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FREE WILL BAPTISTS IN HISTORY: voices from the past
Free Will Baptists have a fascinating and diverse history. Find out more about the Free Will Baptist movement as you read the biographies and autobiographies of men and women who changed the course of history, from John Colby to David Marks and Benjamin Randall.
Clockwise: John Buzzell, Ephraim Stinchfield, John Colby, and David Marks
Thanks to Baptist Library Online and Google Books. |
PLEASE NOTE: These historical documents may or may not represent the current position of Free Will Baptists on any given issue.
Many files are Adobe Acrobat (pdf) files. They are quite large and may take a long time to appear on your computer. For ease of viewing, download only the files in which you are interested and read them at your leisure.
IN THE SOUTH: THE PALMER MOVEMENT
Eugene Louis (E.L.) St. Claire, D.D., Ph.D remains one of the most prominent evangelists in the history of the Free Will Baptist Movement. This article, originally published by Ayden Free Will Baptist Printing Company, gives readers a brief overview of the doctrine and beliefs of the Southern Movement in the mid- to late-1800s. The article is accompanied by, "A Prince and a Great Man," a biographical sketch of the author written by the late Laura Bell Barnard.
Elder Rufus K. (R.K.) Hearn was a leading minister of the Free Will Baptist General Conference of North Carolina during the mid- to llate-1800s. Long time pastor of the Gum Swamp Free Will Baptist Church, he also served as the editor of The Free Will Baptist, longest-running Free Will Baptist periodical. In this article, published sometime during the 1860s, Hearn traces the shadowy history of the early Free Will Baptist Movement in North Carolina.
Enjoy excerpts from this handy, one-volume reference book that introduces who we are, where we came from, what we believe, what God has done through us in the past, and what He is doing through us today. Order this book from Randall House Publications.
Journey through the history of Free Will Baptists, from historical roots in England to the new world, and through the centuries. This summary of Free Will Baptist history is in simple, easy-to-read format, that every student of history can enjoy.
IN THE NORTH: THE RANDALL MOVEMENT
Compiled by a committee elected at the 1832 General Conference, the original Treatise was published by Dover Press (then owned by David Marks) after being approved by the succeeding annual conference. The committee, consisting of Elders John Buzzell, Henry Hobbs, Enoch Place, Joseph White, and Hosea Quinby, compiled the short book to present a cohesive statement of the doctrines held by the churches in the Free-will Baptist Connexion. Use the link above to download the Treatise in .pdf format.
This significant work details the lives and organization of early Free Will Baptists. Compiled over a two-year period, this illustrated book published in 1889, remains one of the most significant sources of FWB history. The Cyclopedia was compiled by G. A. Burgess and J. T. Ward.
A. D. Williams made significant contributions to the Free Will Baptist movement as an editor, pastor, educator, and home missionary. Editor of the Freewill Baptist Quarterly, he helped to establish FWB works in West Virginia, Nebraska, and Minnesota. He published several books including the Rhode Island Free Will Baptist Pulpit. In later years he became President of Oakland City College and helped establish the continued success of this General Baptist university. This biography was published by D. B. Montgomery, 1905.
The Life and Influence of Benjamin Randall by Frederick Wiley. "As with the heavenly bodies, so with some earthly bodies, in contemplation of them, we may "think God's thoughts after him." As with the heavenly bodies, so with Benjamin Randall. In his sterling ancestry, his eventful career, and his glorious ascension to the life more abundant, we have a clear illustration of the design, the providence, and the grace of God."
Clement Phinney was a Free Will Baptist evangelist born in Gorham, Maine in 1780. He ministered faithfully as an evangelist. Written by D. M. Graham, this volume provides fascinating details about his life and ministry. Special thanks to Dr. Danny Conn for providing this text.
Written by Colby himself, this volume details his remarkable life and experiences. Colby only lived from 1787-1817. In those 30 short years he literally spent himself sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. You will be blessed by the life and ministry of this great Free Will Baptist evangelist.
Browse a variety of resources related to the life of David Marks, including his farewell to the FWB people, his final sermon, his funeral sermon preached by Charles Finney, and a selection of Marks' sermons in his own hand.
Charles Bowles was born in Boston in 1751. His father was an African servant, his mother the daughter of Revolutionary War hero Col. Morgan. The book traces Bowles' life, from his marriage to "his cousin" to his religious conversion and his life as a Free Will Baptist minister. The book includes two essays. The first denounces America's "negro-hate" and its effort "to drive the colored man from within the pale of human society." The second, by Rev. Authur Dearing urges readers to civil disobedience, because the Fugitive Slave Act is contrary to Natural Rights. The book gives its readers a glimpse into Free Will Baptist’s connection with the Abolition Movement of the 19th century.
Published from 1853-1869, in seventeen volumes, the quarterly contained essays addressing subjects from Islam to the inspiration of Scripture, Slavery to the biblical role of the pastor. The pages of the quarterlies paint a vivid picture of the Free-will Baptist movement in the north during the mid-19th century.
GENERAL RESOURCES:
A long-forgotten letter from pioneer missionary Winford Davis details the origin of early Free Will Baptist missions work on the island of Cuba. The remarkable document is summarized by historian Jack Wiliams in a brief article. Download the entire letter in .pdf format.
Some historical documents courtesy of Baptist Library Online, Mark Powell webmaster.
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