CJ,
Here is the history of the church as chronicled in the pamphlet I mentioned:
One Hundred Year Record
of
Antioch Primitive
Baptist Church*
The Antioch Church
in
Boone County, Indiana
Organization
On the fourth Saturday of February, 1870 at Parr school house, one
mile north of Big Springs, in section 23, township 19 north and range 2
east in Marion Township, Boone County, Indiana, a meeting was held by
twelve members holding letters of dismissal from the Primitive Baptist
Church of Eagle Creek, near Zionsville, preparatory to being constituted
into a Primitive Baptist church. James Hooper was chosen moderator and
William Richardson clerk of the meeting. Five churches were selected to be
visited to obtain help and the following appointments were made: Eagle
Creek, Benjamin M. Richardson; Brown's Wonder, Harman Newman; Little Flock,
William P. Jones; Providence, Thomas J. Jones; Mount Carmel, William
Richardson. Brown's Wonder, Little Flock, and Eagle Creek are situated in
Boone County. Providence in Tipton County, and Mount Carmel in Hancock
County.
The first Saturday and seventh day of May 1870, a meeting was held
at Parr school house and the churches called on for help responded as
follows:
Eagle Creek -- Eld. William Baker, A.F. Uitts and John H. Baker
Brown's Wonder -- Samuel West and Evan Evans
Little Flock -- Nicholas Yount
Providence -- Eld. Jesse Jackson, William J. Tyner and Benjamin
Southard
Mt. Carmel -- Eld. George Weaver, John Hanger and Henry Caudell
The council organized by choosing Eld. William Baker moderator and
William J. Tyner, clerk. Letters of recommendation were presented by twelve
(12) members of Eagle Creek Church; Articles of Faith and Rules of Decorum
were adopted and the Primitive Baptist Church of Antioch was organized.
Meetings were held at Parr school house until a building was
erected two miles north of Big Spring (in the southwest corner of section
12, township 19 north, and range 2 east, on 25/100 acre which William A.
Bell had deeded (for $35) April 5, 1870 to the trustees of the Old School
Baptist Church (James Hooper, William Richardson and Thomas J. Jones) and
their successors in office. On September 30, 1899 Anson M. Bell and Mary M.
Bell (owners of 80 acres in the southwest corner of section 12, which
William Bell owned in April 1870) deeded an adjoining 1/4 acre to the
trustees of the Regular Old School Baptist Church (George W. Whitehead,
James A. Nay, and Joseph A. McGee and their successors in office) for $40.
"And should said church ever cease to use said real estate as a site for a
house of worship for themselves then said real estate to revert to whoever
may at that time be the owner of the south 1/2 of south, 1/2 of southwest
1/4 of said section 12, township and range aforesaid." The original
building was remodeled in 1938-39 and electricity put in. The original
building was erected in 1872.
Charter Members
William P. Jones William Richardson
Minerva Jones Cordelia Richardson
Thomas Jones James Hooper
Martha J. Jones Harman Newman
Benjamin M. Richardson Nancy Wheeler
Anna Richardson Elizabeth Bailey
Articles of Faith
1.We believe in the one only true and living God, and that there are three
that bear record in Heaven, the Father, Word, and Holy Ghost and that these
three are One.
2. We believe Scriptures of the old and new testament to be of divine
authority and the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
3. We believe in the fall of man, and that Adam's family are sinners by
nature and have neither will nor power to save themselves from their
condemned and sinful state by their ability which they possess by nature.
4. We believe in election by Grace according as He has chosen us in Him
before the foundation of the world that we should be Holy and without blame
before Him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ unto Himself according to the good pleasure of His will.
5. We believe that sinners are justified by the righteousness of God which
is in Jesus Christ imputed to them by a supernatural operation of the
Spirit of God through faith unto salvation.
6. We believe that baptism and the Lord's supper are ordinances of Jesus
Christ appointed in His church and none but true believers are fit
subjects for either, and Scriptural form of baptism by immersion.
7. We believe no minister has a right to administer these ordinances only
such as have been regularly baptized, called and come under the imposition
of hands of a presbytery by the authority of the Church of Jesus Christ.
8. We believe in the resurrection of the bodies both of the just and the
unjust, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, but they
have done evil to the resurrection of damnation, and that God has
appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus
Christ and the joys of the righteous will be eternal, and punishment of the
wicked everlasting.
Rules of Decorum
1. The business of the church to be done on the first Saturday in each
month beginning immediately after worship.
2. A moderator or moderators to be chosen by a majority of voices and until
another is chosen he is to preside in the church while at business. He is
to keep order, but always under control of a majority of the church. He is
to withhold his own opinion until all other members who wish to speak have
spoken except by the request of the church. He shall take the voice of the
church when called upon for that purpose.
3. When the church has met after worship the members of Sister Churches to
be invited to seats of council may give their light on any subject but
shall not vote in the decision of the case.
4. The moderator shall then inquire, are all in fellowship or "has any one
a matter of complaint to bring forward" that has been treated in Gospel
Order.
5. The door then to be declared open for the reception of members.
6. The unfinished business "if there be any" shall now be attended to.
7. Any brother with a motion or speech to make in the church shall arise
from his seat and address the moderator with brotherly respect. A motion
thus made shall not be attended to without a second.
8. No brother to be interrupted while speaking except if he depart from the
subject in which case the moderator, or any other member, may call him to
order, of which point of order the Church shall judge when appealed to for
that purpose.
9. No brother shall speak more than twice on any one subject without leave
of the church, nor shall there be any ungenerous reflection on a brother
who has spoken before.
10. In all cases where there is a choice to be made, it shall be by private
ballot except otherwise ordered by the unanimous consent of the church.
The one that receives the highest number of votes to be declared elected.
11. All business brought into the church shall be decided by a majority of
the members, except in the great affair of receiving members into the
church in which unanimity is required.
12. The moderator, clerk, and trustees to be chosen annually at the May
meeting.
13.It shall be the duty of the clerk to record all the acts of the Church
from time to time, file all papers and letters belonging to the same. At
the close of each meeting read the minute subject to any amendment the
Church may direct, write letters of dismission when authorized by the
Church, keep record of all the members names, when and how received, and
when and how dismissed and discharge all other duties common to the office
of the clerk.
14. That brotherly love may continue the direction given in the 18th of
Matthew by the Savior are to be followed in all cases so far as possible
in treating with our Brethren and in all uncommon cases, the church to be
the judge and all public transgressions acknowledgments shall be
made to the Church.
15. All business transacted by motion and second shall be recorded.
16. If any member be absent from three successive meetings of business of
the Church unless sufficient cause be known, it shall be the duty of
the Church to make inquiry of the cause.
The Church was a member of the Conns Creek Association.
Their first meeting was with Bethel Church, Johnson Co., Sept.
2-3-4, 1870. Wm. P. Jones, J. Hooper and Harman Newman were messengers.
The last time the church convened with the association was Aug. 25,
26, 27, 1939.
This was the last meeting of the Conns Creek Association.
Present members of the Church are as follows:
Gladys Denny -- 1917
Orpha Sparrow West -- 1927
Esther Ballard Williams -- 1927
Homer J. Cox -- 1931
Raymond C. Jones -- 1931
Mable Eberwein Cox -- 1931
Hazel Jones -- 1931
Florence Jones Newby -- 1933
Ruth Cobb Godby -- 1934
Vivian Bouse -- 1934
A.B. Ballard -- 1934
A.T. Ballard -- 1935
Ruth Cox -- 1938
Arnold Cox -- 1938
Mildred Mellette -- 1941
Elmer Mellette -- 1941
Charlotte Shook Greene -- 1947
Harvey Greene -- 1947
Deloris Lindenmayer -- 1948
Kenneth Lindenmayer -- 1957
Elizabeth Jones -- 1957
Elizabeth Jones -- 1957
Cheryel Greene -- 1958
Opal Whitehead -- 1962
Keith West -- 1967
Irene West -- 1967
Present Officers of the Church are as follows:
Pastor -- Elder Cecil Fuson
Deacon -- Bro. Elmer Mellette
Clerk -- Elder Raymond C. Jones
Moderator -- Elder Cecil Fuson
Trustees -- Bros. Elmer Mellette, Kenneth Lindenmayer and Homer J. Cox
The following Elders have served as Pastor of the Church:
First Pastor -- Eld. Jesse Jackson, 1870, jointly with Eld. Joel Kemper
Eld. Jesse Jackson and Eld. Wm. P. Jones -- 1872-1874
Eld. Wm. P. Jones and Eld. A.B. Nay -- 1875-1876
Eld Wm. P. Jones and Eld. T.J. Jones -- 1876-1900
Eld. Geo. Wright assisted Elder T.J. Jones -- 1901-1902
Elder T.J. Jones served -- 1902-1913
Elder S.J. West to assist Eld. T.J. Jones -- 1913-1917
Elder L.B. Reagan on 3rd Sunday each month -- 1917
Elder T.J. Jones served -- 1876-1927
Elder S.J. West -- 1927-1941
Elder G.B. Greene assistant -- 1935-1941
Elder Noah Ford -- Pastor -- 1941-1949
Elder Noah Ford honorary Pastor and Elder Levi Williams, Pastor --
1949-1952
Elder Ernest Bradley -- 1952-1953
Elder Cecil Fuson -- Oct. 1953 -- Still serving
Elder Raymond C. Jones and Elder Homer J. Cox are now serving at
the third Sunday meetings.
The following were clerks of Antioch Church:
William Richardson -- May 1870 to July 1870
Thomas J. Jones -- May 1870 to May 1875
Jedson Wheeler -- June 1875 till death Mar. 1891
Enoch R. Worley -- June 1891 to May 1902
Jonathan E. West -- June 1902 to May 1912
Frank Mellette -- June 1912 to May 1917
Emmaline Wheeler -- June 1917 - May 1926
Flora Kraus -- June 1926 - May 1932
William Sparrow -- June 1932 - May 1934
Raymond Jones -- June 1934 - Still Serving
Elders of Church Ordained
Eld. Wm. P. Jones -- June 6, 1872
Eld. Thomas J. Jones -- June, 1876
Eld. Rudolf Calhoun -- July 3, 1897
Eld. Samuel J. West -- Oct. 5, 1912
Eld. William Hooper -- July 3, 1897
Eld. Raymond C. Jones -- Dec. 29, 1945
Eld. Homer J. Cox -- Dec. 29, 1945
Eld. Harvey Greene -- April 18, 1959
Deacons Ordained
Thomas J. Jones -- 1872
Benjamin Southard -- 1874
George W. Whitehead -- 1877
J. E. West -- 1907
W.W. Hughett -- 1912
Fred Shook -- July 1943
Elmer Mellette -- July 1943
There have been 177 members in the 100 years of the Church.
Communion Services are at the May and November meetings.
We feel that we have been blessed of God that we might have love and
fellowship among ourselves, and all of God's people. And, we trust that His
blessings continue to be with us.
We pray that God will continue to look upon us with favor and that we may
meet and worship and praise His Holy Name.
_____________________________________________________________________
* The information contained herein is taken from a pamphlet prepared in
1970 by Roy Bernis Jones, the uncle of my father, Leonard Robb Jones. The
pamphlet was given to me shortly before my father's death in 1984. It is
obviously not up to date but still serves as a chronicle (hopefully
accurate) of an important period in my family's history as well as others
in that part of Boone County. I have copied the seven pages of the pamphlet
as is and have not changed grammar or spelling even though there are a few
questionable entries.
A handwritten message on the front of the pamphlet says: At the 1911
Conference at Antioch, Elder T.J. Jones, Elder L.B. Reagan, and Elder J.H.
Oliphant were the preachers.
In addition, there are handwritten notes from my father indicating that
George W. Whitehead was my dad's grandfather Whitehead, that Joseph A.
McGee was married to my grandfather's cousin, that Nancy Wheeler was my
grandmother's aunt and that each of the Jones family members mentioned were
relatives.
Kenneth Jones, 2001