Clay County Georgia - History - Fort Gaines Baptist Church ********************************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ********************************************************************************************** This file contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Charlene Parker" Sep 2002 From "History of Bethel Association Including Centennial Meeting", by Alexander Lee Miller FORT GAINES BAPTIST CHURCH This the first Baptist Church to be established in Fort Gaines, was organized May 11, 1845 by the Rev. Joshua Mercer, Thomas Long, Lewis Everingham and the Rev. H. A. Wilcox. There were fourteen charter members: Jacob Anderson, Patience Anderson, Catharine Castleberry, William Castleberry, Mary Colbert, Osborn Eley, John Garner, Lucinda C. Garner, Mary B. Grist, Richard Grist, Richard F. Grist, Lewis Paulin, Jas. F. Rowland and Mary Tatum. These entered into this covenant: Joining ourselves together in church government we do hereby covenant and agree to watch over one another for good and in love; to be by each other admonished, reproved, rebuked and instructed in the fear of God under the articles of faith which we have adopted. The first officers of the church were Rev. H. A. Wilcox, pastor; Lewis Paullin, clerk; Wm. Castleberry and Jas. S. Rowland, deacons; and Osborn Eley, chorister. At a meeting September 13, 1845, the church passed a resolution to ask admittance into the Bethel Association, and appointed H. A. Wilcox and Wm. Castleberry as delegates. These delegates carried to that body $10.00, the first offering of the church to missions, and $1.50 for printing minutes. Under the capable leadership of such pastors as W. L. Crawford, E. W. Warren, A. T. Holmes, T. H. Stout, J. H. Corley, W. H. Cooper and others, the church grew in numbers and in power, so that by 1878 there were 98 members, three of whom were colored. The church gave that year $33.00 to Foreign Missions, $31.00 to State Missions, $8.00 to Home Missions, and $9.00 to the "Indigent" Minister's Fund. The church had a "flourishing Sabbath School of 90 scholars and 12 teachers." The church continued to grow numerically and spiritually under the leadership of good and strong men, including H. L. Crumbley, Albert G. Hash, H. O. Fowler, H. N. Massey, Hoke Shirley and Eugene Eller until there are at present 275 members. The church has a splendid Sunday School with an average attendance of 135, an excellent W. M. S. and Sunbeam Band, also two good B.Y.P.U.'s. Among the outstanding deacons who gave liberally of their time and money were J. E. Paullin, T. M. Brown and B. F. Grimsley. The present church building, which is the second, was completed in 1892. On the building committee were J. E. Paullin, C. V. Morris, J. W. Sutlive, Z. T. Weaver and S. D. Coleman. Members now living who have been members for fifty years or more are Mrs. Evelyn Lark and Mrs. J. E. Paullin. The present officers of the church are A. Barnum Hawkes, pastor, J. M. Culpepper, Jr., Clerk; W. L. Paullin, Treasurer. The Board of Deacons: W. L. Paullin, chairman, I. P. Belisle, J. M. Culpepper, Jr., R. O. Gissendaner, J. B. Grimsley, L. L. Gwynn, E. J. Hobbs., J. G. Scaife and B. M. Turnipseed. The pastors from the organization to the present: H. A. Wilcox 1845 to 1847; W. L. Crawford to 1850; J. S. Dennard to 1852; E. W. Warren to 1853; A. T. Holmes to 1855; Jas. O. Cumbie to 1858; Edmond Cody to 1859; W. M. Davis to 1860; J. L. M. Burnett to 1864; W. L. Crawford to 1865; A. E. Van Hoose to 1866; T. H. Stout to 1867; T. E. Langley to 1870; L. R. Simms to 1873; J. H. Corley to 1876; Wm. Cooper to 1879; J. H. Corley to 1888; Z. T. Weaver to 1892; H. L. Crumbley to 1899; G. R. Bisby to 1903; T. J. Brock to 1904; Albert G. Hash to 1912; R. L. Brandenburg to 1914; H. O. Fowler to 1915; H. N. Massey to 1918; J. R. Griffith to 1922; Hoke Shirley to 1924; C. J. Broome to 1927; (no pastor in 1928) Eugene R. Eller to 1931; A. Barnum Hawkes, present pastor. SUNDAY SCHOOL The Fort Gaines Baptist Sunday School was organized in 1857 with Dr. W. L. Paullin, superintendent. By 1877 there were 8 officers and teachers, 60 scholars and 13 baptized from its membership. By 1880 there were 16 officers and teachers and 100 scholars under B. F. Burnett, Superintendent. In 1888 it is recorded in the Bethel Association minutes that Fort Gaines "has a regular and interesting Sabbath School." After Mr. Burnett, W. M. Speight served as Superintendent, then J. E. Paullin, son of Dr. Paullin, served long and faithfully. In 1906 under him there were 11 officers and teachers and 130 pupils. Upon his father's death in 1913, W. L. Paullin became superintendent and under him the School grew in numbers, effectiveness and spirituality. When he took charge there were 13 officers and teachers and 120 pupils. By 1924 the staff was composed of 18 while the enrollment was 226 with an average attendance of 170. Due to a decrease in the floating population the average attendance now is about 135. The present officers are W. L. Paullin, Superintendent; J. B. Grimsley, Secretary; (Mr. Grimsley has served since 1917 in this capacity); Alec Hurst, Assistant Secretary, Teachers: Judge B. M. Turnipseed, Mrs. Mary John Brown, Mrs. Will Graham, Mrs. Erie Greene, Miss Marjorie Whiddon, Miss E. Holley, Mrs. M. O. Taylor, Mrs. B. C. Brown, Mrs. Irene B. Gay, Mrs. J. C. Sutton, Miss Alma Holmes, Miss Marjorie O'Kelly, Miss Annie Frank McCorkle, Mrs. L. D. Plowden, Mrs. W. L. Paullin and Miss Elberta Cole. WOMANS MISSIONARY SOCIETY Records are not available showing the date of organization and the early work, but when the B.W.M.U. of the Bethel Association was organized in April 1900 at Fort Gaines, there was a flourishing Society here. Mrs. J. E. Paullin was first Secretary of the Auxiliary and in 1901 became president. At the second Annual Convention held at Mt. Hebron, Randolph County, the delegates from Fort Gaines were Mrs. S. E. McLendon, Mrs. L. A. Duke and Mrs. Paullin. In 1907 the Society gave $185.33 to all causes. Mrs. J. E. Paullin and Mrs. E. R. Shaw were appointed to aid in the general church work. In 1910 under Mrs. J. J. Chitty as President the gifts totalled $282.60; in 1911, $241.34. During the presidency of Mrs. J. E. Paullin in 1912 there were 29 members giving $251.45. The Society was sponsoring a Sunbeam Band with 18 members who gave $32.00 to all causes and a Y. W. A. both under the leadership of Mrs. A. G. Hash. In 1913 Mrs. Hash was Superintendent of the B.W.M.U. of the Bethel Association. Mrs. J. E. Paullin was President in 1914 when there were 39 members and $224.90 in gifts. In 1915 a R. A. was organized with 10 members under Rev. H. N. Massey, leader. In 1919 there were 42 members who gave $285.00. Under Mrs. J. R. Griffith in 1921 were 40 members giving $281.00. In 1922 Mrs. W. L. Paullin became President. There were 41 enrolled, gifts $368.05. By 1923 there were 58 members giving $604.45 and the Society was sponsoring a R. A. and a G. A. with Mrs. W. H. Klory leading both. Under Mrs. A. H. Stone, president there were 60 members and $784.75 total gifts. Mrs. H. G. Ritchie led the G. A. and Mrs. R. A. Gissendaner became leader of the Sunbeams. She has continued in this office to the present. Under Mrs. B. C. Brown's leadership in 1925 the Society reached the A-1 Standard and gave $541.81. The Sunbeams also reached the Standard and had 30 members. In 1926 under Mrs. Erie Greene the gifts were $624.00. In 1927 Mrs. J. E. Paullin was again President. There were 60 members giving $362.00; The G. A., Mrs. Chas. Chitty, leader, had 10 members, while the R. A., Mrs. Brooks Brown, leader, had 15 members. The Sunbeams had 51 members who gave $47.00. In 1928 there were 70 members who gave $435.00. Mrs. Robert Fowler was leader of the G. A. with 15 members. Mrs. A. H. Stone was President in 1929 when the membership was 77 with $388.65 in gifts. Mrs. W. L. Paullin became President in 1930 and continued to serve. In 1930 the gifts were $440.75; in 1931, $403.65. In 1931 the Sunbeams had 24 members giving $10.75. The present officers are: Mrs. W. L. Paulin, President; Mrs. Clarence Belisle, Sect'y.; Mrs. J. C. Sutton, Treas.; Mrs. J. A. Miller, Personal Service Sect'y.; Mrs. Robert Fowler, Leader Circle 1; Mrs. Agustus Garland, Leader Circle 2; Mrs. J. L. Ward, Leader Circle 3. FORT GAINES B.Y.P.U. The record of the Fort Gaines B.Y.P.U. is very incomplete. There was a thriving Junior Union in 1920. In 1922 there were 31 members of the Senior Union with Miss Lois King, President. Miss Hortense King was President in 1923, and in 1924 there were 26 Seniors with J. T. McAllister, President and 36 Juniors with Hortense Shivers, President. In 1925 Mattie Lunsford was President and there were 32 members. Edwin Arnold was President of the Juniors with 21 members. Mrs. W. L. Paullin and Miss Alma Holmes were leaders of the Juniors for several years. The presidents of the Senior Union for the year 1926-31 were: Miss Ossie Price, Miss Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Irwin, Mrs. J. M. Culpepper, Jr., and J. M. McCorkle. The present officers include: Mrs. D. C. Brumbalow and Mrs. Robert Fowler, leaders; Alex Hurst, Pres.; Louise Bennett, Vice-President, Ben Greene and Martha McRae, Secretaries; Jeff Hurst, Eloise Wilson, Byron King and Jean Paullin, Group Captains; Erie Greene, Bible Quiz leader.