Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-18
OUR CHURCHES,
NO. TX.
The Edgeneld Presbyter,an C,,nrc,,

INV ~~-e~-SNN ANSsDyterlon Cnurcn.
The Presbyterian work in Edsefield be-
gan al an early period in the history of the
town.
In 1851 DR.. t. B. Hamlin, a member of
the First Presbyterian Church in Nashville,
organized Sunday-schOol in Edgefeld be-
fore any OF the territory south of the Gal
latin turnpike was divided into lots. After
struggling along Tor some time, the school
was suspended Tor lack Of building in
which to meet.
In 1858, Mr.. D. D. Dickey, an elder in
the Second Presbyterian Church of Nash
vile, revived the Sunday-school. They
met sometimes in an clubhouse, sometimes
in a spare parlOr, sometimes in the open
air under the trees, until he finally bought
lot No. 81, fronting on Fatherland street,
ard iii 1854 built small frame house. in
which the school was held until tie base
ment Of the church was finished in the be-
ginning of 1859.
On the Sth day of May, 1858, Rev. J. S.
Hays, pastor Of the Second Presbyterian
Church of Nashville, organized the Edge
field Presbyterian Church in connection
with the Presbytery of Nashville. The
membership was made up of ten persons
from the First Presbyterian Church Of
Nashville, and twenty persons from the
Second Presbyterian Church of Nashville.
The first officers of the new church were
Elders Nathaniel Cross, W. b. A. Ramsey,
RObt. ). Hollins and jackson b. White;
Deacons, VIM. II. Webb and Arthur T..
White.
The congregation appointed jackson B.
White, Robt. 5. HOllins, Arthur c. White
and VIM. II. Webb Trustees, on the Sth Of
Nav, 1858. Steps were Immediately taken
to build suitable house of worship and
the following NAMED gentlemen were ap-
pointed building committee: W. Il. A.
Ramsey, L. ). HOllins, Neill S. Brown A.
V. S. Lindsey, J. 3. White, Turner Foster
and VIM. H Webb.
The site for the church was given by Col.
W. b. \. Ramsey, being lots No. II and
10 in Mckee and McRoberts' plan of Ed-e-
field and fronting one hundred feet on
Woodland street. BY Jan. %, 1859, the
basement of the church was ready TO be oc-
cUpied, and on that day the Sabbath
school met and also preaching was held
there.
On the 10Th of April, 1859, the upper
part of the church was opened for worship
and the building was sOlemnly dedicated
by the Rev. DR.. r. \. Lapsley.
On the Sd day Of July 1859, the building
committee reported the cost Of the church
s., 433 20, which had been paid in full; and
that the church owned lot worth $3.50 in
McGavOck'S addition TO Nashville.
After the organization of the church. they
were without a stated minister until the
middle of October, 1858, when the Rev. J.
W. Lanius of Waveland, Indiana, was en-
plOyed by the Missionary Board to labor in
Nashville PresbyteTy, and was assigned to
the EdGefield church for service every Sab
bath morning. The services were held in
the school house until the basement of the
church was finished.
Mr.. Lanius continuedhis faithful labOTs,
preaching very acceptably to the people I'M
til he was suddenly removed by death Aug.
o, 1859.
After various efforts to secure a pastor
the Rev. Joseph Tilghman Hendrick was
elected on the Goth of April 1860, and in
stalled on the 9th Of October following.
Soon the war came on, and in the general
disOrganizatiOn, the church suffered, but its
pastor continued his labOrs, under many
difficulties and with failing health, eEdear-
ing himself to the people by his faithful
ness until DIST December 1862, when he
was constrained to cease his work to seek
his health. But his hopes were vain, for
on the 18th Of March 1868, he was called 10
his reward, being in the 18th year of his
age.
During the time of Mr.. Hendricks IL
ness the pulpit was mostly supplied by his
! father. the Rev. DIR. Hendrick, now Of
Paducah, Kentucky.
After Mr.. Hendricks death, the congre-
CATION assembled every Sabbath morning.
| generally to a service conducted by the
Elders Of the Church. These services
were so uniformerly held, that not more
| than two or three SabbathS passed without
them until the 2Eh OF July, 1864, when
the Rev. z. c. Trimble took charge Of the
church as Stated Supply. Mr.. Trimble con-
tinued his services until the 1st of April,
1867, when heresigned. He was succeeded
By Rev. Henry Brown of Virginia, as tenn
porary Supply for a short time.
On the 18th of July, 1861, Rev. J. II.
McNeillv was elected TO the Passionate Of
the Church. The Rev. J. W. Hoyte preach
ed regularly to the congregation until
Nov. /, 1867, when Mr.. McNeilly took
| charge.
On the 27th day Of September, 1865, Mr..
McNeilly, having accepted the call of the
congregation, was duly installed Pastor Of
the Church, which position ne still holds.
The officers of the Church now are:
Pastor-Rey J. IL. McNeilly.
Elders. b. White, r. ). HOilins, DR..
J. \. Bowman, d. p. Rankin, DR.. c. y.
Ordway, Henry Cooper.
Clerk-W. b. \. Ramsey.
Deacoas-W. L. Bell, A. \. Breast, Bax-
ter Smith, Chas. d. Longhurst, c. f. Ord
way.
Treasurer-Sherwood smedes.
GROWTH.
After the war the town of Edgefield grew
very rapidly, and the Presbyterian Church
grew with the town. In the past six years
there have been near two hundred addi-
tiOns to the Church. Its number Of com
municants is 40. In that time there have
been nearly one hundred baptisms of chill
dren.
In January, 1871, colony of twenty-four
persons went ont to form the Presbyterian
Church at Madison, on the Louisville ami
Nashville railroad, about six miles from
Edgefeld. This colony numbers now near
fifty memberS, nave built beautiful house
of worship costing 5000, and viii soon m
ploy pastor all Of his time,
sUNpAE-seHOoT
The church has prr.uer its charge two
Sunday,sehoois. One is held in the base
iiieAt Vi lie church and has 225 persons on
II rolls. c. +. Ordway is Superintendent;
W. Z. McNeilly, Assistant Superintendent;
Leslie Warren and John Hopkins, Libra
rians and Treasures. One school IS held
on Sunday afternoon at Shapes Hall, in
North Edgefield, and numbers 125. Il. ).
Hollins is Superintendent, and Samuel
Fletcher ana J. p. Hutchinson, Librarians
and TreasuTers.
FINANCES.
The system Of raising money is the vol
untary system Each person is expectetitO
give according to his own sense of duty, as
the Lord has blessed him. The current ex-
penses and pastors salary and cOntribu-
tons to the church at large are taken up by
the envelope system every Sabbath morn
ing in the church service as a part of the
worship. The poor of tine church are pro-
vided for ont of the Sunday morning col
lections, and also 10y the Ladies' Benevolent
Society.
The church spent s., 800 in 1869 in i'm
proving their building and buying an Or
gan, since then there has been spent
the sum of 500 in improvements.
4 lot Of 100 feet on the corner of Min
nick and Fatherland streets has been bought
for manse, and the money, $1,000, has
been paid. There is a subscription for near
$1,000 for building the manSe and making
certain engagements of the new church
building. 1t is estimated that the improve
a i Il laIHE