Chambers County AlArchives Church Records.....Lebanon Presbyterian Church Copyright Date 1972 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Curlee rrcurlee@cox.net November 28, 2011, 7:43 am Lebanon Presbyterian Church Buffalo (near LaFayette), Chambers Co., AL Excerpts from On the Hills of Home, John Calvin Sharpe, June 1972, pp. 42-44. A Brief History of Lebanon Presbyterian Church By Dr. Henry Frazer At the 100th Anniversary Homecoming exercises at Lebanon Church, in 1943, I took the following record. At the fall meeting of the Presbytery of East Alabama, held at the Carolina Church in October, 1843, a number of Presbyterians residing in the vicinity of Nolan's Mill (later known as Doyle's Mill, and now known as Ward's Mill), petitioned that body to set them off from LaFayette Presbyterian Church, and to organize them into a separate organization. This request was granted by Presbytery, and Rev. William R. Patton was authorized to effect the organization. This was done on the 30th of December, 1843, with the following members constituting the congregation: David McCarley, Sr., Mary McCarley, Sr., Mary McCarley, John B. McCarley, Elias McCarley, David McCarley, Jr., William McCarley, Sarah McCarley, Martha McCarley, Joseph McCarley, Sr., Sam McCarley, John Barber, Margaret Barber, Elizabeth Akin, Thomas Johnson, Margaret Johnson, James S. Pickens, Robert Wardlaw, June Blair, Margaret Beaty, John Beaty and Frances Beaty. On the following day, the election of elders was held by the congregation, and the names of David McCarley, Sr., David McCarley, Jr., and Robert Wardlaw appear on the first page of the new organization, as those chosen to guide the spiritual destinies of the newly organized congregation. The first report was made to Presbytery in 1846. The Presbytery was in session at Jacksonville, Ala., and was very attentive to every phase of the interest of this new congregation. The name under which the report was made was "Union Chapel," which was rather too liberal for the Presbytery of that time. The elder representing the congregation was instructed by the body to have the name changed, which was done, and thereafter the church was known as "Lebanon Church." The place of worship for several years was at the place of organization, where the old Sweet Home M.E. church has borne testimony to the atoning merits of the blood of Christ for three quarters of a century. The church was moved from that place to the present location some years later, and worship was held in a school building which stood where the present rock residence, erected some decades ago by Mr. A. L. McCarley, now stands. The Present edifice was erected about the year 1870, and dedicated to the glory of God the same year. Mr. Warren Yeargan was for may years a ruling elder in the church, and is perhaps the only living man who assisted in the erection of the building. Mr. Jarret Trammel, who was present, recalls very vividly one of the hymns sung on the occasion. It was one of the old hymns of petition for the outpouring of grace upon the people: Savior, visit Thy plantation. Grant us, Lord, a gracious rain. All must come to desolation, Unless Thou return again; Lord, revive us, Oh., revive us: All our help must come from Thee. This shows the character of the music of the time and gives an insight into the earnestness with which our fathers approached the Throne of Grace when they entered the courts of our God. Members from the outside began to united themselves with the church as early as the Spring communion season of 1844, and the Session was strengthened in 1854 by the election of Mr. Andrew J. Blakely, who had come into the church from the Rocky Springs Church of L[a]urens County, South Carolina. The church continued to grow in numbers and in influence for good in the community until the trying period of 1861-1865. War plays havoc with the life of a church, as well as with other phases of human relationship, and we find but sparse mention of meetings of the Session during this trying period. We can easily conjecture the lack of money, absence of many in the actual conflict, and other distressing circumstances connected with the war, that are responsible for the suspension temporarily of regular meetings of the Session, and doubtless of the gatherings for public worship. But this experience taught men the value of soul interest, and after the return of the soldier boys from the camps and battle fields, they followed in the footsteps of their fathers and united with the church and became honored and useful men in their day and generation. During the August revival of 1865 there was a great ingathering of men and women who were destined to become influential members of the church. Some of thesse were: Albert L. McCarley, Mary Ann McJunkin, Laura E. Ramage, Mrs Mary V. Ramage, James B. Ramage, Martha L. Blakely, Thomas C. Farris, Elizabeth McCarley, Mrs. Isabelle F. Callaham, Vicgtoria A. Blakeley, Margaret C. Frazer, James Blair and M. P. McCarley. The church has had a continuous history from the day of organization to the present time, and although the membership has been small, comparatively speaking, it has exerted a strong influence for good in the community. The great doctrines of the Lord [Word] of God, as interpreted by the Presbyterian Church, have been both taught from its pulpit and practiced in the lives of its membership. Its ministry has led the community life and activity, and the influence of Lebanon has been felt in other denominations and in other communities. It has fulfilled the prophecy of the Psalmist: There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon. Members who were indoctrinated in this old church have born testimony for their Lord in many sections of our country, and streams of wholesome influence have flowed from this place to make glad the city of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In 1863, Rev. John R. Bruce came to the field, and his ministry was highly appreciated by the congregation. Perhaps the greatest service rendered to the church by the Rev. M. Bruce, however, was the introduction to the field of Rev. William Thomas Hollingsworth, who had the longest period of service of any one in the history of the church. He served first from 1885 to 1896, and then again from 1900 to 1913, making a total of 25 years of service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The following is a list of elders, with the dates of their ordination and installation, so far as the writer has been able to secure from the data on record: David McCarley, Sr., 1843 (charter member) David McCarley, Jr., 1843 (charter member) Robert Wardlaw, 1843 (charter member) Andrew J. Blakeley, 1854 Alexander Bell, 1857 John Beaty, 1857 Elias B. McCarley, 1859 A. L. McCarley, 1859 A. S. McCaarley, 1868 R. R. Yeargan, 1869 W. P. McCarley, 1874 Frank Sharpe, 1879 J. W. McCarley, 1907 D. H. McCarley, 1907 E. C. Frazer, 1907 H. M. Sharpe, 1901 Joel D. Trammell, 1933 W. D. Sharpe, 1933 B. R. Frazer, 1933 J. C. Sharpe, 1936 J. A. Trammell, 1948 J. M. Spence, 1948 Deacons that have served the church are: Thomas A. Beaty Ira H. Smith Robert A. Beaty J. W. McCarley H. M. Sharpe A. B. McCarley J. R. Tayler O. J. McCarley W. D. Sharpe B. R. Frazer J. C. Sharpe George H. Beaty J. A. Trammell J. M. Spence Clarence Sharpe John E. McCarley Frank McCarley James P. Trammell J. Cal Sharpe [the author] was elected Deacon in 1915, in John B. Reily's ministry, before World War I. Additional Comments: NOTE: The full text, with photos, of On the Hills of Home by John Calvin Sharpe may be found by Searching for On the hills of home by John Calvin Sharpe at http://books.google.com/ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/chambers/churches/lebanonp129gbb.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 8.2 Kb