Quitman County GaArchives Church Records.....Morris 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, 12:23 pm MORRIS BAPTIST CHURCH It is an almost impossible task to write a history covering a period of thirty years, to be read in fifteen minutes, but as I have been given the honor of writing the history of Morris Baptist Church, it is done with greatest love and reverence for the former members and pastors. We should hold in sweet remembrance these pioneer workers for it is much easier to fall in line with a work after it has been established than it is to take up when it is new. ORGANIZING THE CHURCH The church had its small beginning on Sunday, September 29, 1901, at Woodland Academy, then a school building, where regular Sunday School had been held for the community since 1885. According to the minutes of the first meeting: -- After a sermon by Rev. A. E. Keese, Rev. W. D. Hammock of Coleman was elected Moderator and J. W. Cumbie, Clerk. The church letters of Brethren Ross W. Wilson, Sr., Ross Wilson, Jr., H. H. Wilson, V. B. Oliver, W. A. Cumbie, J. W. Cumbie, Sisters Jane Wilson, May Oliver, Claude Cumbie, Mattie May Cumbie, Lula Cumbie, Leila Castellow, and Brethren J. B. Oliver, James Pace, and J. L. Cumbie, were read after which they constituted themselves into an independent Baptist Church. On motion, the church was named Morris Baptist Church. The church covenant of Spring Vale Baptist Church (from which most of the members had come) and Articles of Faith of the Philadelphia Confession as printed in Pendleton's Church Manual were adopted. The following were present who assisted in the meeting and aided in building the church although they had not secured letters of dismission from their respective churches: J. A. Hillman and wife, A. H. Teel and family, Mrs. S. E. Sparks and family and R. A. J. Boyett, who although not then a member, united in 1904 by a profession of faith. Much credit was due to his untiring efforts as Chairman of the Building Committee and financial aid which enabled the church house to be completed rapidly after it was begun. Building Committee in October 1901 was authorized to select and mark a spot for building a church house, and the community met March 22, 1902, to clear off the church house grounds. Just here no mention is made of the building of the church, but as I recall the present site was donated by one of the most faithful members. Mr. J. B. Oliver. I would like to state that he and Mr. J. H. Wilson are the only two of the original fifteen members now living at Morris. The church was built by the aid and contributions of members and citizens of the community and the contributions of the public-spirited citizens of the surrounding territory, it being some time before it was finally cleared of debt in February 22, 1903. It was painted in 1904 and again in 1915. A piano was purchased after disposing of the organ previously used. New pews were added and a carpet purchased and curtains for the Sunday School provided. The interior of the building is thirty five by fifty and has a seating capacity of about 250. The value of building and grounds is $2500.00. J. H. Wilson and W. A. Cumbie were the first messengers to the Bethel Association in October 1901. It was decided in October 1903 to call for a letter from the Bethel Association to join the Summer Hill but was not reconsidered in 1904 and the church decided to remain in the Bethel Association. The first members to join by christian experience were Emmett Phillips, Claude Wilson, and Alma Smith and the first loss of membership by death was R. H. Wilson, Sr. on March 27, 1903. WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY About this time when the W.M.S. of the Bethel Association infancy, having been organized in 1900, the Womans Missionary Society was founded, February 4, 1903 with fifteen members, as follows: Mrs. S. E. Sparks, Pres., Mrs. May Oliver, Vice-Pres., Miss Lillie Boyett, Sec., Miss Cora Oliver, Treas., Miss Louise Sparks, Mrs. Mittie Hillman, Mrs. Edna Johnson, Miss Nannie Jolley, Mrs. J. W. Boyett, Miss Claude Cumbie, Miss Alma Smith, Miss Mattie May Cumbie, Mrs. Sallie Teel, Misses Olla and Norma Teel. Although the regular dues were paid in promptly each month, it was decided to give all eggs collected by the members on Sunday to missions and quite a bit was collected in this way. Regular meetings were held until 1907, when after a lapse of several years the Society was re-organized by Mrs. Lillie Farnum in July 1910. Mrs. E. B. Cumbie was elected President, Mrs. L. Sutlive, Sec., Mrs. Willie Fillingame, Treas. About this time a Sunbeam Band was fostered by the Society and much good was accomplished and contributions were made to all causes. The W. M. S. was re-organized in 1914 and again in 1920 with Mrs. E. B. Cumbie as President, which place she held until she resigned in 1929 and was succeeded by Mrs. C. B. Wilson with Mrs. W. L. Sparks, Secretary and Mrs. A. S. Jolley, Treas. Mission study classes have been held and some of the members hold certificates. One of the members, the present Mrs. J. B. Oliver, although a Presbyterian by faith, has contributed financially and aided the church as musician on all occasions. In the 75,000,000 campaign the W. M. S. did its part. It also helped in Church and Home aide and assisted the Red Cross as personal service in 1918. Hospitals were visited, services held and magazines contributed to the convicts then working in the county; organized a negro Sunbeam Band and contributed toward the purchase of song books for the church. In 1925 a Y. W. A. was organized and a memorial of tree-planting was held. The G. A.'s and R. A.'s fostered by the society at this time completed many of the mission study books and aided in the church work generally. These Auxiliaries are now inactive, as a B.Y.P.U. was organized by Mrs. W. E. Steed in 1928. The officers at present are Mrs. H. B. Coleman, President, Mrs. W. N. Roberts, Vice-President, E. B. Thomas, Secretary-Treasurer. This organization, together with the Sunday School, meets the demands for the religious and social welfare of the community. A roster of the Sunday School Superintendent is given below although no complete records of the Sunday School are available: A. H. Teel, First Superintendent, from 1901 - 1912. J. Cumbie, J. V. Boyett, J. L. Cumbie, Percy Ross, W. A. Poss, A. R. Gary, W. J. Boyett, J. E. Johnson, Mrs. J. L. Cumbie, R. M. Fillingame, C. B. Wilson, W. N. Roberts, Treas., and Robert Perry, Sec. PASTORS OF THE CHURCH For many years the church has followed the old custom of calling a pastor at the close of each Associational year, hence many and varied have been the pastors who have served the church. According to the Minutes the roll-call of pastors shows: Dr. A. E. Keese (deceased) having been founded of the church, who served until his brother Rev. W. S. Keese was ordained by the church in December 1901. His pastorate ended in December 1904, when he resigned for another field. Rev. B. W. Davis was called, but did not accept. Rev. A. C. Wellons, Jan. 1905 - March 1907 Rev. J. W. Martin, Nov. 1907 - October 1909 Rev. J. W. Watson, Dec 1909 - January 1911 Rev. J. A. Seay, March 1911 - October 1912 Rev. G. G. Ward, Nov. 1913 - May 1914 Rev. B. S. Railey (deceased), June 1914 - October 1915 Having no regular pastor, the church was supplied by Revs. C. C. Davison, July 1917 -- September 1917, J. W. Sentell, J. Lasseter, V. T. Johnson and J. W. Martin until a call was extended to Rev. J. S. Snelson in August 1921, who served until September 1926. Again supplied by Rev. Dodd and Rev. R. E. Zachert October 1926 to January 1927. Rev. Winfrey Davis March 1927 - September 1928. Rev. P. Barrett October 1928, when Rev. J. W. Farmer of Georgetown, Ga, our present pastor, was called and has served the church since Nov. 1928. DEACONS OF THE CHURCH The years 1922 - 1923 were fraught with sorrow to many, as death claimed five of the oldest members, W. A. Cumbie, J. A. Hillman, A. H. Teel and wife, and R. A. J. Boyett. The first three were deacons who had served the church for twenty years, having been received as deacons from Spring Vale Church. A. H. Teel had also served as Deacon in Enon Church where he was ordained by Rev. Thos. Muse in 1881. Mr. Hillman in his will remembered the church by a gift of the dividends from a $500.00 share of Southwestern Railway Company stock. J. B. Oliver, J. H. Wilson and J. W. Boyett, who later resigned in favor of W. H. Boyett, were appointed trustees to receive this fund. The aforementioned deaths left a vacancy in the church as well as on the Board of Deacons. So in June 1924, J. H. Wilson and J. L. Cumbie were ordained. Rev. J. W. Bosdell and Rev. H. L. Crumbley of Cuthbert assisted the pastor, Rev. J. W. Snelson in conducting the services. Mr. Cumbie served until his death in 1928 and J. W. Boyett, who had served as deacon for twenty five years, died in 1929. Consequently it became necessary to again elect deacons, so the following young men were ordained: W. H. Boyett, W. N. Roberts and W. L. Sparks, Jr. Messrs. C. A. Lanier and W. J. Boyett of Cuthbert assisted the pastor, Rev. J. W. Farmer of Georgetown in the service. CLERKS OF THE CHURCH J. W. Cumbie, 1901-1914 J. L. Cumbie, 1914-1927 Mrs. W. N. Roberts, 1927-1929 W. H. Boyett, 1929 to present time Would that time and ability would permit a fitting tribute to those who from the rank and file of the church and the great number who have died and moved away and without whom no church history of Morris could have been written; but in conclusion we can only say that we are thankful for every good influence that has been or may be yet. Now, as we look hopefully toward the future, having expanded in membership from fifteen to one hundred and ten, without about thirty additions to the church the last three years, with the aid of our able pastor, Rev. J. W. Farmer, of Georgetown, Ga. we will continue to "press forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." By Mrs. Norma Teel Jolley (pages 213-216) "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/quitman/churches/nbb28morrisba.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 11.5 Kb