History Report
In 1856, Bradley Baptists drew the ire of “Parson” Brownlow because of their support of
J.R. Graves and “Landmarkism.” J.R. Graves was the editor of The Tennessee Baptist
(now the Baptist and Reflector), which claimed the largest circulation of any religious
paper in the United States. William Gannaway Brownlow, a Methodist minister and
future governor of Tennessee, was editor of the Knoxville Whig, a newspaper that mixed
his theology with his politics. Gannaway writes:
“I now have before me a pamphlet copy of the minutes of the Ninth Annual Meeting of
the State Line Baptist Association, held at the Antioch Baptist Church in Bradley County,
Tennessee, October 20 th , 1855,…
“Now this State Line Association I know to be a one-horse association, composed of a
body of ministers who, to say the least of it, if called of God to preach and expound His
word, are equal to the task, for the want of sense, education, and other acquirements!
Let any one of them attempt the discussion of an important passage of scripture…and
the mind of an intelligent mas passes successfully through the stages of regret, pity,
disgust, and finally contempt, for one who, instead of proving himself…sinks at once into
a deformed, wrangling bigot, who claims upon public respect, even for his office’s sake,
vanish at the first touch of analysis! Some of them are distinguished about the State
Line, among their people; but they have risen to distinction, however, upon the
principle that a dwarf will tower when surrounded by pigmies!”
Your church’s history is important. How have you influenced your community? What
have you done “on mission” domestically, or internationally? If you need help
“wrangling” with your church history, contact me through the CrossNet office.
Respectfully submitted,
John Conner, Historian
CrossNet Baptist Network
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