The log cabin Democrat., 1912-11-07
HISTORY LOCAL
 BAPTIST CHURCH
WAS ORGANIZED IN 1871
REV. w. T. BOX WAS FIRST HISTORIAN INTERESTING
 HISTORY.

The Baptist Advance of recent date has the following interesting write-up of the Conway Baptist church:
 "The record of the organization of our church having been destroyed by fire, we are dependent for data upon statements gathered from friends, no member of the church at present hav- ing been here at the time of the or ganization. From the best informa- ton obtainable, it appears that the Conway Baptist church was organiZ- ed by Rev. w 1T. Box in 1871, and that he became it's first pastor. There were few members at first in the or ganization and services were held ir regularly at first. In the summer of 1872 a committee was appointed to confer with the Methodists with ref erence to purchasing an interest in their meeting house, but the report was unfavorable; therefore, on Sep tember 30, 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 other building committee was ap- pointed, consisting of J. H. Durham James Coffee and J. T. Harrison. A few days later this committee report ed that six brethren had given 1000 feet of lumber each, one promised shingles for the church, two others gave 15 days of work, one offered four days of hauling, and three Brother G. w. Bruce among the num- ber-contributed $50 each. At the regular church conference meeting in July, 1875, it was voted that the sec ond day of August be set apart to commence work on the church. While work was not begun until several months after this date, 1t Is believed that the new house was dedicated ln March 1876, Rev 0. M Lucas preach ing the sermon.
 "The site of this First church was that known familarly at the present day as 'HarrelPs barn. The total membership, as reported to the assO- citation this year, was 5l, and the amount contributed to missions was S2. The frame church was blown down by a storm on April IA, 1885. In the summer of 1884 the present site was secured, and on May ZS, 1885, the corner stone of the brick structure we now use was laid. Rev. Dr. [. White delivered the address. Under date of July 9, 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 HartQn, Lula Bruce Woodruff, Jahn Markham, w. K. Dobbins, Mrs. Leona Jones, J. G.. Dobbins, J c. Gist, T. J. Witt, G. w. Bruce, w. N Moore. E. J. Ham, ilton.'
 At this tune D. J. Raspberry was pastor and E. J. Hamilton clerk. In 1903 extensive alterations and repalrs were made on the church builclng at cost of about $2,00O. The following year the floor was carpeted and new pews were put in at a cost of about 5000. During the year 1905 the church gave to missions S25O.
 "From the list of pastors and thelr terms of service given on another page, it will be seen that the church has had great many pastors"
 Then follows the list:
 1871, w. T. Box, to January l, 1877.
 June IF, 1877, T. P. Boone, to De- cember 31, 1877.
 February 9, 1878, T. B. Espy, to June 15, 1879.
 September 22, s79, G w. Reeves, to June 5, 1880.
 September 9, 1880, B. w. Thom- as, to November IA, 1881.
 February 27, 1881, w. M. Lea, to April 2, 1881.
 April 21, 1881, G. C. Harris, to October 6, 1881.
 March ?, 1882, B. Thomas, to April IA, 1883.
 "Apirl IA, 1883, no pastor to Janu- ary 12, 1885.
 January 12, 1885, J. NJ. Todd, to June 1, 1885.
 January 1, 1886, J. D. Raspberry, to January 1, 1887. "May 8, 1887, o. M. Lucas, to De- tober l, 1888.
 "January 1, 1889, T. M. Jackson, to July 1, 1893.
 "December 10, 1893, G. w. Reeves, to October ', 1894.
 September 5, 1895, W. B. Peoples, to August 27, 1899.
 January 25, 1900, H. H. Street, to January 1, 1902.
 "September 14, 1902, A. A. Scruggs, to June 1, 1903.
 September 6, 1903, John J. Hurt, to January 1, 1905.
 "February 12, 1905, J. U. H. Wharton, to September 24, 1905: ! "October 8, 1905, John Jeter Hurt, to 1912"