[p. 158]

The chief particular in which the new General Association differed from the former State Association was in its "money basis." The membership of the Convention was composed of delegates from Baptist churches. The membership of the General Association was composed of delegates from contributing Baptist churches and of individual contributors. It was an association of contributors. In behalf of this it may be said that it is the fairest method of representation in societies whose object is to receive and disburse funds. Those who contribute are the ones to decide what shall be done with their contributions, and those who will not contribute should not expect to have a voice in designating the contributions of others. Furthermore, those who give to a cause will feel more interest in it than those who do not give, and will be more likely to attend the called meetings. The friends of the old Convention came to see this, and in 1843 submitted to the churches a proposition to amend their constitution so as to provide a "pecuniary condition for membership." They were led to this by the decreasing attendance at the meetings of the Convention. But on account of the probable dissolution of the Convention no action was taken.

The only questionable feature about the plan is that of life memberships. It should not be possible for either churches or individuals to obtain vested rights in a common society. It provides virtually for private ownership of public property, and it cannot but be expected that as such ownership is promoted public interest will decrease. The General Association had no life memberships for thirty years; that feature was added in 1875.

The new organization, like the societies which it superseded, aspired oply to the humble position of an auxiliary to the Home Mission Society. That was but fair, considering that the Home Mission Society was expected to supply the larger part of the needed funds. But it soon began to cause trouble, not as a question of funds but as a question of authority. It was a contest not between the churches of the east and the west, but between Boards, and its discussion took up first and last a great deal of time. The new Association in its beginning was the general agency for the collection of all missionary funds not otherwise

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[p. 159]
arranged for, and was an independent worker by the side of the Home Mission Society. But to distinguish it from that Society its own department was called "Domestic Missions." Neither society, it was supposed, would be complete without the other. There was needed an eastern society to gather eastern funds, and a western society that knew the corners in western work. So with both in the field more money was raised and it was better distributed.

At Peoria, in the basement of the Baprist church, the General Association found a young ladies' Seminary, carried on by Prof. E. Adkins, and they commended it, hoping it would grow into a large institution. The next year Prof. Adkins had gone to Shurtleff, and the Seminary was in other hands, yet the brethren in their annual meeting at Winchester in 1848 had enough faith in it and good wishes for it to consider the advisability of adding a boy's academy. The committee did what they could, for Pastor Weston, then of Peoria, was the chairman, but the academy did not materialize, and after five years of life the seminary closed its doors.

In 1847 the Association met at Jacksonville; in 1848 at Winchester; in 1849 at Griggsville. At that meeting they concluded to drop Domestic Missions for a time, and entrust all to the Home Mission Society. They would put all their eggs in one basket, to the saving at least of the special collection required every year to provide the second basket. The Association board did not favor the change, and at the annual meeting in 1850 at Springfield reported crustily:

"In consequence of the action of your body at its last annual session, as understood by your board, no missionary labors have been performed under the supervision of this board. Having no official connection with missionary operations in this state, and no information other than is known to all, of the labors performed by the Home Mission Society, the board finds itself wholly unable to present to the General Association the facts so desirable to be known. For such facts therefore as pertain to missionary operations within our state we must of necessity respectfully refer the Association to the publications of the Home Mission board in New York. Having had no executive business to transact during the past year, the board has held no meetings and performed no labor save the preparation of this report."

The irate board did not explain in what consists the superior value of official knowledge that is known to all. However, the Association repented, and Domesric Missions was resumed.
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[Edward P. Brand, Illinois Baptists -- A History, 1930, pp. 158-159. -- jrd]

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Illinois Baptists, by Brand - Chapter 47

History of the Baptists of Illinois
By Edward P. Brand