USA > North Carolina > Ashe County > A history of the Ashe County, North Carolina, and New River, Virginia, Baptist associations > Part 7
USA > Virginia > A history of the Ashe County, North Carolina, and New River, Virginia, Baptist associations > Part 7
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During the year the association had received by baptism seventy-seven members and the total membership was 1,076. The total value of church property was placed at $4,500. Twelve churches reported Sunday schools with 638 teachers and pupils.
The 1893 session of the association was held with Liberty Hill Church, beginning on August 31st. M. B. Young was elected moderator and I. N. Young clerk and treasurer. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel Saunders.
At this meeting a motion was made that the association dis- pose of Oak Hill Academy but the motion was lost. The execu- tive committee reported that satisfactory progress was being made toward building the new church at Independence ; that J. F. Fletcher had been retained as missionary and that they had made an unsuccessful effort to secure a colporter for this field.
This session was marked by the first successful effort at organ- izing an effective Women's Missionary Union for the New River Association. The session was also marked by splendid sermons and addresses by visiting ministers, among these being Rev. V. I'Anson of the Lebanon Association; Rev. Samuel Saunders of the Valley Association, and Rev. H. C. Bookholtz of Chester, S. C. The first Women's Missionary Union was organized at Young's Chapel by J. F. Fletcher, Mrs. I. N. Young, president : Miss S. J. LaRue, secretary.
Reports to the association showed a falling off in contributions to missions but a considerable increase in salaries of pastors. The total membership of the association was 1,159 and there had been ninety-nine baptisms during the year.
The twenty-fourth annual session of the association met with Corinth Church on August 31, 1894, and the introductory ser- mon was preached by Rev. C. M. Mikell. Rev. W. F. Bran- nock was elected moderator and Rev. J. F. Fletcher clerk and treasurer. The practice of reading church letters to the associa- tion was dispensed with by the adoption of a motion changing
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the constitution in this respect and a delegate from each church was called upon to make report on the spiritual condition of his church. The reports submitted by these delegates were not en- couraging. Twenty of the twenty-three churches in the associa- tion were represented and two new churches, Blue Ridge Chapel and Flat Ridge, were received.
Friendship Church sent in the following query :
"Is foot-washing a church ordinance ?"
The regular order of business was dispensed with and the mat- ter was discussed by several speakers, after which the query was answered in the negative.
Valley View Church was granted a letter of dismission. Strong sermons were preached during the sessions by Rev. C. M. Mikell, Rev. J. W. Hundley, Rev. J. A. Taylor, Rev. E. F. Kane and Rev. W. F. Barker. The total membership of the association was 1,136, and there had been sixty-five additions through bap- tism. Twelve churches reported Sunday schools with 725 members.
The 1895 session of the association met with Baptist Union Church on August 29th. The officers of the previous year were re-elected and Rev. C. F. Fields preached the introductory sermon.
One new church, Hebron, in Carroll County, was received into the association. Seventy-four baptisms had been administered during the year and the total membership was 1,142. Thirteen churches reported Sunday schools with 662 pupils and teachers. Visiting ministers, C. F. Fields, T. J. Davenport and C. T. Tay- lor, preached during the sessions.
In 1896 the association met with Independence Church. Rev. C. T. Taylor preached the introductory sermon and the associa- tion got down to business after electing M. B. Young moderator and J. F. Fletcher clerk and treasurer. Twenty-three of the twenty-four churches in the association were represented and one new church, Grosse's Creek Church, Smythe County, Virginia, was received, upon condition. This church had been organized by Rev. Elihu Tucker on September 5, 1895, with eleven mem- bers and it had as assistant pastor, Rev. Ambrose Weaver, a Methodist preacher. The condition was that the church remove its assistant pastor.
Among the visitors at this session were Rev. C. T. Taylor of the Lebanon Association, and Rev. H. M. Fugate of Richmond
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THE NEW RIVER (VA.) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
College, who were later to labor effectively in the association. William Ellyson, corresponding secretary of the Baptist State Mission Board, was also present.
While this meeting was not marked by anything out of the ordinary, only routine business engaging its attention, the ses- sions were all interesting and worth while. On Sunday there were three sermons by Baptist ministers in the little town of Independence. Rev. J. W. Burchett of the Elkin Association, preached at the Baptist Church. Rev. J. W. Hundley preached at the Methodist Church and Rev. H. M. Fugate preached at the Academy.
The total membership of the association at this session was 1,251 and there had been 147 baptisms during the year.
The twenty-seventh annual session of the association met with State Line Church, in the edge of Johnson County, Tennessee, on September 2, 1897, and the introductory sermon was preached by Rev. W. F. Brannock. Twenty-three churches were repre- sented. Rev. W. F. Brannock was elected moderator and Rev. J. F. Fletcher was re-elected clerk and treasurer.
Grosse's Creek Church reported that it had complied with the instructions received at the 1896 session of the association and had dismissed its assistant pastor, who was a Methodist. One new church, Kyle's Chapel, from Wythe County, was received. This church was constituted by Rev. T. R. Fulton, who left the Methodist church and joined the Baptists. He figured largely in this meeting but he went back to the Methodists after a few years and the church which he brought into the association dis- appeared from the minutes of the New River Association.
As is related elsewhere in the story of the Ashe and Alleghany Association, there had been for some time a movement for a new association and it came to a head at this meeting. Brush Creek Church, formerly known as Rural Glen and Galena Church, asked for letters of dismission to join the new association to be known as the Alleghany and Grayson Association and the letters were granted.
The executive committee reported that the association had had the services during the preceding year of three missionaries, these being J. F. Fletcher, W. F. Brannock and T. R. Fulton. In addition, W. A. Hash had served effectively as colporter for two months. There had been eighty-eight baptisms during the year and sixteen churches reported Sunday schools with 804 members.
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The association met the following year with Snow Hill Church in Grayson County, Virginia, on August 25th. The officers of the previous year were re-elected and Rev. T. R. Fulton preached the introductory sermon. Twenty-one of the twenty-four churches of the association were represented. Two new churches, Gold Hill and Iron Ridge, were admitted at this session.
This session of the association was marked by unusual interest in the Baptist Orphanage at Salem, Virginia. Eleven churches pledged varying amounts for its support and promised to send boxes of clothing and supplies to the institution. At this session the work of the Baptist Young People's Union got its first recog- nition in the association, Mr. J. H. LaRue presenting a report on it and making a strong appeal for it.
The total membership for the year was 1,203, after having withdrawn fellowship from Mountain View and having dismissed by letter Brush Creek and Galena.
The twenty-ninth annual session of the association was held with Grubbs Chapel Church, beginning on August 24, 1899. Nineteen of the twenty-two churches in the association were rep- resented. The same officers were re-elected and Rev. R. M. Leftwich preached the introductory sermon. Pleasant Grove Church asked for and was granted a letter of dismission and the name of Mt. Carmel Church was dropped from the roll.
The condition of Mt. Carmel Church had been discussed at previous sessions and a committee had been named to make an investigation. This committee reported that the church had very few members and held no regular services and that another denomination held their property.
This session was made notable by the presence of Miss Daisy Hutson of Richmond, Virginia, who came to the association for the purpose of interesting the women in the work of the Wom- an's Missionary Union. Miss Hutson conducted a meeting of the women in a school house, near the church, arousing much in- terest in the work.
The thirtieth annual session was held at Young's Chapel Church, beginning on August 23, 1900. It was marked by a new feature on the opening day, a formal address of welcome by J. D. Perkins and a response by Rev. J. M. Dunaway of the Lebanon Association. Rev. W. F. Brannock was re-elected moderator and W. A. Hash was elected clerk and treasurer.
Corinth Church asked for and was granted a letter of dismis- sion and a committee was named to investigate Wingate's Chapel,
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THE NEW RIVER (VA.) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
which had not been represented in the association for several sessions.
The association met the following year with Fellowship Church, the session beginning on August 29th, 1901, with an introductory sermon by Rev. H. M. Fugate. Fourteen of the twenty-one churches in the association were represented and there were many notable visitors, among them being J. D. Pil- cher, D.D., corresponding secretary of the Sunday School and Bible Board, Petersburg, Virginia ; Rev. J. M. Dunaway, pastor of the church at Marion, Virginia ; Prof. S. C. Mitchell of Rich- mond College; D. J. Eaton of the Atlantic Association; E. W. Reedy of the Ashe Association; T. R. Windsor of the Alleghany and Grayson Association; Marshall B. Young of the Stone Mountain Association, Georgia.
The association went on record at this session as opposing the union of church and state in any manner whatsoever. The mat- ter was brought up in a discussion concerning the use of public funds in the support of sectarian schools and institutions, a mat- ter that was being widely discussed at the time and which was to come up for consideration before the Virginia Constitutional Convention soon to be called. After a full discussion, the follow- ing resolution was adopted :
"Whereas, we believe that the practice of using public money for the use of schools or other institutions under sectarian control is thoroughly un-American and is, in its very essence, tyrrany ;
"Resolved, First that we, the delegates representing the churches of the New River Association, very earnestly re- quest our representatives in the Constitutional Convention to use their utmost efforts to secure such provisions in the new Constitution as may be necessary to prevent such appro- priations."
The association named a committee to lay the matter before the proper authorities.
The committee named at the preceding session to investigate Wingate Chapel reported that that church had been dissolved and its name was dropped from the roll.
It was reported that two missionaries had been employed dur- ing the year, Rev. C. M. Rock, at Independence, and Rev. H. M. Fugate in the upper end of the association.
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The thirty-second annual meeting of the association was held with White Top Church, beginning on September 4th, 1902, with an introductory sermon by Rev. C. M. Rock. Fifteen churches out of twenty-one in the association, were represented. R. W. Young was elected moderator and W. A. Hash was re- elected clerk and treasurer.
Among the notable visitors at this session were J. P. Saul of the Valley Association; T. R. Windsor of the Alleghany and Grayson Association; E. W. Reedy and W. F. Barker of the Ashe Association ; J. F. Maiden of the Lebanon Association, and A. C. Hamby, editor of The Blue Ridge Baptist, North Wilkes- boro, N. C.
Reports from the churches for this year showed unusual prog- ress along all lines. The churches had paid to all of the boards $380.98, making an increase of 50 per cent over the preceding year, and they had made an equally fine gain in pastors' salaries. There had been sixty-six received by baptism and the total mem- bership was 1,015, after Grosse's Creek, with fifty members, had been granted a letter of dismission. A spirit of optimism pervaded the sessions and every meeting was uplifting and help- ful. Commenting on the sessions, Rev. J. F. Maiden, for sev- eral years a missionary in the association, said :
"I couldn't hear all that was being said. I am eighty years old and my hearing has failed, but I could tell by the expressions on the faces of those round about me that it was one of the best associations that I ever attended."
This splendid old servant of God preached during the sessions and was the recipient of much attention on the part of the dele- gates. His home was in Smythe County, Virginia, where he died a few years later. He was deeply interested in the work in the New River Association and attended its annual sessions as long as he was physically able to do so.
The next session of the association was held at Liberty Hill Church, beginning on September 1, 1903, with the introductory sermon by Rev. C. T. Taylor. Twelve churches were repre- sented, the smallest number reporting in many years, but these twelve made reports that were heartening and encouraging in every respect. Eleven out of the twelve reported Sunday schools with total enrollment of 629 and every one of the twelve reported liberal contributions to the church boards.
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THE NEW RIVER (VA.) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
This fine condition was due, in my opinion, to the splendid work done by Rev. H. M. Fugate, who had come to the associa- tion as missionary in 1901 and who had been active along these lines. Mr. Fugate was well educated, full of energy, spiritually minded, a faithful servant of God and his work still lives in the territory of the New River Association.
Another force for good, which had helped to bring about these conditions, was the work done by John W. Barker as colporter for the association. The following extracts from his report for the previous year show the nature of his work and are worthy of being recorded here :
Days actually employed, 120; families visited, 333; persons habitually neglecting attendance upon preaching, 328; families destitute of the Bible, 58; families destitute of other religious books, 131; number of adults in 333 families, 930; number of children in 333 families, 773; Baptists in 333 families, 271; Methodists, 229; adults in no church, 452: children over seven in no church, 408: children in no Sunday school, 457; adults in no Sunday school, 672.
The report showed that a great deal of good literature, includ- ing religious books, tracts and pamphlets, had been distributed by the colporter during the year.
Committees were named to visit all of the churches that were not represented at the association. Among the visitors who were recognized during the sessions were Rev. J. F. Maiden, Rev. C. T. Taylor, and Rev. W. N. Britten of the Lebanon Asso- ciation; T. R. Windsor of the Alleghany and Grayson Associa- tion ; Rev. S. S. Weatherly, prominent Methodist minister; Mar- shall B. Young of Atlanta, Georgia, and Rev. Albert G. Hash of Birmingham, Alabama.
Albert Hash preached one of the sermons at this session and made a profound impression on those who heard him. He was a native of Grayson County, a brother of Rev. Walter A. Hash. He was converted under my ministry and I baptized both him and his brother, Walter. Walter Hash's work in the New River Association, where he has served as missionary, as pastor and as principal of Oak Hill Academy and has wielded a commend- ing influence for many years, is well known, but Albert passed out of the picture early and comparatively few remember him.
I think that Albert Hash was easily one of the foremost young ministers of his day. He left the mountains and went to How-
P
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HISTORY OF THE ASHE (N. C.) AND
ard College in Alabama, where he graduated with honors, and soon thereafter became pastor of one of the great Baptist churches of Birmingham, Ala. He died in the eighth year of his pastorate there, in the prime of his young manhood and at the zenith of his power and influence.
Writing of him, it comes to my mind to write also of another son of the mountains, whom I loved as one of my own sons, and who died in his youth, T. F. Edmondson of the White Top sec- tion. He was the son of Dr. I. Edmondson and a nephew of the E. Edmondson who figured in the work of the Jefferson Asso- ciation. He was an eloquent young preacher, of great promise, and he left his impress upon the Baptists of Grayson County.
The thirty-fourth annual session of the New River Association met on August 30, 1904, with Young's Chapel Church. Rev. T. F. Edmondson, above referred to, had been chosen to preach the introductory sermon, but he was unable to attend because of ill- ness, and Rev. C. W. Trainham of Marion, Virginia, supplied for him.
Only thirteen of the twenty churches in the association pre- sented letters and committees were named to visit all churches not represented by delegates, these being Hebron, Iron Ridge, Haw Orchard, Independence, Gold Hill, Blue Ridge Chapel, and Pleasant Union. Serving on these committees were: A. W. Ross, J. W. Barker, A. C. Hash, W. A. Hash, and I. N. Young. There were sermons during the session by C. W. Trainham, J. F. Fletcher and C. T. Taylor. R. W. Young served as modera- tor and Walter A. Hash as clerk and treasurer.
The association met the following year with Rock Bridge Church, the sessions beginning on August 28, 1905. Rev. W. R. Richardson preached the introductory sermon. R. W. Young was chosen moderator and E. W. Reedy clerk and treasurer. No mention is made of visiting ministers in the minutes of this session. C. T. Taylor and W. R. Richardson, who had been so listed the year before, had become pastors in the association dur- ing the year.
Various committees reporting to the association, presented encouraging statistics. There had been added during the year by baptism fifty-four members, making a total of 913, a net gain of forty-eight over the previous year. There had been paid to preachers a total of $857.42 and to all of the boards $368.08. Eleven churches reported Sunday schools with an enrollment of
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THE NEW RIVER (VA.) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
788. A new church had been formed at Galax, Virginia, and a letter from it was received too late for it to be received at this session.
The thirty-sixth session of the association, held with Friend- ship Church, beginning August 28, 1906, was marked by the reception of two new churches, one of these being Galax, above referred to, and Comer's Rock. J. W. Barker was elected mod- erator and E. W. Reedy clerk and treasurer. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. J. M. Pilcher, D.D., from the text Luke 5:37. This session was marked also by strong preaching by Dr. Pilcher, Rev. C. W. Trainham, Rev. A. W. McDaniel and G. M. Pennington. Eighteen churches were represented by delegates.
The thirty-seventh session was held with Pine Branch Church. beginning on August 27, 1907, with the introductory sermon by Rev. C. T. Taylor. The officers of the previous year were re- elected. Eighteen churches were found to be represented.
The minutes of this session show a net gain for the year of fifty-eight and a total membership of 1,140. With the single exception of state missions, the reports showed a substantial gain in contributions for all boards. The colporter, J. W. Barker, presented an interesting report, showing that he had made aver- age monthly sales of Bibles and religious books amounting to $58.67. He had found 201 homes without a Bible in them and 598 homes destitute of other religious literature.
It is reported that Rev. Albert G. Hash was present as a visitor and preached during the sessions.
The thirty-eighth session of the association began on Septem- ber 17, 1908, with Snow Hill Church. E. W. Reedy preached the introductory sermon and sixteen churches were found to be represented. The association organized for business by electing J. W. Barker moderator and J. F. Fletcher clerk and treasurer. This session was marked by the presence of many visitors and by much preaching, among the visitors being C. W. Trainham of the Lebanon Association; Dr. K. Thompson and J. Williams of the Surry County Association; R. D. Garland, field secretary of the State Mission Board; E. E. Lamb of the Valley Association; Amos Clary of The Religious Herald; J. C. Carper of the Blue Ridge Association. There were sermons during the sessions by E. W. Reedy, R. D. Garland, E. E. Lamb, J. F. Fletcher, J. H. Powers and J. C. Carper.
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The association showed much interest in the institutions of the church and eleven delegates, for their churches, pledged boxes of food and clothing for the Baptist Orphanage at Salem, Virginia.
The report of the committee on digest of church letters has this significant remark :
"We note that there has been a considerable decline in contributions for all objects by the churches, but the Wom- en's Missionary Union comes in and saves the day."
This splendid organization has a way of coming in and saving the day and has done it many times since in the history of the New River Association.
The association showed a total membership of 1,292 and had baptized during the year 212 persons. Fifteen churches reported Sunday schools with 1,022 members.
The association met in its thirty-ninth session with Liberty Hill Church, beginning on August 31st, 1909. The officers of the previous year were re-elected and sixteen churches were found to be represented. Rev. J. H. Powers preached the annual ser- mon. One new church, Midway, was received at this session and two churches, Brush Creek and Pleasant Grove, who, with Galena Church had gone off from the New River Association in 1897 to join in the organization of the Alleghany and Grayson Association, asked to be taken back. They were received under the watch-care of the association, to be regularly taken in when properly dismissed from the Alleghany and Grayson Association. Galena Church, which went off with the other two, was not heard of again.
Among the visitors at this session were noted Hon. W. C. Fields, moderator of the Alleghany Association (North Caro- lina ) ; C. T. Taylor of Bristol, Virginia; C. W. Trainham, Marion, Virginia; Prof. S. W. Edmondson of Virginia Insti- tute, now Intermont College, Bristol, Virginia; A. G. Hash of Bethel Association, Alabama; Walter A. Hash, missionary in Buchanan County, Virginia ; W. E. Lankford of the Portsmouth (Virginia ) Association.
At this session it was announced that the functions of the Sun- day School and Bible Board had been assumed by the State Mis- sion Board and the clerk was instructed to make the proper nota- tion in the records. During this session there was great interest in the "Laymen's Movement" and a committee was named to direct the work within the bounds of the association.
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THE NEW RIVER (VA. ) BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS
The digest of church letters showed 122 baptisms during the year and a total membership of 1,377. Thirteen churches re- ported Sunday schools with 1,028 members. There had been a gain of $180.79 in contributions to the boards and the associa- tion pledged itself to raise $250 for foreign missions during the coming year.
Comer's Rock Church was reported as extinct and was dropped from the rolls.
The fortieth annual session of the association met with Lau- rel Church, beginning September 15, 1910, with the annual ser- mon by Rev. A. S. Murray. Letters from twenty churches and two mission stations were handed in and the association organ- ized by re-electing the officers of the previous year.
Three churches had been reported as missing the previous year and special messengers had been named to investigate their con- dition and make report. J. F. Fletcher reported that Flat Ridge Church was practically extinct and advised that it be dropped from the rolls. W. J. Banks reported that the church at Inde- pendence was in a "hopeful" condition and T. R. Warren re- ported that Haw Orchard Church was in good shape, had added twenty-three by baptism during the year, and was completing a new house of worship.
A study of the church letters for this session showed a slight falling off in contributions to the boards. The total member- ship was 1,605 and eight had been received by baptism during the year. Twenty churches reported Sunday schools with 127 officers and teachers and 1,557 pupils. The minutes of this session show that there had been considerable activity during the year in the W. M. U. and in work among the Baptist young people.
The clerk was authorized at this session to have printed in the back of the minutes an "Abstract of Principles."
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