The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-04-24
PICKENS BAPTIST CHURCH

From the time the town of Pickeu,
was founded until the 10th dav OF
May, 1891, it was without IL Baptist
church. While there were a few
baptists i'll the town during these
years they were not sufficiently
strong numerically nor financially to
undertake such q movements. On the
4th day of April the first step was
taken when brethren Is. Holder. ]. f.
Dargan and &. T.. Robinson met with
brother j. NJ. Stewart in his Office
ana held the first meeting to discuss
the advisablity of organizing a
church. After this, meetings we're
held frequently and with additional
strength, and although few in num-
bers they were fully committed to
the work and determined by the help
of God to succeed.
On the 10th day of May, 1891, those
VINO had agreed to- take part in the
new organization had secured letters
OF dismission from their respective
churches, and by previous arrange
ment, met i'll the Presbyterian church
and were duly constituted and or
ganized into IL Baptist church. The
council consisted of Rev. Il. NJ. Bailey,
ID. d., moderator; Rev. j. NJ. Stewart, =,
secretary, and Revs. w. j. Singleton,
}J. II. Lewis, Charles Manly, ID. d.,
| and Il. T.. Nelson. Declaration of
faith and practice and Il church cove
nant were read and adopted.
After the organization and from
time to time committees were aD-
pointed to secure lot and to raise
funds for building house of wor-
ship. Several lots were offered but
the members were not able to buy
and build and by unanimous agree
ment accepeted the lot offered by
Bro. j. Nj. Stewart, where the build
ing now stands, which was Il gene
rous gift. The little band for months
struggled and toilcd and begged and
prayed, and two years from The day
of organization had secured funds
sufficient to build Il house. though not
completed, and from then until now
it has been a struggle to complete
the building, but today, under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit and the
blessings of Almighty God, we see
our efforts crowned with success.
The first pastor we had was Bro.
l.. II. Weldon, who came to us in Jan
uary, 1892, and served until Dcccm-
Der, 1893. The first year of the eXis-
tencc of the church it was supplied
by Brethren j. X. Mendenhall. #. NJ
Bailey, w. B. Singleton, B. Holder, j.
NJ. Stewart and j. ~. Lewis.
Bro. II. w. Seymour succeeded Bro
Weldon and was pastor for the first
three months in 1894, when he died
Rev. II. j. Rookie was then called to
the care of the church and he served
until December, 1895, when Rev. j. Y.
Nermillion was called and he served
until September, 1896, after which
time the church was committed to
the care Of DR.. \. j. $. Thomas. and
has been under his watchful ministry
ever since. The church congrat ulatcs
itself and counts itself fortunate in
having such shepherds as these
brethren, for under their wise and
consecratcd leadership the church
has steadily increased in numbers,
bencvolence and spirituality.
We desire to call attention to the
work of the ladies during the trials
and struggles encountered during
the work we had undertaken. They
stood by to encourage and help, ami
with their offerings did much to help
in the great work which was dear to
them; and like some good Christian
ladies Of old "labored with us in
building a house for the Lord"
We wish again to express our
thanks to the Presbyterians for the
use Of their house while we were
homeless, and to all the brethren
and friends who have aided us in
building our house of worship.
Thefollowing statement shows the
financial expenditures of the church