The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-06-19
lRY JAMES |. ElNNEYA

I Following and at times keeping
pace with the hardy pioneers OF Vir-
ginia and the Carolinas who crossed
the Alleghanies TO redeem the West
from the savage and blaze the path
way Of civilization across the track
less wilderness, came the Methodist
circuit riders. This noble band OF de-
voted followers of the Master, with
/ hearts afiame with holy zeal to serve
+ God in the service of their fellow
man, shared every hardship of the
pioneer and brayed every danger of
the primeval forest. Across their
visions were writ large the divine in
| junction 10 go into all the world and
preach my gospel Making up what
they lacked in education and culture
by lives Of sacrifice and conservation
to the service of the Master they be-
came the great moral factors in the
life of the new States. Wherever the
rude cabins of the pioneers were
builded there the cross Of Christ was
raised and even before houses of wor-
ship could be erected services were
held beneath the shelter of forest
oaks and thousands wre saved at
meetings held under the broad canopy
of heaven For mutual protection
the pioneers formed settlements or
communities and no sooner were their
homes dedicated to liberty than log
temples were erected to the God of
their fathers. The humble Methodist
circuit rider played a conspicuous part
in the formation of the new settle
ments and the blessings of their SER
vice in the masters cause are part Of
the glorious heritage of this people.
Maury county was organized in 1907
and in that year to Tennessee came
the Rev. John Akin from South Caro-
lima. He was a typical Methodist
preacher of his generation. OF strong
and rugged character, the bible his
literature, the salvation of humanity |
his only concern, this man of God
came to The country South of Duck
river" to preach. His first meetings
were held the year of his arrival close
to the spot where now stands Pisgah
Methodist church near the Western
limits of the county.
In the following year, with few
devoted members, a church was erect
ed on the spot where now stands the |
present neat little edifice. This
church erected in the summer of 1908,
stood until some time in the ffties,
when another log house little more
than the first was erect
ed. This was in turn supplanted
about eight years ago by the present
frame structure.
Ii w2s to commemorate the one hun
dredth anniversary of the establish
ment of this church that there gath
cred Saturday and Sunday a goodly
of the people of the
Hampshire community. Sermons
were preached by the pastor and for
mer pastors of the church, short adj
dresses were made by the descend
ants of the pioneers who founded the
church and dinner was served on the
grounds both days. 1t was both his
torical and spiritual occasion. Deep
piety marks the people Of the COM
The works of the fathers
have lived after them and their noble
influence is still manifested in the
lives OF the people of that section.
The anniversary exercises were
opened Saturday morning with short
by Rev. c. r. Wade, pastor of
the church. Mr. Wade read severa,
passages from the Bible used by the
Rev. John Akin founder of the church,
which had been marked by the owner
and from which he preached many of
he sermons that so stirred the people
If his generation. ,
In his address Mr.. Wade gave a
short historical sketch of the church.
rhe first members whose names appear
lpon the roll were the Atkins the Good i,
oins, the Grimes and the Bihles.
-ohn Akin was the first Methodist y,
,reacher 70 cross Duck River. After
le founded the church at -Pisgah he
nshed on further West and preached
q the early settlers and the Indians
CoptInped on Second Page. +