Webster County GaArchives Church Records.....Weston Baptist Church History Copyright Date 1964 ************************************************ 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: Jeannie Lugo Cook howtowngirl@bellsouth.net November 10, 2010, 10:12 am The following anonymous history was copied from two typed, legal-size pages in the possession of my late father-in-law, Claude M. Cook, Jr. He was born in Webster County in 1926, the son of Claude M. Cook and Florrie Elizabeth Morton (of Stewart County). I have transcribed it faithfully, down to spelling and punctuation. WESTON BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY The Weston Baptist Church grew out of Old Mt. Pisgah Church, located three or four miles from Weston on the Weston-Trotman road, just across the GF and A Railroad. Before the church was organized, a Mrs. Edwards, whose husband taught school at Weston, (known as “Hard-Money”), held a Baptist Sunday School in the school building, with Mr. G.E. Dennard being the first Sunday School Superintendent. Realizing the need of a church in a growing community, a small band of people, composed of Rev. and Mrs. M.B.L. Binion; Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Sims; Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Durham; Mr. and Mrs. G.E. Dennard; Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Passemore; Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Passemore; Mrs. W.W. Simmons; Mrs. Nancy Jones; Mrs. Sarah Summerford; Miss Mollie Summerford; Mrs. Vince Jones; Mrs. Calvin Kimbrough; and Mr. J. Thomas Anderson, organized the Weston Baptist Church in 1875, in the Friendship Association. Construction on the church began in March-1875, with money and labor being donated by local people. The material was hauled from Dawson, Georgia by wagon teams. The lumber was hand-planed. The church was dedicated in October of the same year with the sermon being delivered by Rev. J.H. Corley. Rev. M.B.L. Binion was the first pastor and served for five years. A great revival was held in 1876. Five new members joined the church, three of whom were baptized: Mrs. Rebecca Carter; Mrs. Mollie Huff; and a Mr. Hicks. L. C. Durham and J. Thomas Anderson were the first deacons. Later Frank Anderson came into the church as a deacon and J.H. Whichard was ordained. The following men have served as deacons since then: R.E. Bridges; G.W. Sims; John R. Bridges; J.H. Tarwin; Amos Kenyon; J.W. Adams; J.B. Trotman; Dr. G.G. Lunsford; M.E. Goodwin; S.O. Brightwell; Tom Jones; and H.C. Freeman. Those men serving as deacons at present are: B.J. Goodwin; James W. Adams; S.W. Adams; Joe Barge; Roy Brightwell; Merritt Harmon; G.H. Patterson; Arthur Smith; and Owen Stapleton, Sr. Mr. G.E. Dennard was elected clerk when the church was organized and held this office for twenty-three years. Others serving through the years have been: J.O. Sims; J.W. Adams; Dr. G.G. Lunsford; M.E. Goodwin; J.T. Jones; D.L. Goare; B.J. Goodwin; Mrs. Claude Thurmond; Mrs. Joe Barge; and Mrs. E.R. Merritt, who is now in office. The follow pastors served short terms of one to two years from 1880 to 1888: Rev. W.B. Stevens; J.H. Corley; William Howell; Jeptha Corley; M.B.L. Binion, this being this second term. Rev. W.W. Mabry was pastor for eight years. During his pastorate an organ was purchased on March 1, 1880. This was the first musical instrument purchased for the church. Pastors serving during the past years have been as follows: Rev. J.C. Coleman; W.W. Arnold; A.C. Wellons; W.H. Patterson; B. Broome; F.W. Wiliams; A.B. Campbell; C.J. White; John F. Eden; T.J. Herring; Claude Bridges; J.C. Moore; T.J. Herring (second term) J.W. Ham; J.D. O’Keefe; R.L. Bivins; Jesse Bell; William (Bill) Davis; Waldo Woodcock; Ellwood Cline; and the pastor at present is T.C. Burrell. The Weston Baptist Church joined the Summerhill Association with a membership of eighty-two in the fall of 1912, and the following year entertained the General Associational Meeting. The introductory sermon was preached by Rev. John T. Goare of Richland. (He conducted our revival a few years ago.) The membership increased to more than one hundred and fifty in 1929 with an active Sunday School and B.Y.P.U. The first missionary society was organized by Mrs. R.L. Bivins of Americus and lived about three years. It was re-organized in 1915 of with Mrs. A.W. Elliott as president, and lasted only a short time. Mrs. John F. Eden made another attempt in 1916 in re-organization and it has gone steadily forward! Among those serving as President have been: Mrs. G.G. Lunsford; Mrs. S.W. Adams; Mrs. H.C. Freeman; Mrs. E.R. Merritt; Mrs. Joe Barge; Mrs. G.H. Patterson; Mrs. Ches Moore; and Mrs. B.J. Goodwin, who is serving as present. It has undertaken various enterprises, such as sending money to missionaries, clothing to orphans, and sewing for the poor. The missionary society has sponsored a graded union, having at one time all four grades. The membership has never been large, with only twenty-two members now. These few, through the years, have been faithful and loyal to the aims and ideals of W.M.U.! Weston W.M.U. has furnished some efficient Assocational officer Among these have been: Mrs. G.G. Lunsford; Mrs. S.W. Adams; Mrs. H.C. Freeman; Mrs. C.E. Woodruff; Mrs. Joe Barge; MRs. C.F. Moore; Mrs. Ross Jones, Jr.’ and Mrs. B.J. Goodwin. We find as we read the old minutes, that a decorum was adopted in the early life of the church and was adhered to very closely, being read at intervals during the years. The early leaders of the church were very exacting with their members who were negligent in their conduct, such as non-attendance, absence from conference, immoral conduct, profane language, dancing, or any other unchristian conduct, and the leaders reprimanded the members constantly, even withdrawing fellowship from them. Committees were appointed to visit and counsel with those who did not meet the requirements set forth in the decorum. Sometimes as many as three sets of committees were appointed at one conference to counsel with them. We found that they could ask to be excused from conference if they were busy in certain livelyhoods. The church has always been generous with its help to other church In 1901, we found that they offered the use of the Baptist Church to the Methodist brethen until they could re-build theirs. Through the early life of the church, they were concerned about Mt. Pisgah, even though they had pulled away, so they appointed a committee to contact them. As we look back, we also find that they were active in mission work and Associational work, as wel as the work in their own church. We find two men being licensed to preach in 1906 and 1907. They were Mr. D.S. Dennard and A.W. Elliott. Later Mr. Dennard was ordained to the ministry. As early as 1903, we find they were concerned about the church building. A committee was appointed to examine the church and decide whether repair the old one or to build a new one. The committee recommended that the church be repaired and carpet put on the floor in front of the pulpit and in the aisles. They also bought a communion table and communion set. (The communion set is now in the credenza in the vestibule.) Again on November 26, 1916, a committee was appointed to select a location for a new church, and a lot was selected in the north-west corner of the Masonic lot. The minutes do not tell us why the church was not built, but again on June 11, 1922, a committee was appointed to investigate the advisability of purchasing the old school building and the lot and the removal of the church to same. In August of the same year the committee was not ready to report and we find no further action at this time. The original church was one large auditorium with a porch across the front, but in 1928, under the leadership and pastorate of Rev. J.D. O’Keefe, five Sunday School rooms were added. This was the building which was torn down in November, 1963. During the years following 1928, the building was painted, floors were sanded, and a new roof was put on. Also, a 20’ x 40’ annex was added in 1956. In April, 1961, the members, realizing the need of a more modern church, voted to begin making plans for a new building. A finance committee was appointed to begin soliciting funds. A building committee was appointed to begin drawing plans for a new church and pr sent to the church. A few days later the committee went to Macon and met with Mr. W.A. Harrell, the architect of the S.B.C. Sunday Schoo Board, from Nashville, Tennessee. Telling him of our needs, and what we had, he drew the blue-prints and sent them to us. Misfortune was ours to behold once again. Drought and many other obstacles caused us again to fail to push forward until September, 1963. Now committee were appointed. They immediately went to work, soliciting funds and obtaining pledges. The building committee drew up plans and secured the estimated cost of the new building. This was presented to the members on October 6, 1963, and they voted to go to work. It was also vot that the old church building would be sold to the highest bidder. On November 9, 1963, the old church was torn down, after having been bought by B.J. Goodwin. But because of cold, rainy weather, construction of the new building did not really begin until February, 1964. The weather may have been unfavorable for building this year, but the day has finally arrived when we “Rejoince in the Lord”. We are in our new and modern building. The new facilities have a 126 seat sanctuary, seven Sunday School class-rooms, two rest-rooms, storage closets, social hall with a kitchen, and year round air conditioning. August 16, 1964 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/webster/churches/westonba154bb.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 10.0 Kb