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THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY -- The annual session of 1858 was held with the church in Fredonia, Licking county. Bro. A. D. Abbot, of Newark, was chosen Moderator, and Bros. D. A. Randall and N. S. Burton, Clerks. The Introductory Sermon was by Bro. P. Kelsey, of Berlin from II Cro. viii.23: "They are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ."
The Central Baptist Church of Columbus, 64 members, organized this year, Rev. J. Burke, pastor, was received in the Association. The number of baptisms reportd was 197. Of these, 15 were in First Columbus, 15 in Jersey, 66 in Welsh Hills, and 74 in Granville. Total number of members in the Associaiton, 1,161. A sermon was preached by Rev. A. D. Abbot, Saturday afternoon, and one by Rev. E. Brigham in the evening.
On Sabbath, a sermon was preached in the morning in the Baptist meeting house, by Rev. J. harvery, and a collection taken for the Ohio Baptist Convention of $12.93. At the same hour, Rev. D. C. Maybin preached in the Methodist house, and a collection was taken for the same object of $10.95. In the afternoon, the house being too small to accomodate the crowd of people who had assembled, they repaired to an adjoining grove, where the Annual Missionary Sermon was preached by Rev. H. Davis, and a collection taken for the American Baptist Missionary Union of $15.21. In the evening, the brother appointed to preach having been called away, a sermon was preached in the Baptist house by Rev. J. Burke.
The death of nine members was reported. Mention is made of Sister Nancy Drake, widow of Eld. J. Drake. She had lived in the State for about a half century -- was one of the original members of Berlin, formerly called the Liberty Church -- was a devoted Christian, and an efficient helper of her husband in his
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ministerial work. The death of Sister Philander Kelsey, wife of Rev. P. Kelsey, is also reported. From the early age of ten years she had been a devoted Christian, and for forty-four years her life may be summed up in the words, "I have loved the habitations of Thine house, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth." Mention is also made of the death of Bro. D. Jones, an interesting young man of Delaware Church; and of Bro. Asa Guerney, of Granville Church, aged seventy-two.
The Minutes contain an interesting circular letter by Rev. F. O. Marsh, of Granville, on the connection between Labor and its Rewards. The names of pastors and number of the churches were, at this time, as follows:
Alexandria, J. R. Downer, professor in Granville College, pastor, 70 members; Berlin, P. Kelsey, 64; First Columbus, H. Davis had resigned and D. A. Randall called to the pastorate, 232; Central Church, Columbus, admitted this year, J. Burke, 66; Delaware, James Harvey, 53; Granville, N. S. Burton, 260; Genoa, J. C. Karnes, 20; Johnstown, D. Adams, 43; Jersey, D. Adams, 42; Liberty, N. Clouse, 23; McKean, F. O. Marsh, professor in Granville, 50; Neward, A. D. Abbott, 90; Sunbury, R. B. Dickie, 40; Welsh Hills, J. Hall, D.D., President of Granville College, 140.
The Delaware Church report the completion of their house of worship, at a cost of $3,360. The First Church, Columbus, report the resignation of their pastor, Bro. H. Davis, and the employment in his place of Rev. D. A. Randall. They also report the dismissal of 57 members to form the Central Church. Granville Jersey, McKean and Welsh Hills report interesting revivals, by which many additions have beenmade to their numbers. McKean Church had repairs their meeting-house, at an expense of $400. Newark Church had called as their pastor Rev. A. D. Abbott.
At the close of the session a religious conference was held, in which several brethren gave interesting accounts of the state of religion in their respective fields of labor. The session was an interesting and harmonious one, and all felt grateful to God for the refreshing influences of his Sprit that had fallen upon the churches duirng the year.
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Thus closes forty years of the history of this Association. Small in its beginning, we have seen it gradually increase in number and efficiency. Many churches have been raised up and, dismissed to strengthen other Associations; many souls have been converted, some to labor in other fields, many to increase the strength of the churches that remain. Many have gone to add to the number of the glorified throng around the throne.
While such moral and spiritual changes have been been going on in this portion of the great vineyard of our Lord, what striking changes have taken place in other respects! The wilderness and solitary places have been changed into the friutful field. The haunt of the savages has given place to the home of civilization; where the wild beat found their lair, is now seen the temple of the living God.
Allusion was made by the writer of the first part of this history, to the general prosperity of the Baptist denomination in the State. It may be well, in closing this second part of the history, to allude to it again, and to record the continued blessing that, by the goodness of God, has attneded our labors. Not only as an association, but as a denomination, we have reason to be encouraged by the success of the past.
In 1809, there were in the State only 60 churches, and about 2,500 members. When the Western Baptist Convention met in Cincinnati, thirty four years ago, with a State population of 700,000 the Baptists had 7,000 members; now we have about 2,500,000 inhabitants, and more than 500 churches, with upwards of 30,000 members. We have had, and still have many devoted, self-denying ministers; among our membership, many consecrated and efficient workmen.
But the nature and importance of our work has not changed. In magnitude it is still growing upon our hands. We have still missionary ground in our own Association -- much of it in the State. We have an important field to cultivate. It has bountifully repaid all the labor expended upon it, and will continue to do so. Let us bear in mind our obligations to Christ and his cause. Let us remember our obligations to those among whom we live. Around us are a multitude of immortal beings, identified
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with us in every earthly interest, in whose spiritual welfare we are deeply interested. Among them are our friends, our neighbors, our kindred. Thousands of them are wandering from the fold of God, seeking peace and rest where it can never be found. How blessed the work of leading them to the great fountain of life and light! In such work, we labor not only for the present, but for future generations. We are sowing seed, and coming generations will rejoice in the glorious harvest. We are planting churches that will continue to shed hallowed influences upon the multitudes that throng upon this soil, when we shall rest from our labors, and rejoice in our rewards.============== [From Columbus Baptist Association Minutes, 1861. These original records are in a bound volume at the Denison University Library, Special Collections and Archives, Granville, OH. - jrd]
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