USA > Virginia > Prince Edward County > Prince Edward County > A history of Prince Edward County, Virginia: from its formation in 1753, to the present > Part 16
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The present Parsonage property at Prospect was con- veyed by James D. Crawley and his wife, Amanda M. Craw-
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ley, in trust, to Joseph W. Gills, Thomas H. Crawley, Thomas H. Glenn, Joseph B. Glenn, George M. Gillespie, Robert N. Wilkerson, and W. E. H. Durphy, trustees, July 30, 1877, the consideration being the sum of $1,125. (See Deed Book 33, page 140, in the Clerk's Office at Farmville.)
There is a singular lack of available data relating to these early days of Methodism in this part of the county, the minute books of the Society being either lost or destroyed. What information there is available serves to indicate that the work of the Circuit was pressed with great earnestness and with a gratifying measure of success.
For 1920-21 the Prospect Church raised for all purposes, the sum of $4,175.56, while, for the same period of time, the Olive Branch Church raised $1,845.92.
The present officers of the Prospect Church are :
Minister: Rev. R. S. Baughan.
Stewards: T. S. Tweedy, I. H. Glenn, J. R. Glenn, B. T. Taylor, C. H. Rucker, C. W. Crawley, C. E. Chick, T. R. N. Cocks.
Trustees : G. R. Glenn, R. J. Carter, E. S. Taylor.
Sunday School Supt .: B. T. Taylor.
President of the Woman's Missionary Society; Mrs. R. S. Baughan.
The present officers of Olive Branch Church are:
Stewards: J. Hopkins Wilkerson. J. Henry Wilkerson, W. W. Vaughan, R. H. Wilkerson, H. C. Elam, W. B. Binford, H. L. Moore, J. R. Fore.
Trustees: E. H. Gilliam, I. O. Reynolds, Emery Chick, G. D. Warriner, R. Lee Price, J. W. Davis.
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Sunday School Supt .: W. B. Binford.
President, Woman's Missionary Society ; Mrs. J. D. Carter.
The circuit was organized in 1870 with three churches, viz., Olive Branch, Prospect, and Pamplin. In 1873 Smyrna was added to the circuit, and later on Piney Ridge. In the year 1914 Pamplin and Piney Ridge were transferred to an- other circuit, leaving Olive Branch, Prospect, and Smyrna, which compose the present charge. The first pastor of Pros- pect Circuit was Rev. Alfred Wiles, who was succeeded by Rev. J. Wiley Bledsoe. Revs. J. S. Hunter, W. C. Vaden, G. H. Ray, H. C. Cheatham, T. J. Taylor, J. E. Potts, R. W. Watts, and J. H. Proctor were others of the early pastors.
With the passing of the years this charge has grown and kept pace with the progress of the times. It now has three good Sunday Schools open every Sunday throughout the year, three flourishing "Woman's Missionary Societies," with one young lady from Olive Branch preparing for work in foreign fields. The charge over-subscribed the Centenary quota by a good margin, and raised the full quota in the Educational Movement.
The budget system has been adopted enabling the Stewards to meet all obligations promptly. The pastor is paid monthly and presiding elder quarterly.
Recently, a copy of the Advocate has been put in every home on the charge, totaling 175 subscriptions.
The village of Prospect was named for the original Church, which stood on the site of the present cemetery. This building was burned in 1860, at which time it was being used as a school house.
The present building was erected in 1859. During the
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War between the States the Federal soldiers camped on the Church grounds and pitched one of their tents on the north- east side of the building. Needing a place to hang their clothing, they bored holes in the weather boarding and in- serted wooden pins for clothes racks. These holes still re- main.
The following constituted the first official board: Samuel T. Clark, Henry J. Venable, Thos. W. Crawley, J. W. Gills, James D. Crawley, and Robt. V. Davis. Records show that at this time there were only 96 members on roll.
In 1919 the old Church building was remodeled. Eight Sunday School rooms were built and equipped, an attractive recess pulpit put in, furnace installed, and an imposing colonial front added.
An Epworth League has recently been organized, which gives promise for splendid work in the future.
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SMYRNA CHURCH
Smyrna Church is located at Sheppards in Buckingham county, about ten miles from Prospect. Prior to 1873 it was on the Buckingham Circuit. Since that time it has been a member of Prospect Charge.
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The following article was supplied by the Rev. J. M. Moser, then pastor of the Prospect M. E. Church :
"The two churches, Prospect, and Olive Branch, of our Prospect Charge, sent twenty-one men into the various branches of service in the world war.
Husie Glenn to Camp Taylor, and oversea.
Peyton Glenn to Camp Lee, was made Sergeant, and saw duty oversea.
Watkins Brisentine and his brother Allen were in Camps Lee, and Hancock.
Hunter Ferguson to Camp Lee, and made Sergeant.
Norwood Gallier was in Camp Lee, and was in action oversea.
Frank Glenn was in Camp Lee, and made Sergeant.
Leonard Fulcher in Camp Lee, and saw service oversea.
Claude East in Camp Lee, and saw action oversea.
Russll East first in Camp Eustis, and later in school and was training at University of Virginia.
Robert Cocks to Navy, and made storekeeper.
Robert Cheadle in Camp Lee. He died of pneumonia, following influenza.
Warren Tomlinson in automobile training, and saw ser- vice oversea.
Elmer Tomlinson, helper in war shops, up east some- where.
Jake Hopkins in Camp Lee.
Isaac Glenn in school and war training at University of Virginia.
Bascom Taylor in school and war training at Randolph Macon College, Ashland, Virginia.
Phil Swan to Camp Lee, saw action oversea, and was killed in battle there.
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John Fore, saw action oversea, and, after Armistice, did police duty in Germany.
Ernest Woodall, in action oversea, and was seriously wounded.
Henry Moore in the Navy.
Both these churches were, without exception, warmly patriotic. All seemed bent and determined to do their part in all the war activities without hesitation or stint.
During the whole time our boys were in camp and over- sea there was not a single service in our churches without fervent, faithful prayer for them, that in body they might be protected by the Great, Good Lord of Hosts; that in soul they might be kept pure, in life clean, and that after they had won the victory and set the world free, they might re- turn to us the same pure boys they were when they went away.
We had no service flag, but we all kept and carried a service heart.
Our boys were sent away with a farewell prayer service -a real overflow community prayer meeting. And, on their return, we called them together in the same Church in a gracious service of thanksgiving to our Father for His won- derful goodness and mercy to our boys, and to us and our Allies.
Our people were quite active and very generous in rais- ing all war funds, even the children catching up the patriotic spirit, both buying, and soliciting War Saving Stamps with a zeal that called out our best praise; so that in Red Cross work, Y. M. C. A. work, Liberty Loans, and War Saving Stamps, our people truly excelled. We are not able to give the figures, but verily they were far into the thousands. We feel safe in making the statement that our people never turned down a single call for War Charities. Our men, our women, our children, were always ready to give, and to do, for the war and for relief."
March 6, 1920.
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SALEM M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH; RICE
This article was contributed by the Rev. O. M. Clarke, present pastor of the Church.
Salem M. E. Church, South, was organized in the fall of 1884, as the outgrowth of a Sunday School organized in 1883, at the home of Mr. C. L. Overton, by Mr. A. W. Drum- meller, of Farmville, and a revival meeting conducted at Rice, by Rev. J. S. Hunter of Farmville.
There were fourteen charter members, as follows:
Mrs. M. J. Hubbard, Mrs. M. R. Watson, Miss Betty Wade, John T. Branch, Mrs. M. B. Price, J. W. Garrett, Mrs. V. C. Garrett, W. H. Hubbard, J. E Hubbard, S. D. Hubbard, Miss Nannie B. Hubbard, (now Mrs. Amos, of Roanoke,) Miss Mary Watson (now Mrs. Smith, of Cumber- land) Miss Mary Watson (now Mrs. J. A. Hillsman,) Miss Anna Watson (now Mrs. John Morrissette).
The Church was assigned to Burkeville Circuit, with Rev. J. B. Askew as its first pastor, who served until 1887.
The following ministers have since served this Church: J. E. White, 1887, (died) ; W. E. Bullard, supply, 1887; T. M. Beckham, 1888-1890; F. B. Glenn, 1890-1892; R. L. Wing- field, 1892-1894; R. S. Baughan, 1894-1897; W. F. Hayes, 1897-1899; J. E. Oiler, 1899-1900; Dr. Leek Spencer, 1900 .. 1903, (died) ; J. E. Mccullough, supply ; W. L. Jones, 1903- 1907; T. E. Johnson, 1907-1909; W. A. S. Conrad, 1909-1911; R. G. James, 1911-1913; W. A. S. Conrad, 1913-1917; T. H. Stimson, 1917-1918; O. M. Clarke, 1918, to the present.
Present officers :
Rev. O. M. Clarke, Postor.
J. E. Hubbard, Superintendent Sunday School. W. D. Mason, Treasurer.
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Stewards: J. E. Hubbard; George Frank; M. T. Gar- rett.
Assistant Stewards: W. D. Mason; H. H. Hubbard; W. H. Price.
Trustees : J. E. Hubbard; George Frank; W. D. Mason; W. H. Price; H. H. Hubbard.
The gross income for last year, for all purposes, was $1,125.
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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY
Somewhere about the year 1740, reports came to Virginia of awakenings and revivals of religion occurring in the North, and some books, differing from those in common use, found their way for the first time into Virginia, and disturbed the minds of many persons in the counties of Hanover, Louisa, and thereabouts. Finding nothing corresponding with these teachings in the sermons of the clergy of the established, or Episcopal Church, and deeming them to be Scriptural, as opposed to that of the clergy, some of these people of the laity, separated themselves from the usual services, which by law they were bound to attend, and read sermons in private houses.
These things came to the ears of the then Governor of the State, Governor Gooch, and he became much offended, and, summoning a general court, delivered a charge complaining of the conduct of those laymen and preachers who, professing to be Presbyterians, yet utterly disregarded the Act of Tol- eration, and produced much discord in the colony. This charge was laid before the Synod of Philadelphia, by a mes- senger for Virginia.
The Synod, having considered the matter, sent the fol- lowing address to the Governor :-
"May it please your Honour, the favorable acceptance which your Honour was pleased to give our former address, and the countenance and protection which those of our per- suasion have met with in Virginia, fills us with gratitude, and we beg leave on this occasion with all sincerity to express the same. It very deeply affects us to find that any who go from these parts, and perhaps assume the name of Pres- byterians, should be guilty of such practices, such uncharit- able and unchristian expressions, as are taken notice of in your
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Honour's charge to the Grand Jury. And, in the meantime, it gives us the greatest pleasure that we can assure your Hon- our that these persons never belonged to our body, but are missionaries, sent out by some, who, by reason of their divi- sions and uncharitable doctrines and practices, were, in May, 1741, excluded from our Synod, upon which they erected them- selves into a separate society, and having industriously sent abroad persons whom we judge ill qualified for the character they assume, to divide and trouble the churches. And, there- fore, we humbly pray, that while those who belong to us, and produce proper testimonials, behave themselves suitably, they may still enjoy the favor of your Honour's countenance and protection. And, praying for the divine blessing on your Honour's person and government, we beg leave to subscribe ourselves your Honour's, etc. etc.
ROBERT CATHCART, Moderator.
These persons, thus complained of, are identified by an address to the House of Burgesses, sent at about this time, as follows :
"ADDRESS TO THE BURGESSES."
"To the Worshipful the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses.
"The humble petition of some of the clergy of this Domin- ion showeth :
"That there have been frequently held in the counties of Hanover, Henrico, Goochland, and some others, for several years past, numerous assemblies, especially of the common people, upon a pretended religious account,-convened some- times by merely lay enthusiasts, who, in these meetings, read sundry fanatical books and use long extempore prayers and discourses,-sometimes by strolling, pretended ministers, and at present by one Mr. Samuel Davies, who has fixed himself in Hanover; and, in the counties of Amelia and Albemarle,
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by a person who calls himself Mr. Cennick, well known in England by his intimacy with Mr. Whitefield.
"That though these teachers and their adherents (except the above-mentioned Cennick) assume the denomination of Presbyterians, yet we think they have no just claim to that character, as the ringleaders of the party were, for their erroneous doctrines and practices, excluded from the Presby- terian Synod of Philadelphia in May, 1741, (as appears from an address of said Synod to our Governor;) nor have they, since that time, made any recantation of their errors, nor have been readmitted as members of that Synod, which Synod, though of many years standing, never was reprehended for errors in doctrine, discipline, or government, either by the established Kirk of Scotland, the Presbyterian Dissen- ters in England, or any other body of Presbyterians what- soever. Whence we beg leave to conclude, that the dis- tinguishing tenets of these teachers before mentiond are of dangerous consequences to religion in general, and that the authors and propagators thereof are deservedly stigmatized with a name (New-Lights) unknown till of late in this part of the world.
"That your petitioners further humbly conceive that, though these excluded members of the Synod of Philadelphia were really Presbyterians, or of any of the other sects toler- ated in England, yet there is no law in this Colony by vir- tue whereof they can be entitled to a license to preach, far less to send forth their emmissaries, or to travel themselves over several counties, (to many places without invitation) to gain proselytes to their way; 'to inveigle ignorant and un- worthy people with their sophistry;' and, under pretence of greater degrees of piety among them than can be found among the members of the Established Church, to seduce them from their lawful teachers and the religion hitherto professed in this Dominion.
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"Your petitioners therefore, confiding in the wisdom and piety of this worshipful House, the guardians of their reli- gious as well as their civil privileges, and being deeply sensible of the inestimable value of the souls committed to their charge, of the infectious and pernicious tendency, nature, and conse- quences of heresy and schism, and of the sacred and solemn obligations they are under 'To be ready with all faithful dili- gence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doc- trines contrary to God's word, and to use their utmost care that the flock of Christ may be fed with the sincere milk of the word only,' humbly pray that the good laws, formerly in that case made and provided, may be strictly put in execu- tion ; particularly that entitled 'ministers to be inducted.' And, as we humbly think this law still retains its primitive force and vigour, so we pray that it may on this occasion effectual- ly exert the same, to the end that all novel notions and per- plexing, uncertain doctrines and speculations, which tend to the subversion of true religion, designed by its admirable Author to direct the faith and practice of reasonable creatures, may be suitably checked and discouraged. And that this Church, of which we are members, and which our forefathers justly esteemed a most invaluable blessing, worthy by all prudent and honourable means to be defended and supported, being by us in the same manner regarded, may remain 'the pillar and ground of truth,' and glory of this Colony, which hitherto hath been remarkably happy for uniformity of re- ligion.
"And your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, etc.
"D. MossoM, "JOHN BRUNSKILL, "PAT. HENRY, (REV.) "JOHN ROBERTSON, "ROBERT BARRETT."
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The result of this protest from these five clergymen, was that Mr. Davies was summoned to appear before the House and plead his own cause, which he did with such ability that he appears to have secured recognition, though not to the extent that he had hoped for. He was allowed to continue his work with some restrictions. His labors were confined to the Hanover Presbytery which embraced the territory after- wards composing Prince Edward county, most of his efforts being concentrated on that section of his territory. His zeal and eloquence attracted great crowds, and drew many from the Episcopal churches, which stirred up continual opposi- tion to him. He was more or less directly instrumental in the establishment of the Academy of Prince Edward, now Hampden-Sidney College. He was afterward President of Princeton College, New Jersey. How he obtained recogni- tion from the Synod of Philadelphia does not appear, nor does it appear that he was amongst those originally expelled by that body.
The progress of the Presbyterians in Prince Edward county has been co-existent with the growth of Hampden- Sidney College and the reader is directed to the chapter deal- ing with that institution for further information, as touch- ing those early days of the Church.
Another factor in the decline of the Established Church that did so much to accelerate the growth of the Presbyterians in Prince Edward, was the defection of the Rev. Archibald McRoberts from the Episcopal Church and his adherence to the Presbyterian Church. This good man was ordained in 1763, and continued a minister of the Episcopal Church until 1779. When he withdrew, he was located in a parish in Prince Edward, and lived at Providence, on the glebe near Prince Edward Court House, from whence, on July 13, 1780, he wrote his friend Mr. Jarratt, regarding the change he had made. In that letter he says :-
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"Upon the strictest inquiry it appears to me that the Church of Christ is truly and properly independent; and I am a dissenter under that denomination. Ecclesiastical mat- ters among the Presbyterians I find every day verging toward my sentiments, and will, I believe, terminate there. There is very little that divides us even now. They constantly attend my poor ministry. Several of Mr. Sankey's people have joined my congregation, and I have lately had a most delightful communion-season at Cumberland, where I assisted Mr. Smith, at the urgent request of himself and the elders. Soon after my dissent, as my concern for the people had suffered no change, I drew up a set of articles including the essential parts of natural and revealed religion, together with the Con- stitution and Discipline of the Christian Church, and pro- posed them to their consideration; since which they have formed a congregation at the chapel, and a few have acceded at French's and Sandy River. I preach at the churches by permission, and intend to continue, God willing, until the first of January, at which time, if congregations should not be formed at the lower churches, my time will be confined to the chapel, and such other places as Providence may point out and the good spirit of God unite his people at."
He was a Scotchman by birth. The following incident is related of him: "Most of the able-bodied men of Prince Edward were off with the army, on duty elsewhere, when Tarleton, with his troops of cavalry made a foray through that and the neighboring counties. He visited sundry houses in Prince Edward, attempted to frighten women and children, destroyed much furniture, and otherwise did much wanton mischief. A detachment was also sent to the glebe, and Mr. McRoberts had hardly time to escape. They ripped open feather-beds, broke mirrors, etc., and went off, having set fire to the house. It burned slowly at first, but the building would have been consumed had not a shower of rain come up suddenly and extinguished the flames. Mr. McRoberts,
-
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who regarded this as a special interposition of providence, called the place PROVIDENCE."
The name stuck, and such it was known ever after. Later on, the glebe became the property of Colonel Venable. (Meade, Vol. I, 448.)
It would appear that two of Mr. McRoberts' sons gradua- ated with the first class from Hampden-Sidney College.
The Rev. Richard Sankey, ordained in 1739 by the Pres- bytery of Donegal, in Pennsylvania, moved to Prince Edward county with his entire congregation, establishing his work at French's, a little to the northeast of Kingsville. He was the first regularly installed Presbyterian minister in the county. Other Presbyterian churches of these early days of the county, now extinct, were Briery, 1748; Buffalo, 1759; and Watkins, 1759.
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THE FARMVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
There is a tradition that the Farmville Presbyterian Church was organized in 1828, but that is not borne out by the facts, as the following paper discloses :
"Petition of the members of Hanover Church, worship- ping at Farmville, Va., to West Hanover Presbytery, ask- ing a division of Hanover Church, October 8th, 1844.
Farmville, Va., Oct. 8th, 1844.
The Memorial and Petition of members of the Hanover Church, (Prince Edward county) usually worshipping at Farmville, to West Hanover Presbytery :
Your petitioners respectfully request that the Presbytery would divide Hanover Church, organizing one of the divis- ions at Farmville. The records of the proceedings of Han- over Church in reference to the desired division will ac- company this petition, and we ask that the same be considered a part of this memorial. The representatives of the Hanover Church in Presbytery will give the necessary explanations in reference to the wishes of the memorialists.
We are not advised that it will be contrary to the con- stitution, or form of Government of the Presbyterian Church, to permit the present pastor of the Church to have charge of the two churches and, as your memorialists do not desire a change in our pastoral relations, they ask that a division be made contemplating such an arrangement.
Your memorialists will only add, that the members of Hanover Church, usually worshipping at Farmville, are near- ly, if not entirely unanimous in the request herein presented.
Respectfully submitted,
F. N. Watkins, M. A. Watkins, C. R. Barksdale, Ed. M. Barksdale, John Dupuy, Ann Dupuy, Wm. C. Flournoy, (by
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F. N. W.), M. W. Flournoy, M. R. Flippen, Caroline Flip- pen, Wm. M. Womack, N. D. Price, M. T. Price, M. E. Venable (by F. N. W. by permission), Mary C. Womack, Jacob W. Morton, Mary Jane Morton, Wm. C. Chappell, A. W. Millspaugh, C. C. Read, A. E. Read, Mary P. Venable, Charles T. Carrington, C. Scott Venable, E. G. Venable, Mary E. Venable, Sarah S. Venable."
This paper, the original of which is now in the hands of Mrs. Henry Edmunds of Farmville, Va., reveals the fact, that the Church was organized in 1844 with twenty-seven charter members, and was set off from the College Church, which was then known as Hanover Church, and was served by the same minister as the College, or Hanover Church. The minister was Rev. Wm. C. Scott, who seems to have served the Church till 1854. He was succeeded by Rev. Michael Osborne, who, served till 1863. Then followed in suc- cession, Rev. Richard McIlwaine, 1864-1870; Rev. H. H. Hawes, 1871-1885; Rev. W. H. Neel, 1885-1888; Rev. E. H. Harding, 1891-1903; Rev. J. G. McAllister, 1903-1905; Rev. H. T. Graham, 1905-1909; Rev. W. E. Hill, 1909-1912; Rev. Andrew Allen, 1912-1916; and Rev. Charles F. Rankin, to the present time.
At the time the Farmville Church was organized, West Hanover Presbytery was composed of thirteen churches, the oldest of which was Cumberland, organized in 1754, having had a history of nearly a century when the infant Farmville Church was born. The Presbytery now has forty-eight churches on its roll.
The present house of worship at Farmville, is the origi- nal building, and the lot on which it stands, is said to have been given by Col. James Madison, grandfather of Mr. Wil- liam G. Dunington. To the original building has been added the portico, and the Sunday School annex, which was built during the pastorate of the Rev. W. H. Neel, and just now
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the congregation is preparing to add another wing to the building, containing eighteen class rooms, for the purposes of a modern Sunday School.
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