TIP #237 - EARLY CUSTOMS and OFFICES OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH and OUTREACH This will be the concluding article for a time on the old Baptist Churches; I will later hopefully list more of the church names and more on other denominations. RULING ELDERS were found in most of the early churches. This term was unknown in the New England Baptists and SPENCER believed that it was introduced to the church in Virginia where the Baptists there borrowed it from the Puritans. It was a confusion for the early Kentucky churches and discussed at many associational meetings. The office finally faded from the records. LAYING ON OF HANDS. This was a ceremony used by the early Baptists of Virginia and Kentucky as well as other areas. It was the final rite administered to candidates for church membership. After a believer was baptized, the pastor laid his hands on the head of each candidate and gave him words of encouragement, admonition and prayer. Spencer notes that this had been discontinued for many years, but I personally have seen the practice in most modern times. THE WASHING OF THE FEET. This was a common practices in the early Baptist Church, and although Spencer said it was no longer found, in many areas of Kentucky and the United States, this is still practiced; as well in other denominations. This was found among the Regular Baptists and Separate Baptists. It was celebrated along with the Lord's Supper and baptism. QUARTERLY MEETINGS. These were not business meetings and were found also in the Methodist Church. They were appointed by the Association, and held at one of the churches in that association. They lasted for 3 days and was a time of prayer, preaching, exhortation and singing. There were 4 of these meetings held a year. UNION MEETINGS. These were the same as the quarterly meetings, although occasionally one union meeting was held a year and was known as the yearly meeting. THE CHINA MISSION ASSOCIATION: First called ROBERTS Fund and China Mission Association, operated as a medium for the foreign missions operations of the western states. The board was located in Louisville and only had one missionary, Issachar J. ROBERTS. It published for a short time the Chinese Advocate. In 1840 it became an auxiliary to the American Road of Foreign Missions located in Boston. In 1843 the name was changed to the China Mission Society of Kentucky; it withdrew in 1845 and became an auxiliary of the American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. In 1848, the name was again changed to the Kentucky Foreign Mission Society, under which name it stayed until 1851 when it dissolved. THE INDIAN MISSION ASSOCIATION was created to embrace the friends of the Red Men in the Mississippi Valley. Beginning as early as 1801, the group started to spread the Gospel to the Red Men. Isaac McCOY from Louisville was corresponding secretary. The Indian Advocate was published in Louisville; the association dissolved in 1850. AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY. Constituted in 1832 to foster preaching of the Gospel in North America. The executive board, still in existence at the publication of SPENCER'S books, was located in New York City. It is a benevolent society, which in 1845 became an auxiliary to the Southern Baptist convention. THE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY: Constituted in 1837, was prosperous and efficient in the beginning Its object was to translate the Bible into a more accurate version and in all languages. THE KENTUCKY AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY: Operated until 1850 when it dissolved. THE WESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. Located at Covington. A school was located in Covington in 1840 and was very poorly run. It improved and from 1852 enjoyed a good reputation. In 1855 the property was sold. THE MINISTERIAL EDUCATION SOCIETY was constituted in October 1844. It was to "aid in acquiring a suitable education, such indigent, pious young men of the Baptist denomination ..." It gave assistance to poor young men enabling them to enter the ministry. THE GENERAL MISSIONARY CONVENTION OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ... also known as the Triennial Convention. Organized in Philadelphia May 1814, to raise funds for JUDSON as a missionary in Burma. AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY. Organized in 1832 for promoting preaching in North American, head offices in New York City. AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY, organized 1837 to circulate Bibles in all languages, located in New York City. AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION AND SUNDAY SCHOOL SOCIETY, organized 1840 for the purpose of publishing and circulating Baptist literature. Its base was in Philadelphia, PA. (c) Copyright 30 March 1999, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved, sgorin@glasgow-ky.com Col. 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