Mr. Peter Janah, now an octogenarian, gives the writer a vivid picture of a baptism which took place on the 6th of October, 1822. He claims to have been present at the organization of the church. He was then a boy of 18 years. On the banks of Weldon Creek, about three miles from the village, there gathered, one Sabbath day, a few settlers to witness the sacred ordinance of baptism administered to several candidates. It was not the first baptism the people had seen. There may have been one or two scenes like this before. What is now a pleasant half hour’s drive amid beautiful trees and along beautifully cultivated fields, and by neat and pretty houses, was then a tedious journey over stumps and stones. And where now in Hillsboro and Salem are large farms with delightful and pleasant homes then there were isolated clearings with here and there a dwelling. The octogenarian above referred to says that at this time, seventy-one years ago, there were but five houses at the ‘Bend;’ and from Edgett’s Landing to McLatchey’s in Weldon only fourteen houses. But to return to the scene on the banks of the Weldon Creek. It was the 6th of October, 1822. Rev. Joseph Crandall stood with several happy converts who were about to follow their Saviour in His own appointed ways. And there amid autumnal foliage, with God, and angels and men as witnesses, this little band of believers put on Christ by public obedience to His commands. After this service was completed they went to a barn a short distance from the spot and there organized the First Hillsboro Baptist church. This barn was owned by Henry Steeves, grandson of the preacher and one of the first deacons of the church. A man by the name of Robert smith, a good singer, who was present from the Salisbury church and whose home was in Pollet River, at Mr. Crandall’s request read the articles of the Baptist faith: and those who were baptized that day, together with others who had been baptized previously—perhaps ten or twelve in all—formed themselves into a New Testament church. The name of some of them were: Michael Steeves, Patrick Duffy, John Steeves, Peggy Steeves, Jennie Gross, Vinnia Taylor, William Gross, Mrs. Peter Hopper, and perhaps others. Christ was born in a manger and cradled upon straw. If the barn was not too low for the son of God it was not too mean and human a place to witness the organization of a church His. What a quaint scene! On the barn floor, surrounded by fragrant hay, solemn obligations were assumed and sacred pledges given, which are now recorded in God’s Books. One can imagine the love and affection which bound together that little band of pioneer men and women, who could conquer the wild forests and compel the earth to yield her increase, all the more heroically and successfully by cherishing in their hearts the religion of Christ and maintaining a visible church of our Redeemer in their midst.