CHAPTER XLVIII
Early Baptist Periodicals
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The first Baptist periodical published in Illinois was the "Pioneer," the first number issued from Rock Spring, April 25, 1829. It was a semi-monthly, edited by J. M. Peck, and published by T. P. Green, who moved his family and printing outfit to Rock Spring for that purpose. In 1836 it was removed to Upper Alton, the first. number appeared June 30, under the title of the "Western Pioneer and Baptist Standard Bearer." There was much talk of forming a joint stock company and relieving Mr. Peck of the financial burden, but the school absorbed all available funds, and nothing was done. In January, 1839, it was transferred to Louisville and united with the Baptist Banner under the title of the "Banner and Pioneer." In the ten years of publication it had cost Mr. Peck $3000 more than receipts. But it was of great value in his work.
About the time he commenced the Pioneer Daniel Parker commenced publishing his religious views in a little monthly magazine entitled the "Advocate." It was edited in his cabin in Crawford county, and printed in Vincennes. He styled himself, "An old backwoods hunter." It continued until September, 1831, when it ceased for want of means. He began it in poverty and ended it in debt, and his peculiar views about paying for the gospel prevented him from pressing his debtors for even what was justly owing him. Here were two men at the same time in our history, both Baptist leaders, on opposite sides of the state and on opposite sides of truth. They were our first Baptist publishers, and both made great pecuniary sacrifices for their periodicals. But while the Pioneer was of service, the Advocate is only valuable as a historical relic.
On the departure of the Pioneer the "Baptist Helmet" was started at Vandillia; and discontinued in 1845. The "Olive Leaf," a monthly organ of the General Baptists, was published at the same place. But the year 1842 wimessed the largest number of periodical beginnings. In that year the "Missouri and Illinois Baptist" was launched in St. Louis, by I. T. Hinton, and Alvin Biiley as Illinois editor. It continued until the removal of the editor to New Orleans, in 1844. In 1842 the "Predestinarian Baptist" was started by Eld. R. N. Newport, at Charleston,
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Coles county. His field was the three antimission Associations on the eastern section of the state, -- the Vermillion, the Wabash and the Okaw. But this like all similar ventures was short lived. A sufficient number of honorable subscribers is the essential thing wanting.
In July, 1842, appeared at Winchester the first number of Alvin Bailey's monthly, the "Voice of Truth." It was a public discussion of Campbellism, and arose from strictures by B. W. Stone on a series of lectures on Campbellism delivered by Elder Bailey at Jacksonville. It was published monthly for one year. The discussions are still of value, but not so much so as formerly because the teachings of Campbell are not taught today as he taught them.
September 20, 1842, appeared in Chicago the first number of the "Northwestern Baptist," edited by C. B. Smith, pastor of the Chicago Baptist church. It was a semi-monthly, nine by twelve inches in size, and had the honor of being the first periodical published in Chicago. It was the official organ of the Northwestern Baptist Convention. When the Convention was organized the need of a periodical was deeply felt, and it was decided that it should be established as soon as the necessary funds could be raised. At the sessions of the Northern Association at Warrenville in 1842, pledges for two hundred subscriptions were taken, and under that encouragement three months afterward the paper appeared. But it had a difficult place to fill. It was the servant of a divided family. The moral test question of the time was whether a slaveholder might be appointed a missionary, and his money received into the mission treasury. Part of the brethren, led by Dr. Boone, wanted the matter let alone. Another part, led by brother Ambrose, would not let it alone. The policy adopted was editorial neutrality, but that pleased no one. The personal sympathy of the editor was with the antislavery side. ln August, 1843, eleven months after the paper started, the First Baptist church divided on the slavery question. Sixty-two members with the pastor went out and organized the Taber- nacle Baptist church, now the Second church. They were the Friends to Humanity of the northern end of the state. The paper was then less acceptable to some readers than before. Early in 1845 Pastor Smith left Chicago, and the paper ceased. The Chicago and St. Louis Baptist newspaper beginnings commenced, continued and ceased together.
On the demise of the Northwestern each of the differing parties was anxious that its successor should be on their side. 'The result was two periodicals, both creditable weeklies but neither of them from Chicago.
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The first number of the "Western Christian," published at Elgin, appeared September 2, 1845. The moving spirits in it were J. E. Ambrose, pastor at Elgin, who became the field agent of the paper, and A. J. Joslyn, the young pastor at Warrensville. He had been a farmer boy, and came west with the family in 1838 when nineteen years of age, settling at Crystal Lake. He was ordained at Warrenville in 1842; was pastor at Elgin eleven years, 1844-55; agent for Shurtleff College and the old University of Chicago, a few months each; organized the Union Park Baptist church, Chicago, and was pastor of it 1857-60; organized the Wheaton church, 1864; was compelled to cease preaching on account of his health, and died at his home in Elgin, in 1868.
These two associated with themselves Spencer Carr, of Racine, Wis. They secured Warham Walker, of New York, as editor. The paper was the outspoken organ of the Free Mission Society. It was ably edited; was one of the ablest religious papers in the land, of any denomination. It obtained a fair support during the five years of its life in the west. In 1850 it was removed to Utica, N. Y., and united with the Christian Contributor, under the new name, "American Baptist." Nathan Brown, missionary to Japan after the civil war, was the new editor. With the close of the war the work of the Society was done and its organ was removed to New York as the "Baptist Weekly," afterwards united with the Examiner.
On the other side, in 1844, the founders of the General Association felt the need of an organ, and at the Canton meeting encouraged Alvin Bailey to undertake its publication. Accordingly in February, 1845, appeared the first number of the "Western Star," a weekly published at Jacksonville. It contained the proceedings of the Canton meeting, and was the only form in which they were published. Editor Bailey made a good paper for two years, but verbal encouragements were more plentiful than paid up subscriptions. He sold it to Luther Stone, who removed it to Chicago, and August 10,1847, brought out the first number of the "Watchman of the Prairies." But like all previous ventures of the sort it did not reach the paying point. The prairies it was to watch were sparsely settled, and the settlers were shifting. The last number of the Watchman appeared on its fifth anniversary, and Chicago was again without a Baptist newspaper. It had been published from the office of the "Prairie Herald," Presbyterian, and it left its associate to cry its message alone. Luther Stone was from Massachusetts, a thoroughly educated man and a Newton graduate, but an educator rather than a
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preacher. He came to Rock Island in 1844, and to Chicago in 1847. He died in 1890 at his home in Chicago.
At the meeting of the Fox River Association in Aurora, June 1, 1853, the brethren once more discussed the matter of a denominational organ. Standing by the ruins of three former enterprises, mourning the loss of a true Baptist a bright Star, and a faitllful Watchman, they again girded themselves to the task. If the Western Christian had been still at Elgin who knows but that a majority might have been ready to unite on that, Free Mission Society and all! But alas! Elgin was as bereft as Chicago. A committee was appointed to negotiate with Dr. Stone. They were successful. August 31, 1853, appeared the first number of the "Christian Times," edited "by an association of clergymen." Dr. J. C. Burroughs was chief editor, assisted by A. J. Joslyn and H. G. Weston. The first number was taken out among the churches and subscriptions solicited by Edward Goodman, who remained connected with it for half a century. November 24 following, it was taken over by Leroy Church and A. J. Smith. It is now the Standard.
The chief of all the weights which sink Baptist papers is dishonest subscribers. A small circulation paid when due is better than a large circulation not paid. If christian men always kept their promises this history would not have been written. ============= [Edward P. Brand, Illinois Baptists -- A History, 1930, pp. 160-163. - jrd]
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