The log cabin Democrat., 1912-11-02
HISTORY LOCAL
BAPTIST CHURCH
WAS ORGANIZED IN 1871
REV W. T. BOX WAS FIRST
PASTOR-AN INTERESTING
HISTORY.

our C9ufcn having been DESTROYED bV
lire, we are dependent for data upon
statements gathered from friends, no
member of the church at present hav-
ing Teen here at the time of the or
ganlzation. From the best informa-
ton obtainable, it appears that the
Conway Baptist church was organiz-
ed by Rev. w r. Box in 1871, and
that he became its first pastor. There
were few members at first in the or
gaaizati0n and services were held ir-
regu arly at first. In the summer of
lSt2 committee was appointed to
confer with the Methodsts with ref
eleHae 10 purchasing an interest in
their meeting house, but the report
was unfavorabie; therefore, on Sep
tenaer 90, 1872, Brethren Buckner,
J Durham and Elder Stephens were
appointed a committee to Superintend
the building Of church house There
Is no record OF any service by this
committee. In December, 1874, an
ether building committee was ap-
pointed, consisting of j. H. Durham,
James Coffee and J. T. Harrison. A
few days later this committee report
cd that siA brethren had given 1000
feet of lumber each, one promised
shingles for the church, two others
gave ID days of work, one offered
four days of hauling, and three
Brother G. w. Bruce among the num-
$50 each. At the
regular church conference meeting in
jay, 1875, it was voted that the sec
end day Of August be set apart to
commence work on the church. While
work was not begun until several
months after this date, it is believed
that the new house was dedicated in
March, 1876, Rev 0. NJ. Lucas preach
ing the sermon.
'"The site of this First church was
that known familarly at the present
day as Harre,Ps barn The total
membership, as reported to the asso-
-latlon this year, was 81, and the
amount contributed to missions was
So. The frame church was blown
down by storm on April IA, 1888.
In the summer of 1884 the present
site was secured, and on May %,
1885, the corner stone of the brick
structure we now use was laid. Rev.
Dr.. F White delivered the address.
Under date of July 25, 1886, the
clerks minutes show the following
record:
" On this day the following per-
sons were present at the first meeting
held in the new brick Baptist church:
J d, Raspberry, James Ford, Robert
j. Glenn, Benjamin Harton, Lula
Bruce Woodruff, jain Markham, w.
K. Dobbins, Mrs. Leona Jones, ]. G.
Dobbins, j. c. Gist, T. j. Witt, G.
w. Bruce, W NJ Moore, E. ]. Ham
iton.
cat this tire D. j. Raspberry was
pastor and K. j. Hamilton clerk In
1908 extensive alterations and repairs
were made on the church building at
a cost of about $4,000. The following
year the floor was carpeted and new
peWs were put in at a cost of about
81 900. During the year 1905 the
church gave to missions $3.50.
From the list of pastors and their
terms Of service given on another
page, it will be seen that the church
has had a great many pastors"
Then follows the list:
1871, W, T. Box, to January /,
1877.
"June II, 1877, T. P. Boone, to De-
cember 81, 1877.
: February 9, 1878, T. B. Espy, to
June Is, 1879.
September %, s79, G w. Reeves,
to June 5, 1880.
September 8, 1880, B. w. Thom-
as, to November Ia, 1881.
February 27, 1881, w. M Lea, to
April 7, 1881.
April 81, 1881, G. C. Harris, to
October 6, 1881.
March 2, 2, 1882, B. Thomas, to
~Apirl "a. u, 1888, no pastor to Janu-
january II, 1885, J NJ. Todd, to
June l, 1885.
January l, 1886, j. D. Raspberry,
to January l, 1887.
May 8, 1887, o. NJ. Lucas, to Oc-
toher /, 1888.
January 1, 1889, T. M. Jackson,
to July /, 1893.
December 10, 1898, G. w. Reeves,
to October Z, 1894.
September 5, 1895, w. B. Peoples,
to August 27, 1899.
January %, 1900, H. H. Street, to
January /, 1902.
September IA, 1902, A. A. Scruggs,
to June l, 1908.
September 6, 1903, John j. Hurt,
to January /, 1905.
February II, 1905, J. U. II =.
Wharton, to September "a, 1905.
October 8, 1905, John Jeter Hurt,
to 1912"
The last half-doZen wears this
church has made wonderful progress
under the wise and energetic manage
ment of Doctor Hurt. The old church
building and grounds were sold and a
new house worth about $4,000 has
been erected in one of the most eligi-
BILE site in the city, and the number