A Brief History SMI1"HFIELD, N. C.

Transcription

1 A Brief History SMI1"HFIELD, N. C.

2 A Brief History of Centenary Methodist Church

3 THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH Paul N. Garber, Richmond, Vao- Resident Bishop Howard M. McLamb, Goldsboro, N. C. District Supt. Lester A. Tilley Minister Miss Betty Anne Williford Educational Assistant R. Cleve McGowan Minister of Music Norman B. Grantham Church Treasurer W. H. Britt Financial Secretary Harvey Hodges (phone 3673) Church Sexton Mrs. W. M. Stancil Director Junior Choir H. C. Woodall Business Manager 8

4 THE CHURCH AT WORK THE OFFICIAL BOARD L. Delma Brown, Chairman; W. R. (Billy) Britt, Vice- Chairman; Mrs. W. H. Sanders, Secretary. STEWARDS: W. H. Britt, Mrs. J. J. Broadhurst. Albert H. Coble, W. T. Emmart, Norman B. Grantham, Glenn Grier, Jr., Mrs. H. C. Hood, W. A. Hooks, Gordon Howell, D. Herman Jones, Mrs. T. J. Lassiter. Sr., Frank Montgomery, John A. Narron, C. Albert Stallings, Mrs. Mildred Stallings, Vance Sawrey, G. A. Stewart, Mrs. Laura Turner, Dixon Wallace and H. C. Woodall. Ira. C. Whitley, honorary. TRUSTEES: Hubie Talton, Dr. W. J. Massey, T. A. Farmer, Ralph Ellis. COMMISSION CHAIRMEN: Membership and Evangelism, Ben F. Grimes; Education, Geo. H. Broadrick; Finance, J. P. Rogers; Missions, Mrs. W. A. Hooks. OTHER EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: Mrs. B. H. Houston, Staton E. Boyette, Ann Stallings. James L. Creech. Superintendent CHURCH SCHOOL Staton E. Boyette Assistant Superintendent Gordon Howell Secretary Edgar Baugham Children's Division Mrs. Wade Talton Youth Division Mrs. C. S. Curley Adult Division Ben A. Baker COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Pastoral Relations Nomina tions James L. Creech The Pastor Audit Wade T. Talton Good Literature Mrs. J. T. Jolliff Memorials E. L. Woodall Church Lay Leader James L. Creech Communion Steward A. M. Noble Chairman of Ushers Tilden Honeycutt Parsonage Mrs. W. H. Lyon President Methodist Youth Fellowship Ann Stallings President of Methodist Men W. R. (Billy) Britt President W. S. C. S. Mrs. B. H.Houston President Wesleyan Service Guild Miss Agnes Gunter 4

5 BRIEF HISTORY of CENTENARY METHODIST CHURCH By MRS. T. J. LASSITER, Sr. Pope, the English poet, said: "Who builds a church to God, and not to fame, Will never mark the marble with his name." This is only a half truth as regards Centenary Methodist church of Smithfield which this year rounded out 117 years; for while the names of many who formed the first Methodist church here and who erected the first house of worship are buried in oblivion, the names of a few of the faithful souls are written, perhaps not in marble, but certainly in the yellowed church journals that are intact from the very beginning. I have been told that few churches whose history dates back as far as the Smithfield church have such complete records. No list of charter members comes down to us. The name of the moving spirit back in 1839 is not even known. But three or four yellowed sheets covered with quaint penmanship of that day, preserved through the years, reveal church building tactics that modern times have not improved upon. These sheets are merely subscription sheets headed with a statement something like this "Smithfield, N. C., April, A. D., 1839 "We the undersigned promise to pay the sum as affiixed to our respective names." And so forth. Then follows a list of 100 subscribers to the building fund, ranging in amounts from 25 cents subscribed by Patsy Crocker, to $300 subscribed by D. Bryan. Only three others promised as much as $100, these being Larkin Smith, 5

6 whose subscription was $280, and A. Smith and A. Sanders, who promised $100 each. DEED FOR LOT The building impetus of the spring of 1839 resulted in the purchase of a lot the following fall when on October 15, Wiiliam H. Watson deeded Lot No. 27 in the plan of Smithfield to nine trustees of the church, namely: Bythan Bryan, Alvin L. Smith, Edwin Boykin, Ashley Sanders, Samuel G. Smith, Robert McKinnie, Alexander Thornton, Harry Durham, and Baldy Sanders. The consideration was $50, and the purpose was stated as follows: "To build thereon a house or place of worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America, according to the rules and discipline which from time to time may be agreed upon and adopted by the ministers of the said church as shall from time to time be duly authorized by the said General Conference to preach and expound God's Holy Word therein." This deed was presented in open court on March 26, 1840, and ordered registered under the signature of Judge Frederick Nash, presiding. The notation was made that the deed was registered in the book on July 3, It is interesting to note the corporate title of the denomination in this deed. The deed of 1939 was written before the division into the Northern and Southern Methodist churches. The year 1939 witnessed the reunion of these two bodies. With a lot bought and a building fund subscribed, no further mention is made of the building program until 1845 when the church minutes record that a debt of $125 6 L.

7 on the church was still running, due Ashley Sanders and Edwin Boykin. The church that year did what any church today would do--took new subscriptions for paying off the debt. OLDEST REGISTRY The oldest registry begins with the first quarterly conference of the Smithfield and Waynesboro circuit held on May 9, This circuit at that time comprised six churches: Smithfield, Waynesboro (now Goldsboro), Elizabeth (which was the circuit camp meeting ground), Salem, Rose's, and Providence. Those attending that first quarterly conference were James E. Joyner, the preacher in charge who held the conference in the absence of the presiding elder; Hezekiah G. Leigh; Alvin L. Smith; Ashley Sanders, and Nathan Williams, stewards; Robert W. Snead and Alexander H. Thornton, class leaders. At this meeting the only business recorded was the appointment of two new stewards- Nathan Williams and Ashley Sanders.and the election of Nathan Williams as recording steward for the circuit. CIRCUIT IS DIVIDED It was at the fourth quarterly meeting of the year 1850 that a resolution was introduced recommending the division of the Smithfield and Waynesboro circuit. This resolution was voted down, but one requesting the bishop to send two efficient preachers to the circuit was offered and carried. This was done and two preachers served the circuit until 1!54 when a division was ecected. That the church prospered and grew in membership is evidenced in the record of the fourth quarterly conference of Two persons, David W. Adams and Lucy Anne Hastings, were received in full connection, and the follow- 7

8 ing were received on trial-james D. Talton, July Anne Hastings, Sarah E. Hastings, Emily McAlston, Christopher G. Holt, Henry Thain, William Durham, Martha Mainer, Susan Mainer, Florence Telphair, Elizabeth B. Smith, Aurelia Turner, Ellen C. Northam, Lucien H. Sanders, Louisa Boykin, Calvin Perry, and one colored, Smith's Daniel. The names here mentioned will perhaps be recognized as older members of some of our Johnston county families of today. It is also interesting to note the method used in receiving members into the church. A person taken into full connection was one who presented the strongest evidence of a clean, upright life before God and his fellowmen, while those taken on trial were given an opportunity to prove that a change had been wrought in their hearts and lives. In the minutes of the first quarterly conference of 1861 is recorded the first mention of a missionary collection which the pastor in charge, Carson Parker, was requested to take where he deemed it proper. It was specified that the donor should designate whether the money be applied to home or foreign missions. CIVIL WAR TIMES The church at Smithfield was maintained during the War Between the States though a notation states that "owing to the peculiar and exciting times upon us our religious interests have greatly suffered." The record further states, "Three Sabbath schools were in successful operation at the beginning of 1865, with promise of good. The schools have been suspended because of the passage of hostile troops through the country. Most of the churches have been closed for a time and the church at Benton- 8

9 ville burned." The above quotation was a statement made by Joseph H. Wheeler, preacher in charge in An interesting record of a quarterly meeting held in 1864 shows how the preacher and the presiding elder were paid during the war times. The presiding elder received for that year, "4 pounds of butter, 5 bushels of potatoes, and 1 barrel of corn. The pastor received, 853 pounds of pork, 77 pounds of bacon, 79 pounds of lard, 17Yz barrels of corn, 102 pounds of beef, 2 bushels of wheat, 25 pounds of soap, 2 ducks, 10 bushels of potatoes, 4 bushels of peas, 5 dozen eggs, 20 pounds of rice, 100 pounds of flour, 37 pounds of butter, 2 pounds of candles, 4Yz yards of cloth, 3 chickens, 4 turkeys, 3,930 pounds of fodder, and all his wood." A notation of that year stated also that the Smithfield church property needed repairing. The church needed recovering, needed underpinning, needed to have the pulpit replaced by a new one, and the windows and fence needed repairing. The repairs were not made, which together with the inclemency of the weather, caused the Sunday school to be suspended during the winter of Soon afterwards a legacy, the details of which are not given, made it possible to repair the church. After this unusual good luck-the receiving of the legacy-was a year of strife and discord. Members had to be reproved for violating the church rules. The following is a report read before the quarterly conference by the pastor, Rev. A. R. Craven: "The spiritual condition of the churches on this circuit at most of the appointments is improving. At others the cause of religion has been seriously injured by many of our members engaging in dancing who not only manifest no signs of penitence but contend that it is not wrong and that it is no violation of the rules of our church be- 9

10 cause not specified in so many words. Six members have been expelled from our church during the past quarter, three for dancing and three for drunkenness." Dr. R. Hooker, a local preacher, was brought to account for drunkenness. He was permitted to make an extended statement as to his conduct before the conference, and after making an honest confession and showing a penitent spirit he was not put on trial. He was, however, suspended from preaching for a while. AFTER THE CIVIL WAR Church attendance seems to have been always a matter of concern, certainly to the pastor. William H. Moore, preacher in charge in 1870, deplored the falling off in atendance after the Civil War and urged the members to be more faithful. Whether to increase interest or for some other reason, the Smithfield Methodists that year bought a melodeon, but the innovation proved so unpopular that the second quarerly conference ordered it to be sold and ordered that every contributor to its purchase price be refunded his pro-rata part; and the congregation went back to its hymn-lining and tune-hoisting with the aid only of a tuning fork. If the melodeon purchased was ever laid at the door of the women, no record was ever made of it, for women's work in the church, except in the very beginning when listed as contributors to the church building, was not mentioned in the records until That year the Rev. J. E. Thompson and Dr. J. B. Beckwith were authorized to appoint a parsonage commitee of ladies who were asked to look after re-furnishing the parsonage - and they have been doing it ever since. The ladies the following year got a vote of thanks from the preacher in 10

11 charge, J. S. Smoot. The inference is that from this time on the Ladies Aid was a part of the church organization. It was not until 1903 that the Woman's Missionary Society was organized here, largely through the efforts of Mrs. Sadie Puckett Spiers and the Society was named for her. When it became the Woman's Society of Christian Service, her name was given to a circle. AT THE END OF 40 YEARS Forty years after the organization of the church found the church in a healthy condition. A few statistics of 1879 indicate the growth that had taken place: Number of churches on the circuit-8, valued at $5,000; membership-510 whites and 3 Negroes; seven Sunday schools with 312 members; a library of 300 volumes, valued at $80; pastor's salary-$70'0; paid bishop - $12; church building and rep,airing-$1,214; missions and all other contributions-$ In 1881, eleven years later, at the request of Dr. L. E. Kirkman, the Smithfield circuit was again divided, setting off Elizabeth and Clayton to the Hannah's Creek division. In 1892 the Smithfield charge was transferred from the Raleigh district to the Wilson district. but three years later it was put back into the Raleigh district. In 1954 a new district, the Goldsboro district, was formed and the Smithfield church was placed in this district. In 1892, T. R. Hood was made superintendent of the Sunday School to succeed Dr. J. B. Beckwith who for 38 years had held that position. One of the art glass windows in the sanctuary is a memorial to Dr. Beckwith. By 1894, the idea of organizing the young people was getting hold of the people and that year Smithfield had its first Epworth League. The League movement had its 11

12 ups and downs, and mostly downs until 1904 when a strong organization was effected which for 10 years thereafter was a live factor in the church. In fact there was a League off and on until CHURCH BUILDINGS Centenary Methodists until 1895 had been content to worship in the tall one-room wooden structure on North Second Street that before the war had had galleries for the slaves. But in 1895 they built a new edifice on the same site which was valued at $2,000. The new church had two Sunday school rooms with sliding doors, stained glass windows, and a big colored glass window behind the pulpit. It was carpeted all over, and was seated with chairs, some of which may be found today in some of the Sunday school departments. The building committee was composed of E. J. Holt. S. R. Morgan, W. M. Sanders, J. A. Morgan, W. G. Yelvington, T. R. Hood, and J. A. Wellons, all of whom are now dead. The years passed uneventfully for a decade until 1904 when the church was made a station. The Rev. N. Eo Coltrane, who had been on the circuit for two years, served as pastor the first year after it became a station. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. H. Shore who served this station for three years. Then came a group of young preachers who served the church for a year or a few months each: J. Marvin Culbreth, J. M. Ormond, and Costen J. Harrell. Rev. Mr. Harrell afterwards became a bishop and has only recently retired from this position, In 1911 the conference sent to Smithfield the Rev. A. S. Barnes who has the distinction of being the first pastor to serve the Smithfield church continuously for the four years allowed by the conference. It was during the pastorate 12 of the Rev. Mr. Barnes that

13 the present church building was erected. The town was moving southward and the location was moved from the site on North Second Street to the present site on the corner of Market and Second Streets, purchased from W. W. Cole. The church lot adjoins one which had been willed to the church by Miss Madelina McKinne. The first step toward the erection of the new church was taken at a call session of the quarterly conference of November 8, The building committee which guided to completion the structure was composed of W. M. Sanders, T. R. Hood, J. D. Spiers, Dr. N. T. Holland, and J. A. Wellons. Local contractors J. H. Woodall and Junius Peterson, built the church. The first service in the new church was held on July 4, In 1919 a $3,000 pipe organ was installed, and on March 21, 1920, six years after the church was built, the building was formally dedicated. The pastor of the church who saw the debt on the church wiped out was the Rev. S. A. Cotton. Bishop U. V. W. Darlington preached the dedicatory sermon. Quoting from the newspaper account of the dedication, "After the sermon and following the song the official members of the church: J. D. Spiers, W. W. Cole, W. M. Sanders, J. H. Abell, N. B. Grantham, T. R. Hood, H. C. Woodall, C. A. Creech, G. E. Thornton, and H. C. Hood, gathered around the altar, and W. W. Cole, chairman of the board of trustees, presented the church for dediction. Then followed the prayer of dedication with most of the congregation on their knees." H. C. Woodall and H. C. Hood are the only surviving members of that official board listed above. 13

14 FRUITFUL YEARS The years following the building of the new church were fruitful. The Rev. A. S. Barnes had set a precedent by remaining in Smithfield for four years. Two other pastors met this record in the next decade-rev. S. A. Cotton and Rev. D. H. Tuttle. By 1927 when Rev. D. E. Earnhardt became the pastor the church had reached an all-time high in its Sunday School work and in the work of the Woman's Missionary Society. During the two-year pastorate of Mr. Earnhardt, the educational annex was built. Under the superintendency of T. C. Young, the Sunday School had reached an enrollment of 441, forty of whom were enrolled in an auxiliary school at the cotton mill. The annex, erected at a cost of approximately $9,000, provided 22 new class rooms and a recreation room in the basement. The new rooms were urgently needed to take care of the Sunday School which was at that time thoroughly departmentalized with graded literature of the denomination used throughout. Training schools with conference personnel and men from Duke University were held annually to promote the effectiveness of the teaching force. The Woman's Missionary Society had become a dominant organization of the church and nearly every preacher in charge from that time on praised, in their reports to the Quarterly Conferences, the consecrated women who continuously furthered the missionary enterprise. In 1928 there were 65 members who raised that year $1, That was the year, too, when the church instituted the every member canvass and the envelope system. However, depression years followed, and there was a downward trend, at least in the church's finances. The preacher's salary went down from $3,000 to as low as 14

15 $2,000 before there was an upward swing. And the other causes of the church were lowered accordingly. THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY But by 1939 when Centenary celebrated its 100th anniversary, things were looking up again. The church membership had grown to 530, the pastor was paid $2,500 and the church property was valued at $60,000. The Rev. J. J. Boone was the pastor who arranged the anniversary celebration and it was a memorable occasion. Sunday, October 22, 1939 was the day. At the morning service, Bishop W. W. Peele preached the sermon. A history of the church was read. At the evening hour, former pastors of the church brought greetings. Invitations bad been extended to ten ex-pastors as follows: E. C. Glenn, J. H. Shore, J. Marvin Culbreth, J. M. Ormond, Costen J. Harrell, A. S. Barnes, D. E. Earnhardt, J. D. Bundy, B. T. Hurley and J. H. Lanning. DESTRUCTIVE 15 FIRES Churches have their ups and downs just like individuals, and Centenary has been no exception. The fire demon is no respecter of churches and Centenary has had three fires, the main part of the church hving been damaged once, and the parsonage twice. The first fire occurred on Sunday, January 1, During the Sunday School hour, fire was discovered in the furnace room which spread to the sanctuary and did damage estimated at $10,000. The Sunday School students were in their class rooms, most of them in the annex, and an orderly exit was made from the building without accident. The pulpit, chancel furniture, the organ and the art glass windows were saved and only slight damage was done to the pews. The insurance was sufficient to put the en-

16 tire ehureh in first class condition, Even the annex had been damaged by smoke. Church services were held in the courthouse while the repairs were being made. The next fire occurred in September 1943 when the parsonage was damaged so badly that the pastor, the Rev. B. H. Houston, and his family had to live elsewhere until repairs could be made. The loss was covered by insurance. Then, on May 30, 1952, while Dr. Sam Maxwell was the pastor, the parsonage was badly damaged by fire again. This damage was estimated at $12,000 and once more insurance paid the repair bill. BEQUESTS FOR THE CHURCH In 1950, for the second time Centenry received a bequest from a deceased member. Mrs. Ida Watson Setzer died and left her property to the church, In the early years of the church, Miss Madelina Me- Kinne, a faithful member, died and bequeathed the church a large lot fronting Second Street next to the present church building. When the new church was erected on the corner of Market and Second Streets in 1914, a parsonage was built on the lot next to it which had been left by Miss MeKinne. Prior to that in 1900, Congressman E. W. Pou asked permission to erect at his own expense a law offiee for his own use on a part of this lot. He was permitted to do so and he used the office rent free for a stated number of years. Since the expiration of that contract the church has received revenue from this building. A stained glass window in the sanctuary now honors the memory of Miss Madelina McKinne. Mrs. Setzer's estate proved to be worth $7,236. Rev-.enue from this source was used to rebuild the church pipe organ. Installed in 1919, the organ had survived over 30 years of usage but by 1950 it was beyond repairing. The 16

17 organ was rebuilt at a cost of around $5,000 and on September 19, 1954, it was dedicated at a memorial service that honored Mrs. Setzer. On the console is a plaque with this inscription, "Ida Watson Setzer Memorial Organ." At the memorial service a brief biography and tribute was read by A. M. Noble, and a program of organ music was rendered by Frederick Stanley Smith, an accomplished musician from Raleigh, MUSIC IN THE CHURCH Music in Centenary church has progressed a long way from the time the members turned down the proposal for a melodeon back in And much of the credit for the progress made is due to the faithful services of the late Mrs. C. V. Johnson. For forty years Mrs. Johnson was the organist. She played the first reed organ, then a piano, and then the pipe organ when it was installed. She rendered this faithful service-playing for all church services, for weddings, and for funerals-without pay, for it was in the days before the church was prosperous enough to include in its budget an organist's fee. In fact it was not until 1944 that the church officials authorized pay for the organist. And it was that year that 18 vestments were purchased for the choir. It was three years later before a director of music was employed. The year 1944 was notable for another advancement in music. That was the year when the church chimes got their start. No one thought of chimes at that time, however. It was a church bell that the women of the church wanted. The Dora Kirkman circle of the Woman's Society of Christian Service started a fund to install a church bell. It was to be a memorial to Mrs. Kirkman and other deceased members of the church. But as time passed, a sentiment for chimes developed and the bell 17

18 fund was eventually applied on the purchase of chimes, which were installed in THE ROLL OF HONOR The history of any church could well be the life stories of the men and women who have given of their time, talents and money in the service of the Master. In every church there are shining examples of Christian fortitude, ability and faithfulness. Space would not permit naming all such faithful persons. Suffice it here to mention only a very few that have left their stamp upon Centenary church and this community. One such has already been mentioned in the person of Mrs. C. V. Johnson. She went to her reward in the year 1952 at the age of 79. Another one of the faithfuls was Thomas Ruffin Hood, Smithfield's grand old man, who died in 1940 at the age of 82. He served as superintendent of the Sunday School for 3, resigning in For many years he was chairman of the board of stewards and for 49 years he was the recording steward. His records have been the source of much of the information contained in this brief history of the church. When the church was renovated recently his children placed a memorial window in it for him and one for his consecrated wife. Another member, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Hood in the furtherance of the work of the Sunday School, was J. D. Spiers. For many years he was the assistant superintendent in charge of the Sunday School literature. For 40 years he was a member of the board of stewards. He served also as district steward, and was an honorary member of both boards at the time of his death in He was long the church treasurer. When the church was recently renovated, a memorial window for him and his wife was placed in the chapel. He lacked 18

19 only a few days of being 79 years old when he died. Another saintly soul who died in 1939 was the Rev. D. H. Tuttle. Mr. Tuttle served Centenary church as pastor from 1921 to 1924 inclusive, and when he retired from the active ministry several years later, he came to Smithfield to spend his last days. He was a blessing to this community. The electric cross in the chapel of the church is a memorial given by his children. The roll of honor would be incomplete without the names of five young men, members of this church, who gave their lives in World War II. These were-no Glenn Boyette, L. Edgar Watson, W. Claudius (Pete) Bowen, Ralph S. Stevens, Jr., and N. B. Lee, Jr. In March 1946 at a service honoring the returning service men and women, a candle was lighted for each of these who had not come back. THE YEAR OF UNION An unforgettable year for all Methodists was the year That was the year when the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Methodist Protestant Church became one Methodist organization. The union brought changes to the local congregation. A new name was given to the Woman's Missionary Socity. It is now the Woman's Society of Christian Service. The Wesleyan Service Guild became the organization for the working women of the church. The Methodist Youth Fellowship took the place of the Epworth League. CHURCH RENOVATED The past decade stands out as an era of building new churches everywhere. Centenary put behind it the temptation to abandon its 30-year old building and erect a 19

20 new and bigger building and chose instead to make the present structure as comfortable and attractive as possible. It was Rev. H. K. King who became pastor in 1945 who was the moving spirit in the renovation program. And he remained here for five years to complete the work. Incidentally he is the only pastor ever to serve the church as long as five years. The prayer meeting room was converted into what is HOW the chapel with 12 memorial stained glass windows. The choir loft in the sanctuary was enlarged and a divided chancel was arranged. New carpeting was put down in the sanctuary and in the chapel. A modern oil heat. ing plant was installed. The recreation room was redecorated and furnished. The pastor's study was given new furnishings. The entire church. building was repaired and repainted. As the work progressed, numerous memorial gifts including 16 art glass windows, pulpit and chancel assessories, excellent visual aid equipment and many other items, were made by interested persons. In fact so many such gifts were contributed that a handsome "Book of Memorials" was purchased for the recording of these and future gifts. The book is kept on a special stand in the chapel and may be seen there at any time. LOCAL CHURCH EXTENSION This renovation of the present church building instead of building a new one was doubtless a factor in the recent church extension program which sponsored the organization of two other Methodist churches to serve Smithfield. Dr. J. V. Early spearheaded the organization of these churches. One, Asbury Church, is located in South Smithfield, and already a brick building with Sunday School rooms and an adequate auditorium has been erected through the Conference Ten Dollar Club and do- 20

21 nations of local people. The other, West Smithfield, is across the river on the Wilson's Mills road. It also is housed in a small building with Sunday School and assembly rooms. Mrs. Ira C. Whitley, who lives in that vicinity, gave the lot on which the building has been placed. The 1954 North Carolina Conference assigned a minister to these two churches. This church extension, however, was not the first effort made by Centenary church. In the early 1940's when Rev. B. H. Houston served as pastor here, the church started a movement for a chapel at the cotton mill. The Kiwanis Club cooperated with the undertaking, and a community center and chapel combined was erected on a lot thought at that time to be the property of Centenary church. A thriving Sunday School was soon going and a Duke divinity student gave his full time one summer to this project. Lack of leadership, in time, caused the work to be discontinued and the property reverted to the owners of the cotton mill and was subsequently given over to The Church of God. NEW CHURCH PARLANCE Evangelism has ever been the watchword of Centenary Methodist church from circuit days when the old camp meeting ground was where Elizabeth church now stands, In those early days that was the sole business of the church. Little was heard of missions either home or foreign as we know them today. But the pattern began to change. The church showed some interest outside the local community. The women organized missionary societies. The young people formed Epworth Leagues. And today the church parlance is full of terms that denote many new activities, all aimed at evangelism, The church has a paid director of religious education. "Methodist 21

22 Men" has come into existence. There is the Woman's Society of Christian Service, The Wesleyan Service Guild. We hear meaningful terms like World Service, Benevolences, Golden Cross, College Advance, Daily Vacation Bible Schools, Spiritual Life Conferences, Race-Relations Sunday, Laymen's Day, Commitment Day, the Bishops Crusade, Youth Fellowship, Camp Don Lee. And instead of paying the preacher with butter and eggs and fodder as in the old days, the church today pays the new pastor, the Rev. L. A. Tilley a salary of $6,000 with a travel allowance of $350 which is included in a $30,000 budget. And the present membership is

23 MINISTERS WHO HAVE SERVED HERE Name of Pastor James E. Joyner William H. Barnes Amos W. Jones John W. Tillett Amos W. Jones Samuel Pierce Philomen W. Archer Ira T. Wyche John Wilson, Jr. Charles P. Jones L. W. Martin John Tillett L. W. Martin John Tillett Paul C. Carraway Clarendom M. Pepper William E. Pell Lemon Shell John R. Brooks Carson Parker John Buie L. S. Burkhead Joseph Wheeler T. Page Rickard Alex R. Raven William H. Moore J. E. Thompson J. T. Smoot J. W. Wheeler R. M. Brown P. L. Herman J. T. Finlayson M. C. Thomas J. C. Hartsell B. B. Culbreth G. B. Perry Date of Appointment Term Served 3 years 41

24 Solomon Pool P. L. Herman W. H. Puckett E. C. Glenn Solomon PooL W. J. Twilley W. J. Crowson A. L. Ormond J. W. Jenkins K. D. Holmes N. E. Coltrane J. H. Shore J. M. Culbreth J. M. Ormond A. S. Barnes R. B. John S. A. Cotton D. H. Tuttle A. J. Parker D. E. Earnhardt J. D. Bundy B. T. Hurley J. H. Lanning J. J. Boone B. H. Houston H. K. King S. A. Maxwell J. V. Early Lester A. Tilley years 3 years 3 years 3 years 3 years 4 years 4 years 4 years 3 years 3 years 4 years 4 years 5 years 4 years

25 Medlin Printing Company Smithfield, N. C.