Pitching Camp in Iowland
Frederick I Kuhns · The Palimpsest · 1955
Pitching Camp in IowalandAlong with many other denominations, the Bap tists also swarmed into the American West.The first generation of Iowa Baptists came to Iowaland from New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Ken tucky, while a few entered from the South and from neighboring Missouri.Marking their way was an ample record of accomplishment -revivals, missionary leaders, camp meetings, and schools.Iowa Baptist growth was characterized by an intense missionary enthu siasm, derived, some historians assert, from their early days of persecution in America.Growth came both through individual pluck and through the grants of missionary agencies.First and foremost in connection with Baptist organizations stands Rev. John Mason Peck, the founder of Rock Spring Seminary (now ShurtlefF College) in Illinois.Peck labored widely in Illi nois, Missouri, and territory bordering the Missis sippi River for the gathering of the pioneers.It is problematical how many thousands were safely steered to their new homes in the West by follow ing his timely Emigrants' Guides.It was through the labors of Peck and others that the American