USA > North Carolina > Davidson County > Lexington > First Church, Davidson County : a history of Pilgrim Evangelical and Reformed Church (United Church of Christ), Lexington, North Carolina, 1757 to 1957 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
Assistant
Mrs. W. L. Clodfelter
CLASS NO. 8
Teacher
Rev. Frank Snider
Assistant
Jack Clodfelter
CLASS NO. 9
Teacher
Mrs. Ellen Leonard
Assistant
Miss Ella Leonard
CLASS NO. 10
Teacher Wade Conrad
Assistant
Clell Clodfelter
Nursery Class, 1957
80
ORGANIZATIONS
CHURCHMEN'S BROTHERHOOD
President Casper Conrad
Secretary
Titus Leonard
Vice President Sidney Smith
Treasurer
Gellery Podgaysky
Contest Team Captains Wade Conrad Edmund Sink
THE WOMEN'S GUILD
President
Miss Sula Essick
First Vice-President
Mrs. Howard Mize
Second Vice-President
Mrs. J. A. Sowers
Secretary-Treasurer
Assistant Secretary-Treasurer
Mrs. Joe Tysinger Mrs. Elmer Essick
Departmental Chairmen
Spiritual Life
Mrs. Casper Conrad
Missionary Education
Miss Bertha Leonard
Christian Education
Mrs. Clell Clodfelter
Christian Stewardship
Mrs. Reid Leonard
Christian Social Action
Mrs. Elwood Everhart
Christian Service
Mrs. Alpheus Miller
Circle Chairmen
Circle No. 1
Mrs. Ellen Leonard
Shining Star Circle
Miss Edna Everhart Mrs. George Miller
Circle No. 4
Mrs. Don Hege
SENIOR HIGH YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
President
Martha Clodfelter
Vice-President
Mary Ann Sowers Sarah Clodfelter
Treasurer
Counselors
Rex Walser Mr. and Mrs. Casper Conrad
Commission Chairmen
Faith Jayne Clodfelter
Action Wayne Morris
Fellowship
Boyd Clodfelter
JUNIOR HIGH FELLOWSHIP
President
Dianne Whittington
Vice-President
Frankie Bunting
Secretary
Jane Leonard
Treasurer
Mary Alice Everhart
Counselors Mr. and Mrs. Steve Truell, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Everhart
81
Circle No. 3
Secretary
Women's Guild, 1957
82
USHERS
Earl Everhart Alpheus Miller
Chief Usher
Assistant Chief Usher
Sidney Smith
Greeter
Francis Bunting
Donald Everhart
Albert Varner, Jr.
Carey Beck
Guy Hege
Nick Watkins
Fred Morris
Clark Fine
James P. Ward
R. G. Hill, Jr.
Claude Cranford
James Everhart
PILGRIM CHURCH-1957
The year 1957 began for the Pilgrim Congregation with the celebration of the Holy Communion on January 6. One hun- dred and forty-six persons gathered at the Lord's Table. Private communions were administered to seven persons who were un- able to attend on Sunday morning.
Boys and girls teams representing Pilgrim Church con- tinued to participate in the Lexington Church Basketball League. Pilgrim boys finished the regular season with a 11-1 record, and in first place, only to be defeated by Holly Grove Lutheran boys in the first game of the Championship Tournament. Pilgrim girls went into the tournament with a 3-6 record, but emerged Cham- pions by winning two straight games. Both teams were a credit to Pilgrim Church.
A "Directory for 1957" was prepared and sent to all of the members of the congregation. This was an eighteen page mimeo- graphed booklet. Miss Naomi Everhart and Mrs. Donald Van Everhart, along with several others, helped with this work.
Youth week end was held at Pilgrim on Saturday and Sun- day, January 26 and 27th. Five young people from Catawba College spent the week end in the Pilgrim congregation. They directed recreation on Saturday night, taught Sunday School classes on Sunday morning, conducted the morning worship service, and held an evaluation meeting and consecration service in the afternoon. The speaker for the morning worship service was student Ed Wench.
On February 2 the Junior Consistory sponsored a Fish Sup- per as a project. On February 16 the Women's Guild held a Chicken Pie Supper in the hut.
83
On February 17, the Rev. Winfred Bray, pastor of the Con- gregational Christian Church in Randleman was the guest speak- er for the Churchman's Brotherhood. On March 10, the two Youth Fellowships of Pilgrim Church visited and worshiped in the Con- gregational Christian Church in Randleman. Forty-five young people and adult advisors made this trip. A few weeks later, on March 31, the pastor spoke to the Western District Congre- gation Christian Youth Rally near Asheboro.
A Leadership Training School for the Davidson District was held at Second Reformed Church in Lexington, with 17 persons from Pilgrim enrolled for this school.
Pilgrim Church Ball Field During A Game-1957
Work began on the preparation of a ball field on the church property across from the parsonage around the last of February. Guy Hege did the bulldozing work, and Alpheus Mil- ler and Clarence Everhart and several others used small tractors in working on the field. Raymond Black did much of the grading. The field was sown in grass, and sand hauled on to the infield. The Consistory set aside funds for the erection of a steel fence at the lower side of the field.
84
The Men's Bible Class completed their project of grading and grassing the property back of the church running along the City Lake Road. Mr. Elwood Everhart did much of the work. Mr. Wade Conrad is the teacher of this class.
Lenten services were held each Sunday night, beginning with March 10. The pastor exchanged pulpits with the Rev. Carl Kreps and the Rev. Don Leonard for two of these services. The Women's Guild conducted one service, the pastor one, and the Blue Masque of Catawba College presented the play, "Every- man" as one of the Lenten Services. On Palm Sunday Night the Choir presented the cantata, "The Glory of the Cross." All of these services were well attended.
Confirmation Class, Palm Sunday, 1957
The pastor taught a Confirmation Class each Saturday morn- ing during the winter up until Palm Sunday. At that time 9 per- sons united with Pilgrim Church. Those who came by Confirma- tion were, Martha Biesecker, Patsy Biesecker, Kay Powell, Mary
85
Alice Everhart and Jean Essick. Mrs. R. G. Hill, Jr. joined by adult baptism, and Mrs. Earl Everhart and Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Bowman were received by transfer of membership.
A Maundy Thursday Communion Service was held on Thursday night, April 18 with 150 present at the Lord's Table. At 6 A. M. on Easter Sunday morning, April 21, the Annual Easter Sunrise service was held in the Pilgrim Cemetery with about 150 persons present. An Easter breakfast was served by the Men's Brotherhood to about 115 persons in the church hut. Three hundred and nine persons were present at the 11 A. M. Worship Service. Following the worship service Communion was distrib- uted to 50 persons who were not present for the Thursday night service.
The Pilgrim Church band, composed of twelve persons, play- ed for the Sunrise Service and also for the opening of Sunday School on Easter Sunday.
Pilgrim Brotherhood began having a quarterly supper meet- ing, with Mr. Tom Moose as the guest speaker for the April meeting. Twenty-five men or more have attended these meetings.
Pilgrim men led in the organization of a "Lexington Area Church Softball League." The pastor was elected secretary of the league. Pilgrim was scheduled to play 27 games, with a little nver half of these at home.
On May 26, four new members were received into Pilgrim Church by transfer of letter. These were: Mrs. Don Hege, Mr. Edward Howell, and Mr. and Mrs. Billy B. Byerly.
The Lexington Area Youth Fellowship met at Pilgrim Church on June 2. The Pilgrim Youth Fellowship conducted the devo- tions and presented a program on the History of the Reformed Church in Davidson County. The Pilgrim Band played at the beginning of the meeting. At this meeting the pastor was elected Advisor.
Vacation Bible School was conducted from June 10-21 at 9 A. M. each morning. One hundred and sixteen boys and girls were enrolled. Mrs. Clell Clodfelter and Mrs. George Miller were the leaders for this school.
As a part of the Bible School a Sunday School Picnic was held on Saturday afternoon, June 22. The Men's softball team
86
Vacation Bible School, 1957
87
played Linwood Methodist Church at 4 P. M. Following this game the Ida Conrad Class engaged in a ball game with the Junior-High Class. The Junior Highs finally won the game. About 200 persons were present for the picnic supper and the motion pictures which were shown later. Mr. Clell Clodfelter brought the projector and showed the pictures.
Sixteen boys and girls from Pilgrim Church enrolled in the Summer Camp program of the Synod at John's River Valley Camp. Six attended the Second Junior Camp, one the First Junior-High, and 9 the Second Junior-High. The pastor served as a counselor at the second Junior-High Camp.
CHURCH BELL
This bell was given to Pilgrim Church by the relatives of the late Mr. Andrew P. Long. The bell hung for many years in his yard.
88
The Senior Youth Fellowship
The Junior Youth Fellowship
89
Junior Consistory, 1957
00000
Church Ushers, 1957
90
Pilgrim Churchman's Brotherhood, 1957
FORMER SUPPLY PASTORS
Dr. A. Odell Leonard
Rev. Melvin Palmer
91
THE TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF PILGRIM CHURCH AUGUST 13 - 18, 1957 COMMITTEE
Titus Leonard, Secretary
Mr. Roscoe Sink
Mrs. W. L. Clodfelter
Mr. Wade Conrad
Mrs. Winnie Leonard Miss Ella Leonard
Alpheus Miller
C. Elwood Everhart (deceased)
J. A. Sowers
Frank Snider
President of Consistory Pastor
Dr. David Dunn
Rev. Huitt R. Carpenter
ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM
August 13 7:30 P. M.
August 14 7:30 P. M.
August 15 7:30 P. M.
August 16 7:30 P. M.
August 17 6:00 P. M. Anniversary Picnic and Fellowship Hour Rev. Huitt R. Carpenter Sunday School Hour
August 18 9:45 A. M.
Dr. A. O. Leonard, Speaker
11:00 A. M. Anniversary Service, Dr. David Dunn, Speaker
3:00 P. M. Memorial and Consecration Service Rev. Carl Daye, Speaker
92
Rev. Hoy L. Fesperman Rev. Jacob L. Palmer Rev. Gerald Cobb Rev. J. L. Levens
APPENDIX - 1 PILGRIM REFORMED CHURCH BAPTISMS BY DR. J. A. PALMER
Date of Baptism
Name
Date of Birth
June 28, 1913 Julius Lefoy Leonard, June 29, 1912
August 6, 1913
Dennis Benjamin Miller, Nov. 30, 1911
August 6, 1913
Irene Mathel Essick, June 8, 1913
September 13, 1913 Clell Batten Clodfelter, March 19, 1913
October 7, 1913 Nellie Belle Everhart, Sept. 22, 1910
October 7, 1913 Ellen Catherine Everhart, Oct. 18, 1912
October 8, 1913
Ivery Richard Everhart, Sept. 20, 1913
May 3, 1914
Joseph Hal Green, Nov. 30, 1912
November 19, 1914
Ruth Leonard, July 26, 1914
January 10, 1915
Treva Jenette Leonard, Nov. 29, 1913
March 28, 1915 Kathaleene Elizabeth Leonard, Dec. 27, 1913
May 2, 1915
Sadie Lee Everhart, Sept. 10, 1910
May 2, 1915
May Kathaleene Sink, Jan. 11, 1915
August 4, 1915
William Grant Frazier, Jan. 29, 1914
September 5, 1915
Clara Essick, Dec. 6, 1914
September 5, 1915 Benjamine Franklin Green, March 13, 1915
April 2, 1916
Clarence Reid Clodfelter, Nov. 23, 1915
April 24, 1916
Annie Leonard, April 4, 1916
June 4, 1916
Sarah Jean Leonard, April 4, 1916 September 24, 1916
Ivey Richard Leonard, Nov. 24, 1915
February 4, 1917
Mabel Lucile Everhart, Jan. 8, 1917
May 27, 1917
Mildred Leonard, March, 1917
August 6, 1917 Henry Jackson Clodfelter, Dec. 29, 1916
October 21, 1917
Millard Ray Everhart, Aug. 28, 1917
APPENDIX - 2 PILGRIM REFORMED CHURCH BAPTISMS BY DR. J. D. ANDREW
Date of Baptism
Name
Date of Birth
May 26, 1918
Annie May Clodfelter, May 9, 1918
August 6, 1918
Sarah Elizabeth Green, March 31, 1918
August 6, 1918 Clara Belle Clodfelter, Jan. 18, 1918
October 6, 1918 James Elmer Byerly, Jan. 24, 1918
October 6, 1918 Willie Cathelle Byerly, Dec. 11, 1913
January 1, 1919 Martha Elizabeth Wagner, March 20, 1914
January 1, 1919 Joe Vaughan Wagner, Feb. 25, 1916
January 1, 1919
James Lafayette Wagner, Feb. 25, 1918
July 13, 1919 Joseph Hayworth Leonard, March 7, 1919 July 31, 1919 James Bradley Hill, April 1, 1915
July 31, 1919
Hilda Katherine Hill, Sept. 1, 1918
September 14, 1919
Verna May Frazier, Oct. 16, 1918
September 15, 1919
September 15, 1919
Robert Hughes Hamil, Aug. 4, 1910 Lessie Maude Hamil, May 7, 1912 Gertrude Frances Everhart
October 5, 1919
93
April 3, 1920
Mary Lucile Essick, June 24, 1919
July 11, 1920
W. J. Leonard, Jr., March 3, 1920
July 18, 1920
Louis Alpheus Green, Sept. 18, 1919
October 31, 1920
Annie Celia Everhart, Jan. 21, 1916
October 31, 1920 Martha Alice Everhart, May 13, 1919
April 8, 1923 James Franklin Andrew, Dec. 15, 1922
May 6, 1923
John Dewitt Essick, June 25, 1922
June 3, 1923
Virginia Dare Leonard, Feb. 27, 1923 Elaine Ripple, Feb. 11, 1923
August 7, 1923
September 11, 1924
Roy Garland Hill, Dec. 28, 1921
September 11, 1924
Jacob Gerald Lee Hill, March 4, 1924
December 7, 1924 Mary Louise Green, May 17, 1923
December 7, 1924 Carl Shuford Leonard, March 29, 1924
December 7, 1924
Lawrence Kohler Everhart, Feb. 15, 1924
December 14, 1924
Charles Willard Beck, Dec. 29, 1916
December 14, 1924
Flora Elizabeth Beck, Aug. 21, 1919
December 14, 1924
Richard Thomas Beck, May 23, 1921
December 14, 1924
Frances Louise Beck, Nov. 23, 1923
December 15, 1924
Gladys May Everhart, Feb. 13, 1923
December 15, 1924
Willie Lee Essick, Aug. 12, 1924
December 15, 1924 Rillie Odell Essick, Aug. 12, 1924
December 25, 1924 Margaret Branson Andrew, Oct. 7, 1924
December 28, 1924 Katheryn Christine Leonard, March 29, 1924
December 28, 1924 Arvel Gilmer Frazier, Aug. 31, 1924
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(Sources of Information on Pilgrim Church)
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, A; Dr. J. C. Leonard.
Church Book of Pilgrim Reformed Church, 1757-1872
Church Book of Pilgrim Reformed Church, 1918.
Church Book of Pilgrim Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1952-1957.
FACTS-FACES-MEMORIES; Woman's Missionary Society, General Sy- nod of the Reformed Church in the United States.
HISTORY OF CATAWBA COLLEGE; Dr. J. C. Leonard.
HISTORY OF REFORMED CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES; James I. Good.
HISTORY OF THE SOUTHERN SYNOD OF THE EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED CHURCH; J. C. Leonard.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE REFORMED CHURCH IN NORTH CARO- LINA; J. A. Clapp and J. C. Leonard.
Minutes of The Classis of North Carolina, 1889-1939.
Minutes of Southern Synod, 1940-1957.
Minutes of the Synod of the Potomac, Scattered years.
Notebooks of Rev. C. C. Wagoner
Pastoral Record Book of Dr. J. D. Andrew.
Pastoral Record Book of Dr. J. A. Palmer.
Pilgrim Lutheran Church; 200th Anniversary Booklet.
Pilgrim Sunday School Record Books for 1853.
Record Book-Sunday School Addition and Choir Loft, 1950-1951. Southern Synod Standard-Scattered years.
Thesis-"EARLY REFORMED CHURCHES IN THE SOUTH"; Frank W. Snider.
Yearbook-The Evangelical and Reformed Church-Scattered years.
94
.
594 PA
BR 02/24/95
94
32596
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.