The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-19

He was an uncle of the Rev. William Hearn of the Alabama conference. Upon the sloping hillside of Randolph | Creek, opposite the Cold Spring in the Vale of Ravens Graz. there was built in ISIS a Methodist church, plain struc- ture of hewn logs It was dedicated by Rev Ebenezer Hearn. A few years after 1t was replaced with a neat frame build ing by Cod John Harris then the owner of the springs and subsequently, one Of the wealtfnest and most prominent plent- CTS of the Tennessee valley. and whose colonial home near Coutrland is one of the show places of the state. Several years after this the building larged under the supervision of MT. Isace Hamilton. one of the best and most re- spected men of the community; his son. the Rev. John Hamilton, Is a talented and popular minister of the Methodist church, south, In the Birmingham dis trict. Within the walls of this church were preached sermons by some of the sblest dfvines of the south, and during the summer season the congregation comprised many of thelmost distinguished families of the south Their liberal con tributions sustained 1t and flourish ing Sunday school. In after years a more convenient site was found and through the generosity of Col. and Mrs. J. F. B. Jackson a handsome church was erected This was a costly and timely gift and one that should be gratefully cherished by the community as well as by the Methodists Only the recording angel knows how many were the tender and merciful deeds of charity and be- nevolence performed by Mrs. Jackson during the term of years she dwelt at the springs or the large sums of meney she laVishly spent for food, clothing and medicine among the poor and suffering. Even the outcasts were provided for and faY ~la1 fA loo descendant of one of the oldest and most distinguished families of Pennsyl- vania and South Carolina and a near relative of ex-Gov Hoke Smith of Geor- gia. In all the spheres of life l have never known a truer more honor able wonan. nor one so quick to re- spond to the call of distress and to practically aid the ministers, churches and schools. and rescue those whom a selfish world has left by the roadside to perish. This is beautiful record to make in the journey through this vale of tears.
 In 1877 Warwick Bristen, a Methodist began preaching in the upper part of the county called at that time Bristen's Cove, and Is now Aurora Valley. He soon had large congregations and did great good.
 The Baptists were also early at work in Jones valley and In Blount their first church, Mount Moriah, stands in Murph- ree's valley. On June 19. 1S19, this con gregation was organized by Sion L. Blythe The Rev Joseph Hill was the first pastor and he did a good and last ing work extending over a large terri tory.
 In the spring of 1921 the Rev Mir. Lockhart established a Cumberland Pres byterian church in Murhphree's Val ley and later one of the same order was located at Summit. lovely village in Browns Valley. When Blountss<fe in 1920 became the county seat, there was Methodist and Missionary Baptist church. The Christians also had one church In the county; they were often called in those days 'Schismatics," and numbered many substantial people among their followers. At different points in the | wilderness, where a few families were too remote from the regular churches to attend often, especially in the winter season, log houses were built and termed l chapels. A half mile west of Reid's Gap | on the Louisville and Nashville railroad
 was one known as Thompson's chapel 1 after the old revolutionary soldier who | built 1t in 181S
 l In Jones valley the churches were more numerous and the style of buildings more expensive. The finest were at Elvton | and Jonesboro. The Episcopalians had l a beautiful edi1ce at Elyton. I well re- member my first view of the Baptist l church at Ruhama- Our party made 1 an afternoon drive from Elyton up the | Georgia road and after passing the sub urbs of the village 1t was an open coun- | try of farms, the entire landscape very much resembling parts of middle Ten | nessee; and In the dreamy haze and pur- l pie tints of Indian Sumer appeared douh- 1 ly beautiful. In order to enjoy the perfect peace of such a scene we drove
 slowly until the set of sun, and soon
 the twilight was dispelled by the full
 moon in all It's glory; a miles farther on
 and there, nestling in a sweet, level 1 spot was the historic old church; in the | background were shadows, and over all 1 the roof the moonlight lay like a white
 altar cloth; against the window panes
 glanced shafts of silver and the solemn
 silence was prayer; the sigh of the | wind a strain from some guardian an- | gels harp and the supreme calm of that
 moment breathed of the peace that pas-
 seth all understanding. We had no rose
 of Sharon or lily of the valley to lay
 upon It's shrine. but with bowed heads
 we laid our hearts there.
 Then we turned away and pursued our
 journey, but we all would rather have | fingered at the dear old pioneer church
 through all the calm and holy peace of
 that autumnal night. have never seen
 1t since. but memory wreaths it's picture
 with
 ! | "a. ss-r-spsxrTg-
 Those pure lilies of eternal peace Whose odors haunt my dreams"
 The preachers of the long-gone years
 received no salaries, each church giving
 such a sum as 1t was possible to raise, | ard that was very little. Through sum-
 mer's heat and winters cold their faith
 ful horse bore them from one church to
 another, glad at nightfall to reach the | farmers homo, ever to them a Bethany of
 welcome and rest Often. when rains fell
 or snow lay on the ground. they sought
 shelter in the Indians wigwam, where
 they were always kindly treated. Some l times the Journey was made up and down l the rivers in a canoe in order to attend | some special camp meeting. It was a | strong belief of the people that everyone | who died, from the infant up to the most | aged, was entitled to have their funeral , preached, and if no minister was within reach, day was set. often six months ahead, when all the neighborhood should gather to hear the funeral sermon. Even ] men who were indifferent to the call of re- ? | occasion; and in nearly every case the B church in which such service was held 7 was from two to ten miles distant from
 the home of the ones left to mourn. This s custom is still kept up in many commu- n l nities.
 The preachers were all men of superior education and were eminently capable of
 filling the pulpits of the town churches.