USA > North Carolina > Historical papers of the North Carolina Conference Historical Society and the Western North Carolina Conference Historical Society > Part 18
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He was not only strong in doctrine but a marvelously successful revivalist. When presiding elder of Salisbury district (1825-29) there were 7,000 additions to the church on the district and 2,798 of these were converted under the preaching of this evangelistic presiding elder.
S. MILTON FROST
S. Milton Frost, a native of Davie, was a student in Baxter Clegg's school in Mocksville, and at Emory and Henry College and was admit- ted into conference in 1846. Later, in 1852, he graduated from our State University and by election of his classmates preached the baccalau- reate sermon that year, an honor of which he was always proud. He was a preacher of superior force, and always went into the pulpit with beaten oil. He preached as one who knew in whom he believed and so impressed his hearers. He filled the best appointments and was for a time principal of Goldsboro Female Institute. After the Civil War he preached in Baltimore and later became identified with the Pennsylvania Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church.
At the Raleigh conference in 1853, he formed a brotherly contract with R. T. Heflin, N. H. D. Wilson and A. S. Andrews to labor for a conference organ, a conference college, and all of North Carolina in one conference. He lived to see all these accomplished, and later two conferences bounded by our state line.
When a poor, broken-hearted penitent at Smith Grove camp meet- ing in September, 1839, he lingered at the altar all day and late into the night. When he retired that night he could not sleep. In the morning while it was yet dark he arose and walked half a mile from the camp ground, and kneeling beneath a spreading oak found peace with God.
Forty years later he wrote a poem entitled :
That White Oak Tree
"There is a place, a hallowed spot, I long to see,
Where stands with outspread limbs an ancient white oak tree; 'Twas there I knelt with aching heart and wept and prayed, And sought for pardon while God's answer long delayed.
Dark was the night, but darker still my soul in gloom, Shuddered at thought of endless, dreadful, awful doom. As thus I wept and prayed and made most solemn vows, The shimmer of the sun came streaming through the boughs, When quick as thought my load was gone, my heart was light, My soul was filled with holy peace, the world was bright, Rocks, hills and trees joined with me His dear name to praise, While angels in glory their grateful songs did raise.
Long years have passed, but still that spot is ever dear,
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.
Jesus is yet with me, my Saviour is ever near. My journey is most ended, the victory most won, Well done! Soon shall I hear my Captain say: Come home!
As through the air I mount, I'll glance at that old tree Where Jesus saved me from despair, and let my spirit free."
But God spared him to preach twenty-five years after he wrote the poem. In 1902 he visited North Carolina and attended the Semi- Centennial Reunion of his class at Chapel Hill. He of course came to Mocksville and on the Sabbath preached twice to the edification of the large congregations which heard him. Three years later, on December 31, 1905, in his own pulpit in Pennsylvania his sermon sub- ject was "Last Things, Last Day," from the text I John 2:18. "It is the last time," and that sermon proved to be his last pulpit mes- sage, for he was stricken down and went to his eternal reward before another Sabbath dawned.
W. M. ROBEY
Wesley M. Robey, a native of Yadkin, born near the Davie line, was converted at Wesley Chapel in Davie and became a great preacher. He possessed the martyr spirit and was afraid of nothing but sin. He was a dogmatic preacher, logical and powerful in argu- ment, and a sturdy defender of the faith. The writer fifty years ago heard him preach a sermon two and a half hours long on Hell at Rock Springs camp meeting in Lincoln county, and that sermon still Iingers in the memory of many yet living who were present when the great congregation hung upon the words of the preacher as he held forth the terrors of law and the eternal penalty awaiting the final impenitent.
H. T. HUDSON
Hilary T. Hudson was born near Mocksville in 1823, was educated at Baxter Clegg's school in Mocksville and at Randolph-Macon Col- lege and joined the conference in 1851. From the start he took a position of leadership, filling the best appointments. He lived in Shelby for fifteen years while serving the Shelby district, Shelby station, and adjoining circuits and rendered in those fields a service to the church which placed Methodism in a position of leadership which she never lost. His service in the pulpit was great, but he was also a vigorous writer and wrote much for the religious press while associate and corresponding editor of the Raleigh Christian Advocate. He was the author of two books, The Methodist Armor and The Shield of the Young Methodist; written in the language of the people, they have been widely circulated. While a pronounced Metho- dist he was tolerant toward all creeds and is affectionately remembered by his brethren.
JOHN TILLETT
John Tillett, though not a native, was actively identified with Davie Methodism, first as a teacher and local preacher and later as preacher in charge. His activity in behalf of temperance in the earlier days did much to build up a sentiment against the liquor evil in that part of the stato. He was both educated and consecrated, with positive
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conviction, and uncompromising where moral issues were involved. A question was either positively right or positively wrong with him, and he stood fearless for the right as he saw it. He was not always tactful, but he was always honest and fearless in the performance of duty. He made war against alcohol and turned Methodist senti- ment against it in a day when the whiskey business was regarded as respectable. Many men in Davie who were church officials and dis- tillers, through his influence abandoned the business and two of these became local preachers and some of their descendants are now officials in the church. John Tillett made a deep impression on his times and is remembered as one of the molders of sentiment and leader of the church in those earlier days.
Other Davie men who have figured in our church history with more or less distinction were John Rich, L. L. Hendren, J. F. Smoot, W. C. Willson and W. H. Call, all of whom have departed this life. Besides these among our preachers living are James Willson, John T. Ratledge, A. P. Ratledge, Dwight W. Brown and Henry M. Wellman, at present members of our Conference.
LOCAL HISTORY
The old preaching places-Beal's, Olive Branch, Whitakers, Wards, Ellis and others, which were established by Yeargan or his immedi- ate successors, have been abandoned, the foundations have crumbled and those who worshipped at them have gone to their re- ward. As the movement of population changed churches were built where larger numbers could be reached, but so located as to take care of the old territory.
Prior to 1819 the Methodists of South Davie worshipped in a union church near Jerusalem, but when they began to hold their love feasts and class meetings with closed doors it created such confusion and criticism on the part of the outsiders that under the leadership of James Reid, the pastor, they moved to a schoolhouse up the road and when Reid arose to preach he said: "Here we will have liberty," and thus Liberty church in Davie circuit got its name.
In an old record we find that "in 1846 under the labors of R. P. Bibbs and J. B. Martin a Society was formed at Concord, three miles from Liberty." The late Mrs. Mary Hodges, mother of Prof. J. D. Hodges, was one of the charter members and it was largely through her influence that Concord church was established.
Center church was organized in 1830. Daniel Dwiggins, who later became a local preacher, was a leader there who did faithful work for many years.
Smith Grove Camp Ground was established in 1826 and some time later the church there was built. Whitaker's, two miles away, was absorbed by Smith Grove. Bishop Asbury preached at Whit- aker's on Sanctification in 1794, and again according to his journal he preached a short sermon there on Sunday, October 13, 1799. Smith Grove became a strong Methodist center. Bishop Paine preached once at a camp meeting there; Dr. Frost was converted, and Dr.
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Chas. F. Deems was recommended for admission into conference there.
Hebron was organized early in the last century. The name was later changed to Fulton and it is located on the Yadkin about twelve miles from Mocksville. The cornerstone of the present brick church was laid June 16, 1888, and Dr. Frank L. Reid delivered the address. Within a year thereafter the church was completed and in August, 1889, dedicated, the late Rev. J. H. Corden preaching the sermon. This church was originally organized by John Lowry and Joseph Hanes, who were charter members. The Hanes family, widely known in church and business circles, were for many years members of this congregation.
Wesley Chapel was organized in 1852. The Robey family lived just across the line in Yadkin, but were members here where Wesley M. Robey attended church and was converted.
In 1833 Bethel, two miles away, was the nearest Methodist church to Mocksville, and there were but few Methodists around Mocksville; but Jesse Clement, a substantial citizen, went out one Saturday to Bethel to hear the circuit rider, Chas. P. Moorman, preach and was so well pleased with the preacher that he invited him home for the night. Mr. Clement was not a Christian, but was of Lutheran ante- cedents. The next day he and his wife both went back to church, were converted and became ardent Methodists. It was not long until regular services were held in Mocksville, a congregation was organ ized, a lot secured and a church built. The lot was given by Mrs. Lucretia Carter, and Jesse Clement did his full part toward build- ing the church. He was a man of sterling character and for the remainder of his life was a steward and active leader in the church and his descendents still hold to the faith.
From the time of Yeargan to 1836 all that territory now embraced in the county of Davie was attached to Salisbury circuit, but after that Davie Methodists were served by Mocksville circuit until they grew so large that other charges were required. Now we have six pastoral charges and 3,000 members in Davie with church property valued at $120,000.
Among notable men who have served in this field since the first preacher came in 1780 were Jesse Lee, Hope Hull, Isaac Lowe, James Parks, William Lambuth (1796, grandfather of the Apostolic Bishop W. R. Lambuth who died last month ), John Turmell, James Douthit, Philip Bruce, Edward Cannon, James Reid, Lewis Skidmore, Peter Doub, Moses Brock, Chas. Moorman, John Wesley Childs, S. D. Bumpas, William Barringer, William Carter, L. S. Burkhead, N. H. D. Wilson, W. H. Bobbitt, I. T. Wyche, William Closs, John Tillett, M. L. Wood, H. T. Hudson, W. S. Black, and many others as useful if not so prominent.
SCHOOLS
In 1793 James Parks was the presiding elder and also the principal of Cokesbury School, located a mile from the present town of Advance on the Sheriff Bailey farm. It was certainly the first conference school ever organized in the state. There is no stone remaining to mark the foundation. Bishop Asbury in his journal says: "I came to Cokesbury
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School, at Hardy Jones; it is twenty feet square, two stories high, well set out with doors and windows." The school was not ope- rated very long, for Bishop Asbury in 1790, six years later, says it was then used for a church. This church was called Shady Grove. Later the congregation ceased to worship there, having built at Advance a church to take its place and the Advance church is still known as Shady Grove.
James Parks married a daughter of Hardy Jones and later estab- lished a school further up the Yadkin at a place which was called Jonesville, no doubt in honor of Mrs. Parks' father. James Parks had four sons who became preachers, one of whom, Martin P. Parks, was a pulpit orator of notable ability and power.
About 1840 Rev. Baxter Clegg was appointed principal of Mocks- ville Academy and for probably fifteen years conducted this high school with signal success. He was a useful man and exercised a fine influence over the student body and many of the prominent men of that section got their training under this inspiring instructor. Among these were Dr. S. Milton Frost, Dr. L. L. Hendren, Dr. H. T. Pritchard, a great Baptist preacher, Dr. James McGuire, Dr. J. W. Hudson and W. C. Wilson, Methodist preachers; Dr. Thos. H. Wiseman, prominent physician; Mr. John Marshall Clement, an emi- nent lawyer; Mr. Richard S. Harris, of Concord, who was an editor and father of Col. Wade H. Harris of the Charlotte Observer, and Jacob Eaton, who after completing the scholastic course, became Mr. Clegg's assistant. Later, when Mr. Clegg went to Olin Academy, Mr. Eaton was placed at the head of the Mocksville school and for many years was the leading teacher in this section. He was a man of ripe scholarship and had the gift of imparting what he knew so as to inspire students with confidence in the teacher and in themselves as well.
Finally broken in health he had to lay down his task and then his daughter, Miss Mattie M. Eaton, who felt called to foreign mission work, gave up her life plans in order to remain with her afflicted father and continue the work he had so well established. She was a woman of deep piety and superior mental gifts. When but sixteen years old she took charge of her father's school and was able to instruct the advanced students in higher mathematics and Greek. After her father died she with her aunt, Miss Laura Clement, her equal in mental and religious equipment, established Sunnyside Academy in Mocksville, a school which for thoroughness of work and for moral and religious influence was a bleessing of untold value to the whole county. The religious side of education was magnified as of most importance. Both of these elect ladies were well grounded theologians with a clear grasp of the great truths of the Bible, and knew the foundation doctrines of the church as well as the average preachers did. Wesley, Clarke and Fletcher were to them old friends, so familiar were they with the important doctrines they taught. The student body was required on each Friday to learn the Sunday School 1.son for the following Sabbath and those students knew their lessons
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when they recited at Sunday school. Miss Eaton when but sixteen years old could repeat from memory the four Gospels and all the Psalms. The benefits that have come to the people of Davie through the mental and moral influence of Baxter Clegg, Jacob Eaton, and Misses Clement and Eaton, the teachers, can never be estimated.
MOCKSVILLE CONFERENCE
The North Carolina Conference met in the court house at Mocks- ville, December 23rd and adjourned December 29th, 1840. Bishop Thomas A. Morris presided and S. S. Bryant was secretary. It was indeed a Christmas conference and the preachers were cavalrymen in the Lord's army, for there were no railroads and very poor dirt roads in those days, so the circuit riders came on horseback. The report shows that there were six districts, 49 charges and only two parsonages. The missionary reports totaled $445. The schools under conference control were the Academy of Mocksville, Clemmonsville and Leasburg, and a female academy in Greensboro. The total mem- bership was 20,579, but 4,480 of these were colored. There were 116 local preachers, 60 traveling preachers, 46 of whom were married. It was said the single preachers were more popular than the married ones, as is even the case in some quarters in these times.
Among the prominent preachers who attended were Moses Brock, Peter Doub, James Reid, D. B. Nicholson, W. E. Pell, S. D. Bumpass, John E. Edwards, John W. Lewis, Bennett T. Blake, Ira T. Wyche and Robert P. Bibb.
James Reid, Peter Doub and Moses Brock, all of whom were pre- siding elders, were the outstanding leaders of the conference. The minutes report that "John T. Brame, John Tillett, Gaston E. Brown, Wilbur H. Barnes, W. S. Chaffin and John Rich were severely examined before being received into the conference and elected deacons." S. D. Bumpass was elected elder.
The presiding elders were Bennett T. Blake, R. J. Carson, H. C. Leigh, Peter Doub, Moses Brock and James Reid. The conference host was T. M. Sharpe. It has been 81 years since that memorable meeting and no person now living can remember any details of the session.
The conference again met with the Mocksville Methodist Church, December 7 and adjourned December 12, 1864, during the darkest days of the Civil War. Mocksville had hardly more than 300 inhabitants and was twenty miles from Salisbury, the nearest railroad point. Many of the preachers arrived on horseback, and those who came by rail to Salisbury were met there with vehicles, mostly wagons, and brought over the rough roads to Mocksville.
Bishop Early was unable to attend and David B. Nicholson was elected president and Mr. Braxton Bailey, one of the local church pillars, said he presided with the grace and dignity of the vice-presi- dent at Washington. The presiding elders were Chas. F. Deems, Peter Doub, Numa F. Reid. William Barringer. Ira T. Wyche, L. L. Hendren, William H. Bobbitt and David B. Nicholson. R. G. Barrett was the Mocksville pastor and conference host.
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C. C. Dodson, M. V. Sherrill and W. C. Willson were continued on trial. Calvin Plyler and J. D. Buie were admitted into full connection. T. J. Gattis, T. L. Troy and A. R. Raven were ordained deacons; E. A. Yates, W. M. Robey, W. H. Moore were ordained elders.
Some of the appointments may now be interesting: Mocksville, Carson Parker; Greensboro, J. W. Tucker; Forsyth, C. C. Dodson: Trinity and High Point, J. R. Brooks; South Guilford, N. H. D. Wilson; Salisbury, A. W. Mangum; Iredell, John Tillett; Warren, T. B. Kingsbury; Raleigh, B. Craven; Person, P. J. Carraway; Wilming- ton, L. S. Burkhead; Sampson, W. M. Robey; Montgomery, F. A. Wood. Eleven preachers were appointed chaplains in the army, among whom were J. D. Buie, A. D. Betts, R. S. Webb, C. Plyler, C. M. Pepper and W. H. Moore, the latter then a young man sent by Davie to minister to her boys at the front. The total membership was 37,986, of which 11,142 were colored.
Among the interesting characters at this session was Rev. Dr. R. S. Moran, one of the high-steeple preachers of the conference. He was an Irishman, a bachelor, a scholar and an orator of wonder- ful power; but lacking tact and worldly wisdom, he was unable to adapt himself to plain surroundings. He was always immaculately dressed, in contrast with most of the preachers. It is an old conference story, the remark which Moran made once to Dr. Closs, that he changed his linen daily and the quick retort of Closs, that he "was thankful that he was not so filthy."
Dr. Moran was not generally popular with his brethren, though he commanded their high respect. When the Mocksville folks with wagons met the preachers at Salisbury, Moran said: "I will not ride in a wagon if I have to pay $100 for a carriage," while Closs took a seat in the wagon as a matter of course.
During the session Dr. Numa F. Reid referred to the conference trunk and Dr. Moran asked "Why don't you call it bureau?" Reid replied, "That would do for the North, but we of the South have had sufficient experience with bureaus."
A young "sky scraping" preacher from the East was put up to preach one night, and he used flowery language and much poetry. Dr. Closs was to conclude the service. He was so displeased with the mannerisms and affected style of the preacher that he whispered to Brother Barrett, the conference host, "Get Moran to close, that it all may be of a piece."
Sunday night Moran preached a labored sermon to prove the divinity of Christ to a congregation that never doubted that Christ was the Son of God. Dr. Moran later went to New York and became a Congregationalist, I think, and died many years ago.
Dr. Numa F. Reid was perhaps the most popular and influential member of the conference at that time.
It was hard times in the South in 1864. The people had learned the lessons of self-denial. The church was lighted with tallow candles. Rufus Clement, the colored sexton of the church, was an uncle of the present Bishop Geo. C. Clement of the A. M. E. Zion Church, who it will be recalled was fraternal delegate from his denomination to our General Conference at Asheville in 1910.
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TEMPERANCE
Methodism has always been a foe of the liquor traffic, for in the early days when the drink evil had strong defenders in respectable circles our leaders occupied the front line of opposition. The ad- vanced position taken by them was not popular, but it was right and they stood for the right, until it was so popular that the American nation gave its approval by writing into the organic law of the land prohibition in all territory over which floats the Stars and Stripes.
The following resolutions were passed by a Salisbury circuit quarterly conference held by Peter Doub ninety-two years ago and make interesting reading now:
"Resolved that inasmuch as it is the duty of those who labor among us in the ministry, whether traveling or local, to warn their congregations against the debasing and sinful practice of intoxica- tion; therefore we, the members of this quarterly conference, pledge to use our influence to banish the use of distilled spirits, except in case of necessity or when prescribed by a physician of skill and probity. We deem it also proper and therefore recommend to our brethren that they should as a body, one and all, refuse to partake of any treat given by candidates for the General Assembly, for Congress or for any other appointment, whether such treat be given on the ground at the time of the election or afterwards.
"We further pledge ourselves, that all other things being equal, we will support, and severally recommend it to others to support, those for public office, who entirely abandon the practice of treating, in preference to those who continue the practice."
This protest against the monster evil was seemingly unheeded for many years, but the preachers in their effort to overcome the evil went forward step by step until legislation stronger and more rigid was enacted, until finally the worm of the still was flattened and the miserable traffic and use of alcohol completely outlawed by the nation. But it was a long and bitter struggle in which men who possessed the martyr spirit, men of the type of Peter Doub, Moses Brock and John Tillett, by courage and faith when the way was dark, fought on until the breaking of the day, and while they did not live to see the final triumph, it was because they and men like them lived and preached and helped to arouse a public conscience, which at last repudiated the whole business.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
Many parents in these times are afraid the children will turn against the church if they are required to spend more than forty minutes a week in the sanctuary. They used to keep them at it all day Sunday, and at quarterly conference held in 1843 the brethren protested against such long sessions of the Sunday School on the ground that it was really too wearisome to the children. The con- ference delivered itself in the following words:
"On ordinary occasions the Sunday School shall not remain in session above three hours, for we are fully convinced that where weariness commences instruction ceases and many of our schools have been injured by being kept in session from morning until even-
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ing. We are also satisfied that the most successful way of com- municating religious instruction is catechetically; and that the time specified, three hours, is amply sufficient for that purpose."
In these days the Sunday School children must have been glad when preaching day came, because of the variety it gave to their worship, for you may be sure their stern parents made them stay for church. But alas, it is different now, when two million Metho- dist adults on their way to church meet two million Methodist chil- dren on the way home from Sunday School.
QUARTERAGE
Those who have rendered the greatest service to mankind have been least appreciated in their day. Preachers and teachers have generally been forced to struggle against poverty, while those who profit by their service often enjoy great material prosperity. We preachers sometimes think we have a hard time when support is meagre, but the poorest paid missionary in the conference today enjoy comforts that the early circuit riders would have counted it a great privilege to possess. As late as 1840 there were but two parsonages-in the old North Carolina Conference. The early preachers received hardly any cash; most of their pay was in kind: socks, bacon, corn, molasses, jeans, etc.
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