Calhoun County GaArchives Church Records.....Arlington Baptist Church ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Donna Eldridge DonnaEldrid@aol.com June 25, 2004, 12:48 pm 1879 ARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH 1932 It was in the year 1873 that what is now known as The Central of Georgia Railway was completed to the top of the hill where now stands the Central of Georgia Depot. Arlington was then merely a wide place in the road, but what was to becomes one of the principle towns in this section of the state began to develop in more ways than one. As the little commercial center began to take on business life, her citizens did not overlook the importance of the religious side of life, and it was not long before a movement for the development of our churches was under way. On July 6th, 1899 a number of our first citizens met under a bush arbor just south of the present cemetery and constituted the Arlington Baptist Church, with the following as charter members: Rev. Thomas Muse, S. H. Powell, Joseph G. Collier, Jenny Pace, Mary H. D. Thigpen, R. Jenny Dunlap, Elizabeth Timmons, George . Page, J. R. Thigpen, Mrs. Sarah E. Muse, Lavonia Rye, Mary D. Lane, Elizabeth Daniels, Ellen Swords. Thus giving the church fourteen charter members. Brother Thomas Muse was called to serve the church as their first pastor, Brother George V. Pace was elected their first Deacon, and Brother Joseph G. Collier was elected their first clerk. The first series of protracted meetings were held in July 1879, the pastor being assisted by Brother J. S. Parker, grand father of our Brother T. A. Parker, the meeting resulting in the following members being received into the church: Brother J. T. Prather under the watch care of the church and Z. Morris by letter, the following eight for baptism: Jackson Daniels, George Johnson, G. R. Colley, J. W. Burton, Mamie Colley, Amanda J. Rivers, Margaret Rivers, and Elizabeth Baker. August 2nd, 1879 Brethren R. H. Lanier, George Pace and G. R. Colley were added to the building committee which had formerly been appointed, namely, S. H. Powell and J. R. Thigpen to raise funds for the building of a church house. September 6th, 1879 Sister Famie Westbury was received into the Church by letter. On this same date it was agreed to apply for membership in the Bethel Association and this step was taken at a meeting in Albany on October 30th, 1879. At this meeting of the Association a donation was made by that body at the request of Rev. Thomas Muse, to the building committee and $37.90 was donated to help build out first church building. The first delegates appointed to the Association to represent this church were, Rev. Thos. Muse and Brethren G. R. Colley and R. H. Lanier. September 6th, 1879 Joseph G. Collier, who had withdrawn from Salem Church for the purpose of helping to organize the Arlington Church called for his letter to return to Salem. His work having been accomplished, his letter was granted. Brother J. B. Douglas succeeded Brother Collier as Church Clerk, and Brother R. H. Lanier was elected a deacon at this time. A committee of three, Colley, Lanier and Douglas were appointed to select a church site January 3rd, 1880. An offer of the use of the Arlington Methodist Church for our meeting was accepted and our services were held there until our building was completed. The first letter of dismission was granted to Brother J. G. Collier and the second one was granted to Brother J. W. Burton, March 6th, 1880. April 3rd, 1880 Brother Muse was requested to go to Albany and purchase a building lot from Mr. Hobbs and the deal was made by paying Mr. Hobbs $75.00 for the lot. June the 5th, the building committee composed of Rev. Thos. Muse, R. H. Lanier, J. R. Thigpen, G. R. Colley, G. V. Pace, J. B. Douglas, T. T. Westcott, S. H. Powell and L. F. Johnson were elected to build the church house. At the meeting of the association in Camilla in 1881 a donation was made to our building fund through Rev. Thomas Muse. The second protracted meeting of this church was held in July 1880 with Reverends Thomas Muse, J. H. Corley and Curry as preachers with good results. About this time a number of the members had charges preferred against them for dancing and other violations of the rules of the church. Davis Mill Pond was our place for baptizing for many years. With the organization of the Sunday School, Womens Work, Sunbeams, and B.Y.P.U. our church in all its branches has been working through the years, and we feel that we have accomplished much good in our work. As time passed on it was decided that better facilities for carrying on the work were needed and in 1908 it was decided to build a new house of worship. This was done, W. T. Jay, of Shellman being the contractor. The pastors serving this church were: Thomas Muse, H. L. Crumbley, H. R. McLendon, G. G. Corley, A. C. Wellons, J. I. D. Miller, J. B. Brookshire, W. L. Culbertson, John A. Pool, J. A. Ivey, G. W. Stubbs, A. N. Morris, C. P. Barkley, T. M. Thomas, H. M. Melton, D. E. Blalock. Brother Thomas died while pastor here and is buried in the Arlington cemetery. The Sunday School Superintendents have been Claude Toole, G. W. Harrison, J. M. Giddens, Charles Allen. Mr. J. M. Giddens is now serving his second time, and has filled the place in all about 17 years. Brother L. L. Lyon, a preacher sent out from this church, was ordained December 30th, 1906. The presbytery was composed of Brethren N. W. Hash, W. L. Culbertson, H. L. Crumbley, J. A. Ivey, and J. I. D. Miller. Brother G. W. Harrison, senior deacon of the Church presented the candidate to the Presbytery. The Deacons of the church have been G. W. Harrison, J. M. Johnson, J. L. jay, L. F. Murray, Charles Allen, L. C. Scarborough, M. W. Branch, J. M. Giddens, W. E. Howell, O. Powell, T. A. Parker, D. W. Sasser, Mm. Ray, W. L. Collins, A. W. Bowen, G. V. Pace and R. H. Lanier. All these were ordained by our church except Brethren Scarbrough, Branch and Howell. A list of the Clerks having served the church of Arlington are: J. G. Collier, J. B. Douglas, J. R. Thigpen, G. R. Colley, L. L. Lyon, W. J. Horsley, S. R. Blanton, F. E. Heath, J. I.English, W. C. Wiggins, J. M. Giddens, J. L. Jay, George Murray, T. A. Parker. The present clerk, J. L. Jay, is serving his second time: Some of the women who have been active in the W.M.S. work of the Arlington Baptist Church are Mrs. J. W. Calhoun, Mrs. Sarah Harrison, Mrs. W. D. Cowdry, Mrs. Saunders, Mrs. B. H. Askew, Sr., Mrs. M. E. Nance, Mrs. Rowena Ward, Mrs. J. T. Raines, Mrs. W. Beason, Mrs. Johnnie Collins, and Mrs. H. M. Melton. The Sunbeams in this church were first organized under the direction of Miss Alice Ray, who for a number of years has done faithful work with them. There has been on the pulpit, since 1880, a bible which was presented to our church by Hon. W. E. Smith of Albany, father of Mrs. W. L. Davis, Mrs. Will Tichnor and Mr. W. E. Smith, who now live in Albany. This book has inscribed on the front page the following: "This Bible was presented to the Baptist Church in Arlington, by the Hon. W. E. Smith by the hand of Wm. H. Cooper of Cuthbert, Ga., 1880." This book is prized very highly by our church, as it brings back memories of the past to those who knew these good people. In 1931 the Arlington Church formed a field with the Colquitt Baptist Church, dividing the time of the pastor mutually. The present pastor, Rev. D. E. Blalock is serving these two churches. The Arlington Church organized in 1879 with fourteen members, and has gradually grown to a membership of 241 as sown by he last report to the Association; the Sunday School has an enrollment of 257; B.Y.P.U. membership 40 and a working W.M.S. (pages 140-142) "History of Bethel Association - Including Centennial Meeting" Centennial meeting held with Baptist church at Edison, Georgia, October 25, 26, 27, 1932 A. L. Miller, Edison, Ga., Moderator. W. H. Joyner, Coleman, Ga., Clerk Compiled and Edited by Alexander Lee Miller Moderator of Association 1909 -- 1934 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/calhoun/churches/nbb34arlingto.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 8.7 Kb