The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-11-17

lied by Rev. John Witherspoon,
and that Rev. Hezekiah Balch was
the first to have pastoral care of the
church. Then that Rev. Gideon
Blackburn succeeded him. This is
evidently an error, for we cannot
find that Witherspoon was here; hut
it is more in accord with history, for
In l77othe Presbytery Of Orange was
formed with Rev. Hezekiah Balch
a member. That Presbytery was
composed of the ministers south of
Virginia, and within the bounds of
North Carolina, which then includ-
ed Tennessee. The great probable
tiles are that the church was or
ganized by, Rev. Hezekiah Balch,
who, in May, 1875, with others, Pc
toned for new Presbytery of Ten
nessee and Kentucky. We find in
history that Blackburn had been in
charge of Eusebia and New Provi-
dence from April, 1874. He was not
licensed until 1892.
Rev. Gideon Blackburn, d. D.,
was succeeded by Rev. McGhee,
about 1911; then came DR.. Hoyt,
who was succeeded by Rev. Rob-
ert H. Snoddy.
Sept. %, 1882, Mansfield Ander-
son, Joseph Boyle, William E. Cries.
well and Robert Houston were
elected elders, in addition to the
old board, and they were ordained
on the 1st of October.
Another noticeable feature in the
action of these fathers, is the rigid
discipline that was enforced. Any
unchristian conduct, or rumor, was
searched out at once and the &C.
cused was brought to answer or
vindicated. Sometimes accusa-
tions were found to be groundless;
sometimes the accused confessed,
when prayer was made for him;
and If the offense was not to fla.
grant, or the accused unrepentent,
he was admonished and continued
as church member. But these
elders discharged their duties fear.
! lessly and their sentences were
generally ordered to be published
: from the pulpit. There are some
instances where members were
, guilty of offences and voluntarily
went before the session, making
free confession, asking the assist
: ance of the elders to overcome the
=, evil within them. The most com
, mon offense charged was that O
"becOming intoxicated by the USE
D of spirituous liquors."
Nov. 2, 1884, Rev. Fielding Pop'
began to moderate the session, an(
? while the minutes do not show hi
selection as acting pastor, it Is evi
dent that he then took charge o
o the church, which connection con
tinued until Oct s, 1855, a period o
% wears
g In the matter of discipline w
e find where a member became in
> toxicated; Elders Creswell ant
J. Houston were appointed to con
g verse with him, and afterwards b
y was cited to appear before the ses
sion, and Elder Sims appointed +
a serve the citation. 1t appears tina
!, he demanded lis name to be take
from the church book, which, G
course could not be done. Instea
of appearing in person he wrote
letter in which he says: "If I hav
offended against church, or an
member except Sims, Houston an
Creswell, Pm heartily sorry for i
++* AS for these three nOvices, =
Sims to forge the link, Houston I
weld it, Creswell to put the chat
around my neck, I do object I
these men having anything to sa
in this matter" This TRADE ws
all at the faithful men for doin
their duty. He was suspended an
the sentence of the session read |
the congregation.
A matter of discipline came u
in 1889, were the elders were rela
ed or interested, and the cOntr,
versy was very bitter. The sessiO
requested the SEES sion of New Pro,
y idence Church to come and try tn
n case. Accordingly, Rev. Isaac Al
" dersOn, d. d. with Robert TedfOr
a. and John Eagleton, elders frOl
- New Providence Church, came, AN
III DR.. Anderson acted as Moderate
pc x,,l:l, Daxv .LN;ollsp<~ Da,>a aakAl a