The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1888-07-28
sApTlsTs IN Mississippi.

east of Natchez. The greater
number of this colony were Bap-
fists, and among them was a
licensed minister of the gospel,
Richard Curtis, Jr. At the close
Of the year they organized the
irst Baptist church in Missississi, ,
which they called Salem, and Mr..
Curtis was chosen pastor. The
organization was simply a volun-
tary association of baptized be-
lievcrs In Christ, who agreed to
keep house for God, and called
themselves a church of Christ.
The pastors labors were greatly |
blessed and many persons We're
converted to Christianity.
The country was then under
the dominion of SPAN. Gayoso,
the commanGant, sent a threaten
ing letter and expostulated with
Curtis upon his course. Curtis
responded bluntly. and was ar
rested and lmprlsoneth by the
Catholics in Fort Rosalie, the
ruins of which are still visi-
BILE on the bluff little below the
city of Natchcz. Alter awhile he
was released with the Injunction
to preach no more publicly.
His celebration of The rites of
matrimony in other than papal
forms further provoked the wrath
of the priests, and to escape their
cruelty he returned to South
Carolina, where he was regularly
ordained TO the gospel ministry.
About 1897, when the Natchcz
country passed iato the hands OF
the United States, Curtis returned
and mlnistered unto his flock.
The Bapllsts had rest and greatly
prospered. Many other churches
were soon constituted In 1906
the Mississippi Baptist Association
was formed, and at the request of
this body. in 1886, tho Mississippi
Baptist Convention was organized
From one of the sllls oi old Salem
church the gavel which President
Hall now uses was made.
The first session of the Con-
vention was held with Palestine
church, Hinds county, in 1887.
Rev. l.. r. Holloway preached
the Introductory sermon from
the words: .sThy Kingdom
Come. ? Ashley Vaughn was
President. Prominent IN tbs
counsels Of this meeting were Ben
jamin Whitfield, w. j. benson
S. S. baltimore, Ashley Vaughn
N. r. Cranberry, L. b. Holloway
Charles Fielder, Lee Compere, X
q. Green, Norrcl Robertson, Jr.
and I. S. N. King.
The denomination grew rapidly
In 1912, there were only l.
churches in he State, with mem
bership Of 764. At the crganiz'
tion OF the Convention in 1888
there were 107 churches, 90 pas
tors, 4.s65 members; IN 1856
there were 500 churches, 305 pas
tora, Al .482 members; now ther
are l,119 churches, $40 pastors
and rs, ,5OS members. During
the past Conventional year ther'
have been 6,214 baptisms in tn
State. These figures embIac
ouly white Baptlsts.
From the beglnning of its cxif
tencc the Convention has lostere
general education, and up to ih
beginning of the civil war, heI
an annual educational meeting i
connection with the Conventiof
The Baptists of the State mo-
have one male College, and fiv
female Colleges, Mississippi Go
loges, at Clinton, had 230 str
dents last session, and for sewers
Years pact has had IN ATTENDING
from 90 to so ministers. Rev. W
>. Webb, d. D., is the honore
President, who is assisted by
faculty confessedly second to nor
IN the State. The schools fc
Young women stand equal viii
any competitors.
The organ Of the Convention
The Southern Baptist Record, pull
lished at Meridian, with j. i
dambrelI and j. A. Hackett +;
editors. and G. 4. w. Dobbs an
a. L. Clark as assistants. Tn
paEer has done invaluable servic
"a uo'fying developing and direc'
ing the Baptist forces ofthe STATE
unl' 1874 the Baptist Mi
s'onary work of the State WI
aone through District Associ'
l'ons. In that year. at Aberdeen
State Mission Board was Al
pointed and located at Oxfor.
with A. ] Quinche, l.. L. d
Y President. and T. J. WaIn
=. D.. as Corresponding Seer
La this artlu0as work tI