USA > North Carolina > Gates County > Reynoldson > Pride of the past, hope for the future, 1827-1977 : a history of Reynoldson Baptist Church written in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the church > Part 13
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For more than twenty years the Brotherhood has provided leadership for the R.A.'s, sponsored ball clubs for them,5 and inspired them to work by offering to pay them to cut the church grass.6 They have also undertaken other projects to improve the church facilities such as installing the walks around the newly completed building.7
In 1977 William Lee Lilley is president, Ray Harrell and Sandy Ward are R.A. leaders. These leaders are largely responsible for the interest in the R.A. organizations and the ball clubs. They study and play together as they learn the rules for Christian living and Christian giving.
Joseph Ray Freeman, Jr. was the first Brotherhood President.
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CEMETERY
In 1834 seven years after the church was organized, consideration was given to death for the first time when conference voted to set aside a special place in the church book to record the deaths of members. However, the church records do not show that they were ever effectively recorded.1
While Professor Julius F. Howell and his wife, Ida, were living at Reynoldson Institute to them was born a son, Finley, who died with diphtheria shortly after birth.2 Having no place to bury his son, Mr. Howell approached the church. Thus, on April 6, 1872 conference voted to give enough of the church ground to Brother J.F. Howell and "also to any other member of this church who desired it to use as a burying ground."3 Thus, began the cemetery in the churchyard at Reynoldson Baptist Church.
Eleven years after the first person was interred here, a committee was officially appointed to designate the burying ground of the church. T.E. Waff, A. Carter, J.S. Long, J.T. Waff and J.A. Edward designated this first plot of ground.4 After the plot was decided upon, the members decided to buy wire fencing and fence the area. This fencing was estimated to cost $15.00. Sisters Frances Eure and Claudia Waff were called upon to help raise funds.5 It is doubtful that this first project was successfully completed because a few years later they were endeavoring to do the same thing again. This time the probable cost estimate was $25.00. By April, 1901 work on the fence had been completed and a work day had been set aside to clean the ground and to have the fastening on the gates installed by Brother John Russell.6 After this, Cleanup Day became an annual affair. In 1912 when the brethern decided to have Cleanup Day, the sisters were requested to meet with them, bring flowers and beautify the graves.7
Forty years had passed since the first person was laid to rest in the Reynoldson Cemetery and no permanent record had been kept. Therefore, conference decided to appoint a committee (J.F. Lawrence, T.B. Parker, Stanley Smith, and G.R. Eure) to draw a plot of the graveyard and to keep it for reference. This plot was drawn up and delivered to conference in September, 1913.8
Mr. J.E. Hayes was appointed a committee of one to look after the burying grounds in August, 1921.9
After World War II there was a renewed effort to bring information on the cemetery plot up to date. Mr. and Mrs. T. Beaurie Parker, Mrs.
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Gretchen Ellis, Mrs. L.C. Powell and Mrs. Jack Carroll were appointed as a committee to try to accomplish this.10 After they had updated the plot, it was drawn off by Mr. L.C. Powell and was turned over to the church clerk.11 Mr. Lloyd Hayes was appointed to hold this drawing of the plot and to assist in laying off additional burial lots.12 Later J.B. Parker and John Lee Smith were appointed to help Lloyd Hayes in laying off the plots. As committee chairman, J.B. Parker requested help from someone who knew where the people were buried and the layout of the old plots. 13
The cemetery was a difficult area to keep in good care. Thus, in April, 1958 the committee requested the church to contact relatives of the interred persons requesting that the graves be marked and asking if they would prefer the graves to be flat so that the grass could be mowed more easily.14
In 1959 one person, Mr. Carlyle Ward, presented the church with a check for $200.00. He requested the church to see that his lot was taken care of and kept clean. 15
The following cemetery policy was accepted by the church in 1971:
1. "Cemetery will be mowed by the church but each family shall keep the grass around the stones and markers pulled and repair the stones.
2. The cornerstones of the plots will be level with the ground.
3. No limit will be passed on the number of bodies buried in a family plot.
4. Families shall remove flowers and containers from the graves once the flowers have wilted."16
Today in the year 1977, a committee has been appointed to establish a policy for a perpetual care cemetery. Brother Carl Ray Eason is chairman of the committee. Other members are T. Beaurie Parker, Charles Cale, John Lee Smith, Jimmie Smith, Virginia (Jennie Bess) Freeman, Ruth Eure, Ruth Doughtie, Sandra Parker and Edith Seiling. Hopefully, this policy will be presented at quarterly conference in April, 1977.
After World War II and renewed interest in caring for the cemetery, a special service was set aside known as a Memorial Service. The third Sunday afternoon in May, 1945 was decided as the special day with the ladies to secure the speaker for the occassion.17 In 1950 the church decided to combine Homecoming and Memorial Services and to hold an all day meeting with dinner on the grounds. 18
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REYNOLDSON BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY
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From that day until 1960, the month, day and hour for this service was decided each year. In 1960 the third Sunday afternoon was designated as the time to be set aside for Memorial Service and that was to be the time each year unless changed by the church.20 It has since been changed to the fourth Sunday morning in May. Former pastors and members were invited to participate in the program.19 Later it was decided to have Memorial Services each year and Homecoming every five years.
Homecoming and Memorial Services in observance of the 150th Anniversary were observed on May 22, 1977. Former Pastors Wadell Waters, O.S. Edmonds, and Donald Stewart were present.
Homecoming on May 23, 1977.
Cemetery on Memorial Sunday, May 23, 1977.
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EPILOGUE
Down and Counting
At morning worship service on March 14, 1976, Pastor Billy P. Presley preached the sermon entitled "Twelve Down and Counting". His text was taken from Phillippians 3:14: "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ." This sermon could have been entitled "One Hundred and Fifty Years Down and Counting." As we enter the last half of our second century as a church, let us continue to be a Church with a reach, upward and forward. May these be years of excellence for and with God as we "make tomorrow together."
"Twelve down ...... and counting" Phillipians 3:14
The title of this message has to do with time and how the passing of time is measured. For some "time flies;" for some time drags; for some it stands still; and for a sick few it seems to turn backward. However, we are all handling time in some fashion. There is no way around it, for it is thrust upon us in units that we call seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years.
The years are our scheme of measuring things we call anniversaries. That is, if we are pleased to celebrate the commemoration. Well, today is an anniversary for my family and myself. It is one that is well-labeled on the Presley calendar, for it was twelve years ago today that I preached my first sermon as your pastor. I remember those days in March of 1964 very well. I had been preaching on alternate Sundays at Reynoldson and Askewville down in Bertie County. And lo and behold, on the very same Sunday both churches voted to call me as pastor. It was not a difficult decision for me - not so for my wife - but feeling that this was where God wanted us, we wrote Charles Eure to let him know that we had accepted the call to Reynoldson.
The years have raced by it seems. To our family, they have been good years. Knowing that twelve years are down, and we are already counting into the thirteenth year, would you allow me this morning to reminisce just a bit and then share with you some of my hopes and aspirations for the future of our church.
I. TWELVE DOWN - MEMORY RECALLING.
a. Recall with me the sermon on the second Sunday in March, 1964
Responsibilities: Pastor and People
1. Pastor's responsibilities
a) To visit b) To Preach c) To Lead
2. People's responsibilities
a) Your responsibility to Almighty God b) Church c) Pastor
3. On this basis we began our relationship that has lasted for these twelve years ...
b. In my judgment God has been good to us during these years.
1. In terms of new members we have grown ...
2. We have revamped our Sunday School ...
3. New educational building
Illustration: Looking at some slides just this week of when we were tearing down the old auditorium, building new one ...
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4. Youth Program
5. Have tried to minister to all - old and young. (Our church is somewhat unique in that we have a lot of older people and a lot of younger people.)
6. Ministry to every age group - through mission organizations.
7. Music opportunities for all age groups.
8. Financially we have watched our church grow steadily - we have increased our giving to cooperative program steadily.
9. I have watched individuals grow into Christian maturity - hard to gauge this type of growth.
c. Twelve down and counting ... Indeed they have been good years - not perfect years, but good years.
1. But we cannot rest on our laurels. The future is always out there. We haven't made a dent in possibilities.
Illustration: St. Paul's cathedral in London faced a real problem. It had been built on soft soil. St. Paul's church was moving slowly but steadily down Fleet Street at the rate of one inch a year. When the minister heard this, he relayed the news to his board, and then he said: "we are moving down our street at the rate of one inch a year. That's too slow -- we must move faster !!! "
2. Text
II. AND COUNTING - PRESSING FORWARD (Can't reminisce too long).
A. As we move forward, we want to see our church really count for God and His Kingdom.
1. One of the things that creeps into the work of the church is the toleration of the average.
2. "Average can be arrived at by adding out and out failure and outstanding achievement and rating yourself half-way between."
3. Average is the antithesis of excellence. But Jesus didn't call us to be "average" but "extra-ordinary."
4. He promised us abundant life and came to make us more than conquerers. He urges us to excellence.
B. In order to do this, we must be A CHURCH WITH A REACH.
1. An UPWARD REACH. Reaches infinitely high and lays hold on God.
a) Ours must be a church that is in touch with God through prayer and praise. "sweet, sweet, spirit."
b) Let it be that people depart these doors to exclaim: "The Lord is in His place, Come and see.'
c) God grant that the people who come to this place will know the magnetism of vital worship and the uplifted Christ.
2. But there must be an OUTWARD REACH as well. The church will be effective as it is evangelistic.
Illustration: Peter and John knew that irrestistible compulsion when they were beaten and threatened and told not to speak in Christ's name again. They said: "Is it good that we obey God or men - we cannot but speak the things we have both heard and seen."
a) What finer thing can a church do for a community than point to the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
b) God grant that RBC will have REACH enough to confront every lost person in this community ...
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c) In the final analysis the church has no success except as it persuades people to receive Christ. (This is of course the beginning point.)
3. A FORWARD REACH. (Emphasis should be right here).
a) That's what Paul was talking about in our text ...
b) It is my hope this will be the direction of Reynoldson Baptist Church.
c) Twelve down and counting ...
Conclusion: of course I don't mean just marking time - I mean our church counting. For me this flies ...
"Forenoon and afternoon and night -- And day is gone -- So short a span of time there is Twixt dawn and evening. Youth, - middle age, - old age, - And life is past, -- So we do well to remember,- Only what we do for Christ will last !! "
Illustration: Just a couple of years ago there was an insurance commercial that had a slogan: "Let's make tomorrow together." I am looking forward to year number 13 as a year of excellence, that we will make tomorrow together with God. Twelve down and counting ..... ]
The Billy P. Presley Family Front row - Billy Jr. and Deanna Lynn Back row - Claire and Billy P. Presley, Sr. Claire is choir director and W.M.U. director. Mr. Presley is pastor. The Presleys came to Reynoldson in March, 1964.
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APPENDIXES
CHURCH OFFICERS Pastors
Piney Grove Baptist Church (1827-1877) was served by only four pastors. Preaching services were held of fourth Sunday mornings. Elder Edward Howell, second pastor, was more than a pastor, even though he held this position for 20 years. He was one of the original founders, served as assistant to the aging Elder John Harrell, and filled any church office when needed. His undying Christian love and influence during the first fifty years of the church's growth served as a stabilizing influence and contributed to the church's survival. Elder Howell never forgot his commitment made to God, who had reprimanded him for his evil way of life, with the death of his child.
No other pastor has seen such length of service at Piney Grove-Reynoldson where 22 pastors have served. The services of four other pastors - John Harrell (17 years), William Benbury Waff (23 years), T.L. Brown (19 years), and Billy P. Presley (13 and still counting) - have extended beyond a decade.
Listed here are the names and dates of services of the pastors.
Elder John Harrell. 1828-1845
Edward (Ned) Howell
1845-1856
W.W. Kone.
1856-1859
T.W. Babb
1862-1884
C.T. Bailey
Supplied 2nd. Sundays during 1866 school term.
Supplied 1883-1884
.October, 1887 - January 1, 1907
T.J. Hudson
January 1, 1907-January, 1908
Biggs February, 1908-March, 1909
A.A. Crater April, 1909-May, 1911
J.D. Brunor, Pres. Chowan College
Supplied August, 1911-December, 1911
H.F. Brinson October, 1911-May, 1913
G.C. Lowe. November, 1913-December, 1918
A.C. McCall January, 1918-1922
T.L. Brown June 1922-January, 1941
Dr. J.L. Carrick.
July, 1941-December, 1943
J. Sidney Cobb.
.May, 1944-1948
H. Waddell Waters
August, 1949-February, 1951
J.C. Conoly
June 24, 1951-April 27, 1952
O.S. Edmonds August, 1952-September, 1959
Don Stewart. December 13, 1959-December, 1963
Billy P. Presley March 1964 to present
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1859-1868
J.P. Lee.
W.B. Waff
Elder John Harrell (3-20-1779 - 11-6-1844)
Elder John Harrell was born in Nansemond County, Virginia March 20, 1779.1 He became a member of Middle Swamp January, 1806, a deacon in 1810 and an ordained minister in 1814. He was elected pastor here in 1815, and served as pastor 21 years. He also served as pastor of South Quay Church from 1817 until January, 1828. It was during his last year at South Quay that a great religious revival took place and more than 100 persons became church members.2
"Of the church at Piney Grove, he may be regarded as the founder. His services were rendered to the citizens in an old school-house, until 1827, when by his exertions and the kindness of the people, a house of worship was built and a church was constituted principally of members dismissed from South Quay. The presbytery consisting of Elders R.T. Daniel, Luther Rice, John Harrell and James Delk. Elder Harrell was called to the pastorate, in which office, he continued until his death. The church prospered constantly under his care. In his government of the church, he was always mild, but firm. In the early part of his ministry, Elder Harrell was not clear in his convictions of duty in regard to the support of the missionary cause, but in his latter years, his doubts were removed, and he became a warm advocate for all benevolent institutions."3
Reverend J.A. Speight, D.D. gives this description of Elder Harrell. "His tall angular form, long grey beard, sad, sad face and quiet manner of speech and general appearance made such an impression on my boyish memory that I could well remember Elder Harrell's last visit to Middle Swamp. "4
Elder Harrell's preaching was almost exclusively doctrinal and his life, though it had shades of sadness in appearance, was nevertheless sweet and tender. In spite of his "giant cheek and dishevelled hair and almost silent lips, he painted life on the memories of men."5
After serving Piney Grove as pastor for thirteen years, due to age, health and the desire to slow down, Elder Harrell requested leave from Piney Grove Church. February 25, 1842, the church was destitute for a pastor and extended him another call. This he accepted.6 In 1843 Elder Harrell was unable to fill all of his appointments. On November 25, 1845, a committee composed of William Lee, Francis Rogers, and E.D.B. Howell was appointed to visit to determine if his health was sufficient for him to continue his pastoral duties.7 They reported to conference that "Elder Harrell had a severe wound on his foot, but if God be willing and his wound did not prevent, he will in the future attend to his pastoral duties." Conference considered Elder Harrell's health and decided to retain him as pastor, but appointed Edward Howell as assistant pastor.º
In November, 1845 God called his faithful servant home.
Edward Howell, William Lee, and Jethro Goodman were appointed to collect materials for a biographical sketch of Elder Harrell and to visit his widow to offer condolence and support.9
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Elder Edward Howell (b. 6-5-1797, d. 8-1-1879, Age 83)
Edward Howell, son of Edward and Ann Howell, was a native of Nansemond, Virginia. He had strong family ties in the Piney Grove Community. Letters written by his son, Julius, during the 1930's refer to their Barnes, Saunders, March, Gatling, and Lee relatives.1 Edward's love of God and family ties account for his untiring efforts to carry on the work of Piney Grove Church. On December 14, 1827, the day Piney Grove was organized, Edward Howell, who had been converted in the great revival of 1827, presented his letter of dismissal from South Quay, and requested to become a member of Piney Grove. He became the first clerk of the presbytery for this church and served in this position at three different periods (1827-1833, 2-22-1842 - 10-22-1842, and 9-25-1858 - 1- 1860).2
Brother Howell in his early life was a man of means, but not a christian. Said he, on one occasion "I was fond of my toddy and one day, after I had taken my drink, my oldest child, a little boy, said to me 'Pa, the Devil will get you if you don't stop drinking." That," said Bro. Howell, "was the first temperance sermon I ever heard: and turning around, I wiped my mouth, saying, 'God helping me, I will let the stuff alone!' Soon after, God took that child from me. And though I could not see why he should do it, I think I can see now. I found no peace of mind until I gave myself to Jesus, and since then, in my feeble way, I have been striving to labor for Him in season and out of season."3
Edward felt the desire to exercise his God given talent. The church called him in April, 1829 "to exercise his gifts in public in singing, prayer, and preaching, and to be licensed by a certificate signed by the moderator, John Harrell."5 On November 23, 1833 the church voted to ordain him as an evangelist.6 One of Piney Grove's own sons had been called to serve the Lord. This Elder Howell did with gladness for the remainder of his life.
Elder John Harrell, pastor of Piney Grove, died in 1845. On December 27, 1845 a call was extended to Elder Howell to become pastor of this church.7 The members were well pleased with his work. At the end of the year, a notice was written to thank Elder Howell for "his untiring and assidious exhortation as pastor during the past year."8
In October, 1846, during his first year as pastor, Brother Howell had the opportunity to represent the missionary society of the church at the State Baptist Convention in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was the "bearer of funds" for Piney Grove Church.9 For a period of ten years, he served continuously as pastor of Piney Grove. He was a circuit rider who also served churches at Great Fork, Middle Swamp, Cool Spring, Beaver Dam, Buckhorn, and South Quay during his ministry.10 This zealous Bible scholar displayed such zeal for the State Baptist Convention that in 1851,
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five years after his first visit to the convention, the church decided "to collect money to constitute our pastor a life member."" They appointed William H. Howell to attend to this matter for the church.
During Elder Howell's early ministry no note of pay or salary is recorded. Late in 1855 Elder Howell informed conference that he would continue as pastor "until they could procure themselves another minister."12 On February 23, 1856 upon election for ministers, Elder Howell was re-elected by "every vote except one".13 This vote was cast for Elder Kone. Elder Kone was called as pastor at a salary of $125.00 per annum.
Upon a motion of Elisha H. Eure at conference in January, 1860, Elder Howell was re-elected as pastor. The church agreed to pay him one hundred dollars per year for his services.14 When he was re-elected to serve in 1861, he requested "the church to remember that he is aged and infirm and cannot be as punctual and energetic in the discharge of his pastoral duties as he desires to be."15 From this time until the end of his ministry at Piney Grove, his salary was fifty dollars per annum. Wartime found both interest and church attendance on the decline. Elder Howell freely espoused on this subject, urging members to attend both church and conference regularly. During these years of his late ministry, other elders filled the pulpit on second Sunday mornings. One of these, C.T. Bailey, was affiliated with Reynoldson Institute.16
For more than fifty years (1827-1879) this beloved church member, worker, and pastor had rendered a life of service to both God and Piney Gove Church. In the fall of 1868, he "signified to the church his positive purpose to decline the pastoral care any longer on account of the increasing infirmatives of age" and tendered the following "advice from the old pastor of Piney Grove:
Dear Brothers:
November 21, 1868
The time has arrived when it becomes the church worshipping at Piney Grove, to call a pastor for the ensuing year (1869). After making your selection, I suggest that you pray for your minister daily, guard his reputation carefully, hear him preach as often as you can, listen to the word wakefully, treasure it up joyfully, practice it faithfully, labor with him sympathetically, both individually and collectively, attend to prayer and conference meetings constantly, support the Sabbath School heartily, subscribe for him liberally, pay him promptly, give him a bit of meat and a ball of butter occasionally, call on him frequently, but tarry briefly, greet him cordially but not rudely and may the God of all grace bless you abundantly and add unto you daily, such shall be saved eternally, Amen:
Edward Howell"17
Elder Howell's Christian life of continuous work of love and devotion for God and His kingdom leaves little to be written by mortal man. For fifty-two years he served faithfully at Piney Grove, serving wherever his
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services were most needed.
Edward Howell was twice married. He and his first wife, Sarah Barnes Howell, raised a large family of children. Several survived him as members at Reynoldson. After the death of his first wife, he married Edith Goodman Creasy, sister of Jethro Goodman, on May 26, 1853.18
This bible scholar was zealous in his labors and sound in Baptist doctrine. When too infirm to fill his appointments, he spent much time at his mill, where he counseled his brethern and urged sinners to turn to Jesus. 19
W.W. Kone
Pastor 1856-November 25, 1859
W.W. Kone was elected and hired pastor on August 24, 1856 when Elder Howell was defeated by one vote. The church called Brother Kone at a salary of $150.00 per annum. He was to be paid quarterly for his services. A year later the church found it more difficult to secure the services of a pastor since they had been unable to pay for the previous services. At the end of the year 1857, the church still owed Brother Kone one half of his salary. At this time they paid him $25.00. The next year found the church even deeper in debt, and Brother Kone was owed $93.92 of the $150.00 per year salary. Up until this time, paying the preacher had never been considered too serious. No mention of salary for either of the former pastors, Brother Harrell or Howell, is recorded. This year the church agreed that each member should pay $3.00 to liquidate the debt. Money was more difficult to raise as there were rumblings of discontent in the nation since the Civil War was approaching. The next year the pastor's salary was reduced to $100.00 a year to be paid $25.00 per quarter. At the end of the year when it was time to elect another pastor Elder Kone offered his resignation. Conference voted to "recommend him to the cordial support of all Baptist churches."
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