USA > North Carolina > Camden County > Sharon in Camden County > The history of Sharon and Wise Baptist Church, 1858-1958 > Part 2
USA > North Carolina > Warren County > Wise > The history of Sharon and Wise Baptist Church, 1858-1958 > Part 2
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After a reasonable time, an hour or two, church services were resumed.
Preaching services were held on the first Sunday in each month, Sunday school every Sunday and prayer meet- ing Sunday nights. Sometimes services were held on Saturday afternoons with some members coming from a distance, spending the night in a relative's home, attending Sunday school next morning, and then returning home. Bad roads and slow modes of transportation had much to do with shap- ing church services in early days.
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Chapter V EARLY MUSIC IN OUR CHURCH
For thirty six years our church had no music but the human voice. But please do not misunderstand me, they had music, for they could sing -- sing from their very hearts and souls, putting themselves into their music.
One of my fondest childhood memories is of how, after the supper meal, my grandfather would take me on his knees before the fireplace, and as my grandmother would sit across from us would sing to me old spirituals and hymns. I think "Amazing Grace" was his favorite, but he sang many others. I can recall looking up at the beams under the upper floor of the log house in which we lived as he sang, and somehow God's love and understanding has never been as close to me as then. Yes, he sang from his heart.
There were rarely enough song books to go around, though there were some. Mr. George Hawks says that was one of his jobs, to hand the books out and to take them in after the services. Books didn't matter too much for the pastor or song leader would "line out" a verse, this would be sung, then he would line out another verse and so on. Soon the members knew all the songs and joined heartily in the singing.
In 1894 a small foot-pumped organ was procured. No doubt but the members were justly proud of it. Our first organist was Miss Helen Perkinson who played for church services until she was married to Arthur Perkinson by Rev. J. T. Edmondson on January 31, 1900. After the marriage of Miss Helen Perkinson, Susan Ann Perkinson, known to her friends as Sudie, played for many years. Miss Olivia Perkinson, later Mrs. M. H. Hayes, also played at times.
William Orris Dunn moved with his family to Wise in 1902. He was principal of the school, a deacon in the church and leader in public education, a great help in get-
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ting the first high school in Wise. He was Sunday school superintendent at the time of his death in 1908. His daughter Carrie was a music teacher and many of her pupils played at different times in our church. Miss Carrie also played for services for many years. Later, her sister Emma was pianist in the new church. Among some of her pupils who helped with the music were Lena White, Lalla White, Mary Perkin- son, Betty Mustian, Nora Weldon, Helen Weldon, and Mamie Hicks.
Vocal lessons were given every other Friday evening in church by Miss Carrie Dunn and father and opening exercises for school were held every day in the church build- ing across the road from the school. These exercises usually consisted of the singing of one song, reading scripture, and roll call. Mr. W. O. Dunn lead in scripture reading.
The old organ was removed to the new church in 1908 and was used there until the death of Mrs. Susan Perkinson Rudd in 1924. She left a bequest to buy a new piano for the church, which was done. The old organ was moved to Mr. Rudd's and put in a building for storage. Later it was sold or given to Mary Liza Thrower. I believe it was used a while in Locust Grove Church, a local colored Baptist Church.
In 1957 Mrs. C. C. Perkinson paid $225.00 to have the piano Mrs. Rudd gave the church renovated and rebuilt. Now this beautiful musical instrument will grace our church for many more years, thanks to Mrs. Perkinson, and her thoughtfulness.
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Chapter VI AND THEN THE WAR CAME
In 1861 North Carolina seceded from the Union, and joined the Confederate States.
On April 12, 1861 the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter, situated in the harbor of Charleston, S. C. and the conflict was precipitated when Lincoln immediately called for 75,000 volunteers to enforce the authority of the Union and proceeded to blockade the ports of the Southern states.
The Confederate States likewise called for volunteers, and issued letters of Marque and reprisal. The North was rich and had a greater variety of industry, but the South was better united and were imbued with a more enthusiastic Military spirit. The first blood was shed in Baltimore on April 19, 1861.
About April 21, and the 19th. of May, 1861 the Warren County Company was formed; Namely, the 43 Regi- ment, Company G (Infantry) and served until Gettysburg, Under the leadership of Levi P. Coleman and John B. Powell, many of our church members marched away to war with its glory and carnage. Some came home after the conflict. Others rest in unnamed graves.
Among our church members who served were:
Robert Claiborne, Reg. 43, Co. G.
Rufus Pitchford, Reg. 43, Co. G.
Richard H. Thompson, Reg. 43, Co. G. - Builder of our church. Later organized and built a Free Will Baptist Church in Wise that did not survive.
Levi C. Perkinson, Reg. 43, Co. G. Preacher's brother,
Hillary Thomas Jeffress, Company and rank unknown.
Levi Talley, Reg. 43, Co. G. - one of the grantees of our first church.
Armstead King, Reg. 46, Co. 3.
Page Perkinson, Reg. 44, Va. Btn.
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Daniel Hicks, Reg. 14, Co. A. Bartlett Crowder, Reg. 12, Co. F.
Wiley Crowder - Company unknown. Killed in battle and buried in an unknown grave. He was my great grand- father.
There were other members of course who served in the War, but due to lack of records, we cannot name them here, as much as we would like to. There are two I'd like to mention : James H. Hawks, Reg. 11, Co. C. and Fred A. Hawks, Reg. 9, Co. E, who though not members, attended our church, and whose bodies now rest in our cemetery. My Grandfather, Daniel Thompson, on my father's side of the family also served with the 43rd. Reg., Co. G fighting in many of the battles along the Eastern Seaboard and was at Ap- pomattox Court House April 9, 1865 when Lee surrendered. He had the distinction of being the strongest man in the Company and the only one able to carry a barrel of flour in wood. His remains rest in a marked grave on Thomas Wel- don's Place.
Much has been said about the bravery and spirit of our Confederate soldiers and why they fought so long against such great odds. I think it can be safely said, it was not to keep the Negro enslaved, for most of them were poor men, and only one in ten owned any slaves. No. it was not that -- Actually, I believe these men thought their State rights were being infringed upon. They were educated to believe that State governments were their own, and any attacks upon it were a violation of a sacred compact. Slavery was only one incident in the quarrel. It might have been the occasion, but it was not the cause of the separation from the Union.
Now after nearly a hundred years, the Southern States could and will fight to run their own State govern- ments. It could happen. So these men fought bravely, and some died gloriously on far away battlefields. Those that survived after the surrender on April 12, 1865 came home, many in tattered rags and in many cases barefooted. Some homes had been destroyed, others were desolate. Yes, the ones that had stayed home had suffered too. Food had not been too plentiful. There was no coffee, so they parched corn
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to make a beverage to take its place. Salt was scarce too, so they dug up the floors of their meat houses, boiled the dirt to remove the salt, and used it. They spun the thread, wove their own cloth to clothe their bodies. They raised their own food and lived in hopes of better days.
When the men came home, it was necessary for most of them to start over almost from nothing. What little money they owned was worthless, some had no work animals and no seed. But with undaunted spirits, they pitched in to re- construct their homes, and to make a new way of life.
Through these years of conflict our church survived, and was one of the few things that remained unchanged in a changed world for our returning soldierss.
POST CIVIL WAR YEARS
Actually during the war our membership increased. From a beginning of 38 white members, and seven colored, by 1860 we had 64 white members, and nine colored mem- bers. In 1862 we had increased to 70 white and 12 colored members and by 1865 the total was 95 white and 14 colored members.
Our pastors through the war years were Rev. L. C. Perkinson and Elder James S. Purefoy. They served faith- fully for very small salaries, usually about $150.00 per year for part-time services. The only way they could possibly work for so little was to have more than one church. Some- times they had as many as four churches in their field. Money was scarce too, as all Confederate money was worthless, but the members helped their pastors with things they raised at home. There was a friendly and cooperative spirit exhibited between pastor and people then.
By 1867 our membership had risen to 100 white mem- bers. This remained about the same until 1873 at which time we had 113 members white and 20 colored. There was a further increase in 1874 with a total of 138 members and 20 colored members. We also had a new pastor this year (1874) Elder C. T. Bailey. He was preaching in Warrenton also at this time. The following year he bought the Biblical Recorder
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and became the proprietor and editor of this periodical which he conducted for twenty years. He died in 1895.
Rev. D. A. Glenn became our pastor in 1878 until 1884. During his pastorate, we went forward in the mem- bership phase of our work. In 1878 we had one hundred and fifty members. By 1882 we had one hundred and eighty-four white members and three colored members. All the colored members except three old ladies have gone to a church of their race. There is no other mention of them in the records.
Our Sunday School probably began about 1872, but the first records are in 1879 at which time we had six teachers and officers with fifty members enrolled. In 1881, eighty members.
Pastor D. A. Glenn was our preacher now and the salary was still only $150.00. He served from 1878 to 1884.
Rev. L. C. Perkinson was our first Sunday School Superintendent. He served up until 1885 at which time Jas. H. Hicks became Sunday School Superintendent (1886). Now W. B. Morton is our pastor. He also returned for a short time in 1913 but was not well received by the church and so had to resign to prevent a split in the church.
He was followed by Rev. Nedhad B. Cobb who stayed with us for three years 1891-1894. 1889 N. G. Perkinson was Superintendent of Sunday School, followed in 1891 by C. W. Perkinson and 1892 by J. H. Hicks.
Rev. G. W. Harmon came to be our pastor in 1894- 1896.
And in turn, he was followed by Rev. J. T. Edmundson serving from 1895 to 1904. He was the first pastor to use the newly installed pool in Sharon Church. I expect the members of the church especially appreciated this feature because prior to 1898 it had been necessary to use a stream or mill pond for this Baptist ordinance. Weldon's or Reavis' Pond, west of Wise was usually used.
Rev. Edmundson was succeeded by Rev. I. N. Loftin 1904 to 1906, and then by Pastor W. J. Jones 1906 to 1908,
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By then the Old Sharon Church was getting much the worse for wear and tear, and there was talk of building a new church in the village. This is covered in another place in this work. Also, there will be a list of the pastors and the years they served at Sharon and Wise Baptist Church.
THE POOL
When Sharon Church was built no provisions were made for baptising the new members. This service was usually held at Weldon's Mill Pond or Reavis, a body of water about a mile west of the church. Incidentally this pond no longer exists. Nothing was done about this state of affairs for forty years.
Then in 1898 a pool was constructed in the north end of the church behind the pulpit. This was built of rock, and masonry by Isiac Burton, a very famous mason and rock worker of that day. I might say here that I personally do not remember the church, but I saw this pool, many times, for it endured years after the church was torn down and removed.
Across the back of the church, a kind of leanto, or shed room, housing two dressing rooms, was built. Water to fill the pool was hauled from the well, near the school house that stood across the road from the church.
The first time the pool was used was on an October night in 1898. J. T. Edmunson was the officiating minister. Though it is unusual for the time of year, a terrible thunder- storm came up that night and many of the new converts were not able to get to church at all.
The first person baptised in the pool was Miss Pinky Hicks, then thirty years old. She was a very tall person -- ac- tually her height was more than the length of the pool, and of course this constituted quite a problem. But the ceremony was performed with no greater mishap than to bump her head slightly against the wall. Others that were baptised on this occasion were Wiley G. Saint Sing, Willie Ball, Betty Collins and India Stevenson. Later Willie and India were married. Creola Fayne Saint Sing, later my mother, then only
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thirteen years old, was also baptised that night, and of course others that there are no records to tell of now.
My mother still remembers this special service in her life, and in talking of this with her recently. she said, "There was a bad storm going on that night. Many of the new con- verts never did get to the church at all, but those that came were baptised. After the service, my father had to harness the horse to the buggy by the lightening flashes, and it was very bad driving home.
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Chapter VII THE NEW SHARON CHURCH
After fifty years of service the old Sharon Church building was becoming much the worse for wear. True, it had been painted several times, and from time to time need- ed repairs were taken care, but time was making its mark on this old wooden building. There were some of the mem- bers too who felt the church should be more in town, or not so far out in the country.
Along with this element of the membership was Mr. J. R. Paschall who told the church if they would move, he would help them build the new church. He was as good as his word, and probably gave more than any other individual to this work. He and his wife Florence gave over a thousand dollars to this cause.
The work of building the church was actually under the supervision of his brother Lee Paschall, the Manager of the Wise Granite Construction Co. and Quarry located east of F. L. Hicks' Mill of now. The granite stones were hauled from this quarry to the location of the building by mules and wagons. This must have been a large task, as we think of labor now fifty years later.
Mr. Andrew Bascomb Spencer, a native of Virginia (born near Chase City), had charge of the building of the church. This must have been a boom year in building for Wise, for he built the brick school house at the same time. This school became the first high school in the County. Mr. Spencer later married a Warren County girl, Miss Nannie Flemings. She is still living at this writing, but Mr. Spencer is dead.
The dimensions of the building were 45 ft. by 62 ft. A Gothic type of architecture was employed in the design of the church. While granite was used for the exterior, local woods were used inside. There was a large auditorium just
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off the two front doors with five classrooms on the east side, separated by rolling panels. It was possible to roll these panels up and include all these rooms in the main part of the building when occasions like funerals and big meetings (revivais) made it necessary.
The pulpit and pool occupied the North end of the auditorium, with two dressing rooms that doubled for class- rooms for Sunday School on Sundays. The choir was seated on a small platform in the North West corner of the main room. Sometimes the piano was on this platform; sometimes alongside on the main floor.
Plain glass windows were used originally covered with a delcomania design. After replacing this several times, stain- ed art glass windows were installed in 1955. This was a memorial project with individual families purchasing a win- dow in memory of a loved one.
Work went on rapidly on the building and it was completed in 1908. The people of Wise thus became the owners of the first stone church in the Tar River Association.
A hot air heating system was installed in the basement. Gas was used for lighting -- actually this was a novelty, but it worked fairly well until the advent of electricity early in the nineteen hundreds.
There was one other thing I must mention. A bell tower was built on the new church. In this a beautiful bell was installed. It was one of the duties of the janitor to ring this bell to call the worshipers to service. I remember hearing Ace Barnes, a much liked colored man and everybody's friend, our janitor for twenty-five or thirty years, say, "I love to ring that bell, to call people to church."
This was a beautiful and well-equipped church build- ing when finished. In fact there wasn't hardly another as pretty anywhere to be found. The amazing thing is that it was estimated at only six thousand dollars a few years later. Of course, labor and materials were cheap, but it does seen it would have cost a great deal more. Fifty years later, an ad- dition of eleven feet, and a complete overhaul of the interior cost over three times as much as the original price of the building. This work will be covered in more detail later.
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PICTURE OF L. C. PERKINSON'S HOME
Rev. L. C. Perkinson died here on Friday, November 13, 1908. (Picture taken 50 years later.)
Chapter VIII
THE DEATH OF THE FOUNDER OF OUR CHURCH
On the morning of Friday, November the 13, 1908 our beloved ex-pastor and founder of our church passed quietly away into eternity. At the time of his death he was living in his home at Oakville -- Sometimes called the Yancey House just east of Oakville -- now owned by Gidd King of Oakville. When he died he was one of the oldest ministers in this part of the State. He was buried in Sharon Cemetary in the family plot. Services were conducted by A. V. Joyner, assisted by Rev. W. W. Rose and T. J. Taylor.
Affixed is the actual account of this written by Dr. T. J. Taylor and given to me by Rev. Perkinson's granddaughter, Mrs. Cole Nichols of Rockingham, N. C.
"Rev. Levi C. Perkinson -- We announce with sincere regret the death of our esteemed fellow citizen, the venerable Rev. Levi C. Perkinson. Mr. Perkinson was not only one of our oldest citizen, but he was one of the oldest ministers in this part of the State, being in his enghty-fourth year at the time of his death. He was a native of Warren County, and lived and died in the community where he was born. In early life he made a profession of religion and united with Enon, now Littleton Baptist Church. Later he moved his member- ship to Warrenton, and when the church at Sharon was con- stituted he became one of the constituent members of that body. Indeed, it was largely through his efforts that the church was organized and the commodious house of worship was erected. He gave to the promotion of the interest of that church the best that was in him.
"Mr. Perkinson was educated at Wake Forest College, and after his graduation was for a time the representative of Oxford Female Seminary. By nature and training he was
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fitted for large usefulness and was a preacher of decided ability. His last pastorate was with the church at Enterprise, which he resigned on account of the infirmities of age. Mr. Perkinson was a man of affairs. He was a successful farmer and at one time engaged in the merchantile business. He had a strong mind in his stalwart body and usually succeeded in his undertakings. He was a public spirited citizen, a broad- minded Christian, a sincere friend, a devoted husband and parent, and the world is richer because he lived in it.
"He died on the morning of Friday the 13th. of November, and was buried at Sharon church on the following Sunday afternoon. A large concourse of sorrowing friends followed his body to the grave. The funeral services were conducted by his pastor, A. V. Joyner, assisted by Revs. W. W. Rose and T. J. Taylor.
"THE RECORD extends sincere sympathy to these sorrowing sons and daughters."
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WILLIAM ORRIS DUNN
Chapter IX
WILLIAM ORRIS DUNN
Mr. Dunn was born at Palmyra, Halifax County, N. C. April 7, 1851. His father was Ben W. Dunn and his wife Martha Ann Bell Dunn. He was educated in private school, with governess and at Horner School, Oxford, N. C. He was active in church work from early in his life.
On October 24, 1875 he was united in marriage to Bettie Tamar Stallings, daughter of Joe Stallings, and Patience Rebbecca Jones his wife of Warren County at Ring- wood in Halifax County. He came to wise in August 1902 to assume the job of principal of the school then a two room building. But through the years the building grew, more rooms and more teachers were added. Then in 1907 a modern
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brick building was erected about a half mile North West of the old school and now near Perkinson's Gin.
Mr. Dunn worked hard with other influential men in the community to get a high school at Wise. This was finally accomplished and Wise had the first high school in Warren County. The new building was finished and he opened school in it in January 1908. To have a high school at Wise had been one of the great desires of his life, but he only lived a short time to enjoy it for he died on January 24, 1908. His son Ben Dunn finished the term that his father began.
At the time of his death Mr. Dunn was a deacon, and Sunday School Superintendent of Sharon Church.
I cannot close this chapter without mentioning the sons and daughters that were born to Mr. and Mrs. William O. Dunn. There were four sons: Ben, Frank, Bob, and Sol. There were also five daughters, but two died as small chil- dren. Those who lived were Annie, Carrie, and Emma.
Many of his children continued in the work their father was active in -- educational and spiritual. Miss Carrie taught school until retired. Miss Emma still teaches school at Norlina High School. She has also been our Church Clerk for twenty-six years. She also serves as church organist and teaches the Young Ladies Class regularly.
Miss Carrie served as church pianist, Sunday School teacher, W.M.U. President, and has been very faithful work- ing with the Cemetery Committee. She has always been a person you could depend on to get a job done in our Church.
The boys have been helpful in our Church too. Frank served as teacher of the Adult Men's Class for many years. Bob has taught the Men's Class, and was on the Committee that planned and rebuilt our church in 1957.
So it can be safely said that a man's good works go on after he is gone. Even as the father was a credit to his com- munity in church and school work, so are the sons and daughters carrying on this noble work of church and school.
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Chapter X
EARLY REPRESENTATIVES TO OUR ASSOCIATION
1858 At Poplar Springs: W. R. Coleman, B. L. Perkinson, S. D. King.
1860 At Franklinton: B. L. Perkinson, G. W. Nicholson, J. J. Barrow.
1861 At Maple Springs : L. C. Perkinson, J. J. Barrow.
1862 At Browns: G. W. Nicholson, R. J. Perkinson.
1863 At Red Bud - By letter.
1867 At Cypress Chapel: Jasper R. Perkinson.
1869 At Sharon: C. W. Perkinson, W. M. Wortham, L. T. Watson. (The minutes of this meeting were printed at Ridgeway, N. C. by Thos. M. Hughes, Printer.)
1870 At Poplar Springs: Peter F. King, John W. Nicholson.
1872 No letter or delegates this year.
1873 At Wilson : L. J. Perkinson.
1874 At Philadelphia : Rev. L. C. Perkinson, D'Arcy P. Hicks. 1875 At Reedy Creek : Rev. L. C. Perkinson, G. W. Nicholson.
1876 Not represented at Association.
1877 Not represented at Association.
1878 At Conoconary - By letter.
1879 At Louisburg: W. M. Wortham, John T. Rodwell, Jacob Shearin.
1880 At Peach Tree: J. J. Shearin.
1881 At Antioch: Rev. L. C. Perkinson.
1882 At Littleton: W. E. Bugg, James H. Hicks, Rev. L. C. Perkinson.
1883 At Rock Springs : Rev. L. C. Perkinson.
1884 At Mt. Zion: Rev. L. C. Perkinson, Robert Carroll.
1885 At Wilson: Rev. L. C. Perkinson.
1886 Brown's: D. P. Hicks, H. T. Jeffress.
1887 Samaria : By letter.
1888 Maple Springs: By letter.
1889 Gardner's: P. R. Perkinson.
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1890 Greenville: Rev. L. C. Perkinson.
1891 Warrenton: Rev. L. C. Perkinson, P. F. King, P. R. Perkinson.
1892 Louisburg : J. H. Hicks, Rev. L. C. Perkinson.
1893 Philadelphia : L. E. Hicks, D. P. Hicks.
1894 Scotland Neck: By letter.
1895 Wilson: D. P. Hicks.
1896 Poplar Springs: J. H. Hicks, D. P. Hicks.
1897 Stoney Creek: By letter.
1898 Weldon: I. L. King.
1899 Warren Plains: G. W. Hawks, L. E. Hicks, P. R. Perkinson.
1900 Spring Hope: Not represented.
1901 Corinth: By letter
1902 Washington: J. H. Hicks.
1903 Rocky Mount: Rev. J. T. Edmundson.
1904 Maple Springs: Rev. I. N. Loftin.
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