Selections from The Eastern Baptist Association
                            Booklet 3, 1867

Posted with kind permission from the Baptist Collection from the North 
Carolina Collection at Z. Smith Library, Wake Forest University, Winston-
Salem, N.C..

[The booklets are over 100 years old, and include Lenoir, Craven, Onlsow, 
Duplin, New Hanover, and Wake Counties. This is only a partial abstraction 
of records, . . .  Surnames have been capitalized.--Sloan Mason]

"Minutes of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Session of the Eastern Association"
Held with Bear-marsh, Duplin Co.,N.C.-October 8-11,1867.
Published:Raleigh: Biblical Recorder Publishing Co., 1867.

p.18
Report of Committee on Obituaries.

The Committee on Obituaries submit the following:

The death of Elder L. F. WILLIAMS, which occurred on the 13th day of June, 
1867, in the seventieth year of his age, or thereabout, presents itself to 
our consideration, as worthy of record in our report.
Elder WILLIAMS was converted under the ministry of Elder R. McNABB, about 
the year 1832, at which time he connected himself with the Free Will 
Baptists, and soon after commenced preaching. He continued with the Free 
Will Baptists about ten years. Becoming dissatisfied with their doctrines, 
especially that of open communion, he united with us, and continued 
steadfastly in our doctrines until his death, possession the esteem and 
confidence of his numerous acquaintences. He was a devoted and useful 
minister; his usefulness increasing as he approached the end of his earthly 
journey. He was signally useful in the last few years, in building up, 
increasing and strengthening several Churches, in the counties of New 
Hanover and Bladen, enfeebled by adverse circumstances. His last moments 
were peaceful, and we believe he has passed from his toils on earth, to the 
rest prepared for the people of God.

Dr. Jas. G. DICKSON, a useful and consistent member of the church at Bear 
Marsh, died suddenly, of appoplexy, on the 8th of September, 1867. The 
deceased was for a long time, a deacon of the church, and performed the 
duties of his office faithfully. He was, for most of the time of his 
membership, Clerk of the Church, and was, for a number of sessions, elected 
Clerk of this Association. In every christian duty he was prompt and 
faithful.
Dr. DICKSON, was a man of enlarged christian charity, and few men of his 
means equalled him in contributions to benevolent objects. There is not a 
profession, except that of the gospel ministry, which makes greater demands 
upon its members, for deeds of active benevolence, than the one to which he 
belonged; their only hope of reward being beyond this world. Such charities 
extended by him in his professional life to the humble and needy, indicated 
a most generous heart and benevolent disposition. We are assured that death 
came to him stripped of its terrors, and that he now enjoys the friendship 
of the saints in glory.

John T. MOORE, who was for many years as active member of Moore's Creek 
church, died at his residence in Caintuck, New Hanover County, on the 16th 
day of June, 1867, aged 41 years. Possessing an active mind, industrious 
and persevering, he was often chosen to fill important places in this body.
                         Respectfully submitted,   Committee.

p.19
In compliance with a request from Falling Creek church, the following was 
adopted:
Whereas, The Church at Falling Creek has asked this body to appoint a 
Presbytery to examine brother Asher FLOWERS, and ordain him in the gospel 
ministry, if qualified, and as it is not the province of the Association to 
do this, we simply request Elders W.M. KENNDEY, J.L STEWART, H. McALPIN and 
J.B.HARDWICK, to visit said church, or request the church to send brother 
FLOWERS to meet the brethren, for this purpose, at the Covention in 
Goldsboro, on Thursday.
The hour for preaching the Missionary sermon having arrived, Elder 
H.McALPIN preached from 1st Corinthians 1:21, and took up a collection for 
Missionary purposes. The Association being pressed with business, did not 
adjourn to hear the sermon.
The report on ministerial support was read and adopted:

Report on Ministerial Support
Your Committee on Ministerial Support, report that the churches generally 
admit that it is a christian duty to support their pastors. But they 
content themselves that this duty is discharged, when they have made a very 
scanty provision for this object.
The attention of your Committee has been called to one feature of this 
matter, that speaks unfavorably, as we think, for Christian honesty; and 
that is, that a large number of our churches, after sharing the labors of 
their pastors, and having promised a stated salary at the commencement of 
these labors, allow these promises to remain, in great part, unredeemed. It 
is useless to argue how disastrous to the cause of Christ this is, but we 
would suggest that this Association press upon the churches the importance 
of correcting this evil.
Respectfully submitted,                     Committee.

--End of Booklet.--





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