Bethlehem Baptist Church 100 Years Old

Bethlehem Baptist church southeast of Monroe City observed the 100th anniversary of its founding November 4, 1956.

On November 30, 1856 the minutes of the Saturday meeting written by the Rev. Christy Lee Gentry state that Bethlehem Baptist church in Ralls county was organized. A building committee was appointed and a plot of ground secured from Bill Hawkins, who was the grandfather of Eugene McGlasson, the present mail carrier for the Bethlehem area.

The Rev. Gentry lived where the Lee Jarman family now reside. As he walked through the woods to church he carried his gun as a protection from the wolves. The Rev. Gentry was followed as pastor by his son, the Rev. Christy Lee Gentry jr. The latter’s daughter, the late Miss Lee Gentry, was a teacher in the Monroe City public schools for a number of years. Her nephew, Gilbert Lee Gentry of Gainesville, Fla., is the fourth in line to bear the name “Lee” and Floyd Lee, eldest son of Dr. and Mrs. Dawson Gentry of Springfield, Mo., is the fifth.

Bethlehem was organized before the Monroe City Baptist church. Such names as Mary and Melvin Nolen, Mr. and Mrs. James M. Proctor, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Ely, Mr. and Mrs. I. T. Dawson and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Elzea appear on the roll of early members.

Before this church was organized there had existed three other Baptist churches, all of these contributed members in its organization. These three churches were Salt River, Indian Creek and Oakland.

The Salt River church was organized in 1827. It became a member of the Bethel Baptist Association in 1834. Messengers were B. Riggs, Isaac Ely, William Foreman, C. Gentry, M. Hawkins and J. Martin. This church was located one and one­half miles west of Spalding. It was dissolved in 1855. Christy Gentry was the pastor.

The Indian Creek Baptist church was organized in 1834. Messengers were A. M. Leak, J. Carman, E. Peck and J. Gentry. This church was located about two miles west of the Bethlehem church in Monroe county. This church was dissolved in 1853.

The Oakland Baptist church was organized in 1847 by James T. Smith, mis­sionary, and Christy Gentry, pastor of Salt River church. This church was located at New Port, about a half mile south of the present Oakland church. This church was dissolved in 1857.

C. L. Elzea is the oldest living former member and P. G. Hedberg, 94, is the oldest member in years and Mrs. H. L. Jarman has the longest continuous membership, 65 years. The church was filled with parishioners every Sunday and only one man over 40 years was clean shaven. The rest had beards.

The rise of the Bethlehem church was the result of a protracted meeting held in the Woods school house by a Methodist preacher. Charter members were, Christy Gentry, Lucy Gentry, J. M. Hampton, Harriet Hampton, John C. Dawson and Christy Gentry Jr.

Pastors have been — Christy Gentry 1856-1865; D. V. Inlow 1866; James P. Smith 1867-71; none reported in 1872; B. F. Hixon 1873-1883; W. B. Craig 1884-1893; Jerome Shaw 1894; E. S. Graham 1895-96; W. J. Patrick 1897-1902; W. W. Brown 1903-1904; C. E. King 1905-1912; W. H. Johnson 1913-1917; P. H. Beckham 1918-1921; C. K. Dean 1922; none reported in 1923; Lee Wolverton 1924-1925; G. C. Jurrens 1926; G. W. Humphrey 1927-1928; M. C. Humphrey 1929; J. L. Foley 1930-1933; Glenn Atterbury 1934-1938; E. T. Mangum past 16 years.

The present deacons are: John C. Little, George Hampton, Eskil Hedberg, Gil­bert Moss, Marvin Johnson and Lee Jarman. Church clerks have been Christy Gentry jr. in 1856, J. J. Norton, Joseph M. Hampton, Esther Hedberg, Mrs. Elgin Robinson and the present clerk, Mrs. Lee Jarman in 1956.

T. P. Ward and J. E. Hampton are the only persons from the church memberships licensed to preach, according to records, but there may have been others.

There is no record of there ever having been a Woman’s Missionary Society. In 1896 there was a Baptist Young People’s Union with Mrs. Samantha Orr, president, and again in 1923 with Homer Hickman, president. It was organized by Adolph Vollmer, missionary, with 30 members.

In 1869 the first Sunday school is mentioned. In 1870 there was an enrollment of 24. Sunday school superintendents have been J. R. Dawson 1870; S. H. Wilson, J. L. Higbee, J. E. Hampton, J. D. Fields, C. H. Elzea, I. T. Dawson, Cecil Dawson, J. Elzea, George Hampton, Eskil Hedberg, Mrs. C. A. Jones, Allen Young, H. L. Jarman, Lee Jarman and ot present Elgin C. Robinson.

There have been five weddings in Bethlehem church. Miss Mary Elizabeth Elzea to John L. Evans, Miss Addie Underhill and Louis Dodd; Miss Natalie Moyers and Duane Gibson; Miss Corel Jarman and Eugene Krigbaum; Miss Elaine Johnson and Neal Young.

Mrs. Margaret Timmons of the Monroe City Rest Home holds the oldest membership. Mrs. H. L. Jarmon joined the church one year later, in 1892. Her grandchildren, Poorry Leo, Lloyd and Gary Johnson, James Leo, Philip and Rouse Jarman, and Kenneth, Wilma and Jennie Faye Sullivan, also G. L. Moss, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Mass, ore the latest additions to the church.

During the summer of 1956, church members made repairs and improvements on the buildings and cemetery. Asbestos shingles cover the exterior, a now chimney, the gift of Mrs. E. E. King III of St. Louis, the former Harriett Anne Moyers, was constructed on the west side and new screen doors added. Now carpets and fresh wallpaper completed the interior redecorating.

Dr. Dawson Gentry of Springfield, Mo., great-grandson of the Rev. Christy Gentry, founder, presented Bethlehem church with 18 hymnals, Mrs. E. B. King, on behalf of herself and Dr. King of St. Louis, gave 25 more.