Friends, Having received a private inquiry about early members at Bankston's Fork, I will submit the following for your consideration. The Bankston's Fork church I was referring to, was organized in about 1818 or 1819, and its charter members are unknown at this time, as far as I know. Most of the names of its members of which I have knowledge were learned as follows: they were dismissed from Bankston's Fork to organize Bethel's Creek, Ten Mile, Middle Fork of Saline (Old Ruff), and Lick Creek. Some names are also proveable, from the minutes of the Muddy River Association which lists the messengers from each church annually, and of course Bankston's fork are given as well as the others. Ralph Harrelson's proof (of the error made by Elder T. Leo Dodd in his history of Brushy Fork church) was derived from the fact that Brushy Fork Church, near Harco, was listed as a member of Muddy River Association from 1843 or so, and Bankston's Fork was listed or mentioned later than that date, and since Bankston is known to have existed after Brushy was formed, Brushy could not be a continuation or reorganization of Bankston. I agree with this, and my notes indicate that Bankston's Fork church dissolved in 1849. The Bankston church you are referring to was evidently organized later with the same name, but has no claim (to the best of my knowledge) to any connection as to date of constitution, with the earlier Bankston church of 1820 date. I have a list of over 75 names of people who were early members at Bankston's Fork church in my database, who were lettered out to form other churches of which the records do exist. BTW, regarding the emancipation baptists, may I add, that there was a division among the Baptists of Kentucky, and Illinois, over [NOT whether slavery was wrong or not, but RATHER, should they fellowship Baptist churches who allowed their members to hold slaves.] Everyone knows, that Baptists in Virginia held slaves, and many in Kentucky also held slaves, and many of those people who opposed slavery strenously moved to Illinois, Ohio, and took an anti-slavery position. Some of the early Primitive Baptists in Illinois who were principal actors in the division over "missions" were at the same time strong voices and votes AGAINST slavery in the legislature. Not all Illinois PB's were opposed to slavery, but most of them were against non-fellowshiping all the Baptists in Kentucky who had slaves. I have done a lot of serious study of these early churches in southern Illinois, as they are crucial to an understanding of what really happened among the Baptists of Illinois. I am open to correction, as I just want to know the facts as they really are. Sincerely, Robert Webb ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.