Heritage Column for September 1, 2005
By Fred Anderson
Zachary, our 7-year-old grandson, attempted to teach his grandfather how to play chess, a game whose mysteries this columnist must confess has eluded him. Zachary already has won a chess tournament so this novice player knew that he was up against a budding master player who relishes competition.
After some instructions and initial moves, my grandson exclaimed: “I can see that this is going to be a short game!” And it was. As Zachary savored his win, he tried to console the loser. “Papa, my Daddy says that it's alright to want to win; but he says that you learn when you lose!” Obviously, young Zachary Anderson has been receiving some fatherly advice from my son, Chris. Every child should receive good fatherly advice.
In 1812, Andrew Broaddus of rural Caroline County, Va., offered some advice to his young son, William, who had just left home to serve as an apprentice for a tradesman in the city. Andrew Broaddus (1770-1848) was one of a long list of men who wore that name, which was passed along through the generations. The Andrew Broaddus in this reference was the Mr. Andrew the first. At Salem Baptist Church in the village of Sparta in Caroline, there hang portraits of “the three Mr. Andrews”-three generations of Broaddus men who served as pastors of the church. And there were numerous other male relations who bore the name of Andrew.
It also is correct to say “Mister” rather than “Doctor” since Andrew Broaddus, although honored with the title, disdained its use among Baptist divines. Despite Mr. Andrew's opinion, his generation and others often referred to him with great respect as “Doctor.”
Andrew Broaddus I was among the key leaders of Virginia Baptists prior to and after forming the General Association. He was an author, orator and statesman.
In the spring of 1812, he simply was trying to give fatherly advice to William Temple Broaddus. Although the times, culture, social life and use of the English language have changed, the advice of father to son still holds some truths.
“My Dear Son, As you are now about to leave me, and to make your residence where you will not only be beyond the reach of my personal attention, but where you will probably be exposed to scenes of temptation with which you have as yet been in a great measure unacquainted, the earnest concern of my mind which I feel for your welfare, leads me to take this method of giving you some admonition and advice, which I pray and hope may, with the blessing of God, make a proper impression on your mind.
“You are going into a place where scenes of temptation will be presented to you …. Settle it, in your mind, to be guarded against every attack which may be made to turn you aside from the right path and be determined, as God may enable you, to pursue that path.
“Let me caution you to avoid, as much as possible, any intimacy with profane, loose and vicious youths: treat them generally with civility and give them no cause of offense but form no intimacy with them. As to females of a bad character, never go where they are: such characters are often (as many have found) dangerous to both soul and body ….
“In choosing friends and associates of your own sex, seek to find out such as are possessed of sound, noble and honorable principles …. There will nothing amiss in your falling occasionally into the company of females: indeed it is very proper and commendable. Treat them with respectful attention; and endeavor in their company… to acquire an easy, plain kind of politeness.
“Never consent to engage in a mean, low, groveling or dishonorable action. Be faithful to any trust committed to you; and let candor and sincerity mark your words and action.
“At leisure seasons I would wish you occasionally to visit the families of any religious acquaintance in the city and to go to the meeting on Sundays and hear attentively the word of God-behaving … with due decorum and respect.
“Never be ashamed of not understanding a game at cards or of being a stranger to all kinds of gaming, but rather glory in your unacquaintance with such things …. Never be induced to catch the abominable custom of using profane language such as cursing and swearing and taking the name of God in vain. It certainly is no part of the character of a gentleman ….
“Lastly: That the fear of God should ever be before your eyes, and a sense of your dependence upon him and your obligations to him, rest upon your mind …. That God may be your friend, and bless you with his eternal favor, is the prayer of your affectionate father, Andrew Broaddus.”
Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society.