A Sketch of Early Primitive Baptist History in the State of Maine
"When this State was yet but a part of Massachusetts, and occupied only by scattered settlements, here and there, at the most advantageous points, it was penetrated by the Baptist preachers of the bordering States; who, gathering strength as they advanced, soon traversed its length and breadth, and preached the gospel at all the principal places. Like all pioneers, these preachers were a race of hardy and enterprising men. Laboring among pioneers in the settlement of the country, they brought them selves into sympathy with their hearers, by the exhibition of the same bold, decided spirit. They attacked the consciences of men very much as the woodsman attacked the trees. They laid the axe to the root with a vigorous hand, and as blow after blow was dealt home, the forest re-echoed with the sound.
"At this distance of time, and after so great improvements in the condition of the country and of society, it is hardly possible to conceive the difficulties which they encountered, and the suffering which they endured. Without public conveyances, or even well-defined roads, they had to track their way as best they could, through long distances, from settlement to settlement, or penetrate the unbroken forest to some remote logging camp, now, perhaps, the site of some flourishing village. In all these places they sowed the seed of the Word with a liberal hand; committing it to the waters, confident that it would appear again after many days. And so it did. The early Baptist fathers performed in Maine what Whitefield, Tennant, and Edwards did in many of the other States. They broke the formalism of the old Puritan churches, and revived the fast vanishing doctrine of the new birth."
Some of the pioneer preachers were patrons and correspondents of the Maine Baptist Herald; among them was Elder Henry Kendall, whose autobiography, published in 1853, gives an interesting account of what he and others of the pioneer preachers suffered.
David Benedict's General History of the Baptist Denomination, published in 1813, lists three associations in existence in the "District of Maine." They were the Lincoln Association, organized in 1804, having 51 churches and 2,673 members in 1812; the Bowdoinham Association, organized in 1787, having 1,456 members, 28 churches and 24 ministers in 1811; and the Cumberland
Association, organized in 1810, having 1,165 members, 24 churches and 24 members in 1811. In addition, there were churches in the District of Maine which held membership in the New Hampshire Association, organized in 1785.
On July 17, 1824, the first number of the Maine Baptist Herald was issued. This was the first paper, coinciding fully with the faith and practices of the Primitive Baptists, ever published in the United States.
Constitution of the Maine Old School Predestinarian Baptist Association: The brethren first met together in the capacity of a yearly meeting with the First Baptist Church of Whitefield, August 25, 1830. Among those present were: Elder Joseph Bailey, Enoch A. Glidden, John Potter, Levi Moody, and William Peasley, from the Whitefield Church; Elder Asa Wilber and Elijah Hammond, from the church in Sidney; and Elder Joseph Macomber, Deacon Oliver Fuller, and brother Uriah Capen, from the Jay Church.
HISTORY OF THE MAINE OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION:
History of the Maine Old School Baptist Association
The brethren first met together in the capacity of a yearly meeting with the First Baptist Church in Whitefield, August 25th, 1830, just fifty-one years ago. All of those who met together at that time have fallen asleep in Jesus. Present at that time from the First Baptist Church of Whitefield were Elder Joseph Bailey, Enoch A. Glidden, John Potter, Levi Moody, and William Peaslee. From the church in Sydney, Elder Asa Wilber and Elijah Hammond. From the Jay Church, Elder Joseph Macomber, Deacon Oliver Fuller, and brother Uriah Capen.
The brethren of those three churches found that they could no longer walk in christian fellowship with a large majority of those who professed to be Baptists. They believed that the Baptists at that time had departed from the simplicity of the gospel rule by teaching the doctrines and commandments of men, and by preaching many things in the churches which there was no "thus saith the Lord" for, either in the Old or New Testaments, such as schools to multiply their ministers, and Sunday Schools to multiply young members for the church, and anxious-benches to assist in multiplying the children of God, and following the popular and religious customs of the nations of the earth. Therefore they felt that the command of God to them was, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord."
In 1832 we find the name of Elder Richard Bran connected with the first church in Whitefield. The membership of the meeting at that time was as follows: First Church of Whitefield, 60; Second Church of Whitefield, 25; Church in Sydney, 22; Church in Jay, 38; total, 145.
In 1834 we find the name of Elder Richard B. Tobie. This year Levi Moody is mentioned as a licentiate.
In 1835 the meeting was held at the house of Brother Jonathan Brown, in Bowdoin. Elder James Osborne, from Baltimore, was present, and Elders James Stuart and Philander Hartwell, Deacon John Libby and Brother Edward Brown from the North Berwick yearly conference.
In 1836 we find the name of Elder Samuel Trask connected with the first Whitefield Church. This association first adopted the name of the "Reformed Predestination Baptists," and this year changed it to the "Ancient Predestination Baptists."
In 1839 there were two churches received, Anson and Palermo. Delegates from Anson, Brethren Nahum and William Quint. From Palermo, Deacon John Potter, brethren James Denis, Daniel Nelson, and Thaddeus Bailey, licentiates.
In 1840 we find the name of Elder Daniel Whitehouse as a delegate from the Palermo Church.
In 1841 the Bowdoinham Church was received into the association.
In 1842 Brother John A. Badger was by the request of the Anson Church ordained to the work of the gospel ministry.
In 1843 we find the name of Elder Elihu Purington connected with the Bowdoinham Church. This year Bro. Joseph L. Purington was ordained by the request of the Bowdoinham Church.
In 1844 the association met with the church in Jay, and that man of God, that faithful and dearly beloved minister of the gospel of Christ, Elder Gilbert Beebe, of New York, who so lately left us for his home in heaven, met with the saints in Maine for the first time, and by his suggestion they adopted the name of Old School Baptists."
In 1849, by the request of the Anson Church, Brother William Quint was ordained. This year the Baptist Church in Bowdoin was received into the Association.
In 1854 Brother William J. Purington was ordained by the request of the North Anson and New Portland Churches.
In 1862 Brother Hiram Campbell was ordained by the request of the Bowdoinham Church.
Elder Joseph N. Badger was baptized and united with the Jay Church, and by that church received a license to preach the gospel. After that he received and accepted from the Warwick Church a call to preach for them, and by the request of that church was ordained.
Elder F. A. Chick obtained a hope in Christ while he lived within the limits of this association, but united with the North Berwick Church, and was ordained by the request of that church.
All the ministers who have been connected with or preached for this association, and who were ordained prior to 1830, have passed away by death.
Elder Philander Hartwell visited this association more times than any other minister outside its limits, and most sadly do we miss him when the time comes round for our meeting.
Of those ministers who have been ordained by this association, Elder John A. Badger comes first. He died in Whitefield among his brethren. Elder Joseph L. Purington died in Alexandria, Virginia. Both were able ministers of the New Testament, who yet live well beloved in the hearts of many brethren.
Elder William Quint is now and has been for many years faithfully serving the North Berwick Church.
Elder William J. Purington, at present, is preaching for the Hopewell Church, N. J.
Elder Hiram Campbell still lives with his brethren of this association.
Elder J. N. Badger is preaching in Virginia, and Elder F. A. Chick in Maryland.
Now, dear brethren, we are thankful, and to God be all the glory, because upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, is where you still continue to rest. We are glad that the same soul-cheering, everlasting and unchangeable truth of the gospel is still preached to you, as it was to your dear departed brethren fifty-one years ago. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free, contend earnestly for the faith of God's elect, live in love and peace, and may the God of peace be with you. And before another fifty-one years shall have passed away, the most if not all of you will be reunited with your brethren who have gone before in an association which will never end.
HIRAM CAMPBELL.
Primitive Baptist ministers who labored in the State of Maine included John A. Badger, Richard Bran, Forrest A. Chick, Hiram Campbell, Leonard Cox Jr., Levi Moody, Samuel Trask, Z. M. Beal, Joseph N. Badger, F. W. Keene, William Quint (we have his journal), Nathaniel Lord, Daniel Whitehouse, Philander Hartwell, Henry Smith, William Batchelder, Joseph L. Purington, William J. Purington, Elihu Purington, James Steward, Joseph Bailey, Joseph Macomber, William Burbank, Richard B. Tobie, and Asa Wilber.
Copyright c. 2001. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
