Vandalia Baptist Association
Encyclopedia
The Vandalia Baptist Association, a precursor to the Centralia Baptist Association
and Kaskaskia Baptist Association
was organized in 1840 and centered in the Vandalia, Illinois
area. It originated from the Saline Fraternity which was organized in 1834, which in turn was an offspring of the Old South District of the Friends of Humanity.
, for the purpose of forming a new Baptist
Association. The following churches located in the South Central Illinois
counties of Fayette, Marion, and Clinton were represented: Vandalia, Salem, Marshall Creek, Bethel, Clinton Hill, Diamond Springs, and Beaver Creek. The ministers present were Rev. George Stacy, Rev. W.F. Boyakin, Rev. S.K. Kellam, and Rev. J.R. Ford. The organization was completed by the adoption of the associational constitution and the election of a moderator, clerk, standing secretary and treasurer.
The association took its name from the old state capital and was hence known as the Vandalia Baptist Association. The first annual meeting of the association was held in Vandalia. During the ensuing twenty years (1841-1861) the following churches came into the association: Shoal Creek, Wabash, Liberty, Bear Creek, Fosterburg, Clear Creek, and Zion Hill. Among the ministers connected with the body during this period were Rev. Joseph Taylor, Rev. Joseph Huey, Rev. William Steele, Rev. E.A. Cooley, Rev. T.B. Grubb, Rev. W.J. Goldsborough, Rev. A.j. McClelland, and Rev. I.A. Dale.
The association adopted a resolution in 1858 endorsing the efforts of the Domestic Missions Society. The resolution states:
"We approve of the Domestic Missions Society formed within the bounds of our Association since its last meeting for the purpose of procuring more preaching in said bounds. We recommend the Executive Committee to make an effort to procure preaching at least two Sabbaths in each month in all the churches in our Association." A motion was passed in 1867 "that a brief history of some of the churches be written and published with the minutes." This was not carried out beyond one or two years.
In 1867, Missionary Elder J.R. Ford reported that he traveled 1,205 miles during the year, preached 155 sermons, baptized 19 converts, and collected $339.80. His entire salary of $500 was raised by the association.
During the annual meeting of 1868, the association addressed the question of recognizing baptisms from church candidates from other denominations.
"Shall we receive the baptism by ministers of other denominations when administered in accordance with our principles and practices? This question has been for years differently decided by different Baptist churches, and as every Gospel church has control of its own internal affairs, we thnk that as to the course to be pursued in the matter, the individual church should be the sole judge.".
In 1870, there were but two Baptist Sunday Schools in the association. By 1871, seven thriving Sunday Schools were reported and a new Sunday School Convention held three engaging sessions that year.
In 1872, there were reported seven Sunday Schools, 41 officers and teachers, 396 students, and $96.40 raised for all purposes. George M. Sanders was president of the convention and John Andereck, clerk.
At the meeting in 1875, several books were purchased from the Baptist Publication Society by friends and presented to J.C. Carter, W.R. Andereck, and J. Holloway. Prominent deceased associational lay members were honored at this meeting: James Joliff, John Carter, Samuel McClelland, James Chance, John Wright, Jeremiah Gilmore, William Craig, Asa Entrikin, Smuth Moore, W.R. Huey, J.R. Tolbert, and Isaac Andereck.
At the annual meeting of 1878, the following resolution was passed:
"Believing that the custom of electing pastors annually is unscriptural as well as a cause of much division in our churches, we recommend that such a practice be abolished, and that churches retain their pastors so long as they are useful.".
Twenty years between 1861 and 1881, the following churches joined the association: Center Church, Collins Station, Patoka, Bethlehem, Vandalia, Wisetown, Shobonier, Good Hope, Liberty, and First Baptist Salem.
At the annual meeting in 1880, the association voted to reorganize itself as the Centralia Baptist Association
because of recent additions of churches south of Centralia, Illinois
.
Centralia Baptist Association
Originally known as the Vandalia Baptist Association , this association was named the Centalia Baptist Association when churches from Centralia, Mt. Vernon and other churches south of Centralia, Illinois joined the Association to become the Centralia Baptist Association in 1881...
and Kaskaskia Baptist Association
Kaskaskia Baptist Association
Founded in 1840, the Kaskaskia Baptist Association is a Southern Baptist ministry centered in Patoka, Illinois and is active in ministry to people in Southern and South Central Illinois Named after the Kaskaskia River, it consists of thirty-three churches in Southern and South Central Illinois, and...
was organized in 1840 and centered in the Vandalia, Illinois
Vandalia, Illinois
Vandalia is a city in Fayette County, Illinois, United States, northeast of St. Louis, on the Kaskaskia River. From 1819 to 1839 it served as the state capital of Illinois. Vandalia was the western terminus of the National Road. Today it is the county seat of Fayette County and the home of the...
area. It originated from the Saline Fraternity which was organized in 1834, which in turn was an offspring of the Old South District of the Friends of Humanity.
History
In October 1840, a meeting was held with Union Church, six miles southwest of Patoka, IllinoisPatoka, Illinois
Patoka is a village in Marion County, Illinois, United States. The population was 633 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Patoka is located at ....
, for the purpose of forming a new Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Association. The following churches located in the South Central Illinois
South Central Illinois
South Central Illinois is a region in the southern part of Illinois; its approximate boundaries are US 50 in the south, and Illinois Highway 16 in the north. Blessed with fertile soil throughout the region, agriculture is a chief industry here. Some of the largest communities in south-central...
counties of Fayette, Marion, and Clinton were represented: Vandalia, Salem, Marshall Creek, Bethel, Clinton Hill, Diamond Springs, and Beaver Creek. The ministers present were Rev. George Stacy, Rev. W.F. Boyakin, Rev. S.K. Kellam, and Rev. J.R. Ford. The organization was completed by the adoption of the associational constitution and the election of a moderator, clerk, standing secretary and treasurer.
The association took its name from the old state capital and was hence known as the Vandalia Baptist Association. The first annual meeting of the association was held in Vandalia. During the ensuing twenty years (1841-1861) the following churches came into the association: Shoal Creek, Wabash, Liberty, Bear Creek, Fosterburg, Clear Creek, and Zion Hill. Among the ministers connected with the body during this period were Rev. Joseph Taylor, Rev. Joseph Huey, Rev. William Steele, Rev. E.A. Cooley, Rev. T.B. Grubb, Rev. W.J. Goldsborough, Rev. A.j. McClelland, and Rev. I.A. Dale.
Missions
Around 1847, the association felt a great call to do missions. In 1851, Rev. William Steele and Rev. J.R. Ford engaged in missions under appointment of the Baptist Convention of Southern Illinois, the latter supplying eight churches. In 1853, Rev. J.R. Ford and Rev. Nathan Arnett were appointed missionaries, but on account of sickness only served a few days. In the fall of 1854, Rev. I.H. Elkin devoted part of his time as associational missionary.The association adopted a resolution in 1858 endorsing the efforts of the Domestic Missions Society. The resolution states:
"We approve of the Domestic Missions Society formed within the bounds of our Association since its last meeting for the purpose of procuring more preaching in said bounds. We recommend the Executive Committee to make an effort to procure preaching at least two Sabbaths in each month in all the churches in our Association." A motion was passed in 1867 "that a brief history of some of the churches be written and published with the minutes." This was not carried out beyond one or two years.
In 1867, Missionary Elder J.R. Ford reported that he traveled 1,205 miles during the year, preached 155 sermons, baptized 19 converts, and collected $339.80. His entire salary of $500 was raised by the association.
During the annual meeting of 1868, the association addressed the question of recognizing baptisms from church candidates from other denominations.
"Shall we receive the baptism by ministers of other denominations when administered in accordance with our principles and practices? This question has been for years differently decided by different Baptist churches, and as every Gospel church has control of its own internal affairs, we thnk that as to the course to be pursued in the matter, the individual church should be the sole judge.".
In 1870, there were but two Baptist Sunday Schools in the association. By 1871, seven thriving Sunday Schools were reported and a new Sunday School Convention held three engaging sessions that year.
In 1872, there were reported seven Sunday Schools, 41 officers and teachers, 396 students, and $96.40 raised for all purposes. George M. Sanders was president of the convention and John Andereck, clerk.
At the meeting in 1875, several books were purchased from the Baptist Publication Society by friends and presented to J.C. Carter, W.R. Andereck, and J. Holloway. Prominent deceased associational lay members were honored at this meeting: James Joliff, John Carter, Samuel McClelland, James Chance, John Wright, Jeremiah Gilmore, William Craig, Asa Entrikin, Smuth Moore, W.R. Huey, J.R. Tolbert, and Isaac Andereck.
At the annual meeting of 1878, the following resolution was passed:
"Believing that the custom of electing pastors annually is unscriptural as well as a cause of much division in our churches, we recommend that such a practice be abolished, and that churches retain their pastors so long as they are useful.".
Twenty years between 1861 and 1881, the following churches joined the association: Center Church, Collins Station, Patoka, Bethlehem, Vandalia, Wisetown, Shobonier, Good Hope, Liberty, and First Baptist Salem.
At the annual meeting in 1880, the association voted to reorganize itself as the Centralia Baptist Association
Centralia Baptist Association
Originally known as the Vandalia Baptist Association , this association was named the Centalia Baptist Association when churches from Centralia, Mt. Vernon and other churches south of Centralia, Illinois joined the Association to become the Centralia Baptist Association in 1881...
because of recent additions of churches south of Centralia, Illinois
Centralia, Illinois
Centralia is a town located in Marion, Washington, Clinton, and Jefferson Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 13,032 at the 2010 census. The town was founded because it was the point where the two original branches of the Illinois Central Railroad, built in 1853, converged....
.