Rockdale County GaArchives News.....HISTORIC SMYRNA FROM IRELAND TO ROCKDALE THE PILGRIM FATHERS STREAM December 5, 1885 ************************************************ 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: Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 September 1, 2011, 11:12 am Solid South December 5, 1885 Smyrna’s Birth Stamps a new Civilization- Full History of Smyrna Church, Rockdale County, Ga. From its Birth to the Present Time. By Rev. Henry Quigg, D. D. PART FIRST Here is a church crowded for divine worship. There is a spacious bard arbor in the midst of tents of superior structure. Here too is a commodious schoolhouse hard by the church. These buildings are well painted, neat and comfortable. Yonder too is God’s half acre, where the fathers sleep. Who are these people and whence came they? These questions lead us right back into the misty past. About the middle of the 15th century proofs were accumulating that the world was round, not flat. If round the East Indies can be reached by sailing west. The mariner’s compass has been discovered. Three ships are fitted out and after sailing 71 days Columbus lands on the island of San Salvador in the year 1492. He died in ignorance of his grand discovery. Six years later Americus Vespucci disembarks on the mainland and gives his name to a new world. Colony after colony of hardy Europeans braving the dangers of the deep, find a home in this western world. The first colony settled in North Carolina. In 1820 the May Flower lands her band of exiles in the depth of winter on a bleak and barren coast. A tide of emigration now set in which has continued to swell up till the present hour. Among the contributing streams to American population, Ulster, one of the four provinces of Ireland, has ever sent out its full share. The lands of this province being confiscated in 1610 to the British Crown after an unsuccessful rebellion and the original inhabitants being put to the sword or escaping to France, though a fertile territory, were now left a howling waste. The English King at this time encouraged the Scotts by land bounties to go over and possess the soil. As a result in the course of years Ulster was owned and occupied by Scotch emigrants. Carrying with them their customs, language and religion a new Scotland sprang up on Erin’s northern shore. In Ireland the descendants of these emigrants are still called Scotch. On this continent, and especially in the south, they are very appropriately called Scotch Irish to distinguish them alike from the aboriginal Irish and the native Scotch. With this type of humanity marked everywhere for its industry, integrity, energy, intelligence and piety, these southern state’s have been largely peopled. The first emigrants nearly all settled in northern states. In 1730 the Scotch and Scotch Irish had taken almost exclusive possession of the Cumberland valley in Pennsylvania. Some twenty years later the disturbed state of things in Pennsylvania began to push the inhabitants out of their homes. The Indians were daily wreaking their vengeance out on the whites. The fury of these wild men of the forest culminated in 1755 in what has been ever since known as Braddock’s defeat. This disastrous event leaving the whites a prey to their savage foes in Pennsylvania forced them to quit their cultivated seats and seek new homes in Virginia, North and South Carolina. The Scotch and the Scotch Irish streams of emigration now flowed through the port of Charleston to mingle with their friends and kinsmen in their new southern homes. But the tide of empire still westward flows, and the Scotch Irish have ever been in the front. Travel where you will on either hemisphere they are found planning their pursuits amid polar snows, temperate zones and tepid climates. When the fathers settled in the Carolinas the Red man proudly roamed through the forests wild. Just in the ________ that beautiful _____ in the grove, perhaps be _______ with his dusky bride the maze of the green corn dance and over ___ _ schoolhouse sat round the council fire, smoking the pipe of peace, or with painted visage and nodding plume, raising the _____, he sailed forth to meet the foe. In 1821 these children of the forest being pushed by the government beyond the Chattahoochee, their lands where surveyed and marked off into lots. Soon the white man steps in. Family after family and youth after youth from the Carolinas find their way to the Indian hunting grounds. As early as 1826 we find that Moses HOLLINGSWORTH and others have reached this place, yet almost as wild as when the Cherokee paddled South River in his light Canoe and chased the bear from his wigwam. Then the ginger weed, the fern and the tall grass concealed the deer, the turkey, the wild cat and the wolf. These lands that now smile with rich harvests around this church were on the market at 50 cents an acre. The inhabitants as yet were few and some not the most orderly. Those, however, who carried their religion with them to their new homes sought and obtained occasional supplies of the preached word. The Scotch stream wherever it flowed fertilized the soil with the dews of Heaven. Like the ancient patriarchs in their wanderings, they not only dug their well and pitched their tent, but raised their altar. As the bart pants after the water brooks, so they thirsted for the refreshing ordinances of God’s house. Their yearnings for the waters of life found an articulate voice in a petition to Presbytery to organize a church here in the wilderness. Ah! Faith can do what others only dream of and can triumph where others fail. The petition is granted. And at the appointed day a little band of prayerful, hopeful spirits cemented in the bonds of Christian love, with one heart and soul, meet to enter into solemn compact and rear a tabernacle in the wilderness to the might God of Jacob, singing in the fullness of heart: “O, God of Bethel, by whose hand thy people still are fed, Who through this weary pilgrimage, hast all our fathers and, Our vows, our prayers, we now present before thy throne of grace God of our fathers be the God of their succeeding race.” This auspicious meeting was held on Sabbath morning the 11th of February in the year 1827 at the dwelling house of Messrs. SAMUEL and ALEXANDER STEWART, two young men, who, with their sisters, resided about 100 yards from the house where Elder J. G. MCNAIR now lives. Surely this worthy brother lives on hallowed ground, occupying and possessing as he does the site of the germ of Smyrna Church. As the hour for service drew on two, Presbyterian clergymen approached. One young, tall, erect and vigorous, the other of middle stature and of middle age. The young man in the dew of his youth was Dr. J. T. WILSON, of South Carolina, a man who stood up for 50 years as the dauntless champion of truth in Georgia. The other was the Rev. WM. KIRKPATRICK, of Ireland, who had ministered to some of these present at Liberty Spring Church, South Carolina, and whose name in some families here is still as sweet ointment poured forth. After sermon by Dr. WILSON, the Church was organized-- the tender vine was planted which being water by the dews of prayer and tears of penitence has now extended its branches far and wide. The organization consisted of 15 members, only one more than the whole number of the apostles. Their names, however, are precious and will be held in everlasting remembrance. This is the heritage of the righteous. Let them again be uttered as they sounded in the house of the Messrs. STEWART, 58 years ago. ARCHILBALD GILMER, JOSEPH HOLLINGSWORTH, JR., MARGARET GILMER, MARY GILMER, JAMES RUSSELL, MARY RUSSELL, SAMUEL STEWART, ALEXANDER STEWART, ELIZBETH HOLLINGSWORTH, MOSES HOLLINGSWORTH, ELIZABETH HOLLINGSWORTH, DAVID M. STEWART, NANCY STEWART, ELIZABETH GILESPIE. Only one double name, it will be observed, is in the whole list. How customs change! Of these 15 every one has fallen asleep. Mrs. ELIZABETH HOLLINGSWORTH, relict of Mr. MOSES HOLLINGSWORTH and mother of our late lamented NEWTON HOLLINGSWORTH was the last survivor. She lived to see that little church, of whose beginning she formed a part, growing, expanding and sending out its colonies to Conyers and Salem and Lithonia and contributing to the up-building of churches by individual members in nearly every southern and southwestern state. Aye! And on the final day it will be said of many whose names never appeared on her church rolls this man and that man was born in her. TO BE CONTINUED * Solid South, December 5, 1885 HISTORIC SMYRNA FROM IRELAND TO ROCKDALE THE PILGRIM FATHERS STREAM Smyrna’s Birth Stamps a new Civilization- Full History of Smyrna Church, Rockdale County, Ga. From its Birth to the Present Time. By Rev. Henry Quigg, D. D. PART SECOND Before resuming this historic sketch we pause for a moment to correct two errors in part first. It was there stated that Mrs. MARY RUSSELL was dead. Esquire D. M. PARKER assured the writer that this estimable lady still lives and that her home is near Calhoun, Gordon County Ga. Her son, Mr. J. R. RUSSELL, has for many years been the popular clerk of the DeKalb Superior Court. The other correction is that the May Flower landed her band of exiles on the American shore, not in 1820 but in 1620. Now then, picking up the thread where it was dropped, we proceed with our narrative. Three others who were present at that memorable scene in the house of the Messrs. STEWART still live. While on that occasion they did not join the feeble nucleus forming the embryo of Smyrna Church, yet in a few months hence they cast in their lot with the people of God. Then free from care, rejoicing in the roseate hues of young life, with hearts as gay as the laughing zephyr, they saw in the future’s opening panorama “joy after joy successive rise”. One was a young lady just from South Carolina, the other was her brother and the third her future husband. Through what vicissitudes have they passed! Now aged and helpless but not forsaken. “To thy old age I am he and to thy ?boary? hairs I will carry thee.” A mother in Israel and fathers in Israel are they, Mrs. RUTH HOLLINGWORTH, Messrs. AARON HOLLINGSWORTH and GEORGE RODGERS. To these yet living witnesses “still lingering on the brink” old Smyrna with her thousand hallowed associations is as dear as ever Jerusalem was to David. His language with a new application they can sincerely adopt as their own. “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.” As we have said, this church was organized in the year 1827. Its first elders were Messrs. ARCHIBALD GILMER and JOSEPH HOLLINGSWORTH, JR. The latter was the father of Mrs. J. L. STEWART, of Conyers, whose praise is on every tongue. From the activity and energy of these two officers in building a house of worship the same year in which the church was established, we would infer that they were eminently worthy of their exalted and responsible position. Success depends so much upon the broad views and liberality of the leaders in any enterprise. This first edifice, 20 by 30 feet, was erected in DeKalb County, about 3 miles north from the site of the present Church. This house continued in use until the year 1840. Some remaining logs marked the place known as old Smyrna until a few years ago. For six years the Rev. JAMES GAMBLE preached in this church. His labors closed at the end of 1832. Here the camp meetings began. Revs. MOONEY, MCQULLIAN and WADDELL assisted Mr. GAMBLE in the years, 1830,1831 and 1832. In 1830 Mr. JOSEPH HOLLINGSWORTH, SR., and his wife, ROSANNAH, were received into the church, and Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH having presented an elder’s certificate of dismission from Liberty Spring Church, Laurens County, S. C., was unanimously elected to serve as elder here. In the same year ROBERT ROUNCEVILLE, brother-in-law of RICHARD SAPPINGTON, was elected and ordained an elder. At the beginning of 1833, the Rev. MICHAEL DIXON is in charge of the church. The four brothers already mentioned now constituted the bench of elders. In 1830 the name of NATHANIEL ROGERS appears on the church rolls, in 1834 WILLIAM F. STOWERS is received. Both these brethren were afterwards elected deacons. The later fell victim on the altar of ______ ________. During the war he went to Virginia and waited upon his arrival he was prostrated with smallpox. He caught the loathsome disease and returned to die at ______. He was an excellent man _____ _____. NATHANIEL RODGERS was a remarkable man. His bearing was noble. Like Saul ‘from his shoulders upward he was higher than any of the people.” Firm as Gibraltar in his convictions, he could not be driven yet by gentle approaches he might be led as easily as a child. He died only a few years ago. In his old age, with patriarchal air, he wore a long flowing beard soft as silk and white as the driven snow. How he did love the dear old Church! In 1837, 67 names appear on the church roll. In this same year WM. HOLLINGSWORTH and WM. TAYLOR, brothers-in-law, who had served as elders in South Carolina and who had been in communion with this church for 18 months, having been unanimously elected elders, took their seats as such on the 18th of October. In 1835 Rev. Mr. WARNOCK assisted at a two days meeting. O f him the writer knows nothing more. In 1836 Elder ROUNCEVILLE received certificates of dismission for himself, wife and two daughters as they were about to move to Walker County, Cherokee Ga. This good man served the church well as an elder and clerk of session and left behind him a name praised and honored of all. At the same time Brother WM. TAYLOR was chosen clerk of session in his stead. This devoted Christian, so emotional and gifted in leading the social meeting, having for years served the church with uncommon zeal fell asleep in Jesus on the 29th of July, 1839, dying at the early age of 36. Though dead he still speaks, saying to his children follow me as I have followed Christ. WM. HENRY TAYLOR was elected an elder in 1840. He was a good man but for some reason withdrew from the church. ROBERT WHITE, of pleasant memory, was received in 1840. He came from North Carolina. His children and grandchildren are still with us, some of them doing good service in Smyrna’s daughter. Mrs. JANE TAYLOR and Mrs. MARY ANN MCCOLLUM were the last members received by Rev. DIXON. During his administration 13 in all were added to the church. For six years following elder S. T. PHARR from Alcovia, held occasional services. At this time (1840) the church was transferred to its present site. During the year JOHN P. MARBIT and his excellent wife, SUSANNAH, were received. In 1839, Mrs. HOLLINGSWORTH, wife of JOSEPH HOLLINGSWORTH, was interred, the first of the many that now lies there, in the cemetery hard by. In 1843 Rev. INGLES was present at a four days meeting. In November, of the same year, NEWTON HOLLINGSWORTH was received into the church. In 1854 JOHN P. MARBIT was ordained an elder and afterward as such served the churches in Conyers and Lithonia. Brother MARBIT was a model of human kindness. He was as tender as a child. On listening to a portrayal of the love of Jesus for sinful man, “how guiltless blood for guilty man was shed,” his eyes would fill and the tears would flow. His house was the home of the preacher and his hand was ever open to the cry of the needy. He and his long afflicted wife have now both gone to their reward in glory. In the same year, 1844, JOSEPH HOLLINGSWORTH, Sr., died an old man full of years and ripe for Heaven, leaving behind him a name fragrant with the incense of piety and a large posterity following in his steps who today rise up and call him blessed. In this year MOSES HOLLINGSWORTH, his son, was ordained an elder. Full of piety and good works he too has gone the way of all the earth to join his loved sire, where both are young, for in tha happy land no care wrinkles the brow of immortal youth. At this time the Rev. BALDWIN preached for some months. In 1845 Rev. INGLES and PATTERSON held a four days meeting. A camp meeting appointed by Presbytery was held here in 1846 attended by Revs. PARSONS, MCCARTER, PATTERSON and KEITH. The first tent built on the ground was by Aaron HOLLINGSWORTH. During the six previous years 72 members were added. Rev. Mr. KEITH served the church in 1846 and Rev. Mr. STEVENS took charge of it in 1847 and closed his labors in 1853. Campmeetings were now held from year to year attended by Revs. KEITH and PATTERSON, and others Sixteen camp meetings were held in all up till the war at New Smyrna. In 1850 the total number of communicants was 92. In 1850 the bench of elders was W. HOLLINGSWORTH, AARON HOLLINGSWORTH, HENRY TAYLOR, MOSES HOLLINGWORTH and JOHN P. MARBIT. The deacons at this date were the forenamed NATHANAEL ROGERS and WM. F. STOWERS. The Rev. Messrs. STEVENS and KEITH received together about 65 during their pastorates. The Rev. JOHN MCKITRICK entered upon his labors at the beginning of 1854, and continued until the close of 1857 when from ill health he was laid aside for some time. During these four years he received into the church 36 members. In 1856 JOHN W. MCCOLLUM and NEWTON HOLLINGSWORTH were ordained and installed elders of this church. TO BE CONTINUED. * Solid South, December 5, 1885 HISTORIC SMYRNA FROM IRELAND TO ROCKDALE THE PILGRIM FATHERS STREAM Smyrna’s Birth Stamps a new Civilization- Full History of Smyrna Church, Rockdale County, Ga. From its Birth to the Present Time. By Rev. Henry Quigg, D. D. PART THIRD These two brethren faithfully served the Smyrna Church until the year 1860. In this year, they with others from the mother Church organized the Church in Conyers. On the 27th January, 1871, JOHN W. MCCOLLUM, a brother beloved, exchanged his rule on earth for a crown in Heaven. The other, NEWTON HOLLINGSWORTH after serving the Church in Conyers as ruling elder for 25 years and for a goodly portion of this time as superintendent of Sabbath School, fell asleep only a few months ago with his armor on. Few better or purer men than NEWTON HOLLINGSWORTH ever lived. In his demise the church for which he labored and prayed has suffered a heavy loss. With these two now deceased went out another brother from Smyrna who still lives, S. D. NIGHT, the faithful and efficient elder in the Conyers Church, a man ever true to duty as the needle to the pole and whose sacrifices for the church he loves know no limits. Long may he live to help the church to which his cares, his tears, his prayers and toils are given. Recurring to Smyrna, Rev. J. L. ROGERS ministered to this church in 1858, Rev. H. C. CARTER in 1859 and Rev. JOHN MCKITRECK resumed his labors in 1860, and finally closed them there in 1862. This good man died some years ago in his native Carolina. Brother MCKITRECK was the immediate predecessor of the writer. The present pastor began his labors in 1863. This was in the midst of our civil war when darkness shrouded the land and sorrow saddened every heart and our congregations we clad in the habiliments of mourning. These were days of sore trial. Our harps were hung on the willows and strung on the minor key. But even in the midst of our distress we had some precious meetings. Of these however we cannot now speak. In 1865 J. G. MCNAIR was installed as elder over this church, having presented an elder’s certificate from Bethany Church, Newton County. J. W. HOLLINGSWORTH was ordained and installed elder in 1868 and was soon after elected clerk of session in his father’s stead. The duties of this office he still performs with marked ability. GEORGE LYONS and GEORGE W. HOLLINGSWORTH were elected elders and WM. BRISENDINE and J. H. HOLLINGSWORTH were elected deacons, October 30th, 1869. The large board arbor was erected in 1878 and the first campmeeting the same year. These meetings have continued without interruption up till date, 1885. On May the 20th, 1877, J. H. HOLLINGSWORTH, who had “earned for himself a good degree,” and WALTER B. WALCOTT were duly installed as elders of this church and W. W. SWANN and W.W.WALCOTT were set apart in the deaconate. Now for a resume. Since the organization of the Church is has had 19 elders of whom five remain in the faithful discharge of their duty. They are AARON HOLLINGSWORTH, J. G. MCNAIR, JOHN W. HOLLINGSWORTH, JAMES H. HOLLINGSWORTH, J. O. BOHANAN. The Nestor of the bench, WILLIAM HOLLINGSWORTH, died on March 28th, 1883, having served the church for about 50 years, with conspicuous fidelity, love and zeal. He was one of the most blameless, amiable and pious men that ever trod the earth. W.W. SWANN, D. F. CLOTFELTER, G. W. WARREN and THOMAS F. MADDOX constitute the present board of deacons. Their efficiency and activity are appreciated and admired. The number of members received into the church until the close of 1862 was 226, and the number of children baptized up to the same time was 70. From that time till the present there have been received on profession of faith, 27, and on certificate of dismission from other churches,33 making a total of 304 or 78 more _____ to the present pastorate than _____ ____ _____ together from the ____ ___ ____ was instituted up till the close of 1862. We also baptized 146 adults on profession of faith and 164 children, or 85 more children than were baptized during the preceding history of the church. The whole number received into the church from its organization is 530. The number of communicants now on the roll is 185, showing an exhibit of 345 that were once members, who have either gone away to bless other communities and churches or gone the way of all the earth. “ Friend after friend departs, Who has not lost a friend? That finds not here an end.” Of my ten predecessors one only is living, the Rev. J. L. ROGERS, the beloved pastor of Bethany and from his legal acumen displayed in church courts, the recognized constitutional lawyer of the Atlanta Presbytery. The other nine have entered upon their reward. Of those DICKSON and STEPHENS served each seven years, the latter as pastor. Mr. DICKSON and all the others, save the present incumbent, as started supplies. Mr. Gamble ministered six years to the infant church. The others from one to four years, each. The present pastorate, therefore, of 23 years more than trebles the highest of those who have preceded him. Before the mind’s eye of the reader of a panorama has now been spread, covering an historic period of nearly 60 years. The brevity of the sketch only permitted the writer to point out a few of the more prominent pictures on the unfolding canvas. To many who gaze, these pictures will suggest incidents that occurred to them and theirs. “In life’s morning march when their bosom was young.” This life of ours is a mild Aeolian harp of many a joyous strain. “And let fate do her worst there are moments of joy. Bright dreams of the past which she cannot destroy, Which come in the midnight of sorrow and care, And bring back the features that joy used to wear.” But while we rejoice in the past let us not fail to appreciate the present. These are the best days that ever the world saw. Like the tide approaching the shore, with all its apparent regressions, the progress has been steadily onward. IN material things contrast the period in which this church was founded with the comforts and conveniences that now surround us. Then practically we had no railroads, steamboats or telegraph wires. Now by the aid of fire and water we can travel 30 or 40 miles an hour and transmit our messages on the lightning’s wing. Then most of the people here lived in houses unsealed, unflustered and unpainted with one huge fire place, which burned one side while the other was freezing. Now the homes are warm and comfortable. Then there was not a carpet, now few homes are without them. Then the big dinner pot and the frying pan only, now we have stoves and cooking utensils without end. Then the reading was done at night by the pine knot or “tallow dip,” now it is by the softer radiance of the kerosene or electric lamp. Then if the fire went out it was only rekindled by a coal from a distant neighbor’s hearth. Then if the pipe is to be lighted a chunk must be brought from the house. Now the matchbox is at hand whether at home or abroad. Then the hour was guessed by the light of the sun creeping towards the noon mark, now a good time keeper may he had for the pocket at the incredible cost of two dollars and a clock may grace the comer at just half that price. Then there was not a picture to be seen here in any house, now chromos and lithographs beautify every dwelling. Then not an organ was to be found in any house, almost every home is charmed with their melody. Then young ladies wore simlon bonnets, now they have felt, chip and Leghorn. The shoes, too were often relieved of duty until the church was sighted. Men attempted public meetings in shoes without socks and for coats, if they had any, many were roundabout jackets of Nonkrew. Then this county was a wild, now it smiles like the garden of the Lord. In religious affairs what facilities for improvement! Then neither union nor international questions had been even seen in vision. Now helps to the understanding of the word abound. Then the church was a rough, hasty structure of logs, now it is an elegant building enlarged with in the last few years for the accommodation of its teeming congregations. At the first campmeeting and for many long years afterwards green branches for a shelter were their covering, now we have this excellent and comfortable arbor. Formerly the tents were few and interior in structure, now they are many and of very superior make. Formerly some of the loose and disorderly infested this region, now there is not a disorderly family to be found. Piety, law and order everywhere prevail. While Presbyterian camp meetings have become extinct in Georgia, Smyrna alone sheds its illuminating rays far and wide over the land. While other churches formed at the same time with this one, have sunk below the wave of oblivion. Smyrna after sending out so many colonies is still strong and flourishing. In piety, harmony, intelligence and gospel knowledge she stands in the front rank with the best of our country churches. Here we would raise our Ebenezer and accept God’s goodness in the past as a pledge of still richer blessings to coming generations. This thought reminds us that the present actors shall soon pass from the scene. While then we rejoice we would be sober. Xerxes wept in the hour of his glory, when he remembered that not one man of his countless host would be alive at the end of 100 years. No small wonder, if frail nature should now drop a tear at the thought that when the centennial of this church shall be celebrated, all that is mortal of the writer and readers of these pages shall quietly sleep in the tomb. We all do fade as the leaf, “The fathers where are they? And the prophets do they live forever?” No” One army of the living God, to his commands we bow, Part of the host have crossed the flood and part are crossing now.” And now in conclusion the writer would say only a word touching his own relation to this church. His work as pastor of Smyrna has been a labor of love. He has baptized nearly all her youth. He feels towards them as his spiritual children. With this much loved people he has been as gay as the gayest at their nuptial altars, and mingled his tears with theirs as they consigned their loved ones to the tomb. With them he has feasted on marrow and fatness as from year to year they gathered around the hallowed board. Peace and harmony have characterized their intercourse. Not a single jar has ever disturbed their concord. Not a dimming cloud has veiled the sunshine of their Christian love. And when his work is done he seeks no higher joy than with them to walk the golden streets, wander by the crystal river, pluck the amaranthine flowers from fields of living green and striking his golden harp to swell the diapason of Smyrna’s redeemed, as it rolls up and mingles and melts in the grand oratorio of earth’s millions that forever resound with ecstatic thrill around the throne of the Eternal. 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