Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-01-21
The Virginia Baptists-
Discourse Of Rev Geo 3 Taylor, D. D
in the Baptist Church. Staunson.

Oa January 18th, 10 the Baptist church 10
this city Rev Geo B Taylor, D. D., delivered
| the fourth and last of his Memorial discourses.
The subject Of this was the Virginia Baptiss
The subject, he said, was one Of peculiar inter-
| est, but too extensive to be adequately treated
in the time allotted him. He again dscaned
any feeling of unkindncss ia referring to the
| ill-treatment Inflicted on the earlier Bap,iss,
and still less did he hold any of this generation
accountable for it. Hereferred to the misdeeds
or short comngs Of others, not to raproach
them, but as necessary 10 illustrating the his.o-
ry OF his own people. During his discourse he
made citations from numerous original sources
aeniDg's Statutes at large; the Minutes
of the General Association being, probably,
the ouly file in existence; the Ms History Of
| Virgia'a Bapiisis, written by his father H.
| also referred 90 Semples History. Rives Mad,
ison. Randail's j Jefferson, History Of he PhiI-
adelpbls Association, and few smaller volumes
such as Lille of Davereux Jarratt, and Taylor
| History OF Ten Chuches
| He gave short ac;ouot OF the establishment
Of the Church Of England in the Old Domin-
| ION, and cited many OF The laws which were
| enacted tor its support, showing that no other
| church was recognized, aud that all persons
| were compelled under pans and penalties TO
support the established church In 1923 acts
we're passed providing for house OF worship
on every plantation, the service to be 10 accor.
dance With the canons IN England, aud that
| persons should be taed for not attending. In
| i6]2-43 IL vas required that all ministers Iu the
| COi0oy should coaOrm to tie order and consti
tuition Of the Church Of England. or not be al
| lowed to teach or preach publicly or privately ;
and that all non coaforlulSts be CON- peiied to de-
| part he Colony
Such laws, he said, prevailed from the set
tiement of Virgiuia 1901 to the Revoiu ion
He quoted Henng as follows: the religion
Of The Church was the religion cf the ruling
party 10 he State and note other was tolvra-
ted a" Citizens were driven from the Colony
for their religious 0ilnlOns, members OF the
| House OF Bufgesses we're expelled on religious
accounts, worohlpping c0pgre cations were dis
| per>ed and their members imprisoned.
He stated that during the first century Of The
| Colony, there Is 80 mention made OF Dap;is;
| Churches, at least not by that aome though a.
| early as 1925. there were many Bsptists 10 ~
| Carolina, having removed from Virginia TO es-
cape her into!eraut laws Yet we had every
reason 10 believe that there were Baptists IL
Virginia Also for the severe laws against those
refusing to practice infant baptis Il, proved the
existence OF some who =. ecsed that lie. How
ever h's night be, II I7l4, citizens Of Isle
or wight ana Oarry counties asse. beG for the
purpose Of organiZ'og Bap.i church. Hav-
ing 10 mluister, they sent 10 Eog!aud for one
! Robert N0rdln came IN answer TO their call ard
organized the first Baptist church Ia Virginia,
known then a. Burelgh, nearly opposite j mes
town, and existing TO this day under he name
OF Mill Swamp. Otber churches were, soon
alter, formed IN the same vicinity, aud 10 Nor
thern Virginia, (LoudoD, Berkeley a, adjoiu-
lng coun;Ie>) the churches Of Opecon, Mill
Greek aud keiocson the latter still existing
were organized by ministers fron Pennsylvania
these churches all became connected with The
Philadelphia Association, which has existed
since 1907 and whose Confession OF Faith is
substantially the same with that Of the Ancient
BaptlstS OF Bohemia and Poland
The organization Of these churches, he said
was followed By the rapid spread of Baptist
prlnc'ples and ID the language Of Dir. Howell
church alter church noselessIy arose. like lhe
SHINING cut OF the stars OF evening and spar
kled like gems IN the American GrnatneD,
which they were destined ere long 10 fiji with
radiance aud beauty" But This praeress he
SAID, was not without Opposition and fiery per-
secatloa- CT it from individuals anllna-
ted by a rancorous hate OF Baptlst principles
aud plac;ices, ana much In he executicu OF the
existing laws, and much utterly Illegal The
IUitrHliou Act, under w Imam ana May tor
The reet OF Dis>enters was for long time un-
known III lrglula. and afterwards every flor
Was made to set ii aside and revive and enforce
ciue and obsolete laws. But he had not time
10 tell Of all the persecu ions they endured
Sometimes legally, sometimes under color OF
law, and again at he hands OF ruff aus ins;ga-
ted in some case- by he gen'ry and parsons -
DR.. Hawks. ,he Ep,sc3pal historian, says Cru
ely taxed lts Ingenuity 10 devi.e rev modes o
punishment and annoyance. Ministers were
fued, peItcd aud beaten, and mpri oned and
poisoned and hunted with dogs; their coagra
cations were assaulted aud disper cd the sob
ema ordnance OF Baptism was rudely iu,er
rup;ed- both ministers aud candidates beioe
plugged aad held beuea, b the water TIL neari,
dead they suf sred m0ck trials, and even il
courts OF justice were subjected TO iudiguiies
not unlike those Inflicted by the infamous JET
fries. Nor were these cases few and coufinec
10 restricted localities. The jails of Cnpeper
Orange, Frederick burg, Mddlesex, Kiog anc
. Queen, Caroline, ChesieFf9ld and other coun
lies, were honored with the presence OF suct
men as Pickett, Ireland, Harris, and the thre,
brothers Craig, John Waller, Webbcr, Green