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STATE AND LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS
Quote from History and Archives Committee State Association of
Missionary Baptist Churches of Arkansas, Pioneer Faith: The History of
Missionary Baptist Associations and Churches in Arkansas from 1818 to 1920, Texarkana:
History and Archives Committee, 1994, page 35: Early
associations were different than contemporary associations. The early
associations usually started on Friday or Saturday, and continued through
Monday. More time was allotted to praying and preaching. The reports were
emphasized, and more discussion was made.
Sometimes two or three preachers preached at one service, one
following the other, often preaching an hour each on the same text, and this
was done at least at eleven and at "early candle lighting." And
they preached on doctrine with all the power possible and with a ring that
produced conviction. Most associations featured a "circular Letter"
that dealt with some doctrinal or moral problem. This letter was sent to
every church shortly before the association met. The associations
sent what they called a "corresponding letter" to sister
associations." They also welcomed corresponding messengers, and the
preachers from other associations and their messages were welcomed. These
features were important in maintaining uniformity of doctrine and practice
because the churches were scatted, and communications were limited. E. Glenn Hinson
summarized (pp. 12-13) the importance of local associations for these pioneer
churches: 1. annual meetings offered an occasion for fellowship. In
this period the paucity of members in individual churches heightened the need
for fellowship. 2. they supplied
inspiration and edification through prayer, singing, and preaching, 3. they helped
establish Baptist identity among member churches, 4. associations assisted one another in evangelism and
missions. Hinson also
attempted to characterize (p. 39) services of these early churches,
"Services consisted chiefly of preaching, singing, and praying. Baptist
preachers, typically uneducated farmers with prejudice against educated and
paid ministers, relied heavily upon experience. In their sermons and
exhortations they issued dire warnings about death and the judgement to come. Among these converts of the frontier
awakening exhortations probably figured more prominently than
exposition." Information for the page was complied primarily from Ashcraft, Robert,
General Ed., History of the American Baptist Association.
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