The Elkhorn Association of United Baptists now
in session, at Dry Run, Meeting House, Scott County
Ky, to the members of the Churches comprising the Association. (1837)Sendeth Greeting.
Dear Brethren: - From various parts of our State we have the most cheering accounts in reference to revivals.
Some of the Churches on the othpr side of Kentucky River, have been remarkably favored with refreshing seasons from on high. And within our own bounds there are some notices of conversions and baptisms, in which saints may rejoice. The fields appear already white unto harvest, and the reapers are going forth. Enough has been accomplished to strengthen and to gladden the hearts of believers, and to encourage us to hope, that we stand even now in the twilight of a brighter day. Throughout the length and breadth of this vast nation, the churches appear to be shaking off sloth, and awakening from the slumbers of a long night; already many of them have had large accessions and almost every day brings with it the Macedonian cry from the destitute around us. There we find encouragement and field of labor ample enough for those who look no further than to things at home. But when we take a bird's eye view at those dark points of the earth beyond the seas - where the battle now rages, where the powers of darkness present their most appalling front. - What stupendous operations, what amazing exhibitions of grace fill the wondering view, unfolding new scenes and presenting new subjects of prayer and praise.There in the midst of Idol temples, pagodas and altars crowded by millions of deluded votaries, we look with wonder on Calvary's banner uplifted high; and there the crimsoned flag floats in triumph over benighted Burmah's golden city. There especially we gaze with thrilling delight upon the untiring energies of a little band of fearless pioneers; who having encountered perils by sea, and yet greater perils by land, are now bearing the glad tidings up to the very gates of darkness. These are the representatives of the United Baptists in North America - yes, they reprsent us, and through them we are now pleading the cause of Christ before the teeming millions of the East.
Among the native Indian tribes within the limits of the United States, consisting of 66,000 souls, we are ably represented by brother Isaac McCoy and
his associates. His appeal to the churches, calling for 20 additional missionaries to labor In the Indian Territory, we commend to your careful notice; and let it not. be forgotten, that when these are supplied, there are yet 4,300,000 beyond our limits, living, dying in pagan darkness. A most remarkable circ1nnstance demands our notice. The grand obstacle to Indian instruction has been recently removed by the invention of the new system of writing. A person capable of reading English, says Brother McCoy, in the course of an hour, may now learn to read a book in any Indian Language so as to be well understood by one acquainted with that language. And an Indian who never knew a letter can learn to read his own language in a few days. Thus lets and hindrancies to the spread of the Gospel truth apparently great, are as light as mist before the r1sing sun - so shall every imagination and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, be cast down, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Brethren, is this a time to strive about words to no profit, but to the subversion of hearers - or to be found doting about foolish and unlearned questions, and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strifes, railings and evil surmisings?Would it not be more becoming to shun profane and vain babblings and to put on charity which is the bond of perfectness? Brethren, we are rapidly approaching a period when men shall be devoted to God as their fathers never were - an age of action, of enterprise, of generosity, of which, in their indolent and selfish repose, former generations had no conceptions.
The harvest of the world is to be gathered in; shall any portion of the coming ages rise up and call us blessed? Tn an age when all nature seems travailing together to bring forth the glory of the church, shall we be found lagging behind, casting ourselves as a dead weight upon the movements of the church? Sooner let us get hack to the dark ages, unworthy of the present period. Finally, be exhorted to set yourselves to great and generous actions, to a high and glorious instrumentality In
the kingdom of Christ.To this end we counsel ministers to assemble themselves together more frequently, and not to be content with anything short of a weekly Sabbath. We counsel ministers not to suppose they have done their duty, when they have labored one or two hours on one day in seven; but rather to give themselves wholly to the work. And to all, we say, walk in the spirit, grow in grace, in faith and in love - fight the good fight of faith, and thus lay hold of life eternal.
========================== [From Minutes of the North Elkhorn Association of Baptists, August 1837; via Boyce Digital Repository, Adam Winters, Archivist. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
More Elkhorn Circulars
Baptist History Homepage