Semple - History of the Baptists in Virginia - Landmark Baptist

ASSOCIATIONS.
CHAPTER 5. — CONTAINING A HISTORY OF THE
GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF THE SEPARATE
BAPTISTS, FROM THEIR FIRST SESSION,
UNTIL THE DIVISION IN 1783.
AN Association is a council or assembly, composed of delegates or
representatives from each church within the bounds designated for that
purpose, the object of which is to take into consideration the welfare of the
churches, and to assist them by their counsel in the preservation of order and
discipline among themselves. Each church sends by their delegates a letter
directed to the Association. These letters inform the Association whom they
have deputed as delegates; what is the state and standing of the church; their
number, deaths, removals, additions and exclusions, etc. f39 The Baptist
churches are independent, and consequently the business of Associations is not
authoritative; they may advise, and indeed urge their advice, but cannot
compel.
The business of Associations is commonly drawn from the letters, being
inserted by the churches, by way of query. This, however, is not the only mode
of introducing it. The debates are generally short, and the whole business is
commonly completed in two days. In Virginia most, if not all the Associations,
include Sunday as one of the days for their being together. Nothing is attended
to on this day, except preaching, and the different parts of public worship. Vast
crowds in most places attend Associations for the purpose of hearing the
preaching. For, in addition to the ministrations of Sunday, the congregations
who assemble on the other days are entertained at some convenient place by
preachers sent out by the Association for that purpose. Therefore, besides the
good derived from the immediate business of an Association, the indirect
advantages are very great. From a conviction of this truth, the Dover
Association, in one of her circular letters, f40 inserts the following remarks:
“The indirect advantages of Associations can only be known by
experience. Those who have been accustomed to attend them have seen
and felt the blessings conveyed through them. We conceive it is no
inconsiderable advantage that an opportunity should be offered for
brethren to see each other. ‘As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man
sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.’ A second advantage is that