The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1914-12-04
AN
Sketch Read at the Corner
Stone Laying ot Ike MAJ
ryville Baptist Chrrch
on Nov. ~, 1914.

The history Of the Maryville Bap
ust church is a record Of STRUGGLES
and Of triumphs, organized with
ouly thirteen members, it has grown |
ta 4. membership Of Be-
ginning with no house Of worship,
it meets to-day in this magnificent
temple, working long years without
notable name or influence, it stands
to-day as one Of The potent forces
in its community.
On March 30, 1871, B. A. Nor
ton, | NJ. Wells. w. D. McGinlcy.
Elijah James, ]. M. Clemens, Geo.
Pearson, e. H Mckinney, N NJ
stinnett, H S. Gattett, Nancy
Wells, Dorcas James, NJ. =. Hut
sell, Susan Mckinney, Margaret
Sexton, Sarah Youngblood, Latitia
YoungbIood, and Martha Catlett,
met at the Court House and organ
ized the Maryville Baptist Church.
From this number B. A. Morton
and |. M. Wells were chosen dea-
cons, and w D. mckinley, clerk
At that meeting, Rev D M
Breaker, who had been laboring in
and around Maryville. as a mission.
ary, was called to be pastor, and
after April 8th following he preach
ed his first sermon to the new
church on the subject Duty Of
Brethren to Brethren. "
On December IA, 1872, the first
steps toward building a house Of
worship were taken by appointing
building committee. composed Of
Fl. S. Cattett, I. M. Wells and e.
a. Mckinney. The first service
was held in the new house Aug. 3,
1876. the church haying worship
ped in the Court House since its
organization, more than age years
before, but not until March II,
1882 was the building entirely paid
tor. That was a joyous day for the
little band Of saints still numbering
less than thirty, who for eleven
years had prayed and worked and
sacrificed for a house that they
might dedicate to the worship of
God.
TIE house was small and plain
with is four ceiled walls, with its
rough hand made beauty, and its
dim lamps resting on wooden brac
kets attached to the walls in con
veLient places, but it was the pride
and joy of that noble band of
thirteen, and Of the few others that
had joined them. Never did hap
pier and more enthusiastic worship
in gilded temple or cathedral than
worshipped in that plain little
house. Those godly men and wo-
men were true heroes and heroines
OF the faith, and as they have pas
sed, one by one, to the church tri.
umphant, they have taken their
places among those that have come
up through great tribuIatiop and
have washed their robes in the
blood of the Lamb.
From It's organization in 1871 to
1891, the church had preaching
only one Sunday each month.
Reys. D. M. Busher, J. Fl. Morton,
]. L, Lloyd, C. G. Brown, I. e.
Jones. and A. P. Smith, serving
successfully as pastors.
In 1891, the church became a
mission of the State Board, with
Rev. J K Pace az pastor Follow
ing Rev. MIR. Pace, Revs. J, E.
Watson. ]. M. Anderson, Geo, E.
Baker, A. P. Smith, and ". A.
FerreH, served in turn as pastors.
On September 4. 1898, Rev. 0.
G. Peyton came to the pastorate
Undtr his wise leadership and able
preaching, the church took On new
lie and enlarged the scope of its
Influence.
In 1901, Rev, Mr.. Peyton was
succeeded by Rev. w, L. Cate,
who came with vision Of the pos.
siliiities q tie Maryville church
and with deep sense Of its 1e-
sponsibility Under lis pastorat5
he old hpuse was remodeled at
cost OF $3.50. The suggestion to