Home Coming at Bethlehem. . . History of Church with Reminiscences as Told by Rev. W.H.H. Lawhon
On last Sunday at Bethlehem church, four miles west of Carthage, there assembled one of the largest crowds of sons and daughters of the church that had been gathered together in many a day. Rev. W.H.H. Lawhon, probably the oldest living Baptist minister in the State, gave a history of the church, being one of its sons.
The following was the program for the day:
11:30—Sermon by Rev. J.O. Fulbright on subject “What is your life?”
1—Dinner on the grounds, abundant and delicious.
3—History by W.H.H. Lawhon.
An interesting feature of the afternoon was: Mr. Ayscue asked everyone in the audience over 80 years of age to sit in the pulpit with Mr. Lawhon. Mrs. Jane Sullivan, Mrs. Sarah Seawell, and Mr. K. Kennedy responded. Then these four lads and lasses of more than four score years, who have given more than 60 years of their lives to the work of the Master stood while the congregation filed past and shook their hands as a token of their joy and gratitude that they have been spared to us and for the service rendered.
History of Bethlehem
The following history of the church was given in the afternoon by Rev. W.H.H. Lawhon:
Bethlehem church was constituted and organized by Noah Richardson, Artemem Shatnack, and Jesse Sewell, a presbytery, in 1834 with 49 members, William Phillips being elected clerk, William Barrett and Leonard W. Lawhon, deacons, and Noah Richardson was called as pastor and served until 1867.
During his pastorate peace and harmony prevailed. He had revivals almost every year and baptized 325. In 1860 88 were baptized in one day. This was the result of prayer meeting conducted by some of the boys who had recently come into the church. The death of Richardson cast a gloom over the church and county. Rev. James McDonald of Fayetteville preached his funeral and said I his sermon that Noah Richardson in his day was the best preacher in North Carolina. He was especially gifted in prayer, exhortation and preaching. He had power with God and God gave him power with man.
In that day and time funerals were not conducted at the burial. They had a religious service but some day in the future would be appointed and a preacher selected to preach the funeral. James McDonald was selected to preach Richardson’s funeral but it was some six or eight months before he did so.
Rev. D.C. Murchison served the church in1868 and ’69. He was very much loved by the people and while there was no revival during is pastorage, he sowed good seed that matured in later years.
Rev. T.M. Baldwin was pastor during 1870-74. He had some success as a revivalist and baptized 39 during his pastorate.
W.H.H. Lawhon was pastor in 1875 and supplied the church several times for a few months when they would be without a pastor and in all has baptized into the fellowship of the church 42.
St. Gilmore was called in 1876. He served the church eight years and baptized 32.
During 1885-86 J.F. Moore was pastor. He was a very earnest worker. It was during his pastorate that the present house of worship was built. His death on the 9th of January 1887 cast a gloom over the church and community. He Baptist 14.
W.F. Watson served the church in 1997-88 very acceptably and Baptist 39, but resigned in the fall of ’88.
J.R. Pendergrass, who had come to build up a school at Bethlehem, was called as pastor of the church and served 18 months. His school was a blessing to the community and he baptized seven.
G.L. Merrell was called as pastor in 1890 and served two years, baptizing 10.
In 1893 we had no pastor. K.C. Hornor was called for 1894 and was assisted in a revival during August by W.H.H. Lawhon and W.F. Watson, resulting in the accession to the church of 19 by baptism. Hornor was called for 1895 and accepted, but in January resigned to accept Cool Springs as he and J.F. Anderson had agreed to exchange fields. So Anderson was called and served 8 months, baptizing eight.
The church was without a pastor in 1896 until August when W.F. Watson held a meeting which resulted in the accession of 14 by baptism and the church called C.M. McIntosh who served one year and resigned.
R.C. Cree, who held a meeting in 1897 was called and served the church two years, baptizing 23. G.L. Finch was pastor in 1900 and baptized 12.
C.M. McIntosh served as pastor in 1901 until September when he resigned, and W.H.H. Lawhon was called for one year and served during 1902 and1903. A revival meeting was held in August 1903 resulting in the conversion of 33. Twenty were baptized. The pastor was assisted in this meeting by Rev. G.J. Dowell who was called as pastor for the next year and served three years and baptized 35.
Rev. C.L. Dowell was called in 1907 and served three years, baptizing 15.
W.H. Strickland was called in 1910 and served eight months and by request of the church, W.H.H. Lawhon supplied the church until a pastor could be obtained. A revival was held by Lawhon, assisted by A.J. Ellis, resulted in the baptism of three. Lawhon supplied until 1911 when the church called H. W. Baucom, who served four years, baptizing 31.
Rev. J.O. Fulbright was called as pastor of the church in July, 1915, and served until October 1919, baptizing 36.
Rev. J.E. Ayscue was called in the church in October 1919 and is still with us. He has baptized 68.
In all there has been baptized into the fellowship of the church a total of 734. The church has sent out as ministers of the gospel eight if no more, viz—W.H.H. Lawhon, J.F. Moore, W.A. Barrett, W.C. Barrett, C.M. McIntosh, D.W. Arnett, R.R. Gordon, and S.E. Hannon. Some others may have gone out but I could not find their names on the church book.
Of the 734 who have been baptized into the church during the 91 years since its organization, nearly half came in during the first 34 years. I tell you the reasons why we do not have so many baptisms now. There are so many other churches in the same territory than there was in Richardson’s day. The territory that he overed reached from below Carthage up to about Elise. In 1850 or ’52 the church of Cranes Creek was built. This drew away the Thagards family, the Matthews family and numerous other families living in that section.
Friendship church was built and drew heavily form Bethlehem’s ranks. In like manner, Flint Hill, Beulah Hill, Carthage, and Eagle Springs drew the families in those sections until the territory now covered is less than one-third the territory covered by the church in Richardson’s day.
Growing older I seem to be living in my young days. Particularly since thinking of this home coming I find myself going back and things that happened when I was young come into my mind that maybe I have forgotten for many years. I want to tell you a few of the interesting things that happened then. I can’t remember the first time I ever went to church here. I was too young to remember going to church with my mother when I was a tiny little boy. I can remember what large crowds we had and I think I would be safe in saying that four-fifths of the crowd walked. Of course some of the women and children rode horseback. My mother had a side saddle and I can remember riding to church with her behind this saddle, while my father took my little sister with him. The Blacks, the McKenzies, the Caddells, the McCrimmons and many others who lived from five to eight miles all came here to church and nearly all except a few old men, mothers and children who rode horseback. There were very few ways of riding in those days but the people did not seem to mind walking five or six miles to church on Sunday morning at all. Lots of times I have heard someone who came from a distance ask this question, “Why didn’t you ride,” and the answer was, “O, I had lots rather walk than fool with a horse.”
The people looked after the welfare of the church and of each other in those days. Everybody was expected to attend church. They had Saturday meeting as well as on Sunday and although they did not call the roll, they knew if anyone was absent. If a member was absent, someone was sent to see him to find out the reason and if he was absent for three consecutive times without sufficient excuse, his name was dropped from the church roll. I remember one Saturday while Richardson was preaching; one old brother got up and said, “I see that brother Macon Grimm is not here today and I feel sure there must be something the matter for he never misses.” Squire Barnett who lived nearby was asked if he knew the reason for Brother Grimm’s absence, but he had near nothing so the church asked that one of his boys ride over and find out what the trouble was. While this was going on, my mother, Old Aunt Pattie Phillips and some of the other sisters got their heads together and reported that sister Annie Hanno was missing and they knew that if sister Hannon was not there, there was something wrong. [Paper spelled last name Hanno on first reference and Hannon on second reference.] The Warner girls were asked to by and see Sister Hannon and find out the trouble. Brother Grimm reported that he had been up with a very sick horse all night Friday night and Saturday and consequently did not feel like walking that distance on Sunday and the horse was too weak to ride, so brother Grimm was excused from both the Saturday and Sunday meetings. It also developed that the little child of one of Sister Hannon’s neighbors had been taken very sick and they had sent for her and she had been nursing the child all Saturday and Saturday night.
If a brother was caught drinking, it was reported to the church and he was waited on by a committee and if he did not show the proper repentance and desire to do better his name was dropped from the church books. If a member would not attend church regularly or drank or swore, he was not considered fit to be in the church.
Another thing I want to tell you about is how the people used to sing without hymn books. The preacher would stand up in the pulpit and read out two or three lines of the hymn and Capt. Bill Fry or Sid Phillips would lead and all the people would sing. Capt. Bill Fry was generally considered the best leader in the country. I sometimes wish I could hear Capt. Fry, Sid Phillips, or my sister Mary, The Warner girls and the other members of that congregation sing that old hymn, must loved by Noah Richardson, “In Evil Long I Took Delight” and that other old hymn that goes like this, “Approach My Soul the Mercy Seat Where Jesus Answers Prayer.”
I want to tell you how the prayer meeting started that resulted in baptism of 88 in one day. I had joined the church in 1856 and this was 1860 so I had been a member about four years, and Ash Barnett had been a member about two years. Almost nobody would lead in public prayer and I remember Brother Noah Richardson had preached an especially stirring sermon exhorting the people to public prayer. Then he started over in the corner and came down the seats asking each one in turn, but everyone asked to be excused. I felt mighty bad about this and made up my mind that if he came to me I was going to try, even if I couldn’t say but three words. The next day at school Ash Barrett and I were sitting on a rock eating our lunch and he mentioned what had happened the day before and I told him how bad I felt about it and I believe it was he that suggested that we walk across the branch. Then we agreed to get down on our knees there by a log and try to pray aloud. He was to pray first and then I was to pray, and then we were to tell each other honestly just what we thought of the other’s ability to pray in public. He prayed and when he had finished I felt like if I could just pray like that I wouldn’t mind trying anywhere. Then I tried to pray and when we got up he threw his arms around and said, “William, if I could just pray like that, I would want everybody to hear me.” We talked it over with some of the other boys and decided to have a prayer meeting on Wednesday night. Ash Barrett was to talk first and pray, and then I was to talk. Ash had been to see Uncle Ben Phillips and brought him along for we knew that folks would think a crowd of boys like us were up to some mischief, and if Uncle Ben was with us they would know it was all right. Ash Barrett talked and then I talked for a few minutes and then Uncle Ben was to pray, but when I had finished Uncle Ben came forward with tears streaming from his eyes, said, “William, if we could just stop here. Boys let’s all kneel down here and pray, and William is going to lead us.”
Somehow this meeting leaked out. I don’t know how, but I always thought Uncle Ben told it or some one was eavesdropping for they told things I said and things Ash said. Anyway folks became interested and Asa McIntosh, John A. Barrett and several other boys joined our ranks and we had a prayer meeting every Wednesday night. Several people were converted and people began to ask us to go around to school houses and hold meetings. School was out anyway so we gave up our Wednesday night meetings and began holding meeting in school houses around over the country on Sundays. More than 150 were converted and 88 of this number were baptized one day. Several others were baptized later.
I cannot close this talk without speaking of the grave yard. I think the first grave made there was for my little brother who was born dead. I remember that my father went out to his shop and made a little coffin (he had a shop and made caskets). I think it was the prettiest little coffin I have ever seen. Then my father took it up before him on his horse and road over to the church and placed it in a little grave. For many years there was only an occasional burial here. This was due to the fact that there were so many family grave yards. I think there were eight or nine family graveyards within a radius of three miles of the church. The spot has grown speedily in the last few years and many of our loved ones rest out there. Many people do not have a family graveyard now but if all the folks who lived and worshipped and passed on at this old church been laid out there, I believe it would have covered more than two square acres.
From the front page of The Pilot, Friday, June 5, 1925
To see a photo of Rev. Lawhon, go to:
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073968/1925-06-05/ed-1/seq-1/#words
