A History of Baptists in Kentucky
By Frank M. Masters
Chapter 38
Present Baptist Progress
1948-1949
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No years in the history of Kentucky Baptists have been more fruitful in spiritual results, and in marked advance along all lines of endeavor than 1948-49. The churches in almost every section of the State were more nearly united in co-operation with the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky in a forward movement in promoting evangelism, enlistment, Christian and ministerial education, benevolences, and all missions.
1948
The General Association, composed of 483 messengers, representing sixty-nine associations, and 443 churches, met in the 111th annual session in the auditorium of the Calvary Baptist Church, Lexington, at 11 A. M., November 9th. The meeting was called to order by the retiring Moderator, George Ragland. The service of song was in charge of L. E. Martin, pastor of Severn’s Valley, at Elizabethtown, and the opening worship was conducted by M. A. Cooper, pastor of the Fourth Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville. By request, W. H. Horton, pastor at Mayfield, led the Association in prayer for J. W. Black, former General Secretary of this body, who was ill in his Covington home. After singing “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone,” J. S. Bell, State Missionary, located at Hindman, Knott County, preached the annual sermon from Romans 3:24, using the theme “God's Amazing Grace.” The record states: "The message gave every evidence that it had come from a heart that had experienced this grace.”
R. E. Humphreys, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Owensboro, was elected Moderator, and Carroll Hubbard, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Ashland, and F. Russell Purdy, pastor of the entertaining church, were elected Assistant Moderators, E. D. Davis was elected Recording Secretary. George Raleigh Jewell, Assistant Secretary, declined to serve longer on account of his accumulated duties as Secretary of the Western Recorder L, O. Griffith, assistant to General Secretary W. C. Boone, was then elected Assistant Recording Secretary.
Robert Edward Humphreys, the Moderator elect was born in Morristown, Tennessee, and was ordained to the ministry in 1915 at the age of twenty-two years. He received the degree of B. A. from Carson-Newman College, in his native State, the Th. G. degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and in later years he accepted the honorary degree of D. D. from Bethel Woman's College, Hopkinsville, Kentucky. After serving country churches as pastor during his college and seminary years, Brother Humphreys became pastor of the Central Baptist Church, Bearden, Tennessee. Here he remained until 1927, when he was called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church, Owensboro, to succeed Dr. W. C. Boone.
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Dr. Humphreys was in the twenty-first year in this pastorate, when called to be Moderator of the General Association.
Every department of work supported by Kentucky Baptists greatly prospered during 1948 as shown by the reports presented to the General Association in session at Lexington. During the year 22,439 converts were baptized, the largest number of baptisms ever reported in one year. The next largest number was in 1939, when 20,091 were reported baptized. Also the total receipts for the Co-operative Program, and designated gifts reached the all-time high amount of $1,862,258.58, which was an increase of $102,833.83 over the previous year. Of this amount, $284,237.11 was disbursed to Foreign Missions, $102,255.70 to Home Missions, $198,275.11 to South-wide Education, $292,697.32 to Education in Kentucky, and $296,741.60 received for State Missions and various amounts for other causes.
The Baptist women of Kentucky also made marked progress in their department during the year. The reports showed 936 Woman's Missionary Unions, and 2150 auxiliaries, composed of young people and children, with a combined membership of approximately fifty thousand. The total receipts in tithes and offerings from these organizations, amounted to $408,119.70 for all missionary causes. A total of 3504 Mission Study Classes was conducted in the local organizations. Miss Mary Winborne, who had served as State Executive Secretary for the past seven years, resigned in October 1948, and Mrs. George R. Ferguson was elected her successor, January 1949, and at once entered upon her duties. Mrs. Ferguson was the wife of Dr. George R. Ferguson, the beloved pastor of the First Baptist Church, Covington, Kentucky, who departed this life, November 24, 1948, at the age of fifty-three years.
Rev. Reed Rushing, who had served as Director of Stewardship Revivals since early 1946, closed his work in this department, August 1, 1948, to become pastor of two important rural churches in Caldwell Association. During the eight months of service, he conducted Stewardship Revivals in eight associations including 114 churches. This Department was discontinued and Stewardship was to be emphasized in the School of Missions, and in the Rural Church Program.
The Rural Church Program was in the fourth year of operation in Kentucky. R. B. Hooks, Rural Secretary, had associated with him the following Regional Rural Workers: George Grubbs, Somerset; H. L. Carter, Bardstown; G. R. Pendergraph, Eddyville; and Buell T. Wells, Bowling Green, the successor to John A. Ivey, Russellville, who left the work, June 1, 1948, to become a rural pastor in Caldwell and Christian County Associations. L. W. Benedict had become pastor of Irene Cole Memorial Baptist Church, Prestonsburg, and Maurice R. Barnes had accepted a call to the Southside Church, Louisville.
An enlargement rural church program of eight days had been formulated for the purpose of stimulating and vitalizing the country churches. Four major points are emphasized in these Eight Day Enlargement Campaigns, viz: First, to obtain an accurate knowledge of the church field,
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the extent of the territory, and the citizenship; second, get a knowledge of the people, who live in the church field, as to the number of lost people, and unenlisted church members; third, ascertain the kind of program the church has already in operation; and fourth, determine the type of program of work the church needs. Another point emphasized during the eight days was to present every phase of the work of the Southern Baptist Convention, and emphasize stewardship. During 1948, the Rural Church Field Workers made 1226 church visits, 2547 home visits, held 1,032 conferences for winning the lost, received 175 converts for baptism and 69 persons by letter.
Recognized progress continued to be made in providing the proper religious atmosphere for the multitudes of Baptist students in the colleges of Kentucky. The effort has proven to be an ever enlarging task. Mr. J. Chester Durham, Secretary of the State Baptist Student Union, reported that there were more than 10,500 Baptist students in the many colleges in Kentucky, of which 2,274 were enrolled in the University of Kentucky. This number represented nearly three times as many Baptist students as were in any other college of the State. The Western State Teachers College at Bowling Green, came second with 783 Baptist students, followed closely by the University of Louisville, and by Berea and Georgetown Colleges. The statistics showed that less than 1200 Baptist students were enrolled in the Baptist schools of Kentucky, while approximately 9000 such students were in other schools.
The two Baptist Student Centers at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, and at the State Teachers College, Murray, have been completed, and were proving to be a most helpful means in establishing a strong Baptist student work on these two campuses. Mr. J. Chester Durham, presented nine young men, students in the University of Kentucky, to the General Association, at Lexington, who were preparing for the Baptist ministry, which was largely the result of the Christian atmosphere of the Student Union Center at the University.1
The two Orphanages of Kentucky were launching enlargement programs in 1948, designed to provide housing for more dependent orphan children found in every part of the State. The Louisville Baptist Orphans' Home, founded in 1869, was to be moved to the Spring Meadows site on Highway 60, near Middletown, to take the name of Spring Meadows. Sam Ed Bradley, former pastor of the Glasgow Baptist Church, Glasgow, Ky., came from a pastorate at Fulton, Kentucky, to become Superintendent of the Louisville Home, and direct the affairs at Spring Meadows in the erection and equipping of buildings, preparatory to locating the Home there.
Brother Bradley was ordained to the ministry in June 1929 by the First Baptist Church in Van Buren, Arkansas. He received the A. B. degree from Ouachita College of his native State, and the Th. M. degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1937. He worked one and one half years on post-graduate studies in the Seminary. Since coming to Spring Meadows, he has done graduate work in the field of Social Service at the University of Louisville. He was married to Fairie Lee Burton, Little Rock, Arkansas, in January 1932.
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Also rapid progress was being made at the Kentucky Baptist Children's Home at Glendale under the leadership of C. Ford Deusner, the new Superintendent, who came to the responsible position from the pastorate of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, Paducah, Kentucky. Marked improvements were being made on the property in providing more room and in modernizing, repairing and decorating the buildings.
C. Ford Deusner was ordained to the ministry by the Audubon Baptist Church of Henderson, Kentucky, on July 29, 1928. He graduated from Bethel College, Russellville, Kentucky, May, 1928, received the degree of A. B. from Western State Teachers College, Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1930, and in 1939 graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Th. M. degree. After serving a number of rural and village churches, 1927 and following, Brother Deusner was called to the pastorate of the church at Hartford, Ohio County, on December 1, 1933, and continued nine years. During the time he served as Moderator of the Ohio County Baptist Association for three and one-half years. After a two year's pastorate in Missouri, he accepted a call to the Tabernacle Church, Paducah, Kentucky, on April 1, 1945. He served until April 15, 1949, when he became Superint[e]ndent of the Children's Home.2
The report on the Baptist Hospitals showed a growing concern in this department of work. In addition to the great Kentucky Baptist Hospital, Louisville, two other such institutions were under construction, - the West Kentucky Baptist Memorial Hospital, at Paducah, and the Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington. Dr. A. Mack Parrish was elected Executive Secretary by the Trustees of the incorporated West Kentucky Baptist Memorial Hospital to raise funds for the erection of buildings. For ten years, Dr. Parrish had been pastor of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Paducah, but resigned on March 17, 1946, to enter at once upon his duties in directing the affairs of the proposed hospital.
A most desirable location in Paducah was procured, and on May 2, 1948, ground was broken for the building with appropriate ceremonies, witnessed by more than three thousand people. Dr. A. M. Volmer, Executive Secretary of the Kentucky Baptist Foundation, delivered the address of the occasion. A total of $450,000 was reported raised to begin the work. The building when completed will be a three story structure, and will contain 110 private rooms, besides a number of double rooms. The cost of building and furnishings was estimated at approximately $750,000.
The Articles of Incorporation of the Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, were signed by fourteen members of the Board of Trustees on September 13, 1945. On January 13, 1946, Mr. George Hoskins, a builder and operator of the Hoskins Lumber Company, was elected the first General Chairman. He was to direct the affairs of the proposed hospital. C. L. Hargrove, pastor of the Porter Memorial Baptist Church, Lexington, was elected Field Representative to promote the interest of the Hospital among the country churches throughout that section. He resigned his pastorate and entered upon his duties in July, 1946, and
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continued in the work until January, 1949. George W. Phillips, pastor of the Twelfth Street Baptist Church, Paducah, Kentucky, was elected Field Representative to be associated with C. L. Hargrove for the year 1947.
A seven and one-half acre tract of land was secured in South Lexington on which to build the hospital. The ground breaking exercises were held on Mother's Day, May 9, 1948. Dr. Duke K. McCall, Nashville, Tennessee, delivered the address and Dr. R. T. Skinner, editor of the Western Recorder, led in the dedicatory prayer. The foundation of the building was completed March 1949. The adopted plans were made for a modern six story structure, with a maximum of 250 beds.3
The Baptist schools of Kentucky never submitted more encouraging reports than in 1948. Georgetown College, Dr . Samuel S. Hill, President, had enrolled 810 students for the session closing June 1949, and added eleven members of the faculty. The college had purchased a two story brick residence to be converted into apartments for the members of the faculty. The commodious John L. Hill Chapel was completed at a cost of approximately $400,000, and dedicated in January 1949. This chapel was erected in honor of Dr. John L. Hill, Book Editor of the Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tennessee, who was Professor and Dean in Georgetown College from 1909 to 1921. Dr. Hill won the esteem and love of the old college and its large constituency during these years of service.
Campbellsville College, Dr. John M. Carter, President, enrolled the largest number of students in its history. A new dormitory under construction and a Students' Inn and Recreational Center had been completed during the year. Two new departments were added to the college curriculum - Physics and Home Economics.
Dr. John M. Carter, President of the College, since June 1, 1948, was born in Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky, August 6, 1912. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1934, received the degree of Th. M. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1937 and Ph. D. in 1940, in the Department of Biblical Archeology. He and Mrs. Carter accompanied Dr. J. McKee Adams, Professor in the Seminary, in 1938, on a research tour to Palestine, Egypt , and nine other countries. Dr . Carter served two churches in Louisville as pastor, Highland Park's First Baptist Church, and the Ninth and O Baptist Church. He came from a pastorate at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, to Campbellsville College.
Bethel Woman's College, Hopkinsville, reported the strongest faculty in the history of the institution, presided over by the efficient President, Dr. Powhatan W. James. The new Science building, which has been under construction for some time, was completed during the year.
Cumberland College at Williamsburg had an enrollment of 328 students for the session closing June 1948. Some outstanding improvements were being made on the property. James H. Boswell, President, graduated with the B. A. degree from Georgetown College, 1928, with an M. A. degree from the University of Kentucky in 1931. He has been connected with Cumberland College since 1931, and President since June 1, 1947.
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Oneida Institute enrolled the largest student body the past session in the history of the school, which included 165, in the high school classes, and 166 in the lower grades. Rev. D. C. Sparks was in his first year as President. He was a product of the mountains, and well qualified to assist mountain boys and girls to secure an education. Before coming to Oneida, Brother Sparks served as missionary of Jackson and Breathitt Counties.
The Magoffin Baptist Institute, located in Breathitt County appears to be entering upon a better day under the leadership of Rev. Ellis M. Ham, the new President. He was born in Edmonson County, but moved to Louisville, while a boy of nine years. There he was converted, and baptized into the Third Avenue Baptist Church, by the pastor, Hollis S. Summers.
Brother Ham was ordained to the ministry by the same church, July 21, 1929. He received an A. B. degree from Georgetown College, June 1945, and attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He became pastor of the Great Crossings Baptist Church, Elkhorn Association in 1943, after having served in other pastorates. In August, 1948, Brother Ham accepted the position of President of the Magoffin Baptist Institute.
The school was chartered in 1905 and was first operated at Salyersville, Magoffin County, under the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Frank A. Clarke took charge of the school in 1929. He and Mrs. Clarke did a great work and continued until 1948, when they retired and moved from the field. The Institute was located in Sky, Breathitt County, in 1940, after having been in operation at Salyersville for thirty five years. In 1948, the Sky post office was eliminated and the present post office is Mountain Valley, Kentucky. This mountain school opened under the new administration, September 1948, with an enrollment of 96 students in all twelve grades. The purpose of this Baptist School is to provide an opportunity for underprivileged young people of the mountains to obtain an education. President Ham writes of the needs: "A dormitory has been built out of native stone to accommodate about forty girls, but there is only a small cabin for the boys. The greatest need is a dormitory for boys, and a Home Economics building."4
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary matriculated a total of 767 men, setting an all-time record. These students for the ministry represented 33 states, the District of Columbia, and six foreign countries. Two new buildings were under construction, January 1949, on the campus - the Alumni Memorial Chapel at a cost of $500,000, funds for which are being provided by alumni and friends; and a two story brick apartment house, for furloughed missionaries, at a cost of about $60,000 to complete and furnish.
Dr. Ellis A. Fuller, President of the Seminary reported that six new professors had been added to the faculty for the session beginning September, 1948, bringing the teaching staff up to twenty-two, by far the largest in the Seminary's history.
William A. Mueller, M. A., Ph. D. who was elected Professor of Theology,
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had never been connected with the Seminary. He was a member of the faculty of Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, New York, since 1944.
Theron D. Price, B. A., Th. M., Th. D., a former student in the Seminary, was elected Assistant Professor of Church History. Since 1945, Dr. Price was Professor in the Department of History of Religion and Missions in Mercer University, Macon, Georgia.
Four Instructors, former students in the Seminary, were elected members of the faculty as follows: Dale Moody, B. A., Th. M., Th. D., Assistant Professor in Theology; John Joseph Owens, B. A., Th. M., Th. D., Assistant Professor in Old Testament Interpretation; William H. Morton, B. S., Th. M., Th. D., Assistant Professor of Biblical Archeology; and Wayne E. Oates, B. A., B. D., Th. M., Th. D., Assistant Professor of Psychology of Religion.
Dr. H. Cornell Goerner, Associate Professor of Comparative Religion and Missions; and Dr. Charles A. McGlon, Associate Professor of Public Speaking, were each advanced to the status of Professors.
Dr. Clyde T. Francisco, Assistant Professor in Old Testament Interpretation was advanced to the Acting Head of the Department of Old Testament Interpretation to fill the vacancy caused by the recent resignation by Dr. J. Leo Green, to become pastor of the First Baptist Church, Pensacola, Florida.
Finley Bartow Edge, A. B., Th. M., Th. D., Instructor in Religious Education was advanced to Assistant Professor September 1947. Dr. Harold W. Tribble, Professor of Theology since 1924, resigned in 1947 to become President of Andover-Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, Mass.5
The Clear Creek Mountain Preachers Bible School, located at Pineville, Kentucky, founded in recent years, deserves due consideration. This school for mountain preachers was brought into existence by the leadership of Dr. L. C. Kelly, who was pastor of the First Baptist Church at Pineville.
L. C. Kelly was ordained to the ministry in 1899 by the Twenty-first Avenue Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama, and while serving that church in his first pastorate, he attended Howard College two years. In 1902, the young preacher graduated from Georgetown College with an A. B. degree, and received the honorary degree of D. D. in 1928 from the same institution. Dr . Kelly attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary one year, and later took a correspondence course under Dr. B. H. Carroll from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas. His early pastoral work in Kentucky was at Flemingsburg, Sharpsburg and Mt. Pisgah, in Fleming County for the years 1902-1904. At that time, he started the Kentucky Issue, which became the organ of the Kentucky Anti-Saloon League and finally merged with the National Anti-Saloon paper. In 1907 Dr. Kelly married Miss Nancy Brent Newland and became pastor at Orlinda, Tennessee, where he remained until 1914, when he returned to Kentucky to become pastor of the First Baptist Church, Campbellsville. Here
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he remained until 1920, when he was called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church, Pineville, and continued there until 1945.
Soon after moving to Pineville Dr. Kelly got a vision of the great mountain section of Kentucky composed of thirty-two counties, unevangelized and with an untrained native ministry. He found in Bell County, of which Pineville was the county seat, 115 ordained preachers, of whom only two - the pastors at Pineville and Middlesboro - had high school diplomas. This situation revealed that the fundamental problem of the mountains was the problem of Christian leadership.
He thus describes his impressions: "In 1923, I was walking up the railroad from Pineville to Clear Creek Springs, and when I saw the lovely valley surrounded by mountains, and well-watered, I thought surely, the Lord has prepared this beautiful spot for some kind of spiritual uplift for the mountain people." Immediately after this impression, Dr. Kelly induced a group of businessmen in Pineville and Middlesboro to join him in an option on 450 acres of land, which was to be used as an assembly ground for educational, recreation and religious purposes. It became necessary to borrow $20,000 to clear up some debts on the land, and build some frame dormitories in addition to six cabins on the property. The Woman's Missionary Union, the State Sunday School Department, and the State Training Union Department were solicited to come to Clear Creek and put on their promotional work, and thus help to establish a missionary base in the mountains. In the summer of 1924, the first assembly was held under a tent.
Dr. Kelly paid a mountain preacher $60.00 a month for three months to contact the preachers of Bell County, and try to induce them to come to Clear Creek for a two weeks' Bible study. Twelve of them agreed to come, and accordingly, Dr. Kelly secured the services of Dr. R. P. Mahon of the Baptist Bible Institute, New Orleans, Louisiana, to assist in the teaching. In this first class of mountain p[r]eachers, Dr . Mahon taught 1st Corinthians, and Dr. Kelly taught Romans. These twelve men agreed to return for four weeks of Bible study in the summer of 1925. They were joined by twelve others, and Dr. Kelly had the help of Dr. E. F. Haight of the Baptist Bible Institute, New Orleans, in the teaching. These Bible studies were held four weeks every year for fifteen years for the benefit of the mountain ministry and the attendance increased from twelve to one hundred and three.
Dr. Kelly says, "The fifteen years of experience revealed the absolute necessity of an institution that would more adequately meet the needs of the undergraduate preacher. Sporadic efforts to evangelize the mountains by Baptists and others had gone on for a hundred or more years. Yet the government statistics revealed that in all the 32 mountain counties in East ern Kentucky there were not more than 18 percent professed Christians, and that included all denominations and cults."
Dr. Kelly and his co-laborers saw that no people ever rise higher than their religious leaders. Most of the religious effort in the mountains had been spent in dealing with results, and had not been remedial because it had
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not attacked the problem fundamentally. Great souls with great ability had held the fort, and had planted the seed in many regions. Native men, whom God had called to preach, had fought, bled and died there and Baptists will never be able to evaluate their work and worth. But they had done it under most difficult handicaps. They had first to make a living for large families as a rule by the sweat of their brows.
The Mountain Preachers Bible School was organized by the native preachers themselves in 1927. They named it. It sprang from within. Uncle Billy Partin of Bell County arose in one of the meetings and said, "I am 89 years old. All the education I have ever had I got in the 'University of Hard Knocks' on Greasy Creek. For years I have longed and looked and prayed for God to lay it on the heart of somebody to bring something into our hills whereby we mountain preachers could be taught God's Word. I think I now feel like Simeon of old did when he took the baby Jesus in his arms, and can say as he did, 'Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace . . . . for mine eyes have seen thy salvation'".
Dr. Kelly set about to get the charter changed so as to establish a school that would more adequately meet the needs of mountain men. At the meeting of the General Association at Ashland, November 1946, a special committee appointed by the State Board and the Clear Creek Board brought in a recommendation that the charter be changed from the Clear Creek Mountain Springs, Inc., to the Clear Creek Mountain Preachers' Bible School, and it was voted unanimously. In accordance with that vote, the charter was so changed with the agreement that the Preachers' School would permit the Baptists of Kentucky to hold their summer assembly programs in their buildings and on the grounds during the four summer months when the preachers' school was not in session.
In the session of 1946-47 one hundred and one students were enrolled, and the faculty for this session was Dr. L. C. Kelly, President; Dr. John F. Carter, Dean; Dr. R. P. Mahon, Bible; Mrs. Gladys McNeil Kelly, teacher of English; and Professor D. Merrill Aldridge. Dr. T. D. Brown, well known in Kentucky, was added to the faculty in 1947.6
Three preachers, whose ministry was largely limited to Kentucky, their native State, passed from this life during the year, and also one layman.
Thomas J. Porter, born in Somerset, Kentucky, died in a Lexington hospital at the age of seventy-eight years. He was a graduate of John B. Stetson University, Florida. Brother Porter resigned the First Baptist Church, Winchester, Kentucky, in 1912 to accept the pastorate of the First Baptist Church, Lebanon, the county seat of Marion County. Here he continued in active service until 1946, a period of thirty-four years, when he retired pastor-emeritus. In 1924, Pastor Porter led in completing one of the most modern church buildings in the State. When he retired in 1946, the church was free of debt and had an endowment of $50,000. At that time only twenty-seven members then living had been members of the church when Brother Porter became pastor.
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T. B. Rouse, born near Paducah in 1856, passed from this life, November 28, 1947, at the age of 91 years, after an active ministry of nearly half a century. He was ordained on October 27, 1878. The ordaining council was composed of three noted preachers of that time J. P. Adams, Harvey Chapman, and E. D. Whitt. On September 10, 1880, the Lone Oak Baptist Church, near Paducah, was organized. Brother Rouse served there as pastor for twenty-seven successive years. In his long ministry, this beloved brother was pastor of forty churches, thirty in Kentucky, nine in Arkansas, and one in Oklahoma. In his last years he was deprived of his eyesight physically, yet he continued to have a wonderful insight into the deep things of God. He wrought well in a long ministry, and will receive his reward "in that day."
Lathey Ernest Curry was born in Green County, Kentucky, February 24, 1879, and died September 30, 1948 at the age of sixty-nine years. He was ordained to the ministry at Georgetown, and graduated from Georgetown College in 1917. Brother Curry was President of Barbourville Baptist Institute, 1920 to 1922, and was the first President of Campbellsville College, serving from 1922 to 1925. He was pastor of Pleasureville, and Bethlehem Churches in Henry County; Bagdad Church in Shelby County and Cane Run, in Scott County. His last pastorate was at Canmer, in Hart County.
Dr. J. A. Tolman, a layman, Professor of Greek and Latin in Georgetown College, died at the age of seventy on Sunday mo[r]ning, January 30, 1949. He had spent forty-nine years in the educational field. He received three degrees from Chicago University, including the Ph. D. Dr. Tolman taught Latin and Greek at Simmons College (now Hardin-Simmons University), Abilene, Texas, during 1908-17. For two years he was President of Howard Payne College, Brownwood, Texas, and four years President of Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma.
In 1923, Dr. Tolman came to Georgetown College as Professor of Education. After three years, he resigned to become President of Alderson Junior College, West Virginia. He returned to Georgetown College in 1929 as Professor of Latin and Greek. He was the author of a valuable text book, “Essentials of Latin for College Students.” Dr. Tolman had spent twenty-two years with Georgetown College at his death. He was a Baptist deacon, and a member of several organizations. The funeral services were held in the Georgetown Baptist Church, conducted by Pastor E. L. Skiles, assisted by President S. S. Hill of Georgetown College.7
1949
The messengers to the one-hundred and twelfth annual session of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky met with the Crescent Hill Baptist Church, Louisville, on Tuesday, November 15. Great singing and the spirit of worship were two of the special features of all the sessions. Loren R. Williams, Director of Music in the First Baptist Church, Owensboro, led the great congregations in song. The opening worship was conducted by John E. Huss, pastor of the Latonia Church, Covington. Other
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brethren, who led the worship in the sessions of the body were Pastors Howard D. Olive, First Church, Russellville; Fred Tarpley, First Church, Barbourville; S. Herbert Cockburn, First Church, Paris; A. J. Dickinson, Church at Elkton; H. F. Paschall, church at Hazel, Blood River Association; and A. B. Colvin, Southside Church, Covington.
Pastor Harold J. Purdy, First Baptist Church, Bowling Green, preached the annual sermon, "a spiritual, practical, and challenging message." R. E. Humphreys, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Owensboro, was continued Moderator, and on taking the chair delivered a memorable address emphasizing the point that, “our fellowship centers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of His Word.” He said "Any group that departs from these two central beliefs breaks fellowship with Kentucky Baptists."
Pastor Rollin S. Burhans, of the entertaining church, and J. Marvin Adams, of First Church, Middlesboro, were elected Assistant Moderators; Pastor E. D. Davis, Paducah, was elected Secretary for the ninth time, and after an interval of one year, George Raleigh Jewell was again chosen Assistant Secretary for the eighth year. Brother Jewell graduated from Bethel College, Russellville, Kentucky, in 1924, and from the University of Louisville with the A. B. degree in 1931. He became Secretary of the Western Recorder, October 1926, and has continued twenty-four years.
The following new pastors, were presented: John Wallace, Felix Memorial, Lexington; E. C. Brewer, Bethel Church, Fairview, Christian County; T. G. Shelton, Scott's Grove, Blood River Association; J. C. Watson, High Splint, Harlan County; W. C. Story, Clear Creek, near Versailles; Joseph A. Hill, First Church, Cleves, Ohio; Edwin F. Perry, Broadway, Louisville; Gerald K. Ford, High Street, Somerset; and William T. Thweatt, Phillips Memorial, Brandenburg.8
During the past two years the major emphasis has been placed on Evangelism, as authorized by the General Association in 1947. Accordingly a state wide conference on Evangelism was held in Louisville in January 1948, which was so far reaching in its results, that a similar conference was held in January 1949. Hundreds of pastors and denominational workers attended these conferences, and carried the evangelistic spirit back to the churches. Also during the past year eight Regional Conferences were held majoring on Evangelism and Stewardship. Large numbers attended these meetings, representing nearly all the district associations.
As a result of the renewed interest in evangelism, W. K. Wood, Superintendent of City Missions in the Newport-Covington area, was employed as State Evangelist for the mountain section of Kentucky, and began work January 1948. Brother Wood had a long experience as evangelist and pastor of the Pollard Church, Ashland, Kentucky, and also in former pastorates. During 1948, the new state evangelist conducted a number of meetings with 406 preaching services, and reported an average of over sixty professions of faith in Christ every month of the year. Over 600 baptisms resulted from his meetings the past year.
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Following the great evangelistic conference January 1949, R. B. Hooks was appointed Superintendent of Evangelism in Kentucky to serve in connection with his duties as Field Secretary of the Rural Church Department. During the year the associations have been organized for a forward move in evangelism under the direction of Superintendent Hooks.
The present session of the General Association in Louisville closed with the report on Evangelism. Dr. R. G. Lee, Memphis, Tennessee, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, spoke to the report in a great message on “Working Together in Evangelism,” which stirred the hearts of the great audience. Plans were announced for a third State-wide Evangelistic Conference to be held in the City of Louisville, January 1950.9
As a result of the rising tide of evangelism in the churches of Kentucky, the number of baptisms increased from 19,988 in 1947 to 22,907 in 1948, a gain of 2,919; but this number was increased to 24,874 baptisms in 1949, a gain of 1,967 members. There were 2,228 co-operating churches in 1949, which reported a total of 507, 990 members, and 327,349 pupils enrolled in the Sunday schools. The total W. M. U. enrollment was 55,977, and the Brotherhood 6,361. The total value of all Baptist church property amounted to $34,500,107; missions, $2,142,767.00.10
W. H. Curl, the Director of Mission Training, held 2901 mission services in 401 churches, representing 28 associations with an attendance of 175,889. Missionaries of the State, Home and Foreign Boards appeared on the program of these Schools of Missions to inform and inspire the churches by rehearsing the work being accomplished in their various fields.
The Rural Church Program, under the direction of R. B. Hooks, Field Secretary, and the four Regional workers associated with him, has made marked progress during the year in rehabilitating the country churches. The needs and importance of this work can be determined from an address by Buell T. Wells, Bowling Green, before the General Association, giving the condition of the rural churches in the Southern Region, where he labors. In this territory are twelve associations with 312 Baptist churches. Two hundred and fifty-three of these churches are in the open country. Fifty-seven of them made no contribution to mission causes the past year; seventy-six did not report a baptism, and sixty-eight have no Sunday school. Three-fourths of these rural churches - 186 of them - have only one room buildings, and 208 of them have only one-fourth time preaching.
The Sunday School Department made distinct progress during the year. A total of 151 schools became standard, 23,481 training awards were received by 634 churches and seven educational institutions, a gain of 4823 over the previous year. In 1921, the first year that W. A. Gardiner served as State Sunday School Secretary, only 3,553 awards had been given. Mr. C. P. Hargis was in his twenty-fifth year as State Field Worker, and Mrs. Hargis, formerly Miss Flossie Dalton, was in the twenty-fifth year of continued service as office secretary. Miss Mary Ella Davis was employed April, 1949, as Elementary Secretary. C. F. Barry, who was Field Worker from January 1, 1937 to February 1, 1943, has become State Sunday School Secretary in Florida. Wheeler Thompson, formerly a pastor in Kentucky,
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who had served as S. S. Field Worker since 1945 resigned in June, 1949, to become State Sunday School Secretary in Illinois Baptist State Association. Secretary W. A. Gardiner began his report thus: "In spite of these encouraging features we face destitution everywhere. Two million people in Kentucky are not in Sunday schools; 1621 churches did not have training during the year and too many of the Sunday Schools are poorly run."11
The Baptist Training Union Department reported the "greatest year, in many respects of Training Union Work.” Byron C. S. DeJarnette was in his fifteenth year as State Secretary; and Miss Ava Albro, Assistant to the State Secretary, and Story Hour Worker, was in the fourth year of service. During the year, Miss Margie Perkinson was employed office secretary; Mrs. Girod Cole, office secretary for half-time; Miss Dorothy Blankenship, Intermediate worker; and George Fletcher, Director of Association work. On October 1, 924 Baptist churches had Training Unions with 51,644 members enrolled, and 767 of these churches had Directors. Study Courses were conducted in 369 churches, 19, 144 awards were granted, and 44 associations were organized for Training Union Work. The Training Union Department is a graded organization, including all ages from the Story Hour to the Adults. 12
The Western Recorder management reported a prosperous year. R. T. Skinner was in the fourth year as editor, and Mr. Robert L. Pogue, in the fifth year as Business Manager. A circulation of 55,300 subscriptions had been reached during the year, the largest number of any year since the first issue of the Western Recorder began. This number of sub scribers included 675 churches which have the paper in their budgets, thus providing every resident family in the church with a copy. Also during the past year over ten thousand dollars of new equipment has been added to the plant, and within the past six years $43,290 additional equipment has been bought and paid for. The receipts for subscriptions, amounted to $50,355.97, and for job printing, $45,258.13. Also seventy-five new churches were added to the budget.13
The two orphanages have made marked progress. The Kentucky Baptist Children's Home, Glendale, Kentucky, reported 192 children in the Home. Two new cottages had been completed, and other extensive improvements made, including a new kitchen added to the main building, and a sewerage disposal system. The building program for 1950, includes the erection of another cottage and gymnasium auditorium.
Spring Meadows, the new location for the Louisville Orphans' Home, has been made ready for the 125 children to occupy in January 1950. The Louisville Home was opened in 1869, so it is the oldest Baptist orphanage in the South. In June 1948, seventy-six acres of land were purchased, fronting nearly one-half mile on the Shelbyville Road at Middletown, to be known as Spring Meadows. Since that time fourteen acres have been added, making a total of eighty-six acres.
This ground was dedicated in a special service, September 26, 1948, with Dr. Ellis A. Fuller , President of the Southern Baptist Theological
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Seminary, as principal speaker. On this site seven cottage units and the administration building with central kitchen and dining room attached, have been completed, valued at $800,000. A maximum of eighteen children will occupy each cottage, which has every known modern convenience. Ample space has been reserved on which to erect five additional cottages. The children will attend school and church services at Middletown, nearby.
The Kentucky Baptist Hospital, located in the City of Louisville, observed its twenty-fifth year of continued service. The original cost of the hospital was $685,775.00. It opened with 150 beds November 17, 1924. The present total assets (1949) amounts to $2,186,793.31. As a result of greatly enlarging the plant, an indebtedness of $525,000 has been placed on the property at an interest rate of 342 percent per annum.
The West Kentucky Baptist Memorial Hospital at Paducah, under construction, has been completed up to the second story. Cash to the amount of approximately $293,000 has been paid to the treasurer out of a total sub scription of about $470,000. Dr. A. M. Parrish, the promoter of the hospital, and Executive Secretary since March 1946, passed from this life on Sunday, October 9, 1949, after months of suffering. Dr. S. E. Tull, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, was elected Executive Secretary to succeed the lamented, A. Mack Parrish, and entered upon his active duties November 1.
S. E. Tull came to Kentucky from the First Baptist Church, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in 1911 to become pastor of the First Baptist Church at Paducah, and served four years. After pastorates in Temple, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, Jackson, Tennessee, and a second pastorate in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Dr. Tull returned to Kentucky in 1928 to accept a call to the First Baptist Church, Middlesboro, where he remained nine years. He presented before the General Association an encouraging prospect of the early completion of the hospital.
The Central Baptist Hospital at Lexington was being constructed on a beautiful ten acre plot on the Lexington-Nicholasville Pike. All foundations have been put in and paid for. Early in 1949 the two Field Representatives, C. L. Hargrove and George W. Phillips, returned to the pastorate. Brother Phillips became pastor of the First Baptist Church, London, Kentucky, and Brother Hargrove of the First Baptist Church, Tavares, Florida. Dr. O. W. Yates was elected Executive Secretary of the Hospital and began his duties on November 1.
Otis Webster Yates was born in Morrisville, North Carolina, and graduated from Wake Forest College in his native state. He received the Th. M. degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and later the Ph. D. degree from Peabody College, Nashville, Tennessee. He was ordained to the ministry December 24, 1912 and married Margaret E. Culley of Louisville, Kentucky, October 1917. Dr. Yates served as teacher, dean and president of Bethel College, Russellville, Kentucky, 1918-1932; and professor of History in Western State Teachers College, Bowling Green, Kentucky, two years. In 1934 he was elected head of the Department of Religious Education in Ouachita College, Arkansas, and served twelve
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years. In 1946 Dr. Yates was elected Director of Public Relations at Georgetown College, and resigned effective November 1, 1949 to accept the position of Executive Secretary of the Central Baptist Hospital."
The Clear Creek Mountain Bible School, L. C. Kelly, President, reported continued progress. Three new members were added to the faculty for the session of 1949-1950 as follows: Dr. L. T. Hastings to the Chair of Old Testament, to succeed Dr. R. P. Mahon, retired after he reached his 84th year; Rev. L. G. Kee to the Chair of Music, and Dr. J. J. Curtis to head the Academic Department. This department has been added to give as many men as can take the course a chance to have a better literary preparation than they could get in the strictly Bible course. It will cause many students to seek higher educational advantages.
The school has demonstrated its worth, not only to the men of the mountains, but also to the lowlands and the cities. Already fifteen states have been represented in the school, two from Scotland and one from Canada. Inquiries have come from several foreign countries. An industrial institution where men can partly earn their way is being built. In this it is a unique school in the ranks of Southern Baptists.
Oneida Baptist Institute, D. C. Sparks, President, increased the enrollment in the session of 1949-1950 to 210 in the high school, and 185 in the grades, a gain of 64 students over the previous session. After a period of fifty years, the first Baptist house of worship was erected in the town of Oneida under the leadership of the pastor, Lyn Claybrook. The dedication sermon was preached on Sunday, May 9, 1949, by W. C. Boone, General Secretary of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky.15
Dr. Ellis A. Fuller, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, representing all the seminaries of the South, delivered a great address before the session of the General Association on Ministerial Education. The Western Recorder thus comments on the message: "We have heard President Fuller many times, but never, not even before the Southern Baptist Convention, has he spoken with greater passion and force. His appeal was for preachers with spiritual power, preachers possessing the Spirit of Christ, preachers with culture befitting their high calling, preachers with a living faith in God and His Spirit - breathed Word, preachers with wise courage in a day demanding it, preachers with evangelistic passion like Christ’s, preachers fired by consciousness that they are commissioned by the Christ, the Very Son of God. He is a worthy spokesman for a great seminary and a needy cause, and Kentucky Baptists were warm in their appreciation both of him and his message."
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary reported an enrollment for the 1949 fall term of 823 students in the seminary proper, 51 in the School of Church Music, and 196 from the W. M. U. Training School, giving a total of 1070 in the student body, taking work in the classes.
Three new members were added to the faculty at the beginning of the session. Henry E. Turlington, A. B., Th. M., Th. D., who returned as a
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missionary to China, May 1949, was made Assistant Professor of New Testament Interpretation.
Vernon Latrelle Stanfield, A. B., Th. M. , Th. D., was made Assistant Professor of Homiletics , and Taylor C. Smith, A. B., Th. M., Th. D., Instructor in New Testament Interpretation.
Edward A. McDowell, Jr., Ph. D., D. D., was elected Instructor in New Testament Interpretation in 1935; Assistant Professor in 1937; and Associate Professor in 1942. In 1945 Dr. McDowell was advanced to full Professor of New Testament Interpretation.
Sydnor L. Stealey, Ph. D., D. D., came to the Seminary in 1942 from the First Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, to become Professor of Church History, to succeed Dr. Frank M. Powell, who had filled that position from 1918 to 1941, when he resigned to accept a pastorate.
In 1944 Olin T. Binkley, Ph. D., who was then the Head of the Department of Religion in Wake Forest College, North Carolina, was chosen Professor of Christian Ethics and Sociology in the Seminary. In 1945 Hugh R. Peterson, Ph. D. , was given Faculty Status, as Registrar and Student Counselor.
Robert Inman Johnson, B. A., Th. M., became Instructor in Music and Public Speaking in 1920. He was advanced to Professor in the Department in 1939. Through all the years Professor Johnson has magnified his position "in the ordeal of teaching his students to find the proper pitch for their voices, and to resonate properly.”
Dr. Charles S. Gardner, who was Professor of Homiletics and Christian Sociology in the seminary, 1907-1929, and professor emeritus, 19 years, died in Richmond, Virginia, on April 1, 1948, following his eighty-ninth birthday. His body was brought to Louisville on April 3 for burial on the seminary lot with J. P. Boyce, John A. Broadus, John R. Sampey, and members of their families. One has said, “This noble man of God served the seminary to the best of his ability.” When Dr. Gardner became professor emeritus in 1929, he was succeeded by Jesse B. Weatherspoon, Th. D., D. D., as Professor of Homiletics, and Christian Sociology.
William Hersey Davis, Th. D., D. D., Professor of New Testament Interpretation, who was added to the faculty in 1919, was given a leave of absence in the early 1948 on account of illness. He had not sufficiently recovered his health to resume his duties of teaching at the beginning of the session of 1949. President Ellis A. Fuller of the seminary said. “Only one thing depresses our spirit. Dr . W. H. Davis was not able to take up his work at the beginning of the year. We are still hoping and praying that he will come to us in the near future."
Gaines S. Dobbins, Th. D., D. D., Professor of Church Administration and Religious Education, has the honor of being the oldest active member of the faculty in point of service . He has served continuously since 1920, a period of thirty years (1950).
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Dr. W. O. Carver, Professor emeritus of Comparative Religion and Missions, has the honor of being the oldest representative of the seminary. He began his long teaching career in the session of 1896-7, as tutor in New Testament Interpretation, which included the course in Junior Greek. The following year young Carver was added to the faculty as Instructor in New Testament, Homiletics and Theology. In 1898, he was advanced to Assistant Professor in New Testament Interpretation.
In October 1895, Dr. H. H. Harris, a most distinguished member of the faculty of Richmond College, Virginia, was called to the seminary to fill the Chair of Biblical Introduction and Polemics, which had been made vacant, when Dr. W. H. Whitsitt became President of the Seminary. Dr. Harris had been President of the Foreign Mission Board for nearly thirty years and was a strong advocate of missions. During two years with the seminary Dr. Harris "offered and taught a purely voluntary class in the history and practice of missions.” After his death in February 1897, Dr. Carver continued to teach this non-credit course in missions, which prepared the way for the department of Comparative Religion and Missions. The author had the privilege of taking this non-credit course under Dr. Carver.
The following occurs in a Seminary periodical, November 1949, written by Dr. Carver: "Fifty years ago on Tuesday, October 3, 1899 at 3:30 in the afternoon, the first class in Comprehensive Religion and Missions was enrolled in this Seminary." This was the first Chair of Missions established in any Seminary or University in America.
For forty-three years this distinguished professor continued to magnify missions in the lecture room, and by the printed page. It has been stated that "no less than 5500 men and 2000 women have sat in Dr. Carver's classes." In 1943 he retired as professor emeritus, and was succeeded by Dr. Henry Cornell Goerner, Associate Professor of the Department, who later became Professor of Comparative Religion and Missions.
Since his retirement, Dr. Carver has been active in often filling teaching vacancies in the seminary, writing extensively, and promoting the interest of the Southern Baptist Historical Society, of which for many years he has been the honored president.
The Seminary Library has grown from a few books when the Seminary opened in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1859 to approximately 60,000 volumes in 1949. Leo T. Crismon, Ph. D., Acting Librarian began work in the library, August 1937, while Dr. Thomas A. Johnson, was librarian. Since the death of Dr. Johnson, November 9, 1939, Dr. Crismon has had all the responsibility for the administration of the Library.16
One of the greatest problems, that has confronted the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, through its history, demanding solution, has been that of evangelizing the great mountain sections of the State. The work has been slow and difficult, yet progress has been made. In the past sixty years more than four hundred churches have been established in the thirty-two mountain counties of Eastern Kentucky. During the seven years of the administration of Dr. J. W. Black, as General Secretary,
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who knew the mountain sections by experience, a more definite program of work was emphasized. Under the present administration of Dr. W. C. Boone, who entered upon the duties of General Secretary, January 1, 1946, a new Mountain Mission Program has been inaugurated in co-operation with the Home Mission Board, Atlanta, Georgia, as a separate and distinct department. Rev. A. B. Cash, a native of the mountains, well trained in the schools and in experience, was employed as General Field Worker for the mountains and assumed the duties of his position January 1, 1948. Brother Cash has encouraged mission churches to become self supporting; assisted self-supporting churches to put on a church-centered program, so as to evangelize the churches' territory; and renders aid to the missionaries in the mountains to open new mission stations, wherever needed.17
For the past twenty-five years the difficulty of constituting Baptist churches in the County Seat towns of Kentucky has been limited to the counties of the mountain sections of the State. The credit for planting these churches in county seats has been due to the work of the faithful missionaries, who have labored in the mountains under the direction of the Baptist State Board of Missions. F. C. Tuttle, who for a number of years has served as missionary, gives an informing account of churches organized in County Seat towns. He was born in Estill County and converted under the preaching of the late Evangelist T. T. Martin. Brother Tuttle graduated from the Eastern Kentucky Teachers College, and received the Th. M. degree, from the Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans in 1943.
He writes in January, 1949, some experiences in organizing churches. “In 1943, I set my heart on Stanton, County Seat of Powell County. I purchased a choice lot, secretly, making a payment of fifteen dollars of my own money on it. I then purchased a tent, making a down payment of ten dol lars on it, bought a piano on credit, borrowed some chairs, and with Rev. R Don Gambrell, pastor of Central Church, Winchester, held a three weeks' meeting. We organized the Stanton Baptist Church in June 1943. We now have a nice basement in use with a Sunday school and regular services. We expect to finish the building this year (1949).
"In 1946, I moved the old gospel tent over to Owingsville, the County Seat of Bath County, and held a meeting. On September 21, 1946, the only available lot suitable for a church was sold at auction. We had offered the owner $2000 for the lot and failed to get it. A lawyer tried to prevent us from securing the lot, but by throwing him off our purpose, we secured the lot for $2010. The church was organized, June 1947, with the help of Rev. Ben F. Mitchell, pastor of the Shively Baptist Church, Louisville. We now have a nice basement in use with Sunday school and preaching services." He continues: "We have been looking across the way to Frenchburg, Menifee County, the last County Seat in Kentucky that does not have an active Baptist church. All that kept us from going there last year (1948) was the lack of acquaintance with the county pastors, whose help we earnestly seek and need." In the fall of 1949, no church had been constituted in this last County Seat town.
It was not until July 1950, that Missionary Tuttle held the delayed tent
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meeting which resulted in constituting a Baptist Church on September 3 , designated the Missionary Baptist Church at Frenchburg. Rev. F. C. Tuttle, Stanton , was chosen Moderator of the Council, and Rev. A. B. Cash, Lexington, Clerk. Dr. W. C. Boone, Executive Secretary of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, preached the sermon of the occasion. Other members of the Council were as follows: - Dr. E. N. Wilkinson, Lexington; Rev. D. R. Hankins, West Liberty; Rev. John C. Creach, Stanton; Rev. Elmer McGlothen, and Rev. M. A. Eggleton, Frenchburg; Rev. Carl Benson, Owingsville; and Rev. Buell Kazee, Morehead.
A store building was leased for one year, where regular services began to be held . Rev . Carl Benson was called as pastor, and other officers were chosen. Thus a Baptist church was planted in the last County Seat town in Kentucky.18
V. B. Castleberry also had a part in constituting churches in County Seat towns in the mountain sections of Kentucky, and in other important centers. He was born in Marshall County, Kentucky, near Benton, and born again, August 1910, in a tent meeting, conducted by his uncle, N. S. Castleberry, who also baptized him into the Benton Baptist Church, and the same church ordained him to the ministry April 19, 1917. In 1923, the young preacher went as a missionary to the Amazon Valley, in Northern Brazil, South America. On returning from Brazil, in September 1926, Brother Castleberry began mission work in Eastern Kentucky under the Baptist State Board of Missions, and his territory finally included Greenup and Enterprise Associations. He led in the organization of a number of churches in that field.
In November 1929, Missionary Castleberry constituted a church at Vanceburg, the County Seat of Lewis County; and in August 1931 led in forming a church at Greenup, the County Seat of Greenup County. In 1937, he moved to Richmond, the County Seat of Madison County, and led in constituting a church in McKee, the County Seat of Jackson County. In July 1941, he organized the Broadway Church in the town of Richmond, and constituted other churches in strategic centers, among which was the Central Church, Ashland, January 30, 1933. In November 1943 Missionary Castleberry became pastor of the Westside Baptist Church, Hamilton, Ohio. In June 1947 he was employed by the Kentucky Baptist Board of Missions to labor in the White Water Association of Missionary Baptists, composed of churches in Indiana and Ohio. White Water became a member of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky in 1941.19
The forty years of continued service of Elder F. R. Walters, Manchester, with the Baptist State Board of Missions, well illustrates the growth and development of mountain missions in Kentucky. Brother Walters began his missionary work September 1, 1909. He had rounded out forty years of labor at the meeting of the General Association in Louisville, November 1949, and retired from further service under the Board. He has served during the administrations of five State Mission Secretaries, W. D. Powell, O. E. Bryan, C. M. Thompson, J. W. Black and W. C. Boone, the present General Secretary (1949).
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Under the administration of W. D. Powell, F. R. Walters began work as missionary pastor of the First Baptist Church, Corbin. Here the foundation of the Baptist work was well established in that strategic town. After three years at Corbin, by the request of Dr. Powell, Brother Walters was appointed missionary in Mt. Zion and East Union Associations, where he found the churches "exceedingly weak." They gave little support to their struggling pastors and less to missions.
Later by request of Secretary Powell, Missionary Walters was appointed the first Enlistment Worker in Kentucky and labored in many of the as sociations in the Southeastern part of the State. He says: "During these five years, I went to Harlan, Pineville, London, Mt. Vernon, Whitesburg, Wallin's Creek, Center Street Church in Williamsburg and a host of rural churches. All these places were mission fields and helped by the State Mission Board."
In the meantime, Dr. Powell asked Brother Walters to visit Manchester, the County Seat of Clay County, to see about the work there. He went by buggy thirty-two miles from Corbin over "the poor country roads." In Manchester, thirty-five years ago, he found a small group of Baptists, who had been without a pastor for several years, and the church building out of repair and unoccupied, except by "bats and owls." He thus describes the situation: "There were a few Disciples (Campbellites), a few Presbyterians, and these with the Baptists were worshipping together in the Campbellite building, with a Presbyterian pastor, and a Baptist deacon, superintendent of the little union Sunday school. I preached twice to this duke's mixture." Missionary Walters arranged to repair the Baptist meeting house. He returned within two months, and conducted "a gracious revival with good results." He soon became pastor. Later, under Dr. O. E. Bryan's administration as State Mission Secretary, the church added Sunday school rooms to the building, "the first in the Association, and the first to have a graded Sunday school in the county." At this time Mrs. Walters was engaged in organizing missionary societies among the women in the churches of Booneville, Irvine, and Goose Creek Associations.
It is inspiring to read the experiences of this faithful missionary, who thus writes of his long ministry: “During these forty years, I have travelled thousands of miles under all kinds of conditions. Wherever I went in the most rural section, I either walked or rode horseback over the worst sort of roads through rain and snow, and sunshine alike. It was either on foot or horseback when the roads were so rough and muddy, and the nights so dark only the most sure-footed of horses could carry me to and fro. During the years, I have averaged preaching the gospel far more than once a day. I have preached the funerals for thousands, young, old, rich, poor, white and black. Over most of weekends I have preached six or eight times, including Friday night, three times on Saturday and often four times on Sunday.” In speaking of the five State Mission Secretaries, under whose direction, he labored, Brother Walters says: "Without exception, they have been men of great soul and spirit, zealous for the salvation of men, and for the advancement of the Cause of Christ. At no time has any of them
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tried to dictate to me in my work or to any of the churches." He concludes: "During my years of labor I have never unionized with anyone any time in any thing. I have been content to be a Baptist, and have not sought to meddle in the affairs of other groups."
For thirty-five years Brother Walters has been pastor of the church at Manchester, and at the same time pastor of one country church thirty-two years, of another, twenty-five years, of another, fourteen years, and of several churches for shorter times. The church at Manchester, under the leadership of Pastor Walters, has now under construction a modern church plant at a cost of over one-hundred thousand dollars.20
A. S. Petrey, Hazard, Kentucky, another missionary pastor, who has labored in the mountains for more than fifty years, and constituted many churches, deserves special mention. This pioneer mountain preacher was born in Whitley County, Kentucky, in December 1866, and was born the second time at the age of twenty-one, in a protracted meeting conducted at Little Cane Creek Church, where he was ordained to the ministry in June 1891, and there held his first pastorate. A. S. Petrey has been designated, "The Prophet of Little Cane Creek."
The boy Petrey, the oldest of eight children, attended a typical mountain public school of that day, and began the study of “Webster's blueback spelling book, McGuffey's Readers and Ray's Arithmetic,.” A new Baptist Institute opened at Williamsburg, June 9, 1889, later known as Cumberland College. Young Petrey entered the new college, and was a member of the first graduating class of four in 1893, and was awarded the A. B. degree. After his graduation, he was employed as a B-grammar instructor in the college. The young preacher attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Louisville, to prepare for the work of the Lord.
A. S. Petrey, moved to Hazard in the summer of 1897. His first sight of the little mountain town was not very assuring, as "it was small, and squalid, and dangerous looking." The preacher soon after his arrival con ducted an evangelistic meeting in the court house, resulting in seventeen conversions. On August 27, 1898, the First Missionary Baptist Church at Hazard was constituted. This was the first missionary church formed in Perry County, and the second in five adjacent counties. The first task was the building of a house of worship. Brother Petrey said: "The building was forty by sixty feet, with four gables, a high tower and Gothic windows of cathedral glass. The walls were wainscoted with cherry, hand rubbed. The house was ceiled with black pine, varnished to make the beautiful grain stand out." The church was permitted to worship in the beautiful building twelve years, when the house burned down. Through the heroic leadership of A. S. Petrey, the beloved pastor, a new commodious brick building was erected, and occupied by the congregation early in 1912. In the fall of the same year the Three Fork Association met in this new building, and Dr. J. W. Porter, then editor of the Western Recorder, was invited to preach the dedication sermon.
For many years Brother Petrey was the only missionary pastor in
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Three Fork Association, comprising five counties. He became interested in Hindman, the county seat of Knott County, and appealed to Dr. J. G. Bow, then Corresponding Secretary of State Missions, to send help. A young preacher, Lewis Lyttle, appeared on the scene. He had come a distance of ninety miles on a mule. He became pastor of the little church at Hindman. The twenty-one members worshipped in the court house. He remained six years, built a meeting house and preached in the surrounding destitution. This mountain missionary rounded out fifty years, retiring in 1949, and moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he died early in 1950.
The life work of A. S. Petrey is not complete apart from the Hazard Baptist Institute, which he founded and to which he gave his best years. The Institute opened under his leadership in the fall of 1902 with four teachers and 165 pupils. In 1904 the first building was completed at a cost of $5500, and a property value of $6000 was reported. In 1908, A. S. Petrey was president with an average attendance of 200 students. The first high school class was graduated that year. The school work had been carried on in one building, until 1909, when an administration building was erected at a cost of $8000, bringing the total value of the property up to $20,000. The Institute in its curriculum only included the grades and the high school years, and therefore met its first crisis, when the Commonwealth of Kentucky began to establish high schools in the county seat towns.
The Institute was crushed with debt as a result of the depression. In the meantime, A. S. Petrey gave up the presidency of the school, and Rev. C. D. Stevens, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hazard was elected head of the Institute in 1929. President Stevens rendered most sacrificial service in keeping the school alive. He put forth every effort to free the school from the burden of debt, which he was able to do in the latter part of August 1933. An eight acre tract of land was leased, which furnished food for the dormitory and labor for the students. Junior College work was begun in 1932 in connection with the high school.
In 1936 President Stevens was succeeded by Professor H. E. Nelson. The high school course was dropped under the new administration, and only Junior College work was offered. The new project functioned about two years, facing the unsurmountable difficulty of maintaining an unaccredited Junior College. Students had no incentive to matriculate in a non-accredited school. As the depression continued, it was found impossible to meet the requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
A. S. Petrey, "seeing his dreams turned to ashes," made the appeal of his life before the Baptist Education Society of Kentucky on November 30, 1936. The appeal failed, as the Society, "listed the school as Hazard Baptist Institute and not as a Junior College,” hence refused to allocate money on a Junior College basis. In 1938, the Trustees were forced to close the school. The property was sold to the City School of Hazard.
During his long ministry, A. S. Petrey has organized twelve Baptist churches, and led in erecting houses of worship for eight of them. In 1922,
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he constituted the Second Baptist Church of Hazard, and built a meeting house. A new commodious house has been completed by this church under the leadership of their pastor, Rev. James E. Howell. This house was dedicated on Sunday, July 24, 1949, as "The Petrey Memorial Baptist Church" in honor of this faithful missionary to the mountain people, who is still carrying on in promoting Kingdom affairs. His biographer, Harold E. Dye, says, "Despite his eighty-two years, Brother Petrey's eyes still sparkle as he talks."21
Also a number of faithful men have labored long in one field in Central and West Kentucky, and have been associated with the Baptist affairs of the State for the past half century. Some of these brethren are still active in the work of the Lord, while others are infirm with age and waiting for the summons from above.
William A. M. Wood served 39 years as missionary under the State Board of Missions mostly in North Kentucky. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, October 1, 1871. He lost one leg at eight years of age, and has walked on crutches his entire life. Young Wood was converted at 26th and Market Street Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky, and was baptized by the pastor, C. M. Thompson. He was ordained at Corn Creek Baptist Church in Trimble County in March 1893. He began mission work in 1902, before his ordination, and during his long missionary ministry, labored under five State Mission Secretaries, - J. G. Bow, W. D. Powell, O. E. Bryan, C. M. Thompson and J. W. Black.
Brother Wood's missionary territory included Sulphur Fork, Boone's Creek, Campbell County, and North Bend Associations. He organized six churches, and thus built six mission pastorates. He spent twenty-six years of active missionary service in North Bend Association. This beloved brother was forced to retire in 1941, because of his failing health. He had been confined to his bed six years. October 1, 1949, was his seventy-eighth birthday.
Oscar M. Huey spent a ministry of more than half a century in Kentucky, his native State. He was born in Union County May 24, 1862. He was pastor at Erlanger, Carrollton, Stanford, Somerset, Great Crossings and Crescent Hill, Louisville. He graduated at Georgetown College, and in later years was Field Representative of the College.
In 1918 Brother Huey was elected Superintendent of the Louisville Orphans' Home and served until 1938, a period of twenty years, when he was retired by the Board of Trustees at the age of seventy-six years on a pension. In 1944, the same Board made him Superintendent Emeritus of the Louisville Orphans' Home, now Spring Meadows. At the close of 1949, Brother Huey was confined to his room, weighed down with eighty-seven years.
Benjamin Connaway came from the Baptist Church at Leitchfield, Kentucky, to become pastor of the First Baptist Church, Providence, Kentucky, on the Fourth Sunday in January 1901, and closed forty years of continued service as pastor, January 22, 1950.
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Brother Connaway was born in Henderson County, Kentucky, and was ordained to the ministry by the Old Bethel Church. He went from Bethel College, Russellville, Kentucky, to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1905, where he graduated with the Th. M. degree in 1908. The young preacher began his ministry at Providence in a one room brick building, heated by two stoves, but at the close of 1949, a modern commodious church building stands on the same lot. The church, having no schisms, nor divisions, will go forward in the Lord's work under the leadership of their be loved pastor who is still active and energetic.
Thomas C. Ecton, Lexington, was in the fifty-seventh year of his ministry. He was born in Clark County, Kentucky, and ordained to the ministry at the Grassy Run Baptist Church, May 31, 1897, at the age of twenty four years. He graduated from Georgetown College in 1904, and from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1907. He was pastor of several churches during his college and seminary years. He became pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, Lexington, February 2, 1909, and delivered his last message June 1, 1947, when he retired pastor-emeritus, after a continued pastorate of thirty-nine years.
Dr. Ecton says: "I resigned the Calvary Baptist Church, but I did not resign the ministry. As an emeritus, I am preaching every Sunday. I am now at Rosemont Church for two months until they can secure a pastor. I have supplied many churches, held some revivals, and am giving all my spare time working for the Central Baptist Hospital, being built in Lexington. I am enjoying my ministry in this larger field.” Dr. Ecton has been active through the years in the work of Kentucky Baptists, serving on many important boards and committees. This long loved pastor will be seventy seven years old at his next birthday, February 11, 1950.
T. J. Barksdale, Louisville, Kentucky, had been in the ministry a half a century. He graduated from Mississippi College, in his native State. He came from the First Baptist Church, Tupelo, Mississippi, to Louisville, July 1, 1916, to become pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, and has continued to the present, December 1949, a period of thirty-three years and six months. He received the degree, Th. M., from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1918. Pastor Barksdale has been active in Kentucky Baptist affairs. For eighteen years he was a member of the Executive Board of the General Association, and chairman two years. He preached the annual sermon before the General Association at Murray in 1938. Pastor Barksdale was born April 6, 1878 in Mississippi.
Pastor Clarence Walker, Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, Lexington, Kentucky, observed his thirty-third anniversary of a continued pastorate on November 5, 1949. The church was organized with thirty members by the late J. W. Porter, then pastor of the First Baptist Church, Lexington. This number had increased to forty-seven members, when Brother Walker became pastor November 1916, coming from the Mt. Freedom Baptist Church, Wilmore, Kentucky.
His father, John Walker, having been a charter member of the Ormsby
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Thomas C. Ecton, Lexington, was in the fifty-seventh year of his ministry. He was born in Clark County, Kentucky, and ordained to the ministry at the Grassy Run Baptist Church, May 31, 1897, at the age of twenty four years. He graduated from Georgetown College in 1904, and from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1907. He was pastor of several churches during his college and seminary years. He became pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, Lexington, February 2, 1909, and delivered his last message June 1, 1947, when he retired pastor-emeritus, after a continued pastorate of thirty-nine years.
Dr. Ecton says: "I resigned the Calvary Baptist Church, but I did not resign the ministry. As an emeritus, I am preaching every Sunday. I am now at Rosemont Church for two months until they can secure a pastor. I have supplied many churches, held some revivals, and am giving all my spare time working for the Central Baptist Hospital, being built in Lexington. I am enjoying my ministry in this larger field.” Dr. Ecton has been active through the years in the work of Kentucky Baptists, serving on many important boards and committees. This long loved pastor will be seventy seven years old at his next birthday, February 11, 1950.
T. J. Barksdale, Louisville, Kentucky, had been in the ministry a half a century. He graduated from Mississippi College, in his native State. He came from the First Baptist Church, Tupelo, Mississippi, to Louisville, July 1, 1916, to become pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, and has continued to the present, December 1949, a period of thirty-three years and six months. He received the degree, Th. M., from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1918. Pastor Barksdale has been active in Kentucky Baptist affairs. For eighteen years he was a member of the Executive Board of the General Association, and chairman two years. He preached the annual sermon before the General Association at Murray in 1938. Pastor Barksdale was born April 6, 1878 in Mississippi.
Pastor Clarence Walker, Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, Lexington, Kentucky, observed his thirty-third anniversary of a continued pastorate on November 5, 1949. The church was organized with thirty members by the late J. W. Porter, then pastor of the First Baptist Church, Lexington. This number had increased to forty-seven members, when Brother Walker became pastor November 1916, coming from the Mt. Freedom Baptist Church, Wilmore, Kentucky.
His father, John Walker, having been a charter member of the Ormsby
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Avenue Baptist Church, in Louisville, the son, Clarence, one of fourteen children, was converted and baptized into that church at the age of eleven years, and was ordained to the ministry in the same church, November 28, 1909, at the age of eighteen years. Young Walker attended the public schools of Louisville, spent one year in William Jewell College, Missouri , and attended Georgetown College, but did not graduate.
The Ashland Avenue Church has grown to over 3000 members in thirty three years. A new three-story Sunday school building will soon be completed. For a number of years the church has been maintaining a great publishing plant. A staff of fifteen full time paid workers has been employed. The Ashland Avenue Baptist, a church paper, has a weekly circulation of around one hundred thousand, sent into every State, and to the nations of the world. “The Trail of Blood” by the late J. M. Carroll of Texas, which Brother Walker publishes, has reached the 200,000 mark in the past four years - over 900 copies per week.
Elder John T. Cunningham, Princeton, Kentucky, stands at the head of the list of long pastorates in the State according to the records. He was called to become pastor of the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Little River Association in 1890, and has remained pastor to the present (April 1950), except an interval of one year, while attending the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. At the above date Brother Cunningham was in the 60th year as pastor at Oak Grove, in the 69th year in the ministry, and in the 91st year of this life. This old country church in 1949 reported to the Little River Association 230 members, 90 enrolled in the Sunday school, J. T. Cunningham pastor for two Sundays in each month at a salary of $420, and $1,010 contributed to all missions.
Twelve living Moderators of the General Association, three laymen and nine ministers, have served continually among Kentucky Baptists during a greater part of the past half-century.
Honorable W. A. Frost, born in Graves County, Kentucky, June 30, 1872, was Moderator, 1920-21, when the sessions were held at Owensboro and Hopkinsville. Though this distinguished layman was prominent in the business world, and in the affairs of the State, yet he gave his talent and much of his time to the work of Kentucky Baptists. For six years he was a member of the Baptist State Board of Missions, and in 1922 was made Business Manager of the Western Recorder. He continued in that position until 1940, a period of eighteen years. His church membership remains in the Crescent Hill Baptist Church, where he has continued to render service through the years.
Mr. George E. Hays, Sr., well known business man of Louisville, and a great Baptist layman, was Moderator of the sessions of the General Association of 1926-27 held at Lebanon and Cynthiana. Deacon Hays was Associate Camp Secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at Camp Taylor during World War I. He served as trustee of Georgetown College, and was awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity by that Institution. He was a member of the Executive Board of the General Association for a number of years and
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Superintendent of Kentucky Baptist Hospital for five and one-half years. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention and represented Kentucky Baptists on the Commission of the 75 Million Campaign. Brother Hays has long served as Deacon and Trustee of the Walnut Street Baptist Church. He has continued to teach the Baraca Bible Class in this old historic church since 1903. This beloved layman was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, November 15, 1871, and is still active in Baptist business, though nearing four score years.
O. M. Shultz , Princeton, was Moderator of the General Association, 1930-31. He presided over the sessions held at Mayfield and Newport. Brother Shultz has retired from pastoral work, but is still active in the ministry, though he has passed his eighty-fifth birthday. During the past year he has supplied a number of churches, conducted three revival meetings, assisted in two Bible Institutes, and in one doctrinal meeting. He teaches a Bible Class in the First Baptist Church, Princeton, where he was pastor nine years and still holds his membership.
E. C. Stevens, Louisville, was Moderator of the sessions of the General Association, held at Henderson and Ashland, 1934-35. On September 1, 1945, he closed twenty-nine years and four months as pastor of the Clifton Baptist Church, but was continued associate pastor and pastor of a mission of the church at Clifton Heights. Brother Stevens has devoted much of his time to evangelism since his retirement from full time pastoral work. He continued to preach the gospel in power.
W. H. Horton, Mayfield, was Moderator of the session of the General Association at Paducah, 1936, and at Walnut Street Church, Louisville, 1937, the centennial session. At the close of 1949, he was entering upon the twenty-third year as pastor of the First Baptist Church, Mayfield.
J. W. Black was Moderator of the session of the General Association held at Murray in 1938. Dr. Black was in the twelfth year as pastor of the Latonia Church, Covington, Kentucky. Following the session at Murray, he was elected General Secretary of the General Association, and continued in that position seven years, when he was retired at the age of seventy years. He lives in Covington, Kentucky, dearly beloved for his work's sake.
Thomas D. Brown, then pastor of the Highland Baptist Church, Louisville, was Moderator of the session held at Somerset in 1941. He served only one year as he left the State to become pastor of the First Baptist Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. In 1947, Dr. Brown was elected a member of the faculty of the Clear Creek Mountain Preachers Bible School where he still serves (1949).
Samuel S. Hill, Georgetown, was Moderator of the sessions of the General Association held at Princeton in 1942, and at Bowling Green, in 1943. Dr. Hill entered upon his duties as President of Georgetown College, November 1, 1942, and was in the eighth year of his presidency at the close of 1949.
Honorable A. T. Siler, Williamsburg, a prominent layman, was
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Moderator of the sessions of the General Association held at the Immanuel Church, Lexington, in 1944, and at Walnut Street Church, Louisville, 1945. He remains active in the work of his church, and in promoting the interest of Cumberland College, located in Williamsburg.
George Ragland, Lexington, was Moderator of the General Association in session at Ashland, 1946, and at Owensboro, 1947. In November 1949, Dr . Ragland entered upon the twenty-eighth year as pastor of the First Baptist Church, Lexington.
R. E. Humphreys, Owensboro, was Moderator of the session of the General Association, with the Calvary Baptist Church, Lexington, 1948, and with the Crescent Hill Church, Louisville, 1949. Dr. Humphreys will continue Moderator until the session of 1950, when his successor will be elected. He has been pastor of the First Baptist Church, Owensboro, twenty-three years.22
Through the efforts of the faithful men and women, whose labors extend back to the beginning of the century, wonderful advance has been made in evangelizing Kentucky. Many of the faithful ones who helped to forward the Lord's work during the past fifty years have fallen asleep, but "their works do follow them.” The younger pastors, missionaries, and leaders in Baptist affairs have the great privilege and opportunity in the coming years to make Christ known in every community in the State.
In the years ahead, "if Kentucky Baptists will all work together in unity, and understanding, with faith and vision, they can transform this Commonwealth into a State wherein dwelleth righteousness, and where Christ shall really reign in the hearts of men."23
Endnotes
1. Alldredge, E. P., Southern Baptist Handbook, 1940, p. 296; Minutes of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, 1948, p. 2, 22, 24-26, 51-55, 57-59, 63-65, 200, 224.
2. Ibid., 1948, "Report of Benevolences, Children's Homes," p. 79, 80.
3. Ibid., 1948, "Report on Benevolences, Baptists Hospitals in Kentucky," p. 81, 82.
4. Ibid., 1948, “Report on Christian Education,” p. 71-74.
5. Ibid., 1948, “Report on Southwide Christian Education," p. 75, 76.
6. 6 . Ibid., 1948, “Report of the Executive Board," p. 59; and letter from Dr. Kelly to the author.
7. Ibid., 1948, “Report on Obituaries," p. 93-97.
8. Ibid., 1949, p. 23-26.
9. Ibid., 1949, “Report on Evangelism," p. 105; "Report on State Missions," p. 35, 36; "Report of the Executive Board," p. 57, 58.
10. Ibid., 1949, p. 192; The Quarterly Review, 1948, p. 35; 1949, p. 51; 1950, p. 36.
11. Minutes of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, 1949, "Report of the Executive Board,” p. 64; "Report on State Missions,” p. 35; "Sunday School Report," p. 39.
12. Ibid., 1949, “B. T. U. Report,” p. 44-61.
13. Ibid., 1949, “Western Recorder Report,” p. 32-34.
14. Ibid., 1949, “Our Homes for Children," p. 84, 85, 88, 89; "Our Baptist Hospitals," p. 85-88.
15. Ibid., 1949, “Report on Christian Education,” p. 26-28; 1950, “Report on Christian Education," p. 74-76; Correspondence of Dr. L. C. Kelly with the author.
16. Minutes of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, 1949, "Report on Southwide Education," p. 98-101; “A Great General Association,” The Western Recorder, Dec. 1, 1949, p. 11; "Prof. C. S. Gardner dies in Richmond; is buried in Louisville," The Western Recorder, April 22, 1948, p. 4, 14; Carver, W. O., "Origin of Seminary Missions Dept.," The Tie, Nov., 1949, p. 9.
17. Minutes of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky 1948, "Report of the Executive Board,” p. 57, 58.
18. Correspondence of F. C. Tuttle with the author.
19. Correspondence of V. B. Castleberry with the author.
20. Paper entitled "Forty years with the State Board of Missions,” prepared by F. R. Walters for the author.
21. Dye, Harold E., The Prophet of Little Cane Creek.
22. Minutes of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, and other sources.
23. Address by Dr. W. C. Boone before the General Association in 1949.
THE END