Many of our elders migrated from Jefferson County, Alabama to Attala County, MS. Of those elders who were members of Ruhama Baptist Church of Christ in Jefferson County. The following are excerpts of Church Minutes that includes many of their names. The excepts are of some my elders and of their friends and neighbors in AL. Cummins Minutes of the Ruhama Baptist Church of Christ William, Emily and their children attended and became members of Ruhama Baptist Church of God while they lived in Jefferson County, Alabama. The first Cummins registry and minute’s entry occurred September 1836, when William M. Cummins, Sr. joined the Church as a member with experience. The following Cummins were registered as joined by baptism or experience in Ruhama’s Baptist Church from 1836 to 1875: Daniel Hosea Cummins, husband of Martha Frances Whitfield Emily “Millie” ___?___, wife of William Cummins, Sr Frances Malinda Armstrong, wife of William M. Cummins, Jr. Lucinda Turner, wife of Willis W. Cummins Malinda Cummins, wife of Merritt Ellard Martha Whitfield, wife of Daniel Hosea Cummins Mary Ann Cummins, wife of Isaac B. Ellard) William M. Cummins, Sr., husband of Emily “Millie” ___?___ William M. Cummins, Jr., husband of Frances Malinda Armstrong Willis Wilburn Cummins, husband of Lucinda Turner 1836 - 1875 Cummins Minutes of Ruhama Baptist Church: Saturday before the 3rd Lords Day in September 1836. Opened adore for the reception of members. Received brother William Cummins and G. W. Turner by experience. Saturday before the 3rd Lord’s Day in May 1839. After divine services by Joseph Byers the church met in peace. Opened adore for the reception of members received by experience, Emily Cummins and Sarah Turner came forward. Saturday before the 3rd Lord’s Day in January 1841. After divine services by Joseph Byers the church proceeded to business. As there is a difficulty existing between Willis Eastis and sister Milly Cummins. The church appointed Henry Turner and O. W. Wood to go. Bro. Eastis to see sister Cummins and try to get the difficulty settled and report our next meeting. Saturday before the 3rd Lords Day in March 1842. Opened adore for the reception of members, Bro. Richard Carlisle came forward to be restored to the Fellowship of the Church, which was laid over until next meeting and Brothers Edward Wood, William Cummins to give notice to Bro. John Goodwin, his wife and Bro. B. Case and sister Bass to attend. Saturday before the 3rd Lords Day in September 1842. After divine services by Joseph Byers the church proceeded to business. Opened adore for the reception of members received by experience Elizabeth Turner, Mary Ann Cummins, Betsey Turner, I. B. Wood and Elvoia, slave of E. Wood. Saturday before the 3rd Lords Day in June 1843. After divine services by Joseph Byers the Church proceeded to business. Brother Willis Eastis laid in a charge against Bro. W. Cummins and Sister Cummins for slandering his wife. It was moved and second that there be a committee to try to settle the difficulty. Assigned E. Wood, D. Parson, O. W. Wood, D. Ellington, W. Turner, and Joseph Byers and report in our next meeting. Saturday before the 3rd Lords Day in July 1843. After divine services by J. Byers the Church proceeded to business. Call for reference. Took up the case of brother Eastis against brother Cummins and sister Cummins, when brother Cummins was cleared and brother Eastis was excluded for his hostility against brother and sister Cummins. Also for sister Cummins for her hostility in the case. Saturday before the 3rd Lords Day in January 1844. After divine services the Church proceeded to business. Received letter from Roupes Valley Church requesting help to settle difficulty between M. Mc Math and Richard Murphy Friday before the 2nd Lords Day in February 1844. The Friday before the 2nd Lords Day in February 1844. To visit Roupes Valley Church: E. Wood, W. Cummins, J. T. Byers and D. Pearson. Saturday before the 3rd Lords Day in June 1844. After divine services by J. Byers the Church proceeded to Church business. Appointed the following delegation to the Union meeting to be held at Mount Zion Church St. Clair County Friday before the fourth Saturday in July 1844 to wit: E. Wood, W. Turner, W. Cummins, and D. A. Ellington, clerk to write. Saturday before the 3rd Lords Day in August 1844. After divine services the Church proceeded to business. Elected the delegates to the Association to be held at the Liberty Church Saturday before the first Sabbath in October 1844, to wit: J. J. Byers, William Cummins, O. W. Woods and John Goodman in case of failure, the clerk to write. Tuesday Morning before the 3rd Lords Day in October 1844. Tuesday morning singing and prayer and adore for the received of members. Received: Daniel Cummins, Manuel Bagwell, Malinda Cummins, Mary Ellard, Frances Byers, and acknowledgement Milly Cummins. Then Baptizing, evening preaching and exhortation prayer. State Baptist Convention of 1844: The State Baptist Convention will meet this year at Marion, in the Hall County. Delegates to attend are Pastor Joseph Byers, Edmund Wood, William Cummins and O. W. Wood. Saturday before the 3rd Lords Day in June 1846. After divine services by J. Byers the Church proceeded with business. There being difficulty existing between David Pearson and W. S. Turner, the Church took up the case and appointed committee to labour with the and report next meeting, to wit: O. W. Wood, J Byers, A. B. Turner and William Cummins, the committee. March Term 1847. After divine services the Church proceeded to business. There being a difficulty between Elizabeth Turner and Nancy Turner, the Church appointed a committee to labour with them and report next meeting, is: T. M. Turner, O. W. Wood, William Cummins, A. B. Turner and W. H. Wood. April Term 1847. After divine services the Church proceeded to business. There being a difficulty existing between Burrel Balls, J. M. Turner and E. Wood, the Church appointed a committee to labor with them - James Massey, H. Turner, William Cummins, J. P. Massey and L. Hodges. April Term 1848. After divine services the Church proceeded to business. Call for references the case of Wm Dunahoo and William Whitfield, the Church appointed a committee to labour with them and settle the difficulty between them and report next meeting, to wit: William Cummins, Samuel Byers, Elias Glenn, O. W. Wood and J. H. Byars. May Term 1848. After divine services the Church in peace. Call to reference the case of William Dunahoo and Wm. Whitfield the report of the committee, we the committee appointed to labour with the Brother Dunahoo and Whitfield for union of feeling between them. Report that Brother Dunahoo has given us full satisfaction by making to Bro. Whitfield the necessary act acknowledgement for the hurt and passionate expressions made use by him concerning the difficulty between them, Brother Whitfield continuing his hostile feelings toward Brother Dunahoo and refusing to make necessary amends. June Term 1852. After prayer by brother E. P. Wood the Church met in conference. Appointed brother James Massey, senior moderator. Took up the call of brother and sister Cummins after some discussion called for the report of the Committee and the Committee discharged and appointed a new Committee to labor with brother and sister Cummins as recommend a course to pursue and report when it suits them. Designate L. Hodges, W. Wood, W. W. Mc Math, Jno. Simmons, M. J. Turner, D. L. Poole, W. H. Wood, W. W. Ellard and A. B. Turner. Called for the reading of the letter to the Union meeting. Read and received. August Term 1852. After religious services the Church met in conference. Called for the report of the Committee on the case of brother and sister Cummins, the report read and received and the Committee discharged and the report adopted. Report of 2nd Committee on the case of brother and sister Cummins report, that of us met at brother Cummins according to appointment and after conversation with him, taking into consideration the good Spirit manifested by him, his long good standing in the church, also believe some of the reports against him to be false and his making acknowledgement for others, we are willing and recommend the Church restore to fellowship. Also recommend that Sister Cummins be restored. December Term 1852. After divine services the church met in conference. Dismissed by letter Lucinda Cummins, Isaac and Mary Ellard. April Term 1855. After religious exercise the church met in conference. Took up a case between brethren Daniel Cummins and Abraham Whitfield and appointed a committee of three to investigate. Committee: W. Eastis, W. Jones and John Armstrong May Term 1855: Cummins and Whitfield’s Report: The report was received and Committee discharged, report adopted. We, your committee appointed to see Brother Cummins and Whitfield beg leave to report that we have seen and had saw brethren face to face and find them far apart. Brother Whitfield manifest a Christian Spirit, said he was willing to do what was right and we find nothing censurable in him. Brother Cummins did make some acknowledgement, but we think he was in a bad spirit and from all the charges against him, we think the Church ought to exclude him. (Signed) W. Eastis, Clerk September Term 1856. After religious services the Church met in conference. Granted Brother and Sister Cummins letters of dismission. October Term 1858. The Church met in conference and proceeded to business. Granted Sister Martha Cummins a letter of dismission. November Conference 1862: No business before the Church. The meeting being protracted for 10 days, the following named persons joined the Church by letter. By letter: William Cummins, A. G. Bates and Sarah Hitt. By experience and baptism: Mrs. Mary Moore, also Sarah Lathern, Mrs. Margaret Chambles, Mrs Amanda Massey, Miss Melinda Barton, Miss Margaret Baker, Miss Mary Jane Byars, Miss Frances Pierson, Jane a slave of George Barton. March Conference 1864: The Church having gospel evidence that Sister Martha Cummins had suffered partys and balls at her residence and where admonished, spoke contemptibly of the Church. She is excluded from the fellowship of the Church. It having been also reported to the Church that other sisters had been guilty of attending these partys and balls. The Church appointed Brothers Willis Eastis, L. Hodges and W. B. Baker to see them and admonish them and report visit to Association. May Conference 1864: The Committee appointed to visit and admonish Sisters who had been attending balls reported as follows, we find that sister Amanda Massey had attended, but manifest sorrow and repentance, also Sister Nancy Lathren has attended and will not deny her self the privilege of attending them, where upon the Church excludes also her from her fellowship. It was also reported to the Church that Sister Malinda Montgomery had been guilty of dancing and brother Waldrop having letters witness to him by her acknowledging the sin and begging the pardon of the Church and promising to indulge no more, the Church for gave her. December Term 1867. The Church met pursuant through authority. The being Clerk absent, M. G. Wood was chosen clerk Pro Tem. Granted Brother Cummins a letter of dismission. Male Registry Spring of 1875: William Cummins died in the spring of 1875. Original 1819 Articles Faith of Ruhama Baptist Church of Christ * * * * * * * Article I: We believe in one only true and living God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Article II: We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the word of God and the only rule of faith and practice. Article III: We believe in the doctrine of election and that God chose His people in Christ before the foundation of the world. Article IV: We believe in the doctrine of original sin. Article V: We believe in man’s impotency to recover him-self from the fallen state he is in, by nature, by his own free will and ability. Article VI: We believe that the sinners are justified in the sight of God by the imputed righteousness of Christ. Article VII: We believe that God’s elect shall call and be called, regenerated and sanctified by Holy Spirit. Article VIII: We believe that the saints shall persevere in Grace and never fall finally away. Article IX: We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ and that the true believers are the only subjects and we believe that the true mode of baptism is immersion. Article X: We believe in the resurrection of the dead and general judgment, and that the punishment of the wicked and the joys of the righteous will be eternal. Article XI: We believe that no minister has a right to the administration of ordinances, only such as are regularly Baptist, called and come under the imposition of the hands by the presbytery. Article XII: We believe none but the regularly Baptist members has the right to commune at the Lord’s Table. The original nine Church members as recorded in the Ruhama’s 1819 Constitution: Hosea and Cassie Holcome, pastor Elisha and Frances Lawley Richard and Martha Rockett Joseph and Phoebe Nations Diah, a female black slave belonging to brother Rockett. Sources of information: The foregoing excerpts were extracted from microfilm of the Ruhama Baptist Church of Christ minutes for the period of 1836 to 1875. The microfilm is housed at Samford University’s “Special Collection Library” located at 800 Lake Shore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229. The minutes was researched and compiled by Douglas G. Cummins of Pensacola, FL during November 2003 and January 2004. The minutes were transcribed as originally written.