Quitman-Brooks-Statewide County GaArchives News.....A GRAND OLD CHURCH August 27, 1893 ************************************************ 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: Clyde Watson clyde.nell@gmail.com August 5, 2009, 7:15 pm Savannah Morning News August 27, 1893 A GRAND OLD CHURCH Interesting Services as It's Semi-Centennial Celebration. Quitman, Ga. Aug. 22--Liberty Baptist Church at Grooverville, in this county, celebrated it's semi-centennial on Saturday, the 19th of August. The occasion was a very interesting one, and there was present one of the largest crowds ever seen at a public gathering in the county. The church as constituted on the 19th of August 1843, just fifty years to the day from the time of the celebration of it's semi-centennial. The members who organized the church were Elisha P. Smith; R. T. Starland; James T. Baker; Nancy Hagan; Sarah A. Groover; Mary Smith; Amanda Denmark and Sarah Whitfield. All of these names are familiar one in all of South Georgia, and will be recognized by many old inhabitants all over this section. Of these members but one Mrs. Sarah A. Groover, is living. She was present at the celebration exercises, and was the happy recipient of many good wishes and congratulations. Elders R. J. Mays; Jesse Goodman and Thomas Lang formed the church's Presbytery at the time of it's organization. Rev. R. J. Mays, who has many descendants now living in South Georgia was the church's first pastor. He served not quite two years. The church's other pastors have been: Rev. B. S. Fuller from 1845 to 1849; Rev. J. B. Lacy from 1849 to 1855; Rev. Z. J. Bluett from 1855 to 1867; Rev. James McBryde from 1867 to 1871; Rev. C. D. Campbell from 1871 to 1872; and Rev J. M. Rushin from 1872 to present time, he now being the pastor in charge. The deacons of the church have been; Brethren T. I. Denmark, ordained in 1844; T. F. Jones, in 1852; J. Densler, in 1859; C. A. Davis, in 1862; R. J. Groover, in 1866; A. W. Groover, in 1869; F, M, Groover,and J. W. McMullen, in 1878; and J. W. Haddock in 1881. A MISSIONARY CHURCH The church has been a missionary body ever since its constitution; and is the mother of several of the strongest Missionary Baptist churches in this section, notably among then the church at Boston Georgia, and the one at Hickory Head in this county. The leading spirit and the prime mover in the organization was Mrs, Nancy Hagan, whose name is mentioned above as one of the original members. She is today well remembered by numbers of the older inhabitants of this section as one of the most remarkable women among the pioneers of this section. Her descendants in this and adjoining counties in Georgia as well as in Florida, are numerous, and among them all her name is held in scared reverence. A part of the programme in the day's exercises was the reading of a poem written by her over fifty years ago on the dedication of this church. The poem was recited by her great-great granddaughter, Miss Mary Groover. Another poem written by her about the same time was recited by her great granddaughter, Miss Bertha Groover. Ither features of the day were the roll call of members from the day of the church's organization to the present time. "A History of the Church" by, Rev. J. M. Rushin, "The Progress of Baptist Principles During Fifty Years"by Capt. J. G. McCall, and brief sketches of the older pastors and members by different ones. Delegates and representatives from over twenty other churches in this section were present. Old Liberty Baptist Church is one of the Missionary Baptist churches in the state, it's name is familiar to all Baptist in the state and will be glad to learn that it is still in a flourishing condition. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/quitman/newspapers/agrandol2819nw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb