Editor's note: This is the first Circular Letter from the Salem Association as they met at the Forks of Gunpowder Baptist Church. That church had been in the Northbend Association since 1812 before it pulled out, to lead in a new Predestinarian Association. Along with F of G, four other Boone County Baptist churches united with this Predestinarian Association: Bethel (Frogtown Road), Mount Pleasant (Bullittsville), Mud Lick (Beaver Lick area) and Salem (Verona). T. P. Dudley, a pastor from Lexington, spoke and led in the constitution of the new association. He was a leader of the Licking Particular Baptist Association in central Kentucky and had been an influence in northern Kentucky for many years. All of these churches disbanded by the end of the century. The Sardis Predestinarian Baptist Church of Union, constituted in 1836-37, was a member of the Licking Association and never joined Salem. — jrd
Salem Association of Predestinarian Baptists
CIRCULAR LETTER 1840
Author unknown 1 _______Dearly beloved Brethren and Sisters: — Through the tender mercies of our covenant God we have been permitted to enjoy a most comfortable interview, in which we humbly trust we have realised that saying of the psalmist, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." The question is asked in the Holy Scriptures, "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" The negative of which is not only asserted as the legitimate answer to that interrogatory, but it is realised by the disciples of the Lord Jesus in all ages as true. The circumstances out of which our existence as an association separate from the body of which we were formerly a component part, has grown, call for a passing notice from us. That the component parts of North Bend have, for several years, been obviously inharmonious, all must admit, and that that want of harmony did not result from any departure, on our part, from original constitutional principles, we feel confident all candid members of that body must acknowledge. The introduction of doctrines and practices in that body, unknown to the Constitution, and unsustained by the standard of our faith and practice (the Bible), and which, as conscientious disciples, we felt bound to protest against, and finding a majority of the association, as we conceived, regardless of those assaults, on the principles of our faith, and equally reckless of our feelings, we felt only two alternatives were left to us. The one was to claim to be the North Bend Association, standing on orignal grounds, which we feel great confidence in believing we could make manifest to all intelligent unprejudiced Christians; the other was that which we adopted, viz: to come out from among them and leave them, to enjoy themselves in the war which we think they have waged against their Constitution, we ardently desired union of heart and soul. That union we rejoice to believe we have secured by our present arrangement. — And now, dear Brethren, esteeming that sort of Christian union which we most happily have enjoyed in our present interview, and for which we desire to be thankful to the head of the Church, we would most earnestly exhort you to the discharge of every duty enjoined on us by the Father of our mercies, recollecting he has said, "If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love," and that the "wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." We would furthermore intreat you to be frank, affectionate, and undisguised in your course towards each other, endeavoring to "stir up each other to love and good works," and to "keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." The Saviour has said, "If ye be followers of that which is good who shall harm you?" Dear Brethren, we conceive that our interest can be best subserved by our frequently retrospecting the ground of our hope, calling back our minds to the "rock from whence we have been hewn, and the hole of the pit whence we were digged." A view of our helplessness, our defilement, our awful insolvency, is claculated to humble our hearts and to inspire our souls with love and gratitude to him whom we humbly hope "has brought us up out of the horrible pit and mirey clay, and set our feet upon a rock and established our goings, and hath put a new song in our mouth, even praise to our God." Let us "enquire for the old paths and walk therein, and be engaged to glorify God in our body and spirit, which are His."
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you now, and ever, Amen.
LEWIS CONNER, Moderator, Benj'n Watts, Clerk. ============ 1 The editor believes that Lewis Conner wrote this introductory Circular Letter for the Association. He wrote one in 1829 and another in 1839 for the Northbend Association. He was the pastor at Forks of Gunpowder Baptist Church; that church was the largest and most influential of the churches joining the new association.
[From a copy of the Salem Association of Predestinarian Baptists Minutes, 1840. Document provided by Mrs. Elizabeth Kirtley, Florence, KY. — jrd]
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