Volume 2, Number 7 - Spring 1966


Minutes of the Mincy Valley Baptist Church of Christ

1871 to 1885
by Eva B. Bruner

Continued from the Winter issue of Quarterly

4th Sunday in Sept. the church met for worship after which an invitation was given for persons to unite with the church and Bro. Thomas Sperry and Sister Mary Barton was received as candidates for baptism. Monday morning the church met at the water and Bro. Thomas Sperry and Sister Mary Barton was baptised by Eld. John Speer.

Saturday before 2nd Sunday in Oct. 1880, the church met and after worship proceeded to business.

1st. Minutes of the previous meetings read and adopted.

2nd. Peace of the church called for. All in peace. No other business found. Adjourned.

Nov. Saturday before 2nd Sunday in Nov. 1880. The church met and after the worship proceeded to business.

1st. The minutes of the previous meeting read and adopted.

2nd. Whereas Sister Amanda Stafford has joined another denomination not of our faith and practice. On motion and second aggreed that we withdraw ourselves from her for want of fellowship.

3rd. Peace of the church called for, When it was found that Bro. John Thomasson is said to have been guilty of adultry whereupon motion and second a committee of three Bros. was appointed to visit Bro. Thomasson and request him to meet with us. at our regular meeting, and Bro. Creel Hopper, E. Jackson, and John Wilson was appointed as said committee. On motion and second. Adjourned.

Dec. Saturday before second Sunday in Dec., 1880. The church met and after worship proceeded to business. 1st. The minutes of the previous meeting was read and adopted. 2nd. The reference was taken up in the case of Bro. Thomasson and the committee was called on for their report. So the report was made by Bro. John Wilson as follows: "I visited Bro. Thomasson and notified him of the charges against him and requested him to meet with us at our next regular meeting. So he stated that the charges was partly faulce (false) and that others that was in the church was just as guilty as he was and unless the church delt with others that he had no confession to make." 3rd. On motion and second the report was received and committee discharged. 4th. Now whereas a matter of dispute rests between Bro. John Thomasson and Sister Mary Kilman therefore on motion and second agreed that we withdraw ourselves from said brother and sister for disorderly conduct. 5th. Peace of the church called for and it was found that the peace had been disturbed in this—whereas Bro. John Speer who is now holding a letter of dismission from us, also credentials of ordination as a minister of the Gospel. He having publicly stated that he intended to go into another organization of another church not of our faith and practice therefore on motion and second agreed that we appoint a committee to visit Bro. Speer and request him to return to the church his letter of dismission from us.

Dec. 1880 to March 1881— also his credentials of ordaination as a minister of the Gospel provided however that he has not changed his mind in relation to the matter—and Bro. D. A. White, J. N. Pruitt, and Creel Hopper was appointed as said committee on motion and second adjourned.

Jan. 1881: Saturday before 2nd Sunday in Jan. 1881. The church met and after preaching proceeded to business:

1st. The minutes of the previous meeting read and adopted.

2nd. The reference was taken up of the case of Bro. Speer and the committee was called on for their report so they stated that they visited Brother Speer and that he submitted to the request of the church by returning his papers to them. 3rd. On motion and second the report was rec’d and committee discharged.

4th. Whereas Bro. John Speer, James T. Anderson, Sister Permalia Anderson and Bro. Thomas Likens and Sister Nancy Likens and Thomas Sperry and Sisters Memory Sperry, Kisiah Hill, Mary Barton, and Mahala Davis and Bro. Charles Layton has all disunited with us in church relation by going into the church organization of another church not of our faith and practice therefore on motion and second agreed that we withdraw ourselves from

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day evening after preaching the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered and the meeting adjourned.

Sept. 1881 to Feb. 1882: Sat, before 2nd Sunday in October the church met and after worship proceeded to business. 1st. The clerk being absent Bro. D. A. White was appointed clerk protein. 2nd. By request of Bros. James Pruitt, J. N. Pruitt and Sister Sarah Pruitt and Brother Howard Pruitt and Sister Emma Pruitt they are all granted letters of dismission from us. 3rd. Adjourned til Sunday. Sunday the church met and after worship Bro. D. L. Pruitt and Sister Pheba Bedford was granted letters of dismission from us by their request.

Nov. and Dec. The church met for worship but no business was transacted. Jan. 1882. Sat. before 2nd Sunday in Jan. the church met and after worship proceeded to business. 1st. the minutes of the previous meeting was read and adopted. 2nd. Bro. Wm. W. Vice and Sister Vice Presented themselves for membership in our body and was received by letter. 3rd. Peace of the church called for. All in peace. Adjourned in order.

Feb. 1882 to March 1882: Sat. before 2nd Sunday in Feb. 1882 the church met and after worship proceeded to business. 1st. Minutes of the previous meeting was read and adopted. 2nd. Visiting Brethren invited to aid in council. 3rd. Invitations for persons to unite with the church and Bro. J. F. Brittain and Sister Mary Brittain was rec’d into our fellowship. They having been previously dismissed from us by letter. 4th. Whereas a considerable number of our present membership is now absent from us and for sometime has failed to meet with us therefore on motion and second agreed that our clerk with any assistance that he may call - draw off a list of names of such absentees and present them to us for further consideration at our next regular meeting. 5th. By request of Sister Rosella McCord she is granted a letter of dismission from us. 6th. On motion and second adjourned March 1882. Sat. before 2nd Sunday in March 1882 The church met and after worship proceeded to business. 1st. The minutes of the previous meeting was read and rec’d 2nd. Invitation for persons to unite with the church and Bro. Wm. H. Gilstrap and Sister Sarah Gilstrap was rec’d by letter and Sister Nancy Kilman was rec’d by relation. 3rd. The following list of names was presented for consideration - Peter Humphrey, Mary Manis, Rebecca Caldwell, Thomas A. Coulter, Virginia Coulter - and it being known that Bro and Sister Coulter has joined another denomination and that the remainder is gone from our country therefore on motion and second agreed that we drop them from our list for non attendance. 4th. By request Clerk, Bro. Milford Hopper is appointed assistant clerk to act during the absence of the clerk. Adjourned.

April 1882: Sat before 2nd Sunday in April 1882 the church met and after worship proceeded to business. 1st. the minutes of the previous meeting was read and adopted. 2nd. Peace of the church called for. All in peace. 3rd. Agreed that we go into the election of a pastor. The vote was taken by private ballot and the result was Bro. Wm. W. Vice was elected for another year. 4th. Invitation for persons to unite with the church and Sister Acres was rec’d on recommendation. Adjourned. Sunday 11 o’clock the church met for worship after which an invitation was given for persons to unite with the church and Bro. Howard Pruitt and Sister Emma Pruitt was rec’d by request.

Aug and Sept. 1882 Sat. before 2nd Sunday in Aug. 1882. The church met and after worship proceeded to business.

1st. The minutes of the May meeting was read and adopted.

2nd. Peace of the church called for - and it was found that the peace was disturbed by numerous rumors that was injurious to the cause of Christ whereupon the church appointed a committee of three to investigate such reports as may be found and report at our next regular meeting. Bro. John A. Wilson, S. A. Kilman and Muford Hopper was appointed as committee on motion and second agreed that we be represented in the South West Bethel Association by letter and messengers. Adjourned, til 3rd Sunday. 3rd Sunday (Aug.) the church met and the letter to the association being ready was read in the church and adopted.

Sept. Sat. before 2nd Sunday in Sept. the church met for worship and the meeting continued from day to day the following week and during the meeting Bro. Joseph Yates and Sister Luisa Yates Was rec’d by relation and Bro. John Cameron and Sisters Martha Ann Cameron was rec’d by restoration and Sister Molly Murly, Rebecca Pruitt, Lotta Yates, and Mary Jane Pruitt and Bros. Solomon Yates, Frank Stokes, and Wm. Woodward was rec’d by Baptism, being baptised at the closse of the meeting. (minutes taken by Milford Hopper).

July 1883: Sat. before 2nd Sunday in July 1883. The church met and after worship the church proceeded to business and taking up the case against Sister Spense—so the report of the, committee was heard; they -stated they had visited Sister Spense and she refused to give satisfaction, re-

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port of committy received and comitty discharged.

2nd. on motion and second we agreed to withdraw from Sister Spense for w a n t of church fellowship.

3rd. Charge preferred against Bro. James Mosure for swaring. A commity was appointed to wait on Bro. Mosure and invite him to meet with us at our next regular meeting. Howard Pruitt and Thomas A. Watson, Commity.

4th. Whereas Bro. George Layton and Jane Covey, and Lucy Covy had joined the Christian order wherefore we withdraw from them for want of church fellowship. Motion to adjourn.

Aug. Sat. before 2nd Sunday in August, 1883. Church met and after worship proceeded to business and agreed to open the conference and continue the meetings for the week. On Sunday Bro. L. J. Burner was rec’d in the church by letter, Bro. John Laws and Lotty Laws and Sister Doll was received as candidates for baptism. 2nd Monday Jasper Hopper, and Margot Hopper and Viola Hopper, Kie Laws Was rec’d as candidates for baptism. 3rd. Bro. Samuel Laws and Elzada Laws, Joseph Par-ton, John Woodward was rec’d as candidates for baptism. Sister Mary Parks and A. Parks, George Layton was rec’d by relation. 4th. Wednesday Bro. F. B. Lanksford and W. S. Smith and Sister Smith was rec’d as candidates for baptism. 5th. On Thursday Bro. Thomas Coffelt was received by relation, John H. Fisher as candidate for baptism. 6th Friday Sister Mary Coffelt, Margot Coker, Louisa Watts, Nancy Coker, S.W. Colbert was received as candidates for baptism. Robert Coker received for baptism. Friday after worship Church held conference and second agreed

that we as the Mincy Church be represented in the Association this year 1883.

By letter and messengers. Bro. E. Jackson, Harrison Pruitt, Marion Hopper were appointed as messengers. Friday night Sister Della Bedingfield, James Pruitt, Andrew J. Pruitt, Abner Layton was rec’d as candidates for baptism and F.W. Doll,W. (Likens) by relation. 7th Saturday, Bro. William Davis, Wesley Woodard, James H. Parton, Leander Hopper, William Laws, Henry Sims as candidates for baptism a n d Sister Melsena Davis, Henrietta Laws, by letter and Mary E. Layton by relation. 8th Sunday after worship the above were all baptised except Louisa Watts—by our pastor, W. W. Vise, and Sister Memory Brittain and Hissine Hill was rec’d by relation. Sunday night, William Safford and Emma Turner was received for baptism. And Monday night Bro. Milton

P. Brittain, Nancy Britton (or Brittain) was rec’d by relation.

Sept. 1883 1st Saturday before second Sunday in Sept. Church met and after worship proceeded to take up the refference of last meeting—minutes was read and rec’d. Case against James Mosure was taken up. James Mosure was excluded for misbehavior and bad language on motion and second. Adjourned until regular meeting in Oct. Sat. before the 2nd Sunday in October. Church met and after worship called to order for business. Peace of the church called for. Church in peace. Bro. J. H. Pruitt was elected clerk of the church. Sat before 2nd Sunday in November and after worship called to order for business. Peace of the church called for. Church found in peace. On motion and second adjourned.

Dec. Sat. before 2nd Sunday in Dec. Church met and after worship church called to order

for business. Peace of church called for church not in peace. Difference between Bro. Jackson and Bro. Brittain (Britton), Frank, and A. White, comitty to wait on the partys—Brother Lankston was chosin assistant to Bro. White.

Jan. Sat. before second Sunday in Jan. 1884 church met and after worship called to order for business. Report rec’d. Commity discharged. The differences were all settled. Church in peace, on motion and second church agreed to commense four times a year and wash feet. Church adjourned on motion and second.

Feb. 1884. Church met on Saturday before the second Sunday in February 1884. And after worship invitation given for reception of members. John Wilson joined by experience of Grace Church called in order for business, minutes called for and read and rec’d with amendments. Church in peace on motion and second adjourned.

March 1884. Sat, before the second Sunday March 1884. The Baptist Church of Christ at Mincy Valley met and after Divine Services was called to order by Moderator Wm. W. Vice and proceeded to business. Invitation given for reception of members then General Business. Peace of the church for. Church claimed to be at peace.

2. New business. Brother Howard Pruitt tenders his resignation as clerk of the church. After which on motion and second Brother T. B. Lankford was unanimously elected clerk of the church. 3. Miscellaneous business: None.

Continued in Summer Issue

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