The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-17

of Eve olden times if not through the
linstrumentality of the itinerants, were by
tradition Methodists, and who is now
ready to deny that here in this commune
ty among the early settlers, were Metho-
dist who were forming church which, II
not the first, was among the very nrst,
in North Carolina. The best authentic
history of a Methodist church established
in the capital of your State and what was
the beginning of the now famous Edenton
lStreet church in Raleigh, N. c., was IN
1884. 1t is thought that Asbury was most
likely the founder of this church Asbury s
travels in North Carolina date back 10
| 1850, ard at that time, William Ormond
was a boy, eleven years of age. Who
| founded Rainbow? / ask, is it too great
a compliment to pay you people here to
say / am of the opinion that your own
ancestors formed the society of Rainbow
church, following the religious instincts
of their forefathers without the aid of the
pioneers of Methodism mentioned by
Moore. Whether or not, we may ever be
able ito settle that question to your and
my satlsfaction-we do know that within
the recollection of the now living, that
Rainbow congregation first worshipped
In log church which was also used for
school house.
John Freeman, the grandfather of the
next oldest living member of this church
now, Mrs. Mary Fitzpatrick and who with
out any pre- Arrangement of the congrega-
tion, see in her place on the front row.
donated the land upon which the present
church now stands We have been unable
to obtain deeds establishing this fact, but
Mrs. Kilpatrick's memory is satisfied as
to this fact
The first sermon by an itinerant Metho-
dist minister in that school house, / am
reliably informed by one who heard her
say so, was the third Sunday in June when
old Aunt Gatsy Dixon was II years of
age. Now, Samuel Hooker, Washington
Dixon and the parents of VIM. Hooker
were living at that period, and from the
best information obtainable, Gatsy Dixon
was born about 1870: so by 1907, there is
no doubt of the itinerancy reaching this
community, and doubtless they were, long
before holding public worship here.
They afterwards built a Aplank church
and Rev. Tom Speight, club-footed
Methodist local preacher, taught school in
this building, and one of the now Oldest
men in Green county and who is also
present in this assembly, went his first
this building was remodeled into a larger
edifice to accommodate the increasing
membership. But after many more years,
this second undressed plank church was
sold and the present house of worship ia
which we meet today was erected exclu-
sively for religious worship. This church
was dedicated by Rev. Chas. f.
Deems in 1849. / repeat the qucs-
tion-who founded Rainbow church? And
in further answer 70 that query, add that
it is not at all improbable to my mind,
that before Francis Asbury or Joseph
Fillmore, who continued his preaching
tour through Eastern North and South
Carolina to Savannah, Ca. or Robt. Will
Hams, who is credited with organizing
the first Methodist societies. in North Car
DINA, which he did between the years
1853, the date he landed in New York,
which you will observe. was the date of
birth OF William Ormond, and IT'S, when
he laid down his armor and exchanged
labor for rest that right mere in this
community the fathers and the mothers,
for the fathers and the mothers of the
men we are here assembled to revere the
memory of today lived in this immediate
community and were worshipping here ac-
cording to the dictates of their own con-
sciences, which, if the array of portraits
of the able Methodist Ministers we have
before us today signifies anything, these
portraits signify that Methodist ideas pre-
vailed in this community and that Metho-
dlsm sprang up almost de novo at what we
call old Rainbow We do not hesitate to
declare that, everything else being equal,
Rainbow congregation has furnished moro
Methodist ministers than any other IN
North Carolina. rTa name them:
Revs. Washington Dixon, w H. Gun
ningim, ST., W. H. Cunningim, Jr., John
Gibbons, Nathan Hooker, Henry Gibbons,
Jesse A. Cunningim, Lcmuel NJ Gibbors,
W. l.. Cunningim, Jesse L. Cunningim,
Frank Brown, and last, but not least, the
Rev. A. l.. Ormond who was born near
Ormondsville. You can lay claim to him
by no false pretense, for his sanity moth
err was a Cunningim, and coming from
this community, you are by maternal right
his ancestors and he your offspring This
occasion must be to that mother who yet
lives to enjoy and participate in the ex-
ercises of today, an inspiration. May many
years yet be hers to live in the conscious
ness of duty well performed.
The time allotted to this paper will not
permit us to review the many fields Of
labor of all these men, and you will par
don me. l am sure, for singing out only
one or two of those mentioned.
First of all, Uncle Nathan Hooker, who
IN his beginning was among you, and when
at a ripe old age was called up higher.
was only few miles away in an adjoin-
ing county Aside from his ever constant
pious demeanor, if any one, more than
another, of his characteristics cropped
out. it was his originality, his individuality
and his determination to follow where his
Master lead. Strange as it may appear,
knowing the strong religious convictions
of the Hooker family as we now do, that
Uncle Nathan met with strong opposition
from his people to his entering the minis
try bat nothing stopped him. For awhile
he taught school,, and Uncle Jesse Cum
ningim said that was accustomed to ride
to school across Uncle Nathans broad
shoulders. At last, finding himself with
out means and unable to prosecute his
work as he thought best, he took work as
a day laborer on the old Raleigh and
CASTOR Railroad to be able to procure
horse. Larger in physique than the aver
age man. his mind was in keeping with