USA > Mississippi > Newton County > History of Newton County, Mississippi from 1834 to 1894 > Part 18
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The free schools, the Sabbath Schools, the Grange and Patrons' Union, have all, combined, been grand factors in improving the education, not only of those of educable age, but many older persons have been largely benefitted in this way. That with the very low price of newspapers and the multiplication of books of all grades, sizes and quality, have wonder- fully conspired to educate. When bad literature has 17
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been patronized and its use exclusive to that of good and useful books, has been indulged in, the parties using such vitiated and poisonous trash have been in- jured. That, however, is no argument against the edu- cation of the youth of the country. But it is wrong to circulate bad, vicious, obscene and sensational litera- ture of any kind.
People who read such only learn to do wrong, and frequently attempt to imitate some hero of romantic fancy and extravagant fiction-some fabricated, sen- sational, impure book, written for money, and which catches the unwary and leads them into trouble, and often to destruction and death.
The free school system of this, and all the counties of the State, will continue to grow, and while it is very necessary to educate, and improve the system now practiced and make it more efficient, great care should be taken not to overdo the work, and to be reasonable in our demands upon the tax-payers.
The teachers of free schools should be remunerated with reasonable, not stinted salaries, but we should de- mand well-informed, competent teachers, who are able to stand the county examinations, without assistance, and obtain a fair average of the questions. By all means require good moral character, and sober men-and not forget as much religious training as can come into the school, as is reasonable under the circumstances, bear- ing well in mind that if the heart is not educated with the head that it probably would be better not to edu- cate at all.
TEXT-BOOKS USED.
The books used in the public schools is a very im- portant item connected with the education of the youth of the country. It is reasonable to conclude that a
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uniform system of school books should be adopted and taught in the State. This is not, however, the case. Each county is left to select for itself. Un- der this management a multitude of books, from all sections of the country, North and South, are placed in the hands of the youth of the country. If the State should, after well canvassing the matter, adopt a se- ries of school books known to be the best that could be obtained, and have them taught for a term of years in all the public schools, teachers knowing that, would prepare themselves in these books and be more conver- sant with them, and teach with more ease than with books they have no knowledge of and that are only taught in few localities in the State. The History of the United States which should be used should be one free as far as possible from any sectional bias, giving truthfully whatever may have occurred at any time in the history of the States, without attempting to prejudice one section of the country against the other by giving garbled extracts and unkind and often ex- aggerated statements in reference to things that have occurred, and particularly in reference to the great civil war between the States.
A uniform system of school books would cheapen very much the price of such literature, as they are all too high. But if a publishing house had the exclu- sive sale to a State, they could well afford to sell for less than to isolated counties. Then there would be a congeniality of feeling in the studies of one series of authors all over the State, as is the case in the study of our Sabbath School literature. The adoption of the text-books of any county is left with the Board of Education, who meet and examine the various books and prices offered to them and in their best judgment they select the text-books for a term of years to be
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used in the county. The books used in Newton coun- ty as per selection of our Board, are the following : Eggleston's History, Robinson's Arithmetic, Duval's State History, (Lowry & McCardle's State History and Civil Government is not adopted by Newton, but is used in sixty counties of this State), Steel's Physics, Harvey's Grammar, Swinton's Geography, Barnes' Geography, Steele's Physiology, Watson's Speller and Quackenboss' Composition. As a general thing, these are wise selections and as good as were offered to any board in the State.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS OF THE COUNTY-NUM- BER OF CHURCHES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE MEMBER- SHIP AND USEFULNESS IN THE COUNTY.
THE religious denominations and the various churches of this county, demand more than a passing notice in these pages. In fact, the greatest interest that can attach to any county is 'its religious element. Without it all other advancements pale into insignifi- cance, and are worthless, and man has lived to no pur- pose unless this great, important and ever to be desired object is prominent in his life.
No matter how great may be the commerce of a nation, or the agricultural and mineral resources and wealth-no matter how wise its statesmen and superior its legislative leaders and executive heads- all ! all! will be considered worthless without proper regard to the Bible. Everything can be better spared than compromise individual salvation. Nothing should be more strongly opposed than a National indifference of obedience to God and the practice of the precepts of His Holy Book.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS IN THE COUNTY.
There are six denominations of Christians, as they style themselves, in our county. The one having the largest membership is
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THE MISSIONARY BAPTIST,
Whose work has been large and varied in this county. They are prominent in Sabbath School interests, and in the forefront of temperance re- forms, and are zealous in foreign and home mission- ary work. They are a progressive and evangelical body of people who are earnestly at work for the gocd of souls and prosperity of the country. They have been led for the last fifty-two years in this county by Rev. N. L. Clarke, who still lives and works with all the strength of an old man for the prosperity of his church and the good of souls. He is also editor of the Mississippi Baptist, published at Newton.
This denomination has twenty-five churches, eleven ministers and a membership of 1776, in the county of Newton. The churches in the county belong to the Mount Pisga Association, which is now in the fifty- seventh year of its existence and embraces the follow- ing counties and parts of counties : Newton, Scott, Leake, Smith, Jasper, Lauderdale and Neshoba.
PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Primitive Baptists (or Hard Shells, as they are sometimes called) are not so numerous. They do not join in the Sabbath School work, nor are they in favor of home or foreign missions. They, as a general thing, are good men, and a highly respecta- ble body and have some good preachers, and have the honor of numbering in their church some of the most worthy and honest citizens that have ever been in our county. They have five churches, six ministers, and a membership of 119 in Newton county, and belonging to the Bethany Association, now in its fiftieth year of existence. Their principal leaders of years ago in
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this county, have been the Revs. Pennington and Mc- Gee. They have several younger preachers, whose names are mentioned in the proper place.
M. E. CHURCH SOUTH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church South has never, in the settlement of the county, had such membership and influence as the Missionary Baptist. The work of this body in this county before the war was very small. The Congregational church was very strong, led as it was by Rev. J. F. N. Huddleston and his co- workers, and their influence brought many to that church. The Baptist churches were strong. The Protestant Methodist church also had a strong follow- ing. But the work of the M. E. Church in Newton county before the war, was remarkably light, though the church, immediately after the war, commenced to make greater demonstrations towards christian ad- vancement than ever before.
The organization of the Wesleyan Methodist church is probably one of the best known to the world, con- sidering the length of time since it was formed. Its progress has been wonderful in the 100 years of its existence ; it is a church that proposes to supply the people of all countries with preaching. They require money if they can get it, but if not they give the gospel free and supplement the salary of the 'preachers by some other means. It may be that they do not get what they ought to have, yet it is the best the church can do for them, and the same people who would refuse to pay the preacher are supplied again by the Confer- ence. As the country is being educated and enlightened, this idea of not paying the preacher is fast giving way, and as a general thing the Methodist preacher in our county gets his salary, is treated well by his friends
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and brethren, and is entertained on the best the coun- try affords ; they are usually zealous and progressive men who are willing to work for their calling, to the glory of God, and no doubt they are doing a good work in the county. They are always found on the moral side of every question ; they are a power for temper- ance and Sunday schools ; are fully up to the neces- sity of higher education ; are noted for their mission- ary spirit both at home and abroad. Doubtless the Methodist preacher is a coming man in the affairs of morality and religion in the land. This body has nine churches, four traveling preachers and two local minis- ters; has a membership of 1,000 belonging to the Mis- sissippi Conference. The early itinerant preachers in Newton county were, C. R. Strickland and H. J. Harris; W. G. Bartlett was a local preacher, living at Chunkey, and the Rev. McCurdy was a local preacher living near Decatur ; James Carstaphen was also a local preacher of good ability.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Congregational church, which once had a large following of respectable people and a corps of good preachers, is now reduced to small numbers ; quite a number of the members went to the M. E. Church South ; the main doctrines of faith and practice being so nearly alike that quite little compromise would be `made and that mostly in church government, so the members of this church could conscientiously become members of the one that had greater numbers and influence. They have four churches, four ministers and a membership of 210. They were ably represented in years gone by by Rev. J. F. N. Huddleston, Henry Jones and some other local ministers ; they now have
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Revs. J. C. Portis, J. M. Belew, T. H. Perry and Rev. R. M. Gilbert.
THE PROTESTANT CHURCH,
Also has small following in the county ; was once a a mighty body in the State of Mississippi, but owing to a large part of that church being associated with the Northern States, most of the Southern members and ministers went to the M. E. Church South. They, like the Congregational church, differ very little in doc- trine, can easily make the change to the M. E. Church without much compromise. They have no churches, no ministers, with a membership very small. In for- mer days they were led by such men as Rev. P. H. Napier, who was the president of the Conference for a time in the State, and after the war joined the Meth- odist Mississippi Conference ; C. F. Gillespie, who came to the Methodists ; Spencer Bankston, who remained with them ; J. E. Taylor, also came to the Methodist Mississippi Conference ; Elisha Lott, a noted preacher on the style of Lorenzo Dow, a prominent man of Madison county, and a man of wealth, came often to this county and assisted in conducting the great camp meeting on Tilasha, in the eastern part of the county, where great crowds, in the early settlement of the county, congregated to hear the word.
THE OLD SCHOOL PRESBYTERIANS.
This body of Christians are among the most re- spectable church people of our country. They have not large numbers, but have usually been preached to by able ministers. This church is, and has been ever, famous for the education of its ministers. No doubt that in a country like ours, they have lost ground by
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requiring too severe a test of educational ability to allow a man to preach. Most of the other churches are willing when a man has any ability, to allow him limited license, and if he show any disposition to teach and preach and is willing to study and prepare himself, to grant him liberty to exercise his gift, espec- ially so if a man have great piety and by Godly ex- ample so conduct himself as to be above reproach and use his talent for the church and salvation of souls. .The Old School Presbyterians are more exacting. They require a more thorough education, so that a man may be able to write a learned exegesis that will bear the close scrutiny of a Biblical scholar and theologian. It is all very well to be an educated minister, but while this church is so exacting of the qualifications of min- isters, the cause of the church may suffer. The people may be hungry for the word and other denominations come in and reap the harvest that is ripe. Hence it may be very just to say that this old and highly re- spectable body of Christians are too exacting on those who feel themselves called to preach. They have three churches, one minister, and a membership of 114 in this county.
This church was very early organized in this county, probably as early as 1842, by Rev. Dr. J. N. Waddel .and Rev. Dr. Jno. H. Gray, Presbyterian divines. The former taught a school at Montrose, Jasper coun- ty. This organization was at Mount Moriah, south- west from the town of Newton, where there is still a flourishing church. Dr. Waddell continued to preach to that church until 1848; he was called to the State University to fill a Professor's chair. He was suc- ceeded in turn by the Revs. Adams, King, McRae, Bell, Lee, McInnis, Emmerson, West, Bingham, Mos- ley, Coit, Kerr and Barr. Rev. Mr. Smythe also for a
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number of years preached to the churches in Newton county.
THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church is weak, more particularly so on account of not having sufficient force of preachers in the field. If all the churches would provide for the dispensation and preaching of the Gospel as the Methodist and Baptist do, and arrange it so that their ministers would go and preach to everybody and in all neighbor- hoods, their members would be largely increased.
The Cumberland church generally forms a very re- spectable portion of our community, who are generally sincere and pious. These ministers, though not hav- ing such severe test of educational qualifications re- quired of them, are usually of from fair to good edu- cation and of respectable standard in community. They are with all the reformers of the country and are considered of a purely Evangelical church worthy of patronage. They have three churches, no ministers and a membership of about 100. If this church had any organization in the county or any regular preach- ing before the war, it is not known to the writer.
About fifteen years ago the Rev. Mr. Bailey, father of Dr. J. B. Bailey, commenced to preach, probably under a brush arbor, at Midway, near the house of Mr. Ash- more, who was a member of that church, and after preaching with marked success, succeeded in estab- lishing a church, and a very good house was built at Midway, five miles north of Newton, which church has served as a place of worship for Presbyterians and Baptists. Mr. Bailey was succeeded by Revs. Milling and Ashmore, and occasionally Rev. McBryde.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian Church (or Campbellites, as some per-
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sons call them) have an organization and one church in Newton county. The church is at Hickory. They have no regular supply of minister. Their work of preaching is done by evangelists-men who come to the county and preach for several weeks. They are men well equipped for the work, and get a large at- tendance. There were large crowds who went to hear the Rev. John A. Stevens, at Morgan Springs, in this county, last summer, who is a man who appears to attract the people. Quite a number joined him, some from other churches and some who had not before been members. The intention of this order seems to be to get a good position in this county, and they are not lacking in zeal and ability. In some respects they re- semble the Baptists ; that is, they immerse candidates for membership in the church. But many of the car- dinal and important doctrines of faith and practice dif- fer so widely that there is no affinity or brotherly har- mony between them. They have one church at Hick- ory, and about thirty members in the county ; no minister.
HOLINESS PEOPLE.
There are some Holiness people in the county. This sect have no regular churches in which to worship. in this county. They usually come in to some remote part of the county and preach for a series of days, gathering into their order, usually, such members from other denominations as may be dissatisfied with their church or brethren, or who may be unstable in the faith of their own doctrines. These people have some very good preachers-men who appear to be devoted to God and His work. who profess to be holy. If they would establish a regular branch of their church and have more organization, with rules and regulations
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governing them, they might do more good. No one objects to a man's holiness of life and heart. More of it is needed in all the church membership. It is the essentials of a living church to have a membership which is converted, consecrated, holy, and devoted to the service of God. Yet there should be consistency always. There should be thorough organization, and a body of men equipped with the ability to preach and teach by precept and example.
COLORED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.
·The colored church membership of this county is large. They like to be called members of the church.
Dr. J. B. Gambrell, in giving a public lecture before a large assemblage of people in Boston, 'Mass., said, after saying many things in praise of the negroes, and in speaking of the advancement they had made, of the property they had gained, and the respectability they had attained, in close proximity with the white man, "that they lived closer to the Jourdan than to the Decalogue." This might apply very well to members of all colors and denominations; that we sometimes have more of the former than the spirit of godliness. The colored people deserve great credit for being as good and as religiously inclined as they are. They have many temptations, and many times do yield-so do white people.
. The negro has great reverence for the church, and admiration of God's people, and respect for those disposed to serve God. The white people should set them the very best example, and give them every help in their power to improve in a religious way. The greatest number of colored church members in any of the churches in this county is the Mission Baptist who have seven ministers.
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Fifteen churches, and a membership of 1,000 be- long to the Third New Hope Missionary Baptist Association, which is now in its fourteenth year of ex- istence. Abram Donald was the first colored Baptist preacher to preach in this county after the freedom of the slaves.
The next in order belong to
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NORTH.
It appears that our Northern brethren have so far been. able to capture most of the colored people of the Methodist persuasion in this county. No doubt it re- sults from the political relations which at first existed between the sections just after the war when most of the negroes voted with the Republican party, so it was that there existed here in the South a Northern and Southern Methodist church, and the negro in his church relations very naturally went with his political ally. The colored Methodists in Newton county have six local and one traveling minister; four churches, and a membership belonging to the Northern Mississippi Conference of 466; an estimated church property of about $2,500.
OLD SCHOOL COLORED PRESBYTERIANS.
There a few colored people who belong to the Old School Presbyterian congregation, and who are al- lowed to hold membership with the white church. They are, however, now trying to get a house of wor- ship and minister of their own, and it is to be hoped that the white people of the community and county will assist them in this undertaking. Their house of worship will be near the Presbyterian Mount Moriah church, southwest of the town.
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INDIAN CHURCHES.
The Choctaw Indians have two churches in the county, one near the town of Connehatta, which is a Missionary Baptist church, with probably thirty to forty members, that have a regular supply of an In- ·dian preacher named Ben. Williamson, who has been preaching about five years, who learned to read after he was grown, and was licensed by the Baptist church of the Mount Pisgah Association. He is a man of un- common ability for his chance ; appears to have large piety, preaches with great freedom and even eloquence; seems to be consecrated to the work of the ministry, and it is hoped he will do good for his people.
There is another church on or near Talasha Creek, in the eastern part of the county, with probably not so many members, preached to by Isham, a young Indian raised near Hickory. He does not possess the talent of Ben. Williamson, but appears to be a man of good moral character and in earnest in the work of the ministry.
Old Jack is the first Choctaw of Newton county that attempted to preach, and although old and ap- parently weak-minded, he set a good example, and did the best he could, and deserves to be rewarded and protected in his old and infirm age.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
SABBATH SCHOOLS-NUMBER IN THE COUNTY-TEACH- ERS AND SCHOLARS-INTEREST THAT APPEARS TO BE TAKEN IN SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTY.
THE Sabbath Schools appear to be doing a great work for the young people of the country. There is no part of Christian and systematic study of the Bible making more rapid strides than the Sunday School, all over the United States. Our State and county, though not being up with some others, have good records and are to be commended for their enterprise in this direction.
Each church in the county, except the Primitive Baptist, are heartily engaged in pushing forward this work among the children. In years gone by it was not so, and particularly so in the country churches ; but now all appear to be earnestly endeavoring to do much in this way.
The Sabbath School has its peculiar fascinations for the young, and there is a growing spirit among the older people of the church to qualify themselves for teachers. Much depends upon the way a class is taught, as to what knowledge the pupils may derive from the Bible and its doctrines. There is a great co-operative effort among all Protestant branches of the church to formulate plans, prepare suitable litera. ture, circulate books, cheapen the publication of re- ligious tracts and the scriptures, so as with very small
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cost all these late advantages may be in the posses- sion of every school in the land.
Much talent and large expense has been given to the publication of suitable literature, and employment of competent men and women, who are able to entertain and instruct in the various methods of making the Sabbath Schools both interesting and profitable.
One of the great and attractive agencies in the Sab- bath Schools, is the improvement in music, and the concert of singing by the teachers and children, large and small, such songs as are attractive in time and sentiment, to suit the ages and conditions of the youths and children of the schools. Long ago the same music was used for the Sabbath School as the church. The style of the music was only suitable to more mature minds ; the sentiment also of the same kind. But different opinions now prevail and the new methods appear to me the more acceptable.
The services were conducted usually much in the same way as the ordinary church meeting, observing the same conventionalities as used in the routine of church worship. All this was good at the time and much improved those who attended. Now things assume a very different phase. The systematic order of the day school much pervades the teachings and instructions now given in the Sunday Schools. Music, both of time and sentiment, is now composed to suit the more juvenile taste. Books of Sunday School music are used for the benefit of the schools. Many more persons are interested as teachers of the schools that were not in years gone by. It is a position that many business and professional men consider an honor to have. They become highly interested in this great work and make excellent teachers. Many ladies, both married and single, enlist in the work and many of
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