Extract of a letter to the Editor of the Watchman, dated Aurora, Indiana, October 24, 1827.Dear Sir, - You requested information respecting the facts of religion in the State of Indiana, and particularly the Baptist denomination. There is nothing of a peculiar nature in the present religious condition of the country. There have been partial revivals in several parts of the State within the past year, among several denominations; but they have been neither extensive or general.
I am better acquainted with the Baptist denomination than any other; and even of that denomination my knowledge is very limited. It is in a good measure confined to the eastern and central parts of the State. With the Baptists in the western parts, I have but little acquaintance: all I know of them is from some general information. There are several association of which I know but little more than the name. There are twelve associations; a few of the churches however, in the east and the west, are in other States. They contain perhaps a little short of two hundred and forty Churches, with an average of nearly forty members each. I suppose the whole number is something rising of nine thousand. Besides which there are some churches, which from the recency of their formation or the remoteness of their situation, have not yet united with any association; and many scattered members, in every part of the country, who are not numbered in any of the Churches. These perhaps would amount to a thousand. Making in all, about ten thousand, who profess and maintain, a general similarity in faith and practice.
There are two principal reasons why some churches and some individuals are unconnected with the main body of the denomination. One is, the manner in which a considerable part of the country has been peopled. Some sections are filled with inhabitants, almost at once. But some time must elapse, before those of the emigrants who are Baptists, are sufficiently acquainted with each other to form themselves into churches. To other sections, the emigration of Baptists is more gradual, and a longer time elapses before they can maintain a Church relationship. The prospect of a Church in their own vicinity, and the difficulty of transversing a new country often prevents members from joining distant churches. And when Churches are formed, they are sometimes so remote from any association, or see other churches forming so rapidly around them, that they remain unassociated until they can form a new association. The other principal cause of this state of things, is, the want of acquaintance with each other. Coming as they do from the various parts of the Union, and from some parts of Europe, each has some peculiarities of his own, which serves for some time, at least, to keep him at a distance from others. This is the case to a greater or less extent in every part of the State, and prevents many individuals from uniting with the Churches in their vicinity; and occasions some churches to remain unassociated. But this state of things is wearing away, as we acquire a more intimate acquaintance with each other.
There are a number of separate Baptists in the State, who in doctrine are nearly Arminian, and who practice open communion. I have some knowledge of several large Churches of this character; and have heard of many others; but they are all unassociated, and what their present number is, or whether they are increasing or not, I cannot tell.
I have heard of some churches of Tunker Baptists, and some Sabbatarians; but with neither of these have I any acquaintance. The Socinians under the name of New Lights, or Christians, are numerous and increasing, and generally baptize by immersion. And this mode is most frequently practiced by the United Brethren who in some part are considerable in number; and also by the Methodists, when they receive unbaptized adults.
There are in the State many congregations of Presbyterians, some of which, are large and respectable. The Congregational emigrants from the Northern States are generally found here in the Presbyterian churches. There a few Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics, in the western parts. The Friends or Quakers have several large meetings, and in some counties form a very respectable part of the population. The Baptists and Methodists are the only denominations that are spread over the whole State, and they are perhaps not far from equal in point of numbers.
The increase of Baptists by emigration, is, in some places, very rapid, but in the older settlements their increase is principally by baptism. General and extensive revivals are not common. The churches owe their principal increase, in this way, to partial awakenings and occasional additions. But some Churches have existed for many years, and have grown up by occasional baptisms, without ever witnessing any thing like a general attention to religion around them
In the central parts of the State, in what is here termed the New Purchase, about fifty Baptist Churches have grown up, almost at once. The settlement of this section of country has many peculiarities. It has been peopled with unexampled rapidity. An extent of nearly one hundred miles square has been cornered with inhabitants, organized in counties, presenting many flourishing villages and extensive improvements, in less than six years. But what is more peculiar, these people present you with nothing of the rusticity of the backwoods men, which has generally been a characteristic of new settlements. The rude cabin, and the half-cultivated farm of the huntsman, are almost unknown. It is true, you but seldom see a superb dwelling, or an extensive farm, but almost every where you see an air of neatness and industry, and no small portion of genuine taste. The moral character of the inhabitants is also peculiar. I have witnessed the program of population in the Western Country, but have never known such extensive bounds filled up at first with a people so decidedly moral! - And I have no hesitation in saying, that in point of morality, they will shine in comparison with the same number of inhabitants in any part of the Western Country. But that peculiarity which I chiefly designed to mention, is that there are more professors of religion among them, than have commonly emigrated to any new country in the west. I make this statement with a limited knowledge of the number of professors of any denomination except the Baptists; but in a considerable portion of this country, with which I am best acquainted, there is a larger proportion of the inhabitants, of the Baptist denomination than is to be found in any section of the Western Country, except in the central and northern parts of Kentucky. And their number is continually increasing by emigration, besides a considerable increase by baptism. As an evidence of this, there were fourteen new Churches organized there within a year past, besides no doubt, some others, of which I have not heard.
On the east side of the State are the White Water & Laughery Associations. White Water Association has long been a large and respectable body. It is one of the oldest in the State, is in a populous country, and has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. It is the only Association in the State, that refuses to have any connexion either with the Kentucky Baptists, who tolerate slavery; or with those associations who maintain such a connexion, either directly or indirectly. This subject of corresponding with the Kentucky Associations, has produced considerable feeling among many. Most of our oldest Churches, and many of our new ones, were formed of emigrants from Kentucky, or were reared up by the voluntary labors of the Kentucky ministers; these cannot be induced to abandon their fellowship with their brethren that they have left behind, nor with the ministers, under whose ministrations they have long enjoyed spiritual blessings; so that most of our Churches do not consider the practice of slavery, as it exists in Kentucky, unaccompanied with any marks of cruelty, as a bar to communion. It is true many of our Associations, owing to their distance, have no connexion with the Kentucky Associations, but they are in union with those of our Associations that have such a connexion. White Water stand aloof from the one and the other. It has some connexion with the Associations in the State of Ohio, and some of its Churches are in that State. Laughery Association is in the southeast corner of the State. It lies principally in two counties, and occupies less space than Association in the State. A principle part of its bound were settled very slowly. It oldest Church, except one, until after White Water Association was large and flourishing. Its Churches have all been very slow in their growth and since its formation it has never enjoyed any extraordinary degree of prosperity. It was organized in 1818 by six small Churches, averaging twenty members each, scattered over a county not for from fifty miles in length and nearly thirty in breath. From the time of its formation, it had a continual increase by baptism and emigration, until 1826, when its number was 697. Within the last year this number has diminished, owing to a division in some Churches, on the subject of holding a connexion by correspondence with the Baptist in Kentucky. During the nine years of its existence, its Churches have baptized about four hundred. They have also received several hundred by letter, and many of their members have left them and removed farther west. This Association from its beginning has ever enjoyed a high degree of harmony, with the late reception of a few who are disaffected with the Kentucky Baptists. It contains many excellent ministers and members, transacts its business with diligence and ability, cherishes a spirit of brotherly love, and manifests an encouraging degree of spiritual life and energy.
The general body of Baptists in the State, are Calvinistic, with some variety of explanation. They are peculiarly tenacious of believer's baptism by immersion, and practice close communion. In the government of the Churches a considerable difference prevails. Some hold monthly covenant meetings for the reception of members, and for conferring with each other on their spiritual concerns, and transact their temporal affairs, and the trial of offences at special private meetings. But the greater number hold monthly meetings, in which all their affairs are publicly transacted. The Churches are generally small. Very few of them make any regular provision for the support of their ministers, and of course are not fully supplied with a gospel ministry, and experience a great deficiency in the labors of those who administer among them. Very few have any regular pastors. The oldest, or principally officiating minister, fills to a certain extent the pastoral office; and in most cases is the pastor in every thing but name. There are more than two hundred ministers in the State, including those who are only licensed; but three, and sometimes four of those are in the same Church, while other Churches are in a great measure destitute. We have but few preachers of eminent abilities, either natural or acquired, but we have a great number, who are men of good understanding, and sound in the faith. Some attention is paid to the building of meeting-houses, and most of the Churches have supplied themselves with houses as commodious as could be expected in so new country.
The Baptists in this State, are not many of them promoters of Missions, Bible Societies, or Sabbath Schools. There are but two Missionary Societies among them, one in the east and the other in the west; and these are but feebly supported. And but a few of us, comparatively, are engaged in Bible Societies; but in respect to those duties, and that of supporting the ministers of the Gospel, a spirit of inquiry is beginning to prevail, and we have reason to expect they will receive a much greater attention, as correct information is extended.
Thus by casting an eye over the whole State, and viewing the Baptists as they are, although we see many things that require reform, yet we see much that should afford us encouragement and excite our gratitude.
JESSE L. HOLMAN.============ [From the Christian Watchman, (a weekly Baptist newspaper) Boston, November 23, 1827, p. 1. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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