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 6
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P. E. Bingham was the new pastor assigned to the Pageland Charge. Rev. Bingham was a young man and in school at Westminster Theological Seminary, and would not finish school until June, at which time he expected to come to the Pageland Charge.
The people of New Hope became worried be- cause they had been left without a pastor for half
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the year. The officials counseled together. Someone suggested Rev. T. E. Martin, of Pickens, S. C., a for- mer Methodist Protestant preacher, who had left the Conference in 1922. The officials of New Hope wrote him and asked if he would serve the Pageland Charge- This was very agreeable to Rev. Martin, so he at once came to Monroe, N. C., to see the officials of New Hope Church. He insisted that he move to the work. Some thought it best to wait a while, but he contin- ued to insist, so he moved to Monroe, N. C., early in the year, and preached only at New Hope Church. The other churches of the Charge knew nothing of Rev. Martin being on the work.
The officials of New. Hope were doing as they were instructed by Rev. Martin. They wrote S. W. Taylor, President of the Conference, and insisted that Rev. Bingham be released from his appointment of the Pageland Charge, after which, on February 26th, 1930, Rev. Bingham was released. Now a request was made, by New Hope Church alone, that Rev. T. E. Martin be assigned to the Charge, which was at first refused.
New Hope had some difficulty getting Rose Hill, of Pageland, S. C., to accept Rev. Martin as their choice of a spiritual leader. New Hope worked faithfully until they finally resorted to New Hope's plans.
Bethesda, the smallest of the three churches ask- ed the president of the Conference to assign Earl Cook, a local preacher of New Hope Church, to serve them until pastor supply was made for the Charge.
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The request was granted and Earl Cook was assigned as pastor of Bethesda Church on February 20th, 1930.
The people of New Hope kept working as Rev. Martin gave them orders. President Taylor did not know that Rev. Martin was already on the work. This was kept from him.
Some time in March the president set a date on which he would conduct a conference with the peo- ple, thinking he may reconcile them without having to appoint Rev. Martin as pastor. The Conference was held at the Pageland Church. Many of the New Hope people attended. Rev. Martin also attended but he was not seen by the president, as he remained on the outside in the darkness of the night. President Taylor gave some reasons why he did not want to assign Rev. Martin to the Charge. He stated that he was once in the Conference but left in 1922, that he did not comply with the rules of the Conference Fac- ulty while there, and for that reason was never or- dained. He offered other reasons as well as other preachers. Rose Hill was easy any way, but New Hope was set, they would accept no other offers, and still contended for Rev. Martin. At last President Taylor agreed if Rev. Martin would go before the Conference Faculty, and they approved him, he would then assign him to the Charge. Arrangements were made and a date set in April for Rev. Martin to meet the Faculty in Greensboro, N. C.
While in conference with the Faculty Rev. Martin tried to produce proof that he had been ordained in the Baptist Church since he had left the Methodist
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Protestant Church. He could not do this. After a brief examination the Faculty admitted him to the Conference Classes, beginning with the first year. Then on April 17th, 1930, he was assigned as pastor of the Pageland Charge. This automatically released Rev. Cook from Bethesda. He came to the pastor and offered his resignation, but the pastor would not ac- cept it. Rev. Martin stated that he did not have a car, therefore if he served Bethesda he would have to hire Rev. Cook to take him, and there was no use of them both going. He insisted that Rev. Cook continue his work there, as it was a small church, and there was nothing but experience to be got there, and since he was a young preacher and needed the experience, just go and get it. They were only promising one hundred dollars, and it would take that amount to pay expens- es, as it was fifty-five miles from Monroe, N. C. Rev. Cook would not accept this assignment unless the president of the conference passed on it. This was done early in May at a Pastor's Federation meeting held in the First M. P. Church in Concord, N. C., which the two preachers attended.
No minutes of any Quarterly Conference of that year is available, but we have records kept by the local church.
Everything went along smoothly for about a month, after which Rev. Martin became jealous of Earl Cook, the local preacher on the Charge.
T. B. Cook, of New Hope, and Henry Marze, of Pageland, S. C., were candidates for delegate to the Annual Conference. It was generally believed that
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T. B. Cook would be elected, as the Pageland candi- date was elected the year before. Something impress- ed Rev. Martin so that he believed if Mr. Cook were elected he would bring back his son, Earl Cook, as pastor, and he would be left out. The people gener- ally, at all the churches spoke well of the young preacher, but New Hope or the Pageland Charge had no thought of calling Rev. Cook as pastor, although Bethesda was well pleased with the work he was do-
ing there, and expressed a desire of keeping him. Rev. Martin at once became worried and very much down hearted over his imaginations, as no thought of such things had ever entered the mind of anyone else. He entertained the idea until he really believed it to be true, so much so that he began to campaign for Mr. Marze, the Pageland candidate for delegate. He told some that he thought would keep it, what he thought would be done. These things soon got to Earl Cook and his father, T. B. Cook. Mr. Cook at all times had been a special friend to Rev. Martin, so when he heard of the accusations he went to the pastor and told him to forget such ideas, that he had no thought of bring- ing his son back as pastor, and if the charge wanted Earl, they surely would not ask his father to bring him back. Then too, Earl Cook went to him and told him not to worry, as he would not serve his home church in his early ministry if the people wanted him. This did very little good, for Rev. Martin did not be- lieve this for some reason, and continued his cam- paign work. He soon began to work bitterly against anyone who showed any special friendship to Earl
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Cook or his father. This soon developed into a gen- eral tear-up in the church. Rev. Martin notified Joe Ross, the choir leader, and his wife, the organist, that they were no longer in office. He elected or appoint- ed others to take their places. He asked J. W. Rich- ardson, Sunday School Superintendent, to resign, which he did, and Noble Helms, a young man, was elected in his place. Mr. Richardson had served as Superintendent for ten years, and those who were in- terested in the church and Sunday School tried to keep him in the office, but he resigned anyway.
After those things were accomplished the Rev. Martin tried to get J. C. Cook to write President Taylor and ask him to take the appointment of pas- tor at Bethesda from Rev. Cook. But Mr. Cook would not do this. Rev. Cook did not know this until the year was almost finished.
Some time before Conference Rev. Martin con- fessed that he was wrong and had said too much. He promised to apologize to the church from the pulpit, but the time he promised to make the apology he had changed his mind and made things worst.
Things like this went on throughout the year, and at the end, the church was divided as well as the churches of the Charge. Mr. Marze, of Pageland, was elected as delegate by having two ballots at New Hope.
It is not known how much salary was promised Rev. Martin, neither is it known how much he re- ceived. The Conference Minutes of 1930 show that seven hundred dollars was promised, this same report
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gives the amount of six hundred and thirty-five dol- lars were received, but it is not known whether this was the amount Rev. Martin received or the amount received by him and Rev. Cook, as Mr. Cook served one of the churches, and since he was an associate pastor his report had to be made to the pastor, and it is not known if Rev. Martin combined the reports which he was supposed to have done. Rev. Cook re- ceived $202.40 from Bethesda. It is believed that this amount was not added to the report, and the amount given in his report was the amount received by Rev. Martin from New Hope and Rose Hill.
The Fourth Quarterly Conference was held at the Pageland Church, the date is not known. The pastor made only a verbal report. Rev. Earl Cook made his report which is given here in part :
"Since this is my first pastoral report I will make it brief and to the point."
"I have served as associate pastor since February 20th, 1930, and the church which I have been serving has been pro- gressing steadily since the above date. Our revival was a wonderful success with twenty-five professions, with several additions to the church. I also conducted a successful revival at Beulah Church on the Mecklenburg Charge. The finances have been very pleasant during the year. There was no fix- ed salary, as I only asked the church to pay expenses, or as they felt led by the Spirit. An amount of $202.40 was re- ceived in cash, and a vast amount of foodstuff such as these people have at home."
Ten dollars have been raised at Bethesda on the con- ference claims."
EARL A. COOK."
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This ten dollars raised at Bethesda was the only money raised on the Charge for the Conference Claims.
There were no instructions given to the delegate in the Quarterly Conference, but it was believed that Rev. Martin had won the confidence of the delegate, therefore, New Hope was just as much afraid that Rev. Martin was coming back to the work as they had been afraid they would lose him a few months before. New Hope had learned a lesson, and they were willing to admit it even at the great cost.
Rev. Martin was in great hopes of coming back, and he believed he would be appointed as pastor again.
The Annual Conference was held in Albemarle. N. C., in November 1930. Rev. Martin attended the Conference Classes and passed on several subjects.
When the appointments were read many were sur- prised, so was Rev. Martin, for he was left without an appointment. From the results of the division in New Hope Church and the Charge, the Pageland Charge was dissolved, and was no more. New Hope was placed on the Mecklenburg Charge, the Pageland Church was placed on the Midland Charge, and Be- thesda was made a station and was to be supplied by the Rockingham pastor.
Rev. Martin did not remain very long in the New Hope community after Conference. He moved to South Carolina, where he tried to get back in the Baptist church. It is not known whether or not he succeeded.
REV. Q. L. JOYNER, 1931 REV. J. L. LOVE-1932
Pageland Charge was now no longer, and its pass- ing was no fault of anyone of the Charge. It was an idea of the Boundary Committee. In the dissolving New Hope was placed on the Mecklenburg Charge, which had been growing weak for several years, and New Hope was received gladly. The Charge had now five churches.
Rev. Q. L. Joyner was pastor, who had served the Mecklenburg Charge the year before this, 1930. The pastor also received New Hope gladly, although it meant more work for him.
New Hope was in an uproar, and in a very bad spiritual condition. Many had lost interest in the church work, which made it very hard for the pastor. who did his best to get the church back to normal again.
The parsonage of the Charge was at Stallings, near Matthews, N. C., and about eighteen or twenty miles from New Hope Church. The pastor spent much time in the community among his people, which helped many to forget their former church troubles.
Finances came very slow from all the churches. They were slow from New Hope because of the di- vision there, but it is not known what the trouble was
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with the other' churches. Earl A. Cook was Chair- man of the Board of Stewards of New Hope, but on- ly a very few obligated themselves to help with the finances.
The official work of the Charge was in the hands of the Mecklenburg officials, and no official reports of the Quarterly Conferences were available. Several officials of New Hope Church were taking little or no interest in the work that year. The Stewards were : Earl A. Cook, Lee Aycoth, Robert Cook and Tom Belk. Noble Helms was Sunday School Superintend- ent. John W. Richardson succeeded him in the latter part of the year. Mr. Richardson had served more than ten years in this office, now elected back for life.
Earl A. Cook did not take work in the Conference that year, as he was taking some educational work which he needed very badly. He assisted the pastor in a revival at Beulah Church in August. It is not re- membered who assisted Pastor Joyner in the revival at New Hope.
Following is a report in part submitted by Earl A. Cook to the Third Quarterly Conference held at New Hope some time in August 1931 :
* My heart has been very deeply in the work I have tried to do for the Master. I feel closer to Him than ever before.
"In my weak way I have preached twenty-five times, of which five were in homes. I have also labored in the Sun- day School when I was not preaching elsewhere. The adult class of which I have been teacher for several years is grow- ing both in spirit and in size.
"If our memory serves us right I have filled two regular appointments for our pastor, and will assist him in a revival
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at Beulah in the next few days, all of which has been and will be a pleasure. I have visited many homes in the community during sicknesses.
"May we together thank our Heavenly Father for what we have tried to accomplish, as we should realize without His help and guidance all would be a failure."
"EARL A. COOK."
The addition of New Hope Church to the Charge brought the promise of $1,150.00 for pastor's salary, but only $609.00 was paid. All the churches of the Charge failed to pay the amount they had promised. New Hope lacked about fifty dollars paying their part. However, times were considered hard, and the depression was making its advent into the world again, so only $800.00 was promised as pastor's sal- ary for the next year. Only $609.00 was paid to Pas- tor Joyner that year.
The Fourth Quarterly Conference was held at Stallings, the date is not known. A. B. Garmon, of Antioch Church, was the delegate to the Annual Con- ference, and was left uninstructed. In that Confer- ence it was reported that some work was needed to be done on the parsonage, and was discussed at that meeting. Plans were made which were carried out the next Conference Year.
1932-Rev. J. L. Love-The Annual Conference was held in High Point, N. C. Rev. Q. L. Joyner was assigned to the Richland Charge and Rev. J. Lloyd Love was assigned to the Mecklenburg Charge. Rev. Love was a young man, but was very zealous and interested in the work.
New Hope was weak yet, but had improved some, and time was helping many things to be forgotten.
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This church was yet considered the strongest church of the Charge, and was paying the largest amount on Pastor's salary.
A marriage of interest to the community was that- of Noble Helms and Miss Chloe Melton, on February 6th, 1932. Mrs. Helms is a sister of Mrs. Earl A. Cook.
Since the writer left the community at the begin- ning of that Conference Year, to take his place in the Conference work, very little of the work, in detail, can be given. Rev. Cook was assigned to Democrat Charge in Western North Carolina. He came back during the summer and assisted the pastor in a re- vival at Beulah, which was the third consecutive re- vival Rev. Cook had conducted at that Church.
The revival at New Hope Church was conducted in August, by Rev. Fred R. Love, a cousin to the pas- tor. The revival was a success, many professions were made and a good number added to the Church.
New Hope progressed some that year, but not in a financial way. All the churches were far behind all year on pastor's salary, and this record was not say- ing good things for the charge. The Sunday School at New Hope had again developed into a very inter- esting one. There was also a very alive Christian Endeavor Society in the Church, also a Sunday eve- ning prayer meeting.
Mrs. Ellis Aycoth was the Church Reporter, an office she had filled several years. Following I will quote parts of several reports of Mrs. Aycoth to the Methodist Protestant Herald of 1932:
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** * * We have a good pastor this year. He brings to us a good message each time he preaches. Regular appoint- ments are the third Sunday at 11 a. m., and the first Sunday at 7:30 P. M. Sunday School every Sunday. Prayer meeting Sunday evenings when there is not preaching service; pray- er meeting every Wednesday evening and conducted in the home of someone. Next Wednesday evening, (April 1932), prayer meeting will be conducted at Mr. and Mrs. Memp Belk's. Mrs. Belk is a mighty faithful worker in her church * *
. . : * (May 5, 1932). Rev. Love's subject last Sunday was: "Where We Live and Where Our Treasures Are." * ** We are still enjoying the mid-week prayer meetings. I am teacher of a class of small boys and girls of 6 to 13 years old. We also meet on Sunday afternoons, when we enjoy to- gether a prayer meeting. These little folks enjoy their prayer meeting, they take active parts in all parts of the service."
(June 6, 1932) "Last Sunday night a wonderful program was rendered at our church by the Christian Endeavor So- ciety from Beulah. The program was conducted by Rev. Clifford Craig, a local preacher of Beulah Church. * * * Mr. Howard Lathan, Professor of Prospect High School, taught the adult class in our Sunday School last Sunday. Professor Lathan made a wonderful talk. *
* Rev. Love used for his subject Sunday: 'Hell, That Awful Place'."
"MRS. FAYE AYCOTH, Reporter."
The Conference year closed with all churches be- hind on pastor's salary. It is not known how much New Hope paid, but the entire charge only paid $569. A balance of $204.00 was left unpaid.
Pastor's salary was fixed at $800.00, and T. J. Atkins, of Zore Church, was elected delegate, and was left uninstructed.
REV. M. C. HENDERSON-1933-1934 REV. P. E. BINGHAM-1935 REV. J. ROBERT SHORT-1936
This chapter, which is the last one, will be very brief. The author left the church and community in 1932 to take up his pastoral work in the Conforence. No local records were kept, and the Circuit records are not available, but a few outstanding incidents will be recorded.
At the Annual Conference held in Burlington, N. C., Rev. Love and Rev. M. C. Henderson, who was pastor of Anderson Charge, exchanged places. Rev. Love was assigned to Anderson and Rev. M. C. Hen- derson was the new pastor for New Hope and Meck- lenburg Charge.
Rev. Henderson was no stranger to many of the people of New Hope Church, and his coming was very acceptable. He was not only liked by New Hope, but the entire Charge liked him. Therefore, his work was satisfactory and successful, and New Hope Church prospered under his pastorate.
In January, 1933, Cam Cook, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Cook, and Miss Avis Morris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Morris, were united in marriage. These two young people were members of New Hope Church since early life, and are now efficient and dependable members.
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Rev. Henderson conducted his own revival at New Hope which was a success, several united with the church. Clarence Griffin, of Monroe, conducted the singing during the revival. The revival was conduct- ed under the large arbor, and large crowds attended each service. A piano was bought during the year to replace the organ which had been used many years.
The year was a perfect one for New Hope, the first year they had paid everything since they had become a part of Mecklenburg Charge. Eight hundred dol- lars was promised by the entire Charge, but annual reports show that twenty-eight dollars were not paid. It is not known which Church or churches failed to pay their assessment, although, it is known that New Hope paid all it was assessed.
Eight hundred dollars was promised on pastor's salary for the next year, and J. C. Cook of New Hope Church was elected delegate to the Annual Confer- ence, and was instructed to ask for the return of the same pastor.
1934-Another church was added to the Mecklen- burg Charge at the Conference passed, Rose Hill Church of Pageland, S. C. This church was taken from the Midland Charge, and was once the main church of the old Pageland Charge. It was no longer what it had one time been, it was now a very weak church. This church was weakened when the Page- land Charge was dissolved.
The church continued to strengthen and a good year was had at New Hope. It is not known, but be- lieved that Pastor Henderson conducted his own re --
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vival at New Hope again. Earl A. Cook was then stationed at Roberta, who visited his father, T. B. Cook, and conducted one service during the revival.
There were several deaths that year which brought sorrow to the entire church. The first was C. M. Belk. known as "Uncle Mimp," on August 31, and on the next day, September 1st, his wife, Mrs. Melvie, de- parted to be with him and God. These were splendid old people, and were devoted to their church and chil- dren. They were laid to rest in the same grave in New Hope Cemetery. The third was J. Pat Belk, on November 12th. He was the father of Rev. Allison Belk. The Fourth was the tragic death of Charlie Belk on October 14th, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Belk. He was found dead on the road where he had been hit by a car in the night. His death was a great shock to his friends and loved ones. His body rests in New Hope Cemetery.
This was another year that New Hope paid every- thing, and overpaid their part of pastor's salary. All the other churches came out, and Rev. Henderson received eighteen dollars more than he was promised.
In the Fourth Quarterly Conference T. B. Cook was authorized to attend the Annual Conference with Rev. Henderson, as the official delegate was Henry Marze, from the Pageland Church, and this church was expected to be transferred to the Rockingham Charge. The delegate was instructed to ask for the return of Pastor Henderson. For some reason this request was not granted by the Stationing Commit- tee, he was assigned to Richland Charge near Ashe- boro, N. C.
Pastor's salary was fixed at eight hundred dollars.
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Rev. P. E. Bingham 1935-A new pastor, Rev. P. E. Bingham, was assigned to the Mecklenburg Charge. Rev. Bingham was an educated young man, and was well prepared for the work. He came to Mecklen- burg Charge from Creswell Charge in the Eastern part of the state.
At that time the charge consisted of five weak churches, four in Union County and one near Fort Mills, S. C. New Hope Church was the strongest of the five.
Many of the people were disappointed because Rev. Henderson did not return, and many in several of the churches failed to co-operate because of this disappointment, especially at new Hope. This made it unpleasant for the young preacher. He realized the handicaps and did well with the problems.
On February 8, 1935, death visited the community and took another Charter member, Mrs. Jane Belk, wife of John R. Belk. Mrs. Belk was devoted to her church, and attended upon its services as long as her health would permit. She was almost an invalid for several years before her death.
Nothing is known by the author of the accomplish- ments this year, except some outstanding things re- membered. The revival was conducted in August. Dr. S. W. Taylor assisted in the revival with fair re- sults.
J. W. Richardson was Sunday School Superintend- ent, Edd Clawson teacher of the adult class, Sam Ay- coth pianist, Myrtle Cook assistant pianist.
The year closed with much of the pastor's salary unpaid. However, New Hope paid her part. New
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Hope and Antioch Churches of the Mecklenburg Charge are found on the Honor Roll of churches pay- ing pastor's salary in full for 1935. The pastor only received $550.00 of the $800.00 promised.
Joe Ross, of New Hope Church, was elected del- egate to the Annual Conference, which was to be held in Henderson, N. C.
Rev. Robert Short, 1936-Little can be said of this year, as this book will go to press before much of this year is gone.
The Charge received a new pastor, Rev. Robert Short, who came to the work from the Anderson Charge in South Carolina. He came to the work ear- ly, and was not long getting acquainted with the work and the people. Rev. Short had served the work be- fore in 1925 and 1926, although this was before New Hope Church became a part of the Charge. He very easily adapted himself to the people at New Hope.
Rev. Short was the type of preacher the people of New Hope liked, therefore all offered splendid co- operation and the work now showed a wonderful chance of advancement.
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