History of Pisgah Church and Community, Union, La submitted by: Hazel Craig ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ "THE STORY OF PISGAH" Compiled by Inez Holder in 1969. This book is reproduced with permission obtained by Janet Philbrook from Inez Holder in 1999. (We wish to correct some information recorded in the Story of Pisgah). Contents: Introduction Historical Background Community Life The Church and its Growth The Music Department The Cemetery Some interesting Sidelines A Challenge Introduction: by Inez Holder. It is high time it is past time for the Story of Pisgah to be told. To my knowledge there is no recorded history of either the community or the church of Pisgah. The task of preparing one has involved much research, but has been most dependent upon handed- down storie3s from the oldest living members of the community. Those who remember such stories are rapidly passing from among us. If time goes on, and this church is to continue for another 118 years, as some are confident she will, it should be considered not only a matter of community interest and pride, but a necessity that the Story of Pisgah be recorded and preserved for posterity. It is for that reason that I have made this effort. My original plan was to write only a history of the church to be printed in a small pamphlet folder and distributed on Homecoming Day. Once the effort got underway, the idea gathered momentum. Others became interested. Without the help of all those individuals who contributed information and encouragement, the Story of Pisgah would never have been completed. I hereby acknowledge my indebtedness to them and express my deepest appreciation. The Story of Pisgah is a labor of love honoring the faithful dedicated Christians who founded the Pisgah Baptist Church, those who gave of their loyalty and service during the first 118 years and dedicated to the present and future generations whose task it shall be to carry on. Historical Background: A formal chronological document has not been my aim. That I leave to the professional historians. I have attempted to build the Story of Pisgah upon the foundation of commonly known facts of history, church records, land records and handed-down stories. First of all, we can assume that Indians once roamed our wooded hills and streams even as they did in other areas of north Louisiana. Undoubtedly scouts, explorers and hunters blazed trails through here during the days of Spanish and French ownership of the territory, trails that were later used by our first settlers. Some of these trails can still be traced today. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, President Jefferson sent an expedition into this newly acquired territory to "search out the land". The report must have been favorable, for soon after Louisiana was admitted to statehood in 1812, immigrants from Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas began pouring into this area at a rapid rate. Some came by choice on their own, some by arrangements with the government. The southern part of the state had already become fairly well populated and developed for the times. Most of the towns were along rivers and bayous, which could be navigated by steamboats, the principal means of travel. Understandably, the new settlements were like wise along the smaller navigable streams such as our own Corney Bayou and D'Arbonne. These streams were not so full of sand and debris as they are today in many places. It was during the period from 1812- 1850 that many of the present-day communities of our area were established. History gives Spearsville the beginning date of 1837, Lillie - 1840, and Shiloh - 1849. We believe that Pisgah had her beginning during this period too. Union Parish was organized in 1839 with a population of approximately 1800 inhabitants. Twenty years later the 1859 census gives the total population of the parish as 11,345. This shows the rapid influx of settlers during this period. From what we have learned we assume that these early settlers came in groups, either family groups, groups of relatives or maybe several families who had formerly lived in the same community back east. Wherever these groups settled they became the nucleus of a new community. In some families there are stories of their ancestors having made the six- month trip here from Georgia in an ox-drawn wagon. Although there are several possible routes of entrance into this area that could have been used, it is generally believed that our pioneers came by steamboat up the Mississippi River into the Ouachita as far as Monroe. It is entirely possible that they knew to what exact area they were coming before they left their home through arrangements made with government officials in charge of developing the new country. On the other hand, after reaching Monroe, they could have inquired and learned that there was land available further up the country in the more inland areas. Those who had their teams of work animals, cows and sheep probably came by covered wagon. However it was, the others got into smaller boats and came up the Ouachita into D'Arbonne and Corney Bayous. Again it is generally believed that they landed at what we now know as Lowery's Ferry. There is an old overland road, signs of which can still be traced, which ran from Lowery's Ferry through Mt. Sterling, Mt. Patrick, Pisgah, Lillie, Junction City and on to Callion, Arkansas. This road played a very important part in the early life of Pisgah. It was the route by which supplies were brought in to the settlers, and the cotton was carried out and shipped to market until the coming of the railroad and the building of the town of Bernice. When our first people began to settle here, a few Indians were living round-about. Sites of Indian camps are still in evidence. Down through the years many Indian relics have been found near these places of encampment. There are a few Indian mounds. Some of the land records of this area show that the land was originally bought and paid for with "Choctaw Script". Although there are no stories of hostilities between the Indians and settlers, each was extremely cautious of the other. Records that we have found substantiate the belief that the Websters were the first settlers in this area with whom we can establish any connections. It is family history that Y. O. S. Webster came here as a young married man, settled approximately 1 « miles from what is now Pisgah, and raised four daughters, the youngest of which, Mary Webster, was born in 1851. This Mary Webster later became the wife of Ephraim Quallins Heard, father of the late Charlie Heard. Mrs. Pinkie Heard has in her possession an official paper bearing the date 1846 that has been handed down from the Websters. That is the earliest date we have found recorded that we can connect with anyone living here now. However, we have to keep in mind that in those days people often lived on land for a number of years before having official possession or recorded title to it. Since that is true, some people could have been here for several years before records show them to have been. It is, therefore, difficult, in spite of what we may believe, to make absolute statements concerning the first occupants of Pisgah Community. There are plenty of records from 1850 forward. From these records I have made a list of the early residents of Pisgah without using dates. Some of the ones on the list may have been here before 1850 while others not until perhaps 1860. It is by no means complete or exhaustive in its content, for then as now, people came and went, leaving no connections in the community. I have tried to include on the list, names of families known to have lived here during the 1850's who became permanent residents of this general area and whose descendants are with us today. Early Residents of Pisgah: Mr. and Mrs. Y. O. S. Webster: great grandparents of the Grafton, Fitzgerald, and Heard descendants. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Heard: great grandparents of Esther Coplen, Mary Alice Roberson, and the late Virginia Heard Tucker, and Elaine Heard Elliott. Mr. and Mrs. John Hardison: parents of Mrs. Mollie Bennett. Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Hammock: grandparents of John D. Hammock. Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Bennett: grandparents of Charlie Bennett. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Willis Elliott: grandparents of Elza Elliott. Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Youngblood: great grandparents of John Holdman. Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Kendricks: grandparents of Mrs. Etta Colvin and Morelle Hollis. Mr. and Mrs. John Grafton: grandparents of Billy and Dayton Grafton. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis L. Key: uncle and aunt of Mrs. Fannie Mitcham. Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Key: grandparents of Mrs. Fannie Mitcham. Mr. and Mrs. Q. A. Byram: grandparents of Wade Byram. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Dendy: grandparents of Hansell Dendy. Mr. and Mrs. Ancil Kitchens: grandparents of the Thaxton's. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Shackleford: great grandparents of Malta Holder and Colvin Shackleford. Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Gray: grandparents of Columbus Gray. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman Tucker: grandparents of Lonnie Gray, Sidney Robinson, and Leonard and Stanford Tucker. Mr. and Mrs. Tilmon (Tid) Barrett: grandparents of the Pratts and Byrams. Community Life: After the nucleus of Pisgah was formed other settlers came and joined them from time to time. Sometimes the men came alone, selected a home-site, bought, or staked claims to land and began the process of clearing crop land, using the timber to build log houses, barns, fences, etc., getting things ready for their families to come later. Claims were staked in all directions of what later became the community center, the church and school. Life was busy and hard, but by their standards they lived comfortably. They were able to grow a large variety of vegetables, fruits and berries. There were all types of meat, fish, game and fowl available. They owned sheep, cattle, hogs and chickens. These kept their family tables well supplied. They grew corn for their own bread and to feed their livestock. Wheat products were rare. Biscuits were reserved for special occasions. As long as they had the bare necessities they considered themselves "living well". The women too, did their share of work towards making pioneer living as comfortable as possible. When the sheep were sheared, they washed, carded, spun and wove it into woolen material to be made into coverlets and family clothing. Roots and bark of various plants and trees were used to dye the material. Mrs. Pinkie Heard has in her possession a beautiful wool spread containing several colors that was handmade of home grown wool by "Grandma Webster". Besides making their own family clothing, the women also made quilts, soap and candles, etc. When floors were scrubbed with "Grandma's lye soap", there was no need for room fresheners. In the early days of the community, before many people had come in and cleared land, there were dangerous wild animals, such as bears, wolves and panthers here. These sometimes presented a problem. Some of the Webster descendants recall a story of one of their ancestors having to walk a log over a creek backwards in order to avoid a panther. The Websters kept a lot of sheep that would sometime stray off to their neighbors, the J. A.Hammocks. It was usually the task of "Grandma Webster and Mary" to go and get the sheep. On one of these trips they caught sight of a bear in the road ahead of them. There is an interesting story of how they solved the problem. The biggest dread was to have these wild animals come snooping around the home. The only way to get rid of them was t put out something for them to eat, such as a chunk of meat. Also, when butchering had been done and the smell of fresh meat was in the air, they were especially bad to come around the house at night and create a disturbance with their howling and prowling. Although Pisgah has long since become nothing more than a church community, in its early days before Bernice was established, it was a busy little village boasting several enterprises. Some of the earliest settlers were slave owners. Farming was the main occupation and cotton was the principal crop. Therefore, a cotton gin was a necessity. Mr. Larkin Dendy owned and operated one. After the cotton was ginned, it had to be hauled by ox-cart either to Lowery's Ferry to be loaded onto barges and carried to Monroe and to New Orleans, or to Callion, Arkansas, a shipping point on the Ouachita River. The northern route was longer, but sufficient barges were not always available at Lowery's Ferry. Either trip required several days travel and camping out overnight. For this reason the men went in groups for company and protection. Such supplies that could not be raised at home were shipped in several times a year and kept in a store owned by Mr. L. Dendy. There was also a post office in the store. Mail service was slow and irregular. Letters and newspapers were brought in by boat, carried by horseback or whatever available means to Shiloh. Someone would bring the mail to Pisgah maybe as often as once a week. The "pigeon-holed" box into which the mail was sorted is remembered by members of the Dendy family, some even remember helping to sort the mail. Another enterprise of no small scope in importance and usefulness was the operation of two brick kilns. They, too, were owned by Mr. Larkin Dendy and operated in part by the skill of Mr. Frank Gray, a brick mason, and uncle of the present Mr. Frank Gray, the barber. Five or six men were used to make, mold and dry the brick, then stack them in the kiln. Someone else minded the fires that baked them. The bricks used in the making of at least two of the old buildings still standing in the town of Bernice were made in early Pisgah. The first bank to operate in the town of Bernice was in a building made of brick from Pisgah. Mr. Larkin Dendy was a very public spirited and benevolent man. His daring spirit of enterprise meant much to the growth and welfare of the community. Rather than the amassing of a fortune for himself and his family, he spent his means in establishing projects that met the community's needs, and in helping the less fortunate. He is remembered for often times providing food for those in need, for orphaned children and for helping several young men to secure a good education. Several other businesses were operated in Pisgah or by Pisgah people. A sawmill was run by Mr. Bob Cook, a black smith shop by J. L. E. Thaxton. Mr. Wade Byram's grandfather hauled freight on a keelboat up and down Corney. The boat sank near the big cypress just above the Byram Bridge. Mr. Tom Grafton, father of Mr. Ben Grafton, once ran a steamboat from Monroe, hauling freight and supplies into this area. The boat was made by Mr. Bill Elliott, father of Elza, Jim, Omer, Otis and Alcander Elliott, out of lumber hauled from Junction City by ox wagons. Mr. E. B. Roberson, at one time Senator from this district, once ran a steamboat as far up as Grafton's Crossing. Some remember buying corn from them at 25 cents per bushel. There are several legends connected with people of Pisgah community. One is that Q. A. Byram, an Englishman, grandfather of Mr. Wade Byram, came up Corney in a small boat with his wife, looking for a place to settle. They stopped to search for some drinking water. They found a spring of "unusually good" water and decided to move inland from there to settle. Some think the spring they found was what we now know as Byram Springs. The first school of Pisgah was built of logs with a hole cut for a window, a dirt floor, a fireplace, and split logs with wooden pegs for legs used for benches. It was located on top of the hill at the northwest corner of the present cemetery right by the side of the road mentioned earlier. The term of school varied from six weeks to two months. At first they were taught by private teachers who were paid so much for each pupil. Pupils were taught only elementary reading, writing and arithmetic. Anyone who desired higher learning had to go to an academy or institute. Pisgah School as maintained until 1931 or 1932. The last school was taught by Miss Velma Booles who is now Mrs. Frank Gray. The Music Department: About one half of a normal church worship service is music, the greater part of which in our Baptist churches is congregational singing. Therefore, to leave out a history of the music department would mean leaving out a vital contributing factor to the growth and development of Pisgah Baptist church. No one can remember further back than when Mr. Larkin Dendy led the singing at Pisgah. He enjoyed singing from the old Sacred Harp songbook. Even after books using the seven-note scale were in common use, he met regularly for "choir practice" with others like himself for the sheer enjoyment of singing. They did not want to let Sacred Harp singing "die out". Here is a partial list of those who were Pisgah choir members at that time: Mr.and Mrs. Larkin Dendy, Mr. Allen Shackleford, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ferguson, D. E.Ferguson, Mrs. W. J. Thaxton, Mr. M. F. Fitzgerald, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. E. Thaxton, Mr.Wes Grafton, Mr. Y. T. Grafton and Mrs. Janie Milner. Younger ones who took part in Sacred Harp singing in later years were Alsie Thaxton, Arkie Thaxton, Pink Dendy, Lillie Dendy, Mr. and Mrs. Willis Tucker, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Mathews and Maud Swafford. The last Sacred Harp sing was in 1918 when a young lady from Georgia visited the community. Her name is not remembered. During the pastorate of A. L. New, all of the elderly people who were interested were invited to sit together during a service and sing some from the Sacred Harp book. No one knows for how many years Mr. Dendy directed Pisgah's choir, but he continued until the Sunday before his death on Monday. Afterwards congregational singing was directed by Mr. John Copeland and Mr. Arthur Ferguson for a number of years. It is remembered by Mrs. Alsie Grafton that the first organ was bought approximately 1903, and that her mother, Mrs. J. L. E. Thaxton, was the first organist. Others who served through the years were Mrs. Arkie Grafton, Mrs. Lillie Kimble, Mrs. Alsie Grafton, the Shackleford sisters, Hattie and Lillie, and Mrs. Emma Thaxton, and Mr. Ben Mathews. It is thought that the first singing school was taught in the late 90's by S. Pleasant Lewis, "Uncle Pleas" as he was affectionately called. In the early 1900's, a Mr. Bob Smith from Alabama came through teaching. Mr. Ben Mathews came into the community, married a local girl, Miss Molly Lou Digby, and taught a music school in approximately 1905. Mrs. Fannie Mitcham has a picture of a singing school group taught by J. B. Carroll which bears the date 1911. Others who have taught were Hugh Rockett, Dallas Goss and Lavan Robinson. Through the years, Pisgah has hired several young men as choir directors. The first one was J. V. Armor who served from 1945 to 1950. During his leadership great progress was made in the musical program of the church. A large number of young people were here at that time, and he taught as well as trained them. Effects of his work are still in evidence today. Two additional pianos were bought during his stay at Pisgah. Others who have served are Elton Lamkin, M. L. Kilpatrick, Roy Dale Evans, O. D. Prather, Tommy Davis and Bobby D. Grafton. In later years, the pianists who have served are as follows: Gwendolyn Revel Milner, Deloris Tucker, Betty Tucker, Mary Alice Pearson, Dorothy Armor, Mrs. Billie Gene Pearson, Virginia Heard Tucker, Mrs. James Watkins, (Charlotte). The present choir director (1969), Mrs. Johnette Copeland Tucker, has served faithfully since 1956. She is ably assisted by Mrs. M. F. Copeland. The Cemetery: Mt. Pisgah was the highest peak of the mountains of Nebo. From information gathered it seems that from the beginning, the center of the new community which became Pisgah was at the top of the hill near the northwest corner of the cemetery. It was there they built the first little log schoolhouse by the side of the road - the same little house that was later used as a church building. Maybe someone considered that the highest peak along the road from Lowery's Ferry to Lillie. Maybe that is why it came to be named Pisgah. It can be said that the present cemetery is as old as Pisgah itself. It was begun when the community was new. There are many many graves there which have no marker. A few of the first landowners had slaves, some of which are buried on the southeast side. The oldest tombstone bearing an inscription is that of James S. McLaurin who died January 13, 1865. (Editor's note: The oldest tombstone bearing an inscription is that of Daniel Carmichael,C.S.A., date of death 1864.) So far as could be determined, the cemetery was begun on land whose first recorded owner was Ancil Kitchens. Evidently the land was used for years for the cemetery, school and church without a title to it. However, there are records of land being deeded to the church in later years by Ancil Kitchens and D. L. Keys. Land has been sold to the cemetery by Mr. Earl Milner and Mr. Emmett Riordan. (Editor's note: Records show Dennis L. Key was the first owner of the land on which the cemetery is located, having purchased it August 2, 1856, patent #16699. J. E. Copeland donated 1.45 acres of that land to Pisgah church for the cemetery.) It was in approximately 1928 that interested parties began making donations toward having someone clean the cemetery. So far as anyone remembers, Elbert Kitchens was the first person employed for the sum of $70.00 a year. It was the custom then to keep the ground scraped clean. About 1937 or 1938, it was decided to let the grass become sodded and keep the weeds clipped. In 1940, the church bought a mower and became responsible for keeping the cemetery cleaned. All through the years there had been a fence of net wire and two strands of barbed wire around the cemetery. Under the leadership of Mr. Allen Shackelford and Mr. Kenny Grafton, the community purchased and erected a cyclone fence. In 1967, through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Evans, donations were made for the improvements and beautification of the cemetery. Roses were purchased and planted by the fence. A generous donation by Mr. Clyde Barrett made possible the lettered archway over the gate. Today a Cemetery Fund is maintained, and the care and upkeep of the cemetery is under the responsibility of the deacons of Pisgah Baptist Church. The Church: "And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountains of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah". Deut. 34: 1. It was from the top of Mt. Pisgah that Moses was able to look out over all the Promised Land to which he longed to go, but he was never permitted to do so. Instead God gently carried him to an even Better Land. During the 118-year history of Pisgah Baptist Church, many people either within her walls or within the shadow of her influence have found faith in Christ and become heirs of the Promised Land. Many, many of them have lived, made their contributions to Pisgah and to the world, and gone on to claim their inheritance. Those who still live, and those of the future have a wonderful heritage to uphold. The hardy pioneers who settled Pisgah brought their Christianity with them. Without a strong faith and trust in God, they could never have endured the hardships, the loneliness, and the deprivations that must have been theirs. As the community grew, more and more families came in, and a school was established. They realized something missing. There was a longing in their hearts, a hunger and thirst for the experiences of worshiping God with their neighbors and friends. God has always provided for his people. Then, as now, God called out men for special tasks, and they responded. What we today would call home missionaries were then called itinerant preachers. They followed God's leadership into the new territory, traveling by whatever means available from one settlement to another. Wherever they found people they would stop and preach to them. Sometimes the homes in a settlement were several miles apart. Each one must be visited and the word spread that there was a preacher in the community, and that there would be a "gathering" at a certain time and place. After a few "gatherings", some talking and planning, they would be ready to organize a church. The day came in 1851 when people of Pisgah met under a brush arbor where a "protracted meeting" had been held and organized Pisgah Baptist Church. Rev. Jesse Tubb, Rev. J. L.Mays and Rev. O. A. Bryan, preachers known to have been in the area at the time, are thought to be those who assisted in the organization. Their first place of worship was a small log cabin already in use as a schoolhouse. It is not known how long this building had been there, but records say that it burned in 1855. Valuable first records of the church were destroyed in the fire. Therefore, we cannot say with absolute certainty who the first members of Pisgah were. Some of those on the list given at the end of the section on historical background were the first members of Pisgah, but certainly all of them were not. One will seldom find a community in which everyone living there is a member of a Baptist church. It is not true now, and probably was not then. Also, some on the list were not here until after the church was organized. With the little log schoolhouse burned in 1855, the men of the church immediately began the task of building a new and much larger church. They combed the whole area to find enough logs just the right length and size. Mr. Wade Byram remembers hearing his grandfather talk of "snaking" the logs out of the woods with teams of oxen. The new building was constructed just a little to the north of the present building. Although in a new location, it was still by the side of the old original road mentioned earlier. They worshiped in the new log church for 26 years, or until 1881. Records show that Pastors J. L. Mays, O. A. Byran and Jesse Tubb served the church at intervals until 1858 when Rev. R. D. Black became pastor. There is very little information from 1858 through the Civil War period and the Reconstruction years. It is known that Q. A. Byram and Ancil Kitchens, preachers and landowners in the community, served the church at several different intervals during this time when possibly no other preacher was available. Someone said that what qualified one to preach during this period was his ability to read the Bible and quote scripture. Many of their hearers couldn't. After the effects of the Civil War were over, the church began to build up again. Some well-known family names were added to the roll from 1875 to 1881 such as Coplen, Copeland, Digby, Thaxton, Salley and Milner. The church grew numerically, physically and spiritually. In 1888, Rev. J. P. Everett, founder of Concord Institute at Shiloh, came to Pisgah. He was a highly educated man for his day. He led the church in the organization of the Sunday School. All ages met in one class taught by the pastor. Mrs. Mollie Bennett, born April 24, 1879, our oldest living member, was nine years old when the Sunday School was organized. She says that she cannot remember a time when Pisgah did not have a Sunday School. Mrs. Bennett also gives us this interesting story. She was converted during a summer revival in August 1892 at the age of thirteen. She was baptized by J. U. H. Wharton in Mr.Larkin Dendy's cotton gin pond. There were 23 conversions during that revival, all adults, all men, except two. On another occasion when the Dendy cotton gin pond was used for a large baptismal service, water was heated in the gin boilers and emptied into the pond. Another unusual baptismal service that is still remembered by some of our members took place in Corney Bayou during L. B. Burnsides' pastorate. There were three invalids present for the service. One was J. F. Grafton who was carried there in a wheelchair to see the last of his six sons baptized. One was J. P. Shackleford who witnessed the baptism of the last of his nine children. In 1918, during the pastorate of B. C. Smith, a Training Union (then called B. Y. P. U.) And a Woman's Missionary Society were organized. The men love to recall that at one time they had 35 in the Training Union class. The first W. M. S. President was Mrs. Floyd Coplen (Mrs. Lillie Kimble). Mrs. Kimble proudly remembers that they once had five circles, all very active. Even though some of them had to walk as far as three miles carrying babies in their arms, and perhaps one or more small children walking along beside them, they came and enjoyed it. Such dedication and loyalty have contributed to the life and strength of Pisgah Baptist Church. In 1881, a frame building was constructed on a little knoll just in front of the present building. This served as their place of worship for 43 years or until the present building was built in 1924-25. The present building has been repaired, remodeled and added to as the need demanded. In 1948, the old school property, including « acre of land, was legally transferred to the church for the sum of $5.00. In that year, Mr. Stanford Tucker is given credit for instigating the idea of building a pastorium and calling a full-time pastor. It was done, and Rev. S. P. Smith became the first full-time pastor living on the field for a salary of $200.00 a month. Butane was also installed in both the church and parsonage at this time. In 1954, during Rev. Virgil Jones pastorate, pews were bought. In 1957, the church voted to install a heating and air-conditioning unit. A kitchen and furnishings and additional Sunday School rooms have been added in subsequent years. The baptistry was built during Rev. John Adams pastorate. Several years later, the beautiful mural was painted and presented to the church by Mrs. Lillian Page of Monroe, Louisiana in memory of John Lee Dendy. In 1967, the front of the building was remodeled to increase the size of our sanctuary, and additional pews were bought. In 1968, carpeting, drapes and cushions were added to the auditorium. Thus, we have seen how, from a humble beginning in a little log cabin with the fireplace and pegged half-logs for benches, the church has grown to a total property value of $35,000 and a yearly budget of something over $9,000. We have a resident membership of 145. At the present time (1969), our Sunday School enrollment is 110 and Training Union enrollment is 60. The woman's Missionary Society still functions, but has only one circle. The church is a member of Concord Association. According to available records, the associational body met with Pisgah for the first time in 1898, the year J. V. B. Waldrop became pastor. So far as anyone remembers, the only other time Pisgah has entertained the association was approximately 1927. This brief report of the beginning and growth of Pisgah Baptist Church by no means tells the complete story. Many things are left to the discernment of the reader. I have attempted to give only facts found in available records. INTERESTING SIDE LINES: In preparing this Story of Pisgah, it has been necessary for me to talk to many people since I am not a native of Pisgah. I wish I could relate to you all the many wonderful statements, testimonies, and interesting stories that I have heard, some of them serious, deeply spiritual experiences, and some a bit humorous. Through these handed-down stories of personal experiences, one may sense the true spirit of the church better than through organization or financial activities. Some of these stories deserve being preserved along with other data. Pisgah has survived through some very difficult times, several panics and extreme droughts. Mr. Elza Elliott refers to 1896 as "that year when Corney dried up in holes". There were very little crops, no money, and not much food. "But it has always been Pisgah's policy," he said, "never to get behind in the payment of her pastor. Many times they paid him in produce they raised at home, but they paid him." He recalled only one time that the church got behind. Rev. Joe Hinkie served the church during the depression, which struck in 1929. When he got ready to leave, the church owed him $27.00. They finally paid every penny of it. Sometimes after such trying times, it required several years for the church to get back on her feet. This story was told by a former pastor, Rev. B. C. Smith, who recalled holding a revival, a prayer meeting at 10:00 and preaching at 11:00. One day the Spirit came down and got hold of the people. They were all praying, confessing their sins, weeping and testifying. This went on until nearly 1:00 p.m. There was no sermon that day, no need for one. Such a story as this causes one to heave a sigh for the "good old days" when people were not too stiff-necked to confess, weep and testify. Then there was the time of the terrific explosion that was never satisfactorily explained nor understood by some. The building began to rock, and the lamps were swinging furiously. Different people remember different things about the incident. Some remembered a certain young lady jumping out of a window - a high window. Some remember Mr. Sam Fitzgerald's reaction when he said, "Get Vaughn and Boyce and come on, Mama". Perhaps Mr. Lonnie Gray described it best when he said, "I was just a little bitty fellow, and they ran all over me trying to get out of there." When all this happened, the pastor was preaching of the Second Coming of Christ. One dear old sister got hold of the doorknob and shouted, "He's done come." When it was all over the crowd settled down to continue their worship service. In the scramble someone lost a high heel off her shoe. Someone else found it and set it up on the top of the organ so whoever lost it could find it easily. As long as he lives, Mr. Hansell Dendy will never forget how out of place that heel looked sitting on top of the organ. Two young men have gone out from Pisgah into full-time ministry of the gospel. Rev. Logan Skyles, although not a native of Pisgah, is considered a product of Pisgah. For several years, he was a very active member of Pisgah, he experienced his call and preached his first sermon at Pisgah. He is now serving as pastor of Park Hurst Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana. The other young man, Rev. M. F. Copeland, is a native of Pisgah, the son of Mr. Jessie Copeland, a deacon. He has devoted himself to full-time evangelism. The following statement is Rev. Copeland's testimony: Words fail to come when one tries to express what his church means to him. This is doubly true of Pisgah Baptist Church. From the time of my youth, Pisgah has had a special meaning to me. It was here that I was saved, baptized, married and ordained to preach. It was here that I was first really introduced to the Bible. It was here that I first learned to worship God. It was here that I first learned the meaning of Christian fellowship. The pastors, teachers and other church leaders who gave of their lives during my youth at Pisgah have left an indelible mark in my Christian life. Suffice it to say, Pisgah Baptist Church has given a dimension of joy to my life for which I shall ever be grateful. Glenda Evans Middleton, niece of Mr. Harvey Evans, a deacon, is another in whose life Pisgah claims an investment. At the age of ten she was converted, accepted Christ and was baptized into membership of Pisgah Baptist Church. Even as a teenage girl, she felt God calling her into mission service, and she began preparing herself for that purpose. Early this year (1969), her husband, Rev. Charles R. Middleton, and she were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to serve in Malawi, Africa. Pisgah Church is justly proud of its contribution to Glenda Evans Middleton's early Christian life. A CHALLENGE: In her 118 years of continuous witness, Pisgah has seen hard times and prosperous times, she has seen wars and peace; spiritually she has enjoyed the view from the lofty heights of Mt. Pisgah, and she has groped her way across the misty plains of Moab, she has had her ups and downs, but she has always remained true to the Spirit that gave birth to her. She was born in the hearts and minds of your ancestors who had, first of all, a hunger and thirst in their own hearts for the experience of worship with their fellow men; secondly, they had a genuine concern for the spiritual welfare of their new and growing community. As long and only as long as she remains true to this heritage, she can hope to go on for another 118 years. Today as we pause for a moment of reflective memory of those faithful Christians who now sleep on top of the hill by the side of the road, our ancestors from whose failing hands we took up the strife, we can almost hear them say those immortal words of John Mc Crae: "To you we throw the torch Be yours to hold it high." Typed January 29, 2003 from "Memories and History of PISGAH BAPTIST CHURCH and COMMUNITY 1851 - 2000." Permission granted and Submitted to our Union Parish Web-Site. By: Hazel W. Craig P. O. Box 291 Camden, TN. 38320-0291. -