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 July 2, 2004, 5:15 pm MORRIS BAPTIST 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 Reverend W. D. Hammock of Coleman was elected moderator and J. W. Cumbie was elected clerk, after a sermon by Reverend A. E. Keese. The church letters of Ross Wilson Sr., Ross Wilson Jr., J. H. Wilson, J. B. Oliver, V. B. Oliver, James Pace, W. A. Cumbie, J. L. Cumbie, J. W. Cumbie, and Sister: Jane Wilson, Lelia Castellow, May Oliver, Lula Cumbie, Claudia Cumbie, and Mattie 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 Springvale Church, from which most of the members had come, was adopted. The following were present, assisting in the meeting, though they had not secured letters of dismission from their respective churches: Brethren J. A. Hillman and wife, A. H. Teel and family, Mrs. S. E. Sparks and family, and R.A.J. Boyett, who later united by a profession of faith. They also aided in the building of the church. Much credit was due Brother Boyett's untiring efforts as chairman of the building and financial aid, which enabled the church house to be completed rapidly. In October of 1901, the building committee was authorized to select and mark a spot for the building. They also met March 22, 1902 and cleaned off the grounds. The site was donated by a faithful member. The church house was built with the aid and contributions of the members and citizens of the community and the generosity of many public-spirited citizens of the surrounding territory. It was sometime before it was finally cleared of debt. (Feb. 22, 1903). The church was painted in 1904 and again in 1915. A piano was purchased in 1914, after the organ was disposed of that had previously been used for music. J. H.Wilson and W. A. Cumbie were the first messengers sent by the church to the Bethel Association that was held in October of 1901. The first Deacons were: J. A. Hillman, W. A. Cumbie, and A. H. Teel in 1902, with J. W. Boyett being received as a Deacon in 1904. The first members to join by experience were: Emmett Phillips, Claude Wilson, and Alma Smith, while the first loss of membership, sustained by death was R. H. Wilson Sr. The W.M.W. of the Bethel Association was in its infancy, having been organized in 1900. The Woman's Missionary and Aid Society at Morris Baptist Church was formed February 4, 1903, with fifteen members. Although the dues were paid promptly each month, it was decided to give all of the eggs that were collected by the members on Sundays to Missions and quite a bit was collected in this way. Regular meetings were held until 1907 and then, after a time lapse of a few years, the Society was reorganized by Sister Lillie Tarpum in 1910. The small band was reorganized in 1914. About this time, the Sunbeam Band was fostered by the Society. Much good was accomplished by the Sunbeams and contributions were made to all good causes. In 1918 the Society assisted the Red Cross, visited hospitals, held services for the convicts and distributed magazines, visits were made and aid was given to the homes that were in need, and a contribution was made to the surcharge on the song books. A Y.W.A. was organized in 1925 and in 1926 a Negro Sunband was organized, also a Memorial tree was planted. Theses Auxiliaries became inactive, due to the B.Y.P.U. being organized by Mrs. W. E. Sted in 1928. On August 13, 1923, J. A. Hillman died, remembering the church in his will with a gift of the dividends from a $500.00 share of Southwestern R.R. Co. stock. After repeated trials of light for the church, the most satisfactory service was received when the building was wired and the electricity furnished by W. H. Boyett. (Delco). The interior of the church is 35 feet by 50 feet by 17 feet and had a seating capacity of about 250 people. There was much work done on the church in the 50's. A nursery was fixed, gas heat installed, concrete porch and steps, new piano, new lighting fixtures, three Sunday School rooms were added, a baptistery was placed in the church, new pulpit and pews, and improvements were made to the grounds. A short time after the new pews were installed, the members found velvet cushions had been placed on them as they met for church one Sunday morning. To this day, no one has claimed credit for this gift that was most appreciated by the church members. Holanna Creek was used for baptism until the church acquired the baptistery. Tommy Nolan was the last person to be baptized in Holanna Creek. The History of Morris Baptist Church had been written by Mrs. Norma T. Jolley in 1931 and saved by Mrs. June Nolan. This information was written in a little blue composition book that was called Golden Rule Compositions and on the back was found the Bible Arithmetic that is being included. Bible Arithmetic Ezekial's reed was nearly 11 feet; a cubit was nearly 22 inches; a hand's breath is equal to 3 5/8 inches; a finger's breath is equal to a little less than 1 inch; a shekel of silver was about 65 cents; a shekel of gold was $10; a talent of silver was $2,000; a talent of gold was nearly $30,000; a piece of silver, or a penny, was 17 cents; a mite was less than a farthing; a gerah was .03 cents, an ephah, or both contained 4 gallons and 5 pints; a hin was 3 quarts and 3 pints; an omer was 6 pints; a cab was 5 pints. Mrs. June Nolan Blue Book written by Mrs. Norma T. Jolly "Cemeteries and Churches of Quitman County, Georgia" by Jacquelyn M. Shepard (page 55-57) Additional Comments: Transcribed and submitted by Donna Eldridge with permission from Jacquelyn Shephard File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/quitman/churches/nbb64morrisba.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 6.6 Kb