Newspapers / Shelby Daily Star (Shelby, … / March 29, 1929, edition 1 / Page 10
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The 26 Pastors Of The First Baptist Church From Its Organization In 1847 To Present—Able And Consecrated Men i _ -._ ______ (Written by J. H. Quinn). Death hu claimed eo many of our earlier pastors and their co laborers In this church and our records of that period are so meager that I am unable *to do them Jus tice even In this brief sketch. The organisation of this church In 1847 followed a series of revival services In 184« conducted by Rev. Drury Dobbins, the pioneer Bap tist preacher who laid the founda tion for the Baptist cause in this territory, and by Rev. James M. Webb, his noble co-worker and pio neer preacher of the adjoining county of Rutherford. These faith ful soldiers of the cross long since passed to their reward but we are today enjoying the fruits of their labor. Rev. James M. Webb was the first pastor and held the position for three years. Hs was for many years a leading member of the Broad River and Green River associations, serving both as moderator and clerk. He was a man of great abil ity as a debator, a leading pastor and served for sixteen years as clerk of the superior court of Ruther ford county. He was the father of Rev. O. M. Webb, who labored so long and so faithfully in the King's Mountain association and was the grandfather of our own brethren, judge James L. Webb and Judge ll Y. Webb. The second pastor was Rev. M. O. Barnett who served three years and waa later recalled for a second pastorate. He was what the world cans "a self made man." but a man «f ran ability and learning. He purred both as moderator and clerk ttf the Broad River association. Aft er many years of faithful and suc cessful service for the Master, he in this town on the 30th day of September, 1873, at the ags of 88 yean and on the night pre vious to the opening of the 31st >rttr»T of the King's Mountain as sociation. He was the father of our late brother T. K. Barnett and the onndfatber of Miss Fannie Bar nett, Mrs. O. N. Lsttlmore and Mrs. rfoe wimy. Third Pastor, Her. Wads Hill. The third pastor was Rev. Wade Bill who served only one year but was twice recalled to the pastor ate for short terms. With limited Opportunities for an education but 4rtUl native ability and a desire to serve his Master, he became the leading preacher in this entire section during his motive life. Always sound In doctrine and fearless In condemning evil, he won the hearts of his bearers. He was a pioneer champion of temperance at a time when It required moral courage and stamina to be such, fejke all men of conviction with courage to stand for the right, he (tad critics but criticism did not swerve him from the path of duty. Be died In 1878. The fourth pastor, Rev, A. J. Canaler. served about five years. A graduate of the- State university. ie was educated for a lawyer but. Under the Influence of Rev. Wade I BUI, he entered the ministry and enjoyed many years of useful serv ice. He published for a time in this town "The Eagle" which was the first newspaper ever published in this county. He removed to the State of Alabama where he died on February 34, 1872, the same year !h whlcjj a former pastor, Rev. M. v C. Barnett, died. Thos. Dixon Fifth Pastor. Rev. Thomas Dixon, the fifth pas tor, served two one-year terms with gn interval of one year between the two pastorates, there being no pas tor In the year 1858. Brother Dixon was often referred to as the "Suc cessor of Drury Dobbins,” as he Came actively into the ministry about the time of the death of the lamented Dobbins, and carried for ward with great success the work of evangelization and church build ing so successfully prosecuted by that "Prince of the Cross.” Sur mounting numerous difficulties in his youthful days, Bro. Dixon be came a tower of strength In the Lord's Kingdom. He was largely Instrumental In organizing more than 40 Baptist churches In this «nd adjoining counties. He bap tised thousands of people and, up to some years prior to his death, had married more than 5.000 cou ples. He served New Prospect church, where his ashes now rest, far about sixty years. He was the father of Dr. A. C. Dixon, one of the worlds greatest preachers; of Thomas Dixon, the brilliant play wright and author, of Rev. Frank Dixon, the distinguished Chautau qua lecturer; of Dr. Della Dixon Carroll, the resident physician of Meredith college; and of Mrs. Ad dle Thatcher, of Norfolk. Va. The sixth pastor was Dr. E. A. Crawley, who served a little more than two yean, and at a later date finished out an unexpired year of. epoMww pastor. Little is now known of Dr. Crawley except that he was a m*n of culture and abil ity. Old Seminary Recalled. The seventh pastor was Rev. ft CMUnes, who served less than two yean, organising In the meantime an educational institu tion to Shftoy known as the "Rob ert* Jemal* Seminary.” The unex- ] J. H. Quinn Former Deacon Who Wrote Church History In This Issue. plred year of this pastor was fin ished out by Dr. E. A. Crawley, above referred to, who also had charge for a time of the “Semi nary." Nothing further Is known of this “Seminary." A man of cul ture and marked ability, he was yet very eccentric. In his later years he turned his attention from the ministry to other lines of activity, at different times being engaged In newspaper enterprises. He did ef fective work In turning home seek ers from the North toward the South In the early years following the Civil war. Rev. Needham B. Coob, the 8th pastor, served three years and dur ing the time was also engaged in teaching school. In his earlier manhood, he was a lawyer by pro fession and, In the year 1859, sev ered his connection with the Epis copal church and joined the Bap tist ohurch and became very active In the councils of this chinch. With Dr. J. D. Hufham, he published for a time the Dally Record of Raleigh. After that he served as corres ponldng secretary of the state Sun day school board. He possessed marked ability as a writer of prose and poetry, some of his porms are still extant and show marked poetical ta'ent. The ninth pastor was Rev. A. l. Stough who served for a term of four years. A native of Germany, he was educated for the Catholic priesthood. He was an able min ister and a distinguished scientist. While pastor of this church he serv ed as moderator of the King’s Mountain association and was held tn very high esteem by all the churches of this association. Rev. J. A. White, then principal of the Shelby high school, was the tenth pastor, having accepted the pastorate temporarily as the pastor elect had declined to accept the call. For a few years Bro. White retired from teaching and gave his entire time to the ministry, serv ing at that time the church at Blacksburg and Antioch but in later years he resumed his work of teaching as well as preaching and was recognized as one of the lead ing educators of this state He died In April, 1922. Dr. Nelson A Ripe Scholar. Dr. W. A. Nelson, the eleventh pastor, served three years. A ripe scholar, possessed of a keen and logical mind, fervent In piety, and sound in theology, it is not sur prising that he made a profound Impression upon this church which parted with him with great re luctance. While here he was large ly instrumental in the organizing and establishing of the Shelby Fe male college which, for a number of years, rendered great service to the young womanhood of this section. It was during this pastorate that the church and Sunday school first took a decisive step forward. The secret of Dr. Nelson's success as a pastor was that he found a place for every member to work and put the member to work In that place. He was at one time president of Judson college and held many prominent pastorates In late years. He died In DeLand, Fla., on the 20th day of April, 1909, while ad dressing an audience, thus dying In harness. Frlli w*r>g the • estgnatl'vi of Dr. Nelson from the pastora’c here, Rev, R. D. Mallory, then presi dent of the Shelby Female college, supplied for a few months pend ing the calling of another pastor. The twelfth pastor, Rev. W. B. Bussy, a native ol Georgia, served a little less than two years when he resigned to accept a pastorate in his native state. Much or the spirit of progress manifested by the church under the pastorate of Dr Nelson continued under Bro. Bussy The Christ-like spirit of this faith ful servant of the Master won for him the love of all who knew him. Our thirteenth pastor was Dr. W. H. Strickland who served about one and a half years. While he was a man of marked ability and ol learn ing, his pastorate was too short to accomplish much in church prog ress. Little is known of his work after leaving here. He has been dead several years. Rev. J M. McManaway was our fourteenth pastor and retained this position ior about three years. It was during this pastorate that the first brick house of worship was erected on this spot. He was re markably successful in leading the church to do greater things finan cially as well as spiritually. He was a good pastor and preeminent ly a Bible preacher, calling to his aid the scriptures to sustain every proposition. He held later a num ber of prominent pastorates but was an invalid for a number of years and died in Virginia in April, 1922, the same month in which a former pastor, Rev. J. A. White, died. Rev. O. P. Hamrick was the fif teenth pastor and served nearly two years. He was a good pastor and faithful in the performance of every duty. A native of this county he served many churches In the two Carolinas with marked ability and success. He was especially success ful in evangelistic work. He is now dead. The sixteenth pastor was Rev. J. L. Sproles who served about two years. Bro. Sproles was a young man of striking personality and a good preacher. Since leaving here he has held many prominent pas torates and is yet in the active min istry. Servant Of God. That saintly and beloved servant of God, Dr. J. D. Hufham, became the seventeenth pastor and gerved for a little more than two years. Though advanced In years, he made a profound Impression upon the church and association as he was a man of marked ability and piety. For many years he was a leading and active member of the Baptist state convention, holding there under many positions of honor and trust. On account of age and af fliction his recent years were spent in retirement at his home Ini Me bane, where he died in 1921. Our eighteenth pastor was Rev. R. P. Treadway, who served for five consecutive years, one of the three longest pastorates in the his tory of the church. It is unfor tunate that we have had so many short pastorates, unfortunate both to church and to pastor. Bro. Treadway was called to Mansfield, La., where he labored very success fully until his death about the year 1911-12. Under his pastorate here, the church advanced along all lines of activity. He was not only loved and esteemed for his ptety and faithful service by hla church but by the entire association. Dr. W. D. Hubbard. after re signing the pastorate of the Taber nacle Baptist church of Raleigh, be came the nineteenth pastor, hold ing the position a little over one year, it being understood at the time he came that It was only a temporary pastorate. During his brief ministry here, he endeared himself to every member of the church and to all citizens of the town. Few who heard it will ever forget the introductory sermon that he delivered at the King’s Moun tain association which convened at Pleasant Hill church during his pastorate here. The twentieth pastor was Rev. M. E. Parrish, who served nearly five years, one of the three long est pastorates In our history. He ac cepted a call to a church at Ports mouth, Va., which he served with marked success up to the time of his death about 1900-1910. A man of marked ability and enthusiasm for any cause that he espoused, he accomplished much for the Master while with this church. He great ly desired to build a new house of worship while here but the church seemed unwilling to undertake the task at that time. Jenkins A Builder. In calling Rev. C. A. Jenkins to the twenty-first pastorate, the man and the opportunity met. Pre eminently a builder of houses of worship, he came, to us at a time when our need on this line was greatest As in the case of David and Solomon in building the temple, Bro. Parrish desired to build this house of worship, but the duty was left to Bro. Jenkins, and It was largely due to his Initiative and en thusiasm that this building was erected at that time. It is a monu ment to his memory. Be it said to the credit of our members that, in the main, they heartily cooperated in the work. Bro. Jenkins was an excelelnt preacher and a fearless and courageous champion of the right, as he saw it Pastor Swope To War. Our twenty-second pastor was Rev. L. W. Swope, a native of West Virginia but who previously held prominent pastorates in both Caro llnas. He served the church moot faithfully and successfully for about four years. For some time prior to termination of this pastorate, he was chaplain of the First North Carolina regiment. There was then no war in sight, but when war was eminent and his country called, he could not afford to resign his com mission in the regiment. When his regiment was sent to the Mexican border he tendered his resignation as pastor, believing that the Interest of his church would suffer in his absence, but the church declined to accept his resignation. Later when the World war began and he was called into the service he again B. T. FALLS Sunday School Superintendent. HENRY EDWARDS Church Clerk. -- tendered his resignation Which was accepted. After retiring from the army, he served for about two years as pastor of the Bolling Springs church and teacher In the Bible department of the high school. Rev. Lee McB. White, son of our former townsman and beloved brother, Dr. J. Lee White, was our twenty-third pastor and served a little less than two years—a period too short tor marked advance along the lines of church activities, un fortunately both for pastor and church. Bro. White was a good pastor and a good preacher. He is now pastor of a church in Jack sonville, Fla., where he Is greatly beloved by the membership. Our twenty-fourth pastor was Dr. J. Marcus Kester, one of our own county boys, who served the church most successfully and efficiently for four years, closed his pastorate on Oct. 29, 1922. Scholarly, deeply consecrated, always aggressive, and greatly beloved by all. the church made the greatest progress in its history to tftat date. He stressed with all the earnestness of his soul the pressing need of the church for enlarged equipment to handle its rapidly increasing possibilities. We failed him then but soon saw our mistake. He is now pastor of the First Baptist church of Wilming ton. Our twenty-fifth pastor. Dr. Robt. L. Lemons, was called to the pas torate on Jan. 14, 1923, and enter ed upon his duties on March 1, thus leaving us without a pastor for four months. He served the church about two and a half years, his ministry closing Sept. 1, 1925. His ministry was too brief to show marked results, but his exalted Christian character, his charming personality, and his support of every movement for the betterment of the community, won for him the love and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. Present Pastor, Dr. Wall. wnne uus sseicn nas reierence primarily to our former pastors. It would be Incomplete were It not to refer to our present beloved, most efficient, and most successful pas tor, Dr. Zeno Wall, who is our twenty-sixth pastor. He began this pastorate Oct. 1, 1925, thus having served to date about three and a half years. Soon after he came to us he said he was praying for three things In particular—first, for the erection and equipping of a church building fully adequate to our grow ing needs. This we now have. Sec ond, for the erection and equipping of a Junior college at Bolling Springs, This we now have In Its first stages. Third, the coming to this section of a great spiritual re vival that will spread throughout the land. Like the others, we be lieve this will come in due time. Never In the history of this church has the membership been so thor oughly united and never has the spirituality been so marked as now With Divine guidance invoked at every movement of the church, we can not fall. I believe we can say, without fear of successful contradiction, that no other Baptist church In North Caro lina ever had for a similar length of time an abler or a more con secrated array of pastors than those who have served this church 1 since its organisation. This the 23rd day of March. 1929 J. H. QUINN. WE SINCERELY CONGRATULATE THE GOOD' BAPTIST PEOPLE O F SHELBY AND CLEVELAND COUNTY FOR SUPPORTING THE EREC TION OF SUCH A MAGNIFICENT PLACE OF WORSHIP. IT WAS OUR PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE TO FURNISH THE HARDWICK & MAGEE CARPET FOR THIS ELEGANT AND SPACIOUS CHURCH. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH It was a' n our priilege to furnish throughout your handsome and most modern hotel (CHARLES.) We are well equipped to ta'ie care of any furnislCn ~ contracts, and we solicit an opportunity of quot ing you estimates on your home or buildings. NEW FURNITURE DEPARTMENT We especially in ite you to visit our new and modern Furniture Department located on our Fourth Floor — Also fine picture and mirror gallery. BELK BROTHERS CO. CHARLOTTE, N. C The Pipe Organ In The First Baptist Church WAS OVERHAULED AND MODERNIZED BY US. WE ARE EXPERTS WITH PIPE ORGANS AND INSTALL, REPAIR OR REBUILD ANY MAKE. IF YOU NEED WORK OF THIS KI..D CALL. C. K. Hackman & H. L. Nswccmer EXPERT ORGAN BUILDING - TUNING - REPAIRING Telephone HEMLOCK 1386. 836 Berkley Ave, CHARLOTTE, N. C.
Shelby Daily Star (Shelby, N.C.)
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March 29, 1929, edition 1
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