North Carolina Newspapers

« Virst Baptist Church Choir, Mr. Horace Easom, Director; Mrs. Hugh S. Plaster, Organist Reading from left to right, the personnel follows: FIRST ROW, seated—Mesdames Ben Suttle, Ralph Royster, C. B. Sultle, Jr., Miss Mary Adelaide Roberts, Mesdames Zeno v Wall, L. P. Holland, Miss Lnra Smith, Mrs. Grady Lovelace, y Miss Amos Willis, Mrs. B. M. Jarrett, Miss Pearl Tweed and Mrs. H. A. Davis. SECOND ROW—Miss Egberta North, Mrs. Ralph Royster, Misses Alice Lowe, Martha Eskridge, Flossie Grice, Bertha Bostic, Mrs. Jno. A. Liles, Miss Louise Ledford, Mrs. W. P. Ingram, Miss Ruby Hamrick and Mrs. Enos Beam. THIRD ROW—Messrs. Zeno Wall, Jr.. Jno. A. Liles, Geo. Dover, Tom Lattimore, Horace Easom, Mai Spangler, Rush Hamrick, Hub Panther, B. M. Jarrett, Grady Lovelace, Grif fith Smith and Hugh S. Plaster. (Inset) Mrs. Hugh S. Plaster, organist. History Of The Kings Mountain Association By Judge E. Y. Webb I By Hon. E. Y. WEBB, 31. C.) On the occasion of the semi-Cen > tcnnial of the Kings Mountain as sociation at Cherryville in 1901, Hon. Edwin Yates Webb, then Moderator of the body, delivered a carefully prepared history of each of the sessions of the association, and it was published in the min utes of the session of that year. Since it covers thirty pages, we are unable to reprint it entire, but we make four representative extracts from it and add two further para graphs, bringing the account to date. The First Session. When the Broad River associa tion met at Sandy Run church on October 17, 1851. it contained in the union the large number of * forty-one churches with a corre sponding large number of mem bers. We. therefore, find in the minutes of that body at this session the following: "Granted the peti itions of sundry churches, letters of dismission, viz.,—Buffalo, Sandy Run. Zion, Wolf's Creek, Zoar, Double Springs. Bethel, Boiling Snrines. Mt. Sinai, New, Bethel, Mt. Pleasant. Broad River. Beaver Dam and Pleasant Hill.'’ These fourteen churches withdrew from the mother association for the put » pose of forming a new association, with smaller bounds in order that the associational meetings might be more accessible. The Broad River had grown so large in both area and membership, that it was very difficult for men of age to reach t the meetings, as it covered much territory, both in North and South Carolina. There were at this time twenty ordained ministers in the Broad River association. Accordingly these withdrawing churches met at Double Springs church in their first session on Fri day, November 7, 1851, for the pur pose of organizing the new associa tion. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. D. Panned from John 17 and part of first verse, “The hour is come.” Rev. J. Sut tle called the body to order and on motion Rev. T. Dixon was appoint ' ed temporary chairman or modera and J. R. Logan, clerk. On motion the letter of dismission granted the churches of the Broad River asso ciation was produced and read, the said churches were severally call ed, and their correspondence read, the names of their delegates enroll ed, and the state of each minuted. Then a constitution, rules of order, and abstract of principles were read and adopted. These abstract of principles, rules and constitution were so well and carefully drawn, that since that first session they have been changed very little dur ing the past fifty years, but are al most Identical with those which govern us now. xne Doay was now organic.™ tem porarily, and ready for permanent organization, whereupop by ballot Rev. T. Dixon was elected the first moderator, and J. R. Logan the first clerk of the body. The association was named Kings Mountain after the historic Moun tain upon which the great, decisive and turning battle was fought be tw'een the British and the Ameri cans during the Revolutionary War. In those days it was customary to elect some member of the body to write a circular letter to be read and published, the design of the letter being, by careful study to en lighten the members on some vital doctrine of the church. The prac tice has long since been discon tinued. which fact in my opinion is to be regretted, for upon exami nation of these circular letters, it will be seen that they were pie pared with much care and usually contained an exhaustive discussion of the topic assigned as the sub ject of the letter. So, at this last session, J. R. Logan was elected to write the secular letter to be read at the next meeting, upon the sub ject, "The duty of church mem bers toward each other.” This is a vital subject and cvesn it should be discussed monthly by our ministers from their pulpits. The total collection at this meet ing was $21, which was used for printing the minutes. At the or ganization there were only twelve churches: Buffalo, Sandy Run, Zion, Zoar, Double Springs, Bethel, Boiling Springs, Mt. Sinai, New Bethel, Mt. Pleasant, Beaver Dam, and Pleasant Hill, containing 1,325 members, and seven ordained ministers supplying the twelve churches. The Stormiest Session, The tenth ana stormiest- session ever held In the history of the body was held at High Shoals church, Rutherford county, October 26, 1860 and days following. The temperance resolution adopted at the last ses sion at Pleasant Hill produced the discord which caused a division in the association. (The resolution here referred to was as follows: ‘'Resolved, That whereas our association adopted the report of the committee on temperance, therefore we will with draw ourselves from any church in our union which holds a member or members who buys sells, or drinks as a common beverage any kind of intoxicating spirits.” This resolu tion was unanimously adopted.) So at this session after the ser mon by Rev. L. M. Berry from Romans 14:19, the roll of the churches was called, and on ac count of not having carried out the resolution of last session in regard to temperance, the letters of the following churches (ten are nam-' ed) were rejected and laid on the table. On Saturday morning when the delegates assembled on the church ground they found that the church had been securely locked by the anti-temperance wing. The dele gates were, therefore, compelled to assemble at the stand where they transacted the business of the as sociation in the rain. On Sunday morning, however, the church was unlocked and the body assembled there as usual. No doubt, the anti temperance wing of the body grew ashamed of their action on Satur day, and gladly opened the doors on Sunday. cin xvionaay morning a. muuou was made to reconsider the vote by which Mt. Paran and High Shoals were rejected, and upon pledges given by their delegates, they were received into the union. The standing of Beaver Dam, Bethel, and Sandy Plains was con sidered and withdrawn, for their utter rejection of the temperance resolution, also Walls was with drawn from. The Moderator had presided so well and guided the body so ably and successfully througli all the various motions and difficult points of order, that at the end of the session a vote of thanks j was voted him by the body Thus j ended a memorable session of the j association, and one which resulted in a division which lasted for four j years, but finally the seceding, churches came back to the mother association and nothing of the kind has since happened to mar the pleasure of the sessions, The Biggest Session. The fortieth session met with I Zion on September 25, 1890, and days following and after the ser mon by Rev. J. A Speight, whose. Choir Of 40 Voices, Organ Has Beautiful Chimes Now text I have been unable to ascer tain, the body re-clected Messrs. Schenck, Lovelace, and Lattimore to their old positions, after which the Kings Mountain church Joined. The mother association had now grown so large, having forty-three churches with 6.783 members—the largest number ever belonging to the body—tha it was thought wise for some of t.ie churches to with draw and foi m a new association, and accordingly the following churches asked for and received let ters of dismission: Bethel, Mt. Pleasant. Fair View, Henrietta, High Shoals, Mt. Olivet, Concord, Sandy Run, Union. It will be noted that Bethel, Mt. Pleasant, and Sandy Run were at the organization of this association and members of the body, and hence their with drawal now must have given them some pain, as like parting from old and tried friends and a body which had been to these three churches a mother. Big Springs, Walls, and Mt. Harmony were also granted letters of dismission. This meeting pledged for state missions $154; foreign missions, $570.50; and home missions, $126; and for education, $97.50; and gave $10.40 In cash to the orphanage. Rev. G. P. Ham rick was appointed delegate to the State Baptist convention. The custom of having union meetings was dispensed with. The next meeting of the body will be on Tuesday before the fourth Sunday in September. After the sermon at the stand by Rev. C. Durham, collection of $30.54 was taken. The association at this meeting had the largest number of churches and members ever yet belonging to her, having baptized during the past year 507 and'received by letter 315, making total additions from these two sources 822, the largest num ber of additions yet known. Total contributions for past year, $10, 195.47. The Semi-Centennial. During the history of the asso ciation 23,000 souls have been mem bers of the body, almost as many members as Cleveland county has population, both black and white, men, women, boys, girls and in fants. The largest number which the association has had at any one time was in 1890, when there were 6,783 members. Ninety-five different ordained ministers have supplied churches in the association during its history. Sixty-four churches have belonged to the body, repre senting two states and eight coun ties. Addenda. The list of the Moderators In cludes a number of the ablest Bap tist parliamentarians in the state. Elder Thomas Dixon was the first Moderator and he served at various times a total of ten years during the first thirty years of the history of the association. Major H. P. Schenck, cf Lawndale, served as Moderator longer than any other, his term beginning in 1884 and clos ing in 1896. Hon. E. Y. Webb served six years beginning in 1897. He was succeeded by Elder A. C. Irvin, who served from 1903* to 1912 inclusive. Other * Moderators have been D. Pannell, G. W. Rollins, L. M. Berry, R. P, Logan, R. Poston, J. H. Yar boro, A. L. Stough. and J Y. Ham rick. The present Moderator is Elder J. W. Suttle, of Shelby. The 1912 figures for the Kings Mountain association show thirty eight churches with a membership of 7,626. It reported 300 baptisms for the year. The per capital con tribution was 33 cents. The total; contribution for missions and other I benevolences was $2,505.09. There j are in the association thirty-six, Sunday schools with an enroll-1 ment ol 4.361. Mrs. II. S. Plaster Is The Talented Organist—Horace Easom Is The Director. With the enlarged program In every branch of activity In this great church, the First Baptist i choir has been keeping pace with (the spirit and has been enlarged to : fill the large space offered by the ' spacious choir stand. The new ; platform just in front of the grill i work which covers the organ will i j accommodate 40 voices. The origi j nal plan took care of from 20 to 22 | voices. A real choral organization 1 has been built and will render at tractive, inspirational, spiritual and enjoyable numbers at each preach ing service. The director is Mr. Horace Easom and the organist, Mrs. H. S. Plaster. Two rehearsals have been held each week during the past month pre paratory to the opening sendees. The numbers for the eleven o'clock service will be: Anthem—“Awake Thou That Sleepest,” from “The Daughter of Jairiis,” by Stainer, by the large chorus; a special mixed double quartet, composed of Messrs. Grady Lovelace. Ben Suttle, B. M. Jarrett, H. A. Davis, Messrs. Rush Hamrick, B. M. Jarrett, T, W. Lat timore and Horace Easom, will sing, "Come, See the Place Where Jesus Lay,” by Reed. In the eve ning a special Easter cantata, “Our Living Lord,” by Wilson, will be rendered. This is a compilation of choruses, quartets, duets and so los, using the full choir and all soloists. The organ was built by the Moler Organ company, Hagerstown, Md.. and will be practically new throughout. It will be electrified with a standard console supple mented by the Vox Human Sop and Organ Chimes. We give the choir roster as follows: Sopranos, Messrs. Grady Lovelace, Ben Suttle, Wythe Royster, Ralph Royster, C. B. Sut tle, jr., W. P. Ingram, John A. Liles, L. P. Holland, and Mrs. Zeno Wall, and Misses Bertha Bos tic, Mary Adelaide Roberts, Flos sie Grice, Louise Ledford. Alice Lowe, Martha Eskridge, Egberta North, and Lura Smith; altos: Messrs. B. M. Jarrett, Enos Beam, and H. A. Davis and Misses Pearl Tweed, Amos Willis and Ruby! Hamrick; Tenors; Messrs. T. W. Lattimore, Horace Easom, John A. Liles, George Dover and Zeno Wall, jr.; basses: Messrs. Rush Hamrick, Mai Spangler, B. M. Jarrett, H. S. Plaster. Griffin Smith, Hubert Panther and Grady Lovelace. This choir broadcasted their j Christmas cantata over WBT sta- 1 tion at Charlotte and many favor able reports came from various parts of the United States. The membership is looking forward with ! anxious anticipation to the special numbers on the opening day, Easter Sunday, March 31. Lindy's Wedding. Mexico City.—It is the usual thing for children away at school to visit their parents at Easter and the indications are that the wed ding bells will ring in June Miss Constance Morrow, sister of Co’.onei Lindbergh’s fiancee, has arrived from Milton, Mass. New Memorial Idea. Newr York.—A Foch memorial fund to be expended for old peo ple and children of France who! continued to suffer from the effects ! of the war is suggested by Robert Underwood Jolinson, former am bassador to Italy. Such a monu- I ment he thinks would be more last- : ins than brass. PERFECT PLUMBING ✓ In Absolute Keeping With The Magnificient New First Baptist Church Plant WE DID THE PLUMBING JOB AND CAN DO YOURS. NO JOB TOO LARGE OR TOO SMALL FOR OUR MOST CAREFUL CON SIDERATION. ISLER and VICKERY PHONE 561. W. E. VICK EE Y, Manager. SHELBY, N. C. Electrical Wiring In frt*u. ■ tm •**>« ■ irti First Baptist Educational k Plant .'!«•!» ,*fV .1 iJv.tw —BY— ROBINSON — ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR — Charlotte, N. C. - . 608-9 Builders Building. Phone Hemlock 2374.