Teman Baptist Church

Abstract from newspaper article from 1888 regarding this church - Transcribed by Don Bankston -

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of July 7, 1881

Memoirs of T. C. Nolen of McDonough

Col T. C. Nolen of McDonough in his Memoirs of Henry County produces some very interesting facts connected with the early history of that county, from paper No. 18 we clip the following"

"One of the most important events connected with the history of Henry County was the dissolution of the old iron side Baptist into two divisions - recognized now as the Missionaries and Hardshells, or Anti-Missionaries. The first origin or foundation of these differences occurred at a little church called Teman, which was situated a few miles from McDonough in the Turner neighborhood, and from that place sprung a division among the Baptist denomination that soon spread all over the United States, and which today comprises two grand elements of religious people, with their different views and opinions. This sentiment of division began in Henry county some time during 1825, but it did not come to a certain final termination until 1835, at Holly Grove Church, in Monroe County, when the Towaliga and Flint River Associations were formed and organized - the Hardshells, if I mistake not, adding the 13th amendment to the twelve articles of Baptist faith.

One of the prominent points insisted on by the Hardshells was the forbidding any member to join a secret institution, such as Free-masonry, or any organization of Temperance, or like order.

When the change of sentiment and opinion first sprung into existence at Teman Church, the Baptist made appointments in McDonough, where they often met day after day and debated the various questions and issues in Nolan's present office, which was then the Baptist Church, the controversies often lasting until after sundown. Among those who met here and so able defended their doctrines with the logic of their arguments was the Rev. John Milner of Monroe and his bother, Pitt Milner, the fathers of Mrs. Parker Eason, who resided near Sunny Side, and who was a grandmother of our recent Sheriff Parker E. Brown. Also, old man Sherwood, the uncle of Mrs. Wm. Florence, who died not long since the city of Chicago; Rev. Billy Henderson, who shot a horse thief and was silenced for a time from preaching on that account, but was soon restored to his ministerial station; Jesse Mercer, whose name is familiar word in the household of all Baptist families; Billy Mosely, whose history, private and political, is inseparable connected with that of Henry County; and the Rev. Mr. Lumpkin, a kinsman of the distinguished Lumpkin family which is so well known and eulogized all over Georgia. The dissensions soon spread to old Bethel Church, now in Butts County, and which was the oldest, or one of the oldest, Baptist Churches in the county. Among those who prominently figured in that forum were Silas White, Barney Strickland and the Rev. Mr. Wilson. The discussions at this place were more directly upon the free-will doctrine, or Armenian theory, as well as the foreign and domestic missions, which was also a cause of contention among them. The split at Bethel Church occurred in 1827 or 1828.

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