(Extracted and transcribed by Elder Robert Webb)

MINUTES

of the

FOURTH SESSION

of the

OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST

CORRESPONDING MEETING

OF CALIFORNIA

Held with the

Santa Rosa Church,

in Sonoma County, California,

on Friday before the Second Sunday in September, 1862.

1. The Introductory Sermon was preached by brother ALFRED H. HAGANS, a licentiate, from Isaiah 45:22.

2. The meeting was called to order by Eld. T. H. Owen, and organized for business by choosing Eld. T. H. Owen, Moderator, and brother A. H. Hagans, clerk.

3. Invited visiting brethren and sisters to a seat with us in council.

4. Called for correspondence from sister churches: Received a letter from Santa Rosa Church, by the hand of Brother A. H. Hagans; also a letter from Liberty Church, by Brother Thomas Van Winkel. Also, Eld. T. H. Owen, as messenger, from Suisun Church, but no letter. Ione Church not represented by letter or messenger.

5. The third resolution governing the Corresponding Meetings of our faith and order, is so amended as to read:

RESOLVED, That any church of our order may be represented by letter, or messenger, or both, giving the name of such church, and other statistics.

6. A committee on correspondence was chosen, namely: Eld. T. H. Owen, Brother Josiah Dorris, William E. Flanary, and John S. Hagans. Adjourned till Saturday morning, 10 o'clock.

SATURDAY MORNING, 10 O'CLOCK.

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Met pursuant to adjournment, and, after singing and prayer, by the Moderator, proceeded to business.

1. Called for report of the Committee on Correspondence.

2. The Corresponding Letter was read and adopted.

3. Our next Corresponding Meeting will be held, if the Lord will, with the church at Liberty: to commence on Friday before the first Sunday in September, 1863, at 11 o'clock a.m.

4. Resolved, That we will send a copy of our Corresponding Letter to the Siloam Association, of our faith and order, in Oregon. Eld. T. H. Owen then preached from Romans 15:49. Then took a recess for refreshments, till 4 o'clock p.m., at which time Brother Hagans preached from Matthew 16:18. On Sunday, Elder T. H. Owen preached from Ephesians 2:8, followed by Brother Hagans, in exhortation.

T. H. OWEN, MODERATOR

ALFRED H. HAGANS, CLERK

CORRESPONDING LETTER.

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The Old School Baptist Corresponding Meeting of California, convened with the Santa Rosa Church, in Sonoma County, California, on Friday before the second Sunday in September, 1862, to the churches and associations with whom we correspond, and to all others of like precious faith, send greeting:

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:

Through the abundant mercy of our Heavenly Father, a few of his scattered children, on the Pacific, are once permitted to meet according to appointment, though the exigency of the times, owing to our national difficulties, have brought about a state of things which has swept away thousands of our fellow mortals from the scenes of time since our last meeting.

Brethren, while we deplore the present state of things, we rejoice that our Covenant keeping God rules in earth as well as in the armies of Heaven, and that he controls all things for his own glory, and will accomplish his purposes. We are glad to find that our churches, and members, are all in peace and harmony, and that they stand firmly in defense of the truth, and well established in the faith of the gospel. But we regret that the unsettled state of our land titles, renders the settlement of our country unstable, in consequence of which our brethren and sisters have become so much scattered as to deprive many of them of the privilege of attending their church meetings. Consequently, they seldom hear anything but the doctrines of the Do and Live system, which is only as husks to those who believe that, Salvation is alone of the Lord. We can but mourn the cold state of religion in this country: or, perhaps it is more proper to say the cold state of the Zion of our God: for we have too much of what people call religion in our country, unless it were of a better quality. When we reason from the natural appearance of things, we wonder why it is that this country is so destitute of real gospel preachers, while it is, in a pecuniary point of view, certainly one of the most desirable portions on the continent: while the advocates of almost every false way are concentrated here in great numbers, the advocates of the truth are but few, and far between. Are these the last days in which the witnesses are being slain, and are the purposes of God now in progress which shall overthrow the Beast? Time will develop.

We hereby inform our corresponding brethren of the Western Association of Regular Predestinarian Baptists, in Iowa, that we received a note from their Clerk, informing us why our correspondence was not noticed, while in session, which explanation was satisfactory. But we still desire to continue our correspondence with you, and to extend it to any association or corresponding meetings of the Old School Baptist faith and order, who may wish to correspond with us by Minutes or through the Signs of the Times.

Our present meeting has afforded an opportunity for many of our brethren and sisters to form a more intimate acquaintance with each other, the enjoyment of which seemed like the meeting of long absent relatives. We have realized, in a very striking manner, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. We regret the absence of our beloved brethren, Elders William Kendall and John Mansfield, but knowing that our Heavenly Father rules, we would not murmur. Our brethren, Elder Owen and Hagans, have labored faithfully in word and doctrine. And we hope the seed sown may produce a rich and abundant crop in due season. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus.

May the God of all grace strengthen and establish all his dear children here, and elsewhere. Amen.

T. H. OWEN, MODERATOR

ALFRED H. HAGANS, CLERK