The Ellaville Sun Friday, July 1, 1938 Vol. 2, No. 1 MRS. MURRAY LOOKS FORWARD TO MEET Mrs. Munro Murray of Ellaville, one of the oldest and most faithful members of Philippi Primitive Baptist Church, looked forward hopefully Thursday to being able to attend the Saturday session of the three-day communion meeting. Mrs. Murray, widow of Elder Munro Murray who served for 29 years and was its pastor when he died in 1929, says she has missed very few meetings since she began attending 70 years ago. She has either carried or sent dinner to Sunday service of "July meeting" practically every year for the past 65 years. PHILIPPI BAPTISTS RETAIN OLD FAITH 102 Year-Old Church Host to Annual Three-Day Meeting, Opening Today; Principles and Customs of Historic Church Are Told in Interview with Its Pastor (Editor's Note: Here is a story of abiding faith, and we are presenting it with the reverence such a story demands. Material was obtained by an interview with Elder S.H. McCorkle of Ellaville who approved the article in its published form as authentic and sincere.) Men and women of great and small belief flock to historic Philippi Primitive Baptist church near here today (Friday) for the opening of the traditional three-day "July communion meeting" of worshippers who hold fast to the deep faith and sincere simplicity of their forefathers who established the church 102 years ago. The major event of the church program for the year, meeting annually attracts hundreds of denomination members and interested persons from a wide area. Elder S.H. McCorkle of Ellaville, the pastor, has invited Elder M.A. Hall of Arabi, Ga., and Elder W.H. Hancock of Macon to assist in conducting the meeting. Services will begin each morning at 10 o'clock and dinner will be served on the grounds Sunday at noon. Gasoline and highways and streamlining, destroyers of countless rural churches, schools and general stores, have neither altered the simple rituals of these staunch people nor lessened their reverence for the deep convictions and lasting faith of their ancestors. Significant and striking is the Primitive Baptist minister's complete reliance upon "the help of God" for his sermons. "In my nine years as a pastor, I've preached about 1800 sermons," declared Elder Hassell McCorkle, "I never prepared an outline, or made any notes. I simply read a passage from the Bible, and take a text. To preach the gospel I rely solely on the help of God and the reading of the Bible. The light-haired, 40 year-old pastor said he did not know of a Primitive Baptist preacher who did otherwise. Constitution of the church and practice forbid use of musical instruments but congregational singing of old-time hymns is an important part of all services. Custom dictates that the brethren sit on the right hand side of the church and the sisters on the left, but this is not a rule and sometimes is not carried out, explained Elder McCorkle. Climax in Sacredness The meeting reaches its climax in sacredness on Sunday with the profoundly moving communion supper and footwashing ceremonies. "Close communion" is strictly observed and members of other denominations are not allowed to take part. The pastor breaks the bread and pours the wine. Prayer pleading that the act may be blessed is offered. "Then the brethren and sisters gird themselves with towels and begin to wash each others feet," said Elder McCorkle. "Common wash basins are used and both feet are bathed." "We do this as an act of humility. We do it because we feel it right. We get a happiness and joy from it that we can't get anywhere else." Prayer appealing for Divine guidance is said. The people burst into song, joining in such time-tested hymns as Amazing Grace. Sweeping emotion marks the service. Many cry, sometimes there is shouting. Followers of other creeds, or no creed at all, witnessing the service for the first time often are so stirred by its sacredness that they cannot restrain tears. "After the service," continued the Philippi pastor, "we Strike hands as a token of love and appreciation. This time we extend an invitation to everybody who is present to take part." Acquaintanceships Renewed This service usually is held during the forenoon, and ends the annual meeting. Dinner time comes late, no sooner than 1 o'clock. Basket lunches are spread and the fellowship of the gathering takes on a note of added wholesomeness. Scores of people annually choose this day for "homecoming" in order to visit relatives and renew old acquaintances. Love of the Almighty and of a man for his neighbor does not stand alone in these throngs---the love of a boy for a girl shares interest. Down through the decades, particularly during the wagon and buggy eras, courtships have flamed. And, members recall, many have gone the long way to the altar. The weather-beaten house of worship has a history almost as old as the church itself. It was erected many years before the War between the States as a two-story compartment structure, one side being for the use of slaves. After the war, the building was reduced to its present size and negro affiliations ended. Philippi is one of the ten churches comprising the Upatoie Primitive Baptist Association. (Transcriber's note: The church minutes reveal that the "negro affiliations" did not end until the mid to late 1880's and the result was the establishment of Rocky Hill Primitive Baptist church by & for the blacks.) OUT OF THE PAST 25 Years Ago--1913 Funeral services for Mrs. Safronia Morrison, 76, were conducted from Ellaville Methodist church on the morning of July 4. Mrs. Morrison died July 3 after a long period of declining health. The former Miss Safronia Hixon, she was married to Hugh Morrison in 1857. He was killed in the War Between the states in 1864 and she became the bride of John Morrison in 1871. He died several years ago. Survivors include a son, E.H. Morrison, and a daughter, Mrs. T.A. Tondee. THREE SCHLEY BOYS ENLIST FOR CCC DUTY Three Schley county youths will report at Columbus July 9 for enlistment in the Civilian Conservation Corps. They are J.W. Taylor, Kelly and Henry Moulton, the latter being an alternate. OLD PAPER RELATES HISTORIC JULY 4 TWIN BILL OF 1910 Out of the yellowed files of the clerk's office in the county courthouse comes the report of a highly organized and efficient baseball team composed of local talent that was a nemesis to competition throughout this section during the early part of the century. The outfit of 1910 was considered the ace of the strongest of the lot by the baseball minded public of the day, the old papers state. According to the experts of the year the local crew had no weak spots and was the most balanced unit in this territory. It was a hot fourth of July day in nearby Buena Vista 28 years ago and the climax to a day of celebration was to be a baseball game between the towns of Ellaville and Buena Vista. The following news story of the event in the weekly issue of July 5 relates rather vividly the activities of the struggle: "On Monday, July 4, the Ellaville ball team composed of Tucker Rainey, Hudson Burt, Arthur Murray, Lon Tison, Clate Wall, Cull Rainey, Clyde Hill, Charlie Stewart, Watson Rainey and Haynes Collins went up to Buena Vista for a double header. The morning game was short and snappy, going seven innings and resulting in a tie, the score of 1 and 1. It was reported that the game was called on account of the dinner---but nothing to it---B.V. saw their finish and said "lets stop." Burt was on the delivery wagon and handed B.V. a continual line of hot shot throughout---they couldn't reach him. There was something doing all the time, both teams putting an excellent article of ball. The second game was called at 3:45. There was a good crowd of rooters for the B.V. boys but we had some too. The game was full of pep and made us think of a good fight. Tucker Rainey behind the plate caught a sweet game---Arthur Murray played the best we have ever had the pleasure of seeing in a long time. Lon Tison on second played that base as it has never been played by a farmer. Clate Wall made us think of sweet days of long ago when the big boys used to make Buena Vista take to the woods. Hudson Burt was the cat of the day, he played first base to perfection. The B.V. boys said he learned it up there---but he didn't. Cull Rainey in left was there when the lick was needed. Watson Rainey in center played a swell game of ball. Charley Stewart in right was the candy kid of the day. He got on first in some way every time he went to bat. He tried to get hoggish and steal every base that was up there. Nobody scored until the 10th inning came about. Ellaville scored two in the first of the 11th and Buena Vista came back and scored two herself. Things went in one, two, three order until the 16th inning when Buena Vista made the winning run by a hit and wild throw. We are sorry these Ellaville knockers didn't get these two games. But they will---we are going to get Buena Vista down here next week and we will show them some ball. There is class in that Ellaville team." HOSPITAL NOTES Lucille Parks underwent a tonsillectomy at Boyette's Clinic Monday. ALERT, EFFICIENT CORPS OF CORRESPONDENTS COVER COUNTY Eight alert and efficient correspondents gather society and personal items for The Sun each week. They are Miss Evelyn Souter, Ellaville; Miss Myrtice Strange, Andrew Chapel; Miss Carolyn Lawhorn, Concord; Miss Eugenia Snipes, Hopewell; Mrs. C.B. Barnes, Ebenezer; Mrs. M.C. Murray, Midway; Miss Louise DeVane, Poplar Ridge, and Mrs. O.M. Athon, Lowe. All but the last three have been with the paper since it was founded. INTERESTING, VALUABLE METHODIST CHURCH HISTORY IS REVEALED IN RARE BIBLE RECORDINGS OF 1866 Account of Lightning Bolt Death of Pastor in '67 Told in Jottings A yellowed bible of the late Mrs. Sallie Bivens Hixon, owned by her daughter, Mrs. Emma Jett Walters of Ellaville, bares much valuable and unrecorded history of the local Methodist church. Most interesting of the church history told in handwriting faded by 72 years of aging is of the death by a lightning bolt of the Rev. John F. Berry. The tragedy occurred Sept. 5, 1866 only a short time after he had returned from preaching a sermon at the Ellaville church. Mrs. Hixon showed modern-day reportorial instinct in writing down his last exit. Her notes add four years to the only known record of ministers who have served the local circuit. This newspaper published six months ago a list owned by R.S. Greene of Andrew Chapel which began in 1860. Mrs. Hixon named pastors from 1856 to 1867. The article found in the back of the bible follows: "Sept. 10, 1866----This day I will set down the names and the years of our preachers which rode our circuit. So far as I can remember. 1856---Mr. Cooper part of the year and for bad behavior was superseded by Mr. Singleton. 1857---Messrs. Wardlaw and J.W. Reynolds. 1858---Messrs. George and John Bright. God loving and consistent Christians. 1859---Mr. John Bright was alone. He was the same when last he came to us. 1860---Mr. O'Driscoll, an Irishman, but I think one of the best men. 1861---We were blest with the same God-fearing Christian. 1862-63---Benjamin F. Breedlove. Quite a revivalist and saved many souls. 1864-65---and a part of '66. We had Mr. John F. Berry, owing to an invasion of the federal soldiers, our conference could not meet, so we had him three years. Sept. the 5th, 1866, soon after returning from the church there came a peal of lightning and thunder and he was instantaneously taken from his earthly toil to his glorious Redeemer on high. This last sermon was preached from the book of Judges, fifth chapter and first clause of the thirty-first verse. And glorious it was to him, gloriously he lived, victoriously he died. The scripture reference was "So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord." Remainder of the verse was "but let them that love Him be as the son when He goeth forth in His might. And the land had rest forty years." SCHLEY SLANTS by Raymond Duncan There is an old, old story of the negro preacher who threatened from the pulpit to disclose during the service the name of a man who had been courting another's wife, unless the guilty one put $5 in the collection plate. And of course, there were a mass of five spots and three ones to which there was a note pinned, promising the remaining two right away. Well, last Friday we carried an innocent little item reporting that a correspondent wrote in to suggest publication of a paragraph about a man of his community becoming so interested in his community that he couldn't stop long enough to go to church. We acknowledged the note with thanks, but explained too many of our subscribers might be offended. end # 1