Eye-Witness Account
Written in 1840 by Elder William Davis
Giving Details of the Trouble over Missions
in the Salt River Association
and Constitution of the Siloam Association
Ashley, Mo., Dec. 20, 1840.
DEAR BROTHER: - I have had some desire to write you concerning our difficulties in Missouri. Truly we live in a day of tribulation. Our blessed Lord says, "In the world ye shall have tribulation." Tribulation therefore appears to be part of our legacy here, and this world appears to be a sort of crucible in which the poor mortal is now being tried. O that it may be separated from the dross and come forth as gold tried in the furnace, and the ministers of the gospel receive a purification equal that of the sons of Levi. Malachi 3:3. When I examine the word of God, I am constrained to believe that the predictions of Jesus and his apostles are, some of them, now being fulfilled. Paul wrote to Timothy that the time would come when they would not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts would heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and that they should turn away their ears from the truth, and should be turned unto fables. II. Tim. 4:3,4. The very business of theological schools is to make such teachers, and the people having itching ears, desiring new things, and willing to give their money for such preachers, as may tickle their fancy. Truly they ought to look to their creditors for their hire, and not to trouble the church. But I am enlarging too much for this sheet. When I commenced writing I designed giving you some statements relative to our condition here.
When I came to Missouri every one taught pretty much as they pleased. I, also, being a free-born citizen of this republic, and believing myself to be Christ's freeman, and having been set apart by the church to the ministry, immediately entered the ministerial field, and was for a while very well received; but, being obliged to make use of some hard words, [such as predestination and election, with the doctrine in connection], objections began to arise in various directions; yet, nothing terrified by my adversaries, I went on preaching Jesus and him crucified, and many were added to the Lord that are now active members of his Body (the Church). In 1838 the Salt River Association came on, of which I was a member, and missionism being brought before the association, I, with the rest of the Old Fashioned Baptists, took my stand against it, while A. D. Landrum and others took a stand in its favor. I was, however, appointed to preach the next Introductory Sermon, and J. Vardaman was my alternate. According to appointment, I met the association with my alternate; we both went into the pulpit, and, after singing and prayer I quoted as a text, John 10:9, And, you may depend, I did my best, but it was not suited to the taste of the missionary fraternity; for in my remarks I asserted that Paul was a Roman, made some remarks touching his Roman privilege, and his being brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, - and while I was preaching Elder Vardaman arose and in a very abrupt manner contradicted my assertions, and objected that that was a mistake: Paul was no Roman - the brother was mistaken, said he - I will correct the brother - Paul was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, - during which time I stood motionless and speechless; but when he had done I reasserted that Paul was a Roman and resumed my discourse. After I had done, he harangued the congregation for some time, and, in his closing remarks, he said that he meant no harm correcting the brother - just at which time I arose with my bible opened, and read in the hearing of the congregation, a part of the twenty-second chapter of Acts, where Paul asserts his Romanship. Notwithstanding his infringements on the rights of man, and perversion of the truth, the association appointed him to preach the next day and the day following.
I then felt bound to give the association up to her own doings, and we Old Fashioned folks set about the organization of another association, and drew up a preamble and sundry resolutions against the modern mission heresy, and sent a copy of the same to all the churches in the association. Wherefore three churches agreed to come out of her and constitute themselves into an association, viz: Siloam, Bethlehem, and Spencer's Creek. The third Saturday in September was set apart for the time of our convention; and being desirous of having ministerial aid, I visited the Morgan Association of Regular Baptists, in Illinois, about 75 miles from where I live,) at which place I met with many strange brethren; but we soon became acquainted, and I believe that I was introduced to seventeen brethren in the ministry, and a pleasant time we had, for they seemed to be of one heart and one mind, (how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity). I made known our situation to the association; several of the brethren agreed to meet with us at our anticipated meeting. Accordingly Elders John C. Rogers, William A. Langston, and Robert Bagby favored us with their presence. But, O shame to tell, when we got to our meeting house, we found our door with a new lock, and the key turned against us, with the windows and another door nailed up, and a boisterous old man managing. And threatening us with the law, he set up a claim for the house, having deeded it to the United Baptists. The same being a worldy wicked man, he also effected to draw off fifteen or sixteen of the weak members, who, in the absence of the church, claimed to be the church, and the church then consisted of upwards of one hundred members, standing fast on her articles of faith and church covenant. This same son of Belial publickly forewarned the people from hitching their horses on his land. But some of the brethren with other gentlemen opened the windows and took off the lock, and the delegates, with a large congregation, went in, and went into the constitution of an association, known by the name of the Siloam Regular Baptist Association. The brethren from Illinois preached much with us; they are able ministers of the gospel of Christ.
Since our association we have had some difficulties with the boisterous old man. He tried to return the brethren and gentlemen to the grand jury for house-breaking; but being unable to effect anything, in order to satiate his malice and rage against the church, at our last meeting, previous to and in time of worship, he, with his hands in the church-yard (who were splitting and hauling rails) engaged in cutting down the hitching places about the house. And this man is a fine fellow with some of our missionary preachers - Elder A. D. Landrum for one. In fact this old man is considered the leader of the party here; that is, in the bounds of Siloam and its vicinity. I think some are trying to use him as a tool, but it is quite evident that they are his tools.
Since our association we have constituted another church partly from one of the churches that were left in the Salt River Association. One other church has withdrawn from the Salt River Association, and another has been constituted - so that in all probability six churches will represent themselves in the next Siloam association.
One other cirumstance I will name. Some time since, Mr. Landrum appointed a meeting at Siloam. It being the place of my membership, I also attended. When I arrived, I found our church door opened, and that without the assistance of a key, and a few persons in the house. After sitting some time, who should I see but the boisterous old man aforementioned walk in with his big bible under his arm and Mr. Landrum by his side. After a "how d' ye do" and a little chat, I went with him into the pulpit. He quoted several verses of a chapter as a foundation (as I thought) for a sermon. But instead of preaching to them, his discourse was altogether concerning Sunday Schools, Temperance Societies, and Missionism. In his remarks on temperance, he raised his hand and said "An association over the way has declared non-fellowship with us because we won't drink whiskey!" Being much mortified, I determined that he should explain himself. When he had done, and dismissed the congregation, I arose and asked attention. I then asked if I had rightly understood him to say 'An association has declared non-fellowship with us because we won't drink whiskey.' He answered, "Yes, yes." "Then," said I, "give us the name of the Association." "Why," said he, "the Old School Two River," and went on to make some other remarks. I then let the congregation know that that association had done no such thing.
Enough for the present. You may probably hear from me again.
I remain your brother in tribulation.
WILLIAM DAVIS.
(Copied from "Signs of the Times," January 15, 1841, Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 10.)
Note: A county history says that the Regular Baptists lost the property at the original site through litigation brought against them, due to a defect in the title, or some other reason. If there is a legal record of the details of this, we would like to include it here.
Copyright c. 2002. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
