Bethel Baptist Association (KY)
A Live Mission Body
The Baptist Argus, 1898Bethel, one of the oldest and very best associations in Kentucky, met at Allensville, Tuesday, August 23, 1898. The moderator of last year, the elderly and beloved S. P. Forgy, called the meeting to order. In the absence of a pastor it was announced that J. G. Bow would be pastor-host. S. P. Forgy and Prof. J. H. Fuqua, respectively, were elected unanimously moderator and clerk. We have the promise of the facts and figures of the reports and letters, but they have not come in time for this issue. We give some
Notes Next session will be held at Olivet Baptist church.
Hopkinsville church gave last year over $3,850.
E. N. Dicken: " Our circle has held regular meetings and is in good condition."
J. S. Cheek worked up a workers' convention for Salem, beginning 16th of September.
Sermons were preached by E. S. Alderman, W. P. Harvey, J. N. Prestridge and E. N. Dicken.
E. N. Dicken: " I will never cast a vote for any servant of the devil at the order of any party machine."
J. G. Bow: " We have no secretary for the Aged Ministers' Society. Brethren, do not forget this work.''
J. A. Line: "I have visited every church in our circle and urged and asked that they be sent to our treasurer."
N. Dicken: "Mission Boards and school trustees are doing more gratuitous work for the least thanks of any people I know."
More laymen who have succeeded in the world's business gave themselves to the association than we have ever seen before.
A. U. Boone, Tennessee, graced the occasion by his presence. Four Boone brothers, all prominent in church work, were attending.
J. D. Clardy: " Let our churches and pastors expect and demand of all old and all new members gifts for missions and church expenses."
R. R. Donaldson: "Our circle contains our weaker churches, which for a long time gave nothing, but now nearly all of them give regularly."
J. H. Fuqua: "I have taught forty years, twenty-three of them at Bethel College. I am there again to heartily co-operate with President Alderman."
When missions came up it seemed that nearly everybody wanted to speak. It was decidedly the most missionary body we have been in for a long time. They caught fire on missions.
B. F. Page: "Thirty-five years ago I was converted and I joined a missionary church. At associations and conventions I have been instructed and fired. Let us catch fire and take it home."
W. W. Payne: " I wish to thank the association for helping Providence church last year. You put us on our feet and enabled me, its pastor, to stay in Bethel College. We do not wish any help this year."
C. H. Nash: " We need our leading laymen in our religious meetings. How helpful when Dr. Clardy gets up and turns theories into practical issues! How helpful is Bro. Virgil Garnett's humorous sense and senseful humor!"
The introductory sermon, preached by President E. S. Alderman, awakened the thought and kindled the devotion of the Association. One of the ablest delegates said as we came out: "I do enjoy being made to think. That was a noble sermon."
Joe F. Garnett: "We five circle meetings on the five fifth Sundays, and we sent as a result to our Association Board $657.18. Our pastors seize these opportunities to instruct and arouse our churches. We are growing regularly in giving."
Pastor Moore, Eklton: "If you tell a Baptist he must believe for his wife, his child, you insult him. Often if you tell him he must not give for his wife, his child, you insult him again. Every one must believe and be baptized and give for himself."
V. A. Garnett: "Some churches send up letters with nothing for missions or anything else, except fifty cents for minutes. Fifty cents to help publish their shame! If you cannot send anything but fifty cents send it for missions and let the minutes go."
It was our pleasure to be entertained in the delightful homes of Brethren Frank Walton and Thomas Pepper. To see two such prospering young men in the affairs of the world give themselves so heartily to the service of God gave us new hope for our common cause.
J. D Clardy: "You speak of Congress. Over half of our Congressmen seem not to care for the future. I have heard a number of eulogies over dead members, and only one reference in them all to the future. How eager for this world! How careless for the next!"
Dinner was served on the ground under the trees in the pretty church yard. How drowsy some of the delegates and visitors looked after they were over! And yet it would be hard to reflect severely upon those who fell by the wayside when the dinners that were served are recalled. They would have fed two associations.
========== [From The Baptist Argus, September 1, 1898, p. 12; Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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