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Central’s First Century
Thursday, AprU 18. 1974 KINGS .MOC.NTAIN MIRROR Page IB
By Miss Janet Falls
Central
Methodkt Church,
Built in 1876
and
lasted 30 years
01' Stdimt to' ^miMj
Cadette
The North Carolina Conference of The
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was
organized in 1736, and, as the people
called Methodists journeyed in all
directions as part of the early pioneer
settlers, a church home in the com
munity of Kings Mountain was their
immediate desire. Those great God-
loving men wanted their souls’ tent-
stakes driven firmly and Christian
foundations laid for their families and
future generations.
In the midst of struggle and progress,
in the heart of the Carolina industrial
Piedmont, the year 1874 was a year of
note for the organization and stale
chartering of the city of Kings Mountain
and for the organization of Central
Methodist Church by the Rev. J.W.
North, a native South Carolinian, who
had joined the Conference in 1849 and
served as pastor of the Shelby Circuit,
1873-76.
In the early part of 1874, I. Walton
Garrett and family, Richard Garrett and
family. Captain and Mrs. R.S. Sugg, and
Bennett R. Willeford came from
Edgecomb County to make their home in
this sparsely-settled village. They bought
property and erected store buildings. The
Garretts operated a general mer
chandise store and Captain Sugg a drug
store. The Garretts also bought large
tracts of nearby mountain land.
Being of the Methodist faith these new
comers attended services at El Bethel,
the nearest church of that denomination.
Since they were establishing permanent
homes they saw the necessity for a
church in their immediate locality. An
orgcuiization was effected with the
following chartw members: Dr. and
Mrs. James Wright Tracy, pioneer
settlers and up to that time members of
El Bethel Church; I. Walton Garrett and
wife, Richard Garrett and wife, Mrs.
R.S. Sugg, and Bennett R. WUleford.
Others were soon added and the group,
with the Rev. North as pastor, held
services in the small frame schod house,
located at the corner of Piedmont Ave.,
and King St. where the Jacob S. Mauney
Memorial Library now stands. Known as
the Shelby Circuit, Central Methodist
Church was grouped with El Bethel,
Beulah-Concord, and at times other
small churches and preaching services
were held once a month. At that time the
“Circuit Rider,” as the preacher was
then known, visited in the homes of the
few members and ministered to their
spiritual needs. In 1881. with the
Troop
minister, the Rev. J.T. Abernathy,
Cfentral Methodist Church became a part
of the Kings Mountain Circuit.
Though small in number the members
overcame many obstacles and in 1876
completed their first spiritual home, a
one-room frame building which stood on
the corner of Piedmont Ave. and
Mountain St. This served as a place of
worship for nearly thirty years. In the
spirit of brotherhood the doors of the old
frame church were thrown open to other
congregations who had organized but as
yet had not a church of their own.
The women of Central Church, sen
sing the need for greater emphasis on
mission work, met in 1888 and organized
the Woman’s Missionary Society. Mrs.
James W. Tracy became the first
president and Mrs. R.S. Sugg was elected
treasurer. There were six charter
members. During the society’s early
years the song, “Take My Life and Let It
Be,” was used so often to c^n the
meetings that it could well be called their
theme song. Monthly dues during this
time were ten cents.
In 1923 the society, having greatly
increased in number, was divided into
circles.
The Woman’s Missionary Society
became the Woman’s Society of
Christian Service in a charter meeting
Sept. 1,1940. More circles were added as
the organization grew in size. In
December 1972 it was succeeded by the
United Methodist Women which changed
the circles to interest groups.
During the early years of the church
the women organized the Ladies Aid
Society which functioned as a parsonage
group. Their duties were absorbed later
by a parsonage committee.
In 1903 the young people of the church
organized under the capable leadership
of Miss Katie Garrett. This group which
was called the Light Bearers, was suc
ceeded in 1919 by the Epworth League
and in 1944 by the Methodist Youth
Fellowship and in 1968 by the name of
United Methodist Youth. A separate
gro^ called the Children’s Missionary
Society was sponsored by the woman’s
organization from 1919 until the winter of
1924 when it was disbanded
In the early years of Central Church,
the members enjoyed their religion. If
the preacher became overly zealous in
the pulpit, some of his flock let him hear
their “amens”.
During Uie pastorate of the Rev. >
George D. Herman 1900 - 1903, definite
steps were taken toward securing a
larger lot and building a church that
would more adequately meet the needs of
a growing congregation and Sunday
school. A beautiful lot opposite the old
church, belonging to Mrs. Lee Allison
Falls, was purchased in December of
1904, affording ample space for a church,
an educational building and a parsonage.
The old church property was sold to the
Presbyterian Church, and the parsonage
property then located on W. Mountain St.
was retained.
Die death of thrbe of the “Light
Bearers” gave the inspiration and
devotion to purchase a stained-glass
window for the new sanctuary built in
1905. Mite boxes became the means by
which they saved and labored to provide
the window, “To Our Angel Band!. This
window has been renovated and used in
the new sanctuary of 1967, to be
preserved and remembered.
Die Rev. Plato Tracy Durham, D.D., a
former member of Central Methodist
Church and later Dean of Chandler
School of Theology, Emory University,
Altanta, Ga., delivered the sermon when
the edifice was dedicated in 1914.
Nourished by their love and devotion
the members of Central Church con
tinued to dream and sacrifice. In 1904
during the pastorate of the Rev. M.H.
Vestal, Central became a station op-
pointment, but in 1910 it again became a
part of the Kings Mountain Circuit until
1919 when it gained station status, which
it now has.
The first parsonage was at 400 W.
Mountain St. After 1904 a dwelling that
stood on the church property served as a
pastor’s home unUI the present par
sonage, an eight-room brick veneer
building, was erected during the
pastorate of the Rev. J.E. Thompson in
1924. The parsonage has been maintained
adequately for the minister through the
years.
The church hell was installed in 1924,
'‘so it could be rung hereafter.” In the
fall of 1936, while the Rev. E.W. Fox was
minister, a pipe organ was presented to
the church by Mrs. and Mrs. Charles
Williams. Diis gift brought joy to the
congregation and added much to the
beauty and worshipfulness of the church
service. Vestments were bought soon
after and the choir deserves more than
passing mention for the service it ren
ders so faithfully.
During the ministry of the Rev. J.
Garland Winkler, the people of Central
Methodist Church began discussing and
planning a long-range building program.
This interest developed into starting a
building fund.
On Sept. 13, 1953, under the leadership
of the Rev. Phillip L. Shore. Jr., a
ground-breaking service was lield for the
erection of an educational building This
building, completed in the early summer
of 1954, was furnished throughout and
opened for use January 1955. A much
smaller educational building, which
probably dates from the late 1920’s, was
utilized in the construction of the new
building which contains a number of
classrooms, dining room, kitchen, offices
and rest rooms. It fills a long-felt need of
a place for greater educational activities
for the young and old. A dedicatory
service for the educational building was
held May 17, 1959, by Bishop Nolan B.
Harmon.
The Sunday School, having been an
integral part of church life throughout
the history of Central, was organized in
divisions and graded levels in 1959.
The new program has been carried on
under the supervision of the church of
ficials and according to the standards
and directions of the Conference Board of
Christian Education.
The spirit of progress did not grow cold
or become musty with mediocrity for the
people of Central Methodist Church as
the indebtedness on the educational
building was eliminated. Even in the
service of dedication a spark seemed to
come forth anew from the long-felt
dream of a new sanctuary.
Ministers McLarty and Garmon, with
the church officials and members, gave
forth continued hope and inspiration with
a note of emphasis on the “Building
Fund,” and a climatic hour came when
the love and devotion of a former
member, Mrs. Lizzie Jackson Thorne,
daughter of Mrs. Rossie A. Goforth (Mrs.
I.B.), who with a heart of steadfast
devotion even during her last illness,
bequeathed a special gift to Central
Methodist Church.
Encouraged anew by this benevolent
devotion, the Christmas season of that
year proved a focal point in crystallizing
the people’s determination for a new
sanctuary. As a result the calendar year
began with approximately $35,(K)0.
The Rev. Howard R. Jordan, sensing
the dedicated determination of the
congregation, recommended a planning
(See CENTRAL p. 9B)
Visit Founder's Home
photos by Sylvia holmes
The Juliet Gordon Low home in Savannah, Ga. is a tourist
attraction.
It held special interest for a group of young ladies and their
adult escorts from Kings Mountain last week.
They were members and leaders of Cadette Girl Scout Troop
No. 4, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church.
The reason is the Savannah home holds special interest for
this group is simple; Juliet Gordon Low was the founder of the
American Girl Scout movement and her birthplace is a
^ monument to that cause.
Before Cadette Troop 4 made the April 8-10 trip, however,
they had a little homework to do. It took two years of fund
raising projects before the troop had enough money to charter
a bus. With the money in hand they still had some work to do.
The girls had to research the number of and names of rivers
they would cross before reaching the homesite in Georgia and
be prepared to submit their findings in writing. They also had
learn something of the 1800s architecture in Kings Mountain
and to help them they had Mrs. J.E. Herndon lecture to them.
The Girl Scouts also had to scrounge up some authentic 1800s
recipes and some swatches of patchwork quilts.
All of these items were donated to the caretakers of the Low
home for display.
The girls also made small pictures using drapery rings for
frames, cardboard for backing and dried flowers for the art
work. These items were donated to the home for concession
sales.
At the home following the lour the girls were treated to some
drop mints made in the kitchen by four of their own. Following
f the tour the girls held a ceremony in the garden in which they
received “daisy pins.” Daisy was Juliet Low’s nickname and
at her Savannah home is the only place Girl Scouts may
receive the pins.
Financial assistance for the trip also came from the Kings
Mountain Woman’s Club, The Newcomers Club and the Alpha
Delta Kappa.
In Savannah the group stayed at the YWCA.
Cadette GS Troop 4 leader is Mrs. J.D. Barrett. Assisting
were Mrs. Raymond Holmes and Mrs. Dwain Lynch. Barbara
Dixon, Beverly Lynch and Brenda Wood, former members of
the troop, were also on the trip.
The troop members on the tour included Kelley Adams, Ruth
Barnett, Tricia Blalock, Janice Bolin, Kathy Crawford, Robin
Crawford, Lynn Drumm, Robin Green, Patty Hayes, Lindsay
Holmes. LaVonda Hunter, Lynda Lynch, Sherry Maddox,
Sarah Maner, Angela Mangum, Becky and Cindy Morrow.
Also Darlene McClain, Elizabeth McGill, Arlene Parker
Barbara Rhea, Charlotte Seism, Sherri Sellers, Kathy Sincoxi
Kim Whisnant and Lisa Yarboro.