On May 2, 1888, "The climax", a paper of Richmond, Kentucky (Madison County) printed in the "supplement" page a church "directory" listing various denominations1. Of course, the listing included the Baptist churches. Fourteen Baptist churches are listed in alphabetical order.
Some of the churches pop right off the page:
- Cane Spring (Calvinist)
- Richmond
- Richmond (Predestinarian)
- Waco (United)
- Richmond (First United colored)
The latter two churches most probably reflect the coming together of Regular Baptists (Calvinists) and Separate Baptists (motley crew mixture), in many areas referred to as "United Baptists." In 1801, the Elkhorn and South Kentucky associations agreed to what was called "Terms of Union"2. Incidentally, the "terms" was a complete theological concession to non-Calvinist Baptists as a survey of the "terms" demonstrates.
The first three churches I listed above from the Richmond directory, however, may be indicative of something entirely different. In other words, no theological compromise had evidently taken place. What other reason would the Cane Spring church have for identifying itself as Calvinist if not to distinguish itself from other non-Calvinist Baptist churches?
Even more indicative of Calvinist identity is the "Richmond (Predestinarian)" church distinguishing itself from the other Richmond Baptist church which apparently was non-Calvinist.
With that, I am...
Peter
1The Climax. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, May 02, 1888, Supplement
2 Baptist Confessions of Faith, Judson Press, 1959, p.359
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