Table of Content

page

Organization of the General Association 1

1 Clark William Allen 3

2 Williams James Knox Polk 7

3 Carlin Abraham 8

4 Pasley William Henry 10

5 Kuykendall W. H. 10

6 Hall John Newton 11

7 Quinn Loftin 13

8 Bogard Ben M. 14

9 Irwin T. H. 27

10 Anderson G. S. 28

11 Gaddy Ellis Dawson 30

12 Smith Joseph A. 32

13 Puthuff E. A. 33

14 Cross W. R. 34

15 Hunt C. E. 34

16 Matheny M. P 35

17 Jackson Doss Nathan 38

18 Gillentine Ezra C. 40

19 Glenn Joseph Edgar 41

20 Gilbert Carroll Ambrose 42

21 Gillentine E. L. 44

22 Jarrell U. W. 44

23 Smith Ben J. 45

24 Newburn J. M. 48

Organization of the Amrican Baptist Association 51

25 Winters Curtis Courtland 59

26 Franklin J. W. 60

27 Albritton Benjamin Jackson 61

28 Pender Herman B 62

29 Hamilton D. L. 64

31 Overall John Wayne 67

32 Moore John Thomas 68

33 Meadows Claude Riley 71

34 Smith Croley Adolphus 72

35 King T. C. 73

36 Crawford George Okla City 73

37 Varnado Louis Gilbert 74

38 Scarboro Joseph Addison 75

39 Ballard Lewis Samuel 78

40 Gilbert William A. 80

41 Hodges Willis Howard 81

Audit Controversy 82

42 Cobb Jessie E. 87

43 Begley Earnest Koran 89

44 Glover Conrad Nathan 95

45 Kirkland Allen John 100

46 Harper James Wright 102

47 Patterson Alfred Lee 103

48 Owen Leander H. 104

49 Griffin Walter 106

50 Akers Samuel Jasper 106

51 Welch Jefferson Davis 108

52 Welch Jackson A. 110

53 Arnold C. D. 111

54 Johnson Joseph Cullen 112

55 Burgess William J. 113

56 Kellar Gerald D. 113

57 Duggar John William 115

58 Lewallen Earl 117

59 Stevenson Fred George 120

60 Foreman Lawton Durant 121

61 Gunn Homer F. 124

62 Speer Willie Robert 126

63 Rester John Alvan 130

64 Swearingen E. E. 131

65 Crumley Gerald F. 132

66 Griffith Oran Heaton 133

67 Barr Vernon Lee 135

68 Powers Austin Toliver 137

69 Watson William W. 138

70 Kesner John W. 139

71 Miles W. W. 140

72 Chastain Hoyt 145

73 Hollingsworth James Elbert 146

74 Downing Millard Fillmore 147

75 Lee William Emory 148

76 Odom L. J. 151

77 Mitchell Joseph L. 152

78 Goodwin Paul 156

79 Lierly Vernon Eugene 157

80 Canavan Martin 159

81 McBryde C. H. 160

82 Kirkland James Allen 162

83 Reagan Eugene M. 163

84 Cloud Morris L. 165

85 Kelley James Coyle 166

86 Clover Leander Louis 167

87 Poynor Lory Robert 168

88 Hubbard Travis 169

89 Murphy Patrick Lee 170

90 Crawford George B 170

91 Hitt William H. 171

92 Griffith J. W. 172

93 Curtis Dwight 173

94 Powers James B. 174

95 Guinn Loyd Chester 175

96 Wilson L. B. 177

97 Perritt R. T. 178

98 Ridgeway Amos Frank 179

99 Mask Corbett E. 180

100 Garner Albert 181

101 Owen John 182

102 Cross Irvie Keil 185

103 Johnson Don 187

104 Shepard Billy Davis 193

105 Crittenden Harris Winford 194

106 Dean Walton Glenn 196

107 Reed Roy M. 197

108 Smith Gene 198

109 McClung John 199

110 Dillard William Andrew 200

111 Brooks Ray O'Dell 201

112 Madden Darius Sherwood 202

113 Bazar Kenneth L. 203

114 James Judge Clifton 206

115 Johnson Bill 207

116 Sannes Thomas L. 209

117 Ashlock Ken 211

118 Richardson Arthur E. 212

119 Gipson Marlin 213

120 Sutton Edgar Neal 214

121 Norris W. E. 215

122 Doyle Conan 216

123 Price Donald R. 219

124 Phillips James Oscar 220

125 Holmes James F. 221

126 Cloud Randy 223

127 Sewell Wayne 224

128 Roberson David 226

129 Raley George 226

130 Clark Neal 227

131 Butimore David 230

132 Clements Larry E. 231

133 Butte Wendell 234

134 Copeland Roger 234

135 Calhoun James T. 236

136 Crain James A. 239

137 Owens Darrell 241

138 Morell Joe M. 241

139 Vance Paul 242

140 Ashcraft Robert 246

Organizing the General Association of the U.S.A. By the opening years of twentieth century, the Landmark Baptists

of America-so called because of their stand for traditional Baptist

doctrines-had severed all ties they might have had with the convention

system of mission and benevolent activities, which had grown up in this

country in the nineteenth century. In 1900 the Baptists of Texas divided

over the question of church versus convention sovereignty. Those who believed that the church was the basic New Testament unit organized the

Baptist Missionary Association of Texas. The Baptists of Arkansas

underwent a similar division in 1902, this time over the question of a

paid executive secretary. The State Association of Missionary Baptist

Churches of Arkansas was thus formed. These actions were soon

followed by the creation of independent Landmark associations in Mississippi, now Oklahoma, and several other states. All of these

associations were referred to as "general associations." They were so

called because representation in each was based upon the principle of

church equality, rather than upon a money or church-size basis which

characterized the Southern Baptist Convention. They were simply state wide associations, operated as Baptists had always operated their local

associations.

Many of these state associations supported state and foreign

missionaries. The brethren of Texas developed an extensive mission work

in Brazil, while the Arkansas brethren supported a work in Cuba. In the

fall of 1904, a number of former Southern Baptist foreign missionaries, who had been ousted by the Mission Board because they disagreed with

its high -handed methods, visited these new state associations. Notable

among them were Said M. Jureidini, from Lebanon and I. N. Yohanon,

from Iran. They were accompanied by a number of staunch Landmark

leaders, among who were J. N. Hall, J. H. Milburn and J. A. Scarboro. It was agreed by all that enough mission work was not being done

through the existing state organizations. Landmark Baptists were united

in faith and practice, but there was no vehicle for their whole-hearted

cooperation in the tremendous task of carrying the Gospel around the

world. At the Arkansas State Association, Dr. Ben M. Bogard of Little

Rock offered a resolution which called for a cooperative effort between the state associations of Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma, in raising

funds for putting some of these missionaries on the field. A few days

later, a similar call was sounded by the General Association of

Oklahoma. A few weeks later, a brother from Texas published a call for

the organization of a new south-wide Baptist body, one which would be based upon, "a purely church basis.”

Several sites and dates for the organization of this new body were

suggested. However, on January 29, 1905, the Bethlehem Church in

Little Rock, of which Dr. Bogard was a member, believing, as they said,

"that the time has come when these should be organized a General

Association of Landmark Baptists for the United States," issued a call for a preliminary meeting, whose purpose would be for, "consultation, and if

thought best, for organization," of such a body. The call was for the

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meeting to be held on March 22, 1905, at Texarkana, astride the Texas-

Arkansas border. Each church working in harmony with the state

associations was to elect one messenger. This meeting was to be

governed by two principles: scriptural church cooperation and church equality.

On the date appointed, the meeting was held in the Miller County,

Arkansas Courthouse in Texarkana. Fifty-two churches were represented

together with brethren from Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama,

Missouri, Illinois and Louisiana, and of course Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. A tentative organization was effected and several foreign

missionaries placed on the field. After a lengthy debate, it was decided to

address a memorial to the upcoming meeting of the Southern Baptist

Convention, so that the body "might have a chance to decide if the

unscriptural things that are derisive and hurtful would be corrected."

This memorial, "called the Convention's attention to the dissatisfaction that prevailed and asked that the money basis of representation be

eliminated and that a church basis be adopted instead."

A committee of seven, including Dr. Bogard, was appointed to

compose this address. "Our sincere desire," they wrote, "is for peace and

harmony among Baptists, but we want this ... on Bible principles and methods. We love peace, but we love principle better. First pure and then

peaceable." The convention sent the following reply, "it would not be for

the best interest of the work of the Convention ... to accede to (these)

petitions . . ." Thus the desires and beliefs of thousands of Landmark

Baptists all across this country were dismissed out of hand.

Therefore, messengers from about 100 churches, from 12 states, met in the First Baptist Church of Texarkana, Texas, on November 24,

1905, for the permanent organization of the General Association of the United States. During the nineteen years of its life, the Association

supported missionaries in a number of foreign countries. In 1916 it

acquired its Sunday School and book publications business. In 1924 the

General Association united with the BMA of Texas to form the American

Baptist Association.1

--written by Russell P. Baker

The following article on Dr. W. A. Clark furnishes the background

for Dr. Ben M. Bogard’s opposition to conventionism and his assuming

the mantle of the Landmark cause, which eventually led to a separate

Landmark Association in Arkansas, and then the General Association in 1905.

1 --History and Archives Report, Russell P. Baker, editor, 1977

Yearbook, American Baptist Association, pp. 127-130.

3

Dr. William Allen Clark (1)

William Allen Clark was born in Clinton County near Roseville, IN, May 24, 1844. He attended public school 1855-1860 and entered the

Simonds Select School for Boys in Indianapolis in 1861. On August 9,

1862, at the age of 18, he volunteered for service in the Civil War and

was assigned to Company K, 72nd Indiana Volunteers, Wilder's

"Lightning Brigade" of Mounted Infantry. Was in active service through-out the war and at its close went to Kansas, where on November 13, 1865 he married Jennie C. Jordan of Tecumseh, Kansas.

His religious service began with his conversion

in May, 1867, when he joined the Methodist Epis-

copal Church. Some months later he joined the

Lynn Creek Kansas, Baptist Church. On February 2, 1872 he was licensed to preach and on April 22,

1872, he was ordained to the ministry.

A few months later he sold his farm in Kansas

and went to Chicago where he attended the Baptist

Theological Seminary for three years. The Divinity

Degree was conferred upon him by the State University of Arkansas in 1881.

He was pastor of Valparaiso, Ind., 1873-4; at Elkhart, Ind., 1875-6;

Dardanelle, Ark., 1877; Helena, Ark., 1879; Bristol, Tenn.-Va., 1880-81;

Hot Springs, Ark., 1884-5-6-7; Chico, CA, 1888; Alpino, CA., 1905-7;

Lawrence, Ark. 1915-20. He also was State Evangelist in Arkansas for a number of years and

was editor of The Arkansas Baptist most of the time from February,

1889 until 1905, when he took his invalid wife (and the mother of his

children) to Alpine, Calif. She died there June 6, 1907, was buried in the

Bellefontaine cemetery, St. Louis. In 1909 he took charge of the

Experiment Fruit Farm at Sutherland Springs, Texas, where he remained until 1912, later visiting his children in California and St. Louis until

October, 1915, when he bought a little country home at Lawrence, near

Hot Springs, Ark., where he resided until his death which occurred at his

home in Arkansas on Wednesday, June 30, 1920.

The biographical sketch in the 1920 minute of the Saline Association added, "A minister forty-eight years, State Evangelist about

three years and did a great work. And during this time he preached 876

sermons and baptized 582 converts. A successful pastor of churches. A

number of years Editor of The Arkansas Baptist (now the Baptist and

Commoner.) Moderator of the Saline Association eight times (1885-86,

1901-04, 1916-19). A real missionary who stood four square for church independence and supremacy. A patriot in Israel fallen--called to his

reward June 30, 1920."

This sketch was prepared by A. B. Shockley, who was clerk of the

Association from 1899-1910, 1912-22. Shockley, from Ten Mile Church,

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Herman B. Pender (28) President, 1927-1929 Vice President 1924

Vice Moderator (Gen. Assn.) 1915 Dr. C. N. Glover wrote over his picture, "Dr. Pender was a prince

among men. A southern gentleman and unexcelled as a presiding moder-ator. He inspired men."

Dr. A. T. Powers commented:

He was a prince among the men whose name will be called on this list. He was a great believer in the sovereignty of the church. Sam C. West, who had been a friend of mine from boyhood, was pastoring four churches, but belonged to none of them. However, all of them had elected him as a messenger to the American Baptist Association.

Some brother raised the question and said, "One man cannot rep-resent four churches," and wanted to challenge his vote. Dr. Pender--I never shall forget his speech--said, "My brother, my brethren, listen to me, never as long as I am Moderator of this group will I sit by and see the sovereignty and freedom of a church challenged. These four churches have a perfect right to name their pastor, if they wanted him as a messenger. He has one vote. Each church has one-fourth of a vote. They might have had three votes, but they did not elect to do it that way. They elected to send their pastor, and so far as the moderator is con-cerned--and I challenge you to challenge it, if you do not believe it--they have a perfect right to do so."

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"I did not know much about the sovereignty of a church and who

was qualified to be a messenger, but I proudly came to represent my church, and I never shall forget Dr. Pender's statement because it agreed with what my church had practiced when it sent me."

Dr. C. N. Glover wrote: “I remember Dr. Pender. I believe he was

about eighty years old when he was Moderator or President of the Ameri-can Baptist Association.

“At the time of his death Brother Pender was a member of our Missionary Committee and had been, for several years (1927-1929),

President of the American Baptist Association. He was a safe counselor, a

wise but humble leader and could always be depended upon to stand for

the right. His work on earth is done, but his work and his influence for

good will continue to live and bless the world.”75

According to two sisters, ages 101 and 103, who were baptized by Dr. Pender, they remembered Dr. Ben M. Bogard holding revivals in their

home church, pastored by Dr. Pender.76

The principle enunciated by Dr. Pender continues to be practiced in

the ABA even today. However, the unsuccessful challenge of this prin-ciple eventually led to approximately 450 churches withdrawing from the ABA in 1950 to form what is now known as the BMA of America.

In the history of the BMA of America, the author, John W. Duggar

referred to Dr. Pender's statement: "Dr. Pender was a great man of God.

But to some his way of settling the question in defense of church

sovereignty was strange indeed. One might wonder, if a local church was

absolutely sovereign enough according to some to elect anyone to serve as her messenger, why would it not be proper for one church to

designate another church's messenger as hers, and to vote for her,

too?"77

An entire page of Dr. Duggar's history was devoted to the discus-sion of the incident cited by Powers and Glover.

According to Wm. H. Parks' History of the Baptist Missionary

Association of Texas, Eld. Pender was elected as Temporary Chairman

at a preliminary meeting in Troupe, Texas on July 6, 1900, leading to the

organization of the BMA. Pender was mentioned several times, before

being elected as a Vice-President at Jacksonville in 1902.

He preached the Introductory Sermon for the 1904 meeting in Dallas, and was again elected as a Vice President. He was re-elected in

1905, then was elected as President at the Dallas meeting in 1906. He

was re-elected in Jacksonville in 1907, Dallas in 1908, Oak Cliff in 1909,

Jacksonville in 1910, Mineral Wells in 1911, and Dallas in 1912.

75 Glover and Powers, The American Baptist Association, p. 53.

76 Interview conducted by Brethren Donald Britton and Bobby Sparks, June 11, 1998.

77 John T. Duggar, The Baptist Missionary Association of America, 1950-1986.

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Dr. Pender was Assistant Moderator of the General Association in

1915. He was elected and preached from Psalm 11:3. He was also on the

Committee on Order of Business with Ben M. Bogard and J. W. Brewer,

and on the Education Committee. He was a messenger from Campbell Church, Campbell, TX.

Dr. Pender was again present in 1917. At this meeting he served as

chairman of the Nominating Committee, and preached.

Dr. Pender was elected as Assistant Moderator in 1919.

At the 1923 meeting he was listed as a visitor, with a message from the B. M. A. of Texas. Bro. Pender was listed with other brethren,

"Making talks on the need of Unification of all true Baptists.”

The minutes also recorded, "Upon motion, brethren J. M. Newburn

and H. B. Pender were asked to meet in a fraternal and advisory way

with our committee on Unification." Later, he served on the Unification

Committee, of which Dr. C. C. Winters was chairman. After the ABA was officially organized, he and C. C. Winters were

nominated as the first President. Dr. Winters was declared elected, and

Dr. Pender was declared as the First Vice-President. He was also elected

to the Literature Committee in 1924.

He was mentioned quite frequently in the negotiations between the BMA of Texas and the ABA in allowing the ABA to assume the mission

programs supported by the BMA of Texas.

Dr. Pender preached the annual sermon in 1927 in Hot Springs

from Eph. 6:6-14, "Those Things for Which the Church Must Stand."

1930, Bay Springs, MS. The minutes stated that a communication was received from Dr.

H. B. Pender, the retiring moderator. A committee of three was appointed

to respond, as follows:

Our annual session starting off fine. We miss you so much, but are thankful that we still have the memory of your past loyal, faithful and efficient service, and that we can yet have your prayers. May Heaven’s richest blessings be upon you. Special prayer now being said for you.

The Memorial Committee reported that Dr. Pender was in bed, sick,

during the March, 1930 meeting, and soon thereafter passed to the

eternal realm to be with His Lord.

The report stated, "...the cause lost one of the best men and most

loyal friends we had. He was a powerful preacher and a fearless exponent of the truth. He was active in the ministry for more than sixty years.”

Dr. Pender was the second President, following C. C. Winters. He

died May 4, 1930 in Dallas, TX, and was buried at Greenville, TX.

David Luke Hamilton (29) Missionary

Dr. Hamilton and the Brazilian mission work was first mentioned in

1924, when he was present for the organizational meeting.

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Conrad Nathan Glover (44) President 1941-1946, 1952 Vice President 1939-1940

(A full account of Bro. Glover's life and ministry was given in Conrad N. Glover: Memoirs, published by Bogard Press, Texarkana).

C. N. Glover was born near Prattsville, AR on October 27, 1895.

He was the son of Robert W. Glover and Mary Ann Young Glover. In the

summer of 1913, when he was almost eighteen years of age, Conrad was

received into Harmony Baptist Church and baptized on July 6, 1913.

During World War I, he was inducted into the Army on September 18, 1917. He was discharged

from the military service on July 1, 1919, with the

rank of sergeant.

On March 16, 1922 Bro. Glover announced

his call to preach at Big Creek Baptist Church in Sheridan.

C. N. Glover and Gladys Rushing were

married on May 3, 1925. They had one daughter,

Mary Beth Glover Wilson, who was born Feb. 23,

1940.

When the Missionary Baptist College opened in 1919, he was one of the first eight students to enroll. Glover remained in the College for the

next fourteen years, either as a student or as an instructor. He was

awarded the Bachelor of Theology Degree in 1925, the Associate of Arts

in Bible in 1930, the Associate of Arts in Secular Education in 1931, the

Licentiate in Instruction in 1931, and the Doctor of Divinity in 1931. The Missionary Baptist Seminary conferred its first degrees on Dr. Glover in

1937, the degrees of Doctor of Church History and Doctor in Bible.108

Dr. Glover was Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Missionary

Baptist College from 1926 until 1934.109 Dr. Glover was elected Vice-

President of the Missionary Baptist Seminary at its founding in 1934,

and continued in that position until 1971.

When the American Baptist Association was organized on Dec. 10,

1924, Conrad Glover was a messenger from Big Creek Church in

Sheridan. He had previously attended the "unification meeting" at

Texarkana in March. During the years that followed, and until near his death, he had only missed two sessions of the ABA.

Brother Glover was licensed to preach in 1922 and he pastored

more than thirteen churches in the central Arkansas area. He led in the

organization of several churches and associations, preached over 14,000

sermons in thirty states and several foreign countries, and conducted

108 Foreman and Payne, I, pp. 451-452.

109 Foreman and Payne, I, pp. 452.

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over 4,000 funerals. He served as Moderator of the Pine Bluff Association

for twenty-five years, beginning in 1939.110 He was moderator of the

State Association for six years, from 1942 until 1948, and was President

of the American Baptist Association from 1941 until 1946, and then by his request, for one session (1952), after the BMA split. After serving as

President, he was honored as Parliamentarian for more than thirty years,

and was moderator and parliamentarian emeritus at the time of his

death. He was one of the cofounders of the Missionary Baptist Seminary

and Institute and felt that his greatest accomplishments were in the field of Christian education.

He was elected a member of the Missionary Committee in 1925 and

served until 1934. He was a member and chairman of the Planning and

Building Committee that developed the Bookstore and Printing Complex

in Texarkana.

His first pastorate was at Little Creek Church, beginning the first Sunday in November of 1924. In the fall of 1925 two other fourth time

churches, Fairview and Smyrna in Lincoln Co., called him as pastor.

Therefore, he was pastor of three churches at the same time--Little Creek

at Sheridan, 1925-1926, Fairview, Saline Co., 1926-1927; Smyrna, Lin-coln Co., 1926-1927.

Bro. Glover led in the organization of what is now Olive Street

Baptist Church in 1926, and continued as pastor for five years, until

1931. He was "...called and accepted the First Baptist Church in Sheri-dan in the fall of 1931. This church held services two Sunday Mornings

and every Sunday Evening. He preached at Harmony Baptist Church in

Prattsville the other two Sunday Mornings. He was called by Oak Grove Baptist Church, near Rison to preach

two Sunday Mornings and one Saturday Night each month, beginning in

November of 1931. He continued as pastor there until Oct. 1947.

After leaving First Baptist in Sheridan, he was soon called by

Philadelphia Church near Prattsville, where he pastored for eight years. He was also called to serve Sardis Church at Grapevine. He stayed at

Sardis from 1939 until 1951. During the same period, he served Sweet

Home Church near Prattsville, where he preached on Saturday and Sun-day afternoons. He pastored Springhill Church near Greenbrier in

Faulkner Co. in 1945-1947.

Bro. Glover led in the organization of First Immanuel in Pine Bluff in 1939, and served as pastor in 1939-1940. He started what is now

First Landmark in Gould and served as pastor from 1947-1953.

In 1953 Dr. Glover became pastor of Bethany Church, west of Pine

Bluff. After serving at Bethany for twelve years, Dr. Glover intended to

retire from the pastoral ministry. However, the Marlow Church, ten miles

110 C. N. Glover, “C. N. Glover Accounts of Stewardship,” Missionary Baptist Searchlight. March

10, 1965, p. 2.

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north of Sheridan called him and he pastored that church from 1963

until 1968.

He was a charter member of First Landmark Missionary Baptist

Church of Sheridan, which was organized in 1951 as a result of the ABA-BMA split. Bro. Glover spent 44 years in pastoral work with sixteen

different churches until 1968, when he determined to devote his late

years in writing, lecturing and evangelism.

He was the author of the following books: The Marriage of the Lamb, Exposition of Revelation, Three Worlds, Glover's Church

Manual, Conrad N. Glover's Memoirs and A History of the American Baptist Association, which he co-authored with Austin T. Powers.

Conrad N. Glover became a rural mail carrier by appointment on

January 2, 1915. He held this position as a rural mail carrier for 36

years and 3 months. He was an agricultural and livestock farmer. Other

organizations he has been active in were American Legion, Sheridan

Rotary Club, Sheridan Soil and Water Conservation District and the Philadelphia Cemetery Association.

Brother Glover was deeply loved and respected by his friends, co-

workers and fellow ministers. His wit, recollections and Bible knowledge

endeared him to all those who had the privilege of knowing him. During

his lengthy illness, he passed many hours writing thoughts of his life,

historical happenings, devotionals, and poems. One of his poems, written just before his 90th birthday, was entitled "The Grace of God Amazes

Me." Brother John Sanders set this poem to music and it is now available

in sheet music.

In addition to his work within the Pine Bluff Association, Bro.

Glover traveled extensively. He was present and assisted in the founding of the Texas Baptist Institute, Henderson, TX; Florida Baptist Institute,

Lakeland, FL; and the Oxford Baptist Institute, Oxford, MS. He traveled

to Japan and Korea in 1972, and assisted Dr. Roy Reed in preaching in

the missions and organizing a church in Korea.111

Gladys Rushing, his wife, preceded him in death on June 12, 1983.

Dr. Glover died on April 3, 1986 and was buried in Philadelphia Cemetery, near his boyhood home.

Bro. Glover sent the following letter to the Association in 1983. (1983

Yearbook, p. 170-172)

LETTER FROM CONRAD GLOVER President Dillard, Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Greetings: I am sad because I am unable to be present in this session of the

ABA. I am suffering from a severe case of Herpes Zoster, commonly called

111 C. N. Glover, "C. N. Glover Accounts of Stewardship," Missionary Baptist Searchlight, March 10,

1965, p. 2.

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shingles. I have suffered from this malady since December 20. 1982 and am no better at present. It causes soreness and severe pain from which it is hard to find relief. Pray for me.

With me a generation will pass and become history. I am the last living messenger that voted to adjourn the General Association that was organized in 1905 sine die and permanently organized the ABA on December 10. 1924. I have outlived the messengers from 257 churches.

This is the third time during the 59 years of the life of the ABA that I have not attended. I missed the 1936 session because of a previous important commitment, part of the 1972 session because of illness, and 1981 session because of illness and illness is the cause of my absence at this session.

I have enjoyed the fellowship of my brothers and sisters in Christ longer than any other and I am thankful I have enjoyed this great privilege.

I am humbly thankful to the messengers of the annual session that are now history for the kindnesses shown and the honors they have conferred upon me. I will list some of these:

They elected me president of the association 7 years: 1941-1947 and 1952.

They voted to elect me as President Emeritus. They appointed and elected me to be your parliamentarian for 26

years. They elected me to membership on the Missionary Committee for 8

years and the committee elected me to be clerk of the committee for the 8 years.

They elected me to membership on the first youth encampment committee.

They elected me to membership on the building committee for the new publications building and the committee elected me to serve as chairman of the committee. Our fine building in Texarkana is the fruit of our labors.

They elected me to membership on the History and Archives Committee, a position I now hold,

They elected me to preach at annual sessions fifteen different years. They elected me to membership on the committee to revise the

Articles of Agreement. The committee met and was divided into two equal groups. My group elected me to be chairman.

They elected me to membership on a committee, with Dr. A. T. Powers to assist me, to write the history of the ABA.

I deeply appreciate the fact that you have by your vote manifested your confidence in my integrity and ability to serve. I am thankful for the honors conferred, but I believe I am honest when I say that I have regarded the responsibilities far above the honors conferred. Others are to judge as to whether I have complied with your commitment.

99

I thank the Lord for His blessing me with a normal body and mind,

and with long life and open doors of service. I also thank my brothers and sisters in Christ for their invitations and callings for me to preach the gospel in their churches in one-half or more of the states of our great country and in several foreign countries. I pastored 16 churches and have preached as an evangelist in many others. I estimate that I have preached about 14,000 sermons.

I have always regarded my preacher brethren with goodwill and kindness. If I have ever coveted any man's work or mistreated him I have no knowledge of it and would be free to apologize to him if I have.

I have lived in Sheridan, Ark. during the full period of my gospel ministry. This has caused me to drive many, many miles. I have owned cars since 1916 and estimate that I have driven more than 1,000,000 miles. This is 40 times the distance around the world.

All of my pastorates and ministry, except the seven years I was pastor of the First Baptist Church here in Sheridan, have been away from home. This made it necessary for me to dine and lodge in other people's homes. I am of the opinion that I have lodged in more homes and good women have cooked more meals for me than has been done for any preacher among us.

I was saved by the grace of God on September 23, 1909. I was baptized into the fellowship of Harmony Missionary Baptist Church in Prattsville on July 6, 1913. I was liberated to preach the gospel by Big Creek (now First Baptist) of Sheridan on March 16. 1922. I was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry on November 2.1924. I have been saved 70 years and have been in the gospel ministry 61 years plus. I have pastored 16 churches. I have conducted more than 4,000 funerals, 35 of which took their own lives. I started three missions and stayed with these until they were organized into churches; and led in the organization of one more. I assisted in the organization of 13 other churches. One of these was in Seoul, Korea. I helped to organize four associations.

There are many more facets and events connected with my gospel ministry, but these are sufficient to let you know I have not had time to be lazy or slothful in my ministry.

In addition to my ministry I am a retired rural mail carrier with 36 years and three months service and have held membership in several other organizations too numerous to mention. I also served as chaplain of three state organizations. I will be praying for the 1983 session and hoping I will be able to attend the 1984 session.

Bless all of you. Please remember Mary Beth and me in your prayers at this time. Amen. C. N. Glover

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R. T. Perritt (97) Vice President, 1969-1977

Bro. R. T. Perritt was born in Winnsboro, TX, on May 20, 1926, and passed from the walks of this life on May 15, 1989, at Clinton, OK. R. T.

Perritt would have been sixty-three years of age had he lived five more

days.

Bro. Perritt was a graduate of Garland High

School. Garland, TX. He distinguished himself in the academic and business world to the extent that

he held the Doctor of Theology degree which he

earned in 1961. He also held certificates and

diplomas from a number of business schools,

insurance seminars as well as Diploma-

Philanthropy Tax Institute, New York, N.Y, and a Diploma-Annual & Deferred Gifts Institute, Santa

Barbara, CA. He was enrolled in further studies at

the time of his death.

Bro. Perritt and his wife, Betty, were blessed with four children:

Robert Lynn of Tulsa, OK; John Mark of Austin, TX; Ruth Ann Wright of Yukon, OK; and James Lance of CIinton, OK; and four grandchildren.

His pastoral work began at the age of eighteen at Orchard Hills

Baptist Church. Dallas, TX. He pastored four rural churches in Texas

before he moved to Liberty MBC, Ft. Worth. He also pastored Cavanaugh

MBC, Ft. Smith, AR; Fifth Street MBC, Marlow, OK; and Broadway

Heights MBC, Clinton, OK. He had many souls for his reward. He was loved and used of the young in their weddings as well as by the elderly

where he served in many funerals.

Along with his ministerial services, Bro. Perritt served in a number

of areas as lecturer, teacher, evangelist, and counselor. Many of his lectures were published and circulated through The Baptist Review

which he published from Marlow, OK for over twenty years. Other books and pamphlets were published. Two books: Kindling Fires for Church

Growth and Mastery in Sorrow were published by the Baptist Sunday

School Committee in Texarkana. He also wrote the Young People's

Quarterly for a number of years.

He loved the American Baptist Association and the brethren with whom he labored. He held offices in local, state and national associations

until the time of his death. Probably the most rewarding and taxing work

that he did was in the field of missions. Dr. Perritt had a heart for

missions and missionaries. The most direct work he did was probably

that of assisting Bro. Gene Ray Ward in his endeavors in Costa Rica;

however, he served the ABA as moderator of the Missionary Committee for a number of years; as Vice President during two different sessions

and was parliamentarian at the time of his death.

He was also Moderator of the Baptist General Association of

Oklahoma in 1972-1973.

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He will be sorely missed at home, at Broadway Heights Missionary Baptist Church, Clinton, OK; at the Oklahoma Missionary Baptist

College, Institute and Seminary where he served as president since 1963.

He will be missed in Marlow, Oklahoma, in general, where he was

loved by church members and friends of the town alike. He will be

missed from the sessions of the local assemblies, youth rallies and encampments, state assemblies and the OMD as well as at the national

assemblies including the ABA of Theological Schools of which he was a

charter member, the Missionary Committees to which he was dedicated

and at the General Assemblies.

His favorite Scripture surely must have been Isaiah 40:31. "They

that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall

walk, and not faint." He quoted it often, and kept it hanging on his wall.

--Harold Almon, Dean OMBC, Marlow, OK.

Amos Frank Ridgeway (98) Vice President, 1969-1970

Amos Franklin Ridgeway was born June 7, 1907, in Green County,

AR and died May 23, 1994, in Hazel Park, MI. He was ordained to the ministry October 30,

1938, by his home church, Wanderer's Home

Missionary Baptist Church near Pollard, AR where

he was saved and baptized.

In his early ministry he pastored churches in northeast Arkansas: namely, Bethlehem MBC of

Rector; Hopewell MBC near Rector; and Cotton Belt

MBC near Paragould.

He attended the Missionary Baptist Seminary

in Little Rock, AR.

In 1941 he was called to the newly organized Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of Ferndale, a

suburb of Detroit, MI. He accepted Bethel's call, and said he intended to

stay two or three years and then go back to Arkansas. God had different

plans and he stayed in Detroit the rest of his life.

The church was small and met in a rented store building. So, Brother Ridgeway worked at a secular job until 1949 when the church

was able to place him on full salary. He led the church to great heights of

success with attendance reaching three hundred fifty, the purchase of

property, three building phases and the purchase of a spacious pastor's

home.

He conducted a weekly radio program in the Detroit area for twenty-eight years. Brother Ridgeway earned the honor and respect of

the churches and brethren throughout the American Baptist Association.

At the time of the division of our associated work in 1951, Brother

Ridgeway and Bethel Baptist Church were the only ones in Michigan to

230

The Clarks make their home in Heber Springs, AR. While their church membership remains in South Union Baptist Church,

Daingerfield, TX, their sponsoring church, they led out in getting Libby

Road Baptist Mission in Heber Springs. The first three meetings were

held in their living room. When he is not preaching somewhere, they

attend the Libby Road Baptist Mission.

David Matthew Butimore Sr. (131)

Vice President, 2001-2001 President, 2003-2004

Bro. David Butimore, Sr. was born in January, 1951 in Lynwood,

CA. He graduated from Westminster High School in 1969. He attended

and graduated (A.A. Degree) from Orange Coast College in 1972.

He was saved August 20, 1970 at a

Missionary Baptist Encampment in Northern

California. He was baptized by the authority of Community MBC, Orange, CA. He enrolled at

California Missionary Baptist Institute and

Seminary and graduated with the Doctor of

Theology degree in 1990.

He was ordained by the authority of Olive Hill MBC, Oroville, CA in 1975, and has held pastorates

in California and Washington. They are: Mt. Olive

MBC, Stockton, CA (1975-1978); Valley MBC, Reseda, CA (1978-1982;

Landmark MBC, Freedom, CA (1982-1987); First MBC, Lomita, CA

(1987-1996); Trinity MBC, Bremerton, WA (1996-2001); and First MBC,

Fresno, CA (2001-present). He served as faculty member and administrator of CMBI (1987-

1993) and has been the President of Fresno Missionary Baptist Institute

and Seminary since 2001.

In the California Cooperative Association he has served as 2nd

Assistant Moderator (1994), 1st Assistant Moderator (1995), Moderator

(1996), Music Director (1977-1989), Assistant Parliamentarian (2002-2003) and Parliamentarian (2004-present). He served in the Washington

Cooperative Association as Moderator (1997-2001). He served as Music

Director (1987-1992), Assistant Parliamentarian (1994-1999 & 2005-

present), Parliamentarian (2000), Vice President (2001-2002), and

President (2003-2004) of the American Baptist Association. He has served on the Baptist Sunday School Committee since 2002

and serves as a literature writer (Adult Commentary) since 2003. He has

served as Assistant Treasurer of the American Baptist Association of

Theological Schools (1991-93) and has served as the Treasurer since

2005.

He is the author of eight books: four interactive books on discipleship, (Laying a Foundation, Directing Our Focus: Getting to Know Jesus Christ, Becoming Established in the Faith, and Enjoying

231 God’s Purpose for You); The New Testament Church: Its Nature, Characteristics, and Perpetuity, Jewish Feasts in the Bible, The

Sermon on the Mount: Instruction on Real Living, Parliamentary

Law (book and laminated charts). He is currently writing the Baptist

Commentary on the book of Hebrews under the ministry of Hyde Park

MBC of West Monroe, LA. He has been a member of the National Association of

Parliamentarians since 1999, the Washington State Association of

Parliamentarians (1999-2001) and the California State Association of

Parliamentarians (2001-present). He has taught a one-year course on

Parliamentary Procedure and Practice at FMBI since 2002 and has

lectured to churches and other organizations on the subject. He has been married to his wife, Debby, since 1977, and has two

sons, Matt and Jonathan, a daughter and son-in-law, Rebekah and Paul

Baker, and three grandsons, Nathaniel, Ethan, and Tristan.

Larry Eugene Clements (132) Editor in Chief, 2003-

Larry E. Clements was born February 5, 1948, in Malvern, AR, the

firstborn of three children of William Eugene and Pauline Harrison

Clements. His father was a native Arkansan who faced combat with the

Army Infantry in the South Pacific during World War II. He was a

construction worker and heavy equipment operator by trade. Larry's

mother was born in Truby, TX and was always proud to be a seventh generation Texan. After several itinerant years following jobs in

Arkansas and South Carolina, the young family moved to Bellflower, CA

when Larry was seven years old.

In their early twenties, William and Pauline

Clements had been saved and baptized at the Magnet Cove Missionary Baptist Church in

Malvern, AR. When they moved to Southern

California, they naturally searched out a similar

church. They found and joined the Norwalk

Missionary Baptist Church that had just begun in a

neighboring city. Larry was saved in 1959, at age eleven, and was baptized by Noel Brown, their

pastor. In 1960 the church called Hoyt Chastain,

Sr., who was Larry's pastor until his first pastorate

in 1971.

At State Youth Camp in Jenness Park in August 1965, God began to convict Larry about the call to the ministry. After three months of

inner conflict and struggle, he surrendered to the ministry in November

and preached his first sermon as a seventeen-year-old in January 1966.

Following graduation from Norwalk High School the same year, Larry

enrolled in the California Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary in

Bellflower. As a student there, he earned the degrees of Bachelor of

239 of both schools. The church also erected a family life center during his ministry at Baring Cross. Besides sponsoring the MBSF in Arkadelphia,

Baring Cross also was co-sponsor of Brother Don Vice, missionary to

Washington State, and sponsored a Hispanic ministry to the Arkadelphia

area.

Bro. Calhoun has always been involved in the American Baptist Association having attended his first ABA messenger meeting in Little

Rock in 1973. While pastoring in the Lonoke Association, he served for

two years as moderator. He was a member of the ABA Standing Mission-

ary Committee from 1987 until 2004 serving the last eight years as chair-

man. In 2004 he was elected as one of the vice presidents of the ABA and

served in that position until his election as president in 2010. On the state level, in Arkansas, Calhoun was called by First

Baptist Church of Cave City in November of 2003 to serve as the

promotional director for the Arkansas State Mission Project sponsored by

that church. In 2004 Calhoun was elected assistant treasurer of the

state association and then in 2005 he was elected the state treasurer. Bro. Calhoun and his wife, Linda, will celebrate their 45th wedding

anniversary on June 30, 2012. They have three children who all reside

with their spouses in Arkadelphia along with five grandchildren and

another on his way in August.

The Calhouns have lived in Arkadelphia for more than 28 years

and are very active in the Arkadelphia community. He has served as president of the Arkadelphia High School Band Boosters and also served

as president of the Arkadelphia Kiwanis Club. He also serves on the

Arkadelphia City Board of Directors and was recently elected to his

fourth term as a city director and currently serves as vice-mayor of the

City of Arkadelphia.

James A. Crain (136) Vice President, 2008 - 2011

President, 2012 – James "Jim" A. Crain was born February 5, 1952 in Longview, TX

and reared near McNeil, AR. He graduated from McNeil High School in

1970.

Saved at the age of sixteen, Bro. Crain was

baptized and licensed to preach in 1972 by MT Zion MBC of Cale, AR. He was ordained in January,

1975 by Liberty MBC in Shreveport, LA.

He served in the Air Force from March, 1971

until August, 1974, during the Vietnam conflict.

While in South East Asia, he performed night patrol with a K9 dog, and was also bodyguard for payroll

officers while traveling around SE Asia, and later, in

North Dakota he was in Missile Security.

He was married to Beverly, his wife, June 8, 1973. She is daughter

240 of a Baptist minister, Charles Goodson, and a native of Texas. Bro Crain and his wife have a daughter and two grandchildren. Their son died in

April, 2011 from an injury received while in the military.

Louisiana Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary awarded Bro.

Crain three degrees; a Bachelor of Theology in 1987, a Master of

Theology in 1988 and in 1993, a Doctor of Theology. Later he served as instructor at the same school.

Bro. Crain has pastored the following churches: Central MB

Church, Jonesboro, LA, Dec 1974 – June 1978; Greenwood Hills MB

Mission, Greenwood, LA, sponsored by Old Sarepta MBC, Sarepta, LA

June 1978 – Sept. 1982; Stamps MB Church, Stamps, AR, Sept. 1982 –

Feb. 1984; Park MB Church, Prescott, AR, Feb. 1984 – June 1988; Central MB Church, Bastrop, LA, June 1988 - Nov 1995. Since Nov 6,

1995 he has served as Pastor of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of

Minden, LA.

He was elected as President of the American Baptist Association at

the Messenger meeting in Fresno, CA in 2012. He had served as Vice President of the American Baptist Association since 2008. His other

noteworthy service includes: Moderator of the First Columbia

Association, 1982-1983; the First Union Association, 1984-1986; the

Louisiana State Association, 1991-1993; North East (Louisiana)

Association, 1989-1991, Assistant Moderator Louisiana State Missions

Committee, 1988-1995, Mission Treasurer, Central Louisiana Association, and Louisiana State Treasurer, 2000-2011. He has twice

served as a local missionary.

He began writing in the Missionary Baptist News in 1983, and

wrote a monthly article entitled "Bible Exposure" for approximately 16

years including various series of Studies, such as, on Ephesians, on Romans Chapter 8 and 26 lessons of the NT Church. He continues to

write in the Missionary Baptist News from time to time.

Bro. Crain served with the original group who helped begin the

Sunday School Commentary. His first project was to write the

commentary on the second half of the Book of Revelation, Fall Quarter,

2000. He continues to help with the commentary and has written, at times, the "Manna" section, but mostly he continues to do the Hebrew

"Word Studies."

He also served on the original committee that developed the

Jerusalem Priority program currently used today, and wrote half of the

devotionals for the first devotional booklet that was published at that time.

Presently, he is Editor of HPB Publications of West Monroe, LA,

currently working toward producing a Baptist Commentary written by

ABA men.