Saturday, August 12, 2023

Another "Primitive Baptist" Periodical Found





In doing some research on the "Primitive Baptists" I found another periodical called "The Primitive Baptist." Most PBs today don't even know that there were two called that. They think the only PB periodical called by that name was the one that Elder C.H. Cayce edited from 1906 till he died in the 1940s (if my memory serves me correctly). This paper was begun by Cayce's father, Elder S.F. Cayce, in 1886 and Claude H. took over the editorship in 1906 when his father passed away. He was already working in the print shop putting out the paper and so was able to jump right in and take it over. But, the first PB periodical called by that name began in 1836 (if memory serves) and was published in N.C. and edited by Elder Mark Bennett. It continued till about 1870. I have many posts in the archives citing from this old periodical and showed what were their views on many things. Elder Joshua Lawrence and the Kehukee Association supported this periodical and its issues circulated widely in the South especially. Lawrence wrote for it frequently and extensively. I suspect that Elder S.F. Cayce chose than name in order to show continuity with that older "Primitive Baptist" periodical. However, as you can see from the cut outs above, there was another paper put out of Virginia by Virginia PBs called by the same name. Wow, I said. Three periodicals called by that name! I wonder how many know that? 

So, I have begun doing more research on this group. They seem to be identified with the "means" PBs as it has Elder E.H. Burnam listed as one of their leaders. I wonder, are they connected with the Eastern District Primitive Baptists? 

You can read the issues at the web site I found. (See here) I will be reading and will let all  know what I find. It was begun in 1890, four years after S.F. Cayce started his paper (first when he lived in Tennessee and later when he moved to Arkansas) and at a time when the PBs were arguing and dividing over many things, fracturing into small sub cults. They split over the extent of predestination (or the decrees), over the use of creeds and confessions, whether the gospel and word of God were means in regeneration or the new birth, about Sunday Schools and Bible classes, about financial support of the ministry, etc.

If anyone has any information about these churches and associations that were affiliated with this Virginia PB periodical, let us hear from you.

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