Church Records: Hebron Baptist Church, 1942, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: June 26, 1942 Winnfield News-American Hebron Baptist Church... Records Replete With Names of Pioneer Families of That Section "....and upon satisfactory testimonial of their faith pronounced them a regular constituted Baptist church of Christ. "This the twenty-fifth day of January, A. D. 1845", the pronouncement that brought into being the Hebron Baptist Church. This pronouncement was signed by two ministers, Thos. Meredith and Nathan M. Davis, family names familiar in the records of this section of Louisiana. And upon the testimonial and faith, of those assembled on that occasion 97 years ago, was founded the traditions, religious, social and economic life of Hebron one of Winn Parish's communities that has withstood the onslaughts of any and all disrupting influences and today stands as a memorial to the heroic struggles of a brave and courageous people. The church minutes, dating from the account of this pronouncement on January 25, 1845, are replete with the names of the families who have contributed to the building of this section. The constituting membership of the church gave such familiar names as "Joseph Peters and wife, S. C. Bullock and wife, Noah, Willis and wife, Olive Peters, Tamelia Bullock, Wilford Willis, and Sarah Jones." These records now in the custody of L. B. Hinton, one of the two deacons was displayed at the ninety-seventh anniversary of the church that was celebrated Sunday, June 14, and a perusal of accounts of the deliberations of the congregation revealed much of the life and attitude of the pioneers of Winn Parish. The present building is the third since the organization and is located within a few hundred yards of the first, that was made of hewn logs and built by the "male members" of the church. The community was first settled by families coming from Mississippi in about 1836, according to Walter Roberts, now 75 years old, one of the descendants of the Cole family, who stated that his mother, Mary E. Cole, youngest daughter of Richard Cole, was a charter member. One of the first cooperative efforts naturally would be to build a "house of worship", to keep the steps of the old from straying and train and mold the lives of the young. Like all communities Hebron has its legends. One of these that has been handed down through the generations is the first man buried in the church cemetery was accidently killed while hunting bear on Sunday, and that his coffin was made of split red oak logs. The significance of such a legend is purely speculative , but it could be that it was to strike fear into the hearts and minds of the young so that they would not indulge in Sunday sports. Markers In The Church Markers in the church cemetery bear the names of the families who made Hebron their home, but in spite of the many graves that are plainly marked there are countless others that bear none. The minutes show many of the same names, among them are found Mercers, Thompsons, Richardsons, Coles, McCartys, Smiths, Beavers, Hintons, Risers, Kellys, Adams, Hollans, Erskins, Buchens, Thorntons, Harveys, Chapmans, Rogers, Rentz, Cooks, Allbrittons, Bratons, Walls, Womacks, Thigpens, Abrams, Dulaneys, Parkers, Wills, Meyers, and Crains. Church pastors as recorded were S. W. Mercer, H. M. Cook, W. E. Chapman, E. Adams, N. M. Davis, J. A. Ambros, J. W. Wise, J. T. Parker, A. G. Chapman, D. Thomas, W. H. Hollan, C. B. Gates, and O. L. Hughes. At present the church is without a pastor, but the affairs are being attended to by L. B. Hinton and H. N. Crain, deacons and Crafton Thigpen, clerk. The church roll shows 101 members at present. The oldest member of the church, as best could be checked among those present at the celeb4ation on June 14, is Mrs. Sarah Theodosia Dulaney, known to her wide circle of relatives and friends as "Aunt Dosie", who is now 74 years old and has held membership in the Hebron Church since she was the age of 13. "Aunt Dosie" is show in the inset of the picture of the church. In May, 1845 the Hebron Church petitioned the Ouachita Baptist Association for membership, later was admitted to the Palestine Association and in 1860 came into the Central and is now with the Shady Grove Association. Rules of decorum prescribed the general conduct of the members, and the decisions of the church body as recorded in the minutes show infractions were dealt with swiftly and without secrecy. Names of those "churched" are recorded in the minutes. Protracted absence from church services was just cause for the withdrawal of fellowship and for this reason many were left out in the cold. Men were excluded for swearing, dancing, immoral conduct and unchristian living. Women were taken from the church rolls for dancing, playing cards, and visiting parties. One man was excluded because of the rumor that he had been "shooting for prizes, visiting parties and participating in dancing". As early as July 25, 1846, colored folks were admitted to church membership along with their masters. The record, "William, a colored servant belonging to Brother R. Cole was admitted to church membership"...on the following day the record says "a colored woman, named Hester, belonging to Brother Cole, being present and with his permission the ordinance of Baptism was administered unto his servant." Another day, "Brother Cuffy", a colored man was received by letter"...Fellowship was withdrawn from "March, a colored member, who robbed the house of Mrs. Hatten, and fled to avoid punishment." Following the Civil War in 1866 is found this entry, "Charles Brown, a freed man, was received in the church." While these judgments would appear rather severe to the people of this time and perhaps no church of this day would mete out such, it nevertheless has every earmark of sincere, religious fervor that no one can fail to respect and admire. It is the history of a people with the courage of their convictions and a community that has stood the tests of changing times.