In 1776 there were 497 Baptist churches in the 13 colonies with approximately 10,000 church members. The effect of the great Separate Baptist revival was just beginning to be felt as Baptist growth would continue steadily into the 19th century. How did all these Baptists feel about declaring independence and going to war with Great Britain?
William Cathcart, pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Philadelphia and editor of the monumental 1881 work “The Baptist Encyclopedia,” gives us the answer.
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Of the various American preachers who became Tories, there was “but one of the Baptist faith. This minister was Morgan Edwards, a man of great ability and general worth, but eccentric. He had a son, an officer in the British service, whose position is charged with helping to blind his father’s eyes to the glories of patriotism. He gave up the public duties of the ministry while the war lasted, and conducted himself with so much moderation as to save himself from exile during and after the Revolutionary struggle.”
A passion for liberty and a love of religious freedom prompted Baptist preachers throughout the colonies to support the patriotic cause. Several noted Baptist pastors even became chaplains in the Continental Army, including John Gano, David Jones, Hezekiah Smith, William McClanahan and Thomas B. Montayne.
‘Most useful’ chaplains
George Washington himself declared, “Baptist chaplains were among the most prominent and useful in the army.”
It is not unusual that American Baptist preachers would support the cause of liberty. What about the English Baptist pastors on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean?
Surprisingly enough, the vast majority of them also supported the colonists. In 1784, London Baptist John Rippon (who pastored the same church Charles Spurgeon would later serve) wrote a letter to James Manning, president of Rhode Island College (now Brown University). Rippon stating:
“I believe all our Baptist ministers in town, except one and most of our brethren in the country were on the side of the Americans in the late disput. … We wept when the thirsty plains drank the blood of your departed heroes, and the shout of a king was amongst us when your well-fought battles were crowned with victory; and to this hour we believe that the independence of America will, for a while, secure the liberty of this country, but if that continent had been reduced, Britain would not have been long free.”
Champions of religious liberty
It seems Baptists, wherever they have been planted, have been champions of religious liberty. As we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America, may we take advantage of the freedoms our forefathers secured for us.
And not just the freedom to gather and worship as we see fit. May Baptists preach and share the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. For that is the true liberty that must be proclaimed throughout all the land! (Leviticus 25:10).
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Ben Stratton and originally published by Kentucky Today.
