Randolph County GaArchives Church Records.....Benevolence 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, 12:58 pm BENEVOLENCE BAPTIST CHURCH RANDOLPH COUNTY, GEORGIA The church was first constituted on the 16th. of November, 1831, by Peter Eldridge and James S. Lunsford. It consisted of nine members, and was called Mount Paran. Three years after this the church withdrew from the Columbus Association, and was one of the original fourteen churches in 1833 that constituted the Bethel Association. John Winsor was the first pastor. The first year the church seems to have had no pastor, and to have held but few regular meetings. H. H. Hudson and Stephen Parker were the only pastors till 1840. There were but few additions by letter and scarcely any by baptism during the nine years following its constitution. In the year 1839 the name of the church was changed from Mount Paran to Walnut Grove; and in the same year the article of decorum was adopted, that the church would not fellowship the Benevolent Institutions of the day; but would not make it a church matter, leaving it with every man's conscience, he being free to act as he thinks proper. In the year 1840, the 8th. of February, the church agreed, by a bare majority, to withdraw from the Bethel Association as a Home Mission Society had been formed by it. The vote was a tie, and the pastor, Stephen Parker, cast the deciding vote, against the Association. Letters of dismission were granted to the missionary half in full fellowship, except on the point of Benevolence; and the anti-mission half kept the house. The missionary half, rather than give up their consientious conviction with reference to the duty of benevolence, came together with a few from other churches and were constituted into a church May 16th, 1840, by James Mathews and Isaac Osteen. As a matter of zeal and triumph of principle they named their newly organized church Benevolence. Benevolence Church began with fourteen members, under the pastoral care of James Mathews, and at the time of his death, 1847, there had been two hundred and fifty added; and during the forty years that have followed there have been near 500 persons baptized, and nearly 700 added. The church book states that "Brother J. Mathews aided in the constitution of the church at Benevolence, and was immediately called to the pastorate, and was a member, and continued his labors there till he died. His labors were truly blessed of God in winning souls to Christ, and infusing the spirit of benevolence." The contributions by the church were small at first, yet the principle and duty were taught, which resulted in liberal giving in after years. W. L. Crawford, who had served the church as deacon, was ordained to the ministry in 1846, and called to the pastorate in 1848. E. W. Warren followed him in 1852. B. L. Ross followed in 1860. He having been called back in 1857; W. L. Mansfield in 1862; J. O. Cumbie, in 1863; H. Hartsfield 1864; B. L. Binion from 1865 till 1873; L. Culbreath till 1876; J. W. P. Fackler January and February of 1877, and Wm. H. Norton from 1877 till the present. Four ministers have been ordained here -- W. L. Crawford in 1846, W. M. James in 1859, H. Hartsfield in 1864 and Green McArthy, colored, in 1866. Eight or ten deacons have been ordained by it. Built two houses of worship. The church called its pastors annually after 1852, and had during nearly fifty years, fifteen different ones, and only one (W. L. Crawford) ever served it again after leaving. A strict discipline has been maintained at all times; dancing, drunkenness, billiards, etc. condemned. Another noticeable fact is that nearly all the baptisms took place July, August and September; so much for stated times for holding protracted meetings. Only about six months during the war was the church without a pastor. The Bethel Association met with it in 1851. The record is very incomplete with reference to the amounts contributed for benevolent objects annually, and also to pastors' salaries; but they seem to have been alive to this duty. The church numbers at this date a little over one hundred members; and though the times are changed, yet they purpose to never be unmindful of the struggles of the past and the principles then so dear, and the very name "Benevolence" shall ever be the watchword to rouse their fagging zeal and stir to faithfulness in filling the Master's last command. "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Fort Gaines, Ga. Oct. 23, 1879 Wm. N. Norton. (pages 157-158) "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/randolph/churches/nbb36benevole.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb