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GEN
Mrs. M. A.
Historical Papers
of the North Carolina Conference Historical Society
and the
Western North Carolina Conference Historical Society
CONTENTS
PREI'ACE
2
SOME METHODIST HISTORY ALONG THE LOWER NEUSE AND . CONTENTNEA-Yancey T. Ormond
3
EARLY METHODISM ON THE LOWER CAPE FEAR
.. Rev. Thomas A. Smoot
13
THREE NOTABLE WOMEN OF NORTH CAROLINA METHODISM . Epie Smith Plyler 23
REMINISCENCES-Rev. William H. Moore 40 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE-M. W. Brabham 53
GEORGE WASHINGTON IVEY-Rev. Marion T. Plyler
81
THE EARLY CIRCUIT RIDERS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
Rev. Alva W. Plyler
95
METHODISM. AND ITS FOUNDERS IN ANSON COUNTY
Rev. Alva W. Plyler
103
METHODIST MISSIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA
Rev. Robert H. Willis 111
GREEN HILL-PREACHER, PATRIOT, PIONEER
Rev. Thomas N. Ivey
126
METHODISM IN DAVIE COUNTY-Rev. William L. Sherrill 137
THIRTY YEARS IN THE PRESIDING ELDERSHIP
Rev. J. T. Gibbs
151
RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND THINGS IN THE OLD NORTH
CAROLINA CONFERENCE-Rev. J. Edgar Thompson .. 158 THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE AS I FIRST KNEW
IT-Rev. Robah F. Bumpas 167
NORTH CAROLINA CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE GREENSBORO, N. C.
1925
3 1833 01854 7197 ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
GC 975.6 H628NC
Historical Papers of the North Carolina Conference Historical Society
and the
Western North Carolina Conference Historical Society
1925
di vorherre.
PREFACE
At the request of the proper authorities I have assumed the responsibility for seeing this volume through the press. The editorial work has had a serious limitation, viz., that the addresses now published were written to be spoken, not to be read critically. Consequently the authors omit- ted foot notes and references, and because of frequent changes of residence on their part and, in some cases, of death, it has been impossible to secure such revision as would remedy this defect. Therefore the addresses are published practically as delivered.
A few words are also in order concerning the ante- cedents of this publication. The Historical Society of the North Carolina Conference was organized in 1873, but it issued no publication until 1897. Then there appeared The First Annual Publication of the Historical Society of the North Carolina Conference. Methodist Episcopal Church. South (II2pp). In 1901 a second series of His- torical Papers was published (49pp), and in 1912 four addresses and A Journal and Travel of James Meacham (95pp) were issued as Series IX of the Historical Papers of the Trinity College Historical Society.
In 1917 the Historical Society of the Western North Carolina Conference was organized and the present publi- cation includes the addresses before that body in 1917, 1920, and 1922, those before the North Carolina Conference Historical Society from 1911 to 1923 excepting 1915, 1919, and 1920, and one read at the Charlotte District Confer- ence ( Western North Carolina Conference) in 1917.
The publication is the most valuable contribution to Methodist history in North Carolina since the appearance of Grissom's History of Methodism in North Carolina (1907).
Duke University, Durham, N. C. August 1, 1925.
WILLIAM K. BOYD.
Some Methodist History Along the Lower Neuse and Contentnea
YANCEY T. ORMOND*
UST when Methodism was first planted along the lower Neuse and Contentnea we do not definitely know, but we do know that at an early date its seed began to be sown in this fertile soil and in due time it took root and grew rapidly, and we now behold a strong, vigorous and fruitful vine.
In 1739-1740, and again in 1764, Mr. Whitefield, the eloquent coadjutor of John Wesley, visited New Bern and preached to appre- ciative congregations. He made a favorable impression and was greatly impressed with the people. Joseph Pillmoor, the first Metho- dist preacher sent to America by Mr. Wesley who came to North Carolina, visited New Bern in the latter part of 1772 and held Christmas services there. He left on the 1st day of January, 1773, having become much attached to his "dear New Bern friends." For some time after this we know but little of the progress made at New Bern and but little of the results of these early visits. But we know that Pillmoor came to North Carolina mainly on a tour of inspection and investigation, the result of which was the formation of Carolina Circuit in 1776, the first organized work of Methodism in the state, to which was sent Edward Drumgoole, Francis Poythress and Isham Tatum. I think we are justified, from the impression made on Pill- moor by these people, in believing that he made such representations and recommendations as to cause this territory to be embraced in Carolina Circuit and to be visited by the preachers in charge.
At any rate Bishop Ashbury visited here in 1785 and preached, the Assembly being in session. In 1796 he was again here, when there was an organized society of 100 members, white and colored, but the society owned no house of worship, and Asbury preached in the Episcopal church. Up to this time New Bern was embraced in either Pamlico, Goshen or Trent Circuits, probably Goshen. In 1797 New Bern Circuit was formed and James Jones and John Turner were sent as its first preachers. In 1799 New Bern and Goshen Circuits were made one charge with William Early and Jeremiah King as the preachers in charge. William Early died at New Bern the latter part of the year while in charge of this work.
In 1800 New Bern Circuit was served by Benjamin Matthews as pastor, Francis Poythress being the Presiding Elder of the District. In 1801 it was served by Christopher Mooring. New Bern District was formed this year with Jonathan Jackson as Presiding Elder. He was
* Annual address before the North Carolina Conference Historical Society at Kinson, on November 21. 1911. Mr. Ormonw, a leader among the laymen of the North Carolina Conference died March 8th, 1922.
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HISTORICAL PAPERS
returned each year until 1804, when Philip Bruce was assigned to this District as Presiding EIder.
In 1802 Bishop Asbury again visited New Bern and preached to large congregations. So much was he at this time impressed with its growth and importance that he concluded that it should become a station and have preaching every week.
The first Methodist church building erected in New Bern was at this time (1802) in process of construction. A collection was taken, which amounted to $60, to be used in the completion of the "House of God." This building was doubtless finished this year, as he left the brethren "full of good resolutions to complete the House of God." This was Andrew Chapel and was situated on Hancock Street. It was a plain frame building, without steeple or bell, but large and convenient, and was the second church building erected in New Bern, the first being the Episcopal in which Asbury sometime preached. At this time the town had grown to have about 700 or 1,000 houses.
Samuel Risbee and Thomas Mann were the preachers on New Bern Circuit in 1802 and 1803. In 1804 it became a station with Jesse Coe as its first pastor, New Bern, Goshen and Contentnea Circuits being served together by John Gramerville and James Jennings. It is rather surprising to learn that at the Conference of 1805 only 30 white members were reported, while there were 250 colored members. The same number of white members were reported in 1806 and 290 colored. This was doubtless due to the strife which was discovered by Bishop Asbury to be in the church in 1803, by which he was much troubled. In 1806 the charge was served by Richard Lattimore and at the conference of 1807, 102 white members and 512 colored were reported This year the conference met for the first time at New Bern.
In 1818 there were three houses of worship in New Bern, the Episcopal, Methodist and Baptist. Tlie Methodist was the most numerous society of Christians in the town and was supplied with a "regular succession of able and evangelical preachers."
li was at New Bern in November, 1829, that Christopher Thomas died. while serving this charge, he having been sent there from the conference held at Lynchburg, Va., in the early part of the year. Under his ministry during the summer of this year there was a great revival of religion, which not only spread through the town but went like a tidal wave down the Neuse to the seashore, the whole country being deluged by its generous overflow. Soon thereafter Thomas was taken sick and died a triumphant death. It is said that on his way to conference at a farm house near Lynchburg, where he spent the night with other preachers, he had a remarkable dream in which all of his experiences during the year, including the events at the conference, the revival and his death were revealed to him. Just before he breathed his last he said, "They come! They come!" and immediately the whole room was filled with a light as bright as the noon-day, though it was in the late hours of the night and the only light, otherwise, being a candle in the fireplace. When the strange light disappeared he was dead.
The growth of the membership of this church was not rapid in
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HISTORICAL PAPERS
these early years, especially among the whites. In 1838, the year following the setting off of the North Carolina Conference, its mem- bership numbered 155 white and 639 colored, Geo. W. Langhorne being pastor and James Jameison Presiding Elder of the District, which had again been named the New Bern District, which name it has since retained.
In 1842-1843 Centenary Church was built on News, now called New Street. This church was served by Dr. Chas. F. Deems in 1850. The present handsome new Centenary church building was completed in 1904 under the pastorate of Rev. G. T. Adams, and was dedicated by Bishop Duncan. This is one of the handsomest, most commodious and best equipped churches in the state with a membership of more than 1,000 and ranking among the first charges in the conference.
Bishop Ashbury, in going to and from New Bern, on several occasions crossed Neuse River at Cox's Ferry and stopped with William Cox, who lived near by, and preached to those who would gather to hear him.
This place was one mile below the mouth of Contentnea Creek and twenty-five miles from New Bern. There was a church building here, or near here, as early as 1796 and Bishop Asbury preached in it. This was the original Lanes Chapel and was named for Daniel Lane, the grandfather of our good brother, Daniel Lane of Beach Grove. The descendants of Daniel Lane and William Cox are now prominent Methodists of this community. The present Lane's Chapel was built by Samuel Lane. the father of Brother Daniel Lane, on the north side of Neuse River. Its membership is now about 100.
From Lane's Chapel went forth influences which resulted in the organization of Ashbury and Beach Grove Churches, the latter of which was organized in 1830 and the former sometime earlier.
There is a tradition that in the early settlement of North Carolina there was an Indian trail passing through what is now Greene County and near the present site of Rainbow Church, made by the Indians in passing to their homes and forts from their hunting grounds and fishing places. Later this trail became a thoroughfare for travelers on horseback and stage coach from the seaport towns to the West. The settlers in this section were noted for their intelligence, thrift and hospitality. It was along this route that the early Methodist pioneers passed and were entertained by this hospitable people.
The first itinerant Methodist preacher that preached in this section passed this way in the latter part of the 18th century and was intertained by Samuel C. Hooker, the grandfather of Rev. Nathan Hooker. Mrs. Hooker was a member of the Episcopal Church but her husband was not a member of any church. He rode over the neigh- borhood on horseback and gathered together his neighbors and the preacher preached to them in a barn. Mr. Hooker was much im- pressed with the young preacher and became the first member of the church organized here. Soon after this many of his neighbors joined with him and a log house was built, which was also used for a school house. The exact date of this occurrence has been lost, as has also the name of the preacher. But it is known that as early as 1807 there was regular preaching service at Rainbow, and there are reasons, which will be given later, for believing that there was
6
HISTORICAL PAPERS
preaching here prior to 1807. There was certainly a meeting house there as early as 1799 and Ashbury had an appointment to preach, but was prevented from so doing by sickness.
Who was this pioneer? Was it Pillmoor or Robert Williams? Or was it one of the three who was first sent to serve Carolina Cir- cuit? It may have been neither, but whoever it was builded better than he knew. For from this early beginning has flowed a stream of influence that has wonderfully blessed the state and has extended even beyond its borders. In fact Eternity, alone, can determine its extent and power.
Who can estimate the force and power of influence that has emanated from the life and labors of Rev. W. H. Cunninggim, a local preacher, who for well nigh a half century, not only from the pulpit, but by his Godly and consecrated life, preacher the gospel of peace and righteousness in this and the surrounding communities? Of Uncle Jesse Cunninggim, one of his sons, whose name for so many years was a household word in almost every Methodist home in North Carolina, whose life was a benediction to the church, and whose presence was an inspiration to higher attainments in the Christian life? Of Uncle Nathan Hooker, who traveled from the seashore to the mountains and so faithfully preached the Gospel of repentance and salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Or what shall we say of Rev. Henry Gibbons, W. L. Cunninggim, J. L. Cunninggim and hundreds of other concrecrated men and women whose lives have been enriched and made fruitful because of the influences that were projected from the Rainbow Church?
Soon the log meeting house was replaced with a frame building, which was later enlarged and improved. In 1849 the present building was erected and was dedicated by Dr. Charles F. Deems. It is a neat and convenient church building and would be a credit. to any country charge in the conference.
Sometime prior to 1735, with two of his brothers, William Ormond came to North Carolina from England and settled in Beaufort County. He had only one son who lived to attain manhood, and he was born in 1738, just a little more than one year before his father died, and was also named William. He remained in Beaufort County until 1768 when he moved to Dobbs County, now Greene, and settled three miles north of the present town of Hookerton and seventeen miles north of Kinston, being one mile south of the present site of Ormond's Chapel, and became a large land owner in the community.
The thoroughfare referred to as passing near Rainbow passed near William Ormond's home, which was early known to travelers as the "Ormond House" and in those early days was one of the few places where the passing stranger was entertained. Just when the first Methodist itinerant passed this way is not known. But this family was brought under the influence of Methodism quite early and this home became the stopping and preaching place of its itinerant preachers.
William Ormond, the oldest son, was born in 1769 and was con- verted in 1787 at the age of 18 years. He joined the Virginia Con- ference in 1791 and continued therein as an itinerant preacher until
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1803, when he died at Norfolk while serving the Norfolk Circuit.
Carolina Circuit was formed in 1776 and was divided in 1778 into Roanoke, New Hope and Tar River Circuits. Dobbs County must have been embraced in Tar River Circuit, and it must have been under the preaching of the pioneers of Carolina or of Tar River Circuits that Methodism was first introduced into this community, and it is not improbable that William Ormond, Sr., was brought under its influence before he moved from Beaufort County. We know that long before Ormond's Chapel was built and before Contentnea Circuit was formed there was preaching at William Ormond's home and there was an organized society. In 1796 Bishop Asbury preached at "Father Ormond's," and left feeling that "the Lord would yet do won- ders among these people."
It has always been understood that the organization at Rainbow was older than that at Ormond's. If so, the log meeting house at Rainbow must antedate 1787, the date of the conversion of William Ormond.
There were but few meeting houses and churches in which the early Methodist preacher could preach, and most of the preaching was in private residences, outhouses and under the trees. Asbury notes in 1812 that there had been a society in Greenville for thirty years and there was no house of worship at that place.
Rev. William Ormond left in his will a legacy of $500 for the erection of a chapel, having prior thereto conveyed a site for its location. In the written instruction to his executors he urges them to hasten the settlement of his estate and the erection of the chapel which was much needed. Early in 1804 we find an accounting of the executors in which it is shown that $500 is in hand for the erection of the church building. We assume that the building was erected soon thereafter. This was Ormond's Chapel and the first church building erected in that community. It was a plain frame building and stood without change until 1874, when it was remodeled, being newly weatherboarded and plastered and another story built above for a temperance hall, only the old frame being retained. In 1896 a new church building was erected on the same site, the old building being moved away a short distance to be used for a school house. In this house ever since there has been a high grade preparatory school from which has been sent a number of young men and women to college. This educational spirit in this community manifested itself quite early. William Ormond left in his will certain legacies to his brother's children to be used for their education. This spirit has been kept alive in the succeeding generations and in the days when schools were few and scarce and educational advantages were rare, there was maintained in this community a preparatory school of high grade, whose advantages were sought in other communities and counties.
Rev. Samuel W. Ormond, a nephew of Rev. William Ormond, was for years a local preacher at Ormond's Chapel and preached with great power. He was invaluable to the preacher in charge, especi- ally on revival occasions. Revs. A. L. and J. M. Ormond, of this conference, are grand-nephews of Rev. William Ormond and are the
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product of the combined influences of Rainbow and Ormond's Chapel, their mother being the daughter of Rev. W. H. Cunninggim and sis- ter of Uncle Jesse Cunninggim.
In 1787, the year of William Ormond's conversion, Thomas Bowen and Thomas Weatherford were preachers on the Tar River Circuit and Edward Morris and Henry Ogburn were on the New River Cir- cuit. From the data before me I have been unable to determine which of these circuits at this time included Dobbs (Greene) County. Tar River included the counties on the North and East and New River included the counties of the South, Lenoir, Jones and Onslow. I am of the opinion that it was embraced in the Tar River Circuit. At any rate it was probably under the preaching of one of the men above men- tioned that William Ormond was converted.
In 1790 Contentnea, then spelled Contentney, Circuit was formed and embraced portions of Greene, Pitt, Craven, Wayne and Lenoir Counties. John Baldwin was its first preacher. This Circuit was continued until 1808 when it was dropped and this territory was in- cluded in Trent and Goshen Circuits. Neuse Circuit was then formed and Greene and Lenoir, together with Craven, were embraced in it.
While houses of worship at this time were few and were slow in being built, Greene County was much in advance of the average county in this respect. Besides Ormond's Chapel and Rainbow, there were church buildings at Snow Hill, Jerusalem, Tabernacle and probably at Yelverton, Lebanon and Bethel, the latter being, as I remember, in the edge of Wayne County. As to the last three I have no definite information, except that they are old churches and were at one time embraced in the Snow Hill Circuit. There was a house of worship at Snow Hill more than a century ago; the first church building stood on the hill where the Baptist Church now stands. The second stood where the Methodist Church now stands, this last church having been built about twenty five years ago. For many years the second church building was in a dilapidated con- dition and being unfit for use the Baptist Church was used by the Methodist congregation as a place of worship, until the present church building was erected.
The first church building erected at Jerusalem was erected about ninety years ago, and was replaced with the present building about fifty years ago.
There has been an organization at Tabernacle for more than one hundred years. The present building was built about thirty years ago under the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Call, on the Snow Hill Circuit, and was then, if not now, owned jointly by the M. E. Church, South, and the Methodist Protestant Church, the Hon James Speight being a prominent member of the Methodist Protestant Church at that place.
The church at Hookerton was organized sometime in the thirties of the nineteenth century, and at that time the congregation wor- shipped in the Free Church which stood on the public square, where the Academy now stands. About 1850 a Methodist church building was erected which served the congregation until about fifteen years ago when it was sold, and a new lot was bought from the Union Bap- tist Association which had been organized by Rev. B. W. Nash and
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HISTORICAL PAPERS
the property in question was known as Nash's Church. On this lot now stands the very neat and pretty church in which the Hookerton congregation worships.
Snow Hill Circuit was formed in 1830 with William Anderson and Thomas S. Ranson as the first pastors. At this time this Circuit was embraced in the Neuse District and Joseph Carson was the Presiding Elder. Rev. Daniel Culbreth was pastor of Snow Hill Circuit in 1837, the year in which the North Carolina Conference was separated and set apart from the Virginia Conference. The Snow Hill Circuit embraced all of the above named churches and also Kinston.
About 1851 or 1852 Kinston was made a station, and Bethel was, soon after the war, taken from the Snow Hill Circuit, and later Yelverton was, and still later (about 1879 or 1880) was Lebanon added to Fremont Circuit. About 1886, under the pastorate of Rev. P. L. Herman, the church at Mount Herman was built and named for its pastor. Snow Hill Circuit was divided in 1902 and Hookerton Circuit formed out of a part thereof. At the time of the division it was composed of Ormond's Chapel, Rainbow, Snow Hill, Jerusalem, Tabernacle, Hookerton and Mount Herman. In the division the churches at Snow Hill, Jerusalem, Mount Herman and Tabernacle constituted the Snow Hill Circuit, and the churches at Ormond's Chapel, Rainbow and Hookerton, the Hookerton Circuit. These are now two of the best and most desirable circuits in the Conference to serve.
Greene County has been a fertile field for the growth of Metho- dism. Having taken hold here quite early, it has grown until it has well nigh covered the County and is probably stronger than all other denominations together. In 1785 Bishop Asbury visited Kinston and was "kindly" entertained by Gov. Caswell. He preached in the old Colonial Court House, which was afterwards moved to the corner of King and Independence Streets, where Mr. Irvin Whitehurste now lives.
I have been told by one of our oldest and best citizens that he has seen the statement that Bishop Asbury on his visit to Kinston baptized two of the daughters of Gov. Caswell. I have not been able to verify or learn the source of or authority for this statement. But we do know that one of the daughters, Anna, who at the time of Asbury's visit was a young lady nineteen years of age, married William White, Secretary of State, and that both she and her husband were converted at the great revival of 1811 at Raleigh and both joined the Methodist Church. They were very earnest and consecrated Chris- tians, and it is said of her, "Her character might well be written in characters of gold." Just how much her life was influenced by the visit of Bishop Asbury to her father's house we do not know. One of her daughters married Gov. D. L. Swain and was a very devout Methodist and Christian.
The old Colonial Court House continued to be used by the Metho- dists as a house of worship for many years and Samuel Price preached there in 1844, while Kinston was still on the Snow Hill Circuit. When the congregation became too large to be accommodated in the Court House the Episcopal church, which stood on the corner of
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