From: KyArchives [Archives@genrecords.org] Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 10:05 AM To: Ky-Footsteps Subject: NEWS;The.Christian.Index.1872.07.11.Hardin-Scott Some Scraps From Kentucky. July 11 1872 Hardin-Scott County KyArchives News The Christian Index. I have allowed a longer time than I intended to elapse, since I removed to Kentucky, before writing to the Index, my old and tried friend. But, as some of your readers know, part of the time I was utterly prostrated with sickness; and as any of them can guess, the rest of the time I was overwhelmingly busy. The President of a College does not need to have any idle time. And Georgetown College furnishes no exception to the general rule. I have been busily engaged in extending my acquaintance with the people and the country of Kentucky. And notwithstanding my confinement at home, and other disadvantages, I have seen enough of both to like them much. I never saw a more beautiful section than this Blue Grass region, and the people are as cordial and hospitable as their land is inviting. Among other things, I have been studying the history of Kentucky Baptists, as far as my access to the sources has permitted. Several of these Associations are publishing in their minutes annually, in lieu of "circular letters," sketches of their older churches. IN some of these I find very interesting matter. For instance, here are some things which I venture to select for you: The First Baptist Church in Kentucky was organized in Severn's Valley, now Elizabethtown, June 18, 1781, under the ministry of the lamented John Garrard. Not a human habitation was then to be found between Louisville, (then called "the Falls of the Ohio," ) and Green River. The next May the savages made an inroad, and the minister, Elder Garrard, was taken captive, and never again heard of. Whether he was slain in the retreat, burned at the stake, or lingered in captivity, none can now tell. The place of his sepulchre none knows to this day. A Fruitful Vine. One of the original members of this earliest church, Jacob Vanmeter, the elder, died in 1798, in his sixty-eighth year, and has left almost a nation behind him. "His descendants at this time," says Bro. Haycroft, "from the best calculation that can be made, number over three thousand, of whom at least 800 are Baptists. They were as a fruitful vine that ran over the wall, for they are scattered over every State and Territory west of the Allegheny mountains." Light in Departing. The younger Jacob Vanmeter, the last survivor of the original church of Severn's Valley, was rather an extraordinary man, of truly patriarchal stamp. He died Oct. 12, 1850, in his 89th year. Of his ten sons, seven were deacons of some Baptist church. Three days before his death he led at the family altar of his son John, with whom he resided. His prayer was of great fervency, and protracted beyond the usual length. At the close he had to be assisted from his knees. The family offered to put him to bed, but he would not permit it, saying that he wanted to speak of the goodness of God; and, as he sat in his chair, he repeated hymn after hymn from Watts. The family remarked that they had never heard him repeat them before. He replied that the Lord had strengthened his memory, and brought to mind hymns that he had learned sixty years before -- like Moses on Mount Pisgah, whose sight was strengthened to view the promised land. He had often prayed to be released from the pangs of death. A few minutes before his death, he exclaimed: "The light! the light! the light!" His daughter-in-law, who was at his side, supposing the light of the window disturbed him, was about to close the blinds. "Oh no," said he, waving his hand, "the glory of God fills the house; He has kept me in the hollow of His hand from a child." Then adjusting himself for burial, he closed his own mouth and eyes, crossing his arms, with his right hand upon his heart. Without a struggle or a groan, and evidently without a pang, he was gathered to his fathers. He had an answer to his prayer as beautifully expressed by Watts: "Cast me not off when strength declines, And hoary hairs arise: But round me let Thy glory shine Whene'er Thy servant dies." A Growing Association. We have in the mountains some earnest churches and brethren, who, though the country is rugged, and the means of communication slender, are struggling not without success to advance the interest of the cause. Some facts with regard to one of these mountain Associations, given to me by Elder N. B. Johnson, are interesting and encouraging. The Irvine Association was formed in Oct., 1859, with five churches. In Sept., 1870, they had 34 churches. Of these they sent off 15 to form the Boonville, which now has 18 churches, while the Irvine has 20, with 3 new churches ready to come in this fall.--Thus there are now 41 churches in the new bodies, instead of the five with which they started twelve years ago. Thus God helps the humble labors of those who "sow beside all waters," in season and out of season. Sunday-School Work. I find a deep and growing interest in the Sunday-school work, in some parts of the country, but it is very far from being so great or so general as is necessary. We are still very far behind the standard of "a Sunday school in every Baptist church," but we do not mean to let it rest so. The labors of our esteemed Sunday school missionary, Rev. L. B. Fish, are awakening new enthusiasm on this subject. His sweet songs and practical addresses are everywhere highly appreciated, and we hope to give a much better report next year. No subject enlisted more interest during our recent General Association than the Sunday-school work. Yours fraternally, Basil Manly, Jr. Georgetown, Ky. Submitted by: Linda Blum-Barton http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000645 Additional Comments: The Christian Index. The Union of South-Western Baptist, of Alabama The Christian Herald, of Tennessee. Vol. 51 -- No. 27 Franklin Printing House, Atlanta, Ga., Thursday, July 11, 1872. Whole No. 2627. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/