USA > North Carolina > Mecklenburg County > Charlotte > The history of Steele Creek Presbyterian Church : Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina > Part 7
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Freeland's Chapel
In the northeastern part of the congregation, about three miles south of Charlotte, near York Road, was a schoolhouse referred to as "Brown's". The Reverend Little began preaching there soon after he became pastor. In the early fall of 1895, the people of the neighborhood, with the help of Steele Creek church, erected a substantial brick building large enough to seat two hundred-fifty people. The Reverend Little preached there on the second and fourth Sabbath afternoons. A Sabbath school was held each Sunday afternoon. Forty or fifty members came into Steele Creek through Freeland's Chapel.
In about 1899, the Sabbath school at Freeland's Chapel was lead by J. Knox Price, Superintendent, and Loyd Brown, Secretary- Treasurer. The school had four teachers and thirty scholars.
High Schools
One of the first efforts on the part of the Reverend Little was to establish a high school. A committee of the session was appointed in 1895 to find the mind of the people on this matter. Owing to the position of the church on the border of the township of Berryhill and Steele Creek, it was found impractical to have the high school at the church. At Dixie, a mile and a quarter north of the church, a substantial two-story building was erected. A school of superior grades (high school) was conducted for nine months per year. At
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approximately the same time a convenient building was erected at Shopton and a similar school started. Quite a number of sons and daughters of Steele Creek were fitted for college. Many of these went on to male and female colleges in the state. These schools opened in the fall of 1896, and continued until they were replaced by public high schools well into the next century.
Societies of the Church
The "Ladies Aid Society" was organized February 29, 1880. The first officers were Mrs. A. G. Neel, President; Mrs. W. W. Robin- son, Vice-President; Miss Sarah Brown, Secretary; and Mrs. D. T. Pegram, Treasurer. The objective of the society was to promote the cause of home missions. The amount contributed by the society to the end of the century was $2, 144.86. The officers in 1899 were Mrs. L. K. Wharey, President; Mrs. D. T. Pegram, Vice-President; Miss Lorena A. Brown, Secretary; and Miss Maggie E. Whiteside, Treasurer.
The "Young Ladies' Missionary Society" was organized in 1888 with seventeen founding members. The first officers were Miss Addie Herron, President; Miss Lorena A. Brown, Vice-President; Miss Carrie Herron, Secretary; and Miss Essie Summerville, Trea- surer. The amount they contributed was $400.00. The officers in 1899 were Mrs. A. A. Little, President; Mrs. Wirt Pegram, Vice- President; Mrs. S. W. Whiteside, Secretary; and Miss Lorena Brown, Treasurer, Membership had grown to thirty-six.
The "Gentlemen's Foreign Missionary Society" was organized by J. P. Swann and the Reverend P. Francis Price (later a missionary to China) on May 19, 1889, with the following serving as officers; L.W. Robinson, President; T. J. Swann, Vice-President; C. F. Brown, Secretary; and L. W. Brown, Treasurer.
The "Westminster League" began its services March 29, 1896. It was organized by the Reverend Little for the purpose of develop- ing the Christian graces of the young people of the church. The
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first officers were the Reverend A. A. Little, President; C. B. Campbell and R. C. Freeman, Vice-Presidents; and Wirt Pegram and Walter Mitchell, Secretaries. This society met monthly to discuss some Bible subject and hear reports of various committees appointed to do the work of the League. In later years, the Reverend Little remained as President. He serviced with C. Parks Brown as Vice-President and Lewis V. Cathey as Secretary.
The "Children's Band of Earnest Workers" was begun June 6, 1898 with the following officers: Miss Maggie E. Whiteside, President; Mrs. C. P. Brown, Vice-President; Miss Bertha Aber- nethy, Secretary; and Miss Laura Williamson, Treasurer. The objective of this organization was to increase awareness among the youth on foreign missions. Early in its service, it began to support a boy, Ah-Do-Tong, in the Industrial School at Sinchang, China. The Society contributed $47.00 towards this endeavor. The officers serving in 1899 were Miss Maggie E. Whiteside, President; Miss Lorena Brown, Vice-President; Miss Macie McGinn, Secretary; and Miss Mary Robinson, Treasurer.
The societies organized to create awareness of the need for Christian work in foreign fields served to bring Steele Creek to the forefront as an active participant in missionary work as will be in evidence as we pursue our history.
Sons of Steele Creek
The chastisement of the congregation by the Reverend Douglas about twenty-five years before on Steele Creek not sending its sons to the ministry must have been taken to heart. As we near the end of the century, we see a number of our youth entering service for the gospel ministry.
J. B. Swann, for many years a useful ruling elder, felt the call to preach. He gave up his farm and attended the Theological Semi- nary. By the turn of the century he had become the Reverend Swann and was serving as beloved pastor of Bullow's Creek, Olivet
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and Mt. Pleasant churches, in Bethel Presbytery, South Carolina.
The Reverend E. D. Brown, a son of a ruling elder, took his academic training at Davidson College and attended Union Theological Seminary. Upon becoming a licentiate he accepted a call to Kingston, North Carolina, where he became very successful as a minister. It is said that he won a high place in the heart of his people.
The Reverend W. H. Neel, D. D. was a son of Captain A. G. Neel. Following a course at Davidson College and a brief business life in Charlotte, he attended Columbia Seminary. After pastor- ates at Farmville, Virginia, Covington, Kentucky, and Natchez, Mississippi, he became pastor of the First Church of Memphis, Tennessee.
The parents of the Reverend S. M. Neel, D. D. were originally from Steele Creek even though they went from Steele Creek to Tennessee. The Reverend Neel served as pastor in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Reverend B. M. Cowan was reared within the bounds of Steele Creek and was a member of the church. In the west he entered the Presbyterian ministry. Later, he served as pastor at Kerrville, Tennessee.
The Sabbath Schools
At the end of the century the officers of the church Sabbath school were John McDowell, Superintendent; B. T. Price, First Assistant Superintendent; R. C. Freeman, Second Assistant Superintendent; Edgar J. Price, Secretary; Edgar B. Byrum, Assis- tant Secretary; and S. W. Whiteside, Treasurer. At the end of the century the school was contributing near $200.00 annually to home and foreign missions and the Bible cause. In this time there were thirty-nine teachers and five hundred and twenty-five scholars.
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Statistical Report-April 1900
Elders
Deacons
10
Members added on examination
42
Members added on certificate
12
Total Communicants
594
Adult Baptisms
I
Infant Baptisms
17
Baptized, non-communicants
175
Sunday School teachers
65
Sunday School scholars
676
Funds Collected:
Foreign Missions
$283.00
Assembly's Home Missions
17.00
Local Home Missions
382.00
Black Evangelistic
10.00
Invalid Fund
5.00
Education
34.00
Publications
9.00
Bible Cause
12.00
Presbyterial
25.00
Pastor's Salary
1,018.00
Congregational
224.00
Miscellaneous
29.00
Officers at Close of Century
Trustees: C. B. Campbell, G. A. Cathey and R. C. Freeman
Session: Reverend A. A. Little, Moderator; John McDowell, Clerk; and members Colonel B. F. Brown, Captain W. P. Brown, R. D. Collins, A. H. McCombs, J. W. Potts, B. T. Price, C. A. Spratt, W. W. Davenport and R. C. Freeman.
Deacons: C. F. Brown, Treasurer and members F. B. Brown, L. W. Robinson, C. B. Campbell, J. C. Bigham, S. W. Whiteside,
87
J. W. Sadler, L. H. Grier, J. K. Price and G. A. Cathey.
Music: The music of the church was under the leadership of R. C. Freeman, assisted by W. E. Neel and I. H. Freeman.
Fellowship: No matter the hardship or moment of despair among the congregation, often dry wit eased the situation as already shown on a number of occasions up to this point. The end of the century was no different. The community had undergone a serious drought. As in the past a prayer meeting was held. Mr. Crowell (1841-1921) and Mr. Theodore D. Pegram (1821-10-1) attended the meeting. Later that afternoon a heavy rain fell, filling the streams to overflowing causing considerable damage to Mr. Crowell's corn crop in the lowland. Someone asked Mr. Crowell about this. His reply was, "Theodore always did overdo a thing."
Another anecdote pertains to the cemetery. The early Steele Creek settlers were Scotch-Irish, as names on the grave stones indicate. It was strictly a Presbyterian community. In those days and up to the year 1820, there were no other churches within a radius of several miles, until an Associate Reform Presbyterian Church was organized. A visitor, strolling one day through the cemetery, paused to read the following inscription:
"Rev. John Covington, born about 1800, died May 21, 1854, a minister of the M. E. Church South from the age 19."
"That man starved to death," the reader announced, "for what else could a Methodist preacher do in a Presbyterian community in a day like that."
Roll of Communing Members, Steele Creek Church, 1900: A
Mrs. B. J. Abernethy
B. L. Alexander
Mrs. E. L. Abernethy
J. W. Alexander
J. L. Alexander
Miss B. N. Abernethy Mrs. M. E. Alexander W. C. Alexander
Wm. Altman
Mrs. Fannie Altman
88
J. W. Auten Mrs. B. C. Auten J. A. Auten
Jno. H. Baker A. L. Beach
Mrs. M. N. Beach
Eugene Beach
Miss M. J. Beach
Miss B. V. Beach
J. P. Beaty Mrs. M. E. Beaty
Miss L. A. Beaty
R. W. Beaty
Miss C. J. Beaty
Mrs. R. B. Berryhill
Mrs. M. J. Berryhill
W. R. Berryhill Mrs. E. E. Berryhill
Miss E. E. Berryhill
Miss A. A. Berryhill O. W. Berryhill E. S. Berryhill J. P. Berryhill Miss S. P. Berryhill
Mrs. M. C. Berryhill
Mrs. I. F. Berryhill Mack Berryhill Mrs. S. A. Berryhill S. A. Berryhill Wm. R. Berryhill
Mrs. A. S. Bigham Mrs. M. B. Bigham
Mrs. M. A. Auten W. DeW. Auten I. M. Auten
B
J. C. Bigham J. W. Bigham Mrs. L. P. Bigham
S. M. Bigham W. L. Bigham J. H. Bigham
Mrs. M. E. Bigham Miss E. G. Bigham
Miss E. L. Bigham R. S. Bigham Mrs. L. C. Bigham J. M. Blair Mrs. S. L. Blair
Miss M. L. Blair
Miss E. M. Blair
Miss M. S. Blankinship
Mrs. M. H. Blount
Mrs. C. E. Bowen J. S. Boyles Mrs. I. M. Boyles D. W. Bovles
W. P. Brown, r.e.1
Mrs. H. C. Brown
B. F. Brown, r.e. Mrs. Harriett Brown
Mrs. E. Ann Brown
Mrs. M. F. Brown
W. M. Brown W. J. Brown
89
Jno. L. Brown Miss L. A. Brown
F. B. Brown, d.2 Mrs. Alice Brown C. F. Brown, d. Rev. E. D. Brown C. P. Brown
Miss A. C. Brown
Mrs. A. V. Brown
L. L. Brown
Mrs. A. B. Brown
Miss M. D. Brown
S. W. Brown
Mrs. Emma Brown
Miss M. A. Brown
Miss L. B. Brown
A. F. Brown
Miss A. J. Brown
William Brown
Miss C. R. Brown
Miss C. L. Brown
J. C. Brown
G. F. Brown
W. B. Brown
Edgar M. Brown C. F. Brown
C. B. Campbell, d. R. W. Campbell
Mrs. M. E. Campbell Miss Ada Campbell Mrs. M. A. Campbell Mrs. J. J. Cashion
J. H. Brown O. C. Brown T. J. Byrum J. M. Byrum Mrs. M. E. Byrum
R. F. Byrum W. K. Byrum Mrs. J. E. Byrum
Miss M. J. Byrum
Mrs. M. C. Byrum
C. H. Byrum A. T. Byrum Mrs. M. Z. Byrum
Miss E. F. Byrum
W. F. Byrum
Mrs. F. A. Byrum
B. O. Byrum
C. E. Byrum
E. B. Byrum
Miss I. V. Byrum
W. L. Byrum
L. M. Byrum V. P. Byrum Mrs. M. A. Byrum
J. E. Byrum F. C. Byrum
C
S. A. Cathcart
Mrs. Eliza Cathey Mrs. M. A. Cathey Mrs. Margaret Cathey Alexander Cathey G. Logan Cathey
90
Mrs. Adaline Cathey Mrs. M. E. Cathey Mrs. L. A. Cathey Mrs. M. J. Cathey Miss Theodocia Cathey C. W. Cathey G. A. Cathey, d.
Miss J. M. Cathey Mrs. M. F. Cathey
C. G. Cathey H. L. Cathey W. C. Cathey
L. V. Cathey
E. V. Cathey
R. D. Collins, r.e. A. H. Collins
Miss M. M. Collins
O. P. Collins
R. B. Collins
J. F. Collins
J. H. Collins
Mrs. M. H. Collins
Miss Iva Collins
Miss Ethel Collins
Mrs. I. E. Collins
Mrs. N. W. Choat
Mrs. Sarah A. Clark
Mrs. Margaret Clark J. W. Clark Mrs. F. E. Clark
Miss M. C. Clark
Miss M. E. Clark
Miss S. A. Clark W. L. Clark
Mrs. J. P. Clark Mrs. M. L. Clark J. D. Clark
Miss Nannie Clark Miss Joanna Clark Miss E. M. Clark I. E. Clark Mrs. F. L. Clark Miss L. I. Clark
Mrs. M. L. Coffey B. M. Coffeey Miss H. C. Coffey Miss A. L. Coffey
Chas. Cathey
Mrs. Della Cathey I. L. Cathey
A. Mc. Cathey J. C. Cathey Mrs. Lelia Cathey
H. A. Cathey
G. C. Cathey
R. C. Cathey W. B. Choat
Mrs. E. H. Cowan
Miss M. S. Cowan
Miss A. B. Cowan Mrs. Mary E. Crowell
S. W. Crowell
Miss M. C. Crowell
91
D
F. M. Daugherty
Mrs. A. E. Daugherty W. W. Davenport, r.e. Mrs. M. H. Davenport Miss M. J. Davenport J. M. Davenport R. W. Davenport
B. T. Eller
Mrs. A. J. Eller
F
Mrs. M. B. Faires
Miss M. J. Faires
J. T. Faires A. C. Fisher
Mrs. M. L. Fisher A. L. Fisher
Miss Maggie Fisher
Miss Mattie Fisher
P. M. Fisher
J. F. Fisher
Mrs. M. J. Freeman
Mrs. L. C. Freeman
Mrs. Emma A. Freeman
Jas. A. Freeman Jno. A. Freeman R. C. Freeman Jno. W. Freeman
Miss F. A. Garrison Mrs. Eliza Garrison E. J. Garrison
Miss J. P. Davenport J. W. Dixon Mrs. R. E. Dixon J. S. Dixon Mrs. Julia Dixon Miss A. L. Dixon
E
W. L. Elliott Mrs. Virginia Elliott
R. C. Freeman, r.e. Mrs. I. A. Freeman Mrs. Isabella Freeman
L. B. Freeman
I. H. Freeman Mrs. Emma O. Freeman
Miss H. P. Freeman
Mrs. E. H. Freeman
Miss E. M. Freeman
C. C. Freeman
Miss Jean Freeman
Miss P. E. Freeman
Miss M. C. Freeman
Miss Ethleene Freeman
G. P. Freeman
D. R. Freeman
G
Miss M. E. Glenn Miss C. A. Glenn Miss Carrie A. Glenn
92
L. H. Grier, d.
Mrs. M. A. Grier Mrs. M. E. Griffith
Mrs. M. A. Griffith
Mrs. M. L. Griffith Mrs. C. P. Griffith Mrs. L. P. Griffith S. B. Griffith S. E. Griffith W. A. Griffith
T. N. Hall
Miss Clara Hall
J. J. Hammond
Mrs. M. H. Hammond
Mrs. C. H. Hand
J. R. Hayes Mrs. Emma Hayes Mrs. M. L. Hayes C. P. Hayes Miss A. M. Hayes I. H. Hayes Miss Maud Hayes
Mrs. C. E. Hayes Mrs. H. A. Helms I. W. Herron, m.d.3 Mrs. A. M. Herron
Mrs. Susan M. Herron
Miss Esther E. Herron W. S. Herron S. S. Herron
Mrs. T. I. Herron
Miss A. F. Herron
Mrs. S. B. Griffith Miss E. J. Griffith Miss M. P. Griffith I. E. Griffith
C. P. Griffith
J. B. Griffith R. I. Griffith
Miss M. L. Griffith
Miss M. J. Griffith Miss A.A. Griffith
H
J. M. Herron R. W. Herron
Mrs. E. S. Herron
Miss Ola H. Herron
O. K. Herron W. O. Herron Miss L. G. Herron
Claude W. Herron
Miss M. E. Herron A. M Herron, m.d. Mrs. Lucy Herron W. M. Hobbs
Mrs. M. J. Hobbs
Miss E. V. Hobbs W. D. Hobbs W. E. Hobbs J. I. Hobbs Miss M. E. Hoover
Mrs. B. E. Hoover Franklin Hovis
Mrs. M. C. Hovis J. W. Howell
93
I. C. Howell W. J. Howell Mrs. M. J. Howell
Miss L. D. Howell Miss A. B. Howell J. E. Howell K
Miss A. L. Kaiser
Mrs. F. J. Kelly
Mrs. M. A. Kelly
Mrs. M. H. King
John Knox, m.d.
L
Mrs. N. S. Little
Miss J. T. Little
M
Mrs. May Marks
Mrs. M. A. Marshall
S. H. Marks
Miss Erma Marshall
J. A. Marks
Miss B. D. Marshall
Mrs. M. V. Marks
J. W. Millwee
Miss N. L. Marks
Mrs. M. A. Millwee
Walter Marks
G. H. Marks
C. M. Mitchell
Miss Roxanna Marks
Miss Mamie Mitchell
T. C. Marks
Miss Ada Mitchell
J. S. Marks
Mrs. Mamie Mitchell
J. E. Marks
Mrs. A. J. Mitchell S. M. Montgomery Mrs. M. J. Montgomery
Miss H. N. Marks
Miss E. L. Marks
C. M. Montgomery
Miss E. M. Marks
Miss C. J. Montgomery
M. S. Marks
J. C. Moody Mrs. L. J. Moody
F. B. Marks R. A. Marshall
MC
Miss T. J. McAlister A. H. McCombs, r.e.
C. H. McCoy Miss Addie McCoy
94
Mrs. F. N. Knox
S. N. Knox
Miss Julia Knox
John Knox Miss Janie Knox
Mrs. Mary B. Mitchell
Mrs. V. F. Marks
S. A. McCoy Mrs. S. J. McCoy Mrs. E. McCoy Mrs. S. M. McDonald
John McDowell, r.e. & s.c.4 Mrs. E. C. McDowell Miss A. L. McDowell Miss C. McDowell
Miss Elva McDowell I. W. McGinn
Mrs. S. H. McGinn W. A. McGinn Mrs. F. B. McGinn
Mrs. E. M. Neel W. E. Neel
Mrs. M. W. Neel
Mrs. E. J. Neel
Miss Annie Neel
G. Mack Neel
T. W. Neely Mrs. M. A. Neely
J. W. Owens
Miss Ella Parnell
B. T. Parnell
Mrs. M. C. Parnell
D. T. Pegram Mrs. F. A. Pegram Wirt Pegram
Mrs. A. N. Pegram
Miss A. E. Pegram
Miss Mollie McGinn Miss Macie McGinn R. W. McKnight Mrs. M. E. McKnight Miss M. D. McKnight
E. W. McKnight W. N. McKnight
J. A. McKnight J. C. McLean Mrs. A. B. McLean
M. A. McLean
J. P. McLean Mrs. M. L. McLelland
N
Miss Nannie Neely
P. B. Neely
Mrs. B. T. Neely
W. C. Neely
J. F. Neely
Mrs. Mollie Neely
Miss C. L. Neely
0
G. W. Owens
P
Miss L. I. Pegram
R. M. Pegram Mrs. M. E. Porter
S. B. Porter
S. L. Porter
Mrs. E. A. Porter
C. L. Porter Miss Eliza Porter
95
F. W. Porter R. A. Porter J. W. Potts, r.e. Mrs. E. J. Potts Miss C. I. Potts W. C. Potts G. M. Potts Mark Pressley Mrs. M. J. Pressley
Mrs. C. H. Price
Miss M. J. Price
B. T. Price, r.e. Miss Nannie E. Price
S. J. Price
Miss M. J. Price Mrs. B. P. Price P. D. Price Mrs. M. D. Price
J. K. Price, d. Mrs. S. E. Price
J. I. Price W. D. Price, m.d.
E. J. Price
Mrs. Virginia Price
Miss M. M. Price
J. J. Price Mrs. C. V. Price
Q
Mrs. Maggie M. Query
R
Mrs. M. A. Rea
Walter Rea
Mrs. S. J. Rhyne
Mrs. Mary L. Rhyne
Mrs. L. C. Robinson
L. W. Robinson Mrs. A. E. Robinson J. W. Robinson B. E. Robinson Miss B. H. Robinson
S
G. L. Sadler Mrs. S. L. Sadler J. W. Sadler, d. Mrs. L. A. Sadler T. I. Sadler
Miss E. M. Robinson W. L. Robinson
Mrs. H. A. Robinson
J. E. Robinson Miss M. S. Robinson G. M. Robinson Mrs. E. H. Robinson
Mrs. E. C. Robinson
F. E. Robinson M. A. Rodden
Miss E. J. Sadler R. P. Sadler
Miss M. C. Sadler Miss Addie F. Sadler Miss J. O. Sadler
96
C. C. Sing Mrs. S. A. Sing L. R. Sing C. M. Sing
Miss A. G. Sing Mrs. Mary Sloan
Mrs. Nancy Sloan Mrs. A. C. Sloan
L. H. Sloan
E. W. Sloan J. M. Sloan
Miss D. M. Sloan
Miss M. A. Sloan
Miss H. A. Sloan
Mrs. G. W. Sloan
L. I. Sloan F. H. Sloan W. A. Sloan H. O. Sloan
Mrs. M. A. Sloan
Mrs. M. L. Sloan
Mrs. H. E. Sloan Miss J. I. Sloan J. P. Sloan C. A. Spratt, r.e. Miss S. E. Spratt J. B. Spratt
Mrs. M. L. Tate J. A. Taylor J. W. Tevepaugh Mrs. A. A. Tevepaugh J. B. Thomas
Mrs. Minnie M. Spratt Miss Leona Spratt J. D. Spratt R. G. Spratt Mrs. Carrie A. Springs
Miss Amanda Stewart
W. D. Stinson
Mrs. R. N. Stinson H. D. Stowe
Mrs. L. L. Stowe
H. A. Stowe
Mrs. Margaret Stowe
Miss M. E. Stowe
S. T. Stowe
Mrs. Bettie Stowe
Miss Minnie Stowe
Mrs. M. E. Suggs
L. L. Suggs
J. W. Summerville
Mrs. S. J. Summerville
J. G. Summerville
C. M. Summerville
Mrs. M. C. Summerville R. B. Swann
R. H. Swann
Rev. J. B. Swann
Miss S. J. Swann
T
Mrs. Emma Thompson J. D. Tucker
Mrs. M. E. Turner
W. D. Turner Mrs. L. D. Turner
97
W
Mrs. Ella Walker J. E. Walker
Mrs. Ada Walker Mrs. L. A. Watt J. B. Watt
Mrs. Emma D. Watt
Robert McD. Watt David Weaver
Mrs. Mary A. Weaver
Miss Jennie Weaver
Mrs. Sallie Weaver
Miss Mary Ann Weaver
R. W. Weaver
John A. Weaver R. B. Wentz
Mrs. J. P. Wentz
Mrs. Sallie M. Whaley
Mrs. L. K. Wharey
Miss M. L. Wharey
N. J. Whiget
Miss Maggie E. Whiteside S. W. Whiteside
Miss L. A. Whiteside
Mrs. A. M. Whiteside
Mrs. Ella Whiteside
J. W. Williamson Mrs. M. J. Williamson L. W. Williamson Mrs. Mollie A. Williamson Lawrence Williamson Miss L. F. Williamson Miss B. D. Williamson Mrs. J. E. Wilson
J. M. Wilson Mrs. Maggie J. Wilson
J. H. Wilson Mrs. M. V. Wilson
Mrs. C. L. Wilson
Mrs. S. A. Wilson
Mrs. J. A. Wilson
Miss E. D. Wilson
Miss L. A. Wilson
M. W. Wilson
Miss C. F. Wilson
Rosa Wilson
Mrs. Catharine Winget W. H. Winget
E. C. Winget
J. W. Winget
Mrs. E. B. Winget
1. Ruling Elder 2. Deacon
3. Medical Doctor 4. Clerk of Session
98
十年,
Hitit
1802
Auf S. MCCALL 76
. a. Sign
S
-
Route 4, Charlotte, N. C. September 19, 1944
Dear Friends in Service,
Knowing that one of the highlights of any of your visits home is to go to church, I would like to take you to church with me on September 17th-All set?
We arrive at 9:55 and as we go in speaking to everyone we meet, the Neel car goes by on the upper driveway. "Worth Neel!" we exclaim. Sure enough, Worth, who has completed his 31 missions, and dropped many bombs on Germany, is home for a long furlough.
We finally get into the church. The question is then where shall you go for Sunday School? I consider your age, etc., then decided that I'll just take you with me. It's the Sunday before Promotion Day so we visit all the departments to carry certificates, diplomas, etc. We look in the Cradle Roll on Bessie Brown, Nora Mae Price, and the babies-maybe yours is there. We then visit in turn the Beginners with Miss Mary Price, and if you are young enough you remember that Department. We go then to the Primary where Billie Watt greets us with wholehearted friendliness. On to the Junior Department where Irene Bigham meets us as she did when we were Juniors. We at last get back downstairs and see Edith Brown in the Intermediates who remarks "It seems only yesterday that you sat right there!" Peyton Davenport, in the Senior Department is next. "I still feel like I belong here," you remark, but decide to go on in to the Adult Department and out to the Community Class. Yes, we surely do miss Mr. Loy. It's time for the bell, and you are swarmed with friends and relatives.
Reece rings the church bell and we go in to the prettiest music. Helen Cook is at the organ. "My, it's good to sing the Doxology," I hear you whisper. The next hymn is "We Praise Thee, O God." Mr. Ike Freeman hasn't changed a bit. He still leads with his right and carries the right pitch.
Dr. Walker reads the Scripture-II Corinthians, 3rd chapter. The morning prayer is all inclusive, as usual, and we note that the service men and women of our church are not forgotten.
After singing, "Hail Thou Once Despised Jesus," Dr. Walker makes the announcements, and calls on Jim Watt to make a report from the Post-War Planning Committee. I, along with 8 others, have started to pass out pledge cards with an explanatory sheet attached. Jim reviews what Bill Clark said last Sunday on the organization of the plans in the committee, then states a goal of $25,000 has been set by this committee. This fund is to be used in making our church plant more beautiful and efficient. You look at your watch. It has taken only 8 minutes to distribute and explain the card (if you want one please write to some member of the church for one).
The offering is taken-Frank Bigham, Reece Brown, Sam Knox, and Walter Whiteside serve as deacons.
Dr. Walker then starts his sermon. It's 11:40. His text is II Corinthians 3:18. He begins with the story of a service man whose face was horribly disfigured. He told the plastic surgeon just to make his face like "that picture on the wall." "That picture" happened to be a famous painting of Christ. When the man realized that he looked like the picture of Christ, he decided to live in His image. After the story Dr. Walker closes with, "Regardless of all that lies in our past, regardless of how discouraged we may be about it, He comes with His divine power and skill and offers to remould our lives into His likeness. Are we willing for Him to do this work? 'We all, with unveiled faces reflecting as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord'."
As we bow for prayer, a quick glance at our watches shows 11:50-10 minutes, and he has said so much.
After singing, "Nearer, Still Nearer," the pronouncing of the Benediction, the Silent Prayer for the Service people, the singing of "God Be With You Till We Meet Again," we again begin shaking hands with friends-
God Hasten The Day When You Will Be Here In Reality!
Robert Boyles
Mailed by: R. W. Davenport
CHAPTER VI
The Twentieth Century (1900-1976)
As indicated in the previous chapter, we were unable to pinpoint all the events occurring during the Reverend A. A. Little's pastorate nor were we clear on which actions transpired before and after the year 1900. We do know that the Reverend Little served until sometime into 1901. We hope our readers will not think too unkindly of our starting this chapter with the pastorate of the Reverend Gwynn.
Fifteenth Pastor - Reverend Price Henderson Gwynn (1901-1906)
The Reverend Gwynn began his services at Steele Creek in 1901. During his ministry a number of changes were effected which had measurable influence on church life and witness.
In 1901 the church community was redistricted into fourteen districts with an elder assigned to each. The Sabbath school was graded into departments: Primary, Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Adult. The purpose was to group by age, particularly among youth, so they could progress or advance to another department, resulting in exposure to a greater number of teachers. The Session appointed the teachers and made the initial assignments of mem- bers of the classes. About the same time, the teachers commenced using International Lessons and the Catechism as aids in teaching. "Sacred Songs" was adopted for use in the Sunday school. To aid in teacher training, classes known as "Normal" were conducted regularly.
About 1904, a new hymnal was adopted for the Church worship
IOI
service. In 1905, racks were installed on the backs of the church pews for the new hymnals. A sexton was hired the same year to service the church buildings and cemetery. A house was built for him with lumber cut from the church property.
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