USA > Georgia > Status of the church in Georgia during the Revolutionary war > Part 2
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1. S. P. G. 1773, p. 33.
2. S. P. G. 1774, p. 41. 3. S. P. G. 1775. P. 47-48.
4. Ib14.
Ibi4.
17
have as yet attended divina service. The number of comzani- santa, he fears, will be small for some time, but insares the society that he will take every proper measure to increase it.
1 The following is the data on the s. 2. G. Missionaries from 1770 to 17751
Data
Minister
Married Buried
Communicante
8
Augusto 1770
Zs7.Ellington
62
22
40
Savannah 1771
50 Thitea
Bay. Frink
20
TO
60
4
Savannah
1778 83 Infants
Rev. Frink
10
Augusta
17/3 35 Children Bov. Seyacar
13
1
12
6 Augusta
13
St. George Parish 1775 6 Children Bey. Holmes.
Christened at Angista in 1770 - 428. B
1. 8. 2. G. 1775. pp. 47-48.
2. S. P. G. 1771, p. 30.
3. Ibid, p. 31.
4. S. P. G. 1772, p. 28. S. S. P. G. 1773. p. 34. 6. S. P. G. 1774, p. 41. 7. 3. P. G. 1775, P. 47. 8. S. P. G. 1771, p. 30.
127 Infanta 1774 27 Children Bay. Seyacar 1 Adals
7
18
LOCATION OY EPISCOPALIAN CHU ECHES.
County Parish Location
Pastor 4
5
Rev. Mr. T. Bosomworth 1742-486
Chatham Chriet Ch.Savannah
1750 1 Gov.Br.Conborbuhler 1748-68 Rev.Mr.Yrink 1768-73
Hev. Jonathan Copp 1780-86 0
Richmond St. Paul Augusta
dev. Samuel Frink 1764-67. 10 Eav.Gm. Ellington 1767-70;
1760
Dav.Nr. Seymour 1773-75
11
Rev. Alexander Findlay 1772-73 Ber. Jno. lolees and 13
Center
Barze st.George of Porien
ilov. Nr. Seymour 1773-7414 1778 Rev. Jno. Holmes 1776-78 Rev.James Brown 1778-85-9
Methodist Church. While Georgia is considered the home of the Methodista, due to the fact that John and Charles Wesley spent considerable time in the colony, there is no record of a Methodist Church in Georgia before 1788.
16 However, 18
is altogether appropriate that we show why they never made any progress there until this late date. Methodiam was never os- tablished any place in America before 1769, when the first church was erected in the State of New York.
John and Charles wesley visited Georgia the next year
after the colony was settled. They were very unpopular from
1. American Church History Series, vol. VII, p. 263.
2. Ibid, p. 263.
8. S. P. G. 1775, p. 47. 4. 5. 6 and 7. White. Historioul Collections of Georgia, p.318. 8. 9. 10 and 11. Ibid, p. 596.
12, 13, 14 end 16. Ibid, p. 282.
16. Smith. The story of Georgia and the Georgia People. p. 497.
Dato Founded
Rev.Mr.Orton, 1740-42
19
1 the very beginning. The dielike for John Wesley waa espes- ially marked in the settlement of Prederica. Charles had gone to Frederica before but had met with euch unpopularity that he returned to England. When John visited Frederios he met with 2 nothing except opposition and excited so much enmity that his life was more than once threatened. While preaching at Fred- erica, one of his bearers cried out. "We are Protestants, but as for you, we cannot tell of what religion you are of. never heard of such a religion before; we know not what to make ef it." The following are some of the reasons given for his failure in Georgia; (1) that the people were of the more shift- less and disorderly classes of England; (2) they were Postive under any attempted discipline; (5) they were too careless of all proprieties struggling with hard conditions in a row, half- savage country. They were resentful of anything except making a living. 5
In 1737 while in Savannah, John Wesley was introduced to Mies Sophis Hopkey, niece of Mr. Causton, the Magistrate of the Colony. This meeting proved to be one of a very serious nature for ur. Wesley. Ho soon found himself facing a serious difficulty in that Miss Hopkey claimed he had promised to marry her. This Wesley denied, and a onit was brought against bim
1. Winchester. Life of John Wesley. p. 46-47.
2. Perry. History of american Episcopal Church, vol. I, p. 341.
3. Winchester. Life of John wesley, p. 47.
4. Wesley's Journalo, vol. I. p. 82.
winchester. Life of John Wesley. p. 48.
5. Winchester. Life of John wesley. P. 47.
by MiOG HopXOy. A warrant was sworn ont and served on him by Constable Jones. He was bound over to the Grand Jury which returned ten indietmonte against him. 2 To one of these indiet- ment he confessed his guilt. That was for baptising an Indian trader'e child with only two sponsors present, when he should have had three. 3 They really had no caso, for Besley'a se-
tions had been well within his rights as pastor; but they man- aged to draw out the legal proceedings over four months, which created endless annoyance to him. Wesley felt that his useful- nesa in Georgia was over, and, taking the advice of his friends. decided to return to England on December 22, 1737. 4
Baptist Church. The commencement of the Georgia Colony was at a much later period than the other colonies, and but few Baptists were found within ite bounde for about half a century after settlementa began to be made. The sentimento of this denomination in this territory were introduced at alt- ferent pointe, by three sets of men who came hither from old and Bow England.
The First Company in 1757.
The Baptiste entered Georgia from three different Regions. The first company in 1757 had been preceded by a aaa- ber of well-known Baptists who came over with Oglethorpe in 1733. 1
1. Wesley'e Journals, vol. I. D. 58.
2. Ibid, p. 54.
3. Ibid. p. 64.
4. Winchester. Life of John Wesley, -. TO.
21
Snob were William Calvert, William Slack, Thomas Walker, Wil- lian Dunham and others. Those formed a branch of the Baptist Church nine miles south of Charleston. S. C., at Whitefield'a Orphan House. Nicholas Bedgewood, who had charge of the orphan House and who had come over with Whitefield, was converted by the Baptista and baptised by dev. oliver Hart, the pastor at Charleston. He (Bedgewood) was ordained, and baptized several converts among the officers and inmates of the Orphan House. 1 Benjamin Stick of the Orphan House became a minister. moved qbont eighteen miles above Savannah 1767 and began to presoh from his own house and at Tuokaswking, about forty milos north of savannah.
In the company that came over in 1757 there were abont forty Baptist families in which were found about fifty baptised members who had come from other colonies of the Mother Country.
The Second Company about 1770.
Ramond Botsford from England was converted in Charles- ton, S. C., end was ordained in 1773. He preached all over the country from Augusta to Savannah, baptized 148 persons. or- ganised the Botsford Church about thirty miles below Augusta.
1. Cathoart. The Baptist Enoyolopedia, p. 448.
2. Ibid, p. 442.
3. Benedict. History of the Baptista, p. 722.
28
and laid the foundation of future churches. 1
The company aproud over the region between savannah and Augusta. der. Botsford also presoted in Rahaw Church of South Carolina, bay- Ing received s license to preach from the Charleston Church. At this time a Rov. Mr. Polot was pastor of Charleston Church. After a little more than a year had passed with Botaford at the Euhar Church, he moved up the Savannah River and founded New Savannah. 2 A church was established here the same year 1773. 3
The Third Company in 1771.
& little previcue to ur. Botaford'e arrival in Georgia, Rev. Daniel Marshall with other Baptist emigrante ar- rived and settled on Kiokee Creek about twenty milos above Auguste. 4 Rev. Marshall who was originally from Connections
onme to Georgia from South Carolina. 5 Although Mr. Marshall was neither profoundly learned or very eloquent as a presoher. bo was an earnest worker. ur. Marshall's principal place for holding meetings was on the Big Klokes, and from this is ro- ceived the name of the Kiokee Heating Houce. It was located on the site now occupied by the public buildings of Columbia County called Applington. 6
At this place of worship Mr. Marshall received and
1. Catheart. Baptist Encyclopedia, p. 442.
2. Benedict. History of the Baptists. p. 723.
8. Mercer. History of the Georgia Bantiet Association. p. 16. Ibid, p. 15.
4.
5. Cathoart. Baptist Enoyolopedia, p. 442.
6. Benedict. History of the Baptista. p. 724.
25
baptised many new converts. These with the emigrant Baptista in that section were constituted into a regular church in 1772. "This Was The First Baptist Church Evor Constituted in Georgia." At this time Kr. Daniel Marshall was the only ordained Baptist minister in the stato; although many other licentiaten were 2 present, such were Abrahes Marshall, Sanders Talker, Bolomen Thompson, and Alexander Scott. These men in 1772 carried the 3 gospel through all the up-country into the rosotest frontiers.
On Jannary 11, 1758, the General Assembly meeting at
Savannah divided the Colony into eight parishes. Under this low der. Laniel Marshall was arrested one Sabbath for presoh- ing in the Parish of St. Paul contrary to the rites and euro- monies of the Church of England. His congregation was assembled in a grove and he was on hie knees making the opening prayer when a hand was laid on his shoulder and a voice interrupted him saying, "You are my prisoner." He was then 65 years old with long white locks of hair. He arose and gave security to appear for trial the next day at Augusta. The constable.
Samuel Cartledge, who arrestod him, was afterwards converted by Mr. Marshall and became a minister himself and lived to the age of 93, dying in 1843. The Baptiste of these early tiden
firmly withstood all the aggressions of the State upon the church
1. Bonedlot. History of the Baptists, p. 724. Mercer. History of the Georgia Baptist Association, p. 15. Armitage. History of the Baptista, p. 770.
2. Mercer. History of the Georgia Baptist Association. p. 15. 3. Ibid, P. 16.
4. Armitage. History of the Baptista. p. 771.
-
24
until they secured their religious liberties. on the one hand they could not be forced to pay a tax for the support of the State Church and on the other they would not accept state money for the support of their own charch. 1
churches had members holding membership in that state. M ?. Bots-
These churches which were branches of South Carolina 2 ford, receiving hie ordination by the church in Charleston, be- gan preaching in and about How Savannah. In the year 1773, 3 he had the satisfaction of seeing a church regularly constituted in New Savannah. "This Was The Lesond Baptist Church in The State.""
During the troubles of the Revolution, it does not appear that many churches were constituted, yet the foundations for them were laid. The American Church History Cerise sites a church al Red's Creek 1774, but Benedict says that there to no certain Information about this ebnrob. 6 There was, however.
a charab constituted on Little Briar Creek in 1777. 7
It la not certain who the minister was that founded it, but it is 0
thought to have been Hev. William Franklin and Rer. Joseph Buis- son who were residente in this section. There was a charoh on
1. Araitege. History of the Baptist, p. 774.
2. Cook. The Story of the Baptists. p. 262.
3. Mercer. History of the Georgia Baptist association, p. 16. 4. Benedlot. History of the bantiate, p. 724.
5. Mercer. History of the Georzia Baptist Association, p. 16. American Church History cerise, vol. II, p. 318.
6. Benedict. History of the Baptiste, p. 725.
7. Ibid, p. 725.
8. Ibid, p. 725.
25
. Buckhead Creek organized before or during the sar. It became extinct. Ita pastor, Bev. Matthew Moore, being & Loyalist. left the country. 1 The next church was on Fishing Creek in 1782, but too late for our consideration. Al of these churches were in the neighborhood of Augusta.
Location of Baptist Churches.
Bumber in
Date Founded
County Pastor
Location
Congregation
Rev. Daniel Marshall Klokeo Creek.
1772 3
Richmond Ber. Botsford 6
How Sayannas.
1773
Burke
Benjamin Davie Hoses Hadley Matthew McCulers David HoCulera.
Little Brier Creek 108
17775
in 17777
Richmond Abraham Marshall Kiokoo Creek 250 in 1772. 1792
Richmond Loveless Savage. Reed's Creek 45 in 1774. 1774 Before er Burke Matthew Hooro Buckhead Crook during 10 Revolution.
The success of the Baptiste in Georgia has been astonishing, so that today they have the largest Baptistpopulation . of any etate in the union. They have 102 Associations, 1,601 ministers, 2,623 churches, and 261,314 members, Hearly one-half the Baptista of Georgia are colored people who of late hare formed separate churches and associations of their own. 11
1. American Church History veries, vol. II. p. 318,
2. Ibid. p. 318.
3. Benedicte. History of the Baptista, p. 724. Armitage. His-
tory of the Baptist, p. 770. Meroer. Hist. Bapt.Asa'n, p. 15.
4. Meroor. History of the sisptists Association, p. 16. Benedict. History of the Baptists, p. 724.
5. Ivid. p. 725. smith. Story of ca. & Ga. People, p. 126. Mercer. History of Georgia Association. p. 18.
6. Asplund. baptist Register. p.44. 7. Ibid, p. 44. 8. Ibid p.44
9. Ibid, p. 44.
10. Am. Ch. Hist. Series. vol. II.p.318. This church soon became ex- tinot, ita pastor, nev.Matthew Moore, being a loyallet, left the country.
11. Armitage. History of the Baptista, p. 775.
Congregational Church. In vecember of 1695 a band of Protestants, associated together as a Congregational Church, ar- rived in South Carolina. They were from the counties of Dorset, Somersetshire and Bevon, England. They first landed in Massa- chusetts, but soon removed to South Carolina and after fifty years there in. 1752 they saw that the land was not fertile enough for their crops so they moved into Georgia. They received a grant of land from the colony of Georgia, 22.400 sores. In 1752 they commenced moving into what is now the swamp region of Liberty County. Finding that his congregation was generally inclined to remove from Dorchester, S. C., to the now possessions in
Georgia, the Rev. Mr. Osgood joined ench members of his congre- gation as had preceded him and in march 1754 arrived at hie now 2
destination. A log church was soon erected on Midway Neck. 3 where the venerable Midway Congregational Church now stande and the first sermon was preached there on June 7, 1754.
The settlementa formed by these valuable immigrants lay between Mount Hope Swamp -- the head of Midway River -- on the north and Bulltown Swamp on the south. 5 At first, however, they were not so extensive. These immigrants brought with them their own negro elavea, and after its complete establishment in 1756 there were in the settlement 350 whites and 1,500 negro slaves.
1. Jones. History of Georgia, vol. I, p. 492.
2. Ibid. p. 493.
3. Ibid. p. 493.
4. Georgia Historical Quarterly, vol. II, p. 5.
B. Jones. History of Georgia, vol. I. p. 493.
6. Ibid. p. 493; also staoy . History of Midway Church. p. 164.
27
Bsising of Minister's Balary.
Yor the first six years the salary was raised by anb- scription. In 1761, at the annual meeting in March, this was changed to an assessment of the pows. from this time on it was the polloy of the oburch to raise the salary by renting the pows. A tax wse put upon the seata from three pounds up to thirty, according to position and desirability. The next ques- tion was, who should have first choice? It was determined that those who had paid most in creating and keeping the church in re- pair should have first choice. The plan of buying and selling the pews was regulated by the following set of rules!
1. That no person leaving the society shall transfer his right to another except to such as the church shall approve.
2. That no person on his right shall be allowed more room than required by his family, a child under six years of age being entitled to only one-half seat.
S. That no person shall be allowed to choose seate en the right of any person not a frequenter of public worship in this place; nor shall any person have a right to choose cents in order to dispose of thea to other persons.
4. The rule of heredity; That the oldest son should enjoy the right of the deceased father unless he shall order otherwise in his will. 1
On the day for renting pewe each man gave his note in legal form. If any one was in arrears of dues on this day. he
1. Stacey. History of Midway Church, p. 36-37.
forfeited his right of choice. In 1851 the rules were abolished and senta were sold at anction to higheat bidder. 1
Up to 1806 the Midway Church was the only one in the 2 county, and the only one in the colony til 1789. The Kidway Church had the following ministers from ita founding up to the close of the Revolutiont
Ministero
Datos
Rav. John Osgood
1764 - 1778
Rev. James Admonds (Assistant) 1767 - 1769
Rev. Koses Allen
1777 - 1778 3
There has been much discussion as to the name of this
church, whether it was "Midway" or "Kedway" but the former seems 4
to have predominated, says stacey.
Deacons of Midway Chureb.
Nome
Dates
William Baker
1754 - 1767
John Wina
1767 - 1786 5
Clerks of the Charob.
Daten
Benjamin Baker
1754 - 1766
James Andrew
1766 - 1771
Benjamin Baker
1771 - 1985 6
1. Stacey. History of Midway Church, pp. 36-37.
2. Ibid, p. 239.
3. Ibid, p. 261.
4. Ibid, p. 23.
5. Ibid, p. 262.
6. Ibid, p. 262.
29
Many of these people who came with the Midway congre- gation were Presbyterians, but Presbyteriane and Congregational- iata were regarded as the same body at that time and were in olose allianca. 1
The Attitude of the Congregational Church Toward Their Blayea.
In 1770 the Midway Congregational Church ordered that the gallery be made comsodiona for the whites and a shed be made for the negroes. This religious instruction was for their own elaves who numbered about 1,500.
1. Salth. story of Georgia and Georgia People, p. 494. 2. Stacey. Hletory of Midway Churok, p. 164. ยท
30
Lutheran Church. In 1735 a company of Germans landed on St. Simons Island at Frederica. This became the nucleus for a Lutheran Church which was organised in 1735 under the pastoral care of the Rev. Ulrich Driealer, a German missionary, sent 1 over by the trustees and supported from their fande. After the death of Mr. Driesler in 1745, dev. Zubli took charge of the church at Frederica. O About 1755 this, church was diebaned. 3
The first Lutheran Church was built in Savannah where it now atende as early as 1776. It was intended for the German speaking people of the city. There was, however, a suspension of church service during and after the Revolution until 1824, when a new church was built where the old one stood. 4
When Georgia was first settled about ninety-one per- sons of the Lutheran faith, with two clergymen, the Rev. Mesare. Bolsius and Gronau, landed in Georgia early in 1734. They moved ap the Savannah River and settled at Ebenezer. Here they wor-
shipped til 1759. 5 About 1760 the Latherans ceased to be setivo due to the fact that their services were held in verman and the younger generationa could not understand it. 6
The church at Voshen was established for those who had settled at or near
Abercorn. 7
1. Strobel. History of the Salsburgers, p. 85.
2. Ibid, p. 131. 3. Ibid, p. 131.
4. umith. Story of Georgia and Georgia People, p. 528.
5. White. Statistics of Georgia, p. 97.
6. Ibid. p. 97.
7. Strobel. History of the Salzburgers, p. 131.
31
The Salzburgers at Old Ebenezer were so discontented due to the poor soil, that they decided to leave their old town and settle upon the lands which the Indians had reserved for their own use. 1 After June of 1738 Old Ebeneser took ita silent place among the lost towns of Georgia. It had lasted scarcely more than two years. They laid off the new town and reserved two-thirds of a square for a church, a parsonago and 3
academy and an equal quantity for an orphan house. As soon as they arrived and their plain cottages of planks and logo were built, they oreoted a small shed for a school and place of worship. Mr. Finck says. "The impression has been orested that the first publio building erected by thess pions pioneers was a church, but this is wrong. They never neglected their worship, but they used the schoolroom for their sanctuary."" Their ides was an orphan house after the model of the great galle institutions. There was a grest need for a place of this kind. One morning in the fall of 1738 a number of workmen called at the home of Hor. Bolsius and said they were ready to begin the orphan asylum. He secompanied them and with a sorip- ture lesson the land was broken for this home. When it was completed they were very proud of it. It was 45 feet wide.
16 feet deep and two stories high. 5 It was dedicated on
1. Jonsa. Dead Towns of Georgia, p. 18.
2. Ibid, p. 20.
3. "trobel. History of the Salsburgers, p. 92.
4. Finck. Lutheran Landmarks and Pioneers in America, p. 127.
5. Ibla, p. 128.
32
December 10, 1738, and the superintendent, Ruprecht Kalober, with his family and the orphans he had gathered about him in his home entered the new institution of mercy.
This was the first Protestant orphanage over built in the colonies. even preceding Whitefield's orphanage near Sayan- nah by about two yearo. George Whitefield visited this aaylam before building the one at Bethesda. He was so much impressed with it that he gave a share of his own "poor store" to Bolsius for his orphans. Bolsius then called the children around him and they gave thanks to God for the good providence towards them; they prayed, then sang a song. Whitefield after this was now pledged to this cause for life. 1
These orphans and widows at Ebeneser were taken care of in the home and maintained by benefaotions among the people. They were taught to work accordingly as their age and ability would permit; they were also instructed in elementary education- al subjeota and religion. &
At the time of Whitefield's visit there were seventeen orphans and three widows in the home. The Salzburger family that grossed the ocean with Muhlenburg, consisting of parents and three small girls, were kept here for a whole year due to the father's poor health. 3 This building continued to be used for ite various purposes until it was no longer needed. the
1. Beloher. Biography of George whitefield. p. 62.
2. Jones. History of Georgia, vol. I. p. 213.
3. Finck. Lutheran Landmarks and Pioneers in Georgia, p. 129.
83
conditions of the colony becoming mich improved. In 1760 1t was enlarged and need for school purposes. 1
The Latherana were very careful to build school houses alongside most of their churches and saw to it that a master was employed. Then regular teachers could not be secured, pastors assisted in the school work. Some of these schoolmasters in after years be- came prominent men in the colony. Vigera, the well-known teacher in the parochial schools of Philadelphia, began his career as teacher at Xboneser. Dr. Mayer, the surgeon of the colony assisted as teacher and laid the educational foundation for John Adam Freutlen, the first governor of Georgia, Fertsch and Waldhauer, two of the best informed men when Lublenburg was in the colony in 1774, had both been teachers in theis earlier days.
Aside from these three churches, previously mentioned. there was one on the bluff above Ebeneser called Bothany and one below Ebeneser about four miles called Zion. 3
The arrange- ment with reference to ministerial labor was that the pastors, dev. Hobenhorst and Bolsius, should supply the church at Sarad- nah together with Jerusalem, Zion, Bethany and Coehen, dividing the work between themselves.
The salary for the pastor at Ebenezer was paid from the
1. Yinok. Lutheran Landmarks and Pioneers in Georgia, p. 129. 2. Ibid, pp. 132-133.
3. "trobel. History of the Salzburgers. p. 131.
4. Ibid, p. 131.
84
patrono of the church in Gerusny. At first forty pounds for a Senior pastor and thirty pounde for an assistant. 1 This allow- anoe continued till 1770 when dev. Urleperger decided that sal- 2
aries should not be less than sixty and fifty pounds. Colles- tions in the charoh were made for the support of schools, the relief of widewe, orphans and the superannuated, and the mainte- nance of the church edifice whenever erected. 3 It la worthy of remark that the salaries for the support of the pastors at Ebenezer were for many years contributed by the patrons of the
church in Germany. 4 If there was a deficiency, it was to bo made up from the revenues arising from those institutions which 'had been founded by European benefactions. 5
The Jerusalem Church is said to be the only publie edifice of colonial times that remains in the State of Georgia. 6 All the buildings of these eralier days were built of boards and planks. Those of Savannah and other sections of the colony bare given way to larger and more substantial ones. On April 21. 1911, was a day of interest in the history of this charoh for on this day a bronse tablet was unrolled which had been ereoted by the "Georgia Society of Colonial Danes of America." very beautiful tablet and was made by the Tiffanys of New York.
1. Strobel. History of the Salzburgera. p. 100.
Candler. Colonial records of Georgia, vol. XIII, p. 7.
2. Strobel. history of the Salsburgera, p. 100.
3. Ibid. p. 200.
4. Ibidk p. 100.
5. Ibid, p. 100.
6. Finck. Lutheran Landmarks and Pioneers in Amerios, p. 142.
35
It is two feet wide and eighteen inches high and is affixed to the Inner riveraide wall, between the two middle windows. The inscription is as follows;
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