The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1906-07-28

Andrew J. Grafton. From these
3 ruling elders were selected, viz:
! ID. III. Strobe, Daniel N. McLau-
rim and DR.. j. M. Grafton.
DR.. j. M. Carlton was elected
lclerk of the session, holding this
position with capability and fidel-
lity till the end Of his life in 1899,
excepting an interruption Of about
three years during the war, when
| he was absent from Brookhayen.
lOf the original charter members
.Iof this church, all are dead save
lone, the beloved Mrs. Mary }.
Grafton, wife of the late DR.. J.
M. Grafton. For nearly 40 years
lshe has been a member of the
Presbyterian church in Brookha-
1yen. She is with us today, and
no heart rejoices more in the lay
ing of this corner stone than her
loWn. The other six charter mem
bers of this church, during the
years, have passed into the great
beyond. They have left, how
lever, precious memories and last
| ling influences to those who have
followed.
The Presbyterian church was
the first church building erected
in the city of Brookhayen. 1t
was first built east of the railroad
on land generously donated for
THAT purpose by the Rev. M. J.
lWhitworth, a worthy member Of
the M. E. church, who has long
since passed from earth to reap
the rewards Of his doings. The
church was continued in that
location till the year 1879, when,
| il was taken down, being much in
need of repairs, and removed to
Its present location west of the
railroad. This location was found |
to be more suitable to the CON
lyenience of a majority of the cum
lgregation. The land on which the
church was first built was bought
| by Mrs. CrisweIl. This church, |
built in 1879, was the second
church built by the Presbyterian
congregation, and the building
now in course of erection will be
the third.
The early days of the church
we're days of beginnings; days of
small things; there were all the
vicissitudes and difficulties to con-
tend with, incident to those trying
times. The war came on soon
after the organization of the
church, but during that trying
period Of life the church still CON
tinued her existence and her ser
vices under the ministry of Rev.
William Neil. In spite of all the
difficulties which have confronted
the church during all these years,
tit has not only survived, bat has
grown to its present position Of
strength and influence; growth
being evidenced in numbers, in
contributions, and in zeal.
June the 18th. 1861, was OBJ
served as day of humiliation and
prayer by the congregation, in
compliance with the recommends
tion of Jefferson Davis, the presi-
dent of the Confederate States.
On August the Goth, 1882, the
18th anniversary Of the organlza-
tion of the church was observed;
an appropriate sermon was preach
led by the pastor, Rev. W. B.
Bingham, from the 84th Psalm
and first verse; condensed histo-
ry of the church up to that pres
ent date was read by him. This
showed the number Of members
admitted by examination and GER
ltificate, since its organization, up
to 1882, to. have been 141.
The membership of the church
has never been very large; unfor-
ltunately the church record book
covering the period of the
Ichurch's history from 1886 to-
1902 has been lost, and there is no
written record Of that time at
hand. The report we have shows
that up to 1885 the total member
| ship of the church since its organ
ization was 161. There is but one
living charter member of the
church, Mrs. Mary j. Grafton, to
whom reference has already been
made. Among the older living
members OF the church we may
mention Mrs. Ellen Hardy. who
joined the church here IN 1870, /
thus having had her memhershipl
here 36 years; Mrs. j. A. McCor-
mick, who joined this church In
1865, thus being a member about
forty years; Mrs. Bette Cassidy /
lin 1873, a member 80 years; Miss I
Mary Storm, in 1873, 33 years;
Mrs. Parable Dale in 1871, 35 I
| years; Mrs. M. E. Heuck in 1874,
! 50 years. These are all living and
lare Interested and useful members
Iof the church. OF these Mrs. M.
E. Heuck, while retaining an
active and most jealous interest in
1.-The church, is yet debarred by /
personal affiiction from attendance
upon the services; no one will re-
ljoice more than this good woman
in the laying Of this corner stone
today.
There have been IL ministers
who have supplied this church
during the nearly 49 years Of its
history their names are as fol.
IloWs
i. Rev MoCaIlum, from
ldate Of organization, August goth, /
1857. through the year, about four
months.