Old
Churches in Coffee County Old Hebron Church Founded By That Great and
Good Man, Elder John Vickers—Mother Vickers' Chair—The Present
Ministers of the Church—Other Matters of History
High up on the hill, near the Satilla
River, on the public road, midway between Douglas and Willa-coochee,
stands old Hebron Church, one of the old landmarks of Coffee County.
Like Jerusalem of old, she is beautiful for situation. This church was
built about 1870 by the friends and followers of Rev. John Vickers, a
great and good man now gone to his reward.
The church building is one of the
largest and neatest in the county and reflects great credit upon the
membership of the church and others who aided in the construction. The
building is nicely painted on the outside and has good, comfortable
seats.
One of the first things that attracts
the attention of a stranger on entering the church is an old-fashioned
leather-bottomed chair hanging upon the wall of the building. This
chair has a history. It is the chair of old "Mother Vickers" of sainted
memory, mother of Rev. John Vickers, the founder of that church. This
is the same chair that she occupied in church for several years. When
Mother Vickers left this land of troubles and heartaches and went to be
with her Lord whom she loved and served so long, she exchanged this old
country chair for a seat in glory among the angels, and this old chair
was left vacant, and now hangs upon the wall, a constant reminder to
children and friends that she has gone up higher. As this
editor sat and looked at the old chair, he thought what a sermon it
preaches to all who enter there. The mother fought a good
fight, kept the faith and is now gone to her reward; but this empty
chair is calling, calling, calling children and friends, sinners and
all. If it were my mother's chair, I would long to live the
life she lived, and walk in the way she walked and would never cease to
pray till her God was my God and I had the witness in my heart that we
would all meet again.
Oh, that chair, our mother's chair
Preaching sermons on the wall; Listen to mother, who left it there, Oh,
heed her call, heed her call;
The graveyard at Hebron is one of the
best kept in Coffee County. Many good fathers and mothers of Israel are
buried there. Among them we noticed the names of Lott, Vickers, Purvis,
Paulk, Lindsey and others. Many nice and costly tombstones mark the
last resting place of these beloved dead. The one at the grave of Rev.
John Vickers, who died in June, 1900, is especially beautiful.
The history of Hebron Church is a
most interesting one. Rev. John Vickers, during his lifetime, was the
central figure of that branch of the Primitive Baptist Church. "When he
first grew to manhood, he joined the Primitive Church and was, by them,
licensed to preach; but a division among the members, on points of
doctrine, very soon culminated in a split in the church. Rev. Vickers
contended that salvation was conditional, while the old line hardshells
claimed that salvation was by election and unconditional. Rev. Vickers
wrote a tract giving his views of the plan of salvation in which he
called the old line Baptists "fatalists" and contended that he and his
followers held the true Primitive Baptist doctrines. In his
faith he lived and died. The church, as a denomination, has not
grown very fast, but has been blessed of God in doing great
good. They have had much to contend with to maintain their
doctrine and practice, and deserve great credit for what they have done
and are doing. They should be encouraged to press on in their
good work. There are many good men and women in that
neighborhood of Hebron who are not members of any church, but who ought
to be, and they will never be satisfied in any other church and
therefore, ought to joint that church and help push the work of the
Lord in that locality. Yes, mother has left a vacant
seat. Who will be the first one to go in and sit down?
Ward's Scrapbook, 1905.
Arnie Church
Many of the pioneer citizens of
Coffee County were believers in Primitive Baptist doctrine. They had
churches in many places in South Georgia and some in Coffee County. One
of the oldest churches in Coffee County is Arnie Church. It is situated
about ten miles southwest of Douglas. This church was organized about
1886 by Elder Mobley and others. Elder King was one of the first
pastors of that church. Among some of the members of that old church
wrere the Morris', O'Steens', Douglas', McKinnons', Vickers' and
others. This church has been a landmark among the Primitive
Baptists of Coffee County. It is situated among a class of good
farmers. They also have a good school near the church and are a
progressive people. The Primitive Baptist, as a people, are
conservative in all matters. They are not quick "To go after strange
fire to burn on their Altars.'' They have always stood like a stone
wall between the church and all worldly institutions. They believe in a
strict separation of church and state, or we might say the church and
the world. There are no better citizens in Coffee County than the
Primitive Baptists and their sons and daughters. They are strict to
meet all their obligations, financial and otherwise, and are truly
loyal to the Primitive Baptist Church.
Some of the pastors were Elders
Parrish, Tomberlin, Stallings, O'Steen, Elder Weatherington and others.
Mormon Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, or "the Mormon Church, sent missionaries from the
West to Coffee County in 1898.
Among the first Elders to appear were
Nephi Hen-son and Elder Brewer. Many citizens of the county were
excited over the appearance of the Elders. Some regarded them as
messengers from Heaven, gave them shelter and lodging, remembering that
Scripture says,
"Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Others
re-garded them as emissaries of: the devil, wrecking homes and carrying
away women.
The first converts to the Mormon
religion were Calvin W. Williams, Dan P. Lott, Joseph J. Adams and
families. Elder Ben E. Rich was one of the first presidents of
the Southern States Mission. He helped to establish the church in
Coffee County. He was succeeded as president of the Mission by
Elder Charles A. Callis.
Coffee County has been a fruitful
field for the Mormon Church, it having grown to a membership of more
than seven hundred. There are two churches in the territory—Cumorrah
Church in Coffee County, and the Utah Church in Atkinson County,
formerly Coffee. Traveling Elders have been preaching regularly in both
of these churches since they were built.
The church and elders have grown more
in favor with the people as the years have gone by. The majority of the
Mormon people engage in agriculture. They are encouraged by the leaders
to make the fields green with good crops. They stress as an essential
part of their religion, "good health and clean bodies." They believe in
temperance and education.
Sand Hill Baptist Church
Sand Hill Church is situated about
seven miles east of Douglas and was organized by Thomas P. O'Neal. Some
of the ministers were: G. W. Newbern, Henry Dent, Gilford Lastinger,
Rev. P. W. Powell and others. Some of the members of this church fifty
years or more were: Henry Dent and his family, Thomas Dent and his
family, Daniel Gaskins and his family, Frank-lin Ward and others.
A large association was held on the
grounds where the church now stands in 1875. Preachers and people
gathered from all over the country. Services were held under a brush
arbor. Some of the ministers who attended that meeting were: G. W.
Newbern, Johnie Taylor, Gilford Lastinger, Thomas P. O'Neal, Elder
Barber and W. R. Frier, Sr., father of the Editor Frier of the Douglas
Enterprise, was clerk of the associa-tion. James Vining, S. P. Gaskins
and others preached.
Lott Memorial Church
(Communicated 1924)
I attended the old Lone Hill Church
last Sunday, the first Sunday in the New Year. I joined that church
fifty years ago; I love to go there. It has been "Lone Hill" since
1854. The name of the place ought to be changed to meet the present day
conditions. The sweet memories that cling about the old name may be
embalmed and perpetuated in the new name.
I submit the "Lone Hill" Church name
be changed to the "Lott Memorial Church," Some of the reasons are as
follows:
When the Lott family moved to this
country about the year 1810 they settled right on the spot where the
church now stands. They were the pioneers of our present civilization.
They cleared the land, built the houses, made a good and lasting
impression on this part of Georgia. When they died they were buried at
the Lone Hill Grave Yard and they continue to bury the Lotts and their
generation there. Many of the best citizens in that locality are
related to the Lotts. The old "Lone Hill" means nothing and stands for
nothing. If the name is changed, as I suggest, it will be building a
monument to the Lotts and will point the young generation to that
heroic band who first settled there and whose children and
grandchildren largely built Lone Hill and made it What it is, what it
has meant to me and to hundreds of others who joined that old church
and attended their first Sunday schools there. It will be
placing a premium upon the lives of those saintly ones who wrought so
well in the long ago. It will be like a clarion call to all
the Lotts and their generations to again join their scattered forces
and to make the "Lott Memorial Church" the best country church in this
part of Georgia. The church could not fail with the two Dan
Lotts—Elias' Dan and Arthur's Dan, John Peterson, Sampie and Monroe
Smith, E. R. Cross, Willis New-bern and their families and many
others. They have the talent to do anything necessary to be done
to make a big, successful church. The woods out there are full of
fine people who, no doubt, would be glad to fall in line with the
proper leadership and build up a great church choir and a great
church. My heart thrills at the possibility of such a
movement. I submit the ques-tion—shall it be the Lott Memorial
Church? Ward's Scrapbook, 1910.
Lone Hill Methodist Church
Lone Hill Methodist Church is
situated twelve miles northeast of Douglas, Ga. This church was
organized at the close of the Civil War. It was the plan of the
pastor of the church to have preaching once a month, Saturday and
Sunday. It is said that the preacher came to church on
Saturday, once upon a time, and that not a soul came to meeting. He
came at 11 o'clock and waited until twelve or one and still no one
came. He left the church and went to Aunt Fannie Gaskins for
dinner. He told Mrs. Gaskins his experience and said it was
the most lonesome place he ever saw. He repeated that it was a Lonesome
Hill and so the church had a name from that time on—"Lone Hill."
The old members of this church were
the Lotts, Newberns, Douglases, Wards, Smiths, and many others. One of
the first Sunday schools in Coffee County was organized in that old
church, and the superintendent of the Sunday school was a woman—Mrs.
Clem Brooker. She was a good superintendent; she had tact, and sense.
The Sunday school was very prosperous under her management. After her
death, R. S. Smith was elected superintendent and acted for many, many
years.
Some of the old preachers who served
that church were: David Crenshaw, John E. Sentell, John L. Wil-liams,
J. D. Maulden, J. D. Anthony, W. J. Flanders, William F. Roberts, A. M.
Williams, W. F. Hixon, H. C. Fentrass, A. H. Bazmore, Ben L. Sentell,
R. M. Booth, J. M. Wilcox and David Blalock.
The Old Carver Church
The Carver Baptist Church is situated
about six miles south of Douglas, Ga. This old church was built about
the close of the Confederate War. Old Billy Ward, Gilford Lastinger,
Elias Walden, L. D. Geiger, George W. Newbern, et. al., Avere the
preachers.
Among the old members were: John
Carver and family, Aaron Anderson and family, Ashford Yeomans and
family and many others. This old church has had a hard struggle to live
all through the years. When the old log house gave way, Mr. Willie
Vickers very kindly built a frame house and gave it to the community
with the understanding that all denominations might preach
there. This writer remembers having attended this old
church soon after the war. He does not remember the preacher nor a
single person who attended the chnrch that day, but remembers one
thing, and that was a dog fight right in front of the pulpit.
The Old Elizabeth Church
Elizabeth Church is located about two
miles west of Hazlehurst, Ga. This church was named for Elizabeth
Wilcox, the mother of Rev. J. M. Wilcox, of precious memory. The church
was established long before the Confederate War. Some of the first
ministers who preached there were: Revs. Dupree, Graham, Thorpe, and
others. Some of the early members of this church were: the Hinsons,
Friers, Dents, Dyals, and others.
Midway Methodist Church
Midway Methodist Church was situated
about five miles south of Hazlehurst, Ga., and was built several years
before the Confederate War. Some of the ministers were: Daniel
Morrison, Wilson, Lowe, and others. Some of the members of the old
church were: Jim Hinson and his family, Joshua Smith, the father of old
George and old Tom Smith, Wiley Hargroves and family, and others.
Gravel Hill Methodist Church
This church was organized long before
the Civil War. Some of the members were: Mrs. Caroline Ashley, Matt
Ashley, Nathaniel Ashley, with their families, and others.
This was a Methodist Church and had the same preachers that preached at
Midway Church.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
This church was located two miles
northwest of Hazlehurst. Some of the old preachers were: Rev. Thorpe,
Josh Frier, and others. Some of the members of that old church were:
the Birds, the Pridgens, the Paces, and others.
Mount Zion Methodist Church
This church was located about ten
miles south of Hazlehurst, and was built before the Civil War. This
being a Methodist church, the ministers who served-old Midway Church
also preached at this church. Some of the members of that old church
were: the Wileoxes, the Taylors, Josh Smith and his family, Peter
White, and others.
Rehoboth Primitive Baptist Church
Rehoboth Primitive Baptist Church was
organized in the home of William Bagley about the close of the
Confederate War, by Elder Cornelius Buie. Some of the first members
were: William Bagley, Ben Bagley, the Moore family, and others. The
church remained in the home of William Bagley for a year or two, and
then a church house was built about two miles north of Bickley. It is
of special interest to know how the church was located. Elder Cornelius
Buie was a blind man and was a great preacher. He asked the Lord to
make known to him where the new church was to be located.
He was led, as he thought, to blow a trumpet and listen to what
direction the sound went and where it seemed to locate, and after
trying this plan for many times and blowing in many directions the
sound of the trumpet seemed to locate at the same place every time, and
so he decided that he was led by the Lord to locate the new church
house at that place, and so a few names of them got together and built
a log house and called the church "Reho-both." The workers and
builders on the church were so few until the logs were put in place by
ropes. The old church house had a floor of hewed logs called puncheons.
After many years the old log house
became dilapi-dated and the church members and their friends built a
new meeting house out of sawed lumber. A few years ago, about 1915, a
new church house was built about two miles southeast of this old
church, where regular services are now held.
Elam Primitive Baptist Church
Elam Primitive Church is located
about two miles northeast of Nicholls, Ga. This old church
was constituted about the year 1865, soon after the Civil War. Some of
the old members of that church were: Charles Meeks and wife, Redding
Meeks and wife, Squire Dedge, Seab Holton and wife, William Cole and
wife. Elder Richard Bennett was one of the first pastors of the
church. This old church has been a landmark in Coffee County for
many years. A fine class of citizens live in that
neighborhood now and many of them have lived there for many
years. It is now one of the leading churches in the Alapaha River
Association.
Roberts' Methodist Church, South
The old Roberts' Methodist Church is
located about two or three miles northeast of Kirkland. This church was
organized about the year 1866. The first friends of the church were:
old man Jack Roberts and his family, old man Rob Roberts and his
family, old man Elias Moore and his family, old man John Moore and his
family, Hiriam Mancil and his family, Timothy Kirkland and his family,
Mac Kirkland and his family, Benajah Pearson and his family, Jim
McKinnon and his family, Seth. Durham and his family, Hiriam Sears and
his family. Dennis Paulk and his family some-times attended this
church. Among the children of old Rob Roberts are the following: J.
Wesley Roberts, Jimmie Roberts, Elder Dan Roberts, Jesse Roberts, and
Mary Ann, who married Col. Corbitt. One among the first preachers of
this church was Elder Harvey.
Royals' Methodist Church
The old Royals' Church is situated
about half way between Douglas and Pearson and was organized soon after
the Confederate War. Many of the families and friends who attended the
old Roberts' Church also attended the Royals' Church.
There is also an old cemetery there
where many of these old citizens are buried. The old Royals' Church is
still in operation. Elder Ben Pinley was one of the first preachers.
Daniel Morrison, H. C. Etheridge, J. D. Anthony, W. H. Thomas, M. C.
Austin, William P. Roberts and other ministers preached there.
Mount Pleasant Church
One of the oldest Baptist Churches in
Coffee County is Mount Pleasant Church, located about six or eight
miles east of Broxton. About seventy-five years ago the
church was organized by G. W. Thorpe. (Wash.) Some of the pastors of
that church more than fifty years ago were: George Newbern, W. M.
Carver, and W. E. Morris. Old man Joshua Frier was one of the
deacons in that old-time church, and when no preacher was there he
would hold the services. Another deacon in that old-time church
was William Creech. Wiley Byrd, Sr., Ben Minchew and family, Joe
Garrett, Archie Miller were members of that church.
New Hope Church
Another old-time church is New Hope
Church near Ambrose, Ga., which was constituted about 65 years ago.
Johnie G. Taylor, George W. Newbern were pastors. Some of the old
members were: J. R. Smith, S. D. Phillips, Squire Jowers, Eli Jowers,
and others.
Mount Zion Baptist Church
Another old-time church was Mount
Zion Baptist Church, situated ten or fifteen miles south of Douglas.
Some of the earlier preachers were: George Newbern, Johnie G. Taylor,
W. E. Morris, Gilford Lastinger, William Carver. Some of the old
members were: Douglas Gillis, J. P. Wall, Brooker, Cicero Gillis,
Arthur Gillis, and others. One of the special features of Mount Zion
Church was the old-fashion singing.
Oak Grove Church One of the old-time
churches in Coffee County was the Oak Grove Church. Oak Grove Church
was located about a mile northwest of the town of Pridgen. William
Roberts, Dan Morrison, Rev. Blalock were the old preachers. Some of the
members were: Capt. J. W. Boyd and family, Murdoch McRae and family,
some of the Fussells, and others.
Midway Methodist Church
Midway Methodist Church was organized
by Greene Taylor in 1864. He was a great camp meeting preacher. Midway
Church is situated about four miles east of where West Green is now
located. The members there were: W. P. Taylor, John Burkett, Aunt Vina
Burkett, and others.
Bethel Church
Another old church in Coffee County
is Bethel Church. It was situated near the home of old man John Lott
about fifteen miles northeast of Douglas. Its members were: John Lott
and his family, Dan Lott and his family; and the preachers were: J. D.
Anthony, Rev. Maulden, and others.
The Catholic Church
The only Catholic Church in Coffee
County was built at Willacoochee, Georgia, about the year 1870. The
group of Catholic Irish who came from New York to construct the
Brisbane Railroad built this church. Among the names of the old members
are McGoverns, Nolans, McDaniels, Spiveys, Neugents, and perhaps some
others. As Coffee County people have married into these Catholic
families, some of them have joined the Catholic Church. The church was
located first at Willacoochee, Georgia. It was later on moved near Mr.
John Mc-Governs. These Irish Catholic people are among the best
citizens of Coffee County, and we are glad that "The Brisbane Railroad"
left us this group of good citizens.
