The Howard Methodist Church, Taylor County Georgia was constituted about the year 1870. Rev. Robert Williamson, pastor of the Butler Charge, saw the need of a church in the community and began holding services in a small school house and sometimes under a brush arbor. The one acre of land on which the present (1951) building is located was donated by the late Freeman Mathews. Messrs. Bill Barnes and Monroe Dixon were the contractors.
Judge M. D. Grace owned a sawmill and donated the sawing of the timber for the building. Rev. Williamson and Mr. Grace were the financial promoters of the building. The indebtedness which they assumed was met by subscriptions in lumber, money and labor, practically all of which was donated by people of the community.
Messrs. G. J. Downs, M. D. Grace, M. A. Heath, W. G. Mathews, J. W. Boland, and W. T. Harvey were first trustees elected. Messrs. J. A. J. Kimble and J. T. Adams were first stewards elected. The church in those days was loyally supported by the following: J. W. Boland, J. A. J. Kimble, W. D. Grace, W. T. Harvey, Coon Downs, John England and Sisters, William and George Heath, William and Freeman Mathews, J. T. Adams, and others. The good women of the community were a great help in establishing the church. Unfortunately the first church register was burned when the home of one of the members was lost by fire so there is no available list of the charter members.
In the early days of the church's history, there was a Union Sunday school in which Baptist as well as Methodist, not only participated but were active workers and regular attendants. This was then one of the best Sunday schools in Taylor Co. Rev. J. T. Adams, father of Rev. Clyde Adams of Franklin, Ga. known as "Bishop of Heard Co." was superintendent. The church has maintained a Sunday School, practically ever since. Later in the church's history the Sunday School under the superintendency of Mr. W. T. England who was ably assisted by Mrs. J. R. Willams, Miss Janie Neisler, Mrs. Harris Sealy, Jr., Mrs. J. E. Brown and Mrs. C. E. Willis was rated as the best graded schools of the Columbus District. This was during the pastorate of Rev. W. E. Hightower (1921).
The building was first painted by the use of money made from a box supper and entertainment sponsored by Mrs. Ludie Allen and Mrs. P. F. VanLandingham. Mrs. Allen was a daughter of Mr. William Mathews and Mrs. VanLandingham was a daughter of Mr. J. B. England, two of the early supporters.
Mr. Otis Mathews, son of Mr. Freeman Mathews, left the church $500.00 in cash at his death on July 31st, 1913. This money was used by painting the church, both inside and out, buying new pews, new windows, a new Epworth organ and remodeling alter and pulpit. The first organ was very small in size, but would really respond in a wonderful way when played by a capable person. Rev. Mac Anthony said on one occasion when visiting the church: "I did not believe it possible for such wonderful music to come from so small a box". Miss Mamie Sealy, later Mrs. Jim Fallaw, was organist at that time. This organ was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. John Searcy for use in their home. In the year 1914, during the pastorate of Rev. Jesse Ford, the Epworth League purchased the Bible stand now (1951) in use. The following inscription is written on the fly leaf of the large Bible now (1951) in use on this stand: "Presented by Dr. James Griffith, M. D. as a donation to the M. E. Church South at Howard, Ga. Feb. 6th 1871.
The first ladies organization was known as "The Ladies Aid Society" and was organized by Mrs. W. E. Hightower and Mrs. W. S. Wallace. This was during the pastorate of Rev. W. E. Hightower 1919-23. First officers were President, Mrs. J. R. Williams - Treas. Mrs. W. E. Hightower, and Sec. Mrs. R. L. Brown. This society purchased the first carpet, new song books, had the building wired and bought fixtures for lights and raised money to help pay for and furnish the Howard parsonage.
On Feb. 11, 1936, at the home of Mrs. H. A. Sealy, the Ladies Aid Society was changed to the Woman's Missionary Society. Mrs. Bose Riley and Mrs. V. P. Folds of Butler, conducted the meeting and explained the duties of different officers. The following were elected: Pres. Mrs. E. H. Perkins, Vice Pres. Mrs. J. E. Brown, Treas. Miss Mae Van Landingham, Sec. Mrs. Joe Brown. This organization was changed to Woman's Society of Christian Service, Sept. 10, 1940. Following is an account of this change copied from the local county paper, The Butler Herald: "The last session of the Woman's Missionary Society of the Howard Methodist Church was held at the home of Mrs. Joe Brown, Tuesday, Sept. 10, for the purpose of organizing into the Woman's Society of Christian Service. The women of our Society consider it a great privilege to become Charter members of this part of the work of united Methodism.
During the pastorate of Rev. C. L. Wall (1924-25), Miss Lillian Swinford, a student from the Blind Academy at Macon, Ga., taught music in the public school at Howard. After some months teaching, she gave up her class and donated the payments she had made on the piano she was using to the church, provided the church would continue the payments. Mr. Harris Sealy, Jr. volunteered to assume responsibility for the payments. He, together with nine other men of the community, paid one dollar a month until all payments were met. This is how the church came to own a piano. The organ was sold to Mr. Hill of Ellaville, Ga. for use in his home.
The church has been placed for various periods of time on the following charges: Butler, Geneva, and Mauk. In the year 1919, it was placed at the head of a charge with Wesley, Union and Crowell churches, having purchased a parsonage at Howard. This did not prove to be a successful, profitable change, so in the year 1932, the Howard charge was discontinued and Howard church was again placed on the Butler charge.
Wesley Church may be considered a daughter of Howard Church as the families, the J. A. Heath family and the P. F. VanLandingham family, from Howard Church, were among the first members of Wesley Church and were instrumental in helping build the church. This church was organized by Rev. R. M. Wesley who was then serving the Butler charge. It was named for Rev. Wesley.
Rev. J. B. McGehee was the first presiding Elder and dedicated the church. Following are the names of some of the pastors who have served the church:
There have been many loyal and faithful ones who have served as Sunday Teachers, officers of the Sunday School and have supported the church audits as best they could according to their qualifications and abilities.
The Howard church under the direction of divine guidance has been a religious inspiration to many. People in various walks of life have been converted and influenced to follow in the footsteps of the Master by inspiration received while worshipping in this small building. The young people who go out from it to serve in other communities have made useful Christian Citizens. Some of its young men served in World War I and World War II and some are in training now who may go to Korea. The late Rev. Arch Caraway was converted and joined this church in early manhood. He became one of the best and most influential ministers in the state of Texas to which he went to make his home. Rev. Harris Sealy, Jr. and L. F. Van Landingham also received part of their early Christian training in this church. Rev. Sealy's health failed early in life. He died Feb. 21, 1936. Rev. VanLandingham is a member of the North Georgia Conference now (1951) stationed at Smyrna, Ga.
It has been my pleasure to worship in this church since early childhood. In those days, there was a service on Saturday morning preceeding the regular monthly Sunday service. These meetings usually had testimonials and voluntary prayer from the congregation and sometime a church conference was held. I remember how quietly I would enter the door and sit (children were not supposed to wiggle or whisper in church then) reverently listening to the songs, prayers and testimonies of the Godly men and women who then made up the congregation. May the present generation on whose shoulders the mantel of these servants of God has fallen give just as faithful, loyal God dearing and be ever ready and willing to advance the cause of the Master. "He profits most who serves best" or, in the words of Jesus, "He that would be greatest among you, let him be the servant of all".
For the greater part of this history I am indebted to the courtesies of Rev. J. T. Adams of Butler, Mr. D. A. and Miss Mattie England of Howard who so cheerfully and willingly donated it from their treasures of memory. They told me some of the events and dates are approximate. I have written them as they gave them to me.
Continuing from here, history will be recorded according to terms of service by pastors beginning with the year 1939.
Activities: At this time the conference had a slogan for the churches which read something like this: Clean up, paint up, mark up. R. L. Brown and E. H. Perkins paid expenses of coat of paint for outside of building. Mrs. R. L. Brown paid for marker which was first put on a frame near the front entrance. When the frame gave way, the sign was nailed to the front of church between entrances.
The stewards of the church bought two E United States Savings Bonds, the Woman's Missionary Society bought two E bonds, the Church School bought one E bond in honor of the young people who were serving in World War II from the church and community. When these bonds mature the money is to be used for church improvement.
PASTOR DATES CHARGE A. H. Bazemore Geneva 1903-1904 J. W. Bridges Geneva 1904-1905 Paul Kendall Geneva 1905-1909 R. A. Sowell Geneva 1909-1913 Jesse Ford Mauk 1913-1916 M. W. Flanders Mauk 1916-1018 L. E. Pierce Mauk 1918-1919 W. E. Hightower Howard 1919-1923 C. L. Wall Howard 1923-1925 H. S. Brooks Howard 1925-1929 A. P. Foster, Jr. Howard 1929-1930 James A. Jackson Howard 1930-1932 J. A. Cook Butler 1932-1933 W. E. Hightower Butler 1933-1937 E. A. Martin Butler 1937-1939 F. J. Gilbert Butler 1939-1943 C. L. Glenn Butler 1943-1946 J. W. E. Stipe Butler 1946-1950 C. W. Hancock Butler 1950-1953 Hoke O. Hatcher Butler 1953-1955 Earnest Coffee Howard 1955- Tegler GreerThe following ladies have served as organist or pianist: Mrs. Clara Mathews Hunter, Mrs. T. E. Arrington, Miss Bula Barrow, Mrs. Mamie Sealy Fallaw, Mrs. Mattie L. Hamilton Renfroe, Mrs. Daisy Brown Hamilton, Mrs. Joe Brown.
The following have served as Sunday School Superintendents: J. T. Adams, Robert Brown, Harris Sealy, W. T. England, B. H. England. Harris Sealy, Jr., H. A. Sealy
The following have served as trustees: G. J. Downs, W. D. Grace, M. A. Heath, W. G. Mathews, J. W. Boland, W. T. Harvey, P. F. VanLandingham, E. C. Willis, T. E. Arington, J. R. Williams, L. H. VanLandingham, J. H. Brown
The following have served as Stewards: J. A. J. Kimble, J. T. Adams, T. E. Arrington, Harris Sealy, W. T. England, J. A. Heath, P. F. VanLandingham, B. H. England, C. E. Willis, R. L. Brown, Carl Brown, L. Esselstyn, E. H. Perkins, R. E. Willis, Clinton Clark, Herbert Sealy, J. R. Williams
The following is a partial list of members of Howard Methodist Church taken from available records. It is not a complete list.
D. C. Abbott, Mrs. D. C. Abbott, Carl Brown, Mrs. Carl Brown, Virginia Adams, Catherine Culverhouse, Larry S. Esselstyn, Lola Mae Edwards, Jimmie Edwards, Pearl McManus, Mrs. Perry Parks, Howard S. Brown, Marilou Averett, Clinton Clark, Mrs. Clinton Clark, Herman Clark, Samuel Edwards, Thomas Edwards, James M. Martin, Dale Parks, Charles Willis, (Infants Baptized: Robert Clinton Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Clark), George Abbott, Mrs. Agnes Abbott, Alton Crook, Dennis Edward Crook, Mrs. Quinton Clark, Mrs. C, F. Fickling, Doris Anne Martin, C. S. Price, Mrs. C. S. Price, Evans Thomas Willis, (Infants Baptized: Charles Roger Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Clark; Carl Stephen Brown and John Frederick Brown, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Brown), Mrs. J. B. Clark, Joyce Mildred Clark, John Maxwell Edwards, William M. Gee, Clifford Gee, Hugh Stanley Gee, Mrs. Beula Frances Lloyd, Robert Earl Martin, Mrs. J. Carson Parks, Walter Thomas Parks, (Infants Baptized: Emily Elaine Clark and Ronald Wilson Clark, daughter and son of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Clark), Kenneth Claud Clark and Martha Elizabeth Clark, son and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Quinton Clark), H. S. Akin, Mrs. H. S. Akin, Bobby Akin, Sidney Eugene Akin, Mrs. C. S. Burkee, Patricia Ann Brown, Bertha Lou Brand, J. B. Clarke, Jr., Mrs. Larry Esselstyn (Pearlie Davenport Esselstyn died September 7, 1954), Austin Guinn, Mrs, Austin Guinn, Betty Jean Gee, Leonard Brand, Frasier Brand, Bryan Hatfield, Mrs. Bryan Hatfield, Paul Jones, Mrs. Paul Jones, Frances Jones (now Mrs. Q. Childree), James Jones, Ed Kilby, Mrs. Ed Kilby, Lawson Kilby, Mrs. William Miller, Frances Miller, Agnes Miller, Mary Parks, (Infants Baptized: Angela Carol McKenney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. McKenney; and Cynthia Frances Means, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Means), A. C. Adams, Mrs. A. C. Adams, Quinton Clark, J. B. Clark, W. J. Brand, Mrs. G. W. Creel, (Infants Baptized: Richard Eugene Childree, son of S/Sgt. and Mrs. W. Q. Childree; Michael Lewis Martin, son of Mrs. and Mrs. A. L. Martin and Michael Lee Martin son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Martin), Judy Clark, Kenny Clark, Roger Clark, Ronnie Clark, Ellen Guinn, (The following joined December, 1955 and left for Germany in January, 1956 � Bob Vick, Mrs. Bob Vick, Bob Vick, Jr., Billie Vick, Carl Vick, David Bick, Mary Vick), (Infants Baptized: Thomas Marion Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Quinton Clark), PLUS ALL THOSE MENTIONED IN THE HISTORY.
For more complete information on the church see: The Butler Herald 100 year History
