Jasper County GaArchives History - Letters .....Memories of Mount Zion Christian Church unknown
************************************************
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:
Wayne Pailloz waybar@alltel.net September 30, 2003, 4:44 pm



  The first house of the Christian Church at Mechanicsville was small and 
unpretentious. The exterior appearence was not imposing and the interior 
equipment not of the best. But the little building was a consecrated spot in 
the affection of the members. 
   We had good singing, faithful earnest prayers talks with unction? from 
brother Jones and others. Sometimes a wave of emotion spread over the 
congregation, and we had what is generally called a good time. Brother Key 
doubtless remembers those times and so does Mrs. Thompson, and so does Mrs. 
Key and Miss Mollie Smith and Mrs. Kelly remembers them in Heaven. For there 
is not a righteous joy felt on earth that is not also felt in Heaven and goes 
to swell the grand diapason of the everlasting song.
  But one cold and bitter night in winter when the wind was howling and all 
the devils in Hell were listening for something bad to happen around 
Mechanicsville, the little house caught fire and was burned to the ground.
  There may not have been loud lamentations but there certainly was deep 
grief. But the next morning an Angel came down and threw ashes toward heaven, 
and from those ashes sprung a determination to build a larger church, one with 
greater seating capacity and with better equipment and it was done.
  With the new building Mt. Zion entered upon a period of prosperity. The 
congregations were large and the membership increasing. We had good preaching, 
being served by some of the best preachers in the community, both in the 
monthly appointment and the summer meeting.
  We had a good Sabbath School, the pupils composed largely of young men and 
women being promt in attendance and generally coming to the class with a well 
prepared lesson. It may be said indeed, that Mt. Zion had then a joyful 
forward movement. But Churches like other institutions and undertakings are 
subject to variations. Mt. Zion was no exception to this rule. After several 
years of prosperity many members began to lose interest in the affairs of the 
church, both the spiritual and the business line. Divine worship was not so 
well attended. The services of the sanctuary and the exercises of the Sabbath 
School are not so attractive as they had been, there was marked depression.
  We may not have been in the condition of those of whom the Savior speaks as 
neither hot nor cold, but we were moving in that direction. 
  Just then the big pond filled up bringing severe epedemics of malaria fever 
and causing a good many menbers to seek distant houses and new church 
menbership.
  Then came the financial crash causing a great slump in the price of cotton 
and greatly lowering land values. That was followed by the boll weevil 
destroying the surplus money crop of the South and that was accompanied by 
severe and protracted drought. All these causes operated to deepen the 
depression and to bring in almost other stagnancy in religious feeling.
  But there remained a devout few who believed that Mt. Zion still had a 
future of strength and usefulness. This new want burned the flame of the dying 
embers and after awhile the flame grew brighter and contunied to grow brighter.
  Two or three years ago Mt. Zion was evidently going up again. Many of the 
menbers were regaining affection for the Church of their choice. Many were 
developing Chistian fortitude and a spirit of self sacrifice so that when the 
tornado demolished the building, it found those who were strong and who ?? 
themselves like men.
  The new building stands as a movement of industry and zeal and as a pledge 
the Mt. Zion will again enter upon an era of prosperity.
  I have spoken of the spirit of self sacrifice that is perhaps the highest 
equality of Christian religion. Christ in his great intercessory prayers, 
prays not so much for himself but that his desciples may be blest through him. 
In one place he says my joy I give into you. Of what joy could he spread when 
the Cross with its horrid death loomed before him the next day. He must have 
rejoiced in the fact that he was being to make and atonement for them and for 
the sin of the world. 
  I am reminded by the history of the church of that fabled bird of antiquity 
who was destroyed by fire every hundred years and then sprang from the ashed a 
new bird hamdsomer in form and more brilliant in plumage.
 Let it not be thought that the building of a new church on the rehabilitation 
of an old one is of little importance. The influence of churches may not be 
distinctly perceptable, but they never the less exercise a powerful influence 
in restraining crime, vice and immorality of every description. Besides the 
churchs have always either orginated or powerfully fastened every great 
movement for promoting civilization, like missions, hospitals and asylums 
prohibitions and world peace.
  Let me congratulate the community upon having churches with their 
restraining unending influence. Let me congratulate the members of the church 
upon the completion of a great and noble work. Let me congratulate the women 
who have put their shoulder to the wheel and pressed the work forward, and let 
me say in conclusion that in the vocabulary of those who engage in a good 
cause and who have a steadfast faith in God, that in their vocabulary there is 
no such word as fail.

Author unknown.

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/

File size: 5.8 Kb