EV. THOMAS BASHAW came to the Christians from another denomination, and was well received. He became acquainted with the Christian Church in 1853, when Rev. M. B. Barrett organized the Christian church in Wilmington, North Carolina. He united with Rev. S. S. Barrett's church in 1854. His letter bears date, Norfolk, Virginia, September 3, 1854. He was ordained at Union in Southampton county, Virginia, in 1855, by Revs. W. B. Wellons, U. Rawls and M. Barrett, and the right hand of fellowship was extended by Rev. W. H. Boykin. He seems first to have connected himself with the Eastern Virginia Conference as a licentiate. In 1856, the Eastern Virginia Conference was held at Bethlehem church, in Nansemond county. The second day's session was opened by the Rev. Mr. Bashaw with singing and prayer. For the itinerant work to which he had been appointed, the committee on itinerancy reported that he would receive the "full amount pledged him by the churches." He was appointed for the year 1857 to preach for the churches at Newbern and Goose Creek. The Newbern church in North Carolina at this time belonged to the Eastern Virginia Conference. While pastor of the church at Newbern, he was a fluent [301] contributor to the church paper, and his articles were acceptable and well received.

      In 1858, he was a delegate from the Eastern Virginia, Conference to the Southern Christian Convention at Cypress chapel, and favored the Convention's adopting plans for the raising of a fund for the support of superannuated ministers, their widows and orphans. But after a full discussion of the matter, it was decided to leave the matter to each Conference to provide for those in its own bounds.

      While the Convention at its organization had amply provided for its government and the government of the Conferences, yet the distinctive principles of the Church were not clearly understood or appreciated by the general public. Having thrown himself fully into the work and seeing its needs, he presented the following resolution: "Resolved, That this Convention take into consideration the expediency or inexpediency of defining our position as a denomination upon the leading doctrines of the Holy Scriptures, which we claim as the foundation and creed of our church." This necessity was being forced upon the Church from the misrepresentations of those who were unacquainted with the general teachings of the Church. Though the purpose of the resolution was not acted upon immediately, it was fully accomplished in eight years from that time. Having failed in this effort apparently, he lost interest and changed the purpose of his life. At the Conference at Bethlehem in 1868, a letter from Rev. Thomas Bashaw was delivered to the President, "demanding a letter of dismission from the Conference." The Conference decided that the committee appointed in regard to his letter "receive his license to preach and his credentials as an Elder in the Christian Church." Mr. Bashaw disappeared from the records, but the work set in motion is still being accomplished. [302]

[LCM 301-302]