Thomas Meredith (Baptist leader)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Meredith was an influential Baptist
pastor, one of the founders of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
(BSCNC) in the United States
, and the founder and editor of the Biblical Recorder
newspaper.
, the son of a prosperous farmer.
He attended Doylestown Academy, a famous classical school, and then the University of Pennsylvania
, graduating in January 1816.
He had originally planned to become a lawyer, but while at university he became a Baptist, and in 1817 he went to North Carolina as a missionary after a year of theological training.
In 1819 Meredith married Georgia Sears, and the couple eventually had eleven children.
Between 1819 and 1837 Meredith was pastor of churches in New Bern
(1819-1821), Savannah
(1822-1825), Edenton
(1825-1835), and again New Bern (1835-1838) rising steadily in stature within the North Carolina church.
, an eminent theologian, said his sermons "did not sway men so much by touching appeals as by presenting the truth to them with irresistible power."
Meredith was one of the founders of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention in 1830, the author of its constitution and of a letter to Baptists in the state that explained the organization’s purpose and importance. Later he became secretary, vice president and President of the convention.
He was a strong supporter of Wake Forest Institute (now Wake Forest University
), launched in 1834, and the first president of its board of trustees.
He was invited to become a professor of mathematics and moral philosophy at Wake Forest, but declined.
Unusually for the time, he supported the higher education of women, and called for the Convention to establish "a female seminary of high order." Nothing was done at the time, but eventually the Baptist Female University was opened in 1899, renamed in 1909 Meredith College
in his honor.
In 1838 Meredith resigned as pastor of his church in New Bern and moved to Raleigh
to work full time for the Recorder.
Despite poor health and lack of money, Meredith persevered, writing clear and principled editorials on issues of the day such as
slavery, which he strongly opposed, "Campbellism
", which threatened to cause a split in the Baptist movement, temperance, and the troubled relationship with the Triennial Convention
.
At that time, many Baptist preachers had limited formal education. Religious periodicals such as the Recorder were of great importance to pastors in furthering their theological education and staying connected to other Baptists.
Meredith often published multi-issue expositions of key doctrines or defenses of traditional evangelical theological convictions, always providing a rigorously orthodox view.
Thomas Meredith died on 13 November 1850 in Raleigh.
In 1898, Dr. Thomas E. Skinner, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Raleigh, said "The Rev. Thomas Meredith was undoubtedly the ablest man who has yet appeared among us".
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
pastor, one of the founders of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina is an autonomous association of Baptist churches in the states of North Carolina. It is one of the state conventions associated with the Southern Baptist Convention...
(BSCNC) in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the founder and editor of the Biblical Recorder
Biblical Recorder
The Biblical Recorder is a weekly newspaper published by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina .-Early history:The newspaper was founded in 1835 by Thomas Meredith, a prominent Southern Baptist leader in North Carolina....
newspaper.
Early years
Meredith was born in Warwick Township, Bucks County, PennsylvaniaBucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
, the son of a prosperous farmer.
He attended Doylestown Academy, a famous classical school, and then the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, graduating in January 1816.
He had originally planned to become a lawyer, but while at university he became a Baptist, and in 1817 he went to North Carolina as a missionary after a year of theological training.
In 1819 Meredith married Georgia Sears, and the couple eventually had eleven children.
Between 1819 and 1837 Meredith was pastor of churches in New Bern
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
(1819-1821), Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
(1822-1825), Edenton
Edenton, North Carolina
Edenton is a town in Chowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Chowan County. Edenton is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. In recent years Edenton has become a popular retirement location and a destination for...
(1825-1835), and again New Bern (1835-1838) rising steadily in stature within the North Carolina church.
Church leader
Meridith was in demand as a speaker. William Carey CraneWilliam Carey Crane
William Carey Crane was the President of Baylor University from 1864 to 1885.-Biography:William Carey Crane was born in Richmond, Virginia, on March 17, 1816. He attended the Mount Pleasant Classical Institute in Amherst, Massachusetts and Virginia Baptist Seminary, now known as Richmond College...
, an eminent theologian, said his sermons "did not sway men so much by touching appeals as by presenting the truth to them with irresistible power."
Meredith was one of the founders of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention in 1830, the author of its constitution and of a letter to Baptists in the state that explained the organization’s purpose and importance. Later he became secretary, vice president and President of the convention.
Educationalist
Meredith felt the education of young people was of great importance, and the second article of the BSCNC constitution defined one of the main purposes of the Convention as "the education of young men called of God to the ministry."He was a strong supporter of Wake Forest Institute (now Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
), launched in 1834, and the first president of its board of trustees.
He was invited to become a professor of mathematics and moral philosophy at Wake Forest, but declined.
Unusually for the time, he supported the higher education of women, and called for the Convention to establish "a female seminary of high order." Nothing was done at the time, but eventually the Baptist Female University was opened in 1899, renamed in 1909 Meredith College
Meredith College
Meredith College is a liberal arts women's college located in Raleigh, North Carolina. For the 2010-2011 academic year, there were approximately 2,300 students enrolled, including about 350 graduate students, making Meredith the largest women's college in the southeastern United States...
in his honor.
Editor
In January 1833 Meredith issued the first number of the monthly Baptist Interpreter, and two years later replaced it by the weekly Biblical Recorder.In 1838 Meredith resigned as pastor of his church in New Bern and moved to Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
to work full time for the Recorder.
Despite poor health and lack of money, Meredith persevered, writing clear and principled editorials on issues of the day such as
slavery, which he strongly opposed, "Campbellism
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
", which threatened to cause a split in the Baptist movement, temperance, and the troubled relationship with the Triennial Convention
Triennial Convention
The Triennial Convention, founded in 1814, was the first national Baptist denomination in the United States of America. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it was formed to advance missionary work...
.
At that time, many Baptist preachers had limited formal education. Religious periodicals such as the Recorder were of great importance to pastors in furthering their theological education and staying connected to other Baptists.
Meredith often published multi-issue expositions of key doctrines or defenses of traditional evangelical theological convictions, always providing a rigorously orthodox view.
Thomas Meredith died on 13 November 1850 in Raleigh.
In 1898, Dr. Thomas E. Skinner, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Raleigh, said "The Rev. Thomas Meredith was undoubtedly the ablest man who has yet appeared among us".
See Also
- Southern Baptist ConventionSouthern Baptist ConventionThe Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
- List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people
- Southern Baptist-related schools, colleges and universities