The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1893-04-05
BAPTISTS OF GEORGIA
GATHER IN COUNCIL II YEARS AFTER
ORGANIZATION,

incidents in -the History of the Baptist
Church.
The distinguished representatives of
one of the most influential religious or
CARNATIONS row existing in this state,
convened yesterday within the hospitable
gates of the prosperous and energetic
little town Of Dawson, down here mid
the fertile fields of Southwestern Geor-
gia.
The Baptists here have an elegant and
nmodious house Of worship and under
the pastoTate of DR.. w. H. Patterson
have prospersd greatly. They extend to
ijthis body cordially of welcome worthy
even of so able conclave as this the
Georgia Baptist convention.
The Baptist aUe purely democratic
organization, each church being indie
pendent of Others, and independent of
even the convention itself. The conEen-
ton disclaims any control or government
of the individual churches, but is simply
medium for discussing and devising
meas and ways for the development
of religious activity.
Unlike many other bodies, it has not
diverg8d from its primitive authority or
altered its accepted tenets. The speci-
fled object of tie convention since it's
organization has been to unite the infu-
ences and pious intelligences Of Georgia
Baptists and thereby facilitate. their
union and cO-OI GRAFTON. 1t has also
proven potent factor in forming and
encouraging plans for the revival of ex-
detrimental and practical religion in the
state and elsewhere.
Its object is likewise to give force and
effect to the plans and recommendations
of the Associations, subordinate bodies
which occupy to churches the same rela-
ton that the convention does to the as
sociations, and to promote pious, useful
education in the Baptist denomination
and among the secular. 1t is a historical
fact that Baptists, whose descendants
now dwell in Georgia, came over in the
ship with Oglethorpe when he settled in
the province in 1888.
Among the earliest settlers were men
of positive convictions in their Iesolute
opposition to the established church,
! none of VIII I'm were more so than such
Baptsts as William Durham, Thomas
Walker William Culvert and Poihill,
names still famous in Baptist circles.
These united with the Charleston
church across the river, and there laid
the foundation for the great Baptist de-
nominational editice now so magnificent
( in proportions and elegant in finish.
Rev Daniel Marshall, an ordained Bap-
fist minister of great piety, zeal and
ability, originally from Connecticut,
severed his then existing relations in
South Carolina. and with his family in
the rigorous month of January, I'LL.
located in Georgia on KiOkee creek,
about twenty miles northwest of Augusta.
He Was an earnest. energetic man and an
ardent enthusiastic Baptist; 50 he could
not remain long idle, but ib the spring of
l772 he organ zed the Kiokee church
there. thu first Baptist church constituted
in Georgia.
This lit handful Of men, who, in the
sombre shadow of virgin forest, sur
rounded by wild beast and wilder men,
woIshipping God after the dictates OF
their heat. in their widest dreams
could have hardly hoped to transform
this little prosecuted band into denom-
nation. who in little over century,
would have 3 800 places to worship the
| l. 1,,.-lv vii h .144 lHUB
followers.
Did they dream then under the sough-
inc mines of the untouched forest that
thew were then Witnessing the inception
of an organization that would make its
influence felt from the poorest hamlet to
the highest office in the state? Men who
have filled the guberratorial chair as
chief magistrate; that have worn the
ermiue with proud distinctions; that have
adorned every art and science like with
men who 'folcw the plo, and turn the
gleDe" have claimed ~l.h over flowing
Hearts the glorious legeueI alton OF their
souls under the ministenngs OF the on
springs of this first church.
It wds in tie year OF 1899 just twelve
ye.,,s after the establishm Mt Of the'tirst
church. that the first association was or
oaDized. which was pr b bly, al kiokee
Church. Then there were but six or
seven churches in the state Bousford
church had been formed the year after
Kiokce bv Edmund Bottsford These two
with Abilene (then Ret creekl. Lit
tie Briar creek, Fishing creek ANA Upton
creek, constituted Geol gia's tils' associa-
ton.
The names Indicate that they were To-
Gated on running streams OF wafer, as
were most of the eaIiy settlers, and we
NAV well believe thar those old pioneer
Baptists were not anaia ct woter; Next
wear we see the a"dition of Phillip
mill and Whatley's mill TAO" Bethesda),
the Baptist still like the water