Jeremiah Bell Jeter (1802-1880) was a Southern Baptist pastor, statesman, and denominational leader in the 19th century. By all historians' accounts, Jeter was a leading light of influence in Southern Baptist life and remains a key figure in establishing the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845. He served several historic churches including the First Baptist Church Richmond, Virginia (1836-1849). At that time, Richmond's church had a total membership in excess of 1,700 members, two thirds of which were African-American ("1384 Negro and 333 white"). He was instrumental in organizing the First African church in Richmond in 1842, a church which took over the old First Baptist Church worship facilities. Jeter was also the first president of the Foreign Mission Board (1845-49) and in 1865, purchased the Religious Herald, Virginia Baptist's denominational paper. Thus, Jeter remained a prolific writer and editor until his death in 1880. Though having little formal academic training, Jeter made a decisive mark on the convention life of Southern Baptists during their crucial formative years.1
Below is an extended quote from Jeter's autobiography, The Recollections of a Long Life:
To the candid and fair discussion of doctrinal questions on which Christians differ there can be no objection. It is demanded by the love of truth and fidelity to Christ. Unfortunately, however, the religious controversies of those days were too often conducted in a bitter and abusive spirit. The aim of the contestants seemed to be, not to convince their hearers and win them to the truth, but to wound, overwhelm, and bringing into contempt their opponents. Had their hearers judged of Calvinists from the representations of Methodists, they must have concluded that the believers in predestination were not only infatuated, but on the high-road to the perpetration of all manner of crimes. "It came from hell," it was said, "and would be the means of conducting multitudes thither. If it were true, God would be worse than the devil." These violent assaults were returned by Calvinists in full measure, heaped up and running over. Said a preacher, who, by the sharpness of his sarcasm, had acquired the title of "The Arminian Skinner," "From fifty to a hundred souls are converted at a Methodist camp-meeting. In a little while they all fall from grace. What a disappointment! The poor souls were disappointed; the Methodists were disappointed; and God was disappointed. The only way to save Methodist converts is to cut off their heads and send them straight to heaven before they have an opportunity of falling from grace.
Jeter, Jeremiah Bell. The Recollections of a Long Life. Religious Herald Company, 1891. p.122.
1Routh, E. C., 1958. Southern Baptist Convention. Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists, 1, p.707.
2Picture courtesy of Stylos
"cut off their heads and send them straight to heaven before they have an opportunity of falling from grace."
Can you imagine the anguish, outcry and insinuations from young Neo-Cals today if this kind of language were used on their behalf.
I don't think they recognize satire in safe zones.
Posted by: Scott Shaver | 2016.11.07 at 11:58 AM
Speaking of intense discussions, you might enjoy this story.
"Addison Baker (Baptist) and Thos. Quarles (Methodist) lived on Kingdom Come Creek, in the commonwealth of Kentucky. They got into a controversy on infant baptism, and grew exceedingly warm. Baker advanced an argument that he considered unanswerable by his Methodist opponent, but he was in error. Quarles whipped out a pistol and shot Baker dead."
[Note: The above record came from Burnett's Budget, March 15, 1905, a paper published by a preacher of the Church of Christ/Stone-Campbell movement named T. R. Burnett. I have not found the story elsewhere, but Burnett appeared to be giving an historical record and not just humor. Kingdom Come Creek is an area in Letcher County, Kentucky. Burnett also wrote, "If that is the way they discuss the question in Kentucky, we do not wish to do any debating in that state. When Rev. J. C. Weaver reaches the argumentum ad pistolum in our present discussion on infant baptism, we expect to adjourn the debate."
Posted by: Robert Vaughn | 2016.11.07 at 01:44 PM
LOL. Excellent Robert. "No debating that state" for sure.
Posted by: Scott Shaver | 2016.11.07 at 04:19 PM
Can't say much for the ethical implications of Weavers debating style but you can't argue with the effectiveness of his tactics.
Posted by: Scott Shaver | 2016.11.07 at 04:22 PM
So much for, "Give me that good old time religion....,,"
Posted by: Lydia | 2016.11.07 at 08:55 PM
I don't know Lydia, good dose of it right now at mosh-pit YRR rally sounds ....therapeutic.
Posted by: Scott Shaver | 2016.11.08 at 03:52 PM
Not related to your topic other than by J. B. Jeter, this also reminded me of a humorous (and almost serious) story about him: Falling plaster and failing pastor
Posted by: Robert Vaughn | 2016.11.09 at 10:47 AM