Bethlehem B Split of 1949 and 1960
The association split in 1949 officially over the role of baptism and eternal security. They reunited in 1956 and split again in 1960 on similar party lines. This was a big split.
Nelson Hughes was elected moderator for the 4th year in a row in 1949. On Saturday morning, a brother stood up and declared the association out of order. Some tried to take charge of the service from Nelson Hughes without authority before leaving and conducting their own business in a house nearby.
The side that left was completely out of order. Both sides’ minutes record the same events without variation. It is truly shocking to read of Christian men acting like children.
The side that left briefly referred to themselves as Union Bethlehem in their 1955 minute “because there were two or three other factions of United Baptist people carrying the same name” but in reality didn’t carry that name in their official minutes except that year best I can tell. There was a Union Bethlehem as of 2015 but I don’t know when they added that name. From 1960 on this side is commonly referred to as the “Alpha Davis Bethlehem” and later the “Arrowood Bethlehem” after their moderators. Old Bethlehem was occasionally referred to as the Queen Side due to the 4 ordained Queen brothers in the association, but this was less common.
Bethlehem B 1949 minutes
"Saturday morning, after the committee on arrangements had completed their work and returned to the building for the day's session, Bro. Floyd Porter arose and declared the Association out of order. He then asked Bro. Alpha Davis to assume the duties of moderator. Bro. Davis responded and called Bro. Rush Frazier to introduce the services of the day. Bro. Frazier came forward and made a talk. Up to this time no one protested or interfered. Then Bro. Nelson Hughes, the duly elected moderator asked the brethren what the meant, Bro. Davis and Bro. porter responded that they couldn't do business with this crowd. They thereupon withdrew from the house and asked all who favored their doctrine and practice to follow them. The delegates from Antioch, Bethel, Elizabeth, Big Laurel, Lost Creek, two delegates from Mud Fork, and one delegate from the Brush Creek church responded to their call. Also the delegates from our corresponding associations, also withdrew with the brethren. They retired to a private home below the regular place of sitting and there organized themselves into a body and proceeded to work. After a few minutes they dispatched a committee to the body from which they withdrew and requested their letters and financial contributions. This the Association granted without an argument or remonstration. The delegates from our Sister Associations did likewise."
Union Bethlehem 1949 Minutes (The Side that Walked Out Without Cause)
"On Saturday Morning, the association assembled themselves together at the Church House, after singing, the brethren that were opposed to doctrines that were being preached by some of the brethren, that doctrine commonly known as Water Salvation, that the birth of the spirit was completed in literal water, doctrine of falling from (or with) Grace, that is going back into the world after once being in favor with God, that is being born of the Spirit. It being found that our moderator was of this same doctrine; preaching and upholding same, Brother Floyd Porter moved that the Assistant moderator move on with the business of the day, which met with the minds of the sound brethren of this association. Elder Rush Frasher was called to the stand to give the opening talk after much interruption from Elder Nelson Hughes and others. The Association decided they could not move on with the business of the day in the presence of these brethren, then withdrew themselves, moving to the yard of Charley Maynard’s home and continued their business. The delegates of our sister associations requested their letters of correspondence to be given to them from those brethren who were declared unsound, which request was granted, and the corresponding brethren brought their letters and gave to the brethren who were declared to be Bethlehem Association on doctrine and practice."
Regardless of any doctrinal disputes, every movement these brothers made was out of order. Without any authority or legitimacy, they attempted what was essentially a coup d'état, when that failed they left and proclaimed themselves the “right” side, and called the brothers who obeyed the rules of the very association they claimed to be representing “unsound”.
Bethlehem B had 17 churches in 1948. 6 Went with Union Bethlehem and 12 stayed with Bethlehem B (Mud River church split and was represented in both; one side later renamed themselves 18 Mud Fork).
During the 1949 association, delegates representing the following 8 churches went along with the disorder and retreated to the Maynard house to conduct their business: Antioch, Mt. Olive, Brush Creek, Elizabeth, Lost Creek, Big Laurel, Bethel, and Mud Fork.
The Mt. Olive and Brush Creek churches actually stayed with Bethlehem B, but a few rogue delegates went with the others that year.
The 12 churches that stayed with Bethlehem B were Comfort, Kiah’s Creek, Mt. Olive, Mt. Sinai, Brush Creek, Mt. Moriah, Salem, Beech Grove, Mt. Calvary, Philadelphia, Enon, Mud Fork.
In 1949 the association had 1540 members. In 1950 it had 1109. Bethlehem B only lost 431 members. After 8 years the two associations reunited (in 1956).
1956 Union Bethlehem Minute:
"Shall we call for the report of the committee of the two associations, namely: Union Bethlehem and Bethlehem? Motion and second that we call for this report, which reads as follows: We, the committee representing Bethlehem (Alpha Davis) [also called Union Bethlehem] Moderator and Bethlehem Association (Nathan Napier) Moderator do recommend to come together in full fellowship on the following agreement. All members and churches to remain as they now are. All work done by both associations to be accepted by each side, and to remain as now is. We believe that men and women are born of God's spirit previous to baptism, and that it is their duty towards God and the Church to strive for peace, keeping the commandments and ordinances of the church blameless, and that the church will finally persevere through grace to glory. We advise that all the churches concerned adhere to, and strive to keep this agreement. We further agree that we will meet with the Bethlehem Association at the Antioch Church at Kiahsville, WV on Friday before the first Sunday in September, 1957, at which time we hope to meet by letter and delegates from our sister associations, namely, Paint Union, Blaine Union, Tri-State Zion, Iron Hill, New Hope and Mt. Zion. This agreement to be in full effect after passed upon by both of the above associations. SIGNED BY
Jesse Nelson, Richard Adkins, Arthur Queen. Dallas Frasher, Nathan Napier, Carlos Vance, Nelson Hughes, Alpha Davis, Floyd Porter, P.H. Napier, F.D. Arrowood, Milton Maynard, Calvin Stafford
As for the causes of the split, I think it was strife and self-seeking James 3:16. I have been told by brothers that grew up under men that were involved in this that it was power struggles on both sides.
Officially it was over doctrine. The brothers argued over what has been called airplane doctrine: If you get saved on an airplane and it crashes before you can be baptized are you saved? They also called it water salvation (does salvation come from baptism or obedience to baptism?)
Strife also emerged over whether you could lose your salvation or go back into the world at all. Most Baptists have a strong Calvinist slant, including the Old Regular lineage in our history. Calvinism teaches this is impossible due to election.
I’m not going to debate these questions here. But the association commented on this when they got back together.
“in 1949, Bethlehem split over what was called water salvation, or that salvation was not complete without baptism in water. In 1956, the two associations agreed to come together in full fellowship on the following agreement: All members and churches to remain as they now are. ALL work done by both associations to be accepted by each side and to remain as now is. We believe that men and women are born of God's spirit previous to baptism. That it is their duty toward God and the church to strive for peace, keeping the commandments and ordinances of the church blameless, and that the church will finally persevere through grace to glory.”
The peace was short lived. 1959 was the last year the association was together. Best I can tell it was the largest membership we ever had with 1614 members and 17 churches, although there were times, we had a few more churches but less members.
In 1960, before the regularly scheduled association meeting, 8 churches met at Echo church to form a new association. The intent was to avoid strife due to irreconcilable differences.
Old Bethlehem Minutes
"Friday, August 26th, 1960 the following named churches; Comfort, Kiah's Creek, Mt. Olive, Mt. Sinai, Brush Creek, Salem, Philadelphia and Echo met with the Echo church at Wayne, W. Va., in its 91st annual session, called together by a "Special Call" by the churches listed above. The object of this "Special Call" was to avoid any arguments or dissension leading to ill feelings or frustrations. There having been in the past several attempts to try to effect an amicable understanding which proved fruitless. We desire peace love and fellowship among the Brotherhood and for this cause have chosen the course we are pursuing today.”
The churches adopted the name “Old Bethlehem”. Although referred to as a “Special Call” (which lacked any legal authority per association rules) they were in reality forming a new association.
The churches that formed Old Bethlehem were Comfort, Kiah’s Creek, Mt. Olive, Mt. Sinai, Brush Creek, Salem, Philadelphia, and Echo. The first 5 were organized before 1900 and were longstanding or founding members. Salem was from 1909 and Philadelphia 1937. Echo was the baby being formed the previous year as an arm off Kiah’s Creek.
The churches that stayed in Bethlehem B (which from 1960 on is referred to as Alpha Davis Bethlehem although legally is the same as Bethlehem B) were post 1900 churches with the exception of Antioch from 1848 and the side of Mt. Olive that went with them from 1867.
This split was more evenly divided than the 1949 one. Alpha Davis Bethlehem had 831 members in 1960 and Old Bethlehem had 869. The united association the previous year had 1604.
The 1960 split seems to have been handled much more peacefully than the previous one, even though the party lines were similar in both. There are no indications of strife or conflict in either sides’ minutes, and even though Echo went with Old Bethlehem, the Alpha Davis Bethlehem side met there later the same year seemingly without conflict.
Scripture comes to mind “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.” Proverbs 21:9. It was better for our association to divide in peace than abide in conflict.
Old Bethlehem has been relatively stable since 1960. As of 2021 we had 669 members and 7 churches. We have only had one split in 1988.
Churches that Split
There were several churches that split along the two associations. The aforementioned Mud Fork split into two. The Philadelphia church split as well. From what I have been told, the majority wanted to stay in Old Bethlehem. They moved to their present location in Lavallette next to the elementary school in Wayne County. The other side stayed at the 17th St. location in Huntington, Cabell County.
Philadelphia was started by Elder Jay Watts who was a member of Brush Creek but lived in Huntington and wanted to start a church there. He stayed with the 17th St./Alpha Davis side. They later gave an arm called Crossroads.
Mt. Olive also appears to have split, being mentioned in both sides’ records for a decade after (both locations being Clifford Kentucky).
Alpha Davis Bethlehem History
The Alpha Davis side of Bethlehem had their first split in 1969. Their Mt. Olive, Philadelphia, and Mt. Moriah churches were dropped/didn’t show up to the 1969 association. They formed their own association, also called Bethlehem. This is referred to as the Paul Nelson side of Bethlehem. It seems to have been at least partly over divorce, Paul Nelson is said to have hated divorce.
The Alpha Davis Bethlehem is also referred to as the Arrowood side. Alpha Davis had stepped down as moderator around 1980 due to health and died in the late 80s. FD. Arrowood replaced him for several years. In 1989 the Arrowood Bethlehem had another split. I don’t know the details, but one side became Bethlehem called Tom Vance side and the other side seems to have adopted the name Union Bethlehem that they had briefly used in the 1949 split.
The only minute I have bearing the name “Union Bethlehem” is from 2015. The Elm Grove church is the only church they have that was also in the pre-1989 Arrowood Bethlehem. As of 2015 they had 4 churches and 94 members.
Paul Nelson Bethlehem
Mt. Moriah left the Paul Nelson Bethlehem in the 2000s and is said to be independent but active as of 2023.
The last Paul Nelson Bethlehem minute I have is 2015. In it they had 29 members, 4 churches, 1 ordained Elder (David Messer ordained 1993), and 1 deacon (Donald Maynard). Paul Nelson was dead at this point.
The Beech Grove church organized 1917 and went with the Alpha Davis Bethlehem in the 1960 split. The church split and one side went with the Paul Nelson side and the other stayed in the Alpha Davis Bethlehem. The Paul Nelson side met 1st weekend of every month and the Alpha Davis side met every 4th weekend in the same building. Nolan Queen is said to have remarked something along the lines of “"one lord, one faith, two coal piles".
Beech Grove (both sides), Crossroads, and 17th St. Philadelphia are all dissolved. The 17th St. building was last being used by an unrelated apostolic church. The Paul Nelson association is completely dissolved.
The Elmwood Church was an arm off Beech Grove and was used as the association meeting place for Old Bethlehem for several years. In 1992 Elmwood left the Tom Vance Bethlehem and joined Calvary (which left Old Bethlehem 1988) and they stayed with Mt. Sion in their 1996 split. As of 2023 they are active.
Dolphus Perry came up in the Paul Nelson Bethlehem. At some point he moved to the Mt. Sion association and was an ordained Elder at the Prichard Church (arm off Echo). As of 2023 he is an ordained Elder at the Echo church in Old Bethlehem. Some other members made their way to the Calvary/Mt. Sion associations as well.
Tom Vance Bethlehem
The Alpha Davis/Arrowood Bethlehem split in 1989 (a year after Old Bethlehem had a bad split). One side adopted the Union Bethlehem name and the other came to be known as the Tom Vance side.
The most recent minute I have of Tom Vance side is 2020 and lists 3 churches all pastored by Tom Vance: Enon (1943 off Kiah’s Creek), Mary Anna (arm off Enon), and Little Walnut (arm off Mary Anna) with 31 members and 4 ordained elders.
The Bethel church and both Mud Forks went into Zion Tri State. Both Mud Forks are dissolved, 18 Mud Fork only a few years back. Bethel I was told is still around. The Antioch church went into Sardis Old Regular Association a decade or so back and is active. I visited them on Craig Road in Wayne not long before writing this.
