The Monroe journal., 1922-02-14
Monroe, N. c., Tuesday, February Ia, 1922
Mems Bible Class of Central ME-
Church Has a Jolly Good Time.
Major Presents Detailed History of the Church and Promi
nent Speakers Enlven the Occasion While Eats
Come in for Good Measure

Inc Men 5 OluD OF 0enlrdi Metno-
dist church gave what they pleased
to term a supper in the Mems Bible
class room last evening at $3.50 o'clock,
but a few invited guests express
themselves as being willing to call it
a real banquet, with an attendance of
about l25 men.
Some of the outstanding features of
the occasion were history of Central
Methodist church by Major w. C..
Heath, addresses by A. M. Stack, j..
C. NJ. Vann, Rev. Geo. p. Stevens,
Mr.. Pierce White of Charlotte and
DR.. c. C. Weaver and the singing by
an excellent choir of male voices.
The exercises opened with a medly
Of old time negro melodies that
brought down the house, but when
the plates were passed around the
singers Immediately found more in
teresting ways in which to entertain
themselves and the singing ceased.
But everybody seemed to be satisfied
and agreed that the rattle of spoons,
knives and forks furnished far better
music at that paticular time than
any choir could render.
Mr.. A. NJ. Secrest, president of the
club, presided in very pleasant man.
ner, but his most excellent work was
attained during the eating periods.
Major Heath declared that meet
ing of this kind does more to remove
prejudice and create happiness than
anything that could be done, and in
timated that DR.. Weaver could always
have big crowd at his Wednesday
night prayer meeting service if he
would only give the necessary "hand
out"
History of Central Church
The Major then gave the following
Interesting history Of the local
church.
The territory now known as Union
county was first included in the Wa
teree, South Carolina Conference,
lS10-36; then Lancaster circuit, 1886
Al; then Waxhaw circuit, l841-42;
then Pleasant Grove circuit, 1872
Cd; then Monroe circuit and station
were formed.
Monroe first appears as paying
appointment August 9th, 1874, and
paid that year for support Of the min
istry the good sum Of S3.05. But in
lS4l the Rev. w. A. McSwain had
preached on the front steps of T. D.
Winchester's store, and the upstairs
Of this store was used by the Meth
odists in which to hold services until
their first church was erected in
1928 on the lot now occupied by
The First Presbyterians, which prop
arty was owned and occupied until
the erection of the wooden, church,
which stood on the lot on the oppo-
site side of the present building and
which building was sold to Shute &
Sons, and was moved away and is
now standing opposite Griffn's sta
lies.
The first quarterly conference was
held with the Monroe church Feb. 7,
1866, Jas. Stacy, presiding elder, and
Jno. McMakin pastor. Those present
at this conference as official members
were Jno. McMakin, pastor in charge,
Adam lvey, local preacher, J. I. Draf-
fin, j. Houston, class leader, B. M
Porter, J. 0rmand, H. King, Benj
Trott and j. Wentz.
1t was in the year 1850 that the
first Sunday school is mentioned, the
records showing 80 scholars, teach
ers and a superintendent. There
were received into the church on the
entire circuit in this year lis white
and 27 colored members.
II was in 1854 that a committee
was appointed, of which T. D. Win
chester, the father of E. C. Winches-
ter, our present postmaster, was
chairman, for the purpose Of serious.
ly considering the advisability OF
moving the parsonage to Monroe. II
was thought inexpedient on account
Of the cost which was estimated at
S5S0.00. The parsonage was, howev-
er, moved here in 1855, and the house
was purchased from John d. Stewart
and was located in the southern ex-
tremity Of the town.
George Washington Ivy was pastor
in 1856-57, and the late H. M. Hous-
toms name first appears as steward
II was in this year that the name Of
the circuit was changed from Pleas
ant Grove to Monroe.
In l864-65, E. A. Lemmond was the
preacher and his salary was $500.
During the years 1S61-65, the
church was greatly grieved and af-
fected on account Of the ravages Of
war.
The Monroe church was "set off,
from the Monroe circuit in 1855 and
made station. The time of this be-
ginning is remarkable 1865-1S66.
The first quarterly conference was
held on the 25th Nov, 1865, and was
opened by the Presiding Elder, Rev.
F. Nj. Kennedy. H. J. Wolfe was
elected recording steward and 7. d.
Winchester district steward; salary
Of pastor fixed at $4,000 and was
paid in full.
In 1S67-6S, Rev. Jno. R. Little was
pastor in charge, and the enrolment
was ITO white and 43 colored and the
pastors salary, owing to the "strenu-
BUSINESS of the times" was fixed at
S245.00, with board and lodging.
II. NJ. Houston and T. d. Winches-
ter were the first delegates to the
first "Deestrict Meeting" held in
Wadesboro in Aug. 1867.
The church had no preacher in 1885.
d. F. Dixon was pastor ls7l-72,
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