94 – April 04 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

Dr. Thomas and Carey Bound for India.

On April 4^th 1793, William Carey and Dr. John Thomas boarded the “Earl of Oxford” for Calcutta. However, when the ship’s captain was informed that he would forfeit his commission if he took the missionaries, the two men were put ashore. Through Thomas’s hard work, arrangements were made with a Danish ship, and despair was transformed to joy as Mrs. Carey and the Carey children were able to travel as well.  They sailed on June 13, and God’s purpose would be fulfilled! Dr. John Tomas suffered many tragedies and died on October 13, 1801, but to this servant of Christ, we are indebted, for he it was who led Carey to India.

Dr. John Thomas, a name that is practically unknown among Baptists today, but Dr. Thomas was greatly used of God in opening the door of the modern-day missionary movement. Reared in the home of a Baptist deacon in England, John Thomas was early subjected to the gospel. He was not saved, however, until after his completion of medical training and his marriage. “Turning eagerly to the Scriptures, he accepted Christ as his Saviour. ‘  And then, he says, ‘my assurance of pardon and everlasting happiness ran high and strong.’ “

Dr. Dale R. Hart: Adapted from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins Thompson /, pp. 137-38.

 

15 – Jan. 15 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

“Baptists would have become a perfect dunghill in society.”
 On Jan. 15, 1833, the copy of the New Hampshire Confession of Faith was presented to the Board and approved with slight modifications.  In June of 1830, “the Baptist Convention of New Hampshire appointed a committee to prepare and present at the next annual sessions ‘such a Declaration of Faith and Practice, together with a Covenant, as may be thought agreeable and consistent with the views of all our churches in this state.”  Calvinistic Baptists in the NH area had been considerably modified after 1870.  They had followed after the Particular Baptists who believed that God would save the “elect” only.  Andrew Fuller and Thomas Collier, though Particular Baptists had given rebirth to the missionary movement that had sent William Carey and others, etc.  Fuller said: “had matters gone on but a few years the Baptists would have become a perfect dunghill in society.”  On the Freeness of Salvation, the confession states: “We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth except his own inherent depravity and voluntary refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ, which refusal will subject him to an aggravated condemnation.” Adding a premillennial clause, fundamental Baptist groups throughout America soon adopted the Confession.  In 1925 the Southern Baptist Convention adopted this Confession with slight modifications.  It is reflective of the theological position of the majority of Bible-believing Baptists in America today.
Dr. Greg J. Dixon from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. IIII: Cummins, pp. 30-32.

04 – Jan. 04 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

His brilliance was revealed early
 William Staughton was born in Coventry, England, on Jan. 4, 1770.  His brilliance was revealed early when at the age of twelve he published poems in Goldsmith’s Animated Nature. He was saved early in life, and baptized by Rev. Samuel Pearce of Birmingham. In 1792 he graduated from Bristol Baptist College, and while a student attended the organizational meeting of the first modern-day missionary agency in the world.  Though still a youth, he sat in the company of men like William Carey and Andrew fuller.  He pastored briefly in Northampton, and then sailed to America in 1793.  Richard Furman requested that he serve as pastor of the Baptist church in Georgetown, S.C., where he remained briefly.  Ordained on June 17, 1797, he served two churches in New Jersey.  He assisted in founding a seminary and continued his studies.  From 1805 to 1823, he served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia and later the Sanson St. Baptist Church of that city.  During that period he also served as the principle of a Baptist Theological institution.  He also served as corresponding secretary of the American Baptist Board of foreign Missions.  In 1823 he was appointed the first President as first president of Columbian College in Washington in Washington, D.C.  He sent his library ahead in anticipation of the move but he never made it.  He became ill and passed into the presence of the Lord on Dec. 12, 1829.
Dr. Greg J. Dixon from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. IIII: Cummins /, pp. 7-8.

362 – Dec. 28 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

Krishna Pal preached the gospel among his people with great success.
 
December 28, 1800 – Krishna Pal, a Hindu from India, along with Felix, the son of William Carey, the pioneer missionary to that land was immersed and received believer’s baptism in the Ganges River before a great crowd, including the Governor of India. Krishna’s wife and daughter had also made a profession of faith in Christ but had faltered when they saw the large crowds. Dr. Carey had served for six years before he had seen his first convert and now it was Dr. John Thomas, his companion, who had faithfully served for 16 years to finally see some fruit from his labors. Krishna Pal, a carpenter, fell and broke his arm, and Dr. Thomas was called on to set it. After his work was done, he fervently preached the gospel to Krishna and his neighbors and set forth the folly of idolatry and set forth the great truths of Christianity. Krishna was moved to tears and sought further instruction and before long he openly renounced idolatry and the caste, professing faith in Jesus Christ. He in turn reached his wife and daughter and the three of them presented themselves for believer’s immersion. This news stirred up the natives and soon there was a mob of 2,000, who poured out vicious words upon him, and then dragged him to the magistrate, who immediately released him and commended him for the piety of his course, and commanded the mob to dispense. He even placed a guard at his house and offered armed protection during the baptism. For more than twenty years, Krishna Pal preached the gospel among his people with great success. He also composed a beautiful poem: “O Thou my soul, forget no more. The Friend who all thy misery bore; Let every idol be forgot, But, O my soul, forget Him not. Jesus for Thee a body takes; thy guilt assumes, thy fetters breaks, Discharging all thy dreadful debt: And canst thou e’er such love forget.”
Dr. Greg J. Dixon from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins Thompson /, pp. 544-45.