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Crying In the Wilderness
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What is a “Streaky-head”? In many of my articles I’ve lightly touched on the definition and possible origin of the term “streaky-head” as well as definitively describing myself as such. While I would imagine that the term was originally applied with a derogatory intent, I’ve always worn the moniker gladly. My Dad and Mom were “Streaks” as were both sets of my grandparents. I went to grade school with other Preacher’s children and of course we were the ones who were different. As you will certainly see if you continue to read, I was certainly in a minority then as well as now. Though many years have passed and I tend to agree with the “Streaks” views more than others believing them to be the closest sect to the practice the Lord intended, they like all of us have some practices and beliefs that should be challenged. We should remember and all confess that not a single one of us will have this figured out to a jot and a title. For if we did have it all figured out exactly, we would have obtained perfection. I wanted to put this to record for those who have never heard of or had the blessing of being associated with the older order of Baptist. I know when I would meet Pentecostals and tell them I was Baptist, they automatically assumed I was very quiet in Church and never attended spiritual meetings. Once they found out more about me and my beliefs, they were astounded. I also want my children (who do know) to understand more fully the reasons behind these old beliefs as well as leave a record for my grandchildren as there will no doubt be less of it in their day as there was in mine. I would now like to devote some thought and time to this subject as I’ve noticed others attempting to define and research this rare term. I can’t be sure that we will ever indisputably nail down the origin of the term. I’ve heard it came from when Jacob served Laban for Rachel and how he stripped the poplar poles causing the cattle to be “ringstraked.” I had one older Preacher say that he had heard it came from the striped lizards they use to see while working in the fields. He said those lizards would streak this way and then that way and you couldn’t catch them. With the exception of the newspaper article I reference below and the blog that I list following that, all other information on the internet refer to streaky head turtles and birds. I guess the turtle thing might have some possibilities as Streaked-Head Baptist normally have a hard shell. The quote below is from a newspaper article entitled “No Nonsense” that was in print on Monday, August 7th, 1939. It dealt with the congress of the Baptist World Alliance who met in Atlanta, Georgia. The National Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Convention of America were represented. From what I was able to ascertain in the article there were some racial tensions and allegations of “numerous racial signs.” The congress claimed that the signs designated the different groups represented in the Alliance and had nothing to do with race. The article claimed that if race bothered the meeting a little, nationalism bothered it more. There were comments against Hitler, Mussolini and Catholicism prior to WW-II. The thing that got my attention is with all that was going on in the world, these high guardians of the faith found time to mention my denomination. How kind it was of them to mention the Streaked Head Baptists way back when? *Baptist groups which do not believe in foreign missions and "human institutions" such as Sunday school do not belong to the Alliance. Stay-at-homes—unless they wished to pay 25¢ to sit in the audience at night meetings of the congress—were Foot-Washing, Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit, Hard Shell Primitive, Six-Principle, Seventh Day, Free Will, Streaked Head Baptists. All these sects are small, quirky. I have pasted the conversation below from an internet blog that I found. I changed the screen name of the folks who were discussing this to numbers. Number 1 would be the first person who started the thread and Number 2 would be the first response. I number the rest sequentially as they joined the conversation. It was a very interesting conversation and I think that I could have “spiced” it up if I had known it was taking place. Enjoy the exchanges as I will comment at the end of their conversation. Number 1 05-03-2005, 03:24 PM According to the best information I can find on the Web, the New Hope Baptist Association was founded in 1884 with churches mostly in Haralson and Paulding Counties in Georgia and the New Hope Primitive Baptist Association was founded about 1840 with churches in Carroll and Haralson counties in Georgia. Does anyone have any information about the history of the NHBA and if there is any connection with the NHPBA? Number 2 05-03-2005, 06:49 PM Hi, One. Welcome to the Baptist Board. According to the New Hope Baptist Association minutes, the association "was organized at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Paulding County, Georgia, Sunday, September 27, 1884, with Rev. W. R. Twilley as Moderator and G. R. Durham, Clerk." (Minutes, 2000, p. 20) At that time the churches were located in 6 GA counties - Carroll, Cobb, Floyd, Haralson, Paulding, and Polk. There used to be a church in Cherokee Co., AL, but I don't think they represent anymore. The New Hope Association is considered (nicely) by GA Convention Baptists as "non-cooperative" and pejoratively as "streaked-head". They are neither Primitive nor Missionary, generally rejected any missionary enterprises and cooperative work beyond the local association level. I have suspected that the New Hope BA and the New Hope Primitive BA were one body and that one group withdrew and reorganized in 1884. But that is totally guessing. They could have arisen in the same general area independently and simply both chose the same name. There is what appears to be a "first-hand" description here: http://sarvadharma.org/lee.htm You might also read this: http://www.lawskills.com/case/ga/id/16205/ and possibly try contacting Tarver Library at Mercer University to see if they have any information that will help: http://tarver.mercer.edu/archives/Holdings/associations.php Number 1 05-04-2005, 12:23 PM Mr. Two, Thanks for the information. I have a copy of the latest minutes on the way from the current Moderator but I just got antsy. Yes, I do remember the term "Streaked-Head" being used. I always thought that meant that their beliefs and doctrines were somewhere between Primitive Baptists and Missionary Baptists. I have also heard them called "hardshell", which is a term many normally have used for Primitive Baptists. I don't use these terms to be derogatory. The people in these Churches are some of the most loving and wonderful people in the world. My Father was involved with the NHBA in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Douglasville, Georgia in Douglas County and probably ordained there. His first pastorate was Mountain View Baptist Church near Felton, Georgia in Haralson County. His second pastorate was Westview Baptist Church(sometimes West View) in Tallapoosa, Georgia also in Haralson County. The term "Pastor" was used and not "Elder", which leads me to believe that they were not originally a part of the Primitive Baptists. Liberty withdrew and became independent probably in the 1960s. Not sure if they are Missionary, but probably not. Mountain View and Westview also withdrew and became Missionary. Believe that Westview was a part of the Georgia Baptist Convention for a time but then withdrew. I remember that at Mountain View around 1950 in Communion the "Fruit of the Vine" was served in one glass passed by the serving deacons down the bench from participant to participant. At Westview in the mid 1950s I do remember feetwashing which everyone called "footwashing". I also remember some "shouting" during regular services. Also, at the old Church building there was a mourner's bench in front of the pulpit. At the new building the bench was replaced by some hand-crafted, backless benches with red cushions attached to the top. Believe that caused a stir when the annual associational meeting was held there one year. As I remember, at these churches (and possibly others we attended when I was a child), during regular worship services there was prayer time when many of the men would kneel and pray aloud at the same time. Some would rock back and forth and pray in a chant similar to some preaching. Preaching was extemporaneous, as some call it today. Most just said that the message was sent by God through the preacher. The sermons were usually delivered in a rapid, chanting style. Not all sermons were "fire and brimstone" but I do remember the phrase "die and go to hell" being used quite a bit. Prepared messages or notes were not normally used. Hope to send more as I confirm some of my memories from my childhood and some of the assumptions that I have made. Number 2 05-04-2005, 06:18 PM One, I didn't mean to imply that you meant "streaked-head" as derogatory - but it has a derogatory meaning as used by some folks. Sorry about that. I don't think there is anything wrong with discussing the origin and meaning of the term, and would like to know more about it. To me it seems to imply a hard-headed uncooperative streak, but I don't know if that is its origin. Unless the New Hope Association has changed rapidly in the last few years, they are still substantially as you describe them from your childhood memories. There are two more associations a little farther north and east - Pleasant Valley & Jasper - that are basically the same kind of Baptists. In fact, there are quite a few "non-cooperative" associations in Georgia that stand in doctrine and practice somewhere between the Primitive and Missionary Baptists - Ellijay, Pleasant Grove, Original Smyrna, Central Western, Coosawattee, Chestatee, et al. The Gilmer-Fannin, which the GBC lists as one of theirs, operates pretty much in the same fashion, but with a few churches supporting Georgia Baptist Hospital and maybe a Children's Home. These associations do not all fellowship with one another, though. There was also an Alabama New Hope Association north of Cullman. They were in correspondence with the New Hope in Georgia. Several of the churches still exist as independent churches, but no longer meet as an association. Number 1 05-05-2005, 09:16 AM Thanks for the additional information. Have developed another source for information--a gentleman who was Clerk for NHBA for many years. Will provide more information as I get it. Number 2 05-05-2005, 12:58 PM Will look forward to hearing what you find. Number 2 05-05-2005, 11:15 PM One, I looked back through some of my records to find a couple of things that mention the New Hope Association. In a 1950 thesis at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth (The Differences Among Baptist Groups in the United States of America), Arthur Hinson mentions the New Hope Baptist Association. I don't remember how much, but I copied this: "in late 1945...I was...called as pastor by a church in northwest Georgia...In this community were numerous members and several churches of a Baptist group called 'Streaked-Head Baptists', but whose real name was New Hope Association Baptists. They were members of an association composed of almost one hundred churches in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. They were more anti-effort than the Hardshells ever thought to be." He goes on to mention how those churches had affected the SBC churches in the area, and that many of the SBC observed very similar practices - foot washing, no Sunday Schools, etc. I know the New Hope was once much bigger, but I don't know how accurate is his statement that they had almost 100 churches circa 1945. The other resource you might find interesting is "Viewpoints: Georgia Baptist History, Volume 1". Chapter 3 is an article by Charles O. Walker entitled "(A Study of) Feet Washing Among Baptists of Georgia". I don't remember for sure if he specifically mentions the New Hope Association. Most of his references, I believe, are to the nearby Jasper Baptist Association. Number 1 05-06-2005, 11:03 AM Bro. Two, Thanks for the additional information. I too doubt that there were 100 churches in the association at that time. I recently joined the Georgia Baptist Historical Society and I plan to obtain some materials through them. Also, I plan to visit the Jack Tarver Library at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. They have a Georgia Baptist History Depository in their Special Collections (Baptist & University Archives) section. It does include microfilmed copies of minutes of various associations including NHBA. More to follow. Number 2 05-06-2005, 12:43 PM I'm also a member of GBHS. Tarver Library's Special Collections has a lot of resources. I've never been able to visit, but have obtained some minutes to research via inter-library loan. If you have an opportunity to meet him, Dr. Robert Gardner is quite generally knowledgeable concerning the Baptist groups in Georgia. I've never met him face-to-face, but we have corresponded a lot and shared information. Number 1 05-09-2005, 01:13 PM On page 19 of the 2004 Minutes of the NHBA, the "CONSTITUTION" reads as follows: Article 1. We believe in only one true and living God, the Creator and Preserver of all things, and that there is a trinity of persons in the Godhead: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and these are one. Article 2. We believe and receive the Original King James Version of the Old and New Testament as the revealed Word of God, and that they contain the only safe rule of faith and practice. Article 3. We believe in the total and universal depravity of the human family. Article 4. We believe in the election through the everlasting love of God to His people, they being chosen in Christ before the world began. Article 5. We believe that the sinners are justified in the sight of God, by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. Article 6. We believe in the doctrine of effectual calling and the final preservation of saints in grace. Article 7. We believe that good works are the effect of faith and follow after justification and that they justify us in the sight of men and are evidences of a gracious state. Article 8. We believe there will be a resurrection from the dead and a general judgment, and that the happiness of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked will be eternal. It appears to me that the only part of the Five Points of Calvinism that is expressly missing from these articles of faith is Limited Atonement. Is Limited Atonement assumed because of the wording in Articles 4 and 5? Number 2 05-13-2005, 10:50 PM One, from what I know about the New Hope Baptist Association, mostly through corresponding associations, I would say that they probably don't hold these articles in their literal Calvinistic meaning. They may vary from church to church. I know that the Alabama New Hope Association churches were modified Calvinists, somewhere around "2-1/2" point. It's not unusual for "traditional" associations to keep old articles of faith while their doctrinal stance has actually modified over the years. Number 3 06-19-2005, 03:27 PM Do the churches in the New Hope Baptist Association hold to any other handle on their name or just baptist as far as the individual churches? I would like to see more on this group and their history and if they were once the same group as the New Hope Primitive baptist asso. and if so what did they split over as far as doctrine or a practice. Also what does Streaked headed mean? ...bro Three Number 1 06-20-2005, 04:41 PM The cover of the "MINUTES OF THE 121st Annual Session OF THE NEW HOPE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION" indicates that the meeting was held with the "SHADY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHRIST" and that the 2005 meeting will be at "Unity Baptist Church of Christ". I remember that another church which withdrew from the association about 40-45 years ago was officially named Liberty Baptist Church of Christ. However, the sign in front of the church before and after the separation did not contain the "of Christ" part of the name, nor does the sign at their current location. I doubt that the other two churches mentioned above or any of the churches of the association publicly use the "of Christ" part of the name. I would also venture that 90% of the members of those churches do not even know that "of Christ" is part of the name. My guess that the reason for not publicly using the full name is to avoid confusion with churches of the "United Church of Christ" denomination. I can find no evidence that the New Hope Baptist Association or any of its member churches were ever associated with the New Hope Primitive Baptist Association. One source indicated that most, if not all, of the churches had withdrawn from the Tallapoosa Baptist Association, which has only recently disbanded. I believe that Tallapoosa was missionary at that time. My guess is that these churches that formed New Hope disagreed with the missionary efforts, Sunday schools, use of printed literature, and seminary training for preachers and wanted to form their own association. For some reason they did not want to go with the Primitive Baptists, possibly because the Primitive Baptists did not use musical instruments or have choirs. I have yet to see any other difference between the beliefs of the churches of New Hope and the beliefs of the Primitive Baptists. I believe that the derogatory term "streaked head" means that the members of these churches are part Primitive. That is, they have a "streak" of Primitive within them. I have also heard them referred to as "hardshell", a derogatory term normally reserved for true Primitive Baptists. The churches of the New Hope Baptist Association have traditionally been "shouting" Baptists. Though some members shout, they do not "speak in tongues", do "holy dances", or engage in any other similar practices that might be interpreted as "Pentecostal". Not sure if "shouting" is acceptable in Primitive Baptist churches. Hope to find out more soon. Number 2 06-20-2005, 11:49 PM Bro. Three., I wrote a friend in Georgia and asked about the term "Streaked-Head". He replied, "Streaked-Head[ed] Baptists or Streekee-Head[ed] Baptists are non-GBC, independent Baptists who sometimes sponsor local, association missions, but nothing beyond their own association. Unfortunately, I do not know the origin of the term. I have heard it for years, but I don't recall that anyone has ever explained it to me." As far as handles, that which “One” mentions above - Baptist Church of Christ - is the only one I know of, and that is usually an "official" name, used in minutes, etc., but not usually on church signs, etc. One, I see online that Tarver Library at Mercer has a few minutes of the Tallapoosa Association around the time New Hope was constituted. A search through those might yield some info. Number 1 06-21-2005, 01:25 PM My source, who is a member of a New Hope church, was not able to shed any light on the meaning of the term "Streaked Head". This same source indicated to me that the difference between the Primitive Baptists and New Hope is that the "Primitive Baptists believe in a predestinated plan. We believe that man is a free moral agent and free to choose." He referred to John 3:16. I asked him, "When your preachers preach they are preaching to bring people to Christ?" He responded, "Yes." In the same conversation, the good brother stated that he does believe in the Perseverence of the Saints in Grace. He also stated that he believes that God knows everything, even if we will accept Jesus, but that we still are free to choose. This supports Bro. Two's statement in his post of 5/13/05, "It's not unusual for "traditional" associations to keep old articles of faith while their doctrinal stance has actually modified over the years." It appears that they believe in only two points of the five points of Calvinism: Total Depravity and Perseverance (preservation) of the Saints. Evidently they do not believe in the Unconditional Election, or Limited Atonement, or Irresistible Grace (effectual call). However, they are not "missionary" in that they do not believe in supporting mission organizations. They only support local efforts. He said, in effect, that God can raise up a person in a foreign country to handle the efforts there. Got to get to the Tarver Library. Number 4 06-21-2005, 02:39 PM Originally posted by “One”: My source, who is a member of a New Hope church, SNIP. . . However, they are not "missionary" in that they do not believe in supporting mission organizations. They only support local efforts. He said, in effect, that God can raise up a person in a foreign country to handle the efforts there.SNIPI would hope they are at the least praying for the Lord of the Harvest to raise up laborers in those foreign fields. Number 1 06-21-2005, 03:21 PM Bro. Four, That I just don't know. Apparently there are some groups of Baptists who believe that God takes care of all of those matters and does not need man's help. Hopefully I can attend some of these churches in the near future and get a better feel for their actual practices. Maybe on a footwashing day. That would be a treat. Haven't been to a footwashing since I was a child. Number 2 06-21-2005, 10:03 PM One, I am continuing to search for the origin of the term "streaked head". Considering what you said in your second post, I've been thinking that the "streak" represents something that is not solid, consistent, pure, etc. as a streak being a line, mark, or something differentiated by color or texture from its surroundings. This would go along with the idea that they were neither Primitive nor Missionary. One SBC pastor-historian who lives in northwest Georgia wrote, "A streaked head - skunk. It evidently came when GBC reps who visited anti-mission/education associations. It was not a nice term and I refuse to use it." This seems to be pretty much a term confined to Georgia. Number 1 06-22-2005, 11:44 AM Bro. Two, The term "streaked head" may even be confined to the areas around New Hope churches and to those people who have been directly involved with diehard New Hope people. Number 2 06-23-2005, 11:48 PM One, the area may be confined to north Georgia, but is at least a little broader than the New Hope churches/counties. The non-cooperative churches and members of the Pleasant Valley & Jasper Baptist associations (north of Atlanta) have also been referred to as "streaked head". Number 2 10-11-2005, 10:03 PM I'm bumping this up in case someone might have found something, but forgot about the thread. Number 5 10-30-2005, 11:18 PM I've attended these churches all my life you refer to as streak headed and have never heard them called that! I would be willing to discuss some information with you Number 2 10-31-2005, 11:16 AM Five, I look forward to your discussing what you know about the New Hope Baptist Association and/or the term streaked-head Baptists. Seeing you are a footwashing Baptist in north Georgia, I expect you have direct experience and are a member of a church that practices feetwashing in church capacity. Number 5 10-31-2005, 03:07 PM Mr. Two, I have visited and preached at several churches in the New Hope Association,but I am a member of a church in another association in the North GA hills. We do practice foot washing. Some churches in our association have communion and footwashing twice a year one in spring and one in fall , but some just hold it once a year. I first took part in these services at age 13 the age I was saved and have continued in the way every since. Number 2 11-02-2005, 12:03 AM Five, you mentioned you've never heard of these churches being called streaked heads. I expect that probably only the GBC has called them by that name. And perhaps not much anymore. I have friends in the Alabama New Hope Association and have met a preacher from Georgia New Hope, but have never visited the Georgia New Hope Association or any of its churches. However, I have visited a few North Georgia churches in the Pleasant Valley, Pleasant Grove, Gilmer-Fannin, and Ellijay Associations. I must admit that I feel kind of special that so much time was devoted in an attempt to find the origin and maybe even the definition of what I’ve been called most of my life. As I stated at the beginning, we may never know the answer to those questions. You will notice in this conversation that it was eluded that one preacher said we were so named after a streaked headed skunk. There also are references to an idea that we may be hard-headed and that part is definitely true. Another said that we had a streak of Primitive and a streak of Missionary, thus the term streaked head. I don’t buy this one for a minute as a true streaky-head would tell you they are the original Baptist. They are neither Primitive or Missionary and that one of those groups departed from the original course and they remained in the old path and would not swerve to the left hand or to the right. I chuckled a little at the mention of one of the Churches above that used to be in the Association but is no longer. I chuckled because my Dad was the Moderator the year that they were removed and I knew the entire story and even believe that it continues to have an impact in my life at the present. From all of the research that I’ve conducted, I can find no evidence that the term was ever applied to Churches outside of Georgia. I believe it to have originated with the New Hope Baptist and due to their similarities was applied to Jasper, True Vine and other associations that once were similar. I recently mentioned this term to a dear Preacher friend of mine in North Carolina who had never heard of a “streaky-head”. Of course when we began to compare our beliefs and where we stand on the scriptures, I had to make him an “honorary streaky-head” to which he had no problem as long as folks knew where he stood. I am much the same, call me what you want to but you had better take knowledge as they did with Peter and John that I have been with Jesus! I also noticed that during the discussion the official church names surfaced. In other words, the “of Christ” portion of a streaky-head church name. This is true for all of the New Hope Churches and many independents and I would imagine even those of similar associations. I will use a ficticous church name just for an example, “The Baptist Church of Christ at Centerville”. I think that the discussion above would lead one to think that it would be the “Centerville Baptist Church of Christ” so I wanted to clear that up. They are correct in the fact that this is the official name used in minutes but never displayed on a sign. The sign in front of our ficticous church would simply read “Centerville Baptist Church.” Only in recent years would you find the pastor’s name on some of the signs. In the old days, this didn’t happen. Typical Practices Now I realize that there may be many who read this article that have never heard of the term streaky-head and furthermore, never attend a service even remotely similar to a streaky-headed service. For those of you I will now attempt to describe typical practices that took place during services and try not to venture off course. This will not seem to strange to the older order of the Missionary, the Primitive and even many of the Regular and Freewill Baptist. If the following comments sound strange to you, then you probably don’t fit in the categories I just mentioned and would be considered more modern. Meeting Days: All of the Churches within the New Hope Baptist Association that from henceforth I will call NHBA in order to save time and space, have staggered meeting days. In other words none of the associated churches meet every Sunday. Some will meet the second and fourth Sunday each month while some will meet the first and third. Some would only meet on the first, second, third or fourth while others held special services when a month contained a fifth Sunday. The hardest thing to get someone to understand that was not raised a streaky head comes when explaining how to tell which Sunday it is. Folks generally seem to count the first weekend as the first Sunday but the “streaks” are very cautious and will quickly let you know that they meet the first Sunday and Saturday before for example. So if the first day of the month falls on a Sunday they will meet the Saturday before that Sunday which will be in the prior month. This was originally set up so the churches could visit one another. They took this from the book of Revelation 22:2 which states, “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” The older heads told me that the tree baring the twelve manner of fruits and yielding her fruit each month is where this practice originally came from. See, and you thought you were just reading after a streaky-headed novice! Wednesday Services: It stands to mention that the NHBA do not meet on Wednesday nights except during revivals. Many of the churches meet on Saturday morning or night and Sunday morning. I remember one that met on Saturday morning, Saturday night and Sunday morning and there were many that met on Saturday night, Sunday morning and Sunday nights. Conference would be conducted on either Saturday morning or Saturday night. For example, if a church met on the first and third, they would normally have conference the Saturday morning before the first Sunday of each month. Business was never conducted on Sunday with the exception of during revivals (usually at the end) or if someone joined the church in which case a move would be made to hear the candidate speak and then a move on the action that the church would take. Conference/Gospel Order: Ok now I’ve covered when they met for conference and now a little about their conferences. In the text following you will find order of business from their minutes which pertain to the meeting of the entire association so there’s no need for me to go into detail about that at this time. Though the individual churches varied slightly in practice, they were pretty close in the grand scheme and closely lined up with what you find listed below. A couple of exceptions that come to mind are they will all agree that a woman is not to speak during conference. However, some hold that this does not apply when a woman needs to make acknowledgements to the church. I wouldn’t be surprised if some reading this don’t even know what I mean with this term. Some churches did not want a woman to speak during conference for any reason. This was usually resolved by the husband speaking for her or the Moderator taking the church out of conference, allowing her to make acknowledgements and then re-convening to accept them. Although it is rare today, I remember when it wasn’t rare to appoint and send a committee to visit a Brother or Sister they had received a report of them walking disorderly. The Moderator would usually appoint the first committee member and that member would appoint the next and that member the next. The committees usually consisted of three members. They would go visit the Brother or Sister in person and explain the allegations. They would then bring back their findings to the church. After they made their report to the church a motion would be made to accept the report and release the committee. The church would then act based upon the findings in the report. Now remember that these are streaky heads. When I speak of the report it is only a verbal for the only writing that takes place is done by the Clerk and in the minutes. The actions were usually one of the two, either the accused came and made acknowledgements or they were excommunicated and yes I’ve witnessed quite a few of both. The remainder of business order is covered below. Services: Almost without exception, Sunday services started at 10:30 am. I do remember one that started at 10. Evening services usually started at either 7 or 7:30 pm. I know that doesn’t seem very late but think about a Sunday evening starting at 7:30. In your typical church today that would put you out about 8:30 or 9 at the latest. In the streaks, it would usually mean you would be dismissed around 10-11 pm and occasionally later. Most of the Missionary Churches would convene at 6 pm and be over by 7 but to date I don’t know of a single streak that meet at 6. If the church met on Saturday morning, it was not unlikely to find them starting at 11 am. I’m not sure where all of this came from but am sure that they held to it. Song Service: In a typical Sunday service and remembering that there is no program or bulletin, it would start with class singing. Most churches had a piano but guitars or any other instruments were not allowed even by accident! Some didn’t even have a piano. I always found this an oxy-moron as they claimed they didn’t believe in stringed instruments but if they opened the piano, they would find that it is a stringed instrument. The songbooks used were typically the burgundy church hymnals found in the Missionary Baptist as well as the brown or blue Favorite hymns. This seemed to have been the prominent hymnal for some time but I suspect they saw and liked the burgundy hymnals while visiting with the more modern churches. There was a couple that clung to the little Primitive Baptist Hymnal and one that used the Sacred Harp. I have been in some really good song services in the NHBA and what may be hard for some of them to believe is I’ve been in some really good ones outside of their association as well. I do believe that they have softened that view somewhat over the years with the help of singing groups like the Primitive Quartet, some of my kinfolk and singing groups that I’ve been associated with. Testimony/Prayer Service: There usually wasn’t a formal welcome like you find in many Missionary services. The pastor would usually get up sometime during the song service and get the Bible from off the book-board and place it in the lap of a person he felt impressed should open the prayer meeting or testimony service would better describe it. I failed to mention that during the song service, the Church’s song leader would usually lead a couple and then call on different ones to lead other songs. Never would you find a list of what songs would be sung during a service. After another song or two, prayer service/testimony meeting would be opened by the reading of the scripture. The designee could vary from church to church as some believed it to be OK for a woman to open prayer service and some did not. This usually was tied directly to the pastor’s view. If a man was to open, he would come to the front of the church but if it was a woman, she would stand up only where she was seated. After the reading of the scripture you that are more modern than me would say they gave their testimony. I on the other hand will say they testified as that doesn’t imply that it is their testimony. Some of these Brethren and at the risk of being hunted down by the streaky headed police, I will have to tell the truth and say some of the women could really tell the news. Testifying in the spirit and power and often times there would be shouting at the opening of the testimony service. I was accused once of saying that some of the women in the NHBA could preach. When confronted I cleared myself and said that I never said a woman could preach but what I did say is I would to God that some of the so-called preachers had the spirit that some of these women had. Guess what, I still stand by that one! It was common that once the person selected to open the testimony service read the scripture that they would call on someone to pray. Now the NHBA are different from most other Baptist in praying like they are in almost everything else. Only one person would pray out loud and the rest would “sick-em” as I like to call it. I know that you think this is akin to the manner of the larger Baptist but quiet the contrary these prayers were loud, heartfelt and usually in the cadence the gentlemen in the blog above mention. To be honest, it’s still strange for me to go and kneel down when everyone is praying at the same time. It is a distraction and I normally don’t get as much out of it as I do when the NHBA method is utilized. After the prayer, the person opening the service normally testifies. I must say here that many of my Brethren and yes, some of my Sisters had more spirit opening prayer service than I see a dozen modern preachers have. If that hurts, rub it a little and it will feel better after a while. If you are not able to feel His Holy Spirit there can only be two problems, either you are none of His or you are not where He wants you to be and I mean living as He would have you to live. I know that we are focusing on the streaky head but we should never forget that there’s always room for us to move up closer to the Lord. After prayer service is opened, the Moderator usually declares such and asks who will be first. This differed at some churches. I knew one where the pastor would always call for a song and the congregation to shake hands with the individual who opened prayer meetings. Most churches had a person that would always be first and they would say something to the effect “I don’t care anything about being first”….. Many times these individuals would hinder and dampen the service from the heights it had reached during the opening. A good pastor would usually sense this and start up an old a cappella song such as “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone” and could get the meeting back on course most of the time. Most folks would take advantage of this opportunity and most pastors/moderators tried to stay away from calling on you individually. Of course if you had a reputation of being very spiritual and setting services a blaze, you would get called on if the service was dragging. I likened it to a real good pinch hitter in baseball. If your team was losing, the coach would send you in to knock it out of the park. Preaching Service: Once prayer service was over, the Moderator normally called for a song and asked the congregation to stand and rest themselves. It was usually noon or 12:30 by now. The Moderator would take certain preachers by the arm and pull them toward the elevated pulpit. This was their invitation into the stand. I had one preacher tell me that he didn’t practice that anymore because he said get a song while we put the preachers in the stand and some he wasn’t going to ask ran up in there. This did not happen at a streaky church! Had it happened, the Moderator would have helped them right back out. All of the Preachers typically sat on the front bench of the Amen corner. Certain Deacons were accepted and allowed to sit there as well. I usually found this to be silly and somewhat against what the Lord laid out in His Word concerning respect of persons. If there were too many visiting Preachers and they filled up the front bench in the Amen corner, the remainder spilled over to the front bench on the “old women’s side.” Once the Moderator had who he wanted in the stand, he would then take the Bible and lay in the lap of the one he felt should open the service. The man of God would stand, read a scripture and then ask that the church pray as he tried. Sometimes he might call on someone to pray after he read and sometimes he might pray himself. Preaching in a streaky church was much as described above in the blog, it was usually with a rhythm and cadence. Very often with tears and accompanied with shouts from the congregation if the man actually made the crossing. I heard many say that you shouldn’t desire to hear one more than another but nobody believed that. Usually the ones who said it were the ones who seldom got in the spirit while preaching. Let’ be for real, go back to the pinch-hitter. If you’re in a competition, you want your best to get up there, someone who can knock it out of the park. This was the same, the devil wanted to keep hold of the lost so you needed to send your best batter to the plate. Most services consisted of at least two preachers preaching full sermons. The sermons never were prepared or at least they were not written down. Sometimes there would only be one preacher and more especially if he really made the crossing. No one wanted to take a chance and bomb if someone had really preached the Gospel. Sometimes there were three that would try it and this was fine as long as they made it. If they were stumbling around or playing with it, your belly sure would go to growling. Invitation: Once the preaching was over, the Moderator would ask the congregation to stand and call for a song. He would announce that the door of the church was open for reception of members. This included by letter, by experience of grace, by watch care until they got your letter or anyway the gospel authorizes. The streaks did not practice everyone in the altar although they would not hinder you if you felt like coming up there and praying. They believed (and I do as well) that the altar is anywhere you meet the Lord’s conditions. I believe that too much emphasis is placed on that physical spot when there is really no Bible that makes that an altar and we should be careful that we don’t pull the law into this. An altar is where an offering or sacrifice is to be made and we all know that Christ is our offering and sacrifice. Once the invitation was over and if no one joined, he would ask for any word or announcements and then call on someone to pray for dismissal. If someone joined, he would inform the Church that the person presented themselves for whatever reason and ask for a move to hear them talk. Once moved the person was permitted to speak and then the Moderator would ask for a motion on the church action. This usually resulted in a move to accept as a candidate for baptism, under watch care or to accept the letter along with the bearer. Once voted by stating “aye” they would be extended the right hand of Christian fellowship if they were a candidate for baptism or under watch care. When you were baptized or your letter received from a Sister Church, you would be extended the right hand of Church fellowship which symbolized full fellowship with the church. Streaky-headed facts, traditions, etc.: If you are planning on attending a “streaky-head” Church, there are some things you ought to know. I’m thankful that most have softened on many of these points in the past few years but there is still some room for improvement. Carrying your Bible: Of course there is nothing wrong with carrying your Bible but it used to be looked at as if you were looking for a job, i.e. preacher, teacher, etc. The “Streaks” believe that you should carry the Word with you in your heart. You might receive some funny looks but I don’t think anyone would say anything to you today. Sunday School: No need in showing up early for not a single NHBA Church has Sunday School. They believe that the children should learn from spiritual meetings and that the Holy Ghost is the best teacher. It’s hard to argue against that. Guitars/Sound Equipment: Oh, you had better not! 95% of them will come to your Church and listen to the Primitive Quartet pick guitars, banjos and fiddles. At your Church they will rejoice, shout and have themselves a good time but you better not break out your Martin or Gibson at their place. One more thing, don’t bring your boom box and tracks with you either. I’m still not a fan of the can music. Doctrine: You don’t need to come in their churches with some new form of doctrine. In other words if you are a fan of the millennial reign, you better keep it to yourself! If you hold the thought that we are all going to stand and be judged, hold that one to for you are being judged while you say it. If you can sound like a preacher, jump benches or even walk on them, you better make sure you can do it in the spirit. Bring no book with you other than the King James Version Bible which I’ve already told you would draw some looks but anything else would draw more. Do not quote from another version either. They may not have their Bibles in front of them but they know what it says, trust me on this one. Ministers: Ordained Ministers are referred to as Elders and Licensed Ministers as Reverend. The Reverend could go before each title but the Elder would not go before the name of a Licensed Minister who would be designated in the minutes as a “Licentiate.” One item of note is in a NHBA Church and most others that line up with the “Streaks”, a man does not announce a calling to preach. This is a serious subject and when God impresses on a Brother that a man has been called, he will stand during conference and make a move to license that man to preach the Gospel. There are critics who say “how does someone else know if a man’s been called?” I would answer with the simple fact if God can tell the one He called, he can tell someone to make the move. So in other words, if you are trying that one, that dog won’t hunt. In fact I like it much better this way so that every man who gets a little zeal for a moment of time don’t jump up and holler he’s been called. If someone else makes the move, it is usually because God has put it on them and they can’t find any rest or piece until they do so. Facilities: I was born in 1960 and was a grown man before most of the Churches had bathrooms with running water and air conditioning. Many bathrooms today remain detached from the actual Church although most have running water. Though I was born after almost everyone had gas heat and running water, I still remember some Churches with a pot-bellied stove used for heat. Baptism: Baptizing is almost always conducted outside. Some prefer running water but almost all will accept a pond, lake or outside pool. The service consists of the congregation meeting at the water’s edge and singing hymns a cappela. There will be a sermon preached at the water and another invitation for candidates (open the door of the Church), prior to leading the candidates into the water. The Minister usually goes out into the water with a rod and stabs it into the creek bed when he finds the right spot. He will then come back to the bank and lead the candidates into the water by hand. The singing usually continues until he gets the candidates to the designated spot marked by the rod. The “Streak” Minister will then baptize the candidates by total immersion saying the following: “In humble obedience to the command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I baptize you my brother/sister, in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost.” This of course is done with the Minister’s right hand raised in the air and usually their head is bowed as this is a very sacred ordinance and no one should feel worthy just as John the Baptist. After the baptism it is customary to return to the Church, candidates and Minister change into dry clothes and the candidates are positioned on the front pew. The congregation generally has a song service while this takes place. Once everybody is in position, one or more Ministers will attempt to preach a charge to the candidates. I’ve experienced this to be very spirit-filled services for the most part. I believe the Lord does provide a little something special to the Minister for the purpose of preparing and charging the new candidates. Communion/Foot Washing: I’ve had to stand in defense of my beliefs as well as the streaks many times on this matter. No true streak Church will have communion without a foot washing service. I know that within the modern Churches most have dropped the foot-washing portion from their itinerary. These services usually take place at the beginning of their revivals although there are a few exceptions. There is normally a morning service which consists of the normal service I’ve listed above and then there is an intermission for lunch. Lunch is brought and spread on an outside table. Many have covers on them now and I know of one Church that actually has a fellowship hall. A few years ago there would have been some that would have tried to exclude the Church with the hall but I think those kind of things have now eased. After lunch, the Church Deacons usually prepare the table. This consists of turning the front bench on the women’s side was turned to face the bench behind it to provide privacy. The table would be set in front of the book-board with the bread and wine. The table would then be covered with clean white linen. It is customary for the Pastor to choose two ordained Ministers to set at the table. If there were not two ordained Ministers at the service, Deacons would be used. One Minister would read scripture and try to preach concerning the bread. After the sermon the two Ministers would remove the cloth and break the unleavened bread that was prepared by the wife of one of the Deacons. The Minister who preached over the bread would then call on someone (usually a Deacon), to pray the blessing over the bread. He then chose two Deacons to come and get the bread that they broke and placed into two dishes so the congregation could be served. I always liked to raise old songs without music while the bread and wine was being distributed. The Deacon would extend the dish to you and you would take one piece of bread. Do not attempt to take the dish from the Deacon and pass it down the pew. If he knows his job, he will hold onto the dish so that it is served to you from his hand. After everyone is served, one Deacon sits and the other serves him and then returns the dish to the table and he sits. The first Deacon then rises and goes to the table taking the dish and serves the second Deacon. The Minister then asks if anyone has been overlooked and gives them the opportunity to raise their hand and be served. This same practice is utilized for the wine with the other Minister reading and then preaching followed by prayer and server selection. Most of the Churches continue to use two glasses for the distribution. Real wine is used and should be grown and prepared by a Deacon. Some of the Churches had went to the little individual cups but I’ve made stands against those at many Churches as I find it silly to think our God can’t protect us from disease. Those stands have included me refusing to commune with them or they have to serve me and my family from the glass in the old manner. Of course the same practice is also utilized to determine if anyone was overlooked. Now, let’s wade off into their Constitution, Rules of Decorum and Gospel Order. If you are any other kind of Baptist we would simply call them Articles of Faith or as my Dad used to say “R-tick-les” of Faith. New Hope Baptist Association Constitution (As found in the 2000 Minutes) Article 1. We believe in only one true and living God, the Creator and Preserver of all things, and that there is a trinity of persons in the Godhead: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and these are one. Article 2. We believe and receive the Original King James Version of the Old and New Testament as the revealed Word of God, and that they contain the only safe rule of faith and practice. Article 3. We believe in the total and universal depravity of the human family. Article 4. We believe in the election through the everlasting love of God to His people, they being chosen in Christ before the world began. Article 5. We believe that the sinners are justified in the sight of God, by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. Article 6. We believe in the doctrine of effectual calling and the final preservation of saints in grace. Article 7. We believe that good works are the effect of faith and follow after justification and that they justify us in the sight of men and are evidences of a gracious state. Article 8. We believe that there will be a resurrection from the dead and a general judgment, and that the happiness of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked will be eternal. New Hope Baptist Association Rules of Decorum (As found in the 2000 Minutes) Having laid down a summary of Faith and Order, upon which we intend to associate, we propose to adopt for the Decorum of our Association the following plan or form of government; Rule 1. Those members who are regularly chosen by the Churches in our union, together with their Ministers, ordained and licentiates, both shall compose the Association. Rule 2. The members so chosen shall produce Letters from their respective Churches certifying those appointed to go there, with the number of members in full fellowship, those baptized, received by letter, dismissed by letter, excommunicated and deceased since the last Association. Rule 3. The members thus chosen and convened shall be known as the “New Hope Baptist Association”. Rule 4. The Association shall have no power to lord it over God’s heritage, nor to infringe upon any of the internal rights of the Churches. Rule 5. This Association shall have a Moderator and Clerk, who shall be chosen annually by all the members present. Rule 6. Any Church wishing to be admitted as a member into this union shall petition by letter and messenger an upon examination if found orthodox and orderly shall be received by the Association, and manifested by the Moderator giving the messenger the right hand of fellowship. Rule 7. No Church shall have a right in union to more than two messengers until she exceeds 100 members, then for every 50 after the first 100, shall have one additional messenger. Rule 8. Every query sent to the Association by an Church in union shall be respected, and if thought profitable shall be answered. Rule 9. All motions made and seconded shall be put to a vote by the Moderator, unless it be withdrawn by the mover. When there is more than one motion before the body the last shall be first in order. In all cases where the voted is taken, a majority shall rule. Rule 10. Everyone one that speaks in debate shall rise from his seat and address the Moderator, and shall not be interrupted except he depart from the subject. Rule 11. No person shall be permitted to speak more than three times on the same subject without leave of the body. Rule 12. There shall be no whispering or talking in the time of a debate or public speech, nor reflections cast upon the speaker. Rule 13. No member shall absent himself from the body without leave from the Moderator. Rule 14. If any member shall break the rules of the body, he shall submit himself to be reproved by the Moderator, whose duty it shall be to reprove in all cases of disorder. Rule 15. It is the business of the Association: 1st. To provide for the general union of Churches, 2nd. TO keep up a correspondence with those associations of the same faith and order, that a chain of connection may be preserved among the Churches. 3rd. To give the Churches the best advice in matters of difficulty; but, if the breach cannot be adjusted, to withdraw from any Church or Churches whom they shall look upon as being unsound in faith, or immoral in practice, until they be reclaimed. 4th. Invite Brethren of our faith and order to seats with us. 5th. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep a book, and regularly record the proceedings of every association, who shall be paid for his services. 6th. To have the minutes read before the body. 7th. To amend this plan or form of government any time when a majority of the union shall think proper. 8th. To adjourn any time and place they think proper. New Hope Baptist Association Gospel Order Article 1. We believe that the visible Church of Christ is a visible congregation of faithful persons who have gained fellowship with each other and who have agreed to keep up a godly discipline agreeable to the rules of the gospel. Article 2. We believe that Jesus Christ is the great head of the Church and the only lawgiver, and the government is with the body and is the privilege of each individual member and the discipline of the Church is intended for the reclaiming of those who may be disorderly either in principle or practice, and must be faithfully kept up for God’s glory and the peace and harmony of the Church. Article 3. We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinance of the gospel, to be kept up or continued to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that washing the saint’s feet is an example given to the Church by Jesus Christ. Article 4. We believe that the true believers in Jesus Christ and they only, are the proper subjects for baptism, and that immersion is the mode. Article 5. We believe that none but regular baptized Church members, and that by regular administration, have a right to commune at the Lord’s table. Article 6. We believe it is the duty of every heavenly born soul to become a member of the visible Church, and to make a public profession of faith, and to be batptized, so as to partake of the Lord’s Supper at every legal opportunity. New Hope Baptist Association Origin The New Hope Association was organized at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Paulding County, Georgia, Sunday September 27, 1884, with Rev. W.R. Twilley as Moderator and G.R. Durham, Clerk.
The Association would meet on the weekend of the fourth Sunday in September. It consisted of a three day service and began on Saturday morning. I will list the official order of business that was to be conducted on Saturday and Monday mornings and then I will attempt to outline and somewhat summarize what actually takes place. New Baptist Association Order of Business Saturday First-The Delegates meet and her the Introductory Sermon Second-The Moderator calls Association to order Third-Call for Letters from the Churches, read them and minute the state of the Churches Fourth-Elect Officers and declare the Body organized Fifth-Appoint Committee to arrange preaching Sixth-Invite visiting Ministers and Brethren of our Faith and Order to seats with us Seventh-Call for Petitionary Letters from Churches wishing to unite with this body Eighth-Call for Correspondents from other Associations Ninth-Adopt Order of Business and fix the hours of meeting Tenth-Appoint someone to open Prayer Service in House and someone to open Prayers Service at Stand on Sunday morning Eleventh-Clerk reads to the Body the Constitution, Rules for Decorum, Gospel Order and Origin of Association Twelfth-Hear report of Preaching Committee
Monday First-Moderator calls Association to order Second- Invite visiting Ministers and Brethren of our Faith and Order to seats with us Third-Renew call for Letters from Sister Churches of this Body Fourth-Renew call for Petitionary Letters from Churches wishing to unite with the Bidy Fifth- Renew call for Correspondents from other Associations Sixth-Appoint Correspondents to other Associations of our Faith and order Seventh- Call for reports of Committees Eighth-Call for miscellaneous business Ninth-Read and adopt minutes of present session together with the proper amendments of the remainder of this session Tenth-To adjourn at proper time and place Eleventh-Benediction I used minutes from the 2000 session as a template with the names omitted to provide a flavor of how a service is conducted. Saturday Morning at 10:30 am 1st Assembled in the House 2nd Song service and hand shake 3rd Prayer 4th Annual Introductory Sermon (usually more than one to preach) 5th Dismiss for lunch with prayer. Saturday Afternoon 6th Assemble and sang hymns 7th Prayer 8th Moderator calls body to order with scripture 9th Moderator appoints normally three delegates to collect and read the letters. 10th Obtain motion to receive the Letters and seat the Delegates 11th Moderator appoints usually three delegates to conduct the election for the positions of Moderator and Clerk. 12th Obtain motion to conduct election of Officers. (Delegates conducting the election ask for nominees via motion and second, body of delegates usually come around and whisper their choice that is recorded on paper by the election committee). 13th Obtain motion to close ballot, hear results of election and release the election committee. 14th Moderator appoints preaching committee from delegate pool. 15th Invite visiting Ministers and Brethren of our Faith and Order to seat with us. 16th Moderator calls for Petitionary Letters from Churches wishing to unite with the body. 17th Moderator calls for correspondence from other Associations. 18th Obtain motion to adopt order of business hours (start times of service). 19th Moderator appoints delegate to open prayer service on Sunday morning. 20th Obtain motion for Clerk to read Constitution, Rules of Decorum, Gospel Order and Origin of Association. 21st Moderator assigns committees (Education, Nominations, Thanks, General Business, Missions, Sabbath School, Finance, Temperance, Resolutions, Queries and Requests, Deceased Ministers) 22nd Hear report of preaching committee for the upcoming evening service 23rd Dismiss in prayer Saturday evening Service is usually opened by song service and hand shake followed by the preaching of those selected by the committee. Many times there will be one or two more preach that were not chosen by the committee and service is dismissed by prayer. Sunday morning service. Service is usually opened by song service and hand shake. Moderator calls on someone to pray and then prayer service is opened by the one appointed by the Moderator on Saturday afternoon. The preaching committee presents report for the morning service at the stand. The ones who preach in the house preach what is known as the Missionary Sermon and was chosen the year before by the committee on nominations. This is usually followed by a song or dismissal to allow those who wish to go to the brush arbor time to leave the Church and assemble. Preaching takes place in the Church and at the brush arbor. There are usually a few songs sung at both locations but especially at the arbor. Preaching Committee presents report for afternoon service for both the house and the stand. Sunday afternoon service Assemble at house and stand to sang hymns and have prayer. Usually hear two preachers at both locations but sometimes more. Hear report of Preaching committee for night service and dismiss until the evening. Sunday night service Assemble, sang hymns and have prayer. Will hear the preachers selected by the committee and sometimes more. Usually dismiss in prayer. Monday morning service Delegates assemble Sang hymns and hand shake Prayer Moderator calls to order which usually consists of preaching and testimonies Dismiss and short recess Re-assemble and invite visiting Ministers and Brethren of the same faith and order to seats Renew call for letters from Sister Churches of the body Renew call for petitionary letters from Churches wishing to unite with the body Renew call for correspondence from other Associations Moderator asks for volunteers to correspond with other Associations Obtain motion to hear reports of committees Committees read reports Obtain motion to suspend business and have prayer Prayer Obtain motion to go back into general business Moderator calls for general business Obtain motion to hear reading of minutes Obtain motion to adopt minutes with proper amendments Can ask for words or announcements to include testimony, prayer requests, etc. Benediction prayer. The committee reports are mostly form and fashion and follow what was placed the year before and the year before that with the exception of the Nomination, Finance, Queries and Requests and Deceased Ministers Committees. Most committee members just copy what was in the previous year’s minutes. Education We, your Committee on Education, believe it is necessary to have the training for this life. We believe that a man must have the calling of God to qualify him to preach the everlasting Gospel. Nominations We, your Committee on Nominations, nominate Elder so and so or Brother so and so to preach the next Introductory Sermon and Brothers or Elders so and so to preach the next missionary sermon. Thanks We, your Committee on Thanks, wish to thank the members of (hosting Church) and Community followed by county and state for their welcome and hospitality shown us while in their midst. We pray God’s riches blessings on you and yours. General Business We, your Committee on General Business, find all Churches in peace and harmony with each other. Our prayer is that love and unity keep us bound together in love. We think it expedient for the Churches of our Body to be careful in calling pastor out of other Associations who do not correspond with our Body, especially those who are not sound in faith and doctrine. Missions We, your Committee on Missions, believe it is the duty of each Church to look after the needs of our Churches and support their pastor with their prayers, presence and means. Sabbath Schools We, your Committee on Sabbath Schools, believe that Churches who feel impressed to have Sunday School do so, using only the original King James version of the Holy Bible, with consecrated Christians as teachers and no literature. We feel that any Church in the New Hope Baptist Association that uses anything other than the original King James version of the Holy Bible is out of order and is subject to being dealt with by the Association. Finance We, your Committee on Finance, find $however much, for minutes Temperance We, your Committee on Temperance, find that God’s Word teaches His children to be temperate. Resolutions We, your Committee on Resolutions, recommend that our Clerk have $however much, for his service. Queries and Requests We, your Committee on Queries and Requests, find however many requests (usually that the next session be held with them) and (number) queries (this usually being zero). They then grant the request of one of the Churches to hold the next session giving the date as the Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in September and the sequential year followed by if it be the Lord’s will. Directions to the Church is then given. Deceased Ministers We, your Committee on Deceased Ministers, find that our Lord and Master has spared the lives of all our Ministers. We recommend that the Body suspend business and give thanks for those living. If some had passed, they would be mentioned and prayer would still be held.
District Unions At one point the New Hope was large enough that it contained three separate districts that made up the association. At my last contact with them, only two remained which were called the first and third districts. The first district met the first fifth Sunday and Saturday before following March of each year. The third district met on the fourth Sunday in May and the Saturday before. Typical layout for a district union meeting: Saturday morning Song service Prayer Sermon Hymns, hand shake, adjourn for lunch Saturday afternoon Assemble after lunch with hymns Moderator usually reads some scripture and calls on someone to lead prayer Moderator appoints delegates to read and collect letters Obtain motion to receive letters and seat delegates Invite visiting Ministers and Brethren of same faith and order to seats Call for correspondence Moderator appoints Brethren to conduct election Election is held in same manner mentioned for the meeting of the association Obtain motion to close ballot and hear results Call for petitionary letters from Churches wishing to unite with the body. Moderator appoints preaching committee usually three along with the delegates from the host Church Moderator appoints general committee. Moderator appoints Brother to open prayer service on Sunday morning. Hear report of preaching committee. Call for correspondence to correspond and visit the third district’s union meeting Obtain motion to set start times for remaining services. Saturday night Sang hymns Prayer Preaching Hymns and handshake Adjourn Sunday morning Sang hymns Brother opens prayer service and it’s usually customary for him to call on someone to lead prayer. Preaching Sang hymns, hand shake, adjourn for lunch Sunday afternoon Re-assemble Renew following calls: correspondence, letters from Sister Churches and Petitionary letters. Obtain motion to hear report of General Committee who thanks host church and grants request to a sister church providing directions and reminding of the date. Motion to adopt general committee report Obtain motion to read and adopt minutes Moderator appoints who opens communion service. Each preacher who stands either over the bread or the wine appoints a Brother to pray over it. Foot Washing is then opened by another preacher. Men wash men’s feet and the women take care of the women on the opposite side of the Church. Hymn is sung and they go out.
These can vary slightly and really depending on how popular the person doing the varying is gauges how much they may vary without opposition. The “Streaky-Heads” have been in formal existence for around 125 years and though their membership has dropped off some in modern times, there are still many Churches that make up the NHBA in Paulding, Polk, Haralson, Floyd, Carroll and Cobb counties of Georgia. While I still claim to be a “Streaky-Head” in my doctrine I no longer belong to a Church in the New Hope Baptist Association. I believe it was the providence of my God to have me raised there so my roots run deep enough that I’m not easily moved. I also believe that it was His will that the occurrences that have taken place in my life had to be just as they are for Him to get me to the point where He wanted and needed me to be. I’m a licensed Baptist Minister which I do not believe the NHBA would recognize but God meaning for me to be right where I am and doing exactly what I’m doing set the scene for this play prior to my worldly existence. While almost all of us would agree with this statement, when it comes time to stand on it or make a decision most of us would waiver in favor of popular opinion or what our Moms and Dads taught us. Please, please never forget that the Holy Spirit is our supreme guide and the supreme authority. Not you, not me, not preacher so-in-so or Doctor so-in-so, not the Schofield and not even the King James has authority over the Holy Spirit as it is the third part of the Godhead. What God has cleansed, blessed, called and witnessed, don’t you call that common or unclean.
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