Duplin County Churches IF' t ; ' . - ? -. " r- 1 ~~ ii 1 Warsaw Presbyterian Church By: Ruth Wells _ in the 1880's several P res by - terlan families scattered over the Warsaw community and worshipping with their Baptist friends In the only church house of Warsaw were called together for services by Dr. a F. Mar able of Clinton. On October 18.1884 the War saw Presbyterian Church was organized by authority of Wil mington presbytery. This meeting with the Commis sioners of Presbytery appointed for this purpose of organiza tion was held In the Baptist Church of Warsaw. The twenty-five members who met and signed the char ter for the church were; William A. Falson, Hattle C. Falson, Anna A. Thompson, j" b. Cox, Jas. D. Swlnson, L. P. Best, Geo. M. Middle ton. W. H. Hunter. F. G. Mld dleton, J. M. Mlddleton. Anna H. Mlddleton, O. F. Mlddleton. William L. Hill. S. P. Middle ton. Thomas B. Pierce. Sallle E. Pierce, S. D. Mlddleton. J. R. Smith, Mary S. Smith, Pen der Mlddleton, J. R. Marable. A. G. Moseley, Louisa Mose ley, and Edward Mann. At the Initial meeting. Dr. Marable was given the pas torate. and four officers were elected: two elders, Messrs. W. A. Falson and A. G. Mose ley; two deacons, Messrs. T. a Pierce and J. D. Swlnson. The congregation first wor shipped at the old school build ing, located on the grounds of the present Grammar School. The present site of the church was selected for the building, the lot donated by one of the charter members, W. L. HilL The First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington heard of the efforts of the few persons and sent three lovely pulpit chairs; a communion set of two small plates two cups and a small pitcher, and the pulpit now In use. just as the frame of the build lng was erected, acyclonecom pletely destroyed ft. The only things left In their places were the Bible, the three chairs, the pulpit, a glass pitcher and a spittoon. This naturally brought discouragement to some and there was talk of discontinuing the efforts. In fact, some mem bers had almost sold the tim bers to the late Tom Parker for the purpose of building a colored Baptist church. Mrs. T. B. Pierce, Mr. George Mlddleton, and others expressed their determination to have a Presbyterian Church In Warsaw and efforts were renewed. The building pro gram was pushed, work started again right after the cyclone. Mr. A. F. Bland was the work man who had charge of the re building. In the early stages of the second attempt at building, a strong wind blew It from the blocks again. Despite this, the building was ready for use In about a year's time. The pews which are still used for wor ship were made under direction of Mr. T. B. Pierce In his factory at Pierceville. The acoustics of the auditorium have been pronounced by many preachers and hearers as ex ceptionally fine. Many were the Ice-cream and oyster suppers which helped to pay off the Indebtedness of the building. Among those who re building. Among those who ren dered Invaluable aid at these suppers were Mrs. T. B. Pierce, Mrs. Robert Joe Wil liams, Mrs. W. H. Williams, Mrs. Lambeth. Mrs. Isaac Brown, Mrs. Ransom Mlddleton Mrs. Sallle Johnstone, and Mrs. Bettie Hill. Members of other denominations In turn showed their Interest through a spirit of helpfulness. Thus the zeal of a few pushed the work to its finish. Disaster seemed to plague the church. Rev. R. M. Williams who served the church as pas tor 'from "l?!?5-1902 relates the following Incident. "One dav just after I had announced my text, the lightening struck the steeple and did damage to the building, creating a consterna tion among the congregation. For just a few minutes every thing was perfectly still; then there was a rush for the door. I called them back and tried to get them stopped, but to no avail. Then I began to sing 'Jesus, Lover of My Soul,' and the moment I began to sing the whole congregation stopped turned around and came back to their seats. Mr. T. B. Pierce went out and looked to see If there was any fire, when this was determined, we went on with the worship. The damage done was covered by Insurance. All along it seems that this church has had to struggle for its existence, but with it all it has rendered a great ser vice to the town of Warsaw." The Wars aw Church was link ed with the Clinton Church from the time of Its organization, until 1933 when the Presbytery formed one group of Warsaw, Bowden. and Falson Churches. Since 1946 the church has had full time ministers living In Warsaw. The church has produced two ministers and one full time worker namely; Rev. Albert Maxwell who joined the church by letter January 1,1911 and was licensed to preach In 1915 and went to Brazil as a missionary; Rev. John a. Ricks joined the Warsaw Presbyterian Church In 1915, attended DavidsonCollege, Union TheologlcalSeminary and Is serving as pastor of Belmont Presbyterian church In Roa noke, Va. Miss Louise Farrlor, joined the church December 16,1928, Is a graduate of East Carolina College of Assembly Training School and Is serving as Direc tor of the Editorial Department, Board of Women's Work, Pres byterian Church V. S.. altanta office. In 1928, The woman's Auxi liary remodeled the Interior of the church. The sanctuary was made attractive with new walls, new windows, new carpet, all harmonizing and making a most restful place of worship. Until 1933 all Sunday School classes were held In the one room of the church. The Sunday School realized the need of more space and eight rooms Including Ladles Parlor and kit chen were made available for use. The upper floor with con siderable space was left unfur nished, to be developed Into ex tra rooms when needed. The whole plant of church and Sunday School rooms was brick ve neered and steam heated. In 1945, the church decided to build a manse on the lot directly behind the church. The house was completed In 1947 and final payments made one year later. The fellowship hall and Young Peoples Room In the upstairs of the church was completed In March 1952. This hall has been used for the Mens Bible class, and the men added facilities for senrtrig coffee In the room. In 1957 the growth of the Sunday School nad caused a further need of expansion and a building committee was set up In 1957. The lovely building was completed In 1958 at a cost of $33,660.60. This includes a large recreation room, three new Sunday Schools, a nursery and kitchen. Ministers who have served the church are Dr. B. F. Ma rable, ColinShaw, George Dem pster, Joseph Evans, GeorgeM. Mathls, Robert murphy Wil liams. Robert M. Mann, P. L. Clark, M. O. Sommers, F. S. Johnstone, D. L. Jones, Eugene H. Clarke, Jerry M. Newlx>ld and Norman H. Flowers. The session Is composed of L. B. Hule, Clerk, Edwin P. Evers, a. J. Jenkins, Sr., John M. Pierce, W. J. Mlddleton, Jr. and Henry L. Stevens, Jr. a. J. Draughon, jr. Is chairman of the Deconate. Serving with him are: J. T. Gresham, Jr., a. Wright Gore, William T. Best, Fred J. Baars, G. S. Hodges, J. Herman Hlnes, Hector B. McNeill. a. Walker McNeill, C. Sheffield, F. a. Mitchlner, R. W. Rivenbark, v. a. Stancll, and Shelby B. Zachary. Mrs. Allen Draughon, Jr., 1s president of the Women of the Church, H. C. Mccullen Is pre sident of the Men of the church. Vernard A Stancll is superin tendent of the church school, Mrs. Ben Bowden, is organist and Mrs. W. J. Mlddleton, Jr., and Mrs. J. T. Gresham, Jr. are choir directors. We are very grqteful to Mrs. J. W. F arrlor, historian, for furnish ing us this information. My Christmas Story! Editor's Note; This poem was written by a German War Bride who has "been in the U. S. for about the past twenty years. Again the Holy night is near, With laughter and joy, but also with tears. Christ was born to save us from sin, How many truly think of him. Too good I remember the days as a child For me, Christmas was a day of litfw Everything shining, and a lot of toys. But I found out the sorrows, when I did grow. It was In 41, on the Holy night. When mother lighted only four candles, her face silent and white. She had lost two sobs in ac 2". *? ftff war and when the war time The lights would shine for me any more. For on the following Christ mas And on the H>ly night. I had no tree, or home to g? Or gifts to sit beside. The light which shlned once for me Were dead, and burned out F rom then I walked my lonely road Only with Christ the Lord. Let's not forget in laughter And all our Joy, To pray for our soldiers Who fight another war. Lets pray for our soldiers far away from home. For freedom and the end of the Viet Nam war. Leu ask Christ and Savior for forgiveness and peace and keep this hand for always, the hand of liberty. Maria V. Smith 134 Circle Drive Wallace, N. C. 28466 HARRISONBURG, VA. NEWS RECORD: "Dr. John D. Dough erty of the Harvard School of Public Health is one of a grow ing number of sclentiests who are taking a look at a noise In contemporary society and Its effects, apparently, are con siderable... A researcher on hearing problems. Dr. Dough erty contends noise levels In many environments have reached the point they are caus ing serious hearing Impair ments....As examples of how nolsey everyday contrivances have become, tne researcher notes Industrial studies which have shown that continued ex posure to a noise level of 80 decibels has resulted In loss of hearing. Yet, such ordinary ap pliances as food blenders are rated at 93 decibels, a loud lawn mower at 107 decibels and a subway train at 9Q," WILL THE BROTH BE MORE SAVORV? ' H.C* $f*TE BUREAU ? OF jchie? \and bot^e ~t 1 I BRO TON^ Aj2rfiSuy ///occckiv &tll! &ell! Wtlli By: Ruth wells Wanted - 17 hl-tailed cats for my friend Rodney Thfgpen! Rod ney has a lovely new brick home and in spite of all his efforts he is bothered with mice. Now I have been told on good au thority that one sure way to be free of mice and rats is to possess seventeen cats. They must be the variety that holds their tail high in the air as they answer the "chow call." Anybody having a cat that will fit this description please de liver them to Rodney Thgpen-, Route 1, Mount Olive. ? ? ? ? Last Wednesday I was at the BeulavUle Elementary School near lunch time. The most de licious aroma filled the entire building in which the lunch room is located. Ruby and I readily accepted the invitation to eat. The food was delicious! It was a well planned meal, balanced in all the necessary nutrients, and as tasty as you hope to find for a family Sunday din ner. ?. * ? ? Duplin County lost a remark able citizen over the week end. Mr. Edd Bostlc of Warsaw, age 90, who entered the hospi tal Just a few days earlier. In all those 90 years that was the first trip. Longevity was at tributed to clean living, he didn't smoke, drink, or cuss. ? ? ? ? Were I a less determined person, I would throw that love ly Yashlca 24 camera In the boot of the car and forget it. But being of the make up I am, each week from now on I shall attempt a day time shot In. th* J?iq4Jn CWttitaKn. _ < Again this week, what shoild . have been a lovey young lady 1 sitting at the Judges desk, came out a perfect blank. If at first you don't succeed ? ? ? ? Fourteen shopping days left and the thought Just petrifies me, so bye now, off to do Christmas shopping. ? ? ? * SULLIVAN. ILL.,PROGRESS "Since our government de mands such a strict account ing of every penny handled by every citizen, for taxing pur poses, those taxpayers, oy the same right, should be entitled to a strict accounting of how all those tax dollars are being spent." Origin of theChristmasTree The lights of the Christmas tree, most beautiful when re flected In the eyes of a child, will bring peace and joy to millions of homes again this season, as they have for cen turies. But how did it begin? Why do we connect trees and lights with the birth of the Babe whom Christians consider the Mes siah? There are several stories about the origin of the Christ mas tree. People in Scandina via once worshipped trees, and, explains World Book Encyclo pedia, they made evergreen trees part of the Christian fes tlvals when they became Chris tians. One legend tells how the first Christmas tree was shown in a miracle to the English mls mlonary Winfrld (later called Boniface). More than 1,200 years ago, while traveling in what is now northern Germany, Wlnfrid found a group of he thens at an oak tree, about to sacrifice a child to the godThor. Wlnfrid stopped the sacrifice and cut down the "blood oak." AS the oak fell, according to the legend, a young fir tree appeared, winfrld said the fir was the tree of life, represent ing Christ. The Germans probably were the first to decorate Christmas trees. They used stars, angels, toys, gilded nuts, and candles wrapped in bright paper, and later added tinsel and lighted candles. Scandinavians at one time trimmed their trees with little flags, now they also use cookies, apples, and gilded nuts. In the united States and Ca nada, homemade paper orna ments, candy canes, and at rings of cranberries and popcorn were popular before the advent of shiny colored balls and strings of colored electric lights. Lights at Christmas repre sent Christ as the Light of the World. According to one story, Martin Luther put lights on his trees to represent the glory and beauty of the stars above Bethlehem on the night of Christ's birth. In the United States and Cana da, many churches hold candle light services on Christmas Eve. People In Ireland, World ' Book says, leave a candle burn ing In the window. In The Ne therlands, on the eve of Epi phany, young men carry the Christmas star ? actually a lantern containing lighted can dles ? as they stroll through the streets singing hymns and carols. No matter what the origin, the tree ablaze with lights is something we remember from our earliest childhood ... and something the very youngest children will begin to learn this Christmas. OCALA, FLA., STAR-BAN NER: "An opinion survey re veals that most Americans fa vor a cut In federal spending rather than increased taxes as a means of controlling Inflation. What this shows Is that more people are becoming aware of re*l cause of the rising Inflation whichls troubling our country today...Do the politi cians want us to believe that giving them more money to spend will result In a lower cost of living ? that la, a dollar with more purchasing power?" SHELBYVQ.LE, KY.. SENTI NEL: "The fact Is thai the average American family is spending 13% of its total income on food. M> other nation in the world even approaches this fi gure, and lnEngland33%ofeach family's disposable income goes for food, 45% in France, and 62% in the Soviet Union. Aside from the remarkably small amount of her income which goes for food, the Ameri can housewife receives more variety, more nourishment, more everything than her coun terparts anywhere on the globe ...America's free enterprise, intensively-competitive system is the best guarantee yet de vised by man that prices will not exceed demand.*' COLDWATER, KANS., STAR: "Food for peace is a grand sounding designation for a go vernment program, but when the program is used indirectly to feed our avowed enemies the people of the United States may not think It is so grand. Communism is a society which can keep its people from starv ing only with aid from thefree dom countries." 1 Yesler?lay"s , News Notes 1 1 Year Ago Reeves Brothers, Inc. an nounces a new cut and sew ope ration to be located in Duplin County, Mrs. Melvln (Clyde) Potter named Red Cross Fund Cam paign manager for 1966. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Taylor win cup at Broiler Producers Annual Banquet. NCEA present 25 year pins to seven members. 5 Years Ago James Kenan District Band present concert in KenansvOle Gymnasium. Warsaw boy, Billy J. Torrans appointed to the U. S. Proba tion Office. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Qutnnho nored on 30th Wedding Anniver sary. Janice Henderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R, E. Hen derson elected Treasurer of Freshman Class James Walker Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. 10 Years Ago Miss Eleanor Southerlandhas accepted an assignment with the International Cooperative Ad ministration of the Federal Go vernment to work in Columbia, S. C. _ _ Mr. u. (tsuaay) William son appointed to supervisor of Charlotte District by Southern Bell Telphone. Faison Special Education Class has exhibit at Raleigh Conference. 20 years Ago Tidewater Power Company announces new heat pump ready for this section. J. E. Sloan of chinquapin, elected chairman of AAA. Albert Jonathan Jenkins, Jr., 15, awarded Eagle Scout Badge. Mr. and Mrs. Norwood Bruce Boney celebrated Twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. r^nde pete pronj f * a I (hittlin Switch j ? DEAR MISTER EDITOR: 1 Ed Doollttle reported to the feller* at the country (tore Sat- i urday night ha ha* come up with a plan to cut his worries in half. Up to now, aald Ed, he had been : worrying about what was going to happen to the young genera- , ton, along with his worries about the old folks. From now on, be allowed, he was confining his worries strict to what was going to happen to his own generation. Zeke Grubb was agreed Ed was making a wise move in this plan to eliminate half his wor ries. He said his preacher told the congregation Sunday the great need in the world today was fer people to know a little less and understand a little more. Zeke was of the opinion this was a mighty hard assignment and he brung along some figgers to prove it This was the first time Zeke ever brung any fig gers to the Saturday night ses sions and he had to borrow Ed's glasses to read 'em to the fel lers. He had a newspaper clipping where a committee of the Con gress had completed a 10-month study on Guvernment paper work. This piece said the report was 70 pages long and was one of the most "astounding docu ments" to come out of the Con gress in 90 year. According to this report, if one Guvernment record was burned ever second, it would take 2,000 years to destroy them UL It said Guverament W work cost |8 billion a year apd it took 15 billion copies of MO, 000 Guverament forma to oper ate the Federal agencies. Farthermore, the report aald 225,000 Government workers waa spending moat of their work day putting documents Into 25 million cubic foot of filing cab inets, that the Guverament 4 spends $1.5 billion a year writ ing 1 billion letters. According to them Congressmen making the survey, It would save the taxpayers from $100 million to $200 million a year If they tfould make their lettera a paragraph or two shorter. One of the worst things they found, the report said, was they All up 2.6 million pages a year with inter-office memos, instruc tions and communications, half of them not worth a copper filled quarter. This was a mighty long piece fer Zeke to read and he got some of the words wrong but he had the figgers correct and some of the fellers, including me, was writing 'em down on pa per pokes we swiped from the storekeeper. They was correct and official, Mister Editor, if you want to print 'em in yore paper. It's all right fer Zeke's preach er to say we need to know a lit tle less and understand a little more, but how you going to un derstand this Guverament red tape? Yours truly ) Uncle Pete \.it (THE | Minister's j ( Desk J jBy: I). E. Piirkcrnoiij A certain man once said that he would never let his wife sit In the front seat of his car with him because It was a waste of talent. She was such a good back seat driver that he always made her sit In the back seat. I suppose that It was such a man as this who was one day riding down the street of a certain city when a motorcycle policeman pulled up beside him and said, "Hey, mister, yottr wif? fell out of the back seat of your car three blocks back?' The man replied, "Thank good ness, I thought I had gone stone deaf." These two men that 1 have mentioned are representative of many of us. Back In the days of long ago (to some It seems as thougm it Is a century ago) we always opened the doors of cars for our wives and seated them at the tableever so gently. Now is Is quite different for many. The thouehtfulness ex pressed in the little things has been lost from our marriage. When this happens It Is not because love Is lost, or at least not most of the time, but that we have become less thoughtful and take each other for granted. I met a couple just out of town from our church here this week who have been married for 65 years. The husband Is 90 and the wife 85 years old. The very way they looked at each other told me that love for them had been an Increasingly growing thing for two-thirds or a cen tury. Said he to me, as he pointed over to his wife, "I'm not bragging about It preacher, but she's the best woman I ever knew.' This man's love !was genuine to begin with, and It continued to grow through the years. It is greater now than it has ever been. Such love Is beautiful and eternal, for it Is of God. When Christ Is at the center of the home it has a focal point around which all of life can revolve. It has a founda tion that Is strong enough to stand up under the stresses and strains of life. Therefor*, It Is not just foolish talk when someone says that a family that prays together stays together. And they work together. Many of our homes have about as much harmony as aSaturday night brawl. Sucn was the case In a home where a man was bragging that whenever anything ' went wrong around the house h| always 4. Barter 27. Wing M. Long pins "?ass M. Worth 40. Tenor ?43. Distant jar lis ???* / # m