M I N U T E S

of the Fourteenth Meeting of the

MUDDY RIVER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

Begun and held at

North Fork Meeting House

Hamilton County, Illinois

Saturday preceeding the seconds Lord's day and days following in

September 1834

Agreeable to appointment, Elder John Hamilton preached the introductory sermon from 2nd Timothy, 3rd chap., 13 & 14 verses. "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse, &".

1. Letters from the following churches were read and their names enrolled.

2. Chose Elder Charles H. Clay, Moderator, Brother John Lockhart, Clerk, and Brother William Allen, Assistant Clerk.

3. Received a Letter of correspondence from the original Little River Association (KY) by the hand of their messenger Elder Foster Mason, who was invited to a seat with us. Requested Brother Allen to write them an answer.

4. Received no Letter nor messenger from Salem Association (Ind.). Request Brother Burkhart to write them a reply.

5. Received a Letter of correspondence from the Little Wabash Association by their messengers Elders Moses Pearce and Joseph Cullin and Brother Daniel Powel who were invited to a seat with us. Request Elder Hamilton to write them an answer.

6. Request Brother George Hamilton to write a corresponding Letter to the Bethel Associatioin.

7. Received no Letter nor messenger from the Clear Creek Association. We agree to drop correspondence with that Association in consequence of their joining issue with the present missionary system.

8. Brother Lockhart who was appointed to call on the church at Island Ripple (at our last sitting) and know of them the reason of her not representing herself at that meeting, reports that the failure occurred in consequence of sickness.

9. The committee who were appointed at our last meeting to set as an advisory counsel with the Church at Bankston's Fork made their report, which was received and ordered to be embraced in the committee's arrangement for Monday.

10. Appointed Brethren Joseph Wathen, John Hamilton and Daniel L. Minor with the Moderator and Clerk a committee of arrangement and report on Monday Morning. Requested Elders Cullin, Mason, & Pearce to occupy the Stand tomorrow and Elder Gholson to close, worship to commence at 10 o'clock A.M.

12. Adjourned until Monday Morning 10 o'clock.

1834

Ordained = O, Licensed preacher = L

13. Sunday worship was opened by Elder Mason from the 112th Psalm, part of the 6th verse including 7th & part of the 8th. "The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance, &". Elder Cullin from Ecclesiastes, chap. 9th, 14, 15, & 16th verses, "There was a little city, &". Elder Gholson from the 108th Psalm, part of the 9th verse, "Moab is any wash pot, &". Elder Moses Pearce closed the exercises of the day by agreement, it being not according to arrangement.

14. Monday met according to adjournment, and after prayer by Elder Hamilton, proceeded to business.

15. Called for the committee's arrangement which was read, received, and they discharged.

16. Took up the report of the committee who were appointed by the last Association to sit with the Church at Bankston's Fork at their meeting, as an advisory council to counsel and advise with, that the Church adopt the former fifth article of her abstract of principles on which she was constituted and received into the Union. The committee report, that they met agreeable to appointment, and after due labor with the Church on the matter in question, the Church gave the committee to understand that they had held a conference meeting on the day previous and predisposed of the matter in question by declaring an unfellowship with the Association for the satisfaction of the Brethren, we annex the official act of that Church, by a copy of their record which speaks as followeth, "We declare an unfellowship with the Association, for her dealing with us contrary to the constitution of the constitution, and not taking the Gospel as directed, Matthew 18th chap. and for rejecting Block House Creek Church from the Union, and for dropping the correspondence with Little River Association in Ky. and adopting a correspondence with what is called the Original Little River Association.

We will endeavor to answer the four exceptions as set forth in the above declaration, with regard to the first exception, we are fully of the opinion that the Association acted in accordance with her constitution, in appointing a committee to sit with that Church as an advisory council. We believe that every candid person will allow be ready to acknowledge after a perusal of the third article of the constitution of the Association, that no other step could be taken against an offending Church, only that of an advisory council, to counsel her to retract from what the Association considered a breach of fellowship with her sister churches in the Union. Relative to the second exception, the Association found on an examination of the abstract of principles as set forth in the petitionary letter from Block House Creek Church, that she was not Orthodox and Orderly, in consequence of which the Association acted in conformity with the sixth article of the Constitution which reads thus, "If upon examination the Church applying for admission be found Orthodox and Orderly, she may be received." As touching the third and fourth exceptions as charged in the declaration of dropping the correspondence with the Little River Association, and adopting one with the Original Little River Association, we have only to observe that the Muddy River Association neither dropped nor adopted a correspondence at her last sitting, as may be seen from her minutes that she continued her correspondence as formerly with the Original Little River Association, finding her occupying her old Land marks that she was constituted upon and the seceding party occupying a different one, which this Association does not feel disposed to fellowship. we have endeavored in as brief a manner as possible to show the inconsistency of the acts of this Church. We think that every rational person who is acquainted with the circumstances, will be ready to say that the association would be acting consistent with order to withdraw from this Church. But as this Church has withdrawn and declared an unfellowship with the Association, it supercedes the necessity of a withdrawal on the part of the Association, and by her act can be considered no more a part of this body. This Church may say that she offered an acknowledgment, at this meeting but like Ananias and Sapphira of old, they kept back part of the price.

17. Took up the query mentioned in the last year's minutes, is it good order for any church belonging to this Association within herself to alter her abstracts of principles, on which she was constituted and received in this Union? We are of the opinion that it is not.

18. Appointed Brethren George Hamilton, Archillus Coffee, Joseph Wathen, William Allen, William Baker, John Lockhart, John Hamilton, Robert Johnson, and James Hampton, as an advisory council to sit with the Church at Wolf Creek at her October meeting next to advise with her to reconsider her act in altering her fifth article of her abstract of Principles on which she was constituted and received into this Union. Should she feel disposed to adopt her original abstract, on which this Association is constituted, by calling in a presbytery for that purpose, it shall be the duty of the council to transmit a copy of the adjustment to the residue of the Churches composing this association, notifying them that the above Church is in good standing. Should she feel to remain as she is, she will be considered in disorder and the council will report accordingly at the next Association.

19. A majority of the Churches belonging to this Association requested in their letters that this Association retain the original name (to wit) The Muddy River Baptist Association, which was adopted.

20. Called for the corresponding Letter to the Original Little River Association, which is to sit with the Church at Saline Creek, Stewart County (Tenn.) on the Friday preceding the third Lord's Day in August 1835. Elder Clay with Brother James Gholson agree to bear the same, also with them Wm. Morrow and Jeremiah Lewis.

21. Called for the corresponding Letter to the Little Wabash Association which is to sit with the Church at Lick Creek, White County (Ill.) the Friday preceding the first Lord's Day in September 1835. Elders Hamilton and Adams with Brethren William Allen, Robert Johnson, and John Lockhart agree to bear the same.

22. Called for the corresponding Letter to the Salem Association, Elder Clay and Brother James Gholson agree to bear the same.

23. Called for the corresponding Letter to Bethel Association, Elder Adams with Brethren Schoolcraft and Thomas P. Moore agree to bear the same.

24. Called for the ciruclar Letter which was read, received and ordered to be annexed to these minutes.

25. Our next Association to be held with the Church at Bethel's Creek, Gallatin County, Ill. To commence the Saturday preceding the second Lord's Day in Sept. 1835. Brother James Gholson to preach the Introductory Sermon, in case of failure, Elder Stephen Stilley. Worship to commence at 10 o'clock A.M.

26.Appointed Brothers Schoolcraft, Allen & Burkhart a committee of finance, who report that they have recieved from the Churches $7.63 & $3.84 from Brother Lockhart, making in all $11.47.

27. Request Brother Lockhart to prepare the Minutes for the Press, have 300 copies struck, reserve 5 copies for each corresponding Association, and distribute the remainder among the Churches agreeably to thir constitutions, ordered that the before mentioned sum of money be left in his hands to pay for the printing of the same.

28. The Association begs leave to continue the recommendation in our last minutes to the Churches to adopt the abstract of Principles, which this Association is constituted upon for the sake of unanimity, by calling a presbytery for that purpose.

29. The Association congratulates the Brethren of Middle Fork Church for their stability in readopting their original fifth article.

30. Adjourned to the time and place appointed.

Charles H. Clay, Moderator

John Lockhart, Clerk

William Allen, Asst. Clerk

CIRCULAR

To the Churches composing the Muddy river Association, wishing you grace, mercy and peace.

Beloved Brethren, Through the mercies of a Providence we are spared to realize another annual meeting in an Associated capacity, and in that capacity, we would beg leave to add to our minutes, an admonitory address touching the figures most striking to the welfare and happiness of the Church, and the peace and comfort of the Brethren.

We feel happy to inform you that there has been a small ingathering in some of the Churches, although beset at times by the arch enemy of souls, and the moral weakness of men, we discover that the Lord worked to do ill and to do of his own good pleasure. The subject of religion is certainly a pleasing theme. To meditate upon it is like the noontide sun, it sheds its brilliant rays on all with its compass, not only to those who have passed from death unto life, but to those who are yet in the gall of bitterness. It is spiritual food to the former and wonder and surprise to the latter when they discover the professed followers of Jesus appealing to the lively oracles of God, for the truth as it is in Christ, to hear them speak the same language perfectly joined together, in the same mind to judgment in every point of doctrine. Oh brethren, let us then be mindful to cherish those affections towards one another as Christians who are of the same family and of the household of faith. Let the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus. For if the Spirit of Christ is not in us, we are none of his. Faith without works is dead being alone. For all our inquiries after truth, let us stop where Revelation ends, and not fall into vain gloryings and disputations about matters, which God in his Providence has not revealed, by this, shall all men know that we are his disciples. If we love one another and walk in the light even as he is in the light. If we are called upon to vindicate what we believe to be Truth, let it be done for Truth's sake. For to discover Truth we need not scale the heavens nor cross the seas, for the word is nigh thee even in they mouth and in thy heart. Dear Brethren, we expect that you have taken notice of the difference of opinion which has arisen, in a portion of our community with regard to the power of the Association, the limits of this address will not permit us at present to enter into a discussion of the matter. We would only observe that the organization of an association is nothing more nor less than for eight or ten churches to associate themselves together for mutual Union and communion on particular tenets of doctrine. To perpetuate this Union, they give to the associaton a constitution embracing certain powers of Government, which the associaton and her constituents are to be governed by. Suppose one, two or three of these constituent parts become dissatisfied with he rabstracts of principles and alter or reverse them in such a way so that they have a different aspect to the original. Would it be reasonable in such a dilemna as this, for the residue of the Churches, composing such Association, to yield to the caprices of a few. Common reason would answer in the negative. Should the Association at any time transcend her powers to remark that without order in Society, fellowship would soon forsake the empire and anarchy and confusion would be the result. We drop these remarks for the purpose of putting you on your guard relative to certain people in our day and who are even among us, who declaim loudly against all associated bodies, articles of Faith, rules of decorum. Although at the same time, they may differ widely in sentiments. If they can only get them to bow to their nod and dance when they pipe, it will suffice. Dear Brethren, beware of such, lest they captivate you under false colors, they have already leveled their artillery at your breastworks, and should they find your outlook of church Government neglected or in a state of decay, they may give you trouble before the breach can be repaired. Then it behoves us to watch and pray, lest we be carried away by seducing spirits into dark places. If we have in any degree been remiss in our order and work heretofore, let us endeavor to rectify the error by a closer walk with God, using due diligence in doing all things which are commanded us to do, let us look to the Lord for strength according to our day and grace agreeable to our wants that we may be enabled to withstand the many temptations coincident to human life. Finally, brethren, let us do all things with an eye single to the Glory of God, who is the author and finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and last, blessed forevermore. Amen.

Dear Brethren, Farewell.

Wm. Allen

Recording Secretary