The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-03-07
A
MAKE US
The Notable Letter From North
Carolina Baptists to Jefferson
and His Reply

and His Reply
lherc nave been 10 people Who have
StoOd more truly fer religious liberty
than the Baptists of North Carolina.
Roger Williams was their ideal of d
Christian leader. They early protest
Cd against any union of church and
state in the colony: they opposed till
ing, they demanded the fullest meas
ure OF WorShlpp1ng God at the dictates
OF their ~cOnscience-a right not always
granted. SOM Of them left Virginia
and came to freer North Carolina tor
this right-indeed North Carolina S
early population was increased by the
coming of those who desired religious
liberty and utterly opposed the policy
of church and State which was firmly
established III Virginia.. 1t never had
such sway in North Carolina.
When he was 4 candidate for the
Presidency in 1880 Mr.. Jefferson was
assailed ~viciOusly in New England be-
cause OF his hostility to church rule Of
politics or political rule of churches
IN Virginia many Of the established
church mated him because he was the
author of the statute OF religious lib
erty in that State. But, though de-
nounced by the preacher who lived by
tllling and by those who wished to
govern, Jefferson had the warm sup
port of those who agreed with him
n a absolute separation of church and
State was necessary if this Republic
should fulfill it's mission and let men
be free in conscience as We'll as in
In North Carolina, Under the
benign rule of John A%rchdale, the
Quaker Governor, as early as 1885,
Baptists were found. The first
church was organized at IA place
called Perquimars on the Chowan
river in 1921. In May, 1906, the
ChOWan Association was organized on
Newbiggin creek. in Perquimans coun-
ty, with 1874 members and eighteen
churches. The freedom of religion
that the election of Jefferson empha-
sized was greatly appreciated by the
people and Immediately after its or
g~an4Zation an historic address was sen
to Mr.. Jefferson, then President OF
the United States. It was recently re-
printed in the Biblical Recorder. i
will be interesting to every SUDDEN; Of
North Carolina history and. is as fol.
lows:
TO the President Of the United
States.
"Sir:-Under Divine protection, thu
ministers and messengers of the sew
eral Baptist churches of the Nortf
Carolina Chowan Association, held a
Salem, on Newbiggin Creek, in Per.
quinans county, in the District o.
Edenton, and State Of North Carolina
having met by appointment to offer uI
the sacrifices of a broken and cOntritt
heart to the great Author of their Be
ing for the ~unbounded display Of good
hess and Of tender mercles bestowed
upon the children Of men, and while
rendering alteration. prayer anC
Thanksgiving, with deep humility fol
the great and unspeakablc gift which
brought life and immortality TO ligh1
through the Gospel, they feel a pro
found sense Of the bounty received by
the hands OF the Supreme toward ths
several churches in our connection by
the ~overpOwering Of the Spirit upon
them, not only in efTcctinS q great in
crease in members, but in tho sub
Stantial interest OF the churches, beins
supported and strengthened by a very
great and uncommon measure Of
Christian love, union and harmony
among the brethren. While We have
! great cause of thankfulness for al,
these bOuntieS and mercieS We have
felt the deepest gratitude TO be due
for the civil and religious liberties We
enjoy under the administration Of thC
Government over which YOU, sir, 81
present preside, for which liberties our
fathers have in times past suffered al
the stake and have bIed and died.
1.-The sense of contrast between the
present moment and Il late period
when We We're leelngly alarmed al
the threatened invasion upon the gen
eral liberation of q free conscience IN
the worship of the God Of our faith
met the English at Moore's Creek
Bridge in 1776 many OF them we're
| armed with the their fatheTe
had worn at Cnlloden.
The Revolution wrought great
changes in their lives. \ new nation
was born and the H~ighlanders We're
forced to adapt themselves to the G
order. Gradually they changed their
costumes to suit their new situation;
| their customs to suit their new
try: and their language to suit their
| new associates. AS the older lie tders
| died one by one, others n hal not
known the beauties and the SiOrieS Of
u, rI:.I> n1r 40 ~ " Ell @n.ir