The following is from the young pastor at Hickman, Ky. Our young Ministers are all taking the right stand. A different state of things is dawning upon us. - Editor, J. R. Graves.
__________ Mr. Editor: - The Tennessee Baptist came to me this evening with a good store of rich information, as usual. In looking over it, I see an extract from a letter, which, I suppose, was written by Brother Fisher of Carrolton, Kentucky in which he speaks of a Church (if I should call them such) whose members convene with Pedobaptists and Campbellites; and their minister interchanges appointments with a Campbellite proclaimer.
My heart was pained to hear of such confusion in our denomination. It does appear clear to my mind, that there can be no consistent position in this matter, except the one set forth in Brother Pendleton's "Old Land Mark Reset." And while ministers of our churches continue to preach with Pedobaptists and Campbellites, they might just as well commune with them. In sanctioning the one, they lay a good foundation for the other.
To be consistent, as indicated above, Baptists must put into practice what their name and position imposes upon them - a strict conformance to the requirements of the sacred scriptures.
If we are the Church of Christ (as you have so often remarked,) "we are a peculiar people" - and in preaching and communing with the various societies of the day, I am at a great loss to find the marks which distinguish us from others, and convince to the world that we are a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
It is time every Baptist, throughout the length and breadth of the world, should be awake to duty - "having on the whole armor of God." This drawing back and seeking the good graces of men is a stroke at the purity of the church. It would trample beneath its unhallowed influence the ancient marks of the true Church, and were it possible destroy her original purity. But I rejoice to know that none of these things shall ever be able to successfully prevail against us, having this assurance, that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against us."
The above may be thought rather harsh and forward language for a young minister. But I am persuaded that no true Baptist will regard it impious or incorrect.
I have enlisted under the "blood stained banner" of the Gospel and are fully determined to fight the battles of the Lord of hosts, while I remain in the flesh. It is my highest ambition to be a faithful minister of the Gospel; and I cannot be faithful to my divine Master, unless I preach the whole truth, in his fear, with a view of redeeming myself a servant of men for Christ's sake. This is the firm and glorious foundation upon which I stand, and I want the lovers of truth to rally to this standing point, and faithfully strive together, until there shall be, as in Apostolic times one faith, one Lord, one Baptism!
Yours in the bonds of a precious Gospel,
A.B. Miller
Hickman, Ky., Sept. 30, 1857[From the November 14, 1857 issue of the Tennessee Baptist, p. 176. A.B. Miller was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hickman, Kentucky from 1857-1858. In 1857 the church built a new sanctuary and J.R. Graves came to Hickman to preach the dedicatory sermon.]
__________ Truly good news. We rejoice with Brother Miller. May the Lord largely build up the Hickman Church.
Mr. Editor, - We have enjoyed a glorious revival of religion recently, in which there were thirty-four conversions, and the same number of accessions to the Church. Brother Crider assisted me in this meeting.
Nearly all the members of my church are regular readers of the Tennessee Baptist, and I fully intend to place it in the hands of every one of them, being assured that it will aid me very materially in teaching them the unadulterated doctrines of Christianity. You have a warm-hearted band of brethren here who remember you, with your glorious enterprise in their prayers.
Yours as ever,
A.B. Miller
Hickman, Ky., Nov., 27, 1857[From Tennessee Baptist, December 19, 1857, p. 207.]
__________ Hickman, Ky., March 17, 1858
Elder R.B.C. Howell, Nashville, Tenn.Dear Brother Howell, - Your letter of the 21st, December, 1857 to Christian Index and republished in the Tennessee Baptist of the 20th ultimo, contains the following statements - "Nor do I refer especially to the Landmark doctrine known to be a hobby among them, which, by the way, they do not understand, since they have never yet learn the teachings of the Bible, nor the opinions of our brethren in the South regarding it."
Reared in your State, having long venerated you as a Baptist minister, Christian teacher and writer, I express the hope, in common with others here, who also admire the enviable position you have so long occupied among Southern Baptists, that you will through the medium of the Tennessee Baptist, disclose how or in what manner our Landmark brethren misunderstand what is termed Landmark doctrines, or the teachings of the Bible concerning them.
Propositions so generally asserted to as those presented by our Landmark Brethren, if in opposition to the teachings of God's word, should certainly be exposed. Your ability to expose whatever such teachers may inculcate which is contrary to divine truth, will be questioned by no one. And as you cannot conclude that it is a matter of indifferent whether our churches teach or practice error, your sense of duty and your position, alike demand of you to expose the erroneous views and teaching of this class of your brethren. Living in a section of the country in which those views are generally acquiesced in, and desiring to be right in all things, we earnestly solicit an exposition as to how they violated the teachings of the Bible.
P.S. JonesP.S. Jones was a doctor living in Hickman, Kentucky. He previously served as moderator of the Beulah Baptist Association in northwest Tennessee. The quote is from the Tennessee Baptist, April 17, 1858.
__________ The Louisville Journal learns that one half of the town of Hickman, Ky., was destroyed by fire on Wednesday night, the 4th. All the buildings on Front street, which contained the principle business houses, were laid in ashes. January 14, 1860, p. 7.
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Appeal For Hickman
By Eld. A.B. CabanissBro. Graves - in my travels on behalf of our Theological Seminary, business has led me to Hickman, Ky., noted for her yellow fever sufferings last fall.
I learn that our good brother Marrs, one of the pillars of the church and for a number of years Moderator of the Beulah Association in Tennessee, died sometime ago. Some have moved away and others were taken off by the yellow fever, leaving the church comparatively weak.
In addition to their other calamities, they recently lost their beautiful house of worship and Sabbath-school library, by fire. Their house was the best church edifice in the place.
The little band of brethren and sisters are now cast down, but not in despair.
The brick walls of the church are fortunately left in tolerably good condition. They are anxious to rebuild before the walls are injured by weather.
They have promptly started a subscription and the brethren and friends here are doing what they can. But they are too weak to complete the house themselves. They are painfully conscious of this - and yet have no one to take the field and solicit aid for them.
Learning of their straitened condition, I determined to place the facts before the readers of The Baptist, hoping they will elicit their material aid as they have mine.
Without a house of worship in Hickman, the Baptist church here will ultimately go down. Brethren we cannot! We must not suffer this! When a little aid on our part will prevent it. Let every one, who possibly can, send a contribution, immediately, - even if you can give but one dollar. Do unto them, as you would have them in like circumstances do unto you - and so fulfill the law of Christ. Send all contributions to Bro. E. Case, Postmaster.
Hickman, Ky., March 4, 1879[Tennessee Baptist newspaper, March 15, 1879, p. 51.]
__________ We call attention to the appeal for aid to the church at Hickman, Ky., in another column. They have recently lost their house of worship by fire and are using their best efforts to rebuild. This church belongs to a Tennessee Association and was for years one of the strongest and most influential churches in the association.
[From the Tennessee Baptist newspaper, March 15, 1879, p. 53. This series of documents was provided by Ben Stratton, Farmington, KY. Formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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