The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1905-06-10
History OF the Lexington Baptist Church.

Baptist church Of Lexington, Mis-.
souri,, Is the product Of two pens;
The first part, down to the year 1888,
was written by the late Richard 7.
Jesse; the remainder Of the story is
by DR.. G. ". Hyde
LEXINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church, under the appellation
Of the "Llttle Sni-a. Bar Baptist
Church," was constituted on the
fourth Saturday in July, 1925, with
about twenty constituent members.
This was the second Baptist church
organized in what is now Lafayette
county, Big Sni-a-Bar, the first,
having been constituted in the spring
Of 1919. or the organic members
were William Thorpe, Robert Fristoe,
Luke Williams, Markham Fristoe and
wife, Richard Fristoe and wife,
Jonathan Trlbble and wife, James
Holman and wife, Nathaniel Tandy
and wife, James Gray and Susan
Rupe, dismissed by letter from Big
Sni-a-Bsr.
Elder John Warder was chosen
pastor, whose ministration Of the
truth the church enjoyed for thirteen
years. Elder Warder was the first
Baptist minister that settled 10
Lafayette (then Lillard) county. He
was a man Of decided strength of
character and influence, and served
the church faithfully and we'll. He
died at his home in this county in
1857, having attained the good old
age of e~ighty-four years.
Soon after the formation Of the
church a primitive log house for
worship was erected on the farm of
Gilead Rupe, about three miles south.
west of this city. Though a rude
and unassuming structure, it afforded
a place for the people OF God to meet
and worship until the removal of the
church to Lexington in 1888. This
building has long since gone to decay
and today not a vestige remains, and
1t would be difficult to find the exact
spot upon which it stood.
The Blue River Association was
organized at Little Sni-a-Bar meeting
house on the 18th of October, 1884.
Elder Moses A. Stayton was elected
Moderator and Elder Henry Avery,
Clerk. The constituent churches
were ten in number, whose aggregate
membership was 1874, embracing the
present counties Of Lafayette, John
son, Cass, Jackson and in part Bates
and Henry. OF the original 384
members not one is now known to be
living. In 1886 Elder Warder was
elected Moderator of the Association,
and was annually reelected until
1912.
In July, 1888, Elder Warder was
succeeded in the pastorate by Elder
Joseph White. Brother White was a
PLAIN earnest and successful minister
of the gospel; a mar of liberal and
evangelical views OF the Scriptures
and the plan Of salvation; a friend to
missions and Sunday Schools, and by
way Of emphasizing his opinions, as
well as to do good, he left IN his will
a liberal donation to the Foreign
Mission Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention, Having spent his life In
the Masters service, he died in the
triumph Of faith December, 1861, at
the age of eighty.one, having been a
Baptist preacher over fifty years.
In 1898 the church moved to Lex.
ington, (now Old TOWN. and at the
regular meeting for business. In
February, 1910, the name was changed
from "Little Sni-a- Barr TO that o.
the "First Baptist Church of Lex.
ington, Mo-" While In Old Towr
the church occupied for worship such
rooms as could be had, sometimes the
courthouse, at other times the school
house, and not unfrequently by theil
kindness and courtesy the Cumber.
land Presbyterian Church, a frame
building situated west Of the public
square. This house was atterwarC
sold to private parties, who used II
for storing hemp and othel
merchandise, and has since beer
destroyed by fire.
In May, 1910, Rev. Alvin P
Williams (afterward D. d. wal
settled as pastor, who served thu
church with great acceptance unit
INOvnmhnr 1242 Asa nactor RrOtl,a,