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1, Chapter 3: “Church Activities”
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Joined Midway Regular Baptist church July 16, 1882. Had been
under conviction since a small boy, 8 years. Was baptised by
Rev A J Freeman in Turkey creek above the bridge, the bridge on
Newton and Decatur road. Taken my place on the members seat,
and taken part in all church work. Was made clerk April 18 1885,
and made deacon August 25th 1909. I was mesenger to the Mt Pisgah
association held at Sinai Neshoba county. Parson Freeman asked
me to come over and hitch my mule with his to his hack, and go
with him & Miss Georgia. Went to Crosses got Miss Georgia
Cross & to Dick Russels got Miss Ida Russell, then to Jessie
Paces for dinner. Mr. Pace hitched my mule and his best mule
to his wagon. Had 3 spring seats, Pace and Freeman set set on
front seat, Ida Russell and Georgia Freeman, on middle, and Georgia
Cross, and I set on back seat. A jolly time we did have. We
went to J C Waldens while at the association. The preacher and
wimen staid in the home, and the men went to the ginhouse spread
out cotton seed, and 40 of us slept on the pallet. We came back
to Paces Monday night, got back to Freeman Tuesday noon. I stoped
for dinner, and had a peep eye with little Sallie then 14 years
old. She had wanted to go to Ass. I went to association every
year. In 1885 was delegated to association at Harperville. Rev
A J Freeman was mesenger. I visited Freeman on Wednesday to see
about going to the association. He told me he was starting Friday
morning and taking dinner in Conehatta with Haralson and going
to Harpervill that evening. After he had left the room, I talked
with Miss Sallie a while. She volunteered to tell me that she
would go with her father to association, but would come back with
me, so that was what we did. Coming back we rode in my buggy
to parson L M Murrell, spent the night there. Got back to Freemans
for dinner Tuesday noon. I taken dinner with Freemans Tuesday.
Midway church affiliated with Mt Pisgah association. I attended
nearly all association meetings. Bro. George Clark was the verry
efficient clerk. After some little friction with a preacher Taylor,
about the making and getting out the minutes, bro. Clarke asked
and requested me to be at the next meeting of the association,
that he would advise that I be made clerk of the association.
So at the next years meeting, I was unanimously elected clerk,
which office I served for 20 years, and after the treasurer bro.
Ervin Graham’s death, I also acted as treasurer of the association.
I attended the general association meetings, was 15 years old.
The meeting was held in the church at Newton in 1872. Bro. Jake
Johnson was first missionary to South Miss. I heard his report
to the association. He said he had gone throughout the country
and preached the gospel, and that the work was finished. He gave
a touching discription of the country, and the people. Allthough
a boy I felt the need of the people down there. I recollect seeing
some younger preacher wip tears from their eyes while bro. Johnson
made his report.
After I had been a member for some time I was delegated mesenger
to the General association, and after a few years was a member
of the executive board. This board met quarterly with some church
that would invite their meeting with them. This board had the
responsible dutie to select churches to help finance, to elect
missionaries, to the work in needy places. Sometimes we had several
men in the work and quite often helped new, and week churches
to finance themselves. We did some joint work with the state
convention through their efficient secretary A V Rowe, a venerable
old gentleman. Many were the expierances, and trials of this
work. One of the mission men reported on one accasion that he
baptised a man in a boat by his bedside. He was sick, and wanted
to be baptised. His friends brought a boat to his bed side,
filled it with water, and he baptised him in the boat. I served
on this executive board 38 years strait. The General association
of South East Mississippi was composed of local associations
in South East Mississippi., to fill a neglected part of the state.
The State convention had never come to this part of the State.
It was organized by the efforts of, and the advice of Rev N L
Clarke. He had investigated, and it was ready to be worked.
Landmark: During the time I served on this Executive board one
association held at Sylvarener, the Landmark baptist appeared.
Bro. John Simmons while speaking on mission refered to their churches
not doing any missoin work, when a brother Mayfield challenged
bro. Simmons statement. Got refs and started to bro. Simmons.
Someone stoped him. Simons called for a minet of the association.
Stated he would prove what he was saying. Bro. Mayfield was a
fierce looking man. I never herd of him again. This was the
first time I had known of the Landmark baptist. They objected
to the way the regular missionary Baptist did their mission work.
They wanted to send a man to the mission work, and have the churches
send their money direct to him from the church. Claimed it taken
nearly all of the money to pay the expense to get it to the man
on the mission field. At one of the associations I heard a Landmark
preacher attack bro. D T Chapman personally on this question of
missions. Chapman was treasurer of the association, and was counting
the money just turned over by the finance committee. This preacher
that attacted Chapman, Doctor Boyd (cancer doctor quack). All
had gone out of the house excep Chapman, Boyd, and myself. I
stayed by Chapman, thinking there might be trouble. Boyd said
it taken 90 cents to get one $ to the man on the field. Chapman
told him all money designated for missions every cent of it went
for missions, that there was a special fund paid in to bear all
mission fund expense.
At an association held at Fellowship near Enterprise Miss: During
the association these Landmark Baptist was there and there was some
discussion and brother Thigpen and Marion Walters had a heated debate.
Thigpen was Landmarker, and Walters defending the regular Baptist.
They quieted down with a set day and place and time to debate the question.
Never knew how they finally settled their diferance. Dont think the
question was before the association again. A number of years later,
bro. W T Smith was moderator of ass. at a board meeting held at Pine
Ridge Newton county. A little fellow that was trying to preach had
two Landmark preachers to be at this Pine Ridge meeting. They never
told their business and bro. Smith never recognised them in any business,
and one of these men was Marion Walters. He had turned Land Marker,
and he was the Walters that once before challenged Thigpen on the Land
Mark question. I understand now 1948 they claim to be the Missionary
Baptist Church, and that the Regular Baptist are convention Baptist.
They are trying to take over everry place and church possible. They
disrupted Luin church, tried to get the church record, and church funds,
but clerk Hall would not let them get the record. They finally got
the house & property. The Regular Baptist built a house on the
oposite side of the road. From what I hear they are practically taking
South Mississippi.
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