USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Shrewsbury > A history of Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia : including the Woodbridgetown and Salemville churches in Pennsylvania and the Shrewsbury church in New Jersey > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > Salemville > A history of Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia : including the Woodbridgetown and Salemville churches in Pennsylvania and the Shrewsbury church in New Jersey > Part 20
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IS57,
April 26,
1868,
LOWTHER, THOMAS H., son of Jesse M.,
LOWTHER, WILLIAM W.,
April 26,
IS68,
MARTIN, MARCUS E.,
April 26,
1 868,
MEREDITH, ALPHEUS A., son of Job,
April 26,
1868,
MEREDITH, DAVIS N., son of Job,
March 16,
IS73,
MEREDITH, EDITH, (nee Pepper), wife of Davis N.,
December 19, ISSo,
MEREDITH, ELMINA, dau. of Job,
1857,
MEREDITH, HARRIET, dau. of Job,
1857,
MEREDITH, JANE, dau. of Job,
1881 or 1882,
MEREDITH, JOB,
November 3, 1844,
MEREDITH, JOHN,
1881 or 1882,
MEREDITH, MARSHALL, son of Job,
IS57,
MEREDITH, MARY ANN, wife of Job,
November 3, 1844,
PRITCHARD, MARY, appears as a member,
December 21,
1851,
RICHARDS, ISAAC H.,
January 21,
1876
RICHARDS, JOHN W.,
January 21,
IS76,
STALNAKER, LEVI, name appears,
June 20, 1869,
STARKEY, GEORGE,
Constituent member,
STARKEY, JOHN C.,
Constituent member,
STARKEY, REBECCA,
December 21, 1840,
STARKEY, SARAH,
Constituent member,
SUMMERVILLE, ROSANNA,
April 7, IS78,
SUTTON, DORINDA, dau. of Hezekiah D.,
January -,
IS75
SUTTON, FRANCIS M., son of Hezekiah D.,
January -,
IS75,
SUTTON, HANNAH J., wife of Hezekiah D.,
June 21,
SUTTON, HEZEKIAH D.,
1857,
SUTTON, LOVEY J., dau. of Hezekiah D.,
April 26,
IS68
SUTTON, MARTIN, son of Hezekiah D.,
April 26,
1868
ZINN, ADELINE, dau. of Otho P.,
IS57,
ZINN, ANGELINA, dau. of Otho P.,
I857,
ZINN, ELISABETH, dau. of Otho P.,
I857,
ZINN, NANCY, wife of Otho P.,
September 22,
IS50,
ZINN, OTHO PRESTON, (died May 31, 1857),
September 22, IS50,
1857,
LOWTHER, STILLMAN F., son of Jesse M.,
XII.
THE RITCHIE CHURCH.
BHE records of the Ritchie Church begin as follows :-
"In 1834 there was an organisation T of S[eventh] D[ay] B[aptist] members on the South Fork of Hughes River in Ritchie County, brought together by Elder Peter Davis, which run for a season; but in the course of time, it came under the leadership of some who taught obedience to the Ceremonial Law, and enforced on the church, con- trary to the faith of the Denomination, abstinence from certain meats, peculiarities of dress, and urged that the church should be governed by elders exclusively; which led to dissatisfaction with a number of the membership, and members of other churches moving into the bounds of the church, and several received baptism who could not conscien- tiously unite with said church; and at different times efforts being made for a reconciliation and all failing, it was thought (after prayerful consideration) that it was best to move toward an organisation that would be in unison with the Denomination.
"Accordingly, there was a call made for the brethren to meet at Brother Ziba Davis's on the seventh day of August, 1870."
Besides other visitors, this meeting was attended by Rev. Walter B. Gillette, who at that time was visiting the churches in West Virginia under the direction of the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society. Rev. James B. Davis of the Middle Island Church was also in attendance, as were nineteen others who expressed a desire to become members of the proposed new church.
Rev. James B. Davis acted as chairman of the meeting, and William Jett was made clerk.
A committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws for the government of the church.
214
SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
An invitation was extended to all of the Seventh Day Baptist churches in West Virginia, except the Pine Grove (formerly the South Fork of Hughes River) Church, from which the majority of the members of the new church seceded, to send delegates to meet in council with the seceding brethren on the Sixth Day of the week before the third Sabbath in September, at nine o'clock, A. M.
Another meeting was held on August 22, at which the committee appointed at the previous meeting for that purpose, presented a report embodying a constitution and by-laws for the government of the church. The report was adopted.
In accordance with the invitation extended on the 7th of August preceding, a council, composed of delegates from the Middle Island, New Salem, and Lost Creek churches convened on September 16, 1870, to consider the request of the Ritchie brethren to be organised into a church.
The delegates in attendance were as follows :-
From the Middle Island Church :- REV. JAMES B. DAVIS, GRANVILLE H. DAVIS,
WILLIAM B. DAVIS, ABSOLOM DAVIS.
From the New Salem Church :-
REV. JACOB DAVIS,
JEPTHAH F. RANDOLPH,
LEWIS F. RANDOLPH,
JESSE CLARK, JUDSON F. RANDOLPH, LLOYD F. RANDOLPH,
From the Lost Creek Church :-
REV. SAMUEL D. DAVIS,
REV. WALTER B. GILLETTE, JOHN M. BATTEN.
From the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society :- REV. WALTER B. GILLETTE.
From the Ritchie brethren :- WILLIAM JETT,
WILLIAM F. EHRET,
ZIBA DAVIS, STEPHEN C. DAVIS, LEVI STALNAKER.
The council organised by electing Rev. Samuel D. Davis, moderator; Jepthah F. Randolph, secretary; and Lewis F. Randolph, assistant secretary.
THE RITCHIE CHURCH.
215
THE RITCHIE CHURCH
After some discussion, the council decided to organise a church; and, to that end, accepted the exposé of faith, and the church covenant previously adopted by the temporary organisation of August 22, preceding.
At the session of the council held in the afternoon of the same day that the council first convened, the formal organisa- tion of the church took place. The sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel D. Davis, after which recognition was accorded the members of the new church by the imposition of hands and prayer by Rev. Jacob Davis and Rev. Walter B. Gillette, followed by the right hand of fellowship given by the members of the council.
On the following day, Sabbath, John Ehret and Ziba Davis were ordained deacons, and baptism was administered to one candidate for church membership.
CONSTITUENT MEMBERS.
JOSIAH BEE,
EZEKIEL KELLEY,
WILLIAM F. EHRET,
SARAH A. EHRET,
JOHN EHRET,
ELISABETH EHRET,
ZIBA DAVIS,
DORINDA DAVIS,
WILLIAM JETT,
SOPHRONIA E. JETT,
JANE DAVIS,
RICHARD BOND,
EMELINE BOND,
LEVI STALNAKER,
DORINDA STALNAKER,
JACOB EHRET,
JOANNA EHRET,
JEMIMA DAVIS,
LUTHER H. BOND,
JEREMIAH BEE,
STEPHEN C. DAVIS,
THOMAS N. GRIBBLE,
TALITHA C. GRIBBLE,
TACY JANE BEE,
M. HOMER MORRISON,
MARY MORRISON.
This list was made up as follows :-
11 from the Pine Grove Church,
216
SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
6 from the Lost Creek Church,
4 from the New Salem Church,
2 from the Middle Island Church,
I from the First Day Baptists,
2 baptized, not members of any church previously; total, 26.
MEMBERSHIP IN SUPERIOUR BODIES.
The Ritchie Church was a constituent member of the South-Eastern Association, at its organisation in 1872. It was received into the General Conference, at the annual session of the latter body, held with the church at Adams Centre, New York, in September, 1871.
MEETING HOUSES AND PARSONAGE.
At the outset, the newly organised Ritchie Church clearly perceived the significance of the step they had taken, and lost no time in taking the preliminary measures necessary for provid- ing themselves with a house of worship. On the 22d of October, 1870, a committee was appointed to select a suitable site, and erect upon it a house of worship.
This committee proceeded with its work by careful stages, receiving additional instructions from time to time. January 27, 1871, it received authority from the church to pur- chase a lot suitable for a burying ground. Accordingly a lot was purchased adjoining the burying ground of the mother church.
On the 14th of May, 1871, the church voted to accept an offer from Richard Bond, one of the members of the church, to give half an acre of land to the church upon which to build a house of worship. This site was situated "on the upper end of A. M. Wade's farm," on Otter Slide, a small stream flowing into the South Fork of Hughes River, a short distance above Berea.
The committee now proceeded with the active work of erection, and reported to the church, July 10, 1874, that the new house of worship had arrived at the stage of completion required of the committee, and asked to be discharged. The request was granted, and the interior of the house, which had not been finished, remained in that state until on April 9, 1881, when the church voted to finish it, and appointed a committee for that purpose. The committee completed its work, and the finished house of worship was dedicated on the First Day of
THE PARSONAGE AT RITCHIE.
*
217
THE RITCHIE CHURCH
the week following the second Sabbath in January, 1882. The dedicatory service was conducted by Rev. Lewis F. Randolph, at that time pastor of the church. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Lucius R. Swinney. On February 10, 1882, the committee reported the completed building paid for.
On the 20th of August, 1896, the church purchased of . Rev. Lely D. Seager, the house and lot at that time occupied by him, lying in the bend of the South Fork of Hughes River, just below the mouth of Otter Slide Creek. This property was purchased for a parsonage, and remains the property of the church, to be used for that purpose.
On October 24, 1897, the surviving members of the original Pine Grove, or South Fork of Hughes River, Church, met and organised for the transaction of business. They then proceeded to make a formal transfer of the property of that church, consisting of the meeting house and the lot upon which it stood, and a graveyard, to the Ritchie Church. The Pine Grove Church then adjourned, sine die, leaving the Ritchie Church in possession of the two houses of worship, as well as the two graveyards.
PASTORS.
On the day of the organisation of the church, September 16, 1870, the church called as its pastor Rev. James B. Davis, his term of service to begin on October 22, following. James B. Davis lived at New Milton, near the Middle Island Church, and visited the Ritchie Church once a month, preaching on Sabbath and visiting for a day or two preceding Sabbath and a day or two afterward. He served the church faithfully in this manner until November 24, 1871, when he severed his connection with the church.
The church was now left without a pastor, and on April 21, 1872, it invited Levi Stalnaker, a lay member of the church, who had previously been licenced to preach, to supply the pul- pit. He accepted the invitation, and continued to act as a pul- pit supply until June, 1874. On the 12th of that month, the church completed an arrangement with Rev. Jacob Davis, of Greenbrier, to become its pastor, visiting the church once a month. He served as pastor of the church in this way until July 9, 1875. He served a second term from July 7, 1876 to
218
SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
July 13, 1877. He then visited the church at frequent inter- vals until the fall of 1880.
On the Ioth of October, 1880, Rev. Lewis F. Randolph, of Greenbrier, accepted a call to become the pastor of the church, devoting about half of his time to that work. This relation was continued harmoniously until May 11, 1883, when he terminated his relations with the church to accept a call to the pastorate of the Second Hopkinton Church of Rhode Island.
June 3, 1883, the Ritchie Church extended a call to Rev. Samuel D. Davis of Jane Lew to visit the church once a month. The call was accepted, but at the end of four months, he declined to serve longer, as the church was at too great a distance from his home to be reached easily.
On the 18th of May, 1884, the church extended a call to Rev. Charles W. Threlkeld, at that time of Alfred, New York, to become the pastor of the church. He accepted the call and began his labours with the church in the following October. He remained with the church for one year.
Rev. Amos W. Coon, of Alfred, New York, was invited by the church, on April 4, 1886, to visit that field. He accepted the invitation and subsequently received a call to become the pastor of the church. He declined to accept the call, but remained and preached for the church for several months.
On the 8th of October, 1886, Rev. Henry B. Lewis was called to the pastorate of the church. This call was accepted, dating from March 1, 1887. He remained with the church until August of the following year, when he relinquished the work on account of ill health.
On October 12, 1888, a call was extended to Rev. Horace Stillman of Ashaway, Rhode Island. This call was declined, and on January II, 1889, a call was extended to Rev. Orpheus S. Mills, who accepted the call and soon afterward entered upon his pastoral labour in the church. He remained with the church for a period of two years.
On the last day of April, 1892, the church extended a call to William H. Brown of Missouri to become its pastor. The call was accepted, and he soon afterward began his labours with the church. The relation was summarily termi- nated by the church, August 26, following, because Mr. Brown
REV. LELY DANIEL SEAGER.
£
219
THE RITCHIE CHURCH
had accepted, and taught, the doctrines of the Seventh Day Adventists.
The church now extended a call to Rev. John L. Huff- man, to become its pastor, but he was not available. On November 7, 1892, a call was extended to Rev. Lely D. Seager, who was at that time pastor of the Lost Creek Church, to become the pastor of the church. The latter accepted the call, and remained with the church for six years. He was suc- ceeded by Riley G. Davis, a licentiate member of the Green- brier Church, and at that time a student in Salem College. Mr. Davis entered upon his new duties the first of June, 1899, and on the 22d of October following, he was called to ordination by the Ritchie Church. The ordination took place November 25, 1899. The following clergymen were present and par- ticipated in the ordination service :- Theodore L. Gardiner, the president of Salem College, who conducted the public examination of the candidate and preached the ordination ser- mon; Darwin C. Lippincott, the acting pastor of the Salem Church, who offered the consecrating prayer; and David W. Leath, the pastor of the Middle Island, Greenbrier, and Black Lick churches, who delivered the charge of office to the candidate.
LICENCED TO PREACH.
Levi Stalnaker received licence to preach, at the hands of the church, October 22, 1870. By action of the church, this licence expired November 13, 1874. It was renewed again January 9, 1890.
April 1I, 1884, the church recommended to Miss Ozina M. Bee that she "improve her gift."
August 4, 1901, George Amos Brissey and Erlow Sutton were both granted licence to preach for one year. On July II, 1902, this licence was renewed for one year, for both.
July 7, 1883, the church took the following action :-
"Whereas, It has come to our hearing that Sister Experience F. Randolph has decided to prepare herself for the ministry, therefore,
"RESOLVED, That we most heartily approve of her decision, and we promise her our sympathies and prayers."
DEACONS.
On the day of the organisation of the church, John Ehret and Ziba Davis were chosen deacons, and the following day
220
SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
they were ordained to the solemn duties of that office. John Ehret severed his connection with the Ritchie Church, how- ever, on January 17, 1873, in order to return to the mother (the Pine Grove) church.
Asa F. Randolph received a call to become a deacon, July 10, 1874, and was ordained on the Ioth day of the following October, at the hands of Rev. Charles A. Burdick and Rev. Jacob Davis.
October 8, 1880, Elisha J. Maxson was chosen to serve as an acting deacon. He was never ordained, and was relieved of the office on May 11, 1883, having rendered acceptable service to the church during the emergency.
On the 13th of May, 1887, Flavius J. Ehret was chosen deacon, and was ordained in the following July at the time of the regular Quarterly Meeting.
Eudolpheus J. Bee was chosen as an assistant deacon, January 19, 1892 ; but he was not ordained.
April 8, 1892, Joshua S. Bond was chosen deacon; and August 26, 1892, Ellsworth F. Randolph was called to the same office. They were both ordained July 15, 1894.
Elva Maxson was elected deacon, October 22, 1899. He was solemnly consecrated to that office on the 25th of the following November, at the same time that Riley G. Davis was ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry.
MODERATORS.
Rev. James B. Davis, of the Middle Island Church, was present at the first meeting, called August 7, 1870, at the house of Ziba Davis to consider the propriety of organising a new church, and presided as moderator.
The second meeting, held the 22d of August, was presided over by Ziba Davis.
Rev. Samuel D. Davis presided as moderator over the council which met September 16, 1870, to organise the church.
On October 22, 1870, at the first business meeting of the church after the organisation was completed, William F. Ehret was elected moderator. He served in that capacity until his death, nearly ten years afterward.
On July 12, 1880, Flavius J. Ehret succeeded to the office of moderator, made vacant but a few months previous to that time, by the death of his father. He served until he severed
REV. PERIE R. BURDICK. (Farmer's Rev. Experience Fitz Randolph).
22I
THE RITCHIE CHURCH
his connection with the Ritchie Church, nearly twelve years afterward, to join the Salem Church.
On April 8, 1892, Ellsworth F. Randolph was elected moderator and he continues to serve in that capacity at the date of this writing, August 1, 1902.
CHURCH CLERKS.
October 22, 1870, at the first business meeting of the church after its organisation, William Jett was elected church clerk. He served until January 7, 1881, when he presented his resignation to the church, but served until the following October, thus completing eleven years of faithful service.
Ellsworth F. Randolph was elected clerk, October 7, 1881. He in turn, was succeeded by his brother, Alva F. Randolph, September 5, 1884. The latter served until October 8, 1886, when he too, resigned. On January 7, 1887, Emza F. Ran- dolph was elected his successor, and served until October 12, 1888, when she also resigned.
On October 28, 1888, Leonard F. Jett became clerk, and has served continuously to the present time.
THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SOUTH FORK OF HUGHES RIVER AND THE RITCHIE CHURCHES.
The Pine Grove Church, as the mother church, was deeply grieved at the threatened rupture in the church, and on the 28th of August immediately preceding the meeting of the council on September 16, 1870, when the Ritchie Church was organised, appointed a committee to make an effort to effect a reconciliation with the aggrieved members, and report at a meeting of the church to be held two weeks afterward. The efforts of the committee were abortive, and the Ritchie Church was organised as related in the preceding part of this chapter.
No further official action was taken toward bringing about a union, until at a business meeting held February 22, 1876, the Ritchie Church received the following communication :-
"We, the Seventh Day Baptist Church of the South Fork of Hughes River, believing that two churches in close proximity, so nearly of the same faith and order, is not fraternal, and
"Whereas, Our influence and strength would be much greater in promulgating the truth of God to a gainsaying world,
"WE, THEREFORE, Propose a unity, admitting on our part that we did not act wisely with respect to Christian courtesy, as further
222
SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
experience has taught us. But our honest convictions are that this did not justify a withdrawal on your part.
"WE, THEREFORE, Propose to receive to our fellowship, all who are in good standing in your church, upon the acknowledgment on the part of those who withdrew from our church, that the above named withdrawal was wrong; and what we mean by this is, that we may become satisfied by a hearty vote on their part, in connection with the rest of their brethren, for the adoption of this paper.
"We would respectfully ask an answer with respect to your action on the above propositions at your earliest convenience.
"D. N. MEREDITH, Chairman."
To this letter, the Ritchie Church responded as follows :- "February 22, 1876.
"Response of the Ritchie Seventh Day Baptist Church to propo- sition for consolidation or unity, presented by the Seventh Day Bap- tist South Fork of Hughes River Church, for the union between the two churches :-
"Ist. RESOLVED, That we accept your proposition with the appended resolutions and explanations as hereinafter stated, and are willing to meet you at such time and place as may be agreeable to yourselves to take into consideration such final measures as may be deemed necessary to effect the proposed union, so as to make it pleasant to all concerned.
"With reference to the several points made in your communica- tion to us, the following action was taken :-
"Ist. On the point of the existence of two churches of kindred faith so near each other, being unfriendly to Christian influence, and wanting in "fraternal" appearance to those about us, it was
"RESOLVED, Unanimously, That we adopt the clause or item as presented by you.
"2d. On the proposition that the two churches become a "unit" it was
"RESOLVED, 'Yes, heartily,' if it can be done on Christian and Gospel principles.
"3d. On your statement that you did not act wisely in reference to Christian courtesy toward us, it was
"RESOLVED, That we receive with gratification said admission. "4th. On the point of your grief with us for our withdrawal from your church, we have this to say :-
"That while we frankly acknowledge that we might have erred in rashness and unkindness, in the manner of our procedure, and we do now think it would have been better had we waited longer before tak- ing the responsible step of a new organisation, nevertheless, we do at the same time hope that you will not too sternly hold us to a wrong intention, when we freely tell you that it is true that in-cautiousness on your part had its influence; but that was not all which induced us to take the step we did. But it was from a real conviction on our part
-- +
REV. RILEY G. DAVIS.
223
THE RITCHIE CHURCH
that there were honest differences as to some Gospel orders in the church,-and those not likely soon to be harmonised.
"And further that a number of brethren and sisters standing out- side of the church, and who were not willing to unite with your church as it was, and who were anxious to effect such an organisation as would at the [same] time allow them to become identified with the Seventh Day Baptist Denomination. had its influence on us in favour- ing such a course, and particularly as that consideration had for a long time been very dear to us, and which we thought we were not likely to secure if we remained with you. With these explanations, we hope that we may be restored to your confidence, after you shall become satisfied that as a church, we harmoniously and unanimously respond to your proposition of unity, which were the facts in the case.
"5th. In response to your proposition to receive to fellowship such of our members as were in fellowship with you once, on certain conditions specified by you, we are willing to that; PROVIDED, That nothing in the proposed union should so be understood or construed as to deprive us of the final privilege of being as we now are; [vis.,] a church in fellowship with the Seventh Day Baptist Denomination.
"APPENDAGES.
"Ist. RESOLVED, That the following be presented to our breth- ren at Pine Grove as points of vital importance to our future growth And prosperity as a people, and points which we should be anxious to have adopted if the union should take place :---
"Ist Item. That there should be on the part of all, great care not to chafe and worry each other, on matters of conscientious and honest differences, and in these respects to do nothing contrary to the law of love.
"2d Item. That there be a mutual agreement to stand in connec- tion with the Seventh Day Baptist Denomination, and be organised on a plan agreeing with the sentiments and usages of our people which we are satisfied has been a great strength and encouragement to us, by delegations to them, and from them to us.
"3d Item. That while it is not our wish to undervalue or discard our present ministry among us, we would wish as near as we can, to have a settled minister, [from] among ourselves, or from abroad, which shall give to us faithful and efficient pastoral aid, and that we would be willing to do what we could, consistently, toward the support of such labourers.
"The foregoing was unanimously adopted as a whole by the church and ordered to be transmitted to you.
"WILLIAM JETT, Secretary."
One week afterward, February 29, 1876, the foregoing communication from the Ritchie Church was presented at a business meeting of the South Fork of Hughes River Church. Rev. Charles M. Lewis, who was engaged at that time in missionary work in West Virginia, was present in company
224
SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
with William F. Ehret and his son, Flavius J. Ehret, of the Ritchie Church. The mother church voted to hold a union business meeting with the Ritchie Church, but no record appears of such a meeting.
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