HIWASSEE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST ASSN. NOT CALVINIST

 The Hiwassee United Baptist Assn. was formed in 1823. The Hiwassee Primitive Baptist Assn. broke away during the late 1830's, over the controversy of mission societies, and "new innovations" of the day not authorized by scripture. As I've mentioned before, most historians have claimed that all Primitive Baptists to be the most calvinistic of all Baptists. In my article on the Eastern Assn. of Primitive Baptists, we can see that isn't true at all, as they denounced Calvinism as heresy, not once, but twice in their history. When I stumbled upon the Hiwassee PB's. I immediately noticed their articles of faith were almost identical to the Eastern District PB's. I decided to contact them to see what I could learn.

I spoke with Elder Bill Brown. He knew nothing of my research, nor of my contact with other Primitive Baptists. I asked about the Hiwassee articles of faith and asked if that meant they were Calvinists. He immediately began to laugh and said "What makes you think that?" My response was that many would see "election" and "foreknowledge" as proof of calvinistic doctrines. Elder Brown said, "No, they are bible doctrines, this association does not hold to Calvinism."

Elder Brown's explanation of their articles of faith matched exactly with what the Eastern District PB's said of theirs, which is 1) God foreknew that some would respond to his gift of grace which he predetermined to give to any who would believe the truth, and that 2) the covenant of grace between the Father and Son was already decided before the world began, in that God knew man would fall, had already determined to provide a way back to Himself, and that Christ is the elect of God that would make it all possible. 

I also learned that the Hiwassee PB's believed the exact same doctrines and held the same articles of faith as the Hiwasee United Baptists, from which they sprang. The division was not over theology, but over methodology, so this would also mean that the modern day Hiwassee Baptist Assn. was never calvinistic.  A query to Hiwassee Baptists in 1824, BEFORE the PB's split off, asked "What should be done with one who wishes to unite with us who was immersed by a predestinarian elder? Is his baptism valid? Answer, "We leave it to the discretion of our churches, but advise that we only accept those who have given a credible profession of faith at the time of baptism. If that be proved and inquiry has been made into the doctrine of one wishing to unite with us, and he agree with us and our doctrine, rebaptism is not required by the association. We regard his baptism as irregular but not invalid" (Query number 3)

For those interested, you can read through the minutes of the Hiwassee Baptist Assn. and in the minutes of 1865 see where a reunion with the Missionary side and the PB side was called for. Some of the PB churches did not reunite and continue to this day, obviously, as I have talked with them. You can read through years of minutes here or read them as well as their resolutions I have typed out below. A pic of a modern day set of minutes included at the end, to show this is still an active association.

ARTICLES OF FAITH

1.     We believe in one only true and living God, the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, and these three are one. 1Cor. 8:5-6; 1 John 5:7

2.     We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are
the word of God and the only rules of faith and practice. II Peter
1:2; II Tim. 3:16

3.     We believe in election according to the foreknowledge of God, the
Father, through sanctification of the Spirit. 1Peter 1:2; Eph. 1:4

4.     We believe in the doctrine of original sin. Rom. 5:12; Gen. 2:17

5.     We believe in man’s incompetence to recover himself from the
fallen state he is in by his own free will and ability. Rom. 4:16;
John 6:44

6.     We believe that sinners are justifi ed in the sight of God only by the
imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. Rev. 5:9; Rom. 4:2; Jas.
2:23

7.     We believe that the saints will be preserved, persevering in grace
and never fall finally away. John 10:27-29; I Peter 1:23; Psalms
37:28

8.     We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper and Feet-washing
are ordinances of Jesus Christ and true believers are the only
subjects of these ordinances, and the mode of Baptism is by
Immersion. Matt. 3:6; Mark 1:10; Rom. 6:4; Eph. 4:5; I Cor. 11:23-
24; John 13:14-15

9.     We believe in the Resurrection of the dead and a general
judgment. Luke 24:47; Matt. 16:21, I John 2:28; I Cor. 15:52; Rev.
20:11-13

10.     We believe that the punishment of the wicked shall be everlasting
and the joys of the righteous eternal. Matt. 25:46; II Thess. 1:9

11.     We believe that no minister has the right to the administration of
the ordinances only such as are regularly called and come under
the imposition of hand of a presbytery. Acts 13:2-3; Rom. 1:6;
Titus 1:5

12.     We believe in observing the Sabbath Day as a day of rest. Exo.
20:8-11

RESOLUTIONS

We, the Hiwassee Primitive Baptist Association do entreat and
advise our ministers to travel more and preach the gospel to sinners,
and to take care of the destitute churches and administer to their
needs. And we further entreat our churches to administer to the
temporal needs of our ministers, that they may be more free to go
and preach the gospel of our Lord and Master.

We, the Primitive Baptists that compose the Hiwassee
Association, believe that the use of intoxicating beverages have their
part in the everlasting punishment that is prepared for Satan and his
Followers.

Therefore, be it resolved, that we are opposed to the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating beverages in any form and that we advise
and entreat our church members to vote against the manufacture
and sale of such intoxicants, and to vote for the preservation of the
Constitution of the United States.

We, the churches of the Hiwassee Association believe that
according to the Holy Scriptures in First Timothy, Chapter Three,
and the Gospel of Luke, Chapter Sixteen, verse eighteen, that no
minister with more than one wife has a right to the administration of
the ordinances of the Church or to pastor churches. Also stated in
the scriptures, no person will serve the office of a deacon with more
than one wife.

Therefore, be it resolved, that the ministers of this Hiwassee
Association will not ordain, or support, ministers or deacons that have more than one wife, and we believe the King James version Bible to be the true Word of God, and the only Bible to be used in our churches.

We, the Hiwassee Primitive Baptist Association, do resolve that
according to the scriptures that we shall not accept members who
teach, believe in, or practice homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality,
or takes pleasure in those that do so. Nor will we ordain ministers,
deacons, or accept teachers according to the same guidelines.
Lev. 18:22, Rom. 1:26-28, Rom. 2:2, 1Cor. 6:9-10. This subject was the
sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen. 19:4-5.