The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-18

organized by the pastor and officers of the First Baptist church and put under the care of Rev. William H. McAlpine, colored who was baptized and or dained by the late Dr. Renfroe.
 Soon after the organization of the First Baptist church a house of wor- ship was erected at the corner of North and Spring streets, which was used until 1873, when, on Sunday, April 27 of that year, the present house of worship on East street was occupied for the first time, Dr. Gwaltheyi preach ing at the II o'clock service. 1 Careful Financing Many years ago the church upaTli- mously passed a resolution that the house of worship should be used only l for religious and temperance purposes also that it shall be cause for exercise of church discipline for any member to | fail to pay his subscriptions to the church when he has the ability, to pay. Several years before that the treasurer was required to report quartely the names. of those who did and the names of those who did not aid in the support of the church.
 Judge Chiffon and Judge McAfee and Mrs. Chiffon were the committee who raised the first salary for pastor ever paid by this church.
 From one who wW speaking 40 years ago of the history of this church we quote as follows: Ut has generally met-the coming in of vice with prompt l decision and firmness, and has with drawn its fellowship from those who walked disorderly. It has with read mess excluded members for drunken ness, for selling ardent spirits, for visit | ing billiard saloons, for refusing to pay debts, for promiscuous dancing and for | habitual absence from the meetings of l the church"
 On the first Sunday in June, 1885, this church celebrated the fiftieth an- niyersary of it's existence in a jubilee meeting. Rev. J. J. D. Renfroe, D. D., preached at Il o'clock from the follow ing text First Samuel 7:12 and 2d Timothy 3 :15 His theme was the New Testament church.
 At 3 80 a reunion and covenant service was held when addresses were delivered by John W. Bishop, John Henderson, J. A. Woodward and A. s. WorrilI.
 At s D. m. Rev. Samuel Henderson preached the jubilee sermon. On Sat urday before the jubilee service the church held a special prayer meeting service, which was very impressive.
 It was at, this meeting that the first steps were taken to raise a parsonage fund, which resulted in the. purchase of the house and lot on the corner of Coosa and West streets. --..--.<
 The jubilee meeting was a memor- able occasion, indeed. Large congrega- tions were present, visitors coming From adjoining counties, and at the Il o'clock service our Presbyterian breth- ren turned out en masse. The meet ing was protracted and Rev. J. H. Wright, of Union Springs assisted in the preaching. The committee who ar ranged the jubilee meeting program was composed of G. A. Joiner, John Hen- derson, $. D. Kyser, J. H. Clabaugh, Mrs. R. A. McNIillan, Mrs. E. E. Nc gaha and Mrs. J. NJ. CrOwder.
 First Baptism
 The ordinance of baptism was first administered in the baptistry of the church on Sunday night, July 5, 1873. Tt was at the close of a five week S meeting, conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. J. D. Renfroe, and Rev. W. Wilkes. On this occasion between 40 and 50 converts were buried with Christ in baptism" ~
 The organ was introduced in the church in 1866.
 The church was sustained a Sunday school since soon after it's organization
 The parsonage on the corner of West and Coosa streets was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1899, and the same year the church bought the lot on the corner of East and Brignolia streets, and had erected thereon the present parsonage.
 The church was organized as the Good Hope Baptist church. Later the name was changed to the Talladega Baptist church and subsequently, it was incorporated as the First Baptist