Calhoun County GaArchives Church Records.....Edison 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, 1:08 pm 1903 EDISON BAPTIST CHURCH 1932 On March 22, 1903 there was a meeting held in the home of Brother and Sister Henry Turner by Baptists in which twenty or more indicated their willingness to form and organize a new church to be known as the Edison Baptist Church and steps to that end were taken. April 26th, 1903, the fourth Sunday, was set as the date for the formal organization of the church at which time the following brethren and sisters met in a cotton warehouse just East of the Georgia, Florida and Alabama Railroad in the City: E.R. Plowden, C. M. Tennille, R. W. Plowden, J. M. Coleman, H. B. Humphrey, a Licentiate, J. A. Chester, J. A. Bell, Ira Bell, J. D. Holloway, J. R. Napier, Frank Tennille, Bryant Lee, Henry Turner, Deacon, H. E. Hammack; Sisters, E. R. Plowden, Dora Strickland, Annie D. Hammack, H. B. Humphrey, J. D. Holloway, Clyde Holloway, J. R. Napier, Frank Tennille, Jammie Bell, Clara Turner, Mattie V. Lee, Gertrude Lee and H. V. Chester. Meeting with them were Revs. W. W. Arnold, W. D. Hammack, and Joe W. Sauls, who formed themselves into a Presbytery and organized a church, with the above twenty seven brethren and sisters as the charter members thereof. H. Turner and H. E. Hammack were appointed as a building committee to provide a place of worship for the newly organized Baptist Church. The third Sunday and Saturday before in each month was chosen on which to hold regular services in the new church, and at the next service on the following Sunday, May 3, 1903 the church in conference called Brother B. W. Davis as its pastor and he was to preach on Saturday and Sunday to the church each month. Brother Henry Turner was elected the superintendent of the Sunday School, which he organized immediately after the constitution of the church, which position he held uninterruptedly and successfully until his death in January 1928, nearly twenty five years. Mr. H. E. Hammack was elected Church Clerk and still holds that position at this date, October 1932. A beautiful lot on which to locate the newly constituted church was given by brother J. R. Strickland who at that time was not a member of any church, but who later united with this church. On the lot given by him was erected a splendid frame building, the building of which was vigorously prosecuted and was completed and ready for services to be held therein within three months. The Cuthbert Baptist Church had erected a new building and bought new pews. The building committee of the Edison Church secured from the Cuthbert Church the old pews, which were in splendid condition and placed them in the newly constituted Edison Baptist Church. They were used in the Edison Church until the present church was erected in 1920 and they then were moved into the basement of the new church and into the various Sunday School rooms, and are now being used. By September 19, 1903 the new building was fully paid for and on that date was formally dedicated. At the Seventy First Annual Session of the Bethel Baptist Association, which was held with the Damascus, Church, Randolph County, Georgia, the newly constituted church of Edison made an application for membership and a special committee consisting of Rev. J. S. Knowles, Rev. W. O. Crumbley and D. R. Mitchner was appointed to investigate the Article of Faith of the new church and to report thereon. In their report Edison Church was unanimously received into the Association and her messengers were welcomed by the Moderator. Our Messengers to the Association that year were Rev. H. P. Humphrey and Bro. Warren Plowden. This church has never failed to be represented in the Association since is connection therewith both by letter and messengers. PASTORS Brother B. W. Davis was elected and served as the first pastor of this church from May 3, 1903 until March 1906. Brother J. A. Pool, the second pastor, served from March 1906 until September 1906. Brother W. W. Arnold was elected as the third pastor of the church and served until July 1908. Brother Arnold was succeeded by Brother H. L. Crumbley as pastor of the church, who began his services in September 1908 and served for seven years and one month and until October 1916. His term of service was the longest up until this time. Brother J. l. Claxton succeeded Brother Crumbley and served until April 1918. During his administration, the church went from one to two Sundays for preaching. Our sixth pastor was Brother W. J. Barton, who began his service as pastor in July 1918 and continued until April 1925. During this time of his service with this church, it changed from two to three Sunday services each month, and has continued to hold services on three Sundays in each month. The church at this time had grown rapidly in membership and it was found that the old church was not adequate for Sunday Schools, B.Y.P.U. work and church services. And it was decided in 1919 under the leadership of Brother Barton to build a new church. After the church had decided on this matter, an application for a charter was made in the Superior Court of Calhoun County and was obtained, for the purpose of making the church a legal entity so that it might negotiate its contracts and arrange for the building of a new church without any unnecessary delay. The erection of the new church was begun in 1919 and was completed in the early part of 1920 and soon after its completion, services were held in the new church. By November 1925, the new church had been paid for in full and on November 29, 1925 was dedicated. The former pastors, W. W. Arnold, H. L. Crumbley, J. L. Claxton and W. J. Barton, all took part on the program, and also Bro. W. D. Hammack. Our seventh pastor was Brother L. M. Jones, who began his administration in 1925 and continued with us until July 1927. During the time of his services, all of the indebtedness of the church was formally dedicated. Our eighth and present pastor, Rev. P. E. Lester, came to us in November 1927 and has continued his pastorate with us since that date. At the time that Brother Lester came to us the church had no pastor's home, except a rented house and it began preparation immediately to build a pastor's home. Brethren H. Turner, A. L. Miller, L. C. Manry, R. L. Jenkins, D. B. Clements, W. E. Pierce, J. O. Exum and H. E. Hammack were appointed as the building committee. This home was completed in the early part of 1928 and is situated on the North side of the church on the same lot as the church, and has been paid for and was formally dedicated on Wednesday evening, November 6, 1929. The total cost of this home was $4486.13. CHURCH PROPERTY The original building lot upon which the first church was erected consisted of about an acre of ground and was given to the church by Bro. J. R. Strickland. The church began to grow and to develop and it was found that a larger building would be necessary. Additional land was purchased by the church adjoining the old lot on the South and on the East, which gave to the church something like two acres of land bounded on three sides by streets of the city. On this additional land fronting South on Hartford Street was erected the new building, which is a large two story building containing two auditoriums and a large number of school rooms and departments, at a cost of about $36,000.00. The entire property consisting of the church, fixtures, pastor's home, and lot, is at a fair valuation worth forty eight or fifty thousand dollars. It adjoins the business section of the city. THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH Under the administration of Brother Davis there were baptized into the church 2, and received by letter 22. Under Brother Arnold, by letter 22. Under the pastorate of Brother H. L. Crumbley there were 91 added to the church by baptism and 95 by letter. During the pastorate of Brother Claxton 10 were received by baptism and 8 by letter. During the pastorate of Brother W. J. Barton 86 were received by baptism and 58 by letter. Under the administration of Brother L. M. Jones, 21 members were received by baptism and 13 by letter. During the pastorate of Brother P. E. Lester 52 were received by baptism and 54 by letter. The present membership of the church is contained in two lists, one called the active list and consists of members who affiliate with the church in its services and make some contribution. The other is an inactive list and represents the members who have gone away and who have not continued affiliation with the church with its work and services. There are now on the active list 283 and on the inactive list 67, total of 350. DEACONS The following brethren have served as Deacons during the life of the church to-wit: Henry Turner, R. W. Plowden, E. L. Smith, J. G. Lumley, H. T. Singleton, A. J. Culbreth, A. L. Miller, D. B. Clements, O. W. Parker, Sr., J. D. Parker, C. G. Joiner, R. L. Jenkins, L. C. Manry, T. N. Wiggins, J. W. Clenney, J. O. Exum, W. B. Lawrence, J. E. Bridges Brother Henry Turner was a Deacon when the church was organized and served continuously until his death. The Deacons hold a monthly meeting in the church and discuss the general welfare and financial condition and make recommendations to the church on such matters as they think best. SUNDAY SCHOOLS Simultaneously with the organization of the church, it was decided to organize a Sunday School and brother Henry Turner was elected as Superintendent and the organization of the Sunday School was immediately had. The Sunday School has steadily grown and increased in attendance and power since its organization. Under the leadership of Brother Henry Turner, this Sunday School became a great power for good and an asset to the town and community. Brother turner continued as Superintendent until his death in January 1928. During his administration it was graded and continued to grow and flourish. After the death of Brother Turner, Brother H. T. Singleton was elected as Superintendent and has continuously held this place since that time. The good work started and developed by Brother Turner in the Sunday School was kept up by the new Superintendent and its organization perfected and completed by his successor, H. T. Singleton. The average attendance on the Sunday School is now about 200 or more through the year. Many adults attend the Sunday School regularly and their presence and encouragement have been a great help. By checking the baptisms in the church it will be observed that a majority of them were members of the Sunday school. WOMEN'S MISSIONARY UNION The first mention made of the W.M.U. in the report of the W.M.U. of the Association is contained in the Minutes of 1907. That year the Woman's Missionary Union of the Association appointed a Committee consisting of Mrs. Henry Turner and Mrs. George Wiggins to aid in the work of the W.M.U. in Edison Church. The next year, 1908, the Woman's Missionary Union of the Association held its fifteenth session at Blakely, meeting in the Methodist Church, while the Association convened in the Baptist Church. Mrs. H. E. Hammack was reported that year as the President of the W.M.U. of the Edison Church. Below is a list of the Presidents of the Union and the years of service. Mrs. H. E. Hammack (1908, 1909), Mrs. Althea Stewart (1910, 1911), Mrs. R. L. Jenkins (1912, 1913), Mrs. L. M. Killingsworth (1914, 1915, 1916), Mrs. R. L. Jenkins (1917, 1918), Mrs. A. L. Miller (1919, 1920, 1921, 1922), Mrs. R. L. Jenkins (1923, 1924), Mrs. W. H. Jenkins (1925, 1926, 1927), Mrs. H. E. Hammack (1928, 1929, 1930, 1931). The donations from this Union for these years amount to several thousands dollars. The W.M.U. not only aided in the payment of the local expenses but was a larger contributor to the $75,000,000 campaign, missions, and all other causes fostered by the church. The G.A.'s, sunbeams and other organizations have been sponsored in the church by the W.M.U. The donations from these sources have also been considerable. BAPTIST YOUNG PEOPLE'S UNION The first B.Y.P.U. was organized in the church in 1907. Brother A. L. Miller was is leader for several years, and then Brother H. E. Hammack became the leader. After him came J. D. Parker and W. B. Lawrence, and perhaps some others for a short time. All of the Unions have been kept going and their in training and Christian influence has been felt and appreciated by the Church. It is very properly called "The Training School of the Church." MINISTERS GOING OUT FROM THIS CHURCH Brother Elgie Palmer joined the Edison Baptist Church on July 6, 1913 for baptism and was dismissed by letter on September 23, 1917. He joined under the administration of Brother H. L. Crumbley and soon after his connection with the church began to preach and was later duly ordained and sent out as a preacher of the Gospel. After him came Brother Lee Sheppard, who joined this church in the summer of 1909 at the age of nine years, under the pastorate of Brother H. L. Crumbley. From here he went to the First Baptist Church in Columbus and became associated with the pastor as a helper and began to preach. From there he went to Richmond, Va., where he was ordained in June 1932. He graduated in Richmond, and studied two years since that time at Yale. He worked his own way through school and helped take care of his mother at the same time. He then became a preacher of the Gospel. It is regretted that we do not have a detailed History of the Ordination of these two fine young men. Then followed the connections with this church of Brother Henry Mangum, who joined for baptism on January 9, 1927 and was baptized into full fellowship of the church and on January 13, 1927 and was baptized into full fellowship of the church and on January 13, 1927 was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel. At the time of his connection with this church he was a Methodist Minister serving the Methodist Church at Colquitt, Georgia. Becoming dissatisfied with his denomination he joined the Baptist Church and went out from this church as a Baptist minister. The Presbytery of his ordination was Brother L. M. Jones, J. S. Hartsfield, W. J. Barton, W. T. Bodenhammer, and D. B. Cason of Colquitt, Georgia. Sessions of the Association Held with the Baptist Church. The eightieth session of the Bethel Association convened with the Edison Church in October 28th, 29th, and 30th, 1913 for the first time. At the eighty fifth annual session of the Bethel Baptist Association which was held with the Salem Baptist Church in 1917 it was voted to hold the next session with the Herod Baptist Church of Terrell County, but on account of the great epidemic of influenza, prevailing throughout this session of the State and especially in the Herod Community the Association was invited to hold that Session of 1918 with the Edison Baptist Church and it convened here on November 22, 1918 for one day only. At the ninety ninth session of the Association it was unanimously agreed that the one hundredth session, and the Centennial year, of the Bethel Association be held with the Edison Baptist Church. (pages 181-187) "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/nbb40edisonba.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 16.7 Kb