Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-25
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
HIS History iH E7urTreesbOrO from ID,
Foundation. i'm 1872, 10 the Present
Time.
From the Murfroesboro Monitor.
The Presbyterian Church of Muir
freesboro was organized in April
1872, by the Rev. Robert Hender.
son, ID. d., under the name Of the
"Murfiee Spring Church." and was
the first church organized in the
place. ii commenced It's career with
eighteen members viz: Robt. Was
son, Margaret WATSON, John Smith.
Jane c. Smith, Isabella Smith, VIM.
ID. Baird, Abigail Baird, Joseph
Dickson, Margaret Dickson, Mary
Dickson, John Henry, Susanna Hen.
ry, Frances Henderson, Mary Stew
art, Margaret Jetton, Mrs. Samuel
Wilson, Grace Williams and Eliza
beth kclton. The first ruling elders
of the church were Robert WATSON,
John Smith and William d. Baird.
The church was organized in a
log school-house, near Murfree
Spring, on a site now included in
the yard of Mr.. James Avent. For
some time public services were held
IN this house. Subsequently SER
vices were held in q school house
which stood on the ground now
occupied by the residence of Mr..
Robert Reed; and still later the
courthouse was used for worship.
About the time this church was Or
ganized the county seat was moved
from Old Jefferson to Murfreesboro
the ground was laid off in town lots
and offered for sale. Not only was
this the first church organized in the
place, but it is believed there was no
other church in striking distance of
MurfreesbOro for several years af-
terward. 1t was, in more senses
than one, the mother church.
During the year 1913, DR., Hen
derson preached to the church two
Sabbaths in the month. lie was
man of vigorous intellect and de-
voted piety. lie was earnest in
his work, and succeeded in impress
ing himself upon the community as
few men do.
In 1914, Dr. Henderson was sue
ceeded in the pastorate of the church
by Rev. Thomas |. Hall, who also
preached two Sabbaths in the month.
During the year 1915 the church re
ceived the ministerial services of
Rev. James Bowman and Rev. Geo.
Newton, each preaching one Sab
bath in tho month. In 1916 Rev.
George Newton and Rev. Jesse
Alexander served the Church. In
1917 Mr.. Newton left and Mr.. Alex
ander gave the church one third of
his time.
In 1918, Rev. Robert Henderson,
ID. D., resumed the pastoral charge
of the church, and the name was
changed TO the First Presbyterian
ChUrch Of MuEjreeSJOrO. The
church seems now TO have entered
upon a career Of unusual prosperity.
A substantial and commodious
brick building was erected, the first
ever built in the town, and for
number Of years the only one.
The records show frequent and
powerful outpOurings of Gods
Spirit, which resulted in the awake.
ning OF the whole community and
the conversion Of many souls.
There were giants in the land in
those days, and among them stood,
primUS inter PGreS, DIR. Gideon
Blackburn, who often wrought in
the church his labors of love. The
high-sounding music Of his eIo.
quence has not yet died away in the
hearts of Gods people, for the eyes
of our old women sparkle, and the
breasts Of our old men heave, as
they tell Of the crowds that flocked
10 hear him through rain and snow,
and the breathless silence that
reigncd through his three hour ser
mons.
In the hands of such mer the
word of God was not bound, and
the church grew apace. In 1920,
Joseph Marlin and Samuel Trott
were added TO the session. In 1922,
the Legislature of Tennessee, on ac-
count of the destruction OF the
Courthouse by fire, sat in the Pres
bytcrian Church. A floor was put
in the building on q level with the
galleries, thus making two stories
One branch of :he Legislature sat
down stairs aad the other above.
In 1925, Benjamin McCulloch,
JAS. c. Mitchell and DIR. James
Nancy were elected and ordained to
the Office Of Ruling Elder.
On the Sd Of December, 1925,
Rev. j. W. Hall commenced his
ministerial labors in the church, the
membership then being about
ninety. On the 9Th of April, 1927,
thirty eight persons were received
into the church, and among them
appear the familiar names of Elder,
Killough, Niles, Wilson, Rucker,
Wade, Stewart, Black, Tennent,
Tandel, Henderson and Fletcher.
The membership had now increased
to I3S.
In December, 1929, Rev. j. w.
Hall resigned the pastoral charge,
and In the same month Rev. William
Eagleton, ID. d., received and ac-
cepted a call TO the pastoral object
The church now numbered abou.
$50 members.
In 1881, a campmeoting was held
at Kelton's Camp Ground. During
the ten days it lasted, forty-four
persons united with the church.
Before the close of the year thirty
six more united with the church,