USA > North Carolina > Ashe County > A history of the Ashe County, North Carolina, and New River, Virginia, Baptist associations > Part 11
USA > Virginia > A history of the Ashe County, North Carolina, and New River, Virginia, Baptist associations > Part 11
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The twenty-seventh session convened at Obids Church on Sep- tember 9, 1913, and Rev. R. M. Burkett preached the opening sermon. Thirty-three churches were represented. There was no change in the officers.
The executive committee reported that they had been able to secure Rev. George M. Reeves as missionary on a half-time basis and that he had been active, traveling over 800 miles, wit- nessing fifty professions of faith and baptizing twenty. He had preached eighty sermons. They had also employed for work in the northern part of Ashe County, Rev. W. J. Banks, who had delivered 218 sermons, witnessed 106 conversions, and had re- ceived into the churches in his territory 100 members.
Oak Hill Academy, the Home Mission Board school, was again endorsed by resolution and a cash donation of $24.00 was made to it.
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THE NEW RIVER (VA. ) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
On September 8, 1914, the Ashe Association met in its twenty-eighth annual session at Clifton Church and Rev. T. M. Hays preached the introductory sermon. Thirty churches were found to be represented. J. C. Goodman was re-elected mod- erator, but M. M. Blevins, who had been clerk and treasurer for many years, declined to stand for re-election, and J. R. Jones was elected to succeed him. One new church, Glendale, was ad- mitted.
A strong effort was made at this session to so organize the work in Ashe County as to form "fields" that would be capable of sustaining ministers, but with indifferent success. The execu- tive committee recommended the raising of a fund of $600 to be apportioned to these fields. There was also a strong effort to encourage the organization of Women's Missionary Societies in all of the churches.
There had been 191 baptisms during the year and the total strength of the association was 2,073. Thirty churches reported thirty-two Sunday schools, another indication of the good work being done by the Sunday School Convention.
The twenty-ninth annual session was held with Friendship Church, beginning September 7, 1915, with the introductory ser- mon by Rev. C. M. Cope, of the South Yadkin Association. J. C. Goodman was re-elected moderator and J. W. Duncan was elected clerk and treasurer. Twenty-nine churches were found to be represented.
Steps were taken at this meeting looking to the establishing of a Baptist church in the new town of West Jefferson and a committee was named to look into the matter.
On September 5, 1916, the thirtieth session of the association began with New River Church, Rev. W. J. Banks preaching the opening sermon. Twenty-nine of the thirty-four churches were represented. The officers of the previous year were re-elected. Two new churches, Valley Home and West Jefferson, were received and Tuckerdale Church applied for admission. A com- mittee was named to make an investigation of the dissolution of Windfall Church and the organization of Tuckerdale. The com- mittee found that the dissolution of the one and the organization of the other had been legal and Tuckerdale was admitted.
It was reported at this session that an effort was being made to organize a Baptist school at West Jefferson. The association did not lose interest in Oak Hill Academy and at this session
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HISTORY OF THE ASHE (N. C.) AND
named E. C. Eller as trustee for Oak Hill, to succeed Prof. J. C. Goodman.
The reports on the various objects of the denomination were of very high order and pledges were made for all of them. I think it would be well to pay tribute here to Rev. W. R. Brad- shaw, of Hickory, N. C., a frequent visitor to the Ashe Associa- tion, to whose splendid work much of the progress of Ashe Association is due. Mr. Bradshaw was a representative of the State Mission Board, but he did not confine his efforts to that branch of the work. Every cause felt his uplifting influence. There are few preachers of his eloquence in the country.
The thirty-first session of the association met with Jefferson Church on September 4, 1917. Rev. George M. Reeves preached the introductory sermon. All of the churches were represented and the association organized for business by re- electing the officers of the previous year.
One of the most interesting features of this session was the report on Sunday school work presented by Rev. J. M. Neaves. It showed twenty-four Sunday schools in the association with 124 officers and teachers and 1,559 pupils enrolled. There were 459 church members in Sunday school and the schools had raised a total of $185.33 for all purposes.
Glendale Church sent forward a request for the ordination to the full work of the ministry of Ed O. Miller. The associa- tion appointed a presbytery consisting of George M. Reeves, Asa Brown, C. M. Cope, P. H. Haire, Elihu Tucker, George Trivett and Coy Blackburn to conduct the service and it was held on the second day of the association.
In the report of the historian it was stated that the associa- tion had contributed during the year $1,100 for the construction of a church at West Jefferson and that a total of $3,000.00 had been contributed toward the erection of a Baptist school at West Jefferson. This project, for which much had been hoped, did not prosper and at this session the committee having the matter in charge reported that "for lack of moral and financial aid, the school was turned over to the county and state authorities and will be run as a state high school."
There had been 112 baptisms during the year and the total membership was 2,212. A total of $2,662.62 had been con- tributed to all causes.
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THE NEW RIVER (VA.) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
The next meeting, which was the thirty-second, was held with Bald Mountain Church, beginning September 3, 1918. Rev. George M. Reeves again preached the introductory sermon and the officers of the previous year were re-elected.
An echo of the World War was heard at this session when the Berlin Church announced that its name had been changed to Phoenix Church. The post office near this church had been called Berlin, but it was changed to Bina, the name of Germany's capital not being particularly attractive just at that time.
The association showed renewed interest in Oak Hill Academy at this session and a collection and pledges were taken for it. Its work was commended to the churches and all were urged to give it their support. The association had contributed to all causes during the year $2,587.02 and $1,144.71 for pastors' salaries. There was, according to reports, $20,035.00 worth of church property in the association. There had been 104 bap- tisms and the total membership was 2,042. Twenty-one churches reported Sunday schools, eight of them "evergreen," with a total enrollment of 1,391. The total contributions from the schools for the year amounted to $239.24.
There was much discussion at this session relative to the fail- ure of churches to send delegates to the association, seven hav- ing been reported as absent, and it was decided to appropriate a reasonable sum to arrange for revival services at all of these churches.
The thirty-third annual session of the Ashe Association, which convened with Big Flats Church on September 9, 1919, found thirty-two of the thirty-four churches present, showing that the plan had worked out well. Rev. George M. Reeves, who was at this time a pastor in Knox County, Tennessee, again preached the annual sermon and the officers of the previous year were re- elected.
At this session the Committee on Periodicals, headed by Prof. J. O. Goodman, did particularly fine work, securing forty-five subscriptions for the Biblical Recorder alone and many for other publications. The report on pastoral support recommended the doubling of pastors' salaries and the delegates voted almost solidly in favor of it. In this report appeared the expression, "over the top," another echo of the World War.
There was an effort made to secure the names of all the young men of the Ashe Association who had served in the World War
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HISTORY OF THE ASHE (N. C.) AND
but this was only partially successful. From the statistics gath- ered, I give the following :
Members of the Ashe Association registered 256; sent to camps, 64; number who went over seas, 43; number who saw service in active sectors, 31; killed in action, 3. Those killed were Edgar Parsons, Willie Sheets and Charlie Ashley.
Reports show that there was a slight decrease in membership but in contributions the association had the best year in its his- tory up to this time. A total of $5,234.62 had been contributed to all causes. There was again much interest in Oak Hill Academy and $50.15 was contributed for Lester Blevins, a min- isterial student there. The Baptist $75,000,000 Campaign got under way at this session, being ably and eloquently presented by Rev. George M. Reeves, of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Rev. IV. M. Gilmore, of Raleigh, N. C.
The thirty-fourth annual session, which met with Pleasant Home Church on September 7, 1920, found interest in the $75,000,000 campaign at white heat. This session was opened by the introductory sermon by Rev. W. E. Carlton, and the same officers were re-elected. Only one church was absent.
Prof. J. C. Goodman, who had been named as director of the $75,000,000 campaign for the Ashe Association, reported that the Baptist State Convention had asked the Ashe Association to contribute $6,000 toward the fund. By unanimous vote the association decided to raise $10,000 and when the smoke had cleared away and results had been tabulated, it was found that twenty-nine churches had pledged $10,576.00.
The churches had experienced a good year. The movement started the previous year to double pastors' salaries, had borne fruit, the amount being $2,718.29 for the year, a little more than double the amount. There had been contributed to all causes the very respectable total of $6,498.36. The total membership was 2,241, a net gain of 120, and 121 had been added by baptism.
The thirty-fifth session was held with Phoenix Church, begin- ning on September 6, 1921. Rev. T. G. Nanny preached the introductory sermon and the officers of the previous year were re-elected by acclamation. Thirty-one churches were represented and Liberty Grove, from the Three Forks Association, applied for admission and was received under the watch-care of the association.
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THE NEW RIVER (VA.) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
The association again endorsed Oak Hill Academy and pledged its interest and support. There had been received by baptism 156 members and the association had made a net gain of 131. There had been satisfactory progress with pledges for the $75,000,000 campaign and a net gain in contributions for all causes of $3,117.22.
The next session, the thirty-sixth, convened with Bethel Church on August 31, 1922, and Rev. C. S. Blackburn preached the open- ing sermon. J. C. Goodman was re-elected moderator and J. W. Duncan clerk and treasurer. Thirty-three churches were represented.
I think this session is noteworthy particularly because women first made their appearances as delegates to the association. The minutes record that Miss Nora Wallace, Mrs. D. C. Severt, and Miss Emma Testerman, were present as delegates. The work of the Women's Missionary Union, the Baptist Young People's Union and the Sunbeams received much attention at this session.
It was brought to the attention of the association at this ses- sion that one of its most faithful servants had passed on to his reward, this being Rev. Elihu Tucker, who for thirty-four years had been a minister of God in the association. I have made mention of his services briefly in this chronicle as moderator of the association and as missionary. He joined Apple Grove Church in 1876. When this church dissolved he became a mem- ber of Windfall Church, which succeeded it, and when this church was removed to Tuckerdale and re-named, he remained with it and was a member of it at the time of his death.
He entered the ministry in 1888, being ordained by a presby- tery composed of Rev. D. W. Thomason, Rev. Solomon Black- burn and Rev. Noah M. Blevins. and up until his physical break- down, which came about four years before his death, there was no more active minister in North Carolina. He had a genius for friendship and for sympathetic interest in humanity and no one was more in demand in times of sorrow and affliction. As missionary, he was a prodigious worker and his zeal and energy knew no bounds. It was his work as associational missionary that broke him down and resulted in his death. He was 72 years and 10 days old at the time of his death.
The thirty-seventh annual session was held with Healing Springs Church, beginning on August 30, 1923. The introduc- tory sermon was preached by Rev. H. T. Penry. J. C. Good-
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HISTORY OF THE ASHE (N. C.) AND
man was re-elected moderator and W. C. Johnston was elected clerk and treasurer by acclamation, J. W. Duncan having declined to serve again because of illness in his family. J. W. Duncan, a worthy son of Rev. T. M. Duncan, mentioned frequently in this story of the Ashe Association, had served the association faith- fully for many years and it was with genuine regret that his brethren witnessed his retirement from office. They passed a resolution of thanks and appreciation for his splendid service.
Thirty-three churches reported for this session and one new church, Little Helton, was received. There was quite a contest at this session for the next meeting of the association, seven churches asking for it, and after a contest marked by friendly rivalry, it was decided to meet the following year with Tucker- dale Church.
Reports from the churches showed a net gain for the year of 105, with 124 members received by baptism. The total mem- bership was 2,402. There was a total gain in contributions of $1,657.80. There were twenty-seven ordained ministers in the association, thirteen of whom were pastors. Twenty-eight churches reported Sunday schools with 2,147 teachers and pupils.
The association met the following year with Tuckerdale Church on August 29, 1924. Thirty-one of the thirty-eight churches in the association were represented by delegates and the organization was completed by the re-election of the officers of the previous year. Rev. T. M. Hayes preached the opening sermon.
Probably the most noteworthy happening at this session was the application of Baptist Chapel for admission to the associa- tion. This fine old church was organized in 1842 by Stephen Ross and Barton Roby and had been in existence throughout the years. It was the first distinctively missionary Baptist Church to be organized in the mountains after the so-called "Great Split" of 1838. It joined the Briar Creek Association and later went into the organization of the Jefferson Association, which was organized in 1848. When the Jefferson ceased to exist, Baptist Chapel followed her sisters into the organization of the New River Association, but because of differences with Young's Chapel Church that were at that time irreconcilable, she with- drew. These differences were not doctrinal, but arose out of other matters. Baptist Chapel joined the Mountain Union As-
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THE NEW RIVER (VA. ) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
sociation in the year 1876 and remained in this association up to 1924.
The total of contributions for the preceding year was $7,- 625.25, over $1,000 of which was for missions and benevolences. The total membership was 2,360, a net gain of 153.
The thirty-ninth annual session of the Ashe Association met with West Jefferson Church on August 28, 1925. Rev. Coy S. Blackburn preached the introductory sermon and twenty-eight of the thirty-eight churches answered the roll-call.
The total membership of the association, according to reports from the churches, was 2,426. Contributions for all causes had been good during the year but had fallen slightly below the record of 1924. Five women's missionary unions were reported, with a membership of forty, and total contributions of $131.81. Twenty-eight churches reported Sunday schools with a total en- rollment of 2,003.
Prof. J. C. Goodman again presided as moderator and J. G. Welch served this session as clerk and treasurer.
The fortieth annual session of the association convened with Orion Church on August 27, 1926. Dr. Charles E. Maddry, of Raleigh, corresponding secretary of the State Mission Board, preached the opening sermon, following a song service conducted by Rev. W. E. Denny. Upon roll-call, thirty-one churches were found to be represented and organization was completed by the re-election of the officers of the previous year by acclamation.
Two new churches, Smethport and Pleasant Valley, applied for admission and were received under the watch-care of the association, pending investigation by a special committee headed by Ira T. Johnston.
At this session, under the leadership of Ira T. Johnston, the association decided to discontinue its old board of missions and transfer its duties to a new board to be known as the Executive Committee and Board of Missions, with a membership of five.
At this session notice was taken of the death of James Eller, for many years historian of the association and vice president of the association. Born on June 25, 1828, he lived until March 19, 1926. He joined New Hope Baptist Church in 1847, this church being in Wilkes County, and from that time until his death he was active in the work of his denomination. His wife, who was Mary Ann Carlton, and whom he married in 1849, died on August 30, 1924.
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HISTORY OF THE ASHE (N. C.) AND
JAMES ELLER
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THE NEW RIVER (VA.) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
H. A. Eller, son of James Eller, and himself a Baptist leader of note, was elected to succeed his father as vice-president of the association.
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CHAPTER X. IN CONCLUSION.
What has happened since 1926 is fresh in the minds of all. I believe that our people have been aroused to the importance of preserving the records of their churches and that there is no need for further labor on my part. The minutes of all associa- tions, both in North Carolina and in Virginia, are being kept in fire-proof vaults and there is no reason to fear that the records of recent and future years will be lost. It is my hope to be able to present copies of this history to the Baptist headquarters of Virginia and North Carolina, because I believe it will be help- ful. I have had access to records that few have seen and I have been privileged to labor for well over fifty years, shoulder to shoulder with the men and women who have made Baptist his- tory in these mountain counties.
The task of gathering the facts for this history has been long and, at times, exceedingly exhausting. It has tried my strength many times, almost to the breaking point, but it has been a labor of love and of joy unalloyed. There has been joy in poring over old records, carefully kept in old chests and trunks in scores of mountain homes, and in searching through the membership of a dozen or more churches for a copy of the missing minutes of some year. What a wealth of happy memories this labor has revived !
I wish I had the words to tell you here, so that you could see and feel and know the happiness that came to me in the process.
If you are interested enough to peruse my dull pages, the names that I have herein recorded may be just names to you and nothing more. To me they were, and are, personalities, even Richard Jacks and Stephen Ross, and those other stalwarts of the early days whom I never saw, while those with whom I was privi- leged to serve-Elihu Tucker, T. M. Duncan, E. Blevins, T. M. Honeycutt, Solomon Blackburn, Franklin Barker, W. W. White, and a host of others now gone, lived and moved again and wrought mightily before my eyes in the records that I labored over, and while I may not have written a moving story of their achievements in these pages, it has not been for lack of love for them and appreciation on my part. I have done the best I could.
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THE NEW RIVER (VA.) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
For this history I claim no great literary merit but I believe it to be accurate. I know that I have garnered from hundreds of obscure sources, all unknown to the average historian, many fragments of history that might have been lost but for my humble efforts and if the completed story, as it is set down here, proves interesting to those who love the Baptist cause and helpful to students and historians of the future, my labor will not have been in vain and I will be more than satisfied.
I write this closing paragraph at Oak Hill Academy, our great Baptist school at Kindrick, in Grayson County, Virginia, where I have been laboring since 1925, working with and for a host of fine mountain boys and girls who compose the student body and serving as their pastor and the pastor of Young's Chapel Baptist Church.
Oh, it is great to be living anywhere in these momentous times, but how great it is to be living here in God's own lovely moun- tains, surrounded by those I love and who love me! More than forty years ago I became pastor of this church. My pastorate has not been continuous but my love for it has been continuous, ever-increasing and overflowing. The years go by and strength ebbs away, but the heart stays young and so does my mind. I think this comes, more than from anything else, from the happy circumstance that I have had the joy of watching over these chil- dren of my soul for forty years, or more. Under my poor min- istry young men and young women, boys and girls, are entering the church today, even as their fathers and mothers and their grand-parents entered the church before them, all under my ministry. Somehow, the spectacle serves to renew my youth and preserve my faith in human beings. Why? Because I, in my brief span of life, have seen, with my own eyes, how the religion of Jesus Christ can permeate and sustain a community from gen- eration to generation.
Truly, God has been good to me.
THE END]
Kindrick, Va., May 1, 1933.
Date Due
MAY 7 58
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Div. S. 286 F613H 599234
Duke University Libraries D01322565O
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