Minutes of the Nolynn Association of Separate Baptists, 1846

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     Editor's note: The following is included in the Minutes as an explanation of the attempted correspondence of NoLynn, Russell Creek and South Kentucky Associations in 1843. - jrd

Minutes of the Nolynn Association of Separate Baptists, 1846
      The Association met, and, after prayer, proceeded to business. . . .
      The following was read and approved of by the Association:
      In answer to the request of the church at Big Spring, wishing the Association to take into consideration the attitude in which we are placed before the community by the Russell Creek Association of United Baptists, we proceed to give the facts as they occurred: that, at our Association, held at Lebanon Meeting House, Hart County, on the 23rd of September, 1843, Elder Wm. M. Brown, of the Russell Creek Association, attended, and informed the Association that he was one of the Committee, and the only one in attendance appointed by the Russell Creek Association to inquire into the terms of the late union, and to endeavor to have such obstacles removed as might hinder a union between the Russell Creek and Nolynn Associations. He was invited to a seat with us, and was asked if he felt authorized to act in behalf of the Russell Creek Association. He replied that he would take the responsibility upon himself. The terms of union were then read over as agreed upon at the Crab Orchard. He then expressed that there was no difference in sentiments, and that he saw no obstruction to the union, and that the name was the only difference. He had no mention of the Russell Creek Association, but after they were published, we saw, and behold, the Committee was
[p. 146]
appointed to assist us in the necessary preparation to go into correspondence.
      Now, that they may be fully understood, we insert the whole of proceedings on this subject, in the Russell Creek's Minutes of 1843. They say: A letter was presented from the South Ky. Association of Separate Baptists, proposing to open a correspondence with us, but we deem it expedient at present to go into a full correspondence with said Association, because that Association, from what appears to us. has not fully agreed upon the terms of General Union as adopted by the Baptists, nor have they agreed to be known and called by the denominational name of United Baptists, but beg our brethren of said Association to believe that we have no objection to a union with them upon proper principles, but, on the contrary, we assure them that it is our ardent desire to do so, and for the purpose of facilitating an union with them, appoint our beloved brethren. Elder John Harding. W. H. Thomas, D. S. Colgan, W. N. Brown, John Miller, John Duncan, and brethren Gideon Tennison, John B. Yates, James Warner, Jas. Durrett, P. T. Conover, W. D. Laird, Enoch G. Laird, A. Garrett, W. D. Parrish, and Rice Murray to visit them at their next session, and aid them at Tabernacle Meeting House, in Adair Co. on the 2nd Saturday in August, 1844, in the necessary preparation to go into correspondence next year.
      We, having received a letter from some of their churches, say the same to our brethren of the Nolynn Association of Separate Baptists, and appoint our Brethren Aaron Harding, W. M. Brown. W. G. Anderson. H. T. Smith, W. H. Thomas. John Harding, John Yates, and David Miller to visit them at Lebanon Meeting House, Hart Co., on the 4th Saturday in September, 1843, to assist them in their Minutes of 1844, on Saturday, on motion Brethren Brown and Laird were appointed a Committee to report on Monday, upon the case of the Nolynn and South Ky. Associations of Separate Baptists.
      On Monday, the Committee appointed to report on the Nolynn and South Ky. Associations reported the following preamble and resolution, to wit: "Whereas the South Ky. Association, and a portion of the churches of the Nolynn Association of Separate Baptists, petitioned this Association last year for a correspondence, and. whereas this Association appointed a committee to visit each of said Associations and assist them in placing themselves in a proper condition for correspondence, and, whereas a portion of said committee have reported that said Associations were unable to agree among themselves on the subject, it is therefore resolved that it is inexpedient to open a correspondence with said Association at this time and under existing circumstances, but so soon as they are disposed, and will come into the union upon the terms of the General Union, we are prepared to receive them cordially, as we ever have been.
      Thus, the Russell Creek Association has rejected the correspondence of the Nolynn Association, and that, too. without even being called upon by us, for we here state that we, as an Association, have not called upon them for correspondence or union. If only two of the churches of this Association have called upon them for correspondence, they had a right to reject them, but we object to their rejecting this Association before they make an application.
      It is true, the South Ky. Association requested a correspondence, and, when the committee from Russell Creek visited them, there was a disagreement in that
[p. 147]
Association, and. by blending the report of the two committees together, instead of each reporting as they should have done, they try to make it appear that a disagreement is also among us on that subject, which, we assert, cannot be shown to exist at that time, and had each of their committees reported separately, we are confident that our application, which has not yet been made, would not have been rejected, and we reported as disagreeing among ourselves, and their condescension in setting us right, might have been more successful.
      There is a duty that Man owes to his neighbor, as well as himself, and, in order that we may know the extent of the duty that we owe to our neighbor, we bring forward the Golden Rule, "Do unto all men as ye would they should do unto you." With our neighbor, we should let truth, mercy, and justice mark our conduct. We are commanded to do good unto all men, especially to the Household of Faith.       We are persuaded that the Separate Baptist churches have been, at all times, disposed to show friendship to those of different Societies, who claim to be of the Household of Faith, until the expressed friendship by some have been construed into contempt, and treated in like manner.
      We do not wish to be understood as looking upon the United Baptists as not being a useful and respectable branch of the Christian Church, but we wish to cherish brotherly love and Christian fellowship with them, but never at the expense of either principle or character.
      Now, dear brethren, we pray you continue to be kind to other denominations, but adopt nothing of their doctrine which may be contrary to the truths of the Bible, as some are seeking to scatter us. May the Lord defeat every such wicked attempt, and help us to triumph in the truth.
      We know, dear brethren, that we have long been persecuted and misrepresented, but was not the great Captain of our Salvation, by wicked hands, even crucified upon Mount Calvary? Was it not said that the Heralds of the Cross were turning the world upside down?
      It was, and, if we persevere in well doing in the strength of Christ, and after the example of His disciples, we shall, through grace, ere long triumph over persecution, and show to the world that we have long been contending for the Bible truth, and the Apostolic religion.
      Having gone through the business, the Association adjourned.
A. Gupton, Moderator.
J. C. Williams, Clerk.
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[From Minutes of the Nolynn Association of Separate Baptists, 1846, pp. 145-147. This is taken from the Internet PDF document of the same name. - jrd]

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