The Early History of the First Baptist Church of
Notus, ID
By John J. Ruhlman, Jr., B.A., M. A.
"Seven old blocks of Iron," -- that is what Irving
Frank, the pastor of the church in 1945, affectionately called the deacons that led in the
fight in Idaho in the early days.
The church withdrew from the New World Movement as early as 1922
and discontinued support of the Northern Baptist Convention in 1925. In a business meeting
in 1945, unbeknown to Pastor Frank, a man stood and made a motion that the First Baptist
Church of Notus withdraw from the Idaho Baptist Convention, the Federal Council of
Churches, and the World Council of Churches! When the vote was taken, the sixty voting
members present stood together unanimously voting for withdrawal. A notable pastor, Ford
Burtch, had led them earlier (about 1925) in leaving the Tri-State Baptist Convention, but
the subsequent pastors had brought them back into the Convention. While the Grace Baptist
Church of Moscow, Idaho, was the first church to become affiliated with the General
Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC), the separatist position of the Notus
church had been going on for many years.
Actually, the church had been organized in October, 1904, after
revival meetings conducted by W. H. Bowler. There were eighteen charter members. The
articles of faith prepared by J. Newton Brown were adopted. In 1905 the original church
building , erected at a cost of about $375, was in use. The present parsonage was
purchased in 1917. The church moved to its present location in 1920 when the new building
was erected. Additions to this building include a north wing constructed in 1946, and a
thirty by fifty foot Sunday school unit constructed in 1961. This building remained in use
until the present new structure was occupied in April 1971. The present facility has a
floor space of approximately eight thousand four hundred square feet.
More recent pastors include: Ford Burtch, Irving Frank, Arnold
Carlson, C. I. True, David Wuth, Robert Obenchain, and Keith Whatley. Pastor Merle Wood,
the long-time pastor of the First Baptist Church of Clarkston, Washington, was called to
the church in November 1975.
Interestingly enough, this pioneering church ordained two of its
laymen, Irving Frank and Norman Gundry in 1945. While the Secretary of the Tri-State
Baptist Convention declared that these two were without "ministerial
credentials," Irving Frank and the late Norman Gundry have been outstanding leaders
among separatist Baptists of the West Coast for many years. Praise God for the people of
Notus First Baptist Church and their leaders like the "seven old blocks of
iron."
By John J. Ruhlman, Jr., B.A., M. A. in "A History of
Northwest Regular Baptists",
"The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches in Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho, 1939-1975."
Published by Regular Baptist
Press, Schaumburg, ILL, 1976
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