Randolph County GaArchives Church Records.....Mt. Hebron 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, 1:44 pm MT. HEBRON BAPTIST CHURCH What is now Mt. Hebron Church was first organized as an arm of New Bethel Church. Services were held in a district court house supplemented with a bush harbor where the late Jasper Dawson home now stands. As this arm of New Bethel Church grew stronger the sentiment began to crystallize that a new church should be organized. The desire became so strong that a date was set for the organization. The charter members were as follows: G. B. Watson, Henderson Bass, Henry Nichols, Mary Cosby, J. J. Jernigan, Elizabeth Nichols, Julia Hall, Winnie Coleman, Emily Watson, E. G. Hall, W. Nichols, Joseph T. Pate, Carolina Nichols, J. C. McKinnon, Caroline Dovering, Benjamine Lovering, Elmore Nichols, B. F. Mainor, Susan Harper, Louisa Dawson, Ann Ragan, Mary A. Jinks, Sarah Nichols, Nancy E. Dawson, Elizabeth Coleman, Francis Jinks, George W. Dawson, Wesley Ragan, W. H. Beard, W. H. Nichols, Robert Beard, Jasper A. Dawson, Liffie Stephens, W. W. Towler, W. C. Bass and John W. Nichols. The organization is submitted as recorded in first minute book. The Constitution of Mount Hebron Church is as follows: Georgia, Randolph County in the Sixth District. BE IT REMEMBERED that on Friday the twentieth of October in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Five the arm of New Bethel Church composed of thirty six members having been regularly dismissed from New Bethel Church met at the court ground in the sixth district in order for constitution, attended by Elders W. M. Page, John Martin (Uncle Johnnie), and G. I. Norwood. After a sermon was preached by W. M. Page, we then went into the constitution. The members were asked if they were ready to be constituted into a Church to themselves and they answered in the affirmative. Bro. Martin was chosen to act as Moderator for the day. Chose Brother W. C. Bass to act as Clerk Pro Tem. On motion (by Bro. Greene Watson) named the church Mount Hebron. On motion agreed to meet on Saturday before the fifth Sabbath to choose deacons and preacher for the year. Chose Bro. w. W. Towler, Clerk. A charge was given by Bro. John Martin of the covenant obligation to God and to let Brotherly Love continue and to take the Word of God for the man of their council. All kneeled down together in token of love to God and to one another and prayer was made by the Moderator for the blessings of God to rest upon the church. Dismissed. W. C. Bass, Clerk Pro Tem. The first deacons of the church were Green Watson and Henderson Bass, who were also the first delegates to the Bethel Association. Mount Hebron entertained the Bethel Association in 1901. The present deacons are O. E. Settles, A. J. Ivey, D. H. Bass, J. W. Dawson. After the organization the members moved the church one mile west on the Cuthbert and Edison road. A log house was built, but could not accommodate the gatherings so a frame building was added to the rear thereby making it much larger. This building was used for a number of years. About 1901 the present building was constructed and valued at fifteen hundred dollars. SUNDAY SCHOOL Mt. Hebron's Sunday School history has been rather irregular, running for a time and then stopping. The first record found was in 1878 with A. S. Fellows, superintendent. No record was kept so other officers are unknown. Sunday School was conducted at Mobley School House for a number of years with J. E. Bass, Superintendent. J. W. Dawson was superintendent in 1925; Bro. Mack Robinson in 1926. Our Sunday School took a decided turn for the better after Miss Gillebeau came into the Association as a worker. Several study courses were taken under Miss Guillebeau and Mrs. Bush and Bro. Lester, resulting in about fifteen receiving diplomas. At this time the school was reorganized and Bro. J. E. Turner was elected superintendent in 1927. Since that time we have continued in the work all the time. Bro. J. S. Rhodes is now Sunday School Superintendent. W.M.U. Miss Rhodes came to Mt. Hebron Church in August 1925 to teach a W.M.U. Study course. During her stay she talked organization suggested offices and gave infirmation. Accordingly in September 1925 Mrs. L. C.Clarke came out and helped us organize our present Womans Missionary Society with Mrs. J. W. Dawson as president and Mrs. J. E. Turner, Secretary and Treasurer. In May 1926 a Sunbeam Band was organized with Mrs. Ben Peavy as leader. In February 1928 Mrs. Holland met with us and we organized an Intermediate R. A. and also a G. A. with Mrs. Carl Ward as leader of both. In January 1931 the G. A. passed into a Y.W.A. keeping their same counselor, and a Junior G. A. was organized with Miss Francis Nicholas as leader. In January 1931 our Sunbeam Band, Y.W.A. and R.A. received Associational Banners for being best A.I. Organization in Bethel Association during 1930. In March 1931 our W.M.U. was recognized as a Union by the state W.M.U. meeting at Forsyth. An A.I.W.M.U. banner was received for 1930 and again for 1931. The Sunbeams also received an A.I. associational banner for 1931. The officers of the W.M.U. have been as follows: Mrs. J. W. Dawson was President or leader in 1925; Mrs. J. T. Stevens in 1926; and Mrs. J. W. Dawson from 1927 to 1932 inclusive. The secretaries to serve have been Mrs. J. E. Turner from 1925, to 1931 and Mrs. A. J. Ivey in 1931 and 1932. Mrs. Ben Peavy was Sunbeam Leader during the years 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928. In 1929 Mrs. Rufus Lumpkin was Leader and she was succeeded by Mrs. Ben Peavy in 1930 for 1930, 1931 and 1932. Mrs. Ben Peavy served as helper to Mrs. Rufus Lumpkin, and Mrs. Rufus Lumpkin, Miss Ileen Settles and Miss France Nichols were helpers for Mrs. Ben Peavy. Mrs. D. E. Settles has been Personal Service Chairman for the W.M.S. since 1928. During 1928 the Leader of the Girls Auxiliary was Mrs. Carl Ward with Mrs. Rufus Lumpkin as helper. In 1929 Mrs. Ward was again Leader. In 1930 Mrs. Maggie Nichols was Leader and Mrs. O. E. Settles, Helper. In 1931 Miss Francis Nichols served as Leader with Miss Amy Lumpkin, Helper. In 1932 Miss Ileen Settles was Leader and Miss Amy Lumpkin, Helper. The Royal Ambassadors had as their leader in 1928 Mrs. Carl Ward. In 1929 and 1930, Mrs. J. E. Turner; In 1931 and 1932 Mrs. O. E. Settles. Mrs. Carl Ward was Helper. The Y.W.A. Counselor for 1931 and 1932 was Mrs. Maggie Nichols with Mrs. Carl Ward, Helper. Mt. Hebron Church entertained the Young People's Council in June 1931. Years ago there was a Ladies Aid Society of which no record was kept. A B.Y.P.U. was organized in 1928 in Mt. Hebron Church with J. W. Dawson as President and Wellborn Settles, Secretary. After about a year's work, Miss Ileene Settles was elected President. The B.Y.P.U. continued until the spring of 1930. A B.Y.P.U. was reorganized in August 1932 with Mrs. J. S. Rhodes, General Director. The president of the Senior B.Y.P.U. is Ronald Weathersby, Sarah McChargue is Secretary. The President of the Junior B.Y.P.U. is Lois Rhodes with Elizabeth Nichols as Secretary. The following pastors have served Mt. Hebron Church since its organization. J. I. Norwood in 1865: M. Page in 1866 and 1867; and eighteen baptisms were had during his pastorate; J. C. Bass from 1869 to 1972 whose baptisms numbered three; J. S. Parker from 1872 to 1875 with forty seven baptisms; J. B. Clay in 1875 baptized sir; L. Culbreth in 1876 with four baptisms; Johnnie Martin from 1877 to 1880 baptized twenty six into the church. J. W. Nichols in 1880 with two baptisms; L. Culbreth in 1881, no baptisms; Johnnie Martin from 1888 to 1895 inclusive with ninety one baptisms; J. G. Corley from 1896 to 1901 baptized thirty two into the church; W. O. Crumbley in 1902 baptized eight; J. G. Corley served as pastor in 1903 and 1904, baptizing eleven; J. W. Martin from 1905 to 1924 baptized one hundred and forty one members into the church; H. J. Edwards in 1925 to 1928 baptized thirty seven; H. L. Crumbley served as pastor from 1928 until April 23rd, 1931 when God saw fit to take him to his reward. Bro. J. W. Martin supplied until fall. E. T. Dawson held the revival. Hugh Dozier served three months of 1932 and H. B. Coleman finished the year with twenty baptisms. The Clerks are listed as follows: W. W. Fowler in 1865; N. K. Gilbert 1866 and 1867; H. T. Nichols from 1869 to 1872; M. S. Cheshire from 1872 to 1875; S. A. Loftin in 1875 and 1876; A. S. Fellows from 1877 to 1882; J. B. Watson from 1882 to 1896; G. R. Swann and Nelson Fellows in 1869 to 1901 and Nelson Fellows on to 1905; J. W. Fellows served as clerk eleven years, C. E. Dawson, three years, R. S. Fellows one year, and J. S. Rhodes John W. Nichols was ordained by Mt. Hebron Church as a pastor. (pages 219-222) "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/nbb45mthebron.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 10.1 Kb