The Cincinnati Preacher's Meeting - "A Little Fox"
Part Three
From the "Advocate and Messenger" July 1998
The brethren in attendance at the Waco Peace Meeting, 1946, elected to put an item (item 15) in their suggested principles of discipline, which stated verbatim the first sentence of the Nashville Peace Meeting's item 18. The 28 ministers that enforced this suggestion at the Waco Meeting were: Elders W. M. Avery, W. J. Blackmon, W. R.Blackmon, P. R. Burgin, H. D. Cash, W. J. Chambers, J. C. Collins, L. R. Ethridge, W. W. Fowler, L. P. Griffin, J. R. Hawkins, F. Janeway, V. J. Lowrance, Virgil Lowrance, E. Milholen, S. A. Nite, W. T. Tichie, S. L. Rivers, J. A. Rowell, O. Strickland, A. D. West, Ariel West, J. W. West, Marion West, R. E. Wilson, and A. D. Wood: Licentiates W. S. Blackshear and J. G. Fowler (There may have been others present and not listed in the minute).
Brethren that constituted the National Peace Meeting of Donaldson, Arkansas, l953, quoted item 15 from the Waco Meeting's minutes as part of their minutes under recommended principles of discipline. Ministers (14) named in the minutes, supporting this measure were: Elders Jesse Bass, J. M. Bullard, Oba M. Cummings, F. M. Griffin, G. E. Griffin, E. W. Hargett, J. D. Holder, S. J. Holt, B. R. Howze, V. F. Lowrance, E. C. Morrisett, M. W. Smith, O. Strickland and L. C. Swanner.
The participants of the Nashville Peace Meeting issued a stern declaration against practices which are considered departures from the original ground and principles of the Primitive Baptists: addition of unscriptural adjuncts. Support of their declaration echoed through both the Waco Peace Meeting and the National Peace Meeting. Notwithstanding the harmonious agreement (on first sentence of NPM item 18) of individuals comprising all three peace meetings, the Nashville group thought it expedient to further admonish the brethren and sisters. They expanded their advise by describing methods how unscriptural practices get into the church (included in the partial quote of item 18 Nashville Peace Meeting Minute).
I heard one of my fathers in the ministry, Elder J. B. (Ben) Lord, use the building of the ark as a figure to reject the notion of unscriptural additions to the gospel church. He indicated that when God told Noah to "Make thee an ark of gopher wood" that this statement of God excluded the use of every other tree in the forest from being used in the ark. It was not necessary for the Lord to further instruct Noah not to use beech, hickory, oak, cedar, poplar, pine, etc., for they were automatically excluded when He specified that gopher wood was to be used. This illustration was made to emphasize the point that we are not to introduce additions into the gospel church, even if the Scriptures are silent about their use in our church activities. We are to build on the foundation "that is laid" (I Cor. 3:10).
It was also said in the Baptist Witness article:
(2) . . . "The scriptures do not require preachers to meet with each other for admonition and encouragement but neither is any principle violated when they do so."
The Bible makes many references to the church as a place of peace. The apostle Paul describes it thusly to those that were called to be saints at Rome. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom. l4:17). Isaiah, over 700 years prior to Paul's statement to the Romans, wrote about the coming King and His kingdom; the peace He would acquire with His righteousness and the legacy of peace He would leave to His people. This prophet wrote, "And the works of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places" (Isa. 32:17-18).
Isaiah had said earlier, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). When Jesus the Prince of Peace came into the world He justified this prophecy by saying, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
When we, as the Lord's children, feel his presence in our lives and can realize the profoundness of His statement in John l6:33 we are indeed in a peaceable situation, for He said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." The view of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Overcomer brings peace to the soul that the world did not, and cannot, give; neither can it take it away. The apostle Paul speaks again and describes it to the Philippians by saying, "And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil.4:7).
Notwithstanding the peace of God that keeps our hearts through Christ Jesus, there is also a peace that we are to seek after. Peter referred to this peace by quoting from the 34th Psalm: "For he that will love life; and see good days, let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it" (I Pet. 3:10-11).
James said, "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace" (James 3:18). Some of our brethren in the past labored for peace and I have heard them complimentarily referred to as "peacemakers". There is no doubt the Savior was referring to men and women demonstrating the principles of peacemakers in their lives when he made the statement, "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God" (Matt. 5:9).
We are thankful for those elders, deacons, brethren and sisters who stood faithfully in times past, and for those that will continue to stand for peace and scriptural traditions of our forefathers. However, we are currently experiencing the introduction of new things, under the umbrella of liberalism, into the Primitive Baptist community which do not follow the pattern of contending for peace, for we hear voices of disturbance and concern from many area of our country because of the introduction of new, unscriptural and unprecedented practices (the preachers meeting in particular) under the pavilion of the Primitive Baptist name. The scriptural principle of peace has indeed been violated.
In recent years I have read letters and articles that contained some very abrasive and abusive language that brethren have written to and about each other. This saddens my heart. May I assure the readers of this instrument that it is not my intention to attack any brother or sister's person. But I do respectfully disagree, as I have indicated above, with some of their practices because it is obvious that brethren are stepping beyond the bounds of the scriptural traditions of our dedicated spiritual minded ancestors
I know that by taking a stand against Liberalism I subject myself to criticism, because some Primitive Baptist elders that have taken stands to preserve the traditions of the past have been accused (falsely. I think) of pressing for a division among Old Baptists. Allegations of this nature against brethren will not gravitate to the enhancement of the Primitive Baptist status quo but will rather have a negative effect. I reiterate a statement by Elder Waters when he said, "They tell us that it is 'Only the opposition to them (liberal practices--D.H.J.) who make the strife; but peace reigned until they brought these new things among us." Think about it!
Many faithful fathers in Israel have counseled the church through the ages. And, some of their counsel has been preserved in printed documents for the benefit of our generation. May we give serious consideration to it, and remember the words of Solomon when he said, "Where no counsel is the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Prov. 11:14).
Hopefully, the Lord will grant us grace, as Primitive Baptists, to repent and abandon practices that do not fit the church's scripturally designated foundation. Furthermore. may we hold the scriptural traditions of our fathers. Another quote from the Minute of the Nashville Peace Meeting and the National Peace Meeting reflects the recommendation of the brethren who attended them as to how we may achieve this goal. They said, "The best way, and the only way, for us to have and to enjoy the blessings of God, and for churches to grow and prosper, under God's blessings, is to teach and do just what God says do, and nothing more, remembering that what is more than He commanded is positively forbidden (Deut. 5:1-2) and Rev. 22:18-19).
In gospel bonds,
Elder Dennis H. Jones
Used by permission. 2002. The Primitive Baptist Library.
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