USA > North Carolina > Union County > Monroe > History of New Hope Methodist Protestant Church : Union County, Buford Township, Monroe, North Carolina, from the year 1889 to 1936 > Part 10
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Mr. Richardson lived a sinful life, despite the training of a Christian father and mother. God often reminded him of his life and the need of him in the vineyard.
He was united in marriage with Miss Ida Penegar of the same community on December 22nd, 1898. To this union God entrusted nine children, three He took in infancy. The following lived to manhood and womanhood: Lula, Lillie, An- nie, Mildred, Early and Oscar. God blessed his life with a Christian wife, who at all times showed her Spiritual in- terest in him and the home.
He is a prosperous farmer, owns his farm and a beautiful home.
He was converted in August 1906, while attending a re- vival at New Hope Church. Rev. J. B. Parham was pastor. He united with New Hope Church and became an active work- er. He served as teacher of one of the primary classes for some time and was an effective teacher. He was elected
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Sunday School Superintendent in 1915 and 1916, and again in 1922 and served faithfully each year until July 1930. when he was released at his own request for about a year. He was elected again on November 1st, 1931, and has served successfully in the same office since, which is more than six- teen years as Sunday School Superintendent of New Hope Sunday Schocl. His Faithful work is largely responsible for the success of the Sundday School for the past years. Gen- erally, the cold winter months would close the Sunday School, but as long as he served as leader it thrived during the winter months.
He served in other offices in the church where he found the need for his service. He served as Steward, and on com- mittees. He was interested in the remodeling of the church in 1918 and the building of the Arbor in 1926, and was one of the five on the Building Committee.
He is a great speaker and very able in prayer, in which he is a great believer. His home is a home of Christian joy, and is at all times open to Christian worship.
Brother Richardson deserves much credit for the splendid work he has done in New Hope Church and community. His place could not be filled, and we trust he will be permitted to be with the work in New Hope Church many more years to come.
T. B. COOK
An Official Member of New Hope Church
T. B. COOK Official Member
T. B. Cook was born June 20th, 1883, in Buford Township, Union County. He is a son of Aaron Cook. Mr. Cook was one of a large family of children. His mother died when he was only nine years old, therefore, he did not have any educational advantages.
He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Norman, of Pleasant Valley, S. C., on December 25th, 1900. To this union were born nine children, eight boys and one girl. Rufus, who died at the age of six months; Earl the author of this book; Floyd, Crowell, Parley, Cam, Lawrence, Ernest and Myrtle.
For many years Mr. Cook operated the Country Store in his community.
In February 1932, the old home was destroyed by fire, and in 1933 a new modern home was built.
Mr. Cook has always taken a great interest in his Church program and school. He is very influential in the community affairs.
He was converted and united with New Hope Church in 1903, and has been an active member since
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that time. He has served as steward for many years, and his home has always been open to the preachers who made it home while they were in the community.
Mr. Cook has lived in the New Hope community all his life except two years, 1909, 1910, when he moved to Pleasant Valley, S. C. He lived as a renter until 1914, at which time he bought a little farm in the New Hope community, known as the Bud Ross place. He lived there for five years. With the large family of boys he needed more land to work, when in 1919 he bought from T. P. Ross, the present home place.
Mr. Cook has always been interested in his Church and spiritual condition of his community. His ser- vice and means have always been freely given for the support of his church. Many of his children are out- standing in church work.
JOE ROSS Member of New Hope Church, and Choir Director For Many Years
JOE ROSS Choir Director
Joe Ross was born October 22, 1892, the son of T. P. and Dovie Cook Ross, and a grandson of the late Aaron Cook. He was born and reared in Union Coun- ty at the old Ross homestead near New Hope Church, now known as the T. B. Cook farm home. He was an unusual young man with talent and ability. He never indulged in any habits common to the young people of his day, even to the tobacco habit.
He attended the local school of his community and secured a very good education. He inherited the tal- ent of singing from his father. He became very inter- ested'in singing early in life, and attended every sing- ing school he was able to attend, thereby obtained a fair knowledge of vocal music, and became a very able . singer.
On the 16th day of June, 1918, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Cora Lee Broom, of North Monroe, N. C. God has blessed their home with four children : Eva, Evelyn, Lucile and Joe Neal Ross.
On August 8th, 1918, he entered the United States Army, to take part in the great World War. He was a member of Company B, 56th Pioneer Infantry. He
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sailed for France on or about the 15th of September. 1918, and served a little more than nine months on the battlefields of France. He returned with a part of his Company to the United States on June 25th, 1919, receiving his discharge July 5th, 1919.
After Mr. Ross returned home from France he be- came engaged in the mercantile business in Monroe, N. C., where, with the exception of a few years, he has remained.
He was converted and united with New Hope Meth- odist Protestant Church in September 1911, Rev. Wm. P. Martin was pastor. Mr. Ross, even before his con- version, took a great interest in the church and its pro- gram. He served as Secretary and Treasurer of New Hope Sunday School for several years. First he was assistant choir leader, and served several years at dif- ferent times as choir leader, and Mrs. Ross served as organist. The New Hope choir thrived under his leadership, which was widely known as the county's best choir. He has served as steward several times.
Mr. Ross is yet a young man and has many years for service for the Church.
ROBERT COOK Chairman
LEE AYCOTH
ROBERT BELK
Official Trustees of New Hope Church Since 1927
ROBERT COOK Church Trustee
Robert Cook was born in Burke County, N. C., Sep- tember 5th, 1876. He is a son of Aaron and Martha White Cook. His father moved to Union County soon after Robert was born. He was reared on the farm in Union County and lived the simple life of - all poor people of that day. He was one of a large family of children and had little or no school advant- ages.
He was united in marriage with Miss Annie Melton on August 29th, 1895. Ten children were born to this union, eight of whom lived to adulthood: Crawford, Canty, Sidney, Velma, Marvin, Lester, Vinnie Lue. and Annie Mae.
Mr. Cook is an industrious and prosperous farmer, by which means he has accumulated much of the ne- cessities of life and a farm home. He operates a saw mill and his own farm cotton gin. He owns his own farm, which he bought in 1910 and built his home. The farm is a very large one.
He joined New Hope Church in 1906, and has been greatly interested in the Church since that time. He has served as Steward numbers of times, and was on a building committee at one time. He has been Chairman of the Board of Trustees of New Hope Church since 1927.
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ROBERT BELK Church Trustee
Robert Belk was born in Union County, N. C., on February 10th, 1885, in the New Hope Community. He is a son of W. C. and Mollie Belk. He was rear- ed on the farm and had the advantage of a fair edu- cation.
Robert's parents were very religious and were Charter Members of New Hope Church, therefore, the large family of children were trained to go to Church.
Mr. Belk went to Florida while he was a young man, where he spent about seven years. On October 18th, 1914, after his return from Florida, he was united in marriage with Miss Ethel Green, of Union County. To this union were born two children to brighten the home, Lucile and Bernice.
Mr. Belk is very industrious, and has accumulated enough of this world's goods to make life comfort- able for his little family. He farmed for several years but later went into the mercantile business on Highway No. 200 just two miles south of Monroe, N. C., where he built a splendid home. He is now in business in Monroe, N. C.
He joined New Hope Church in his boyhood. He has served as Sunday School Superintendent, Stew- ard, Teacher and has been Church Trustee since 1927.
May his Church life always be outstanding.
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LEE AYCOTH Church Trustee
Lee Aycoth was born February 28th, 1890, in Un- ion County, Buford Township. He is a son of the late J. P. Aycoth, and a grandson of the late Aaron Cook. He was reared on his father's farm and in the New Hope Community. He was always taught to attend church. He was the elder child of a large family, and has a fair education.
He was united in marriage to Miss Rena Brantley of the same community, February 22nd, 1911. Born to this union were four children: Viola, Carl, Clar- ence and Gance.
Mr. Aycoth was converted and joined New Hope Church in 1906, under the pastorate of Rev. J. B. Parham. He has been a devoted member since that time. He has served as Sunday School teacher for several years during that time, has served as steward a number of times, as well as Assistant Sunday School Superintendent. He was elected as one of the Church Board of Trustees in 1927.
He owns a nice home in the church community, and with his brothers operates a large cotton gin in that community.
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G. R. MONTGOMERY
A long-time Choir Director of New Hope Church
G. R. MONTGOMERY Choir Director
G. R. Montgomery was born March 31st, 1890, in Union County, Buford Township. He is the son of the late D. C. Montgomery. He was reared on the farm and received only a fair education.
Mr. Montgomery was a hard working young man, very alert and full of pep. He was married September 14th, 1909, to Miss Cora Clawson of the same com- munity. To this union five children were born, four living ,Howard, Admiral, Elsie and Doyle.
He was converted and joined New Hope Church in 1916. Rev. J. W. Quick was pastor at that time. He at once took an active part in the affairs of the church. He has served as teacher, Steward, singing leader, and probably other offices. He could always be depended upon to carry his part of the financial obligations of the Church.
Mr. Montgomery secured a position in a meat mar-
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ket in Monroe, N. C. After working there for several years he moved his family to Monroe, where he has made his home since. About four years after that he moved to the city, in 1934, he moved his membership to the Lutheran Church in Monroe. But still he and his family are greatly interested in New Hope Church.
NOBLE HELMS
An Official Member of New Hope Church
NOBLE HELMS Official Member
Noble Helms was born November 11th, 1907, in Monroe Township, Union County. He is the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Walsh Helms. Brother Helms was reared in an humble Christian home and was taught the great principles of the Christian religion from a child. He was reared on the farm, in what is known as the Mt. Carmel Community. He has just a common school education.
As do many young men, he strayed from the teach- ings of his Christian mother and sowed his wild oats for a number of years. The prayers of his father and mother continued through the years for their son: in the home the Scriptures were read and prayers offer- ed in his behalf; in the cottage prayer meetings, the prayers continued; in Sunday School the prayers did not cease. At the early age of sixteen Noble was con- verted and united with New Hope Church, in Aug- ust 1923.
He was very attentive to his Sunday School, but as he grew older he began to associate with bad com- pany, and soon drifted back into sin. In the revival
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meeting at New Hope in August 1930, he got under deep conviction and remained so throughout the re- vival. On Friday night, August 22nd, 1930, after Rev. J. R. Anderson had delivered a wonderful mes- sage, he returned to his home under a heavy burden. How well I remember when his brother came for me to pray with him, others were brought in to help him. About eleven o'clock he gave up sin and came back to Christ. There was not only joy in his heart, but in the hearts of all who were present.
He at once took an active part in the Sunday School and prayer meetings. His life was watched, but he proved to be faithful.
On December 12th, 1930, he was elected Sunday School Superintendent, serving faithfully, with pleas- ure and satisfaction to the Sunday School, until No- vember 1st, 1931, at which time he asked to be re- leased for a while. He was released and elected as- sistant teacher of the Young Peoples' Class.
He was united in marriage with Miss Chloie Mel- ton on February 6th, 1932. To this union one child has been born.
Brother Helms is a young man and we can see a great spiritual future for him. New Hope is indeed proud of such an able young man as is Brother Helms.
REV. A. B. HAYWOOD
A Local Methodist Protestant Preacher of Union County who was always interested in New Hope Church
REV. ANNER B. HAYWOOD A Local Preacher
Rev. Anner B. Haywood was born August 14th, 1855, in Vance Township, Union County. He was a son of Jim Haywood, an outstanding farmer of the county. He received a fair education and taught school in his early twenties.
He was converted at the age of nineteen years, at Antioch Methodist Protestant Church on the Mecklen- burg Charge. He united with that church and has been active in its work since. Five years later he realized the call to preach. He immediately entered the work which was mostly local. He served David- son Circuit in 1919. He also had several offers of other fields in the Conference but personal conditions would not permit his accepting them.
Rev. Haywood's work at New Hope Church, alone, is outstanding. Although he never served as pastor, neither was he ever a member of the church, but he was always interested in New Hope Church, and in the early life of the church he spent much time in pro- moting the work of the church. He was in most all the revivals up until about 1918, and attended occas- ionally after that time. Therefore, he meant more to the church than many of its pastors.
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His father played a great part in the organization of Antioch Church, and since he was a noted carpenter he led the work in erecting the church. Rev. Hay- wood spent many hours with his mother making the boards to cover the large arbor at Antioch. While growing up he learned the carpenter trade under his father, and in later years built many churches. He was given the contract to erect Grace Chapel Church, now an M. E. Church, for which he never received any pay.
In September 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Harrett Jane Harkness. To this union no chil- dren were born. Mrs. Haywood died in 1914, a sec- ond marrage was on October 18th, 1916, with Miss Lula Rowell, of Union County. To this union two children were born, Mary Lee and A. B., Jr.
Rev. Haywood is now getting close to the parting of the way. His labors in this vineyard are almost finished, but the influences of his labors and the mem- ories of his earnestness is living and still bearing fruit. May his mantle of earnestness fall on the shoulders of his children and dominate their lives as it did his.
REV. ALLISON E. BELK First minister produced by New Hope Church and is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference in North Carolina.
DR. ALLISON E. BELK First Minister Produced by New Hope Church
Rev. Allison E. Belk, D. D., was born in Union County, N. C., three miles South of Monroe on the 3rd day of July, 1881, a son of J. Pat Belk.
He was dedicated to the ministry by his father and moth- er before he was born., and was converted at the age of ten.
He entered the ministry at the age of twenty-one, and has continued preaching from that time to the present. However in connection with his ministerial duties he has taught for seven years in the schools of North Carolina, serving in the capacity of principal. For two years he taught in the Mt. Hebron Collegiate Bible School, near Old Fort, N. C. He has spent several years in the evangelistic field. He has traveled largely in the United States.
He has held pastorates in four states, viz .: North Caro- lina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and California. His first pastorate was in Kings Mountain, N. C. After serving this charge faithfully and being blessed of God. He was then called to the pastorate of the First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Knoxville, Tenn. During his four years pastorate there he built two new churches, one in East Knoxville, and one in West Knoxville. Because of failing health, he left Knoxville and returned to the mountains of North Carolina. In a short time he regained his health, and took the pastor- ate of the Old Fort Church. It was during his pastorate here that he taught in the Mt. Hebron Collegiate Bible School. He was then called to the First Church in Asheville where he re- mained for five years, during which time he built a new church and parsonage. He also served four years in the First Church of Spartanburg, S. C., where he remodeled the church
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and bought a new parsonage while the building was under construction, and finished it.
Dr. Belk went west after serving the Spartanburg Church, and was pastor of the Glassel Park Church of the Nazarene, in Los Angeles, California. Here he finished building a church, where the former pastor had died while constructing the building. In August, 1928, he secured a leave of absence for four months and returned to North Carolina on account of the ill health of his father. After coming back he decided to remain here, and tendered his resignation. For three years he did evangelistic work during the summer months and taught school during the school session. In the summer of 1927 to 1928 he conducted a camp meeting at New Hope, the latter in the Tabernacle. This was during the pastorate of Rev. C. E. Phillips. Dr. Belk has held five revivals in the New Hope Church during a period of thirty years.
In 1931 he received a call to the Loray Wesleyan Method- ist Church in Gastonia, N. C. He served that Church for three years. Two years of this time he continued his teach- ing as principal of Dixon Academy.
In August 1934, he was sent to the first church in Dur- ham, N. C. He is now serving his second year there. Since taking this church he has remodeled the old building, and added to it an annex 28x42 feet, thus enlarging the auditor- ium, and adding seven Sunday School rooms, at a cost of $4,000. The parsonage has also been remodeled at a cost of $300.
During these years of his ministry hundreds have come out of darkness into the glorious light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through his efforts. In addition to his labors mention- ed above he has organized six new churches and opened up territory where several other new churches have been or- ganized.
A number of preachers have been a part of his reward as a preacher, also several teachers. He has assisted eigh-
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teen young people in securing education, several of these he has taken into his home (these being orphans).
Dr. Belk was united in matrimony on April 4th, 1907, to Miss Stella M. Graves, of Cleveland, Ohio. She has stood faithfully by him in his work of the ministry, sharing his hardships and blessings. She is also an ordained minister, a school teacher and a stencgrapher. Mrs. Belk received her education in the Schools of Cleveland, Ohio, and elsewhere. She received some of her Bible training in Cleveland Bible Institute.
Mr. Belk received his college training in Pasadena, Cal., Pasadena College, and then had conferred upon him his A. B., Th.B., and B. D. degrees. It will be news to some who read this book to know the Rev. Belk is a rare combination of Jew- ish and Irish descent. His Jewish ancestors were of the tribe of Benjamin. His great grandfather, Simmons, with an- other Jew by the name of Moses, built the first store in Mon- roe, N. C.
Dr. Belk has served his conference for eight years as Con- ference Treasurer, and has been sent four times as a dele- gate to the General Conference. Mrs. Belk served for six years as Conference secretary.
Mr. Belk is an able expositor of the Word. He is now in his fifty-fifth year, and in good health. We trust that the Lord will let him live many years to preach this glorious gos- pel.
REV. LESTER S. HELMS
An Official Member of New Hope Church at the time he entered the ministry in 1917
REV. LESTER S. HELMS Second Minister Produced by New Hope Church
Rev. Lester S. Helms was born in 1884, in Sandy Ridge Township, Union County. He is a son of the late Henry Helms.
He was reared on the farm and in the cord wood and rail forests of Union County. In his boyhood days he only received a primary education.
He was united in marriage with Miss May Belle Yarbrough on August 12th, 1904, and to this union were born three children: Connie, Clifton, Hallie.
Brother Helms moved to the New Hope community about 1911, and was converted in 1912 and united with New Hope church and became an active member. He served as Sunday School Superintendent for sev- eral years, besides other offices.
He entered the ministry the summer of 1917, and was licensed to preach by his local quarterly Confer- ence of the Pageland Charge. Realizing his inefficien- cy, educationally, he entered Midland High School, where he secured his high school education. He en- tered the Conference Classes in 1918. He was ordain- ed an Elder in the Methodist Protestant Church at the
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Conference of 1929.
Up to, and including 1936 he has served the fol- lowing Charges: 1920-1921 Greenville Circuit in Vir- ginia; 1922 was left in the hands of the President ; 1923, 1924 and 1925 Democrat Charge, in Western, N. C., 1926, 1927 and 1928 Shelby-Caroleen; 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933 Connelly Springs Charge, 1934, 1935, and 1936 Draper.
Death visited his home in 1918, claiming his wife and baby. After about two years he was united in marriage with Miss Lula Widenhouse, of Cabarrus County, a sister of Chief B. F. Widenhouse, long time Chief of Police of Concord, N. C. Four children were born to this union. Mrs. Helms was never a strong woman, and declined in health for several years, until death claimed her in 1929.
Again without a companion, Brother Helms lived alone with his sorrows until January 17th, 1930, when he took unto himself the third wife, Miss Elyzabells Townson, of Burk County, N. C.
Brother Helms is the second minister produced by New Hope Church. The church is proud of the rec- ord he has made, and wishes for him a continued suc- cess throughout his ministry.
REV. EARL A. COOK
An Official Member of New Hope Church at the time he entered the ministry in 1923
Rev Earl A. Cook at the age of about 31/2, with His Father, T. B. Cook, the age at which he first felt the call to the ministry
REV. EARL A. COOK The Author By J. RAY SHUTE II, F. R. S. A. I., Monroe, N. C.
Earl Albert Cook was born in Buford Township, Union County, North Carolina, on the 1st day of February, 1904. He is the eldest son of T. B. and Mary E. Norman Cook. He re- ceived his early education in the local school of his com- munity, and his High School work at Prospect High School of Union County.
His religious training began at birth, and under this re- ligious training he was taught the value of a Christian life. He realized very early in life he was called of God to do a special work. Feared by the thought of it he dared not men- tion it to anyone. Until he was ten years old he did not real- ize the responsibility of the calling, at which time he was converted and united with New Hope Methodist Protestant Church. From that time the responsibility grew heavier. He would shun the leadings of the Spirit until he drifted away, but the impression of the call was always present and re- minding him of his duties. On August 8th, 1923, he submit- ted to the call and promised God his life as a minister in His vineyard. He attended the Annual Conference of his church in 1923 held in Thomasville, N. C., and there learned that his education was not sufficient for him to enter the ministry. It was not until then that he entered Prospect High School to further his education as was suggested by the Conference Faculty, while his devoted helpmate worked in a local knit- ting establishment to support them. He was licensed to preach in 1923, bv the Quarterly Conference of the Pageland Charge, Rev. J. W. Quick pastor.
The author conducted prayer meetings and preached reg- ularly in homes and churches during his local work, and was admitted to the Conference Classes at Winston-Salem, dur- ing the Conference, in November 1928, and finished the re-
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quired study courses in 1931. In November 1933, he was or- dained an Elder in the Methodist Protestant Church.
Reverend Mr. Cook has served diligently his church, and God, and has served several charges in the conference, al- though his work in the ministry is young. His first work was as supply preacher at Bethesda Church, Chesterfield, South Carolina, a. part of the Pageland Charge, in 1930. In 1932 and 1933 he served Democrat Charge in western North Carolina, with five churches and no promise of pay. The work there was hard and strenuous but he braved the hard- ships and built a parsonage at Democrat and received in sal- ary just about what was promised, as the charge was in such condition it was unable to pay. In 1934, 1935 and 1936 he served Roberta Church, a station work, in Concord, North Carolina. While there he conducted a drive and paid off a large debt on the church, a new furnace installed and other minor achievements.
This young author deserves much credit for his advance- ment: reared on the farm, of parents who had little of this world's goods; farming, attending school and working at a lunch stand in order that he might serve the Lord and preach the gospel. He deserves much credit for the writing of this little volume. Not only did he write it but he labored and printed it with a small hand press to make it possible that you might have it. He has labored patiently for five years gathering the information and printing it with his own hands. He has accumulated a library of more than a thous- and volumes, and has applied himself to the study of them, done correspondence work, attended summer sessions at High Point College and constantly endeavored to better him- self to better preach the Gospel. He is the third minister produced by New Hope Church.
On June 25th, 1922, he was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Melton, of Union County, to which union two chil- dren have been born, Loma and Colene. Mrs. Cook has been a struggling and devoted wife.
With most of his ministerial life before him, we wish for him a wonderful success.
Šová
ROBERTA METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH
This Church is located in Concord, N. C. and has a membership of about three hun- dred. Earl A. Cook have now served this church three years, 1934 1935 and 1936.
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LOCATION
New Hope Methodist Protestant Church is located in Union County, Buford Township. Five and one-half miles South of Monroe, N. C., on the East side of what is known as the Plyler Mill Road which leaves Highway No. 200 two and One-half miles from Mon- roe or at Mt. Carme! School.
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