EARLY HISTORY OF METHODIST IN TAYLOR COUNTY, FL

     There were a number of Methodist churches organized in Taylor county about the middle of the eighteenth century. While Taylor county was a part of Madison county.  New Hope, Friendship in Madison county, also Mosely Hall and Mt. Lebanon was across the Aucilla river from Lamont in Madison county. It was in the Cooksey, Seavor and Batey community. Brother Will Seavor said when I was sent there as pastor in 1917 that I was the third successive generation of Hendrys as pastor of this church--my grandfather, my father and I.


   Some of the churches organized had no church building but worshipped in school houses and sometimes in the homes. Such was Pleasant Grove which used the Hagen school house by that name.

     During this time many camp meetings were held under brush harbors. One of the most popular camp meetings was located on the Fenholloway river north and just east of road 19. This camp meetings was located on the Fenholloway river north and just east of road 19. This camp ground was known as Camp Carlton.  People left their homes after crops were laid by and camped there during the time of the meeting.  It was a time of great spiritual refreshing and much singing, praying, preaching, testifying and shouting. The best preachers were sought for these occasions.

     While we have many other great meetings in our day such as our youth camp at Leesburg where not only the youth of our church but many other worthwhile meetings are held here by preachers, laymen and women, still I feel that the custom of camp meetings would be a great benefit to spiritual life of our people. Some camp meetings are still held at Indian Springs and Marietta in Georgia and one I think in Florida near Avon Park.

    One of the oldest if not the oldest Methodist churches in Taylor county was at Pisgah. The original church was located on 40 acres of land northwest of Pisgah cemetery. The description of the land is: NW1/4 of the NE1/4, section 4, township 4, range 7 east. T. M. Parker has his home on part of this forty.  The church stood just south of his home and east of the ACL railroad track.  It appears that my grandfather had a lot to do in the organization of the church  as well as most all the early Methodist churches of this section and in Madison  county.

     This church was used as a school house probably before there was a public school system. One of the teachers at that time was Rev. Spencer Fife, grandfather of S. B. (Bert) Fife. This church burned about 1885. After that for several years the congregation met in the Pisgah school house just west of the church now known as the Bill Hendry place.  It was about this time that the Methodist Protestant church was organized in this county. J. M. Hendry and my father became members of this church and were ordained elders, my father in 1889. He later went back to the M. E. Church. Uncle Jim remained in this church and was the main influence in promoting its growth.

     They met for a number of years in the Pisgah school house but later built at Boyd and named the church New Life. They also had churches at Lake Bird and Pine Level. According to the records Uncle Jim and my father organized the Pine Level church about 1885. About 1890 they built a log church just south of the Boss Faulkner home.

     Uncle Jim, as did my father, preached in every community throughout the county, in the homes, in school houses and often in Baptist churches.  Their services were sought by all classes of people, saints and sinners. They were often used by people of other denominations, at funerals, weddings, and other troubles which arose among neighbors and in the homes.

     They did a lot of personal work, speaking to people about their need of God and salvation. They conducted many revivals together and were Instrumental in leading many into a definite experience of grace in Christ.

     One thing the preachers of that day preached for conviction and were seldom disappointed. Much of their preaching was not with man's wisdom but in the power of the Holy Ghost. Often times they were very dramatic and made sinners smell the fumes of hell fire. It was nothing uncommon for sinners and backsliders to fall on their knees and cry for mercy and pardon after listening to such convincing preaching.  There are some still who testify to their conversion under the ministry of my grandfather. Uncle Jim and my father.

     Some of the family names connected with the Pisgah Church were Anderson, Blanton, Bowdoin, Calhoun, Carter, Carlton, Fife, Gornto, Hardee, Hagan, Hendry, Hogan, Howell, Freeman, DeVane, Edwards, Jenkins, Johnson, Mathis, Curry, Mills, Chancey, Lundy, Ethington, Osteen, Poppell, Lepard, Stripling, Stuart, Smart, Rowell, Williams, Slaughter, Wilder, Wilcox, Willis Head, Simmons, York and probably others.

     A list of some of the children baptized in infancy by Rev. R. M. Hendry included Lillie, Lonnie, Katie and Willie, children of R. W. Hendry and wife Annie; Bethel and Roberta1 children of J. M. Hendry and wife, Louisiana; Marvin and Letha, children of T. B. Hendry and wife, Josephine; William, son of Neal Stuart and wife; M. G. Thomas and M. L., children of B. F. Hagan and wife.

     Children baptized by Rev. E. J. Knight included Molton, Lela, Ida, Ella and William, children of Dr. Samuel Wilcox and wife; Viola, a child of W. W. Edwards and wife; Mary Frances, John Andrew and Charles Richard, children of C. B. Willis and wife; S. B. (Bert) Fife, son of W. S. Fife and wife; Ida Susan, child of Henry Rowell and his wife, Polly Ann. These baptisms were between 1870-1860..

     The charge to which this church was attached was known as Tallahassee circuit, Mosley Hall and Taylor Mission, Taylor-Lafayette Mission, Taylor Mission.  It appears that this church was organized in the early 1950's. They held services once a month if the pastor could get there over rough roads and swollen unbridged streams, The pastor traveled by horseback if he had a horse, otherwise, he walked.   No hitchhiking. Sometimes they failed to reach a friendly home when night overtook them and they spent the night in the lonely woods. They were known as circuit riders or walkers.

     All of their belongings were put in their saddlebags--clothes and library, including the Bible, Methodist hymn book and a copy of the Methodist Discipline.   Books were few and beyond the reach of the preacher's pocketbook. The salaries were small and largely paid in produce, such as was found on the farm. They called it quarterage because the preacher was seldom paid anything until the quarterly conference.

     Just before the quarterly conference the stewards would make a visit to all the members to receive their contributions. Collections were seldom taken at the preaching service. Some would think the preacher was preaching for money.

     Quarterly conferences were great occasions when the presiding elder would be present to preach on Saturday with dinner on the ground and quarterly conference in the afternoon. Services again at night.

     On Sunday morning they would have a love feast which was a time of testifying and sharing spiritual experiences. Preaching was held at 11 o'clock with the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and preaching again at night. By this time the people were pretty well awakened spiritually and often there was much rejoicing, singing, praying and shouting.     Some thought it wrong to attend to the business of the church on Sunday so all church and quarterly conferences were held on Saturday.

     The customs and manner of operating the church then was quite different to what it is today. There was a separate roll for male and female members.  The men sat on one side of the church an the women occupied the other side.  The women had no public voice in the church. They joined in the singing but seldom prayed publicly though sometimes they testified.  When a young man escorted his girl friend to church when they got to the door they parted until after church services were over.

     The mothers usually brought a quilt for the baby to lie on during church.  The babies seldom cried and if so no one, not even the mother or preacher were disturbed about it. Larger children were taught to behave in church no matter how long the services lasted. I don't remember misbehaving but once. My father saw to it that it didn't happen again. He left an indelible impression, not only on my mind but on a convenient part of my anatomy.

     It was the day of class meetings in which each class leader inquired of each member in his class as to his spiritual state. Even with this well planned spiritual oversight of every member, some backslid and often left the church.

     The church in that day, disciplined its members very strictly. Charges were preferred against members for committing the common sins of the day such as drunkenness, swearing, fighting, ungovernable tempers, infidelity and other things.  The church would exhort them to confess and repent but if they refused they were dismissed from the membership of the church. Many of the leading citizens and members of the day were thus dealt with.

     Friday before each quarterly conference was fast day. Thru this practice of fasting and prayer they had greatly prepared their hearts and souls for this important meeting of the church. Family worship was generally practiced.   It was referred to as a family altar.   That was the day when there was more home life and very seldom did any member of the family miss family worship. Even if company came the evening worship was held.

     Our home was a convenient stopping place overnight for the farmers from the southern end of the county going up to Madison to sell their cotton or other produce The Houcks,  Kellys and others often spent the night with us, going up and coming back. These being very religious people, were called on to conduct the family worship. This consisted mostly in reading some scripture with occasional comment, mostly the Psalms, the Sams they were usually called in those days and then prayer.

     Another common custom not only among Methodists, but other churches was that they referred to each other as brother or sister.

     Some of the most active members of the early Pisgah Methodist Church were Spencer B. Fife ,   W. W. Edwards, B. F. Hagan, J. M. Hendry, T. B. Hendry, and possibly others.

     Some of the pastors of this church beginning before the Civil War were a Rev. McCook, Rev. Robert M. Hendry, Rev Spencer P. Fife. There was possibly very little pastoral over sight of the church during the Civil War years. Immediately after the Civil War Rev. R. H. Barnett was sent to this circuit known as the Taylor-Lafayette Mission. He was merely a boy preacher but became one of the outstanding preachers of the Florida Conference for more that 50 years.

                            A quote from his diary about this Pisgah Church.  

    "This was In the year of 1869.  June 25th we ate dinner and held the quarterly conference.  Two stewards were present.  Elected Brother Savage steward. We appointed a committee for church property for Taylor and Lafayette Mission. The stewards assessed for the pastor's salary for the year $250.  It was divided among the churches on the charge as follows: Friendship, $30, Oak Grove $15, Pisgah $10, New Hope $30, Perry $25.

    In Lafayette county, Cook's Hammock $40, Scrub Hammock or Bethel $20. My father was pastor of this church when he died in 1910.   Brushy Hammock $10, New Troy $25, Fayetteville $10, Old Town Hammock $30. July 20, Preached at Rocky Creek or Pisgah, Ps. 116,12,14.  Had a good meeting. Old Brother Head closed for me. Went to Sister Smart's for dinner and to Uncle Bob's that night.  Called on the way to see Sister Wilder who was sick. July 21st.  Spent the day with Uncle Bob.

     August 17. Went by C. H. to Rocky Creek, and Pisgah and preached from Ps. 57 and 7.   Had an excellent time. Went to Brother Fife to preach that night. Text Rejoice Evermore.  Had  a good meeting.  One joined the church. Went to Brother Simmon's spent the night. August 18. Went to Sister Wilder's for breakfast and from there to Uncle Bob's for dinner.

     He mentions about visiting in the home of Eli Hendry. There seems to be no record for the next 10 years. It is quite possible that during these years the church was served by Brother Fife, my grandfather and father and Uncle Jim. In the year 1879 and 1880 Brother E. J. Knight was pastor. The Church seemed to make good progress for this time. It seems that in the year 1881 J. M. Hendry and a Brother Mitchum served the church."

    In 1882-83 Rev. James S. Barnett served the church.  and in 1884 Brother C. Wesley Morrison was pastor.  In 1887 a Brother Gibbons was pastor.   In 1888 Brother C. W. Braswell was pastor.   In 1889 Brother A. H. Crumpton was pastor. There were recorded a number of obituaries of people who died as members of Pisgah Church. Brother Thomas _. Hardee died Jan. 10, 1879 at the age of 72. Spencer P. Fife, J. M. Hendry and T. B. Hendry

     Neil Stuart died April 1,1879 at age of 54. Spencer P. Fife, J. M. Hendry, and TB. Hendry, committee. Sister Keziah Simmons died September 5, 1878. Doesn't mention her age. Spencer P. Fife, J. M. Hendry, and T. B. Hendry, committee. Sister E. J. Jenkins died October 8,1884 at the age of 28 years, B. F. Hagan, W. W. Edwards and J. M. Hendry, committee. Brother W. S. Fife died on March 12, 1885. Does not mention his age. B. F. Hagan, W. W. Edwards and J. M. Hendry committee. He was the father of Bert Fife.

     Bother S. P. Fife died on January 10, 1887. No mention of his age. B. F. Hagan and W. W. Edwards. committee.

     Sister Lillie 0. Williams died in 1888 at the age of about 1 year. She was the oldest child of R. W. Hendry and wife, Annie. Also, the wife of U. C. Williams. The infant son she left, who was only a few hours or few days old, is Ollie Williams, now of Cross City.

     None of the churches of this age had any musical instruments and a violin (fiddle) was essentially evil. Very few had hymn books. Oftentimes the only hymn book was the one the preacher carried around with him.

     The preacher or leader lined out the hymn. For instance, in the hymn "Amazing Grace" he would read the first line, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me." They would remember this and would sing it. Then the next "I once was lost but now I'm found. Was blind but now I see." They would sing that and so on through the hymn. Hymn books that were available were without music. Some, however, had the music.

     It was customary for the preacher to call on some brother in the congregation to close the service. It might be another preacher or just a layman. A visiting preacher usually was urged to preach even though he had made no preparation. Not only Methodist preachers, but preachers of other denominations were invited to preach.

     There were a lot of doctrinal discussions in those days, especially on the subject of water baptism. In some instances they would conduct debates of many doctrinal subjects. While each side stood firmly on his convictions there was usually a brotherly spirit in all of it. This was the day of altar services. No service was quite complete without an altar call. Sinners and backsliders came forward to be prayed for and true Christians, often seeking a deeper work of grace. They never got in a hurry when sinners were to be prayed for. Often they would linger 'til the midnight hour, encouraging sinners to pray "through."

     In those days they didn't invite the preacher home for manners sake, but most everyone was insistent that he eat with him and spend the night. To them it was a great honor to entertain the preacher. He was never addressed as preacher or pastor but always as brother so and so.   Sometime he might be referred to as the parson.

     There were no doctors among the group. Sometimes referred to in derision as sky-pilot.   There was something to the title "Chicken Eating Preacher." In those days but now it is only a joke.

     By around the year 1890 the Pisgah congregation had divided Into three separate organizations, each without a church building. The remaining members of the Pisgah church worshipped in the Pisgah school house. Another group worshipped in the Hagan school house called Pine Grove. Another group in Perry worshipped in the court house.

     About this time they began to feel the need of all three uniting into one congregation.   It was about the year 1893 Andrew W. Hendry, father of Mary Whitfield, Lula Stephens, Genia Morgan and Pelham Hendry gave, two acres of land on Woods Creek on which to build a church.
             

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     This location is on the north side of Woods Creek and about a quarter of a mile east of the paved road going to Boyd. They immediately erected a very nice building for those times.   It was about this time the churches of the circuit purchased a parsonage in Perry for the pastor.   It was located across Green Street from the First Baptist Church, about where James Bloodworth lives.

    The first pastor of the Taylor County Mission after the New Pisgah Church was bull was Rev. W. J. Dowell in 1893. It was under his ministry that I joined the church. I find no record of my baptism but my parents told me that they consecrated me to the Lord in Baptism as an infant. I have always hoped that it was my venerable grandfather, the Rev. Robert M. Hendry, who laid his holy hand upon my infant head and pronounced a blessing upon me in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.

     Then came Brother C. O. Ward. The circuit bought him a Texas pony on which to ride the circuit. He spent the night at our house and father went to the field with the hands and left Brother Ward to go at his leisure. When he went to bridle his pony, the horse showed fight. So the brother, being afraid of him waited until noon for the farm hands to bridle his horse for him.

     Then came Brother J. L. Jones. His wife, though a very accomplished lady, was a bit too high-toned for the average Taylor county cracker. They spent their first night on the circuit at our house. Brother Jack Robertson asked them if they spent the night at Brother Hendry's, she said, we camped there. Brother Thomas White was sent next to the circuit.   He had a Texas pony by the name of Bob. He went to Greenville to get the presiding elder, as that was the nearest point by rail to this section. Brother Holmes was the presiding elder.   Observing the toilsome effort on the part of the pony trudging through the sand said "Well, Bob, I guess you are tired of pulling so much divinity," to which Brother White replied, "I think it is more beef than divinity" Brother Holmes was a very large man. Some of the people in the southern end of the county fell out with Brother White and it is supposed they stole Bob out of his stall in Perry and no trace of him has ever been found.

     In the year 1898 a Rev. W. S. McMannon served the Taylor Mission. He was a great advocate of divine healing and doctrine of a second work of grace for the second blessing. As John Wesley would put it: The experience of entire sanctification. Many sought and received this blessing.

     I remember quite a few young men of that time becoming very spiritual. Only one I think of now who is still living. It was common for a group of young people to gather about the organ in the homes and get very happly singing and praying.

     A Rev. York conducted a revival in the court house. They used the rail in front of the judge's bench for an altar, Many came seeking loud and long for a deeper experience of grace.

     As a small boy I was very much impressed with the earnest prayers of Thomas Houck. One very prominent citizen was seeking most earnestly this second blessing. He and my brother Marvin had a falling out about Marvin discipling one of his children at school. My brother was a young school teacher in the county at that time. He felt his fuss with my brother was keeping him from receiving this extra blessing. He went to my brother asking for forgiveness which my brother happily did and shook hands as friends once more. I do not remember if the good brother ever professed receiving the blessing or not.

     Soon after this a Rev. Quartelbaum set up a tent on the southwest comer of the court house square. This meeting was supported and attended by people from all over the county. My father and all the family left our home up on Rocky Creek and stayed in Perry at the home of cousin Jonnie Calhoun's during the meeting. Eugene and I would go out to the Calhoun farm where Pinkerton's hill now is and pick cotton during the day and go to church at night. We were about 10 years old. Quite a number of boys of this age received a great blessing from the meeting.

     We organized a boys prayer meeting and met in a bunch of dog fennels about where the old Perry Bank building now stands. I remember some of the boys. In addition to Eugene and myself there were Charlie Wilder, Ollie Williams, Welborn Houck and some I do not remember.

     It was during this time that a move was started to put the New Pisgah Church in Perry.   However it was not done for two or three years. During the pastorale of Rev. B. T. Rape more interest was manifested in the move. It was in April 6, 1899 two lots of land were bought in Perry from T. J. Faulkner and wife, Julia, on which to build a church. Lots 47 and 48 of block 10 of the original Town of Perry was deeded to the following trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church South: T. B. Hendry, J. R. Kelly, F. M. Houck, J. T. Blair and J. C. Calhoun.

     A church was immediately built on this property and is the same building in which Ralph Carlton and his family live now. This church building was sold to W. T. Hendry after the present church was built on Jefferson Street in 1917.   He converted it into a dwelling. The trustees at that time were J. C. Calhoun S. R. Walker, P. F. Bloodworth, L.M. Caswell, George E. Porter,  A E. Riley, W. H. Slaughter. C. F. Jenkins and L. W. Blanton.

    The Perry Church remained on the circuit for about three years being served during this time by Rev. T. B. Hendry and C. W. Braswell.  It was while Brother Braswell was serving the circuit that my father let his farm out on Rocky Creek to Mr. Bill Parker and we moved temporarily in Bert Fife's house. While there Brother Braswell came to spend the night. Father went in the house with Brother Braswell and left me to take the horse from the buggy. The horse was very poor and so I didn't think it necessary to remove the crupper from under her tail, but when I went to strip the harness off, she held tight with her tail and jerked the harness out of my hands and went galloping through the woods. Brother Braswell hollored to my father that I had let his mare get away. After the horse had scattered the harness thru the woods we rounded her up and put her in the lot. I escaped punishment though I was much afraid of what might happen to me. Brother Braswell always drove very poor horses mostly a pair to a buggy. The presiding elder \ writing about being with Brother Braswell on the circuit referred to his horses as: "spanking lorries" (sorrels).

     After this Perry was placed with Mayo, each church getting two Sundays a month.  The preacher. lived in Mayo. The pastors during this arrangement were J. L. Yates and J. S. Crandall. Then for about three years Fenholloway Church was connected with Perry. After this Perry became a station church with the following pastors: N. C. Hoffman, L. B. Bridges, C. B. Perritt.  It seems that Brother Perrill served the church for only a short time. Brother J. L. Jones who served the circuit a number of years ago had located and was teaching school in the county and he served the church the remainder of the year. A. E. Harrison, J. C. Hardin and W. T. Morgan followed.

     It was about the year 1903 my father, Rev. T. B. Hendry, began holding services below the Fenholloway river in the Dorman community in the school known as the Dorman school. Within a few years a church was organized and named Providence.

     In 1909 Mr. U. Potts gave 3 acres of land to the trustees of the Methodist Espicopal Church South for the Providence church, John H. Courtney, J. S. Sadler and Arthur Bowdoin.

     
     A church building was immediately erected and remained this location until the year 1930 when Arthur Bowdoin and his wife deeded the following land on the north side of the Fenholloway river to the trustees, T. C. St. Johns, Mrs. 0. D. Malone, Acy Holt, Henry Holt, George D. Bishop, W. M. Godwin and J. T. Lewis, of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of the Providence church.  The building originally built, was moved to this new location and the name changed to Pine Level where it Is still In use. In this new location the Methodist Protestant Church also used the building.

     When the Florida Railroad came into Taylor county, the town of Fenholloway began to develop and my father, the Rev. T. B. Hendry, began holding services, first in the spring house and then in the school house.   The church was organized in 1904 and Mr. W. J. Hiers donated two lots one and two of block five in the town of Fenholloway on which to build a church.  The deeds were made to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church South for the Fenholloway Church, C. B. McLeod, J. R. Kelly, W. J. Coleman, W. T. Hendry and W. J. Hiers. Dated May 25,1905. The present church building was immediately created.

     The Fenholloway Church was first connected with the church in Perry, Perry getting three Sundays a month and Fenholloway one.  The pastors thus serving were U. S. Tabor, R. W. Sanders and A. L. Woodward. Then Fenholloway became the head of the circuit known as the Fenholloway Mission.

     In December, 1908 a parsonage was purchased at Fenholloway from Mr. Chap Tedder and wife. The land was described as the EL of block 3 of the Outler division of the town of Fenholloway. Deeds were made to the trustees of  the Methodist Episcopal Church South of Fenholloway, J. R. Kelly, W. J. Coleman, W. J. Hiers and W. T. Hendry, trustees.

     Churches connected with this charge were, in addition to Fenholloway, New Hope, Providence, Daytown in Lafayette county and New Harmony in Suwannee County, Spring Dale, Scanlon, Carbur and some of the time Shady Grove.  When the saw mill closed down at Spring Dale that closed the church there and when the log camps at Scanlon and Carbur moved that closed the churches at these places.

     By the year 1909 the church building at New Hope was badly decayed and so Mr. Green B. Weaver collected enough money to build a new church which remained  in use for about 40 years when the church was closed. There was a time when New Hope church was the strongest church on the circuit. They had a large and substantial membership. The Kellys, Houcks, Gambles, Wrights, Scotts, Weavers and others. It was the scene of many great revival meetings. Just when this historic church was organized I do not know but there was a church there by that name immediately after the Civil War. This indeed is a sacred spot to many still living. The cemetery is still being used and kept up.

     Pastors serving this circuit up to the time of the union of the three Methodist churches were W. M. Scarborough, G. W. Wesley, D. G. McDaniel, a Rev. Bazemore, J. L. Hunter, Fred B. Langford, J. P. Gaines, M. M. Lord, L. W. Higgs. During this year the charge was named East Lafayette Mission.    For only one year, N. B. Boyd, J. A. Baldree was assigned here but never served, D. G. McDaniel came a second year, C. C. Tyler, D. L. Jones, J. R. Gilbert, W. W. Robins, J. W. Wyrick, J. S. Cullifer, F. M. Champion, J. A. Cullifer, a second time, W. L. Windsor and N. M. Harrison.

     The pastors of the churches of the Methodist Protestant churches were I. M. Hendry, Jack Jones, E. W. Holland, G. M. Hendry, H. F. Wesley, J. H. Ellis, a Rev. Ellington, C. C. Martin, J. A. Boyd and probably others.  Union of the churches was consummated in 1939. The churches of the Methodist Protestant Church were united with the churches of the Fenholloway Circuit.  They were New Life (Boyd), Lake Bird, Pine Level and Shaw.  This was a church Rev. J. M. Hendry organized about 40 years ago in the Shaw  neighborhood near Mosely Hall in Madison county. This church closed about 10 years ago. The pastors continued to live at Fenholloway about the year 1950, when the pastor moved to Boyd where there was a parsonage built by the Methodist Protestant Church before union.

    Pastors of this circuit since union are W. L. Windsor, C. C. Martin, N. W. Vause, J. R. Gilbert, E. P. Trotter, J. E. Gilbert, C. M. Sappington, W. A. Yates, T. M. Texton, J. H. McCall, J. P. Smelt, H. T. Toole, Morris Olive and now T. M. Goff.

     The first Sunday School Superintendent for the church in Perry was Brother S. R. Walker, father of Lloyd, Howell and Davis Walker. He was a very good and faithful worker in the church.

     There were only 2 churches in Perry at this time, the First Baptist and the Methodist. Sunday School was held at the Baptist Church in the morning and at the Methodist Church in the afternoon. Both Sunday Schools were very largely made up of the same group. Baptists very often taught in the Methodist Sunday School and vice versa. Judge W. B. Davis and Judge J. 0. Cuipepper, both Baptist, taught quite often at the Methodist Sunday School.

     In the year 1918, the Rev. R. Ira Barnett was assigned to the church in Perry.  It was during this year that the trustees of the church purchased the lot on which the present church stands. It was bought from the estate of the late T. J. Blair from E. L. Williams, as trustee. Brother Barnett was assigned at the end of his first year as presiding elder of the Ocala District.  Brother W. C. Norton was appointed to this church and during his two years here, the present church was built. Also the parsonage on North Jefferson was built during this time.

     Then came J. D. Sibert, A. C. McCall, and John A. Hendry who was assigned to this church in 1922, but he got sick and Brother J. S. Chapman a retired member of the conference living in Lake City,
finished out the year.

     C. W. Mathison came in 1924 followed by G. W. Stubbs. Near the end of his second year, Brother Stubbs died.

     Next came S. I. Hendrix, L. E. Wright, V. T. Crawford, R. F. Hodnett, who rendered four years of very effective service not only to the church but to the entire town and county. He was a great source of comfort in times of sickness and death. He could not be surpassed in conducting a funeral.   Brother L. D. Lowe came in 1936. Then George E. Summers, followed by W. A. Fisher, Brother Fisher was in high favor in the church and town. About the middle of his fourth year, he died and was buried in Perry.  Brother Kinner Hollister, a supernumerary, finished out the year.

     Charles A. Thompson served very efficiently and effectively for two years when he was drafted as superintendent of our children's home at Enterprise.  Next came E. C. Willson, C. T. Howes, J. R. Jones, (Brother Jones served this church longer than any other pastor - five years. It was during his pastorate that the new Sunday School rooms were built.)  J. W. Gardner came in 1957 and at the end of six months of his second year, his health was such that he asked to be relieved for the rest of the year. Rev. James A. Hendry, a retired member of the conference was asked to finish out the year.

     Brother John Davenport, the present pastor, was sent to this church and is doing an exceptionally fine work now in his second year.  Some of the preachers going out from the Perry church and other churches of the county were James A. Hendry in 1913, Eugene C. Calhoun in 1915, Elliott Ritch in 1938 and Garfield entered the ministry from the Methodist Protestant Church in about 1913.  Probably others whom I do not remember.

     The honor roll of faithful members of the various churches throughout the county is very lengthy.  We will refer to those whom we remember at this time.  No doubt there will be omissions because church records are incomplete.  From the Perry church:

Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Calhoun, Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Stripling, Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Hendry, Mrs. Maggie Wilder, Mr. and Mrs. Bry Stripling, Mrs. Marion Blanton, Mrs. Corine Hendry Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Hendry, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Hendry, Mrs. Katie Hendry Tyson, Dr. and Mrs. P. F. Bloodworth, Dr. and Mrs. C. A. O'Quinn, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Slaughter, W. T. Hendry, my sainted father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Hendry and Mrs. Sallie Hendry.

From Shady Grove:

The Rev. and Mrs. Robert M. Hendry, Mr. and Mrs. J. Sharp Hendry, The Rev. Wright Hendry, Mrs. Jane Hendry Wentworth, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rowell, Mr. and Mrs. Hendry Slaughter, Mr. and Mrs. Mitch Sessions, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Hendry, Rev. and Mrs. Dozier Hendry, Rev. Glazier Hendry, Mr. and Mrs. David A. Hendry, Ms. Susie Hendry, Mr. Crumption Hendry, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cruce, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Hendry (his first wife), Ruby Hendry, U. C. Williams, Wiley Sheffield, Mrs. Velma Williams Simmons.

From Lake Bird:

Mr. and Mrs. Miles Mathis, Budley Whiddon, Willie Sheffield, Velton Slaughter, Harrison Andrews.

From Boyd:

Rev. and Mrs. J. M. Hendry, Rev. and Mrs. W. A. McLeod, John S. Fife, Granney Fife, Roscoe Ellison, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Willis, Andrew Willis, Frank Willis, Zack Simpson, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Hendry and two daughters, Mrs. Matt Freeman Hendry, Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Hendry, Mrs. Viola Sealey, Mrs. Leila Roberts, Hendry David, Mrs. Anna Hendry Blue, Mrs. Clepatria Hendry Simmons, Mr. Will Lundy, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Robertson.

From Providence and Pine Level:

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Carlton, Mr. J. H. Courtney, Mr. George Carlton, Mrs. Gene Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. C. R. George, Mr. T. C. St. Johns, Mr. and Mrs. Acy Holt, Mrs. Helon Carlton Clark, Mrs. Eli Dorman, Mrs. Ida Carlton Malone, Mr. and Mrs. Jim McMullen, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McAuley, Mr. and Mrs. John Mathis, Mr. Brad Lee.

From New Hope:

Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Weaver, Mrs. Steve Raulerson, Mr. and Mrs. John Wright, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wright, Mrs. and Mrs. David Houck, Thomas Houck, Grandma Young, Mrs. Alice Whitfield, Mr. and Mrs. Brinson Houck, Mr. and Mrs. George Scott.

From Fenholloway:

Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Coleman, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Hiers, Mrs. J. A. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Wilder, Miss Wilma Hiers.

     As we recall the faithful and sacrificial labors of these sainted pators and members through the years we are humbled and give thanks for their abiding labors in the Lord which remains to bless us today.  May we strive to be no less faithful so that those who come after us will be equally enriched because of the heritage we leave to them. - Amen.