SUPPORT GSPS |
The Gold, Silver, Precious Stones team appreciates your contributions in support of this work. Please send your correspondence to:
Gold, Silver, Precious Stones
P.O. Box 240
Harvest, AL 35749
|
|
|
|
Life and Travels of William Conrad
Chapter IV - The Writer's Thoughts on Zion's Desolations
Some time previous, and subsequently, I trust it was the Lord that led my mind to reflect on a region of country embracing a portion of Scott and Harrison counties, in which the churches of Mill Creek, Cynthiana and Raven Creek had all gone down, which three churches, in the time of the writer's boyhood, were greatly blessed, not only in a sound but faithful ministry, by such as Elders Ambrose Dudley, Lewis Corbin, Absalom Bainbridge, Biggs and John Conner, who continued to preach to Mill Creek church after the above named brethren, and Elder Lewis Corbin, pastor for a time to the church at Cynthiana daring their pastorate to these churches, had very large congregations always in attendance, and quite a regular coming in of additions, especially at Raven Creek and Mill Creek churches. The writer living close to the former and not far from the latter of these two churches, still remembers the many times he was present at the water side to witness the many willing converts at many points along the south and middle forks of Raven creek, and remembers well some traits of the straight observance of the order and government of those churches as taught in the New Testament, as well as the peace and joy that prevailed among the members from 1808 to 1815-6, after which things seemed at a stand for some years.
At length Elder Conner was greatly afflicted with cancer in his face, depriving him of the use of one eye for years, attended with extreme suffering. In the midst of all he continued steadfastly to contend for the Faith once delivered to the saints, to the last of his pilgrimage.
Finally he fell at his post while preaching at old Elk Lick church, one of his charges for many years. His physical powers gave way, but he was caught and kept from falling by his son John Conner. He was then borne home to his family, a few miles distant, no more to return to labor in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. But soon afterward the Lord called him from his suffering and toil, to rest with Christ in his home above, about the year 1822.
After him soon did the Lord call quite a number of the old members of Mill Creek, Elk Lick and Raven Creek churches to their long home, and a manifest decline was beheld in all three of these churches.
At length Elder Joel Morehead was called to supply Mill Creek and Raven Creek churches. He baptized a number during the few years he attended them. After his time Elder Tobias Wilhoit was called to the church at Raven Creek, who also baptized some, and presently it was known that he held and preached the Parkerite two-seed doctrine, which soon led to trouble, and quite soon it was manifest that Ichabod was written on the once happy and God-honoring church, (the glory is departed.)
After the death of Elder Joel Morehead, the church at Mill creek had Elder George Marshall as pastor for a while. He also baptized some while he attended them. But in a few years Mill Creek, as was the case at Raven Creek, went down, and both churches dissolved--met no more as churches-and no great while after, there was little if any mark left of either meeting-house. Thus it seems the Lord moved away the candle-stick out of his place.
After Elder Lewis Corbin (who was quite advanced in years) gave up the pastorate at Cynthiana, (Brick Meeting House), Elder Charles Webb preached for them (quite advanced in years) a few years, and baptized but few. The church also dissolved not long after the other two churches being reduced much in numbers by deaths and removals. It is proper here to state that Elders Ambrose Dudley, John Conner, Lewis Corbin, Joel Morehead and Charles Webb (the four last named the writer was personally acquainted with, and feels free to say that, in his judgment, they, with Elder Ambrose Dudley, went down to their graves proper, as the ripe and full shocks of corn, and he knows nothing to the contrary as regards Elder Biggs and Absalom Bainbridge, who both preached at Mill Creek and Raven Creek Churches occasionally, for several years.)
I now return to the reflection mentioned on 36th page. The three churches, of which I have given a short description, and of their passing away, embracing their respective portions of the two counties first named, and of my mind's deep exercise about them, I regard as numbered among Zion's desolations. The gospel's joyful sound was no more heard in all that wide stretch, in its length and breadth of country, of quite dense population, only as casually heard from God's ministers, as they passed through, with no regular or stated places of preaching. In looking over such bounds or stretch of country, my thoughts ran thus: "My birthplace is within this boundary;" and next, to look over, in my mind, the many of my fellow dusts, apostate sons and daughters of Adam, whose earthly home and transient dwelling place I knew to be within these bounds; and next, that, "among so many living souls," said my busy thoughts, "surely there is some of the purchase of Jesus' blood--of the gift of the Father to his Son, Jesus Christ." And, with these reflections, came up in my heart a deep solicitude to seek out, and, if the Lord pleased to give grace, guide my heart, my feet and tongue to speak a word of comfort and encouragement to His humble poor--if God, in His good pleasure, should guide me to the house of my master kindred. And besides, in that region, there was yet living most of my known relations, as well as many of my old schoolmates and many of the acquaintances of my early boyhood. Although now distant from them twenty or thirty miles, I was stirred to a pitch of longing desire to publish salvation in their midst, through a crucified and risen Jesus; and the repeated announcements in my bosom were thus: "Surely the Lord has a people--surely He hath a people in the midst of all those." These and more were the feelings in my poor heart in my busied moments, while my physical powers were engaged in their utmost stretch of hard labor; also, in my retired moments, at home and abroad; such reflections, with all my diffidence, my weakness, and the terrible weight of unbelief that all the while was pressing ms almost, if not entirely, down, thus-that God never will bless the weak efforts of such a worthless worm. But, notwithstanding all, I ventured to obtain leave to preach at school-houses and family houses, where I might, as best I could, in the aforementioned bounds. Besides, it may be that my brother, Thompson Conrad's having come from the bounds alluded to above in October, 1834, at the regular meeting for that month, at Williamstown, came forward and related his experience to the church and was received and baptized I feel that that occurrence did add strength to my reflections, especially as he felt that such was the gloomy state of the then remaining churches of Cynthiana, Mill Creek, Raven Creek, and old Elk Lick, too, that he felt unwilling to cast his lot among them. I was still, as opportunity served, struggling to preach. I was at old Mill Creek, and some few times at Elk Lick, but seldom at the Cynthiana meeting house, and at Raven Creek no more after Elder Joel Morehead left off preaching for them, that I remember. The church at Williamstown, in the meantime, seemed almost at a stand, but few additions up to 1841. When the blessed God added to her numbers such as should be saved, and the members seemed to thank God and take courage, peace and joy did prevail. And among the additions, Paul Renaker and Catherine, his wife, from Harrison county, Ky., (the county before mentioned), at the June meeting, 1842, and Isaac Ekler, at the October meeting, from the same quarter, near Thompson Conrad's--all four from the above mentioned desolations and boundary. Much stir of feeling and anxiety occupied my mind, and there being given by them such full and clear reason of hope in Christ, I felt drawn to increased diligence and oftener to visit that region with the gospel of Jesus, as best I could proclaim it; though, to me, it seemed such poor effort, and I, in the meantime; so full of fears, so full of unbelief, that God would not bless my poor effort in the gospel of His Son. Having been, from the first, possessed of such poor opinion of my ability as a servant of Christ and a minister of His dear flock, I was sunk down, and unbelief prevailing at every point; yet, all along, as I waded sorrowfully, sadness prevailing, I was of the same impression as at first-that the Lord had a people in same region of country, and being so fully satisfied with the relations by the three brethren and sisters as above, I felt my hope or conviction strengthened, and still took short tours among them. Presently, those three brethren and sister thought 23 miles of such rough road was rather too hard to travel once a month; hence they called for letters of dismission, and at the same meeting, at Williamstown, after obtaining their letters, called on the church for help to organize them and others into a church-alleging that it would be much nearer for them, and they hoped the Lord would bless them.
Their request was granted, to meet them and others, as they hoped, and, if found in order, to organize at a schoolhouse on Thompson Conrad's land, on Twin creek, a tributary stream of South Licking, in Harrison county, Ky., on the Friday before the second Saturday in December, 1842. When met on the day and place in council, there was no ordained minister in attendance but myself, with A. Skirvin, M. Draper, Joseph Jewett and E. Billetter, from the church at Williamstown and the church at Elk Lick. G. Eades, John Kendrick and Samuel Courtney, from the church at Cynthiana; Peter Carder and Elder Whitfield Collins (who was then a member in good standing, but, for some cause known best to himself, failed to meet in council). And besides all this, owing to the distracted state among the Baptist that remained of the church at Raven creek, than partially under the pastorate of Elder Tobias Wilhoit, there was but one member more, Sister Patsey Porter, that could lawfully go into the constitution with the four before named-the small number of five members. Yet, after private consultation and public council, finding them sound in faith, on that ground, being of one heart and one soul, and willing, notwithstanding the opposition by which others could not unite with them, they urged the propriety of organization. So that-with what help was present, I trust we, in the fear of God, pronounced them a church of Christ, to be known and designated as the Church of Christ Predestinarian Baptists at Twin creek, all that read, will doubtless feel that this surely was a little and feeble beginning; and time after time we met at the same little school-house, holding meetings regularly on the second Saturday and Sunday in each month, and also at the houses of the brethren. But soon the few members, with those who cast their lots with them, fell to work and put up the present house occupied by them at the writing of this history, now over thirty-two years ago, and have enjoyed several refreshing seasons, and a goodly number of God's dear children, I trust, have been added to the church by experience and baptism, as well as quite a number by letter and relation. I baptized mostly all received by experience, as well as the four who obtained letters from Williamstown, up to 1871; since that time Elder E. Stephens is their supply, or pastorate, and he has baptized four received by experience of the Lord's children, we trust, up to this time. The writer still remembers those happy days that have gone, and with those days many of our beloved sisters and brethren have gone to their long sought rest. They will meet with us no more in this sorrowful vale of tears. Gone-yes, gone from the evils to come. In short, they were a greatly blessed people for over twenty years-until the supplanter's voice was heard in their midst and his footprints seen. Since then that oneness of faith and practice has shone but dimly. They have been hoping for the last two years for better days. The Lord only knows if more goodly days and seasons are yet in reserve for Twin Creek Church. I here state that quite at the beginning or organization I felt, and yet feel (whether true or untrue) that the Lord used me in the gathering of His sheep and lambs at that place, and to quite a distance around; so that in their' case I might venture to say--though not an apostle or minister to others-doubtless, I have always been such to them; and always in attendance with them, when able to travel, hot or cold, storm or calm, and, as elsewhere, at my own charges, always accompanying those of God's ministers whose lot He cast among them, and ministering to their wants that were with me, as well as to my own.
We now leave the church at Twin creek, for the present, to write some about the beginning and close of my labors and ministry of God's word at Raysfork Church.
|
|
