Baptists, Old-school

Baptists, Old-School.

A name assumed by those Baptists who, in the second half of the past century, opposed the formation of missionary societies, Sunday-schools, and similar institutions, which they considered as floodgates for letting in all those contrivances in religion which make the salvation of men appear to depend on human effort. They are frequently, also, called Anti-mission or Anti-effort Baptists. They have neither colleges nor theological institutions, and are almost entirely confined to the Western and South- western States. Their number is at present on the decrease. In 1844 they counted 61,000 members; in 1854, 66,500; in 1859, 58,000. In 1889 they had 155 associations, 1800 churches, 900 ordained ministers, and 45,000 members. See Belcher, Religious Denominations; Cox, The Baptists; American Baptist Yearbook for 1890.