Emanuel-Jenkins-Bulloch County GaArchives Church Records.....Elam Baptist Church Copyright Date January 10 1842 ************************************************ 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: Gene Funderburk GeneFunderburk@msn.com September 5, 2003, 6:51 pm A HISTORY OF ELAM BAPTIST CHURCH by Mrs. Charles Taylor, 1955 This history of any institution, be it a religious body dedicated solely toward the upbuilding of God's kingdom on earth, or be it an organization with some less lofty star by which it charts its course, includes every item which has interest or importance in connection with the life and growth of that institution. Some writers assert, as does Emerson, that the history of any people may be resolved into the biographies of a few great men; but this statement may hardly be applied to the history of this church, for a large percentage of its members, though lowly have been the lot of many, have contributed vastly toward the product which you visualize today as Elam Church. In looking over the records of the past hundred years, we are astounded at the rapidity of growth attained by this body of consecrated men and women. Though to most of us the word "century" intimates eons of time, yet it is almost incredible that so many notable achievements could have been accomplished. Not so much for the sake of entertainment, but in order that we may give today tribute to those faithful few who in that time long passed have made this church possible, first let us turn the pages of time 100 years and follow those devout souls. In accordance with this plan we read verbatim from page 1 of the church annuals: "State of Georgia-Emanuel County" (We must remember that Jenkins County was not at that time created). "This is to show that we, the undersigned have entered into covenant with each other to keep house for the Lord to be designated from the world, first, having given ourselves to the Lord and then to one another by the will of God. We, being baptized by emersion then became members of Hebron Church in the aforesaid county and now have built us an house for the concerning of ourselves and our children and neighbors to meet in to worship God in the beauty of holiness; therefore we take our letter from Hebron and come to Elam to encamp by the waters to be constituted in church order. We agree to and covenant with each other to live for the Lord and each other; to watch over each other - in love to be kindly and affectionate one toward another; to pray for one another - to stir up good works - to exort and admonish as duty may require and to rebuke if need be as the blessed word directs - And the Lord shall give strength. We also determine to keep a standing minister of the word of life. We further agree to bear with each other's infirmity and for this purpose which is before described, we have chosen Brother Robert Donaldson to act as presbytery to set us apart for this purpose. We also agree to have a book record to keep in memory the transactions of this little vine. The following are we whose names are undersigned; 1. Charles Miller 11. Anthony Bonnell 2. William Miller 12. Stephen Lewis 3. Henry J. Parrish 13. Mallisa Newton 4. William Aaron 14. Nancy Ann Miller 5. Synthia Miller 15. Lidia Cowart 6. Sara Aaron 16. Mary Aycock 7. Cloy Gideon 17. Elizabeth Newton 8. Sina Cowart 18. Judy Kirkland 9. James R, Miller 19. Sara Ann Kirkland 10 Bird L. Newton 20. Martha Lewis Then follows by first notation; January 10th, 1842. We being called by the brethren and sisters to assist in a presby- tery have form them fully in order and orthodox have set them apart for the purpose above mentioned and have given them hand of fellow- ship to the church of Christ called Elam in Emanuel County, Georgia. Robert Donaldson Curtis Cobb On completing the orgainzation the conscientious forefathers then prepared a formal constitution and decorum which was read in Conference quarterly. The original Church which was rudely constructed of logs was ably presided over by the Rev. James R. Miller who with the help of the other noble brethern sternly assisted the members in the "Straight and narrow paths of life)". Just how strictly these early church goers were disciplined can easily be discerned by glancing over the minutes of the meetings recorded month by month, year in and year out. One finds him self amused when be reads accounts of the various slight misdemeanors for which those staunch members were "excommunicated," (to use the phraseology of the early records). Quickly do we banish our concealed smiles and mirth when we with all our polish and sophistication, acknowledge that we as Church members today would oftentime hesitate to act in twentieth century mode were we propelled by the sincerity of these consecrated forefathers. Again we allow our vision to travel backward "(Even more quickly than we today travel forward.)" What is this celebration? Surely it must be some auspicious occasion as we see all modes of nineteenth century conveyance - nor are dozens of horses tied to hitching posts, and oxcarts conveniently "parked in the shade of the scrubby oak trees," but in imagination we can see the imprents of hobnailed shoes, following the pathway that leads across the hills, forming a shortcut from the homes of those who lived within walking distance of the church nor do we mean to imply that the distance was merely a matter of a few hundred feet as the term would today suggest. But let us reread the occasion of this gathering; it is Saturday Conferance day and no member dared miss four conferences unless he wished to be "expelled" from the church. Yea it was with fear and trembling that these brethern and sisters faced various charges against them as portrayed and discussed at at length in these conferences. These early disciples might well have adopted the motto of the Northwest Mounted Police for they surely apprehended each culprit. Should a person guilty of some misdemeanor fail to present himself in self defence at these monthly meetings, a committee was appointed and speedily sent on its way to investigate the case at issue. Realizing the political and economic set-up in the South prior to 1865 one is not astonished to find that several entries are made in the church annuals recording the addition of slaves as members of the church. Never, however did our church clerk state the matter rudely; these were always listed as "persons of color" - then would follow the given name of the slave as well as the name of the owner. We noted, not with surprise that two slaves had run away and joined Sherman on his March to the Sea. Of course their names were readily stricken from the church roll. Most of us have the mistaken idea that church services at Elam have always been held on the first Sunday of each month. Until July 1851 services were held on the fourth Saturday and Sundays of each; at that time the meetings were changed to the first Saturday and Sundays. We note with pride that the founders of our church always proclaimed a day of fasting and praying on Friday prior to the conference in which they called a pastor each year. Surely the wonderful work of these early disciples is self-evident of the power of these meetings. In the year 1858 we have a record of the first series of protracted services. It might be of interest to recall that this initial meeting was held in July. As a result of this meeting, 15 members were added to the church. So powerful was this meeting that another protracted in October of the same year. We have mentioned early conversions taking place at Elam. Now perhaps it will be of interest to note the name of the person first to be laid to rest here. Records show that Brother Jonathan Weaver, date approximately 1860 was the first to be interred in Elam Cemetery. At present there are approximately 500 markers noting resting places of the beloved of our church and community. The latest bears the date April 28, 1955. Elam has grown to such an extent that in the year 1877 plans were well under way for a new building to adequately house the now greatly enlarged band of members. It seems as though this was accomplished after much difficulty as the original contractor, one E.J. Brown passed away before completing the ediface. The previous building was built in 1917 at a cost of approximately $6,000.00. The earliest records we find of scheduled Sabbath School services are recorded in the year 1899. At that time Brother James M. Aaron was elected Sunday School Superintendent. We would not wish to bring to a close an ecclestiastic history without giving a list as tribute to those wonderful men who have so faithfully led this band of members through times of adversity and perverse circumstances as well as guiding them safely and admonishing them not to turn from their God in years of plenty. We pause to pay tribute to these beloved pastors: James H. Miller - 1842-1858 John H. Cowart - 1858-1877 Joseph A. Scarborough - 1877-1879 John R. Miller - 1879-1881 George W. Smith - 1881-1884 A. R. Rountree - 1884-1888 Jackariah Cowart - 1888-1898 H. G. Edenfield - 1893-1913 O. B. Rushton - 1913-1936 Thornton Williams - 1926-1940 Billy A. Winburn - 1940-1943 Bearing in mind the illustrious examples of our heritage let us conclude with this thought from that great quaker poet, William Cullen Bryant, who so forcefully admonishes us thru this poem "Thanatopsis;" "So live that when the summons comes to join that innumerable caravan which moves to that mysterious realm where each shall take his chamber in the silent halls of death thou go not, like the quarry slave at night scourged to his dungeon but sustained and soothed; by an unfaltering trust in God approaches thy grave like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams." We would like to pause here long enough to mention some changes made during Rev. Williams' pastorate. Services were changed from quarter time until half-time and in a short time we had our church on full-time. On September 20, 1936 a W.M.S. was orgainzed with 28 members. A training Union was also begun during this time. The pastorium was built during Rev. Williams' pastorate. Rev. L. C. Allen, 1944-1945, Rev. J. L. Pittman, 1945-1949, Rev. Kenneth Gaskin, 1950-1952, (a building fund was started for the new church) and Rev. J. Sam Shaw, August, 1952, so ably led us into the remodeling of the school house. We moved into this present building on February 22, 1953 which is the wonderful sanctuary we have today. Rev. Hilton C. Garrett served as pastor from Nov. 18, 1956 until 1959. For six months Rev. Cliff Hunnicutt served as pastor. During his pastorate he had the Sunday School department renovated and divided the Sunday School into departments. Rev. Lester Cochran was pastor from 1960-1963. In July of 1964 Rev. Joe F. Stevens came to Elam as pastor and served until April 30, 1967. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 11.6 Kb