The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-10-16

III 1cot Iue 10y building was aDdn-
doned and has long since fallen into
decay. For a time after leaving the
old church the Methodists of Dawson
worshipped in a blacksmith shop, lat
er holding services in tenant house
that had been built but never occu-
pied, on a place owned by Mr.. Moses
Baldwin. The pastor who came with
the membership from the old log
church was Rev. Williamson. Those
serving the Dawson Methodist church
since that period were: Revs. B. F.
Breedlove, F. F. Christian, J. NJ. Mar
| shall, Geo. c. Clark, Walker Lewis,
J. M. Austin, R. w. Dixon, W. M.
Hayes, Benjamin Key, S. Y. johnson,
P. S. Twitty, A. M. Williams, F. A.
Branch, ]. w. Weston, E. M. Whit
ing, j. H. Scruggs, j. B. tombstone,
G. Y. Mcdonald, E. M. Whiting, o.
F. Cook, 0. B. Chester, j. P. Nc
Ferrin, E. F. Morgan, j. M. Cutler
and T. B, Stanford.
The old Methodist church still
standing in the southern part of the
city was erected in 1857. B. H.
Brown and W. P Vinson were the
contractors. The church register
gives the names of Mr.. and Mrs.
c. A. Cheatham, Mr.. and Mrs. j. B.
Perry, Mr.. and Mrs. B. H. Brown,
Mr.. and Mrs. w P Vinson, as char
ter members.
E. NJ. Whiting, under whose pas
torate the present splendid building
was erected in 1892. Rev. ]. H.
Scruggs was pastor when the church
was dedicated September 20, 1895.
Rev. Warren A. Gambler preached in
his usual vigorous style from the
| text: But have built an house of
habitation for thee and a place for
thy dwelling forever - Chron.,
90. A fine musical program and 9TH
er impressive features made this a
notable occasion. In 1908 a commo-
dious annex was built to house the
growing Sunday school. Rev. o. B.
Chester was the moving spirit in this
enterprise
The superintendent who have
made the Sunday school such
strong factor in the growth of the
church are DR.. G. A. Cheatham, N.
w. Dozier, H. S. Bell, J. G. Parks,
w. P. Hornady and R. D. Smith.
All will be convinced of the accu-
racy of the following data concerning
the Baptist church when we state
that it was furnished by Mrs. B. H.
Hood, to whom we are greatly in
debted for the courtesy.
Doubtless it would be interesting
to the congregation of the First Bap-
fist church of Dawson could they step
back fifty years and worship with the
little band of Baptists in the old
mother church then known as the
Friendship church. The old building
is now standing two and a half miles
east of Dawson, near the Central rail
road, and was used as a barn by Viii
liam Jennings and M. E. Jennings.
The Friendship Baptist church met
in conference October 5, 1849, and
adopted the government of the Mis-
sionary Baptists. The first conference
ever held as missionary church was
the first Saturday in November, 1849
Rev. John G. Tyler was pastor Of
the original pioneer band there is not
one living, so far as we can learn.
June %, 1850, the name was
changed to New Providence. The
church transacted no business from
May, 1854, to January, 1856. By
resolutions passed by New Provi-
dence church September 26, 1857,
the church was moved to Dawson
and named the Dawson Baptist
church. Rev John Martin (now an
honored and revered citizen of She'll
man, having almost reached the CEN
fury mark, still strong in the faith,
a benediction to the section in which
he has sorlong labored for the cause
of the MASTERY served as pastor in
1857, 1858 and 1859. This church
was one of the original that organ
lied the Friendship association in
1859, and had the honor of entertain
ing that body in 1866, and every ten
years thereafter, except one decade,
1896. From September 26, 1857, to
January, 1860, the church worshipp-
ed in an academy situated about
eight or ten feet east of the residence
of Mrs. M. A. Hardin. June II, 1858,
a committee was appointed to get up
| a subscription to build house of
worship. A woodland lot 108 yards
square was purchased of Mr.. M. H.
| RaIdtUin Cr " xyaorc &hsn Ia u...a.