Harris County, Georgia GenWeb Site: New Hope Church Homecoming
Article from West Point News, West Point, GA 1940 about the 1913 Home Coming of the New Hope Methodist Church in Harris County

New Hope Home Coming Celebration Largely Celebrated

A most enjoyable spiritual and social all-day meeting was held at historic New Hope church, Sunday, September 28, the occasion of a home-coming and anniversary celebration. Than New Hope and community there was no more cultured and splendid church and neighborhood in all Georgia in former years. Many of the finest families originated here, later through circumstances having to go away to make their homes in different sections of Georgia as well as in other states. Scores of these became influential leaders in the civic and religious life of their adopted homes.

The changes of residence continued along with economic fluctuations during the year until New Hope Methodist church, growing weaker, was shifted from one charge to another in the Georgia North Conference. Some years ago, therefore, New Hope was discontinued from regular services because very few of the regular church families had any descendants left there.

The near-by "City of the Dead" was the resting place of hundreds from the first families and others, many being brought back from distant homes to this quiet place. Yearly care was given this spot by relatives and friends left there and by those who sent back funds for this purpose.

Not until 1938, after Mr. and Mrs. Ben M. Poer had returned to this community for permanent residence, after more than twenty-five years spent in South Georgia towns, did a definite movement began to raise funds to repair the fast decaying old church. This, of course, was for the old memories' sake and to provide a chapel for future needs.

At the third quarterly Conference of the Chipley charge to which New Hope last belonged, at the request of these and other friends, a committee was appointed to investigate what could and should be done to save this old church. Mr. Ed Hargett, Mrs. Ben M. Poer, Mrs. Lula Sturdivant and Mrs. Warren Talley were appointed.

As a result of their continued and faithful efforts, the old historic church has been repaired, the large cemetery cleaned and put in order and the building stands ready for service at any time.

This home-coming was likened unto the children of Israel returning to Jerusalem after captivity in Babylon. Great was the rejoicing by those 150 people who came back to this sacred spot where they had been so greatly exalted spiritually in earlier years. It was good to be together, renewing sweet fellowships and rededicating one's life to the cause of Christ and the church.

Ben M. Poer, when moved back into the community and looked about him to see what could be done about repairing the temple, was likened by the speaker to Nehemiah. He and his wife worked together long and untiringly, searching and finding old records, deeds, etc.

Others from away from the community assisting in the work of repairing the church and cemetery included Dr. N. C. Poer, Atlanta; Miss Bell Poer, Llano,Texas; Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Williams and daughter, Tennessee; Mrs. Emma Bulls, Columbus, Ga.; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bussy and family, Arkansas; Mrs. Rosa Callahan Lassiter, Conyers, Ga.; Mrs. Fannie Power, Columbus, Ga.; the Reverend and Mrs. Gaylor, Mrs. Perry Morgan and daughter, Alabama; the Reverend W. M. Twiggs and Mrs. Twiggs, the Reverend and Mrs. J. W. Faulkner, Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Morgan, Dr. and Mrs. C. O. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Willingham, Mrs. J. M. Poer, Mrs. M. P. Oslin, Miss Florrie Johnson, and Miss Louise Bonnell.

B. W. Poer presided throughout the day, with Mrs. Poer in charge of the music. Mrs. Poer gave a financial report showing the full amount of collections and what was spent in the repairs. Windows were not included in the original budget. Her 12-year-old grandson solved this problem by suggesting memorial windows. As a result there are now windows marked with the following old family names: Little, Williams, Cotton, Hargett, Blanton, Mallory, Houston, Johnson, Poer, DeLamar, and Phillips.

A tablet over the pulpit has inscribed upon it these ministers who have gone out from the church: The Reverend James Cotton, Jackson Rush, Owen Smith, D. M. Poer, John D. Little, A. C. DeLamar, L. C. Hargett and J. H. Callahan.

The Reverend H. A. King was the speaker at the eleven o'clock service. Old familiar hymns were sung and at noon a basket lunch was spread under the old trees and it was like a family reunion with all the handshaking and renewing of aquaintances that was enjoyed.

The afternoon session was given to old historical data of the church and reminiscences. First Mrs. Fannie Houston Poer, daughter of Mr. George Houston, a charter member of New Hope church, told of the uniting of Ebenezer and Rehobeth churches, thus forming the new church, New Hope. Mr. Houston suggested the name of New Hope as befitting a new start in the religious life of the community, with the beginning of a new church. She mentioned the charter members and gave a long list of prominent doctors, teachers, and preachers who had gone out from that community.

Mrs. Mary Poer Oslin took up the history where Mrs. Poer left off and gave a panoramic view of many who made up this splendid church community and told of prominent ministers who had served the church.

Others speaking during the afternoon were Dr. J. D. Williams who was back again after 50 years' absence; Dr. C. O. Williams, Lawton Blanton, Mrs. Pearl Harwell Bussy, of Arkansas; Dr. Norman C. Poer of Atlanta; the Reverends W. M. Twiggs and J. W. Faulkner, and Gaylor, of Alabama, the latter being converted in this church when a lad.

It was announced that the church was out of debt but that a piano was needed, also, song books. Mrs. Power gave a Bible for the pulpit.

Preceding the benediction, Faith of Our Fathers was sung. And thus ended homecoming day at New Hope, a day that will go down in the annals of history for all that hold dear the memories of this to many of us a sacred spot.

By One Present


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