Most of the churches embraced in this confederacy are of recent origin.
Many of them occupy highly advantageous situations in the broad, the
bright, the glorious West, and give every promise of rising to future
eminence and usefulness.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW SALEM, HARRISON COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
The history of this church, the oldest one in this Association, is
highly interesting. It appears that in 1745, a company of
Sabbath-keepers, including one John Davis, removed from Rhode Island, to
a place called Square, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Here they
organized a church, and sent said Davis back to Westerly to be ordained,
which was done in 1746. They remained here nearly forty years, when the
whole church, men, women, and children, emigrated to the place that
their descendants now inhabit in Virginia. They went in wagons, drove
their cattle, and the cavalcade was many days in performing their
journey. Their venerable minister continued with them for many years. He
was also assisted by one Jacob Davis, who was esteemed as a very amiable
man and worthy minister.
Rev. John Davis his son and successor, was installed about 1800, and
continued to serve the church for a number of years. Zebulon Maxson,
Peter Davis, and Lewis A. Davis, were likewise associated with him in
the ministry at different times, and
Rev. Peter Davis finally succeeded him in 1834, in which relation he
still continues.
Ezekiel Bee is a licentiate in connexion with this church.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, LOST CREEK, VIRGINIA.
This church was constituted in 1805, and the large and respectable
family of Bonds—its first originators—appear to be still its principal
supporters. Richard Bond, while a resident in Maryland, became convinced
of the sacred character of the seventh day, from reading the Bible
alone. Once convinced of his duty he was not slow in performing it; but
embracing the Sabbath, he instituted weekly religious meetings in his
family, and was, for a long time, the priest of his household.
Subsequently he emigrated to Virginia, and became the founder of the
Lost Creek Church. This church has never been large, and for a great
proportion of the time it has been without the services of a stated
pastor, but the fact of its steady and uniform course amidst these
privations, affords conclusive evidence of the valuable materials of
which it is composed.
Richard C. Bond, the present incumbent, was installed in 1843.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, HUGHES RIVER, VIRGINIA.
This church, a branch of the former, was organized in 1833. It is in a
very weak and depressed condition, containing only seven members.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTH FORK, HUGHES RIVER, VIRGINIA.
This church, another branch of the eldest fraternity, was constituted in
1842. It contains only nineteen members, and was served by Asa Bee and
Joshua S. Davis, as licentiates.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, NORTHAMPTON, CLARKE COUNTY, OHIO.
This church originated from a division, on the temperance question, in
the Sabbatarian church at Pike, in the same county. It was organized
with seventeen of the seceding members, in 1837. In 1840, it was blessed
with a precious revival, and received many additions.
Rev. Samuel Babcock is the present pastor, assisted by L. Lippencott as
licentiate.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, PIKE, CLARKE COUNTY, OHIO.
This church was constituted in 1824, although Sabbatarians had for some
time previous resided in that region.
Rev. Simeon Babcock and Rev. Samuel F. Randolph, were for several years
connected with these churches, under whose ministry they were greatly
blessed, and the fraternity under consideration numbered 102 members.
Subsequently, however, it fell into a decline. The secession of a part
of its members, the death and removal of others, combined with other
causes, left it in a very weak condition. In 1842, James B. Davis was a
licentiate in its connexion. At present it has no stated pastor.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, PORT JEFFERSON, SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.
This church was organized in 1840, and contained nineteen members. It is
in a very pleasant situation, and gives great promise of future
usefulness.
Rev. Lewis A. Davis has been the father, and is the pastor of this
church.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, SCIOTA, OHIO.
This church was organized in 1842, by emigrant members from Scott and
Brookfield. It is situated in a very pleasant country, and will probably
become, in time, a large and efficient body.
It is occupied as missionary ground, but has no stated pastor.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, STOKES, OHIO.
This church was organized in the same year as the former, and is much in
the same condition. It is blessed with the services of Rev. Joshua Hill,
as pastor.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, JACKSON, OHIO.
This church was organized in 1840, and embraced thirty-eight members,
most of whom had removed from Pike, Clarke County, to this place. For
some time it appeared quite flourishing, and received several additions,
but it is at present in a very low and depressed condition, owing to the
want of ministerial assistance.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, WOODBRIDGETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.
This church was gathered through the exertions of Rev. Samuel
Woodbridge, and was organized about 1790. All the knowledge that I have
been able to obtain of Elder Woodbridge is, that he was a First-day
Baptist minister, who became convinced of the sacred character of the
seventh day, and embraced it accordingly. Subsequently he removed to
this place with his family, where his preaching was blessed to the
conversion of many, a church organized, and a meeting-house erected,
whose pulpit he occupied until his death. This church likewise received
several additions from an emigration of the members of the Nottingham
and Pennapack fraternities, among whom we may mention the children of
Rev. Enoch David. But the death of Elder Woodbridge was the commencement
of its decline, as no one arose to take his place. Its ancient and
venerable meeting-house, being without a pastor, soon became almost
deserted. Some of its members removed to other parts, and others of them
went to receive their reward for loving the law and keeping the
commandments of God. In 1843, they numbered sixteen, and Lewis Sammons
served the church as licentiate. Since that period its decline has been
gradual, and it is a moral certainty that but a very short time will
elapse before we shall have to announce the disappearance of another
star from our constellation, the extinction of another luminary in the
moral world.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, MADISON, INDIANA.
This small company of Sabbath-keepers was organized into a church in
1848, since which period it has received few additions, and has been in
a low and depressed condition for the want of pastoral services.