Annotated Penfield Baptist Church Minutes Penfield, 11th May, 1839 At the request of sundry brethren at Penfield, the following ministering brethren attended, and formed a Presbytery, (to wit) C. D. Mallary, V. R. Thornton, W. M. Tryon, and B. M. Sanders, for the purpose of constituting a Church at this place. An appropriate Sermon was preached by B. M. Sanders; after which bro. C. D. Mallary was called to the Chair; and bro. Sanders appointed Clerk. The Presbytery formed to constitute the Penfield Baptist Church was made up of men with strong ties to Mercer Institute/Mercer University. Charles Dutton Mallary served as Agent 1837-1840 and was largely instrumental in raising Mercer’s first endowment fund. He wrote the book Memoir of Jesse Mercer. Vincent R. Thornton served on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention (1833-1838). Mercer Institute was under the direct supervision of this committee. Billington McCarthy Sanders was the President of Mercer Institute and served as general superintendent, teacher, steward and farmer. He was also the first President of Mercer University. Charles Dutton Mallary, Vincent R. Thornton, and Billington McCarthy Sanders were Mercer University Trustees and served until their deaths. William Melton Tryon was a ministerial student in the first class of Mercer Institute. In 1841 he went to Texas as a missionary and was one of the founders of Baylor University. The following persons handed in letters: - James Davant, Martha Davant, James H. Low, Ansel Albritton, Noah Hill, Tilitha Hill, his wife; William Richards, Ann Richards, Samuel Richards, Catherine Richards, Alfred Buckner, J. G. Polhill, Absalom E. Reeves and Eliza H. Reeves, his wife; Adiel Sherwood and Emma C. Sherwood; Edna Williams, John W. Attaway, B. F. Tharp, A. Wellborn, and H. Gibson. Articles of Faith and a Church Covenant were presented, and, with some additions suggested by the Presbytery, and fully accorded in by the candidates for constitution, and thus amended being fully approved by the Presbytery, prayer was made by bro. V. R. Thornton, and a charge delivered by bro. Wm. M. Tryon; bro. C. D. Mallary presiding in the Presbytery and guiding the examination of the candidates for constitution. B. M. Sanders, Sec’ry Articles of Faith 1st We believe the Bible to be the Word of God, written by men divinely inspired, and our only rule of faith and practice. 2nd We believe in one living and true God, existing in three persons- the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost- and these Three equal in wisdom, power and glory. 3rd We believe in the fall of man from his original righteousness, and in the utter depravity of his nature. 4th We believe that a man is wholly unable to recover himself from his lost and ruined state; but that his inability to obey God’s laws, consisting in the depravity and rebellion of his nature, furnishes no excuse for rejecting the call of the Gospel. 1 5th We believe in a covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son; the doctrine of election; effectual calling; justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ; regeneration by the Holy Spirit; the unchangeable love of God to his people, and their perseverance in grace to glory. 6th We believe in the resurrection of the body; the final judgment; the eternal happiness of the righteous, and the endless misery of the wicked. 7th We believe that a properly constituted Church of Christ, is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant in the fellowship of the Gospel, and governed by the laws of Christ. The offices of the Church are Bishop, or Pastor, and Deacons; the ordinances are Immersion and the Lord’s Supper; - the former to be administered to believers only, by an authorized administrator; and the latter to such persons only as are thus immersed. 8th We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, and to be kept holy and to religious purposes – works of necessity and mercy only being allowed. Church Covenant Having been, as we trust, brought by divine grace to embrace our Lord Jesus Christ, to give up ourselves wholly to Him, we solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other to walk together in Him, with all humility and brotherly love; to watch over each other for good, and to stir up each other to love and good works; not forsaking the frequent assembling of ourselves together to worship God according to his revealed will as occasion may require; to warn, rebuke and admonish each other according to the rules of the gospel, that the growth of the whole body in Christian knowledge and holiness, may be thereby promoted, to the end we may stand complete in all the will of God. For the same purpose, we will uphold the public worship of God, and the ordinances of his house, and hold constant communion with each other therein; we will cheerfully contribute of our property for the maintenance of a faithful ministry of the Gospel among us, and for the extension of the blessed Redeemer’s Kingdom Universally. We will not omit family and closet religion at home, nor allow ourselves in the too common neglect of the great and important duty of religiously training our children for the service of God and the enjoyment of heaven. We will, also, sympathize with each other in seasons of temptation and affliction, and be ready to distribute to the necessities of the saints. We will especially pray with and for each other; for the Church Universally; for the promised effusion of the Holy Spirit; for the prosperity of Zion, and the ingathering of the elect. And may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do his will, that we may not only enjoy a name and a place in his Church on earth, but finally unite with the glorious church of the First Born in Heaven, in ascribing blessing and honor, might, majesty and dominion to Him who sitteth on the Throne, and to the Lamb forever! Signed James Davant Wm. Richards A. E. Reeves 2 Martha Davant Ann Richards Eliza H. Reeves James H. Low Catherine Richards A. Sherwood Ansel Albritton Samuel Richards Emma Sherwood Noah Hill Jno. W. Attaway B. F. Tharpe Edna Williams A. Buckner A. Wellborn Taletha Hill J. G. Polhill H. A. Gibson James Davant and Adiel Sherwood were early Mercer University trustees. Benjamin F. Tharpe was a trustee from 1851-1893. John G. Polhill and William Richards were trustees 1838. Adiel Sherwood wrote the resolution proposing and leading up to the organization of the Georgia Baptist Convention. He offered the resolution at the Convention at Buckhead Church in Jenkins County that led to the founding of Mercer Institute. He wrote the book A Gazeteer of the State of Georgia. He pastored several churches including the First Baptist Church of Christ in Macon from 1828-1830. He was the first pastor of the Penfield Baptist Church and chair of Sacred Literature at Mercer Institute/Mercer University 1838-1841. Ancel Milton Albritton was born January 21, 1810 and died November 20, 1856. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Macon, Georgia. Noah Hill, Alfred Buckner, John G. Polhill, Absalom E. Reeves, Benjamin F. Tharpe, Abner R. Wellborn and H. Gibson were all Mercer Institute students. Benjamin F. Tharpe and Abner R. Wellborn were in the first graduating class of Mercer University. Some items on the account of B. F. Tharpe while a student at Mercer were: “candles 50c; Bible 62 ½ c; postage $1.75 ½; sewing first term $4.37 ½; quills 12 ½ c; mendng $1.50”. He served as Mercer Trustee 1851-1893. John W. Attaway was a teacher at Mercer Institute (1837-1838) and Assistant Professor at Mercer University (1839-1841). William Richards and his wife Ann were the parents of Catherine and Samuel Pearce Richards. Their children Jabez Judson, William Carey, and Amelia S. Richards also joined the Penfield Baptist Church. Samuel Pearce Richards enrolled as a Mercer student August 31, 1846. He kept a diary for sixty seven years which now belongs to the Atlanta History Center. Excerpts from the portion of his diary from 1860-1865 are featured in the book Sam Richards’s Civil War Diary. After leaving Penfield, Sam Richards and his brother, Jabez, opened a bookstore in Macon, Georgia. In October, 1861 they moved their bookstore to Atlanta. In his diary he gives a firsthand account of life in that city during the war. In September, 1864, General William T. Sherman forced the evacuation of Atlanta and Sam and his family moved to New York where they remained until August, 1865 at which time they returned to Atlanta. Rules of Decorum 1. The Pastor shall be considered, and shall act as, Moderator when present and when absent, the Conference shall appoint one, - the Moderator having the privilege to fill the Chair at any time by calling on some member present. 3 2. The Conference being organized, the following order shall be observed:- 1st- Open a door; 2ndly Call for references; 3rdly- Attend to new matter, if any, in order. 3. All free white male members shall attend every Conference either stated or occasional, and the Sisters as often as circumstances will permit. And every free white male member failing to attend two meetings in succession, shall, if present at the third, be called on for his reasons; if not present, shall be cited, and if he continues obstinate, shall be dealt with as other offences.