HISTORICAL SKETCH OF MT. OLIVE METHODIST CHURCH
Franklin County - Brookhaven District - Mississippi Conference - Edited 1966
The origin and beginning of the Mt. Olive Methodist Church in 1889 eleven miles South of Meadville, Miss. the County seat of Franklin County.
In the early 1850's or before a heart pine weather boarded Missionary Baptist Church was built across the road north west of where Mt. Olive Methodist Church now stands.
This church was about 20 by 30 ft. with one front door, and two windows with shutters on the East side, in later years, the church being so dark in cold weather, a large glass window with twelve panes was placed in the West side. The building was heated by a chimney made of dirt, a wooden frame was built the shape they wanted the chimney to be and the frame was covered inside and out with "mud cats" which were made of mud held together with Spanish moss.
This chimney had a large fire place and hearth and was placed in the North end of the building but it never gave out much heat and was soon replaced with a brick flue and a metal cast-iron box heater.
This building was used by both Baptist and Methodist alternately but the Methodist had Sunday School in it each Sunday they had preaching which was usually once a month. The Methodist also had a Childrens Day program once a year.
Some of the Methodist preachers who preached in this church were: W. W. Simmons, W. W. Cammock, Newton Huff, Mr. Dolph Huff's grandfather, Rev. Jagers and others.
Some of the Baptist ministers were: Moses Seale, my great grandfather, Roland Wilkinson and others.
According to Mr. Nathan Bunekley in writing up his diaries and attending this church commented, "I attended Mt. Olive Baptist church today and heard a good sermon by the preacher." This was in 1855.
Some of the charter members of the Baptist church were Mr. Madison Whittington, who was clerk of the church. Uncle Matt as he was usually called was Horace Whittington's grand father. Other members were: Mr. William Smith, Ned Smith's grandfather, William Causey, their families and others.
Some of the Methodist who attended this church were Mr. Matt or Madison Temple and family, grandfather of Mrs. Lizzie Sullivan. My grandfather Elijah Seale and family. Uncle Hinds Whittington, John H Parkers grandfather. The Jagers, Steele and Huff families.
There were several members of the Campbellite, Mormans and Primitive Baptist in the community, but were not allowed to preach in this church.
Some of the Methodist who attended this church had their membership in old Mt. Vernon church that stood near the Homochitto River in the lower part of the now Homochitto Community going there once a month on horse back for the roads were merely widened trails and almost impassable at times.
Other Methodist members had their membership in Salem Methodist in Amite County because they had relatives near this church and in visiting them, attended church at Salem. Among these were my grandparents, Elijah and Elizabeth McMillian Seale who later deeded the land for the present Mt. Olive church. The Whittington and Wilkinsons also attended were charter members of Old Salem Church.
As time rolled along changes came about by older members passing on, the civil war days and years, and people moving away to schools and churches closer and of their choice.
This weakened the Baptist membership, and the Methodist grew in number and continued their worship in this church until the middle 1880's when they felt the need of an organized and established Methodist church.
My grandmother, Elizabeth Ann Seale deeded enough land including a lovely spring of water for a Methodist church building.
Three trustees were appointed to have a contractor hired and the church built. These trustees were: Messers: Henderson Parker, Sr., Bob and Russel Smith's grandfather, John Huff, Mr. Dolph Huff's father, and Stephen Wilkinson. These trustees hired Mr. Bennie Nelson
from Amite Co., Bewelcome community to build the church with the men of the community helping him.
The heart weather boarding was dressed by hand, the boards were rove and splintered by hand until they resembled heart shingles.
In 1889 my father, the late Dougle Elijah Seale who lived near Gloster rode horseback to his mother's home near the church and gave several days work on the church helping Mr. Nelson who was staying at my grandmother's home, board given free, they finished the church.
The by laws and constitution and organization of the church were drawn up by Rev. W. W. Cammock who was a missionary to the Choctaw Indians, and Rev. W. W. Simmons, his father-in-law and the church was named Homochitto Chapel, but always went by the name of Mt. Olive, since the Baptist deeded or gave their old church to the neighborhood for a school building and its name was Mt. Olive.
Now the new church had to be furnished and since Mr. Henderson Parker had his own saw mill and was a cabinet maker he made the pulpit stand and secretary as it was called then, this stand held the church and Sunday School record books, the little Methodist hymnals (song books) with no notes, a church discipline, our little and few Sunday School books and a large Bible that the ladies Aid Society, now W. S. C. S. bought, along with a ceiling China lamp that hung in front of the pulpit stand, a beautiful Fostoria pattern glass water pitcher and two glasses, two collection plates, a felt tablecloth for the beautiful round table, that Mr. Parker made. Uncle Hen Parker, as he was affectionately called, made two stands in harmony with the pulpit stand and placed them permanently (we thought) on each side of the pulpit stand and the one on the right was used for the pitcher and glasses, the one on the left was used mostly for a "pull up" into the pulpit by the preacher. Flowers were placed there at times but seemed to be in the way. These stands were taken away by a "destroyer" who also broke up the lamp and other furnishings of the church. Yes, all has not been smooth sailing with the old church, for Satan loomed big at times, so much so until he asked, "Why have a church lets moved it to Meadville" and many of its records also were destroyed. But thanks to the ever faithful few, and our Heavenly Father old Mt. Olive still stands and I'll be ninety-seven years old when it will be 100, and I hope to be there to celebrate.
In some humble way lets honor Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Seale for making it possible for the community to have a place of worship.
She is buried between her husband, Elijah Seale and her son William Joseph Seale in the Elijah Seal Cemetary on the Dougle E. Seale home place about 1/4 mile North East of the church.
Written July 15, 1966 by Mrs. Claude Seale Parker of Liberty, Miss.
I have written the above as accurately as I remember it being told to me by my parents, grandmother, and others, then we have one of Mr. Nathan Bunckley's diaries that was given us that I got data from.
I went to my first Sunday School there in 1896. Mr. Lamar Stokes was Sunday School Supt. but said he was too young for the place and gave it up to my father Dougle E. Seale who was Supt. for many years. Then the conference appointed Mr. Stokes after my father's health failed, and he resigned. In 1910 Mr. Stokes resigned as Sunday School Supt. and Mr. C. S. Temple was appointed and was Supt. when I left the community in 1915.
The big Bible wasn't used much except it was placed open on the pulpit stand and the preacher placed his open Bible upon it, or a written sermon sometimes. I'm so glad for the interest shown it in having it repaired.
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