free baptist cyclopÆdia A Detailed Historical Account of Free Will Baptist History and Significant Figures. Compiled by G. A. Burgess and J. T. Ward.   Historical files used by permission: Baptist Library Online, Mark Powell, editor

FREE BAPTIST CYCLOPÆDIA

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

THE RISE OF THE FREEWILL BAPTIST CONNECTION AND OF THOSE GENERAL AND OPEN COMMUNION BAPTISTS WHICH, MERGING TOGETHER, FORM ONE PEOPLE, THEIR DOCTRINES, POLITY, PUBLICATIONS, SCHOOLS AND MISSIONS

WITH BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF MINISTERS AND OTHERS IDENTIFIED WITH THE GROWTH AND STRENGTH OF THE DENOMINATION.

BY Rev. G. A. BURGESS, A.M., Rev. J. T. WARD, A.M.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.

FREE BAPTIST CYCLOPÆEDIA CO. 1889.
(Online Edition, Baptist Library Online, 2004)

PREFACE

In this volume are recorded the lives and labors of those who, under the divine leadership, have brought the Freewill Baptist denomination to its present position. Our undertaking was suggested by the Rev. D. R.Whittemore, who entered upon the work with us; but his decease, near its inception, released him from the responsibility.

Information has been sought from the most reliable sources. The early histories have been freely consulted; the files of the Register and Morning Star have been found especially helpful, and the other denominational publications have been brought into service. Besides this, more than a thousand persons have furnished information concerning the events with which they have been familiar. All this has been faithfully considered,and edited with care.

The preparation has covered the whole of the years 1887 and 1888. Unless specific dates are given, the time present to the writer is ordinarily near the middle of that period. The growth of the denomination is given in articles under the names of the states. In these, all the churches ever organized, with but few exceptions, are recorded and their progress noted. The work of the benevolent societies, schools, publications, and other general topics will be found in their appropriate places.

The sketches of individual lives are necessarily brief. In some instances the person is merely mentioned because other facts could not be ascertained; and there are, no doubt, many most useful workers, particularly among the laity, who have been omitted entirely. We would not, by omission from among the two thousand and more whose names appear, detract in the least from the honor due the worthy men and women in all the churches, the record of whose deeds of devotion and love is written in Heaven.

Nearly all the illustrations are new, having been made expressly for this work. In a few instances persons have furnished likenesses taken at a younger age. Our most unremitting painstaking has been employed to present accurately the faces of those whose names are household words. In thecase of some prominent exceptions no likeness could be had.

We wish to acknowledge the valuable services of the distinguished committee of the Star office, who have materially aided us by the inspection of our engravings. We acknowledge also our great indebtedness to the able writers who have furnished articles for this work, making special mention of Rev. Dawson Burns, D. D., of London, England, for the article on English Baptists, and are grateful to the many who, after much research and correspondence, have furnished us valuable information. We would remember, too, the universal kindness of our brethren, their words of appreciation, and the confidence they have reposed in us, evinced especially by the action of the Conference Board,-all of which have encouraged us to persevere in our undertaking.

If any defects occur, it is not because we have not aimed and toiled to have our offering for the denominational zeal one without spot or blemish. In our service we have constantly received inspiration from the zeal that glowed, a holy fire, in the breasts of the Fathers, who toiled "not for members nor for money, but for grand principles," for mankind and for the blessed Christ. We send our imperfect offering forth with the prayer that it may kindle in the hearts of all our youth a like zeal, with a great, strong love for the denomination which, through the Gospel, has brought to them Eternal Life.

JOHN T.WARD, GIDEON A. BURGESS.

August, 1889

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