making in all $14.00.

17. the Association requested Brother Lockhart to prepare these minutes for the Press: and that Brothers Seaton and Wathen superintend the printing of the same, have 350 copies struck, reserve 5 copies for each corresponding Association, one for the Secretary, and distribute the remainder among the Churches, in proportion to the number of members in each Church and call upon the Treasurer for money to pay for the printing of the same.

18. the Association agrees to annex our Abstract of Principles to these minutes.

19. The Association request Elder Rondeau to prepare a circular Letter to be annexed to these minutes.

20 The Association agrees to hold a yearly meeting at Big Creek M. H., Pope County, Ill. to commence the Friday preceding the 3rd Lord's Day in Aug. 1832, and that Brethren Henderson, McCool, Hamilton & Stilley are requested to attend the same. Also one at Island Ripple M. H., Gallatin Co., Ill. to commence the Friday preceding the 1st Lord's Day in July 1832, and that Brethren Baker, Rondeau, Hamilton & Henderson are requested to attend the same. Also, one at Big Bay M. H. , Pope Co., Ill. to commence the Friday preceding the 4th Lord's Day in Aug. 1832, and that Brothers C. H. Clay, Rondeau, McCool, Stilley & Henderson are requested to attend the same.

21. The Association was attended by a large and respectable congregation, who appeared to lend an attentive ear to the word spoken, and in general, the whole exercises were attended with harmony & good feeling and we humbly pray that the preaching of the word may be attended by a Divine Blessing. Then adjourned to the time & place appointed

Stephen Stilley, Moderator

John Lockhart, Clerk

Johathan Floyd, Asst. Clerk

A copy of a Letter to the Illinois Association, Hamilton Co., Ill.

Sept. Oct. 1832

Dear Brethren,

After my sincere desire for your spiritual and temporal welfare, that grace, energy and peace might ever abound among you, and that your present councils may be conducted in peace and harmony, having a single eye to the glory and honor of God. Dear Brethren, you will discover by our minutes (5 copies of which I enclose) that I was requested to write and forward a Letter to your Association. In compliance of which, I make mention that we received no Letter from you last year, but I am authourzed to state that the Muddy River Association ever feels disposition to cultivate a continuance of that brotherly friendship, that has heretofore existed, humbly hoping that you will still join issue in those reciprocal feelings, which have heretofore existed between Muddy River and Illinois Associations.

Dear Brethren, as there is much strange Doctrine afloat, in this our day it would be well for us to take the Scripture for our guide, having a single eye to the one thing needful; trying all things; proving all things, and finally holding fast to that which is good. Our next association to be held at Wolf Creek Meeting House, Gallatin Co., Ill., the Saturday preceding the third Lord's Day in October, 1832. Anticipating that then & there we shall hear from you. Amen.

Done by order of the Muddy River Association (United Baptist)

John Lockhart.

To the Illinois United Baptist Association, to be held at the Elk Horn Meeting House, Washington County, Illinois, the first Saturday in October 1832.