Palestine Baptist Church, Allen Parish Louisiana Source: Church Published Pamphlet Submitted by Denise Ahrens ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PALESTINE BAPTIST CHURCH Organized in 1866 DEDICATION Lovingly dedicated to the stalwart Christian characters who have passed from their former labors in our church to be with the Lord in Heaven In the year of 1866 the Christian people of this community and surrounding communities felt the need of a place to worship the Lord. They met at a location near Sugartown and organized a church which they named Palestine. The organization took place on Saturday before the third Sunday in November with eight charter members namely: Mr. and Mrs. John Winburn Emily Perkins Lydia Hamilton Lucy Trull Mr. and Mrs. Jack Watson John H. Perkins John Winburn was appointed deacon and John H. Perkins clerk. The preacher assisting in the organization of the church was Rev. James Sorrels. He worked with the church until November 16, 1867. In 1866 the church was moved to its present site. In 1868 Isaac Hamilton united with the Palestine Baptist Church and was licensed to preach the very same day. On Oct. 4, 1868 he was ordained to preach. He served the church as pastor for 28 years when he had to resign in 1896 due to ill health. Serving with him was John Perkins as clerk and John Winburn as deacon. In 1896 Rev. D. T. O'Quinn, a member of Palestine Baptist Church was called as pastor and served as pastor until 1909 when he resigned. Clerks serving during the time of Rev. O'Quinn pastorate were Floyd Hamilton and T. G. Singletary. The deacons were W. J. Dowies and E. Z. Young. In 1896 the first Sunday School was organized with T. C. Singletary as Supt. Rev. R. N. Lofton was called as pastor in 1909. He resigned in 1910 after serving the church two years. During this time Calvin Harper served the church as clerk and the deacons were W. J. Dowies, T. (1.Singletary and L. V. Sigler. Bro. Singletary remained Sunday School Supt. In 1911 the church called Rev. D. T. O'Quinn again as pastor, he stayed until 1944 when he resigned. The clerks serving with Bro. O'Quinn were Calvin Harper in 1911 and 1912 and R. E. Johnson in 1913-14. The same deacons W. J. Dowies, T. G. Singletary and L. V. Sigler. The church was without a pastor in 1915. J. H. Sigler was clerk and the same deacons W. J. Dowies, T. G. Singletary and L. V. Sigler. In 1916 the church called Rev. S. H. Winberry who served as pastor for about three years. J. H. Sigler. remained as clerk, John R. Garlington was Sunday School Supt. in 1916. The same deacons W. J. Dowies, n.y. Sigler and T. G. Singletary remained faithful. Rev. W. E. Cole was called as pastor in 1919 and served the church until 1925. John R. Garlington served as clerk in 1919-1920. C. P. Hinson served as clerk in 1921-22.. Hannie Harper was clerk 1923-25. A. L. Hamilton was elected Sunday School Supt. in 1920 and Mrs. S. H. Sigler was Sunday School Secretary. Hannnie Harper served as Sunday School Supt. in 1928, John R. Garlington in 1924 and J. I. Dowies in 1925. Same deacons, W. J. Dowies, T. G. Singletary and L. V. Sigler In 1921 a B.Y.P.U. was organized with Elmer Simmons as president. 2 Tim. 2:15 The church called Rev. C. S. Mires as pastor in 1926, he served until 1931. Bro. Mires finished high school while pastor. Clerks serving with Bro. Mires were: 1926 Mrs. S. E. Simmons, 1927 Versie Sigler, 1928-29 Grace Young, 1930-31 Joyce Garlington. S. E. Simmons was Sunday School Supt. and Velma Hamilton Sunday School Sec. 1927 and Loyce Harper in 1928. In 1927 G. 0. Young was added to our board of deacons coming to us from the Cherry Grove Church. He was elected Sunday School Supt. in 1929 and served until 1936. A W.M.U. was organized in 1927 with Mrs. C. W. Hunt as president. Mrs. L. H. Harper served as W.M.U. president in 1928-29. Deacons were W. J. Dowden, L. V. Sigler, G. 0. Young and T. G. Singletary. Bro. L. Williamson was called as pastor in 1931 serving until 1935. He came from the Acadia Academy, moved in the field and finished high school while pastor. Clerks serving were Joyce Garlington 1932, Grace Young 1933-34, Mrs. W. C. Walden 1935. G. 0. Young was Sunday School Supt. Mrs. Annie Hamilton was W.M.U. president 1935-36-37. Same deacons remained faithful. In 1936 Bro. F. E. Broyles was called as pastor, serving only one year. Mrs. W. C Walden was clerk and G. 0. Young Sunday School Supt. Same deacons, W. S. Dowies, T. G. Singletary, L. V. Sigler and G. 0. Young. B. N. Simmons was called as pastor in July 1937 and resigned in Nov. of the same year. The church called M. L. Delk in 1938 and he served the church for one year. Mrs. W C. Walden was clerk and Leon Harper Sunday School Supt. Mrs. Sarah Johnson was W.M.U. president. Same deacons. In 1939 the church called Rev. L. Williamson as pastor again, he served the church until 1941. Clerks were: Mrs. W C. Walden 1939, Alice Young 1940, Mrs. Annie Cloud 1941. Sunday School Supt. Woodrow Young, W.M.U. president Mrs. Sarah Johnson 1939 and Mrs. A. E. Sigler 1940-41. In 1939 Deacon G. 0. Young transferred to De-Ridder. In January 1941 the Lord saw fit to call Bro. W. J. Dowies our oldest deacon home. The church felt the loss very much. This left T. G. Singletary and L. V. Sigler as deacons. In 1942 Rev. Ebbie McGee was called as pastor serving until 1943. Bro. McGee finished high school while pastor. Clerk: Mrs. Annie Cloud, Sunday School Supt. Leon Harper, Deacons, U. V. Sigler and T. G. Singletary. W.M.U. president Mrs. Othel Johnson in 1942- 43. In July of 1942 the church ordained three new deacons: C. A. Simmons, J. I. Dowies and C. U. 11am-ilton. The following August the Lord called our next oldest deacon T. G. Singletary home. The church felt the loss very greatly. In 1944 Rev. R. U. Parham was called1 as pastor serving until 1945. Clerk: Mrs. Annie Cloud, Sunday School Supt. Leon Harper. On November 21, 1943 the church ordained Addison Mahaffey as deacon. The deacons now were: J. I. Dowies U. V. Sigler, C. L. Hamilton, C. A. Simmons and Adidison Mahaffey. Rev. Riley Green served the church as pastor from May 1945 until October 1, 1945. Clerk: Mrs. Annie Cloud, Sunday School Supt. Calvin Hamilton. Deacons same. In December 1945 Rev. L. Williamson became our pastor again and still remains our faithful leader. Under his leadership the church went full time January 1, 1950. Since then the church has grown both spiritually and financially. Our treasurer C. A. Simmons reports our tithers have increased and our gifts to missions and Cooperative Program far exceeds that of previous years. Since Bro. Williamson has been with us this time we have made a number of improvements in our church namely: 1. Installed a butane system 2. Added two Sunday School Rooms. 3. Rebuilt the pulpit and two beautiful pulpit chairs were donated by the Dowies family in remembrance of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Dowies. 4. Added new pews. 5. Painted the church and Sunday School rooms inside and out 6. Put in new windows. 7. Installed two window fans. 8. Installed a deep well and pressure tank. Plans are being made to refinish the floors of the church. In March 1947 the Lord called deacon J. I. Dowies home. In November 1949 H. M. Sigler was added to our board of deacons coming from the Elton church. Our present church officers are: clerk Mrs. S. M. Smith, Sunday School Supt. Leon Harper, B.T.U. Director Everette Young, W.M.S. president Mrs. H. M. Sigler, G. A. leader Mrs. Bernard Horton, Sunbeam leader Mrs. Gussie Lummus, treasurer C. A. Simmons. During the past year we have lost three members. Aunt Fannie Dowies Uncle Ed Perkins Aunt Artie Henry Our present membership is 270. Residental 194 Non-residental 76 Palestine Baptist Church has sent out a great number of workes from their membership. We have a record of ten people who have been ordained to preach. (Hope we left no one out.) Isaac Hamilton D. T. O'Quinn Jeptha Hamilton Dave Hamilton S. A. Hamilton C.C Young Z. T. Young B. A. Sigler Steve Caskey S. E. Simmons Licensed to preach were: Mid Wooley John Dowies Two of the men ordained to preach Rev. Jeptha Hamilton and Rev. Dave Hamilton served as missionaries to Brazil. Jeptha died in Brazil and Dave went to take his place. C. C. Young was State Evangelist. We have eleven deacons who have served the church: John Winburn Ezra Young W. J. Dowies L. V. Sigler T C. Singletary C. 0. Young J. I. Dowies C. A. Simmons C. L. Hamilton Addison Mahaffey H. M. Sigler Men going out from this church serving as deacons in other churches: Abner Sigler Bufford Young Bryan Hamilton Woodrow Young Otto Garlington Fuller Hamilton Floyd Hamilton Montgomery Sigler