A Sketch of the Early History of the Primitive Baptists in the State of Mississippi
The Church was established by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:13-19) and has grown like a grain of mustard seed throughout history (Matthew 13:31-32, Luke 13:18-19). Beginning at Jerusalem, identified by various and sundry names, yet always holding to the primitive doctrine of Christ and the apostles, it spread like leaven (Matthew 13;33) generally north and westward across Asia Minor, then Europe, and into the British Isles eventually migrating to America where it proliferated on the east coast during the colonial period and then westward across the continent. Dr. John Clark established the first Baptist Church at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1638. The oldest Old School or Primitive Baptist Church in America today is Welsh Tract Church near Newark, Delaware, having been constituted in 1701 in South Wales and emigrating as a body to America later that year. Sadly, the Lordʼs Church has suffered many divisions throughout itʼs history due to attempts to introduce false doctrines and practices. In the 1800ʼs a general division occurred among the Baptist of America due to differences in doctrine and practice resulting in a formal separation into two distinct groups. Those adhering to the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3) adopted the name Old School or Primitive Baptist. The following is an excerpt from the minutes of the Amite Association of Primitive Baptist: "Among the first settlers in Mississippi, about 1785, were a few families of Regular, or Primitive, Baptists who settled near Natchez, Mississippi, in what was then a Spanish Province. These settlers migrated from South Carolina, and among these was one Richard Curtis, a Regular Baptist licentiate, who first preached the plan of salvation by the grace of God. In 1794, Curtis returned to South Caroline (sic), where he was duly ordained to the full functions of the Gospel Ministry, and in 1795, came back to Jefferson County, Salem Church, constituted on the Regular Predestinarian Plan. Salem Churchʼs Articles of Faith were identical with the articles as given in this minute to which the Amite Association of churches still hold and preach. Immigration continued, among whom were other Regular Baptist, ministers, and in 1797, New Hope Church on Second Creek near Natchez, Mississippi, was organized. This church was organized upon the same principles. By 1807, several churches were organized on the Predestinarian Plan, and this same year, the Mississippi Association was organized by delegates from several churches, namely: Salem, New Hope, Bethel, New Providence, and Ebenezer. At the session of 1815, as recorded in its minutes, we find the first mention of the Baptist Board of Missions, or any other modern inventions of men. The design of this brief statement with (sic) not permit us to detail in each instance the new plans and ideas that were proposed and introduced into the Mississippi Association between the years of 1815 and 1853. Suffice it to say, there was a separation in the sentiment of body caused by the introduction of the new Modern Missionary System into the churches. The Primitive Baptist holding to the Predestinarian Plan, or Old Particular and Limited Plan, in contrast to the Fuller System, or General Atonement Plan, held by the Missionary Baptist. The struggle began in the Mississippi Association in the year 1815 and had its climax in 1853 when Elder Rowland Wilkinson, with others, withdrew from the Mississippi Association. Several churches were divided, and the Primitive Baptist organized into separate churches and associated together again in 1857 in what was, and is now, called the Amite Association. The Amite Association, contrary to the missionary movement, still holds to the Articles of Faith upon which the old Mississippi Association was organized, as will be learned from examining our minutes contained herein. These principles are primitive, or first, as given by Christ. It is upon the basis of these Articles of Faith, or principles, as now believed and practiced by the Primitive Baptist that we lay claim to be the true descendants of the Original Church of Christ, which He established when He was here on earth. These are the principles taught by our Lord which have been kept inviolate in all ages by His true church."
