Randolph County GaArchives Church Records.....Damascus 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, 10:24 am DAMASCUS CHURCH By Mrs. W. G. Lockett Damascus Church, Randolph County, is situated on the Cuthbert-Morgan Road four miles southeast of Cuthbert. It was constituted in the year of 1869, at which time a one room log building was erected on the present church site. The organization grew from a Sunday School held in an old brickyard shed which stood near the present edifice; so Damascus has the distinction of having had a Sunday School from the time of its beginning. Rev. George Norwood became the first pastor and served in that capacity intermittently until 1877. Some of the charter members were: Messrs. Billie Bridges, Zack Bridges, David Hay, Adam Henier, William May and Mesdames Billie Bridges, Zack Bridges, and David Hay. The first Deacons were Billie Bridges and William May. In 1870 affiliation was made with the Bethel Association, Rev. G. J. Norwood was pastor, R. A. Jerry, Clerk, H. Bass and F. Mood, messengers. Six were baptized that year and eight received by letter. The total membership of the church was twenty seven. Beginning with the year 1870 delegates have sent each year to take part in the work of the Association. In the year 1881 plans were made for a frame building to replace the log structure. So eager were the members for a better house that the necessary money was quickly raised, the building begun and completed in a few months time. This edifice stands today and is at present used for Sunday school rooms. In 1903 the privilege of entertaining the Association was enjoyed by the church. Great preparations were made for entertaining the many delegates who came in buggies from near and far for the three days session. On June 14, 1908 Mrs. Lucretia Taylor from Cuthbert assisted Miss Annie Sanlin in organizing the first W.M.S. with twenty two members. This organization has functioned continuously since that date andhas rendered valuable service in fostering Sunbeam Bands. In the fall of 1916 upon invitation Mr. John McK. Gunn from Cuthbert helped organize the first B.Y.P.U. sponsored by the church. In September 1931 under the direction of Rev. J. W. Farmer a General B. Y. P. U. Organization was begun with a B. A. U. Senior, Intermediate, and Junior Union. In the fall of 1928 the W. M. S. realizing the need of a larger auditorium and more space for Sunday School work, challenged the church to meet them in an effort to secure funds for a new building. Thus was the building program launched and in January 1929, the old building was moved back and work was begun on he new auditorium. The church takes a justifiable pride in its present church plant which will have at its completion an estimated value of $10,000.00. In June 1930 the Sunday School Convention of Bethel Association was entertained at the church. On the fifth Sunday in March 1931 the new auditorium was dedicated with the dedication sermon preached by Dr. Spright W. Dowell, President of Mercer University. The church enjoyed Home Coming Day on this day also. The men who have served as deacons are: W. T. Bridges, William May, J. T. Peak, Adam Henier, T. J. Sharley, I. A. Bridges, and J. O. McFather. The present deacons are C. D. Peak, J. D. Peak, J. M. Peavy, D. W. Goff, E. D. Peak, G. L. Peavy and W. E. Sanders. The men who have served as clerks are T. L. Lumly, 1877-1879; W. Z. Bridges, 1879-1882; I. R. Bridges, 1882-1885; J. E. Perry, 1885-1895; J. T. Peak 1895-1917; C. H. Peak, 1917-1923; P. D. Peak, 1923-1924; Edwin McFather, 1924-1925; J. O. McFather, 1925-1927; W. E. Sanders, 1927. The pastors who have served the church are: Rev. George Norwood -- 1869 Rev. Matthew Page -- Rev. John Clay -- Rev. Jim Bass -- 1877-1879 Rev. John Martin, Sr. -- 1879 Rev. Larkin Culbreth -- Rev. J. G. Corley -- 1886-1889 Rev. J. S. Knowles -- 1889-1892 then 1895-1898 Rev. Z. T. Weaver -- 1892-1895 Rev. John W. Martin, Jr. -- 1898-1904 Rev. W. L. Culbertson -- 1904-1910 Rev. G. V. Tilly -- 1910-1913 Rev. W. H. Norton -- 1913-1913 Rev. B. S. Railey -- 1913-1916 Rev. W. D. Hammack -- 1916-1919 Rev. W. D. Hammack -- 1916-1919 Rev. J. D. Overstreet -- 1919-1921 Rev. H. L. Crumbley -- 1921-1926 Rev. L. M. Jones -- 1926-1927 Rev. E. R. Eller -- 1927-1931 Rev. J. W. Farmer -- 1931 Although the church has given no preacher from its ranks to the ministry yet Miss Annie Sandllin, who is at present a Missionary in Southern China from Cuthbert Church, gave her heart to the Lord at Damascus and was baptized there. Two young members, Miss Ethel McCarty and Mr. Earl Warren, have recently offered themselves for Christian service. The church has a present membership of 212 and is prospering under the leadership of the pastor Rev. J. W. Farmer of Georgetown, Georgia. (pages 177-179) "History of Bethel Association - Including Centennial Meeting" Centennial meeting held with Baptist chuch at Edison, Georgia, October 25, 26, 27, 1932 A. L. Miller, Edison, Ga., Moderator. W. H. Joyner, Coleman, Ga., Clerk Complied and Edited by Alexander Lee Miller Moderator of Association 1909 -- 1934 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/randolph/churches/nbb15damascus.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb