Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/werememberourherOOIeef Co, WE REMEMBER OUR HERITAGE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1880-1976 Florence Winstead Lee i PREFACE This is the history of the First Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, N.C., from 1880 to 1976, in which we reverently recall how God has worked out his purposes through the mem- bers of his Body in this church. We stand in awe and amazement as we view his accomplish- ments, using our fragile strength, undeterred by our weakness, sin, and little faith. May the remembering inspire us and our successors to deeper faith, greater spiritual strength and purer lives, so that the years to come will prove more worthy of our Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Florence W. Lee Church Historian ii # 4 // 3g DEDICATION This history is lovingly dedicated to all who worship in this place, past, present, and future generations. May the reader find in its pages a warning, a guide, and a beckoning hope. iii Dr. John D. Cave MESSAGE from OUR MINISTER "I never weary of great churches. Mankind was never so happily inspired as when he made a cathedral", wrote Robert Louis Stevenson. During the past century, the saints of Rocky Mount have been engaged in making a great church. The steel, the stones, the stained glass windows have been united at the corner of Church Street and Western Avenue, giving visible evidence that men and women, boys and girls have taken seriously the injunction of being "co-laborers with God." However, First Baptist is older than the buildings we see or the people we have known who worshipped therein. The iv church is old in the sense that it is a continuation of the life of Israel, the people of God. It is new in the sense that it is founded on the revelation, made through Jesus Christ, of God's final message for mankind. The thousands that have identified with its message and mission haven't given their allegiance to a lost cause, but one of the most permanent in- stitutions of history. They have entered in league, not with something local or temporal, but with the divine personality that governs the universe itself. The church of the living God was here before these facilities were erected by our forefathers. The land was made and held in reserve by the Creator for this edifice of worship. The gospel we would proclaim was conceived from a crucified- resur- rected Christ event. Down the labyrinthian ways of history many strong ambassadors have brought its message to us. We are indeed debtors to the many who have made First Baptist Church a reality here in Rocky Mount. On June 1, 1880, 96 years ago, something significant hap- pened here. There was a mystical movement in the minds and hearts of nine believing individuals. The stirring within their souls could not be silent. There arose a mind to build, a will to work, and a desire to share a redemptive and edifying message. These "living stones" brought together men and matter to form an edifice of divine worship, a place for scriptural study and Christian fellowship. Every generation which has passed through these ten decades have poured life and love into the realization of God's kingdom here in Rocky Mount, as it is al- ready realized in heaven. We express our love and apprecia- tion for the labors of many lives making possible this church. The past is prologue. We look back in humble faith only to calibrate the compass before advancing forward with hope into the uncertainties of tomorrow. Standing on the pinnacle v of great past achievements, we look beyond as Moses on Mount Pisgah viewed Canaan. What do we see beyond Jor- dan? What is out there in our Canaan for future conquests? I think the names of the streets which border First Baptist give us the clue. In front, it is Church Street, a main thoroughfare through the heart of Rocky Mount. Christ's church must be kept in the very center of community life. The citizens must be conscious that God's message and people are here to stay. We will not be intimidated. We will remain true to our calling, knocking at the gates of hell, releasing people from bondage, sin and death. Being a church in the inner city will be difficult, demanding and dangerous, for its servants must be involved in social, political, economic and moral areas of the community life. However, at these points the individual's existence is also under assault. If we default by not heralding a redemptive message, both community and individual will be lost. For God's sake and other's let us always be His church in the center of Rocky Mount. There is Western Avenue which runs the length of our facilities. The "West" recalls the frontier, the place of action, conquest and colonization. We cannot stay "inner city." God cannot be kept within four walls. We must advance the action to every frontier, out past the city limits into the suburbia, and address ourselves to minister to those who seek serenity and the security and seclusion of their community. Redemption must work on their soul as well as upon the concrete streets of downtown. Furthermore, First Baptist must advance beyond Nash and Edgecombe Counties to relate to a world in dire need of life's necessities, man's disciplines and God's grace. No church can live long that has no great anguish on its heart, nor great vi redemptive music upon its lips. We must not be content in serving only the needs within, but the needs of those without. We go West, pursuing the frontier, colonizing the hearts of men and community wherever we go. Our address challenges us to enlarge the circumference of our concern, to keep our church reaching out that the world may know Him. In the year 2076, one hundred years hence, should Christ tarry and another lift the pen and record the history of First Baptist of the past century, what will the author write? Let these be the words. "We came. We placed and committed our total self to the work in this location. We saw. We pursued the vision of what God wanted us to do. We conquered. We claimed the city for Christ." vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Special Historical Committee gratefully acknowledges its indebtedness to the persons named herein. To write a histo- ry covering so many years would be utterly impossible without the faithful labors of those members who have preceded us and of those who are our contemporaries. Our older adults have gladly shared their memories with the committee. Mrs. S.T. Anderson, with her keen mind and sharp memory, has been especially helpful in this area. Some have made outstanding contributions in other ways. Mr. Sam Arrington, church clerk and chairman of the Stand- ing Historical Committee, has carefully looked after and preserved the church records for many years. Mr. W.B. Mid- dleton, long a church history enthusiast, has worked for years gathering materials relative to our Sunday School and other churches growing out of the mother church. Many of our members have written brief histories which were prepared for special occasions. All have been of in- estimable value. These writers have been Mr. T.M. Arrington, Mr. T.A. Avera, Dr. George L. Parker, Mrs. W.D. Farmer, Mrs. George Batchelor, Mrs. George Gorham, Sr., Mrs. S.T. Anderson, Mr. Turner Coley (Royal Ambassador Extraordi- nary), and Mrs. Ruth Bell who wrote a historical dramatiza- tion called "The Prophecy of the Pipes." Special gratitude goes to Mr. John R. Woodard, Director of the Baptist Historical Collection at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C., who graciously researched old Biblical Recorders and other materials for biographical data on our early pastors. To the members of the Special Historical Committee, my viii peers and co- laborers who accepted the task of researching and publishing this history, I can only say a heart-felt "thank you." It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to pay homage to my committee listed below. Ex officio members: Mr. Sam Arrington, Resource, Mr. W.B. Middleton, Resource Dr. Ronald W. Higdon and Dr. John D. Cave, pastors Mr. A.H. Phillips, Jr., Mr. Earl Posey, Mr. George Hooks, Jr., and Mr. Don Johnson, Chairmen of the Board of Deacons from 1973 through 1976 Research members: Mrs. George Hooks, Jr., Mrs. J. A. Delbridge, Sr., Mrs. A.L. Stancil, Mrs. Sam Smith, Mrs. Mack Brown, Miss Fannie Lee Carter, Miss Emily Williams, Mr. Roger Lamb, Mr. John Privott, Mr. Harry Griffin, Mr. Bill Nelms, Mr. Russell Edmondson, Mr. A.L. Stan- cil Mrs. John R. Lee, Chairman and Historian ix CONTENTS PREFACE DEDICATION MESSAGE FROM OUR MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CHAPTER I WE REMEMBER OUR BEGINNING CHAPTER II WE REMEMBER OUR EARLY PAS- TORS CHAPTER III WE REMEMBER OUR LATER PAS- TORS 73 CHAPTER IV WE REMEMBER TO PRAISE GOD CHAPTER V WE REMEMBER OUR LEADERS CHAPTER VI WE REMEMBER TO REACH OUT IN LOVE CHAPTER VII WE REMEMBER TO COMMUNICATE GOOD WILL AND GOOD NEWS CHAPTER VIII WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO KEEP US VIABLE CHAPTER IX WE REMEMBER TO BUILD CHAPTER X WE REMEMBER TO TEACH AND TRAIN CHAPTER XI WE REMEMBER OUR WOMEN'S WORK CHAPTER XII WE REMEMBER OUR MEN'S WORK CHAPTER XIII WE REMEMBER OUR VIPs CHAPTER XIV AS WE REMEMBER OUR HERITAGE WE ANTICIPATE OUR FUTURE x CHAPTER I WE REMEMBER OUR BEGINNING "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." King James Version Philippians 1:6.