Semple - History of the Baptists in Virginia - Landmark Baptist

We are not to look for regularity and method among a people whose only study
was the prosperity of vital godliness. No church had been regularly constituted
in Virginia at the time of either of these Associations. It would seem, however,
that those two mentioned in the list were sufficiently numerous to exercise the
privileges of a church, and were therefore admitted into the Association. The
chief business of these Associations was to receive petitions and to appoint
preachers to travel into new places where the Gospel was likely to flourish.
“We continued together (says the manuscript of James Read, who was
present) three or four days. Great crowds of people attended, mostly
through curiosity. The great power of God was among us. The
preaching every day seemed to be attended with God’s blessing. We
carried on our Association with sweet decorum and fellowship to the
end. Then we took leave of one another with many solemn charges
from our reverend old father Shubal Stearns, to stand fast unto the
end.”
At their next Association multitudes, both of friends and strangers, came, many
from a great distance. The Rev. John Gano, from New England, was there. He
was sent, it seems, to inquire into the state of these New Light Baptists. He was
received by Stearns with great affection. But the young and illiterate preachers
were afraid of him, and kept at a distance. They even refused to invite him into
their Association. All this he bore patiently, sitting by while they transacted
their business. He preached also every day. His preaching was in the Spirit of
the Gospel. Their hearts were opened, so that before he left them they were
greatly attached to him. So superior were Mr. Gano’s talents for preaching that
some of the young and unlearned preachers said they felt as if they never could
undertake to preach again. This Association was also conducted in love, peace
and harmony. When Mr. Gano returned to his own country, being asked what
he thought of these Baptists, replied, that “doubtless the power of God was
among them; that although they were rather immethodical, they certainly had
the root of the matter at heart.” f43
At their third Association it seems they were gratified with the most pleasing
accounts of the great spread of the Gospel. Very many requests were also sent
from various quarters for preachers to be sent them. They had a very happy
Association.
The Associations continued thus happy and thus increasing, insomuch, that at
their fifth or sixth session, it appears they received delegates from some
churches as high up as the mountains, and from thence to the ocean. In 1767,
some of the Spotsylvania preachers attended the Association, and obtained the
attendance of a presbytery, to constitute their first church. The sessions were
all held in the vicinity of Stearns and the older preachers. The younger ones,