As it may appear strange that a personal disagreement
should be the cause of such extensive divisions, the read-
er ought to be informed, that the opponents of Mr.
Creath soon lost sight of the first subject of dispute, in
the midst of a number of grievous allegations of various
kinds, which at every stage of the difficulty were
brought against him. Amongst other things, a pam-
phlet, entitled " A Portrait of Jacob Creath," containing
fourteen charges, some of them of a very weighty and
a number of a frivolous nature, was published by Elder
Elijah Craig, one of the oldest, but we cannot say best,
ministers in the Association. In consequence of this
pamphlet, the church in which the difficulty begun,
proceeded to call a committee or council from sixteen
of the neighbouring churches, to investigate the charges
exhibited against their pastor. Forty-two delegates as-
sembled, and after four days' investigation of the busi-
ness, this numerous convention voted Mr. Creath an
unanimous acquittal of all the charges, which Mr. Craig
in his Portrait had exhibited against him. But notwith-
standing this, an influential minority of the Association
still continued dissatisfied with Mr. Creath, and by this
time they had also conceived many grievances against
their brethren, who had acted in the affair. The con-
troversy now became a subject of general concern, and
was altercated by the Association when collected, by
most of the churches of which it was composed when
at home, and by a number of families of very considera-
ble influence. The prospect of an accommodation ap-
peared still farther removed, and the affair became more
embarrassing at every stage. The Association had im-
prudently intermeddled with a dispute, which it could
not consistently decide, and after a lengthy and painful
attention to it, its division appeared inevitable. Mr.
Creath had sustained a number of trials in different
forms for nearly the same things, in all of which he had
been acquitted, and many were desirous that these de-
cisions should terminate the dispute. The Association
progressed as usual j but the minor party still continued
VOL. 2. .'30



'234t The Association divided, and a new one formed.

their dis c atisfaction, and in 1809 they declined attending
its annual session. Mr. Lewis, with whom the contest
began, died about this time, but this event had no ap-
parent effect on the minds of his advocates. They were
now prepared for the unhappy result, which had long
beertexpected ; but being unwilling to appear as a seced-
ding faction, they alleged that the majority had depart-
ed from the original constitution of the Association ;
and at a meeting of consultation for the purpose, they
adopted the singular resolution of meeting in a different
place at the same time with them, and to claim the name
and prerogatives of the Elkhorn Association. Such was
the conduct of a number of aged ministers, who had al-
ways before been highly esteemed for their wisdom and
prudence ; but they afterwards concluded to give up the
name of Elkhorn, which they had absurdly assumed,
and call their new establishment the Licking Associa-
tion.

These measures were peculiarly distressing to the
friends of Zion throughout an extensive circle. The
ministers, who promoted them, were John Price, Am-
brose Dudley, Joseph Redding, Lewis Corben, Absalom
Bainbridge, and some others, whose influence was not
so great. These ministers were among the oldest and
most respectable in the State ; they had long borne the
burden and heat of the day, and their names were every
where mentioned with respect. Considering their age
and experience, none could suppose they would contend
for trifles, and yet it was difficult for any to discover
sufficient reason for their dividing measures. The most
active among them was John Price, a man of an unpleas-
ant temper, of great asperity of manners, and whose zeal,
on all occasions, has partaken too much of the nature of
party spirit. Mr. Creath, against whom their united ef-
forts were directed, is in the meridian of life, of popular
talents, but not the most amiable in his manners, nor
conciliating in his address. He evidently in many cases
di-played too much of the air of triumph towards his
aggrieved brethren. While I was in Kentucky in the
winter of 1809 lO, these disputes were warm, and en-
gaged the attention of almost every individual minister
and member throughout an extensive circle. This cir-



Bracken Association. 235

eumstance made my visit peculiarly unpleasant. I saw
much to admire in my brethren on both sides, but I
could not approve their treatment of each other. I was
grieved to see a number of aged ministers, whom 1 had
been taught to respect a thousand miles off, and who
now appeared to be men of wisdom and men of God,
so deeply engaged in a frivolous dispute. The major
party appeared more bent on conquest than reconcilia-
tion. On the whole, I was led to think there must be
bad leaven somewhere, to produce such a sour fermen-
tation.

In the end, the Association was divided in a most pain-
ful manner, and a number of churches which took differ-
ent sides were torn to pieces. All attempts at recon-
ciliation have proved ineffectual, and nothing but the
obliterating hand of time seems capable of healing the
breach. The Elkhorn Association has in a good degree
recovered from the distressing shock, and the new one
appears to be rising to a degree of consistency and respect.

BRACKEN ASSOCIATION.

THIS body was organized in 1798. Most of the
churches, of which it was at first composed, were dis-
missed from the Elkhorn Association. The church at
Washington was constituted in 17H5. It is not only
the largest and the oldest in this Association, but is also
one of the oldest in Kentucky. It was for some time
under the care of Mr. William Wood, who lost his for-
tune and character by land speculation. It was princi-
pally by the solicitation of Mr. Wood, and by his en-
couraging proposals of worldly advantage, that Mr. John
Gano was influenced to leave the city of New- York, and
remove to the wilds of Kentucky. He landed June, 1 787,
at Lymestone on the Ohio River ; and at Washington,
which is only four miles from it, he tarried two years
before he removed to the place of his final settlement.
The Washington church united with the Elkhorn Asso-
ciation soon after that body was formed, in which con-
nexion it continued till dismissed to form the Bracken.
This Association was small at its beginning, and has never
had any great increase j and in 18O5, its harmony suffer-



236 Northbend, and South Kentucky Associations.

ed a temporary interruption, by the dispute which then
prevailed in many parts of Kentucky respecting the
emancipation of slaves. This controversy i-sued in the
final separation of a number of ministers and churches
from the Association, who united wi:h the emancipating
party. The churches are in the counties of Mason,
Bracken, and Fleming, in the north-east part of the btate.

NORTHBEND ASSOCIATION.

THIS Association is also on the north side of the State,
to the west and south-west of the Bracken. It was form-
ed, in 18O2, of churches which were mostly dismissed for
the purpose from the Elkhorn Association, and it receiv-
ed its name from that of a distinguished place in the
Ohio River, about twenty miles below the town of Cin-
cinnati. It is a small establishment, which has travelled
from its beginning in harmony and love. The churches
are in the counties of Campbell, Pendleton, and Boone,
along the Licking and Ohio Rivers, The first begin-
ning of that powerful and extensive work, which has
been generally denominated the great revival, began
in 1799, in what are now the bounds of this Association,
and in 1810 and 1811, a refreshing season was again
granted to some of the churches in this connexion, and
to the one at Bulletsburg 1 'M were added in the course of
a few months. This church is the largest and most dis-
tinguished in this Association. It now (1812) contains
2?O members, and is under the care of Absalom Graves.
The late William Cave, who was a very distinguished
character, was a member of this body. Mr. John Tay-
lor, who preached to this church a number of years,
gives it a very pleasing character for skilful discipline,
and also for harmony and brotherly love. From it have
proceeded a number of other churches, the names of
which 1 am not able to give.

SEPARATE OR. SOUTH KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION.

THIS name was given to an Association, which was
formed in 178J, on the south side of Kentucky River,
and which remained on its first foundation about sixteen
years. Robert Elkin, Joseph Bledsoe, and James Smith,



Division es to Doctrine amongst Virginia Baptists. 237

were some of the principal instruments of gathering the
churches of which it was composed. The preachers as
well as the first members, emigrated principally from
Virginia, and were amongst the earliest Baptist adven-
turers to the attracting wilderness of Kentucky. Ihe
Baptists in Virginia, at the time they began to send forth
such populous colonies of their brethren to the western
country, were divided into Regulars and Separ^es, al-
though the Separates were much the most numerous.
The Regulars were professedly and some of them very
highly Calvinistick ; but the Separates were far from be-
ing unanimous in their doctrinal sentiments. A majority
of them, however, were Calvinists, and of the rest a part
were much inclined to the Arminian side of the contro-
versy ; and some of the most distinguished among them,
in opposing the high strains of Calvinism, which were
incessantly and in many instances dogmatically sound-
ed by their orthodox brethren, had gone nearly the
full length of the doctrine of Arminius. Others, with
different modifications of the objectionable articles of
both systems, were endeavouring to pursue a middle
course. Such was the state of the Virginia Baptists, with
regard to doctrine, at the period under consideration,
and some of all these different classes were amongst
the early emigrants to the fertile regions of the west ;
but a majority of them were Separates in their native
State. But the same people who had travelled together
before their removal, so far at least as it respected their
associational connexion, pursued a different course when
settled in Kentucky. The Calvinistick Separates united
with the few Regular Baptists amongst them, and estab-
lished the Elkhorn Association, which, at its commence-
ment, adopted the Philadelphia confession of faith ;
while those, who inclined to the Arminian system, as
well as those who adopted some of the Calvinistick creed
in a qualified sense, united with the Association whose
history we now have under consideration.

Thus the names of Regular and Separate were trans-
ported beyond the mountains, and two separate interests
were established in the neighbourhood of r:ch other.

This Association, like the rest in the country, was small
in its beginning, but its course was generally prosperous,



238 Attempts to unite the Regulars and Separates.

and no special event occurred until 1 789, four years from
its commencement, when there was an unsuccessful at-
tempt to abolish the names of Regular and Separate, and
effect an union and correspondence between this and the
Eikhorn Association. This measure was attempted in
consequence of recommendations of the United Baptists
in Virginia, whose advice the Kentucky brethren were
generally inclined to receive, and whose examples they
generally imitated. The Regulars and Separates in
North and South Carolina had united before, and in
17s7, a happy reconciliation was effected between these
t\vo parries in Virginia, both of which had at that time
become very numerous. And having found that a re-
conciliation was practicable and pleasant, the United
Baptists in Virginia sent letters to the Eikhorn and Sep-
arate Associations, informing them of the successful
steps they had taken, and recommending the same to
them, with earnest desires that their endeavours might
prove successful. But the set time for this desirable
event was not yet come. The union was ardently
desired by many individuals of both parties, and the
bodies at large appeared favourably disposed towards the
attempt ; but they knew not by what means to accom-
plish it, nor could they agree on the terms on which
they should unite. The Separates were afraid of being
bound and hampered by Articles and Confessions, and
the Regulars were unwilling to unite with them, with-
out something of the kind. A general convention of
delegates met on the business, and overtures were made
on both sides ; but both parties being too tenacious of
their favourite maxims to make sufficient abatements,
their endeavours at that time proved unsuccessful.

A similar attempt was made in 1793, which, like the
other, terminated without accomplishing the desirable
object. In this year, five churches being dissatisfied with
the Separate Association, respecting their proceedings
in this affair, and also in some other matters, with-
drew, and formed the Tate's Creek Association.

But in the time of the great revival, the out-pourings
of the Divine Spirit, and its softening influence on the
minds of the saints, prepared the way for that reconcilia-
tion and union, which all their weighty arguments and



Union between the Separates and Regulars. 239

assiduous endeavours had not been able to accomplish.
This astonishing work, in the year 180O and following,
prevailed most powerfully amongst the Separates as well
as the Regulars. The churches and members were now
much intermixed. All were visited and refreshed by
the copiou^ and abundant rain of righteousness which
was poured upon the land ; and, regardless of names,
they unitedly engaged in enjoying and forwarding the
precious and powerful work. By this means, tho^e little
party asperities, which had unhappily prevailed, were
much mollified and diminished ; their cold and indiffer-
ent charity for each other was inflamed ; and with most
of them their notions of doctrine were found to be not
so different as they had supposed. An union was now
proposed in earnest, and soon effected with ease. Both
Associations had become large, containing together be-
tween seven and eight thousand members. Committees
were appointed by both bodies to confer on the subject
of an union, who, after mature deliberation, agreed to
the following terms :

" Terms of Union between the Elkborn and South- Kentucky
or Separate Associations.

" We the committees of the Elkhorn and South Ken-
tucky Associations, do agree to unite on the following
plan.

" 1st. That the Scriptures of the Old and New-Tes-
tament are the infallible word of .God, and the only
rule of faith and practice. 2d. That there is one only
true God, and in the Godhead or divine essence, there
are Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 3d. That by nature
we are fallen and depraved creatures. 4th. That salva-
tion, regeneration, sanctification, and justification, are
by the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus
Christ. 5th. That the saints will finally persevere
through grace to glory, bth. That believers' baptism
by immersion is necessary to receiving the Lord's supper.
7th. That the salvation of the righteous, and punish-
nient of the wicked will be eternal. 8th. That it is our
duty to be tender and affectionate to each other, and
study the happiness of the children of God in general ;
to be engaged singly to promote the honour of God.
9th. And that the preaching Christ tasted death for



240 Separate Association dissolved.

every man^ shall be no bar to communion. 10th. And
that each may keep up their associational and church
government as to them may seem best. 1 1th. That a
free correspondence and communion be kept up between
the churches thus united.

" Unanimously agreed to by the joint committee.
" AMBROSE DUDLEY, DANIEL RAMEY,
JOHN PRICE, THOMAS J. CHILTON,

JOSEPH RBDDING, MOSES BLEDSOE,
DAVID BARROW, SAMUEL JOHNSON."
ROBERT ELKIN,

Matters being thus prepared, a general convention,
composed of delegates from all the churches in both As-
sociations, met October, (801, at Howard's Creek meet-
ing-house, in the county of Clark, when they unani-
mously acceded to the terms of union, which their com-
mittees had prepared, and agreed to lay aside the names
of Regular and Separate, and to travel together in future
in communion and fellowship as united brethren.

This was the last body of the Separate Baptists, which
relinquished the appellation by which they had been dis-
tinguished for almost fifty years.

In J 80'^, the year after this union took place, the As-
sociation having become very extensive in its bounda-
ries, found it convenient to make a division ; and as near-
ly an equal number of the churches were situated on
both sides of the Kentucky River, this river was fixed
upon as the dividing line, and the two divisions were
called the North and South District Associations. These
names were assumed merely for the purpose of distinc-
tion, as there were no geographical or civil departments
of the country to which they referred.

The North District Association has moved on in fel-
lowship with the neighbouring Associations, and has
also enjoyed internal harmony from its commencement
to the present time, except that it sustained a tempo-
rary interruption, when David Barrow and some other
brethren, openly espoused the side of the Emancipators.
The Association is now one of the largest in Kentucky.

But the South District Association has experienced
great trials and changes ; and was most miserably torn
asunder by religious discords, shortly after it was organ-



Difficulties in the South District Association. 241

ized. It soon appeared that in the southern depart-
ment of the old Separate community, there were a num-
ber who had gone far into doctrinal errors. Some were
decided Arminians, and others had adopted Winches-
ter's chimerical notion of universal restoration. But
they had all acceded to the terms of union, &c. lately men-
tioned. But it soon appeared that they did it with much
mental reservation. When these things came to be known
in the Association, they produced much confusion and
distress. Mr. John Bayley was one who had propagated
the doctrine of universal restoration. It was plead that
" though he had preached this doctrine, yet he had done
it in such a manner as not to give offence to the most
delicate ear." The Association soon became divided
into two contending parties, and what was still worse,
the greater part appeared on the side of error. At its
session in 1 803, some ministers publickly declared them-
selves no more of the Association, and withdrew. This
is the mode of dissolving fellowship in Kentucky. Oth-
ers followed their example ; but after all, the erroneous
party retained about two thirds of the Association. The
minor seceding party formed themselves into an Associ-
ation by the name of South District, or rather they claim-
ed the right of being considered the original body, and the
neighbouring Associations admitted them to correspon-
dence as such. This Association is not large, but it com-
prises a number of very respectable churches, which are
situated mostly in the counties of Mercer and Lincoln :
some are scattered in Gerrard, Washington, and Nelson.
Gabriel Slaughter, Esq. late Lieutenant-Governor of
Kentucky, belongs to one of the churches in this con-
nexion.

The other party also claimed the name and preroga-
tives of the South District Association, and if the major-
ity ought to govern, this claim was well founded : but
the other Associations have never admitted them to fel-
lowship. This body is situated in a part of Kentucky
which I did not visit. I have taken much pains to learn
its history, and have written many letters for the pur-
pose, but nothing has been communicated. The last ac-
count I had of it was in 1804, when, according to their

VOL. 2. 31



242 Tale's Creek, and Salem Associations.

minutes, they had twenty-two churches, about thirty
ministers, and upwards of eight hundred members. I
conclude that many of these churches and members, like
the followers of Elias Smith, would have done much
better, with better leaders, or with less leading. It is
highly probable, that the number of this body has great-
ly declined since 1804, and I know not but it has by this
time become extinct.



IT has already been observed that this Association orig-
inated in 1793, when five churches withdrew from the
old Separate party, and embodied by themselves. They
united without any definite Articles of Faith, but in
general assented to those of the Elkhorn Association.
This Association received its name from that of a small
water-course, which empties into Kentucky River from
the south. The most remarkable circumstance in the
history of this body is, that in the year 1801, it received
by baptism 1148 members.

SALEM ASSOCIATION.

THIS Association was formed of four churches in 1785.
The first settlers in this region were from Virginia ; but
they were soon joined by a considerable company from
the Redstone country, in the back part of Pennsylvania.
Among this company was that worthy minister Wil-
liam Taylor, whose praise is in all the churches in this
quarter. This part of Kentucky settled slowly for a
number of years. The first settlers were often molested
by the Indians, and Elder John Gerrard and a num-
ber of his brethren fell victims to their rage. The Sa-
lem Association was formed on Cox's Creek, a small
distance below the Salt River, about fifty miles south of
Frankfort, and not far from the place where Bairdstown
now stands. Its ministers at first were William Taylor,
Joseph Barnet, and John Whitaker ; the names of the
first four churches were Severn Valley, Cedar Creek,
Cox's Creek, and Bear Grass. They did not all contain
but about a hundred and thirty members. And so slow



Long Run Association. 243

was its progress, that fourteen years after, its number was
a little less than five hundred. But the great revival,
which began here about 1 806, prevailed in a most aston-
ishing manner. This Association in the course of three
years received the addition of upwards of two thousand
members, and became so large that it was necessary to
divide it.

This Association, at its beginning, adopted the Phila-
delphia Confession of Faith, and for a few years corres-
ponded by letter with that body, as it did also with the
Charleston Association in South- Carolina, and the Ke-
tocton in Virginia. The churches of which it was compos-
ed were for a number of years principally in the county
of Nelson ; but by the subdivisions of that county, and
the enlargement of the Association, they are now in the
counties of Hardin, Brackenridge, Washington, Bullet,
and Ohio.

William Taylor was a very diligent and successful la-
bourer in this part of the vineyard, and was esteemed
a father in this Association from its beginning till his
death, in 1807. He was born in New- Jersey in 1744.
"While he was young his parents moved to Virginia, and
settled near Winchester, where he was brought up.
Having arrived at manhood, he went back to his native
State, where he tarried a short time, married, and then
returned to Virginia, and began to preach in the early
part of his life. From Virginia, he went to the Red-
stone country, where he continued eight years, and then
went down the Ohio River, and settled in Kentucky in
1784. Mr. Taylor was one of those ministers whose
private life gave the most conclusive evidence of the
sincerity of his publick ministrations ; his gifts were not
considered great, but they were employed with unwea-
ried diligence, and to great advantage.

LONG RUN ASSOCIATION.

THE remarkable increase of the Salem Association has
been mentioned. In the progress of that great work by
which it was so much enlarged, a number of churches
were gathered north of the Salt River ; and when its
division was proposed, that river was fixed upon as the



244 Green River Association.

dividing line. All the churches north of it were dismissed
to form a new Association, which was organized in 1803,
and was called Long Run, from a small water-course
near to which its first session was held. This Associa-
tion has experienced some refreshing seasons since it
was formed, particularly in 1809 and 1810. It is now
a large and very respectable body, and is situated mostly
between the Salt and Kentucky Rivers, and extends
westward as far as the Ohio River ; and a few of its