Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-08-31
Circular Letter.

SOct0tt0H, W SESSION AuyuSt iutH ana
lin. Il. d. 1856, 70 he Children
of God scattered abroad throughout
the bounds Of Mis and Sister Asso-
Citations, sendeh this her 1nnual
Epistie Of Lore:
The time of our Anniversary hav- :
ing again rolled around, and we
(through the continued mercies and
long suffering Of our Heavenly Faith
er, are permitted to meet together in
consultation, and to hear from many
Of the different churches of Zion, you
will doubtless expect an address from
us. and most gladly do we respond to
that expectation. So many and va
rious are the subjects to which your
attention have been directed on SINH
lar occasions. that we cannot now ex-
pect to introduce any thing entirely
new. nor peculiarly interesting. only,
as the cooling water TO the thirsty trav-
eler is always refreshing and invigora-
ting; SO the Gospel of the grace Of
God. and good news concerning his
kingdom, is always refreshing and
strengthening to Zion's Pilgrims.
Then permit us in this address to
call your attention to very biief
view of the rise and progress of this
Association, as drawn from her Min
utcs.
II will not however be expected that
in the limits Of an ordinary Circular
Letter, or from very brief perusal
Of the Records. that we shall be able
to note all that might be interesting
in her history to those who are mem
bers Of her body at this day.
This body was organized on Satur-
day the 28th day Of October, A. d.
1909. and composed at its constitution
OF nine churches, rs follows, viz
Elkhorn. Twin Creek. Dry Fork, New
hope. Mount Happy, (since called
White Water, Cedar Grove, Mount
Bethel, Lawrenceburgh and Provi-
dence. the first eight of which came
out OF the Miami Association. There
were present. iby appointment from
the Miami Association. VIM. Jones
and Stephen Gard, who pronounced
said churches an association, and gave
to them the right hand of fellowship
as such, rnder the title Of the White
Water Baptist Association; which
held her FIRST meeting after her organ
ization on the third Saturday in Au-
gust, 1910, at which time the Indian
Creek Church was received, and the
number in fellowship set down at 289
This year there were three queries
presented to the Association; one in
the following words, viz: "ls a min.
lister of the gospel justifable in taking
he Office OF Civil Magistrate %
and answered in the negative. Inl8l2,
every church in the union reported
baptisms, ranging from six the lowest,
up to 81 the highest number baptised
in any ore church. The increase this
year is e02, and the total number 582
In 1913, in eleven churches there were
as many ordained ministers, and il
1916, there were 1875 baptisms repor'
ted, also, the time Of the sitting of the
Association altered to the Friday be-
fore the second Saturday in August
which time is still continued to the
present day.
There appears nothing special ex
cept a gradual increase. until the yeal
1918, whea we have grown to body
Of 90 churches, in which there are re
ported this yca- l55 baptisms. and th,
total nuLiber increased TO 1046. Fol
the -four following years there Is 4
large increase of chu -ches, but not I
corresponding increase in the ministry
nor yet in the aggregate number o
COMMITMENTS; still, the work of th,
Holy Spirit was manifest at that day
beyond what we seem now TO enjoy
and our total was increased to 1911
In 1924, there were present at sh'
Association thirteen ordained minis
ters; and in the year 1925, we have
33 churches, reporting 10 baptisms
From this period until the year 1872:
there is some decrease; but in 1929
the Intelligence is again very pleasing
and the number of baptisms reporte,
is 346, and received by letter 1888
which brings our aggregate numbe
up to 1868. For the next three year
there is nothing very special, rather
decrease in numbers, but the list O
ordained ministers is perhaps at il
highes. point in the history of the As
sociation. About the close of this pc
Rod, or in the year 1888. the church
es forming the Lebanon Assoc alto
j. seem to be missing on our list c
{! churches; also, the title is altered I
the White Water Regular Baptist AS
sociation.
In 1884 we have thirty-six churche
which is about the highest number {
churches ever entered; as in 1886
the West River Association was con
stituted at Milton, Wayne County. In
diana.
Still through the mercies of on
Heavenly Father We are permitted I
maintain our grand total in about th
same range, and to enjoy uninterrupI
ed peace for several years. and uni
1874: an epoch in the history of thi
Association long to be remembered i
sorrow by many that yet live; /; whe
the terms Means and Anti-Means be
gan to be excited, and some seemin
to forge: their high and Heavenly cal
ing, to engage in speculation on. an
misrepresentation of, the views ,
others, until those who had long wer
to the house of God in company, an
had taken sweet council together
could nolonger meet in harmony an
good feeling, to consult on any matte
pertaining to the kingdsm OF God; nc
could churches 60 on in the even ter
or of their way, nor in their (heretofo,
acknowledged independence, and e,
clude unruly members for their condu,
but they must be called to account f,
their conduct before a tribunal; a pa
of which, had already passed senten,
against them; or resign their seat
the Association. which led in the 10