The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1889-08-28
CHATHAM CHIPS.
GRAND GATHERING OF
BAPTIST. THE ANNIyER-
SARY OF MI. PISGAH.
DIR. Durham's Sermon -RiviyaIs
At Martha's ChapeI-Abene-
ger and O'KeiIey's Chapel,
.Sc.. &c.

L
&C., &c.
| CHATHAM, Aug. 26.-Yesterday
there was grand gathering of
Baptist to celebrate the 18th Ami
yersarY of the organization of Mt.
Pisgah church. The church is really
nearly hundred years old;. but the
records only 60 back rs years. The
first Baptist preaching place in this
part of the New Hope valley was on
Rev. M. s. Ferrell's place, and near
his residence, and reaches back to
colonial t.mes. 1t is not certainly
known whether regular Baptist
church was constituted there or
whether it was only a meeting
house. Some time about the close
OF the last century, a church was
doubtless organized on the spot
where Jno. w. Beavers house now
stands and known as Yates Meet
ing house" and was named afterthe
first William Yates, who was the
first of the family that settled in
this valley, and probably the first
Baptist settler in this section. Just
after our second war for Indepen-
dence, lSl2-15, it was moved to
where it now stands, and the old
church was built mainly through
the efforts and liberality Of the cele-
brated Robert I. Daniel, for many
years the pastor.
The hneal descendants Of the first
Baptist settlers were present in full
force the family names of Yates,
Ferrells, Williams, Beavers, Mar
com, Scott, Barbee, Harvard, Bache-
lor and Mason, recalling the pioneers
from the banks Of the Roanoke and
Rappahannock, who first planted
the Baptist church in this section.
The clergy present yesterday at
the Anniversary were Rev. N. ).
Terrell, a lineal descendant Oh both
the paternal aud maternal sides,
Rev. Jno. G. Wilson, who has been
pastor since 1865 continuously: Rev.
J. p. Mason, another lineal descen-
dant Of the first Baptists; Rev. j. NJ.
White, Principal Of Excelsior In
stitute at Apex: Rev. J. 4. Spaight.
associate editor Of the biblical lie
corler" and Rev. J. z. Massey.
Before the Anniversary exercises
proper began Rev. Dir. Spaight adj
dressed the congregation relative IN.
the biblical Recorder" giving its
history, aud alluding briefly 10 its
editors aud their labors.
Then Rev. Dr. Durham entered
the pulpit with Reys. NJ. ). Terrell
and J. 2. Mason, both having been
ordained IN this church.
DIR. Durham read as the lesson for
the occasion the END Psalm aud
the md chapter Of Revelations,
hymn 637 was then sung, and pray
er offered by Rev. J. Z. Mason.
DIR. Durham announced a. his text.
Psalm 42-v.-6, aud also the sen-
tence, Il know thy work." occurr-
ing seven times in the book Of Reva-
la,ions. The sermon was grand.
unique in conception, and eloquent
in KS delivery. lie gave an inter-
esting sketch Of the celebrated Robt.
I. Daniel. the first pastor who was
born in Middlesex, Va, 10th June
l773, and died at Paris, Tenn, Sept.
18th 1910. Nothing but a steno-
graphic report would do justice to
the matter Of the sermon, and il
must have been heard to appreciate
the delivery. lie gave the following
statistics: Since the 're-organiza-
ton, the church has had eleven pas
tors, all vi whom are dead except
Rev. &c Wilson. Over 1000 men,
bers have been added to the church,
" whom over IOO0 are dead. Of
the pastors, the eloquent Dowd sery-
cd twenty-five and a half wears, and
AIR. Wilson % years. Four minis
tiers of the gospel have come from
the church; hev. DIR. Yates, Rev.
Messrs. NJ. s. Terrell, J. 7. Mason,
aud J. II. Hilliard, all living except
Dr. Yates. aud two present.
After the sermon, Rev. J. 7. Ma
son spoke OF the olden times. recall
ing memories If Rev. Messrs. jus
Dennis aud johnson Oliver. Prayer
was then offered BY Rev. NJ. 5. Fer-
rell. aud hymn G3i sun. Rev. NJ.
5. Terrell then spoke Of Rev. Pat
rick Dowd, and the sanity superin-
teudent Of the Sunday school,
Uncle Billy Yates" the father Of
DR.. NJ. I. Yates.
The pastor. Rev. J. e. Wilson
then made u few remarks, aud stated
that at the end Of tue year, his pas
torate Of the church would end for
ever.
The concluding prayer was offer
cd BY Rev. Mr.. Spaight. There was
n tsudar. launching. and dengly effect