Religion in Madison Parish
and a History of some of the Older Churches through 1975

From August 14, 1975 Centennial Edition Madison Journal

 

Religion had a poor beginning in Madison Parish, which is not surprising when you consider that the early residents were hard-drinking and swearing frontiersmen and flatboatmen. They were largely transients who did not live close enough together to establish a church if they had been so inclined.

 

Even the early landowners and planters were not deeply involved in their religion. In December, 1842, the "Rich­mond Compiler noted, "The bars are more crowded on Sundays than are the churches.   

 

While most of the ministers starve, most of the bartenders grow fat and wealthy." Camp meetings were sometimes held, but they were valued more as social events than religious ones.

 

Editor Stewart of the "Compiler" believed that the absence of a church building and divine services in Rich­mond was "a defect in our society." He carefully noted the appearance in town of itinerant ministers who oc­casionally held services in public buildings. Eventually Richmond did have a church, which was burned with the rest of the town in 1863.

 

Early church services were interdenominational and were held in various public or civic meeting places. The poorer people of the parish responded best to the ministrations of circuit-riding Baptist and Methodist preachers.

 

As the population grew and transportation improved, churches sprang up throughout the parish, and died almost as quickly as they were born. Most of these early churches were small log and frame buildings. Around them were the church yard cemeteries, which sup­plemented the family burial grounds on some of the larger plantations.

 

The Old White Church on Bayou Vidal was typical of these ante-bellum plantations churches. It was one large room, with wide galleries on both sides where the slaves sat to hear the sermon when the white folks had service.

 

The most popular church among the planter class was the Episcopal Church. There were three or four Episcopal churches in Madison Parish, the largest being at Goodrich's Landing, a few miles above Milliken's Bend, but they were not formally associated with their parent organization.

 

By the Civil War, there were two Episcopal churches, St. Paul's of Delta and Trinity of Tallulah. They were served by an Episcopal diocesan missionary who appeared at stated intervals in the towns of six northeast parishes to hold services. In the 1890's these two churches were served by Rev. William Hart. St. Paul's Church ceased to exist by 1910, leaving Trinity Church as the only Episcopal Church in the parish.

 

There was a community of Catholic families living at Milliken's Bend (the Morancy Clan) which was served by Father Geraud. He was a sort of itinerant priest who was in charge of all northeast Louisiana, which contained few Catholics.

 

Father M. Chapin, a full-time priest, came to Milliken's Bend in 1856, the same year a small church was built close to the river bank. Father Chapin was forced to flee the area by the Union forces in 1863. Caving banks threatened the church building, which was dismantled and moved to Tallulah in 1879.

 

Protestant services were held almost every Sunday at the Masonic lodge hall at Goodrich's Landing. Here the people of nearby plantations could "try out" an itinerant minister. If he was popular, the new minister might stay and form a new church. One such minister was Mr. Holbury, a Methodist. In her journal, Brokenburn, Kate Stone pronounced his sermons to be "quite satisfactory," but also confided that he was "ugly." She visited his home, which she described as being "half-finished, in the greatest disorder, with two servants who are worse than useless—one sick and the other contrary." Mrs. Holbury also had "four of the very homeliest children that ever worried a mother into frenzy."

 

Despite his troubles, Mr. Holbury worked hard and established the first Sunday School in the parish.    

 

In September, 1861, a new Methodist church was built south of Goodrich's Landing.

 

Kate Stone occasionally at­tended a Methodist Church at Willow Bayou. There were probably two or three others in the parish. They were attended by some planters but mainly by small farmers, plantation overseers and the like.

 

Before the war, there were a few Baptists in the parish, who had no churches and no preacher, and a few Christian Baptists, commonly called Campbellites. The Bayou Macon Baptist Association was organized in 1855. It covered the area between the Ouachita and Mississippi Rivers, which included Madison Parish. There were six churches and 184 members in the Association. Two of these served some Madison residents but were not located in the parish.

 

At the state Baptist Con­vention in 1891 a special committee reported that East Carroll, Madison, Tensas and Concordia still had no organized church. There were Baptists in the area but they were still being served by circuit riders. The First Baptist Church of Tallulah was organized in 1914. Since then the growth of the Baptist Church in the parish has been phenomenal.

 

Rev. T. H. Cleland organized several Presbyterian churches in the area in 1844, including one at Milliken's Bend, but they did not survive. As late as 1891, the northeast section of Louisiana was described as follows:

          "We have nine vacant churches in Mesopotamia, the overflowed district between the waters of the Ouachita and Mississippi Rivers, and none but an       octogenarian 85 years of a age and a few consecrated elders, one a poor German with a large family, to carry the Gospel to them. These churches and          people need special attention. The land is most fertile but the overflows have crippled their means. The railroads are opening up the country and now is         our opportunity."—Presbyterianism in North Louisiana by B. C. Bell.

 

Through the efforts of Rev. Bell, 12 Presbyterian chur­ches were organized in Mesopotamia." The one at Tallulah was organized at the Baptist church in 1921.

FIRST CHURCH IN TALLULAH

Mrs. J. R. (Amanda) Askew gave two lots in February, 1873, for the establishment of a church in Tallulah. The lots were on the south side of the North Louisiana and Texas Railroad, at the corner of North Chestnut and Dabney Streets. The lots were given to the "Episcopal Trinity" Church subject to the con­dition that "the church building is not to be con­secrated, but shall be free for the use of all religious denominations when not in use by the Episcopal Church."

A Union Church was built about 1873 or1874 by popular subscription, located where the Ziegler building is now. A concrete step can still be seen in front of the building facing Dabney St., where the church­goers could get out of their carriages instead of having to step into the muddy street.

The church had a singing school for a while which was conducted by Clive Collier.

The Union Sunday School functioned each Sunday under the leadership of Judge A. L. Slack, Mr. A. E. Adams and others, with teachers of the various denominations which used the church. Prayer meetings were held every Wednesday night and choir practice once a week. Mrs. J. T. McClellan was in­strumental in getting up subscriptions for the Com­munion Set.

The late Mrs. Gussie Hebert as a child remembered seeing her grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Slack, preside at the organ, which Mrs. Hebert later filled as a young girl. Other organists as time passed were Mrs. Julia M. Hebert, Miss Minnie Spann, Miss Amy Holmes, and several others.

The ministers were located in Delhi and came over once a month to preach, staying over sometimes several days visiting among the members. Some of the ministers serving the Union church were:
          Rev. Weir, Rev. Arm­strong (1890), the two Rev. Whites, Rev. Brown, who afterwards became an Episcopal minister. Rev. Davit, Rev. Davies, Rev.       Riggs, Rev. John M. Foster, Rev. Percy Knickerbocker and Rev. Denson (1898).

Following the turn of the century, the Trinity Church desired to sell the property donated to it by Mrs. Askew, but was bound by the original condition that the property be "free for the use of all religious denominations." The Methodists at that time were the only other organized denomination in Tallulah.

The Methodists sold their rights to the property for $500 in June, 1904. The money was deposited in Tallulah State Bank to be used for the pur­chase of their own property. The agreement also included the stipulation that the church they would eventually build be opened for the use of any other religious denomination when not in use by the Methodists.

A month later the Trinity Church sold its property by the railroad tracks to A.E. Adams, Jr. and W.D. Ziegler for $1100.

TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Trinity Episcopal Church was organized and admitted into union with the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana in 1872. On May 27, 1872, the charter of incorporation was filed in the Madison Parish Courthouse establishing Trinity Church.

The charter named the Rev. T. B. Lawson, D.D. as the Rector with R. M. Scott, Sr., warden, R. Amis, Jr, warden, F. H. Fowler, secretary and treasurer.

Other Vestrymen at that time were A. W. Crandell, J. B. Askew, James M. Case, Dr. George F. Tregeraut, Thomas W. Watts, Jr., Thomas P. Evans and Josiah Han­sbrough. Father Lawson served churches from Delta to Minden.

The Askew family gave a plot of land for the church which served at first as a Union Church. This land was located on the south side of the Illinois Central Railroad and across from the court house. The church faced South Chestnut Street.

Mrs. Fanny Amis with two other ladies solicited parish wide to raise money for the erection of a church building. Through their efforts they raised $2,000, and an architect from New Orleans designed the building. The first service and dedication of the church was on Easter Day, April 19, 1873.

In 1905, the church building was moved to a location on North Cedar. There is a story that the congregation had tried for many weeks to gain permission from the railroad to move the church across the tracks. This permission was not forthcoming so Mr. George Spencer, father of the late Mr. Mason Spencer, moved the church across the tracks after the last train to Vicksburg had left on a given day and then notified the railroad of his action so that they could repair what damage had been done to the tracks and other property.

The new lot for the church was purchased from Mrs. W. M. Murphy for $250. It was about this time that a steeple was placed on the church, but this was blown off when a cyclone in 1917 lifted the church off its foundation and placed it in the center of High­way 65 North.

During the overflow of 1927, water stood about three feet deep in the church and after it went down, several of the women scrubbed the mud off the walls. Bishop Sessums, inspecting this field after the overflow, got into a boat at the church and was rowed to the home of the Senior Warden, Mr. Andrew Sevier, where he alighted at the gallery of the home. The Bishop was im­pressed with the courage of those who had stayed in Tallulah during the overflow.

In 1929 the Rev. David Holt became priest in charge of Trinity Church, Tallulah and started having regular weekly services for the first time. The congregation began making real progress. During this time the choir vesting room was added to the church.

In 1935 the Rev. Scarden D'aubert became priest in charge and was the first resident minister in Tallulah. His residence was next to the Church. Father D'aubert was followed by the Rev. George Tocher who was ordained to the priesthood in the church in 1937.

At this time the priest in charge at Tallulah also served Episcopal churches in Lake Providence, St. Joseph, and at Waterproof where an older Episcopal Church had been destroyed by floods. St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Delta Point had been closed several years by this date.      

Trinity Church reached self-supporting status and became a parish church at the 102 Diocesan Convention meeting in Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans in January 1940.

During the rectorship of the Rev. Dean Maurer this field developed to such an extent that by April 1941, there were three priests resident in the town of Lake Providence, Tallulah and St. Joseph. In June of 1948, the Rev. Daniel Gilliam became rector of Trinity Church and a new rectory was acquired releasing the former one for use as a Parish House.

The congregation continued to worship in its original church building until the present parish house was built and dedicated on St. Peter's Day, June 29, 1960 by the Suffragan Bishop of Louisiana, the Rt. Rev. Iveson B. Noland, on the newly acquired property on Tampa Street. The Parish House was built during the rectorship of the Rev. William S. Spilman.

The first service in the new and present church building was held on Maundy Thur­sday, April 11, 1968. Shortly thereafter, on April 23, the burial office was read for the chairman of the building committee, the late William Lyle Rountree, many-times Senior Warden of Trinity Church.

The Rt. Rev. Girault M. Jones, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, held the service of consecration of the new church and furnishings on Sunday evening, June 16, 1968 at 7:30 p.m.

Father Joseph C. Harrison, Rector of the church, stated that it was consecrated rather than dedicated since the land and new building were free of all debt, lien or encumbrance.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

Approximately sixty-one years ago, in April, 1914, fourteen concerned Christians met at the Madison Parish Court House and organized the First Baptist Church of Tallulah.

The first pastor to serve after the church was chartered was Rev. C. C. Perryman, who remained for less than a year. In those days the clergymen served both the Tallulah church and the Lake Providence church for $50 a month--$25 from the church and $25 from the State Board.

The spacious church plant which we now enjoy came about through much prayer, planning, hard work, and money. In January, 1918, the church voted to purchase ¼ square of a lot from John E. Yerger at a cost of $75. In February, 1919, a contract was let for a church building not to exceed $5000. Following a year of construction, the first service was held in the new building at the corner of Cedar and Askew Streets.

During Rev. Kimberlin's pastorate (1922-1932) the growth of the Sunday school necessitated the addition of six rooms and a hall to the original building. Under the leadership of Rev. Crow (1936-1946) the church paid off all indebtedness and at the same time found more room was needed.

To meet this need, a three-room building was erected across the back of the church with Rev. Crow himself doing most of the work. During Rev. Crow's ministry a lot for a new church was purchased and a substantial building fund collected. The sanctuary and one end of the educational building were completed with the first service being held in February of 1951.

During Rev. A. B. Pearce's ministry (1959-1961) the right wing of the educational building was erected and occupied. Under Rev. Crawford Williams' leadership the church is again debt free and now enjoys a beautiful, adequate church plant valued at $487,000.

The Tallulah First Baptist Church has always been mission-minded. In 1914 when the pastor's salary was $50 the church pledged $40 to missions.

Mission emphasis is again noted in the sharing of the pastor with the Presbyterians in 1921. Also, during this same year the Presbyterians, meeting in the Baptist Church, organized their church. They were granted the use of the building each third Sunday until they could build their own house of worship.

The First Baptist Church began a mission church under the leadership of Rev. Lucian Conway (1957 1959). That mission is now an independent Baptist church that exerts a great influence in Tallulah.

In its' sixty-one years. the First Baptist Church of Tallulah has grown from a charter membership of fourteen to a resident mem­bership of 745 and a non­resident membership of 505, from a building worth ap­proximately $5,000 to a debt-free plant valued at $487,000, from mission givings of $40 to $4200 a year.

Its' many years of growth and development were climaxed on Sunday, Nov. 5, 1972, when the note on the building was burned, symbolic of the debt-free status of the church. Commemorative ceremonies held on that oc­casion will be a landmark in the church's history as it goes forward to attain even greater heights in the future.

 

ST. EDWARDS CATHOLIC CHURCH

The very old Catholic Church was founded at Milliken's Bend (near the Omega Plantation) but in 1936 was moved to Tallulah on the side of Shields on highway 65 north. The pastor was Father J. C. Vandegaer (1936-39 ), now Pastor of the Stonewall Catholic Church. The church was completed and dedicated St. Agnes' Catholic Church by Bishop C. P. Greco, D. D.

The bell in the old church dates back to 1882 from a paddle wheel tug "The Iron Mountain". While pushing three barges, the tug got caught in strong currents on the Mississippi River and was smashed to pieces at Milliken's Bend. The wood from the boat was used by slaves to build houses and storage bins on the plan­tations. The bell was used to call the slaves to and from their work. Eventually the bell was given to the Catholic Church of Tallulah and was housed in the Church's bell tower.

Because of the location and expansion problems, Father R. M. Maure (1936-53) with the help of his parishioners bought the present property and in 1947 started building the new church and rectory. They were completed and dedicated the St. Edwards Catholic Church by Bishop C. P. Greco, D. D. in 1948. The bell also found a new place to rest in the top of the church's bell tower.

In 1954, Father B. F. Maguire, now Pastor in Springhill, replaced Father Maure and stayed two years. Father W.M. Hopp, (1956-61) was appointed Pastor and under his administration the Center (place for church meetings and religion classes) was built. Father T. Connors replaced him.

Father Connors (1961-62) died in the rectory when the old brick and wood building caught fire one night. The old bell rang wildly half of the night and part of the next morning before electricians were able to cut off the electricity from the house. The old bell had seen another tragic moment in its history.

In 1962, the present rectory was built.

Father R. Lombard, now Pastor in Shreveport, was named Pastor of Tallulah in 1962 and was then replaced by Father J. Montalbano (1966- 68), present Pastor of Leesville. Father B. A. Scallan was sent here in 1968 then was transferred to Monroe in 1970. Father G. Boyer replaced him and is presently the Pastor of Tallulah.

FROM THE RECORDS:

The first Baptism: October 25, 1936---Francisco Her­nandez.

The first Marriage: March 17, 1937---P.A. McDough to M. Lowery

The first Funeral Service: September 1, 1937---A. G. Harvey Born October 12,1850

St. Edwards' Catholic Church welcomes visitors, Catholic as well as non-Catholic, to its services for community prayer.

 

TALLULAH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

On May 16, 1918, led by Mr. W. F. Taylor, an elder of the First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, the Laymen's Association of Red River Presbytery was organized "for the support of any movement which the Presbytery might inaugurate looking to the advancement of the church within our bound­s." From this move, Rev. B.C. Bell was called from McComb, Miss. to organize churches in the northern and principal northeast area of Louisiana.    Coming to Tallulah, he found a considerable number of Presbyterians actively working in the Methodist Church but desirous of star­ting their own church.

The organizational meeting of the Tallulah Presbyterian Church took place, ac­cordingly, on June 19, 1921, at the Baptist Church of Tallulah with the Rev. M. J. McLean, pastor of the St. Joseph Presbyterian Church presiding and Rev. H. M. McLain, Superintendent of Home Missions for Red River Presbytery assisting. Forty-four persons became charter members.

At this meeting E. P. Jones, Albert Sevier and W. C. Agee were elected and installed as deacons; also George C. Ketchum, George W. Sevier, Sr. and J. H. Collings were elected as elders, but were not ordained and installed until the next meeting. On the third Sunday of July, three more elders, Louis S. Moeller, John B. Stone and B. P. Folk were elected; also three more deacons, John E. Yerger, W. S. Craig and J. E. Furr, Sr. were elected and installed.

Services at this time were continued every third Sunday at the Baptist Church (then located at the present site of the Southern National Bank) with later meetings at the courthouse.

The only living charter members are Mrs. Henry C. Sevier, Sr. and Mrs. E. B. Schicker (then married to Deacon John E. Yerger).

In 1923, arrangements were made to buy the "Kell" lot for $2000. Shares of stock were issued and sold at $10 per share, to pay for the lot. The next year saw the erection of a white frame building on this lot facing Dabney St., at Bayou Drive. The building still stands, being occupied by "L electronics" at the present time.

In 1927, the Women's Auxiliary spearheaded a drive for a Manse (pastor's residence), and the "Parker" house at 219 Davis St. was purchased. In 1948 it was completely remodeled, and in 1971 it was sold to purchase a larger Manse, the "Stone" house, at 301 Cleveland.

In 1953, the church began to lay plans for a new structure. Mrs. Roy Crow, mother of Elder Carroll T. Crow, donated the lot at 409 Cleveland; construction
began in 1955, and the new educational building was first occupied on January 8, 1956, with the Sanctuary completed within the year.

The oldest charter member, Miss Amy Holmes, born Sept 16, 1877, died at the age of 94 on Jan. 30, 1972, leaving a legacy of $2000 to the church in memory of her mother, Mrs. Kate Stone Holmes, who wrote a diary of her experiences during the Civil War. Miss Amy joined the church at an early age and was very active, in church, city and home life almost to the very last.

Despite the devastating flood of 1927, membership rose to 65 in 1929 and crested at around 100 where it has varied up to 120 until the present time

In March of 1975, a Lay Witness Mission was held in which virtually every member of the church took an active part. This did much to inspire the members to more active participation. Out of this mission grew three weekly Bible study-and-sharing groups.

The church has been served by various supplied and shared pastors, and by several full-time pastors who stayed as long as five years. One pastor, Rev. J. Arthur Strickland, married Miss Mildred Rountree of Newellton. The church is presently being served by Rev. N. S Heath.

 

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

It was through the untiring and consecrated efforts of Rev. R. C. Grace that our first Methodist church was built in 1905 by Mr. Roberts. Money divided between the Methodists and Episcopalians from the sale of the Union Church lots helped the Methodists secure a lot from Miss Amanda Stone for $400.

It was bought with the un­derstanding that "no store of disfiguring stand" should ever be built in front of her place. Our dear old church was dedicated in July 1906 by Bishop Woard of Texas. The cornerstone being laid, benches were bought in Monroe and finished by Warren Slack. The pulpit was given by Rev. R.C. Grace who was pastor here in 1905-1906. (This pulpit was later placed on the first floor of our new brick church.)

During the yellow fever of 1905, Rev. Grace gave so much of his time to the sick and suffering, both white and black.

Serving as pastors in this church were: Rev. Grace, Rev. C. F. Staples (1912), Rev. H.W. Cudd, Rev. Skipper, Rev. R. F. Harrell, Rev. May, Rev. O. C. Kelly, Rev. J. S. Starkey, Rev. H. W. Bowman, Rev. Ellis Smith, Rev. D. C. Barr, and Rev. H. W. Rickey (1928-29). Rev. W. H. Giles came here in December 1929 and was pastor until 1933. Rev. Munholland was also one of the earlier pastors.

In connection with our church some years later, a small two-room building was erected on the same lot to facilitate the work of the Sunday school which had progressed for some years under the leadership of Mrs. W. D. Ziegler and Mr. T. I. Watson.

In 1929, while Rev. H. W. Rickey was pastor, it was decided to tear this church down. It was considered unsafe and in need of repairs and also overcrowded as our membership was growing. The lumber and benches were sold and church services were held in the public school building until our present brick church was built.

Mr. Chas. Bennett was the architect and Mr. M. M. Meriweather was the con­tractor. The building com­mittee was Mr. W. D. Ziegler, Mr. J. R. Linton and Dr. A. T. Palmer. The finance com­mittee was composed of Mr. D. H. Allen and Mr. J. L. Cason. The furniture committee was:  Mrs. A.C. Thompson, Mrs. W.D. Ziegler, Mrs. J.R. Linton and Mrs. Gussie S. Hebert.

The opening service of our new Methodist church was held on Mother's-Day, May 11, 1930. Rev. H. W. Rickey preached the first sermon. Rev. E.C. Gunn, the presiding elder and Rev. D. C. Barr assisted in the service. Dedication of the beautiful pulpit furniture, which was made possible by memorials to former members and worked by their families, and Sunday school classes was succeeded by Rev. C. R. Smith, and following him was Rev. D. W. Poole (1937-1941); Rev. Henry A. Rickey was pastor (1941-1944), Rev. H. T. Carley 1944-45 and Rev. John F. Kilpatrick 1945-51.

Bishop A. Frank Smith of Houston, Texas the presiding bishop of the Louisiana Conference, dedicated our new church on April 26, 1942 at 11 A. M. service. The pastor, Rev. Henry A. Rickey, Rev. C. K. Smith, Rev. W. H. Giles and Rev. D. W. Poole. The Bishop was accompanied by the Rev. H. M. Johnson of Monroe, our District Superintendent at the time. At the close of the service, a dinner was served in the Fellowship Hall to our visitors and members of the church. They had worked many years to see this dedication.

In 1955, the lot on the corner of Bayou Drive and Scott Street was purchased from the Adams estate by the Tallulah Methodist Church. The house on the lot was used by the junior department of the church school.

In December 1955, a church round-up supper was given by the church, after which a building campaign fund was started for a new educational building. The Rev. William F. Mayo was Pastor at this time.

The contract for the educational building was approved by the official board to start work. In December 1960, Rev. Mayo was tran­sferred to Jennings, La. and Rev. Wilson Watson was sent here.

We moved into our new educational building the first week of January, 1961. Sunday school was held the first time on Jan. 8, 1961. Bishop Aubrey Walton preached at the Morning Worship Service, with the laying of the cornerstone at this time. Open House was held that afternoon.

Other property which has been purchased by the Methodist Church is the lot adjoining the education building known as the Devine property - the house on this lot was. This was purchased Nov. 13, 1967 during the ministry of Rev. Clark W. Bell.

 

MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH

It was shortly after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, almost 102 years ago, when a small group of Christian men and women bonded themselves together and organized the Mount Olive Baptist Church located on Eureka Plantation, two miles east of Tallulah.

The sanctuary was a small farm house with the Reverend Joshua Frazier serving as the first pastor.

Through adversity and many years of spiritual for­titude, the farm house gave way to what was then considered an elegant building for worship services in the same locale. How happy were the followers of Rev. Frazier. About the year of 1888, the church was relocated in Tallulah, on the corner of South Walnut and Dabney Street. There it grew in stature and in membership under the pastorate of Rev. Bentnigo McCall.

Other ministers who served as pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church during its infant years were Reverends William "Bill" Chatman, Noble White and Sam Gaither.

It was Rev. Gaither who realized that sacred music was an important and an integral part of worship. So he organized a choir with Montrosia Gates Kidd as first president and Fannie Dyson Armstrong first musician. The church then purchased an organ, the first musical instrument for the congregation.

During the long history of the church, the building has been destroyed by both wind and fire. While still located on South Walnut Street, the building was destroyed by storm. In 1936, the building was destroyed by fire.

Plans for rebuilding after the fire were soon drawn up, but a new location was desired.

It was decided that the new church would be built on the corner of North Walnut and East Craig Streets, its present location today.

During the ministry of Rev. Jesse J. Bell (1925-1953), the total church membership became involved in its programs. The Senior Choir was reorganized; new organizations included the Junior Choir, the Usher Board, B.Y. P.U.; Every-Ready Circle, Busy Bee Club and a Beautification Club.

Other ministers who ef­fectively rendered spiritual wealth to the ever growing congregation were Rev. Rufus Taylor (1953-54) and Rev. Samuel L. Whitney (1954-58), who conducted the first successful Vacation Bible School. Rev. J. D. Jackson (1958-59) organized the Baptist Youth Fellowship and the Layman's League. Rev. W. Hines served from (1960­64).

The present minister, Rev. B. L. Thomas (1964-accepted 1965) is a vibrant, spiritual enthusiast whose oratory permeates the very soul of any audience.

Mount Olive Baptist Church evolved from a farm house to a consecrated edifice which can stand tall among buildings. We can now boast of a full time Sunday School with qualified teachers under the leadership of its Superintendent, Mrs. Ethel M. Thomas; a Deacon Board under the leadership of Deacon Zelma C. Wyche; a Baptist Training Union presided over by the dedicated and radiant Mrs. Mary L. Jackson; the Youth Fellowship including Junior Choir, protected and guided by the ever-ready and untiring Mrs. Myrtle S. Williams; a church clerk, second to none, Mrs. Evelyn Daniels; a senior choir with two trained musicians, who play with grace and charm, enough to enchant the most boisterous, Mrs. Ernestine S. Brown and Mrs. Mildred F. Crockett; and Usher Board with Mrs. Hattie Dense as President.

We perceive as this short history is being written that Mount Olive Baptist Church will continue to progress. The seeds are planted and are beginning to grow in such stalwart youths as the Jacksons, Livingstons, Williams, Scotts, Harrises, Fishers, Crocketts, Lexings, and others.

We shall not forget our humble beginning. But as you walk into the now carpeted halls and quietly make your unheard entrance down the aisle to your cushioned pew, who, but the arrogant, can say this is not progress. Yet, the members of Mount Olive Baptist Church will continue to press forward to the higher calling    of redemptive fellowship as a com­memorative legacy to the founding fathers.

For, as Paul stated, "that I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."