The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-08
ORGANIZATION IS
III YEARS OLD
MIDDLE DISTRICT BAPTIST Asso-
CITATION IN ANNUAL
SESSION.
INTERESTING HISTORY
TEMPERANCE QUESTION PASSED
UPON NEARLY A CENTURY AGO.
HAS Long ADVOCATED
HIGHER EDUCATION.
INTERESTING HISTORY

q Delegates to the Middle District
Baptist Association. which opens this
morning at Weatherford Memorial
church. in Swansboro. began to ar
rive in the city yesterday, and 1t is
thought that all the churches Will
be represented when the meeting is
called to order at 10 O'Clock. Cap
tain w. w. Baker, acting chairman
of the executive committee. will like
ly be called to the chair, in the alb
sence of moderator. owing to the
death of K. A. Justis who had been
the presiding officer tor number of
years.
Following the roll call of the
churches and announcement OF dele
gates the association will at once 60
into the election OF a moderator to
succeed the late r. A. Justis All
The signs point To the selection of
Joseph +, Davidson to the vacancy
The Middle District Association Is
one of the oldest organized religious
bodies in Virginia. 1t has nearly 100
years Of history behind 1t and has
accom- plished a good work in pro-
noting religion in this section OF the
State and in the various missionary
fields at home and abroad.
Organized in 1884.
Aif tA6NA rear III IT'S IpEHlh iltH " an
1884. and at that time is covered a
large territory. II is said that the
oldest church IN the association was
formed in Notto~ay county in 1858
ana was the work of ii godly lay
man. who gathered his neighbors on
Sunday and read to them sermons by
the noted Whitfield and others
Very soon after this church was
formed in Pow hatan county, called
tt.aylrk .R.s I,
being under the preaching OF william
Weber and Joseph Anthony, who
suffered much for their faith. They
were cast into prison. but preached
through the grated windows OF their
cells in Chesterfield tail
At the meetings of the association
in that far-off day preaching vas the
principal feature. There Was little
said or done in favor Of missions or
education. hut about 1890 great
movement began in favor of temper
ance. This VAS led ~ Rev. Abner
W. Ciopton.
Al that time drinking intoxicating
liquors was "A popular hahit, in which
ministers INDUCED. 1t was not re-
garded even by the pious as an evil
habit.
should Church Member sell Liquor ?
tn 1894 query MAS sent to the
dSsHt tAtEtH ia iifSS words is II
agreeable to the Scriptures and 10 the
gospel Of Christ for a member % the
Baptist church who Is In the mer-
camille business, 10 sell spirits on
the sabbath - This question was
anewered IN the negative.
From this time on very decided
temperance agitation occupied the at
tention of the association and of the
churches. To show how far the
L -
vailed. Ii ts related that one preae n =
or. who had ridden a long distance
10 preach 81 funeral sermon. ask cd
for teddy before he began the sol
emn exercise
The Middle District Association
also took up at an early date the
question II the training Of the min
istry There was some prejudice
against theological teaching Tn.
belief was very prevalent that If God
called man to preach he would di-
rectiy eqaip him. as ne spoke. FOR
the best service.
Prepare to Preach.
minister of that dag reCltes that
RS he went through the Middle Dis
trict Association he was most kindly
reV"N ed. hut ~heu IL Was known that
he was preparing at cgt.ese for the
ministry. tn peopie would ASH III
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