December 15, 1955
This Article
Appeared In The Times
But Was Not
Actually Titled Cal’s Column
Transcribed by Janette West Grimes
Church
History
_____
The Carthage Baptist church was organized on July 16,
1881 with eighteen charter members, all of whom have passed on to their eternal
home.
This organization was
probably largely brought about by the zeal and activity of the Rev. A. D.
Phillips who presided over the organization as moderator. Bro. Phillips had
been a Missionary on the foreign fields, having lived and served in Africa for
a number of years. On his return to Nashville, he gave himself to active work
of this ministry wherever he saw the need. At the time of the ofganization of
this church, Bro. Phillips had a niece teaching in the vicinity of Carthage. He
visited his niece; and, seeing the possibilities of a church, here, took
advantage of the opportunity before him, and did what he could toward the
organization.
In order that our present
members may have first hand information on this organization, we will quote the
exact words pertaining to the organization as found in the first minutes
written. Quote:
"For the purpose of
organizing themselves into a Missionary Baptist church at Carthage, Tennessee,
certain members belonging to various churches of the same faith and order met
in their house of worship at Carthage, July 16, 1881, with J. W. Bowen and A.
D. Phillips to act as a presbytery in said organization. A. D. Phillips was
chosen Moderator and the proceedings were opened by prayer. W. D. Gold was
chosen Secretary. The names of these herein set out were then presented as
wishing to join in the organization." [End quote]
H. M. Hale, T. J. Fisher,
Amelia B. Fisher, Jane Fisher, Charles Fisher, E. B. Haynie, Margaret E.
Haynie, Juda Haynie, Clarence W. Garrett, Columbus B. Haynie, Mattie Haynes,
James Piper, Eliza J. Piper, Samuel E. Piper, Elijah J. Piper, Clarkey Piper,
Jesse Haynie, W. D. Gold.
The greater number of these
charter members came from the Peyton's Creek Baptist church.
The first pastor of the
church was W. M. Kuykendall. He received only ten dollars per month for his
one-fourth time service. The first Clerk of the church was W. D. Gold.
Within two years after the
church was organized, a Sunday School was organized and H. M. Hale was chosen
as the first Superintendent. He was one of the pillars of the church and,
through the influence of his fine Christian spirit, the Sunday School grew
rapidly.
At this time, and for several
years, the church had in its membership seven lawyers, all of whom were zealous
members. They were: W. D. Gold, H. M. Hale, A. E. Garrett, J. M. Fisher, T. J.
Fisher, W. V. Lee and L. A. Ligon.
One singular incident took
place soon after the church was organized that gave it a great impetus in its
onward course. During the month of Jan., 1882, a revival meeting took place,
apparently almost by accident. Rev. J. J. Porter, a Baptist minister, stopped
in Carthage while passing through, and while he was here, the river got out of
bounds. Rev. Porter was forced to stay for a time on account of the high
waters. Being anxious to use his time for the Lord, he decided to have a
revival meeting. The meeting continued for two weeks and resulted in a large
number of conversions and additions to the church.
The old frame building in
which the church first worshipped, costing around $1,500, was burned on Sunday
morning, Oct. 16, 1921. The church began at once to make plans to erect a new
building.
The building in which we now
worship was erected at a cost of around $15,000. This building was paid for and
dedicated on the first Sunday in June, 1930.
In 1947 the church began the
erection of a new educational building, an addition of sixteen rooms. This was
completed and dedicated on Jan. 23, 1949.
The next progressive step
taken by the church was to remodel and redecorate the auditorium. This was
completed the next year. The assembly room of the basement was used for the
preaching services while the auditorium was being remodeled.
On April 11, 1948 the church
voted unanimously to change the name of the church from the Carthage Baptist
church, to the First Baptist church of Carthage.
The church has had the
following pastors:
W. M. Kuykendall, who was
called shortly after the organization and served from 1881 to 1885; William
Shelton, 1885-1888; N. R. Sanborn, 1889-1892; R. B. Mahoney, 1892-1894;
Rutherford Brett, 1895-1899; T. T. Thompson, 1899-1900; G. W. Sherman,
1900-1901; Lanham, 1902-1903; L. S. Ewton, 1904-1908; F. H. Funderburk,
1909-1910; L. A. Hurst, 1910-1913; A. P. Moore, 1914-1918; T. Riley Davis,
1920-1924; George L. Ridenour, 1925-1926; Bunyan Smith, 1927-1929; H. D. Burns,
1930-1931; V. Floyd Starke, 1931-1938; H. G. Bennett, 1939-1941; E. E. Deusner,
1941-1945; Joe Harting, 1946-1948; W. W. Harrison, Dec. 5, 1948 to June 1,
1951.
Our present pastor, Bro. J.
C. Parrish, came to us as pastor on July 1, 1951.
Since he began his pastorate,
the church has had one hundred and eighty-five additions. One hundred and
twenty-two of these have been by baptism.
In this length of time, the
church has given $14,710.75 to missions. The Lottie Moon offering alone for the
year 1953 amounted to $1,110.47.
In December, 1951, through
the efforts of our pastor and our Associational Missionary, and active mission
church was established at Sullivan's Bend, and during these four years much
good has been accomplished there.
The church through its
missionary sociaties during the years 1951, 52, 53, and 54, sent two students
through Harrison and Chilhowee Academy. One of these students, Bro. Clint
Davis, received his call to preach during a revival meeting being conducted in
our church since our present pastor has been with us. Bro. Clint is now a
student in Belmont College, and our church is still aiding in bearing his
expense.
Bro. Nat McKinney answered
his call to preach during the pastorate of Bro. W. W. Harrison. Bro. McKinney
is now our very efficient Associational Missionary.
Bro. Braxton Sams, another
young preacher who has gone out from our church, accepted his call to preach
during Brother Starke's ministry here. Our church is proud of these three young
ministers.
Within the last four years
the church kitchen has been finished and equipped with an electric stove and
water heater.
All the basement rooms have
been painted. The nursery was moved from the basement to the main floor, and
furnished with beds, chairs and chests. An amplifying system has been
installed.
A beautiful and convenient
pastorium has been erected, and all the church debts have been paid.
The Training Union attendance
has increased from 25 to more than a hundred in average attendance. The Choir
has also been built up to one of the best, and a new Hammond organ has recently
been purchased.
In many respects, the last
four years have been very prosperous ones for the church. During its
comparatively short life this church has been loyal to the Great Cause for
which it stands.
Today it gives the warm hand
of welcome to all who come into its services of worship.
We give God the glory for all
the good that has been accomplished in this, our church, and we pray that we
may ever be humble, consecrated and dedicated to the Lord's work, pressing
forward in the future to greater achievements for Him than we have ever
accomplished in the past.