A BIT OF BAPTIST HISTORY

Transcription

1 A BIT OF BAPTIST HISTORY Dr. Paschal in his History of North Carolina Baptists relates the wonderful conversion of Elnathan Davis, which occurred after he went to a meeting to laugh at the Baptists. He became an earnest and effective minister and went afield as many others did to preach. His ministry fell in the time when the Sandy Creek Church was the base from which the Gospel spread through parts of North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. went to South Carolina and served churches in the Saluda Association, where he was known to be as late as Some days ago, while I was preaching in a meeting at the He himself Griffin Church near Pickens, S. C., I chanced to find Elnathan Davis' grave. It is marked by a rude soapston~ slab which has, the following inscription: Elnat Han Davis Was born No'!r. 1, 1735 And died December, 1821 From old people in the community I learned that his home was near where the church now stands. owned the land. County records show that he He was buried on his farm, close by the grave of his little son who had died shortly before by drowning. Thirtyfive years after his death a church was built near the little cemetery, due in large measure no doubt to his ministry. says that his preaching did not always please. Tradition People would sometime spit at him, and on at least one occasion a woman slapped his face as he was preaching. And it is affirmed that he paid no attention to the insults, so intent was he on the effect of his work. Maybe such devotion partly explains the marvelous growth of the early days. L. E. M. FREEMAN. BIBLICAL RECORDER, September 7, 1932, p. 15:2 205/B47

2 NAME: Davis, E1nathan, 1735 DATA: b. Baltimore county, Md., 9 Nov. 1735; bred a Seventh Day Bapt.; came to Haw River, N. C., 1757; ord. Sandy Creek, N. C., 13 Nov. 1770; sett., Haw River (Chatham), N. C., ; sett. S. C., ; 1iv. Saluda Association, S. C., 1813; Bapt. SOURCE: The Colonial Clergy of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. By: The Reverend Frederick Lewis Weis Page: 61. I,

3 DAVIS, REV. ELNATHAN, was born in Maryland in 1739; his parents were Seventh-Day Baptists, but he was wild and reckless. "He heard that one John Steward was to be baptized on a certain day by Mr. Stevens; the candidate was a very large man, and the minister small of stature, and he concluded that there would be some diversion, if not drowning, and so he gathered eight or ten of his companions in wicknedness and went to the spot. When Mr. Stevens commenced his sermon Elnathan drew near to hear him, while his companions stood at a distance. He was no sooner in the throng than he perceived that some of the people trembled as if in an ague fit. He ran to his companions, but the charm of Steven's voice drew him to the listening multitude again. He with many others, sank to the ground; when he came to himself he found nothing in himself but dread and anxiety. He ~btained relief by putting his trust in Jesus." He was baptized on a profession of his faith, and he began at once to preach Jesus. He moved to North Carolina in 1757, and was ordained in 1764 by the celebrated Samuel Harriss, of Virginia. He remained ln North Carolina till 1798, when he settled in South Carolina, in the bounds of the Saluda Association, and he labored in that region till his death. Mr. Davis was a miracle of mercy and a useful minister of Jesus. THE BAPTIST ENCYCLOPEDIA, page: 311 BY: William Cathcart 920/C28

4 ELDER ELNATHAN DAVIS. "Mr. Davis was born in Baltimore county, Maryland 1735, was bred a Seventh-day Baptist; went to Slow River, N. C., in 1757; was baptized by Elder Shubael Stearns, at Sandy Creek, and ordained by Elder Samuel Harris, in 1764; continued in N. C., until 1798, when he removed to South Carolina, and settled ln the bounds of the Saluda Association." An interesting account of his conviction and conversion was given in the biographical sketch of Elder Stearns. Mr. Davis was a man of considerable abilities, and was the leading Baptist minister, after the death of Elder Stearns, in the bounds of the Sandy Creek Association. For a number of years before he moved to S~uth Carolina, he resided on Dry creek, in Chatham County, N. C. A HISTORY OF THE SANDY CREEK BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, page. 297 By: George W. Purefoy 286/Sa49p

5 REV. ELNATHAN DAVIS Born, Nov. 9, 1735, in Baltimore county, Maryland. Bred a seventh-day baptist; lived near James's river in Virginia to the year 1757 when he carne to Hawriver. Stearns of Sandy-creek. Harris. Baptized by Shubal Ordained Nov. 13, 1764 by Rev. Sm. Married Mary Collins by whom he has children, Ruth, Benjamin, Elizabeth, James, Jonathan. He is no schollar yet very successful. ~is conversion carne to pass in this manner He had heard that on John Stward was to be baptized, such a day, by Mr. Stearns; now this Steward, being a very big man, and Shubal Stearns of small stature, he concluded there would be some diversion if not drowning; therefore he gathered about 8 or \ 10 of his companions in wickedness and went to'the spot. Shubal Stearns carne and began to preach; Elnathan went to hear him while his companions stood at a distance. He was no sooner among the crowd but he perceived some of the people tremble as ~f ln a fit of the ague: he felt and examined them in order to find it it was not a dissimulation: meanwhile one man, leanred on his shoulder, weeping bitterly; Elnathan, perceiving he had wet his white new coat, pushed him off and ran to his companions who were sitting on a log, at a distance; when he came one said, "Well, Elnathan, what do you think now of these damned people?" He replied "There is a trembling and crying spirit among them: but whether it be the spirit of God or the devil I don't know; it if be the devil, the devil go with them; for I will never more venture my self among them." He stood a while in that resolution; but the enchantment of Stearns's voice drew him to the crowd once more. He had not been long there before the trembling seized him also; he attempted to withdraw; but his strength failing and his understanding confounded he, with many other, sunk to the ground. When he carne to himself he found nothing in him but dread and anxiety, bordering on horror. found relief by faith in Christ. He continued in this situation some days, and then Immediately he began to preach conversion work, raw as he was, and scanty as his knowledge must have been. (Typescript of MATERIALS TOWARDS A HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN THE PROVINCE OF NORTH CAROLINA, v. 4. By Morgan Edwards, p /Ed9

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