Semple - History of the Baptists in Virginia - Landmark Baptist

appointed the next day for fasting and prayer, and to strive to bring all to be of
one mind. At this session they split in their first business. Nothing could be
done on the first day. They appointed the next for fasting and prayer. They met
and labored the whole day, until an hour by sun in the afternoon, and could do
nothing, not even appoint a Moderator. The third day was appointed for the
same purpose, and to be observed in the same way. They met early and
continued together until 3 o’clock in the afternoon without having
accomplished anything. A proposal was then made that the Association should
be divided into three districts, that is, one in each State. To this there was an
unanimous consent at once.
Whereupon they appointed the first session for the Association in Virginia to
be holden at Thompson’s meetinghouse, in Louisa county, the last Saturday in
September, 1771.
For North Carolina, at Haw-River meeting-house; and For South Carolina, at
Seleuda.
The Association then dismissed, without transacting any other business. f45 It
was, however, privately agreed upon among the Virginia delegates to hold an
occasional session at E. Craig’s meeting-house, in Orange county, the second
Saturday in May, 1771. This was designed more particularly for the purpose of
forming regulations, etc.
They did accordingly meet in May, and as this was the first session of the
Virginia Separate Baptist Association, it will not be unacceptable to our
readers to insert the proceedings in full.
MINUTES OF THE FIRST SEPARATE BAPTIST
ASSOCIATION. F46
At an occasional Association, held at Craig’s meeting house, in Orange
county, second Saturday in May, 1771. By a private poll Samuel Harriss was
chosen moderator, and John Waller, Jr., clerk. The letters from the several
churches were read. The state of each was as follows: