The following article entitled "Getting Mixed" was written by Elder C. H. Cayce and reveals some of the problems which led to the 1937 peace meeting in Nashville. Many of the things causing trouble then are the exact same things being promoted by the Liberal/Progressives of today. The dates and names could easily be replaced with today's liberals and the article with very few modifications would apply today. The article also gives some significan't details about the Kirkland's and Elder H. A. Todd who were trouble makers around 1900 and were in attendance at the National convention of Primitive Baptist held at Fulton Kentucky. The Kirkland's later advocated a national organization for the Primitive Baptist. The astute reader of the published work of the national Fulton Kentucky meeting can detect their attempted influence. They left the Primitive Baptist for the missionaries but as this article indicates, they came back in the 1930's to cause more trouble among the Primitive Baptists.

This article adds to the evidence that the Church has been attacked on a regular basic by a liberal/progressive spirit since the 1830 split of the Baptist family. Sadly the most recent movement has not been dealt with as the brethren did in 1900 and 1937. Those movements were opposed publicly with the names and departures of faith of the named person revealed for the soldiers of the cross to have the knowledge and understanding needed to stand against their adversaries. An attempt was made in the Pitts and Cranberry resolutions to rally the old line Primitive Baptists to make a stand against the present movement but neither of these got wide support outside their own areas, mainly because the majority of Primitive Baptists churches were ripe for the liberal picking due to their following the liberal preachers pernicious ways. The Pitts resolution also failed to get Old line support from some quarters because it was perceived as being outside of church sponsorship.

The old saying "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it" sure seems to be demonstrated in today's political as well as spiritual warfare. Emerging from the latest attack on the true church is what I call "The Hybrid Primitive Baptist" who mixes some of their own clothing with the apparel furnished by the churches Husband. Isaiah's description of those in his time aptly applies to the hybrid Primitive Baptist of today. "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, we will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach." Isaiah 4:1 Elder Claude McKee

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Getting Mixed
February 8, 1934

 

It seems to us that some brethren are getting some things rather mixed over east of the Mississippi River. It seems that nearly a year ago Elder W. A. Bishop introduced some practices into his church in Jackson, Tenn., which Primitive Baptists have never endorsed and have not been accustomed to, which resulted in his withdrawal, with some others, who met at Elder Bishop's home and organized a church on a more "liberal" plan. Some of the things objected to were the use of a Campbellite song book and a Sunday school. Of course, Elder Bishop and those with him did not call it a Sunday school. They never call the thing that when they first introduce it. It is usually called a Bible class, or some other name thought to be less offensive; but it always turns out to be the same fox.

It appears from a clipping from the Weakley County Press, Martin, Tenn., of March 17, 1933, that Elder Cayce Pentecost, of Dresden, assisted in the organization of this church. A statement from Elder Bishop in a Jackson paper of March 20, 1933, says:

The minority of the members that attended church brought certain charges against the majority and demanded that certain practices must be stopped and removed. The objections were set out as practicing Bible study at the church on each Lord's Day, singing religious hymns from a little song book called "Wonderful Songs," and passing the collection plates, when receiving he Lord's Day offering. We were not satisfied to separate ourselves from these practices and rather than be in confusion and continue strife in the church we asked for letters of dismissal in order that we might organize ourselves into a church where we could worship our Lord according to the dictates of our own conscience and in the light of God's revealed word.

This shows, of itself, what brought their trouble and the division. All people who know anything about Primitive Baptists know that they do not have Sunday schools, and that they are opposed to them. They are foreign to God's word, and the thing is an invention of men. The first Sunday school was instituted by Robert Raikes, in Gloucester, England, as all historians know, for the purpose of teaching the children of the poor to read and write. Some years later it was adopted by the churches of the world as a nursery for the church, and to teach and train children so that they might be made children of Godto bring them into a higher order of life by training and teaching. Some have claimed that they may be so taught from their infancy that they may never become sinners, but be saved without the necessity of regeneration on account of such training and teachings. The introduction of such a thing in the church is clearly a flagrant departure from the principles and practices of the Primitive Baptists. Well, from another Tennessee paper we see under date of August 1, that "Elder Harry Todd, the noted Dresden preacher, is preaching for the Primitive Baptist meeting at Greenfield. Also Elders Cayce Pentecost and A. B. Ross are to be present. Large crowds and fine "interest." This item is dated from Brock's Chapel, August 1. We also have a clipping from a Tennessee paper stating that a Primitive Baptist revival will begin in Dresden, it seems, "on the fourth Sunday in August, and Elder Harry A. Todd, well known and popular evangelist, will assist the pastor."

Another clipping, headed "Meeting at Palmersville," says that "the days of meeting at the Palmersville Primitive Baptist Church will begin the third Sunday in August. Elder Bishop, of Jackson, will assist the pastor, Elder Miller." Before we left Tennessee this church was not recognized as being an orderly Primitive Baptist Churchif this is the same church which was there when we left there, and we have not head of it going down or being moved or getting in line with the churches in that section. That church was in line with the Kirklands in their departures from Primitive Baptist doctrine and practice.

The Elder Todd is the noted Elder Todd who went to the Missionaries several years ago, along with the Kirklands, Strickland, Hackleman, and others. Instead of being restored where he lost his identity he was received by South College Street Church, Nashville, Tenn., and that church has been dropped from the roll of churches in the Cumberland Association on this account. We understand that Elder Harry has a son who was also with the Missionaries, and that be was also received by that church in Nashville. Wonder if he has been ordained yet? We understand that he is also a preacher.

Elder Todd stayed with the Missionaries a long time. Wonder if he is satisfied with the old doctrine and order of the Primitive Baptists.

We see, also, that one of our exchanges still has the name of Elder Bishop on the editorial staff. Wonder if the editor approves of such a mixture as this?

It seems to us that it is about time for somebody to call a halt. The Primitive Baptists, long ago, spoke out against these progressive measures. Such things are a departure from the order of God's house. If allowed to spread they will only cause more trouble. It is strange to us that preachers will try to introduce such departures in the Old Baptist Church. If a man endorses such things it would be commendable for him to leave the Old Baptists and go where they are, and where they are endorsed, and then stay there, and let the Old Baptists alone. Why trouble them with such "progressive" measures? Why introduce such things among them as they have never practiced, and which they have always condemned? We wish the brethren would let such things alone, and let the old church go on in peace.

Remember that when there is a division in the church that the party who is responsible for the division is the party who has the things that caused the division. Progressive measures and things foreign to the original doctrine and practice of the church being introduced by William Carey and Andrew Fuller caused a division then, and from those measures sprang the Fullerites, commonly called Missionary Baptists. Such will always bring strife, confusion and division in the church. If you do not want a division, and do not want to be responsible for one, then let those things severely alone which the church has always rejected. May the good Lord help us all to continue in "the good old way," to ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein," is our humble prayer.

We have not written this with any feeling or degree of malice or with a view to strife, but from a feeling sense of duty to give the cry of alarm, and to utter a note of warning. C. H. C.