The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-08-03
The Henderson Baptist Church.
BY T. NJ. PITTMAN.

The Henderson Baptist church,
commonly called the First Baptist
church, was constituted about 1856
by Prof. W.T.. Brooks, D. D., of Wake
Forest College. 1t was admitted to
the Tar River Association at Poplar
Springs church, Franklin county, in
1858, and the fact noted as evidence
OF its progressiveness, that it had a
Sunday-school.
DR.. Brooks was pastor for some
twenty odd years, until forced to re-
tire by declining health, and is still
held in loving and warm remembrance
by older members of the church.
Rev. R. II. Marsh, d. D., Rev. NJ. v.
McDuffie, D. d., Rev. R. Van Deventer,
d. D., Rev. J. W. Millard, D. D., Rev.
j. D. Hufham, b. D., have been the
pastors succeeding DR.. Brooks, all
still living and held in high regard.
Rev. J. D. Larkins, the present pas
tor, has served the church since 1908.
The present brick meeting house was
erected during the pastorate of DR..
McDuffie at Il cost of some 81, 600.
With the accession of DR.. Van De-
venter May 2, 1887, was first inaug-
urated in Henderson every Sunday
preaching, policy which was soon
adopted by all the other churches in
town. His pastorate was an active
and progressive one. The work at
Carey Chapel, some four miles from
, town was begun and the house OF
worship erected. The membership of
the church grew TO something over
two hundred, and it's contributions
to various objects reached point
where they amounted to some 1927
per capita.
The short administration of Dr.
Millard was signalized by the organ
ization of Carey church from the mem
bership of this church, which has
since grown into a seif-supporting
and prosperous work.
During Dr. Hufham's administra-
tion the North and South Henderson
churches were constituted, a house OF
worship completed at South Hender-
son and one begun at North Hender-
son. An excellent parsonage bought
at the beginning of his pastorate was
fully paid for as the closing feature OF
his work. That property is worth
probably 50, 500 or 1000.
DR.. Hufham's ministry here was
hampered by physical weakness and
i'll health, which finally compelled his
! retirement. This was the occasion OF
a most unusual demonstration. The
other churches of the town held a
service at the Methodist Protestant
church and gave many expressions al
affection and good will. Rev. Living
ston Johnson, corresponding secre'
tary of the Baptist State convention,
and Gov. c. B. Aycock, came to Hen
derson and took part in the service.
There has been a steady advance in
all departments OF the church under
the present pastOrate.
This church has given hearty sup.
port to all the enterprises of the de
nomination, particularly to Wake
Forest College, the Baptist Orphan
age and the Baptist University fol
Women, the largest and best equipped
woman's college in the State, which
was organized in this church during
the session of the State convention
in 1889. A woman's missionary So
ciety and a Sunday-school are in ac
tive operation in the church. And il
has recently co-operated with the
other Baptist churches of the county
in organizing the Vance Baptist
Union. Two ministers went out from
the church during the Van Deventel
pastorate, Rev. A. Cree and Rev. A. G
Cree, both highly regarded as preach