Gwinnett County, GA Church History and Records

This church is one of the oldest in the county. Just what year witnessed its organization can not he stated, but some are inclined to believe that it was constituted in 1800. Certainly it was organized by or before 1820.

"The church at Mt. Moriah met in conference, Brother R. Philips, moderator, inquired for fellowship and Brother Miller came forward with a charge of intoxication against himself, and the church agreed to continue the case. Called for reference, and the case of Brother Samuel Fraser was laid over. Also the case of Brother Isaac Seago was laid over. Also, the case of Sister Elizabeth Brown was called and she came forward and gave satisfaction and her letter was granted."

On December 31, 1836, the church unanimously called Ansolom Anthony as pastor. On April 3, 1841, Rev. Richard Phillips was elected pastor. He was again called in 1845.

A camp-meeting was held for several years at this church in the forties and fifties. At the August, 1845, conference, a committee consisting of G. W. Morgan, Wm. Hall, Thos. Parish, John Cain and W. A. Cain was appointed to lay off the camp-ground. As a result of this camp-meeting, held in 1846, 29 joined the church at the next conference in October.

Richard Philips was elected pastor again in January, 1847, and also in December for the year 1818. D. H. oncrief was pastor in 1849.

At the Septemberm, 1840, conference, a charge was brought against G. W. Morgan, because he had joined the Masonic order. And sometime in the early history of the church, the following resolution relative to the church's attitude toward the Masons was adopted:

"Believing as we do that it is unrighteous for the children of light to mingle and mix with the sons of darkness: and as there seems to be a portion of the Baptist denomination that is embracing that which we believe to be erroneous for ministers of the gospel or even lay members to embrace, and which in its present development is calculated to injure the cause of religion and stop its progress so that the cause of Zion must languish on that account; and in order to clear our skirts from the blood of any man, we as the Baptist church at Mt. Moriah agree to enter our protest against what is called Free Masonry.

"Resolved, (1) That as a church we will from this time forward close our doors to any minister of the gospel who has become a member of the Masonic lodge, as soon as it comes to our knowledge, unless he will renounce his correspondence entirely with them and make satisfaction for his wrongs.

"Resolved, (2) That we hold any lay member in disorder who is or shall become a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he shall be deemed a disorderly walker and dealt with as a transgressor.

"Resolved, (3) That if any member has or shall come to the knowledge of any brother being a Free Mason and refuses to reveal the same to the church, we will hold him accountable and deal with him as a disorderly brother, unfaithful to the church.

"Resolved, (4) That we oppose Free Masonry as far as in our power lies in its present form, or until they (the Masons) will let their acts and obligations and all their secrecy come to the light of day, that we may judge more righteously and be the better able to do them justice and clear our skirts.

"Resolved, (5) That in order to show to the rising generation our disapprobation to all secret combinations, we have this preamble and resolution recorded in our church book."

"We, the church, take into consideration the abstract part of our decorum that relates to Masonry, and enact that it be null and void."

James Lankston was chosen pastor in April, 1850, and in February of the following year Silas King was elected as such.

On December 5, 1851, Jas. M. Davis was ordained to the ministry. The ministers taking part in this important ceremony were Silas King and Amos Hadaway.

At this same conference, the church called James M. Davis, just ordained as a minister, to the pastorate of the church.

On a page of the church record and following immediately after the minute of the May, 1876, conference, the following statement is made: "In 1851, at the December meeting, Elder Jas. M. Davis, our present moderator, was set apart to the full gospel ministry. He has served the church as pastor since his ordination to the present time, and has baptized into the fellowship of the church 352 members. During that time Brethren D. Y. Maddox, G. L. Bagwell, L. Williams, P. Williams and F. V. Cheek have been called and set apart to the ministry."

Rev. Jas. M. Davis served the church from 1857 to 1888, and from 1892 to 1890, a period of 40 years. This minister was a great and good man, and during his ministerial career baptized more than a thousand people.

P. Williams served the church two years, 1889-'90, receiving 21 members; J. L. Phillips, 1897-'98, 7 members; L, Williams, 1899-'00; H. N. Rainey, 1901-'06, 20 members; F. V. Cheek, 1905-'06, 8 members; J. M. Williams, 1907-'08, 18 members; J. M. Hudlow, 1909-'10, 13 members; J. M. Sheffield is the present pastor. From 1874 to 1911, there have been 216 additions to the church by baptism.

In March, 1878, the church organized a Sunday school. It has been carried on most of the time since, the present superintendent being E. Williams. On August 5, 1859, a union meeting was held there, and all the churches represented were urged to hold weekly prayer-meetings.

The Lawrenceville Baptist church was constituted May 2, 1849. The presbytery was composed of the following brethren : J. Hendricks, chairman; Bedford Langford, clerk ; J. J. Laudermilk, S. B. Churchill and D. H. Moncrief.

The members who constituted the church were William Sanders, A. Bloodsworth, Jas. P. Simmons, G. W. F. Lamkin, Sion Evans, S. Bloodsworth, Alindima Lamkin, Mariam Pool, Kathrine Evans, Mary M. Skelton, Martha M. Graham, Emeline, a slave, Cyntha Evans.

An arm of the church was established May 3, 1849, at Inzer's School house, said place being now owned by Berry Nash and known as Five Forks. William Sanders was called and ordained as pastor of this arm of the church on July 14, 1849.

The Lawrenceville Baptist church accepted the offer from the Presbyterian church to use their building and voted a resolution of thanks to the Presbyterian brethren for same.

On August 18, 1849, delegates were elected to the Appalachee association, and letters of application for membership were prepared and delivered to said delegates. The church asked for dismission from said association August 19, 1854.

After joining the Lawrenceville association, the church went from this body to the Appalachee association in August, 1867, and in 1870 again joined the Lawrenceville association. The church joined the Appalachee association again in August, 1885, and came back to the Lawrenceville organization in 1894, and has remained a niember since that time.

In 1850, a building committee was appointed to look after the erection of a church, as follows: Jas. A. Simmons, Jno. J. Davis, Anthony W. Bates. The house was erected and in March, 1854, the church tendered the building to the Methodists until they could build.

The last conference recorded by the church under its first organization was Saturday, May 20, 1876, Rev. William Haslett, moderator; E. D. Sammon, clerk.

Reorganization, May 16, 1885. The following visiting brethren composed the presbytery : Revs. D. E. Butler, T. C. Boykin, J. L. R. Barrett, H. N. Rainey, J. T. Hadaway, E. L. Langley; Brethren B. A. Blakey, A. J. Wood, Jas. Whitworth, M. E. Ewing, John Davis. Visiting sisters, Mary J. Blakey, Lucy Robinson, Sallie Lovelace and Mrs. Jas. Whitworth.

Rev. David E. Butler was elected moderator and Jno. T. Wilson, Jr., clerk pro tern.

The surviving members of the old church who became members of the new church were : N. E. Julian, Miley E. Gouge, Margarett Gouge, JuHa A. Robinson, Harriett E. Mills. Received by letter on day of reorganization; T. D. Cain, Sister Darliski Cain, Sister Margarett George.

D. T. Cain was elected permanent clerk and was the only male member at this time. H. N. Rainey presented the church with a new Bible.

J. L. R. Barrett was the first pastor after the reorganization of the church, and served during 1885, '86 and '87. During his pastorate the old building over near the old academy was erected.

Rev. S. B. Churchill was the first pastor and served from Feb. 16, 1850, to Jan. 1, 1851.

Rev. Wm. Sanders served from January 15, 1851, to January 1, 1852 ; Rev. Bedford Langford served from August, 1851, to January, 1853 ; D. H. Moncrief, from November, 1852, to January, 1855; Wm. Hudgins to 1856; D. H. Moncrief recalled in 1855 and served to 1857; Wm. Haslett from 1857 to 1859; Wiley C. Smith from 1859 to 1861 ; N. P. Hotchkiss from 1861 to 1863 ; W. C. Smith recalled to 1864; J. S. B. Davis to 1866; W. H. Strickland to 1869; A. B. Nuckles to June, 1869; Wm. T. Thornton, from 1871 to 1873; Wm. Haslett, to 1875; J. L. R. Barrett, from January 1, 1875, to January 1, 1876; Wm. Haslett, from March 15, 1876, to May 25, 1876.

From 1876 to 1885, the church appears to have suspended. During the latter year, it was reorganized, with J. L. R. Barrett, pastor, and he served to October ]5, 1RS7. Then came E. L. Sisk, from 1887 to Dec. 1891; W. J. Wooten, from 1891 to January, 1894; J. B. S. Davis, from 1894 to January, 1896; J. W. Butts, from 1896 to January, 1897 ; J. H. Weaver, from 1897 to January, 1898; L. T. Reed, from 1898 to July, 1901; J. A. Bell, from 1901 to January, 1904; H. N. Rainey, from 1904 to September, 1905 ; R. D. DeWesse, from 1905 to January, 1906; E. H. Jennings, from 1907 to October 1909 ; B. J. W. Graham, from January 9, 1910, to November 1, 1910. T. T. Twitty is the present pastor.

In 1893, the building of a new church was considered. The present house of worship is the result, being completed in 1905.

The church has a good pastor's home, which together with the church itself, is valued at $7,000.

A graded Sunday school is run the year round, with C. M. Morcock as superintendent.

Jas. P. Simmons was the first clerk in 1849 and served to 1855. Others are, J. T. Hillyer, E. P. Juhan, E. Steadman, W. H. Strickland, J. P. Simmons again for three years and again for eight years, F. F. Juhan, E. D. Sammon, D. T. Cain from May, 1885, to December, 1898, J. D. Rutledge from 1898 to the present time.

The church has 201 members, as follows :
J. A. Ambrose, Robert Ambrose, Lewis Ambrose, Oscar Atha, Daniel Adams, Oscar Brown, Lee Brown, J. A Brown, Jr., Arthur Brown, Marshall Boozer, J. A. Brown, Sr., Robert Brown, R. A. Cash, Earnest Crim, W. O. Cain, Scott Davis, Carl Davis, Lee Davis, Washington Davis, F. B. Dodd, Ralph B. Fortune, Willard Fortune, E. S. Garner, James Gouge, Jno. O. Hadaway, Willis A. Holland, G. N. Hosea, David Hill, H. J. Hinton, Hugh M. Hardy, T. L. Harris, R. N. Holt, W. Grady Holt, Richard B. Hicks, Hugh Holt, Hoyt Llolt, Edgar Hambric, Ephrim Hosea, Grover Keown, John Kelley, Fred Kelley, Odis Kelley, G. S. Kelley, Earnest Keown, J. Arthur Lee, Jno. M. Langley, Jas. H. McGee, C. M. Morcock, Charles McKelvey, Walter McKelvey, Lovic R. Martin, Kuhl Martin, Samuel Martin, Prof. W. P. Martin, H. E. Maughon, W. B. Moore, Virgie C. Moore, Dr. T. C. Mason, Clarence Oaks, Elisha Oaks, Tandy Patterson, James Patterson, Jas. D. Rutledge, Daniel V. Rutledge, W. H. Roberts, Geo. G. Robinson, F. Q. Sammon, Edward Shackleford, Robt. M. Smith, Henry Stonecipher J. L Stewart, F. M. Smith, Peter Smith, P. S. Vandiver, thas. C Wall, Thomas Wall, E. M. Wright, J. L. Whitworth, Geo. W. Williams, Garland Wallace, Conrad Wood, T. C. Yearwood, Scott Yearwood, Ned Yearwood. Mrs. G. A. Ambrose, Mrs. Delia Atha, Mrs. Susie Adams, Mrs. Daisie Berry, Mrs. John L. Bates, Mrs. Clyde Brown, Miss Willie Britt, Miss Clyde Britt, Miss Maggie Brown, Miss Letha Brown, Mrs. Rachell Brown, Mrs. Mary Brown, Mrs. Nudie Brown, Miss Alma Brown, Miss Sallie Brown, Mrs. Lizzie Brand, Miss Louise Brand, Airs. Grace Brown, Mrs. Cora Lee Coffee, Miss Lillie Cain, Mrs. Sallie Cash, Mrs. Mary F. Crim, Mrs. Lynda Cain, Miss Tavie Cheeley, Mrs. Scott Davis, Miss Bessie Brown, Mrs. Maud Durham, Mrs. Washington Davis, Mrs. Lillie Exum, Miss Pauline Ewing, Miss Mae Ewing, Mrs. Mary E. Gouge, Mrs. Sallie Gouge, Miss Era Gouge, Miss Carrie Gouge, Miss Luellen Gouge, Mrs. Mary Davis, Mrs. Vera Fortune, Miss Eunice Gouge, Mrs. Nancy Gossett, Mrs. A. L. Garner, Mrs. Francis Hosea, Mrs. Mary Hill, Miss Mary S. liosea, Mrs. Cora Holland, Miss Hattie Holbrook, Mrs. J. O. Hadaway, Mrs. H. J. Hinton, Mrs. Cora Hill, Aliss Hammett, Mrs. A. L. Holt, Mrs. Bessie Hamrick, Miss Junie Holt, Mrs. Lola Harris, Miss Prue Hosea, Mrs. Manerva Keown, Miss Daisie Keown, Miss Maud Keown, Mrs. Ada Kelley, Mrs. Mary Lou Kelley, Miss Myrtice Kelley, Mrs. J. R. McKelvey, Miss Fannie Lou McKelvey, Miss Alice McKelvey, Mrs. Mattie Moore, Mrs. Willie Mc-Gee, Mrs. Lola McGee, Mrs. Elizabeth McConnell, Mrs. W. B .Aloore, Mrs. Allie Oakes, Miss Daisie Oakes, Mrs. Mamie Oakes, Mrs. Mattie Langley, Mary Poe, Mrs. Laura Patterson, LoisPatterson, Mrs. Lucy Robinson, Mrs. Alice Rutledge, Mrs. Minnie Roberts, Miss Nellie Roberts, Miss Maggie Robinson, Mrs. Usilla Reeves, Mrs. Anna B. Sammon, Mrs. Alice Sammon, Mrs. J. M. Swords, Mrs. Nancy Shackelford, Mrs. Madge Shackelford, Miss Amelia Shackelford, Mrs. C. C. Sammon, Mrs. Ada Smith, Mrs. J. L Stewart, Miss Effie Stewart, Miss Gertrude Stewart, Mrs. Esther Smith, Mrs. Ella Smith, Miss Lena Townley, Mrs. Amanda Townely, Mrs. Sallie Townley, Mrs. Bessi Townley, Miss Mary E. Townley, Miss Maud Townley, Mrs. Cora Towwnley, Mrs. Mary A. Vandiver, Mrs. Bertha Wright, Miss Fannie Wright, Miss Sarah Wilson, Mrs. C. C. Williams, Lollie Bell Wallace, Estelle Wallace, Mrs. Myrtle Woodword, Miss Nina Wilson, Beattrice Whitworth, Mrs. Carrie Webb, Ruble Whitworth, Mrs. Sallie Wall, Mrs. Ida Yearwood, Miss Ines Yearwood.

Z. T. Maddox,	E. M. Hall,
Sr., A. C. Manning,	Mattie Pierce,
Harris Maddox,	Ina Roberts,
W. R. Puckett,	M. A. Hardy,
J. M. Tuggle,	Jane Clack,
C. A. Deaton,	Pearl Woodall,
H. M. Tuggle,	Jennie Wright,
G. W. Hardy,	Jennie Taylor,
J. O. Wright,	Lula Glosson,
M. F. Tuggle,	Carrie Hayes,
J. A. Deaton,	E. A. Deaton,
S. C. Lowery,	J. C. Pirkle,
R. A. Hayes,	Elizabeth Pool,
J. T. Harrison,	M. J. Skelton,
J. B. Evans,	Francis Mannon,
J. M. Taylor,	Hester Williams,
John Deaton,	Emma McDaniel,
F. P. Harrison,	Edna Maddox,
J. E. Hayes,	Elizabeth Frasier,
S. J. Wright,	Sarah Tuggle,
R. E. Stanley,	Ella Cleghorn,
Z. T. Maddox, Jr.,	Ruth Maddox,
J. M. Davis,	Nevada Deaton,
T. G. Hayes,	Lyle Tuggle,
H. D. Anglin,	Eliza Puckett,
W. E. Pool,	Mary Hoys,
C. H. Boggs,	Dora Patrick,
G. J. Tuggle,	Addic Lowery,
Dilmus Deaton,	Etta Tuggle,
Melvin McDaniel,	Orizine Taylor,
F. M. Hardy,	Felie Harrison,
J.P.Taylor,	M. A. Greason,
S. D. Harrison,	Lena Tuggle,
W. B. Stephens,	Ava Hall,
Marion Hall,	Corrine Lowry,
W. M. Hayes,	Nancy Timnis,
J. E. Harrison,	Lura Timnis,
Vernon Roberts,	B. L. Deaton,
John Farmer,	Anna Ludlow,
E. D. Clack,	I'arilce Dearton,
C. M. Manning,	Edna Manning,
Harvey Hayes,	W. J. Hayes,
Virgil Lowery,	Frances Harrison,
Ether Norris,	Georgia Harrison,
Leonard Timms,	Effie Harrison,
J. R. Holman,	Maud Rooks,
Lee Garner,	Mattie Maddox,
Herschel Rockmore,	E. A. Timms,
Andrew Hayes,	R. A. Wright,
O. D. Check,	Maggie Harrison,
Felix Willard,	Lula Evans,
A. J. Maddox,	Carrie Hardy,
G. C. Ethridge,	Margarett Taylor,
U. G. Sloan,	Mary Maddox,
Willis Harrison,	Missouri Tuggle,
Leonard McDainel	Leila Norris,
Al Pope,	Zelma Greeson,
George Mandcrs,	Dora Freeman,
J. E. Williams,	Ora Sizemore,
Lettie Rogers,	Georgia Cheek,
Francis Wilder,	Emma Stone,
Sarah Mauldin,	M. J. Bailey,
Susana Haynes,	Cora Tuggle,
Anna Roberts,	Leila Sloan,
Laura Davis,	Sallie Bell Manders,
Martha Haynes,	Mittie Willard,
Amanda Harrison,	Addie Boss,
Martha Deaton,	Hattic Merrett,
Caroline Clack,	GIco Evans,
Elizabeth Maddox,	Emma Pope,
Nancy Wilder,	H. R. Williams,
Francis Pope,	Gertrude Williams,
M. J. Hall,	Arcana Williams,
Margaret Hall,
Sallie Wages,