Church Records 1922-1923

Bethlehem Baptist Church is in the Dittmer, Grubville area of Jefferson County, Missouri.  Double click on any of the documents to enlarge them.

March 1922 "Bethlehem Baptist Church met in regular conference at 2 AM [PM?] on Sat. before the 4th Sunday in March.  After sermon by pastor, church came to order for business.  Minute read and approved.  Request from the Old Folks Home for eggs discussed.  Church decided to save the eggs Easter Sunday. .. E.J. Hamrick, Mod.; Myrtle McKay, church clerk"

April 1922 ". . .Clerk being absent, Mrs. W.R. McKay elected clerk pro tem. . . Clerk had statement on the April egg offering for "The Old Folks Home".  The offering amounted to $3.78. . . .E.J. Hamrick, mod' Mrs. W.R. McKay, clerk pro tem"

July 1922 ". . .James Adams, Mrs. Bertha Wilson and Myrtle McKay were elected as messengers [Jefferson County Baptist Association].  Howard Miller, Gladys Lee and John M. Wilson alternates.  Clerk ordered to prepare annual letter.  James Adams elected trustee in lieu of his father (now deceased). . . .E.J. Hamrick, moderator; Myrtle McKay, church clerk."

Aug. 26, 1922 ". . .Pastor being absent, Bro. James Adams was called to the chair as moderator. . . Bro. Geo. W. Harrison, Sister Vern Marsden, Sister Elizabeth McKay and Bro. Johnny McKay requested letters which were granted.  John M. Wilson elected trustee of church in lieu of J.L. Lee now deceased. . . "

Page 155 Oct. 1922 No business
Nov. 1922 ". . .Bro. Robert McKay received by letter from Oak Grove Baptist Church.  J. P., Myra, Ray and Robert McKay requested letters from Bethlehem to unite with West Park Baptist Church in St. Louis which was granted.. . EJ Hamrick, Mod; Myrtle McKay, C.C.

Page 158 July 1922 ". . .Motion and second that we elect messengers to seat in counsel with the Jefferson Co. Baptist Association.  Bro. John Wilson, Sister Bertha Wilson, Bro. James Adams were elected as messengers.  Alternates Charles Henry and Robert McKay. . . "

August 1922". . . The church elected Bro. E.J. Hamrick for the coming year. . . Bro. E.J.Hamrick, Mod; Annie McKay, Clerk Protem.

". . .Bethlehem Baptist Church was called to order.  Sister Elsie Manion called for letter which was granted. . . E.J. Hamrick, mod; Annie McKay, clerk"

Church Records 1919-1921

The above photo is from the Long Family Reunion in 1931.  The quality on this copy is not very good, but it has the benefit of everyone being identified. Double click to enlarge the photo.  Click here if you want to see the entire original photo.  Again this post has information about my great uncle Harry Bruns who is mentioned below.  He is on the crease on the right side of the photo just behind my grandfather Roy Long.

 July 12, 1919 ". . .The annual election of messengers to the association. Mrs. Bertha Wilson, Ray McKay, Myrtle McKay were elected as messengers.  Rev. J.P.McKay, Verda Wilson and H.A.Coleman (alternates).  . .pastor H.A. Coleman, church clerk Myrtle McKay.

 Page 141 August 1919 ". . . Church then proceeded to the business of calling a pastor for the coming year.  The church immediately called Rev. A. P. Hamrick.  Clerk had a communication from Mount Hermon Baptist requesting  Bethlehem Baptist Church to send the pastor and deacons to sit in the council at the ordination of Bro. Harry Bruns. . .pastor H.A. Coleman, c.c. Myrtle McKay"

 July 10, 1920 ". . . After devotional service led by Rev. J.P. McKay. . . .Church then proceeded to elect messengers to Jefferson County Baptist Association.  The following were chosen Ray McKay, James Adams, Bertha Wilson.  Alternates Myrtle McKay, Jennie Adams, Jennie Bittick. . .A.P. Hamrick, pastor; Myrtle McKay c.c.

Aug 7, 1920 ". ..church elected J.P. McKay as a member of district Missions Board for Bethlehem Baptist.  It being annual time for calling pastor (Bro. Asa [Hamrick] having decided he could not serve no longer) the church proceeded to call pastor which resulted in calling of Bro W.W. Hamilton. . .W.W. Hamilton, moderator; A.P. Hamrick, pastor; Myrtle McKay, clerk

Bro. Asa Hamrick began revival services Aug. 18, 1920.  Meeting continued until Sept. 14, 1920, 15 enlisted in the cause of Christ and united with the church.

Bro. Asa [Hamrick] organized a BYPU Nov. 28, 1920"

Oct. 9, 1920 ". . .Sister Cora Adir called for letter which was granted.  Church agreed to pay pastor twelve ($12.00) dollars per month. . .W.W. Hamilton, mod; Anna McKay, clerk"

January 8, 1921 ". . .Sisters Gertrude and Myrtle Williams received by letter. . . W.W. Hamilton, mod; Myrtle McKay, c.c."
 

Page 149 Feb. 12, 1921". ..two requests for letters (Mrs. Lizzy Johnson and Mrs. Felix Williams) which were granted.  The church invited the fifth Sunday meeting to meet with them in July.  Bro. Steel requested that we invited them as it was an an anniversary of his ordination. . . W.W. Hamilton, Mod; Myrtle McKay, C.C.

Marcy 1921 ". .. There not being enough members present Saturday afternoon to transact business, Bethlehem Baptist came to order for business after the eleven o'clock service. . .Bro. Newton Eoff called for letter which was granted.  Pastor then offered his resignation which was not acted on but to be decided later. . . W.W. Hamilton, Mod; Myrtle McKay, C.C.

Double-click on the photo (or any document) to enlarge.  The white bearded gentleman seated 4th from the right is George Steele mentioned in the above record.  To see the identities of others in the photo, click here.

Church Records 1914-1917

This photo is from the Jefferson County Baptist Association 60th Anniversary photo in 1913.  My great-aunt Katie Long Bruns is near the crease holding the baby.  Her husband, Harry Bruns (who is mentioned below) is the tall man kneeling to her left (he has a white spot on his head) For photos of more people who attended this event, click here. 

March 21, 1914 ". . .the clerk being absent, Bertha Wilson was elected Clerk ProTem. . ."I love that women are beginning to become officers even in 1914.

Page 123 "Jennie Gale Wilson was appointed assistant clerk. . . J. E. Short, Moderator, Jennie Gale Wilson, Assistant Clerk.
November, 1914 had no business
December, 1914 "No church on account of small pox"
January 9, 1915 had no business

Feb. 13, 1915  shows there is no business.
March 1915: "There was no church in March on account of small pox."

"We had no pastor for several months."

June, 1916 "Bethlehem church was called to order for business by Bro. J.P. McKay before funeral of Mr. John Brown.  Bro. Roy Perkins request for a letter to go to Brush Creek Baptist church was granted.  The clerk was ordered to write said letter.  there being no other business the church adjourned.  Rev. J P McKay, moderator; Jennie Gale Wilson, C.C.

Page 127 August 5, 1916
". . .after reading services by Rev. J.P. McKay, the church was called to order for business.  Rev. Newton Eoff was elected moderator.  Mrs. Margaret Lees request for a letter was granted. A letter received by the clerk from Lexington Junction Baptist Church was read before the church asking for help building a church.  #1.35 was collected for the purpose.  The clerk was ordered to send this amount to them.  Messengers were elected by the church to be sent to the association:  J.P.McKay, George Harrison and Jennie Bittick were those elected.  Ray McKay and L.P. Williams were elected alternates.  $1.50 was collected as minute money.  The clerk was ordered to write the letter to be sent to the association.  Rev. George Steele was elected pastor for the coming year provided he could serve us.  J.P. McKay was appointed the one to write Bro. Steele asking him if he could preach for us.  The church then adjorned and was dismissed by J.P. Mc Kay.  Newton Eoff, moderator, Jennie Gale , CC.

May 12, 1917 ". . . Mrs. Lillie Wilson's request for a letter was granted. . .J.P. McKay, Moderator; Mrs. J. N. Adams CC

October, 1917 ". . .Pastor beaing absent, Bro. Harry Bruns supplied. . .our pastor Rev. J. P. McKay sent in his resignation (he resigning to accept call elsewhere. . .the church clerk Mrs. J.N. Adams also resigned. . . Harry Bruns, Moderator.

Page 134 November 10, 1917
". . .There being no pastor, Bro. Harry Burns supplied. . . .Clerk being absent, church appointed Mrs. W.R. McKay clerk pro tem.  church then decided to call pastor.  Which resulted in calling Bro. H.A. Coleman. . ."

Church Records 1912-1913

The photo above is from a very large photo of the Jefferson County Baptist Association which met at Bethlehem Baptist in 1913. Click here to see the photo close up with a few of the people identified.  If you recognize anyone else, please contact me or leave a comment.

March 10, 1912 ". . .our pastor read for the lesson a part of the 8th chapter of John after services. . .the case of J.L. Dickey was taken up and discussed.  The church decided instead of publishing J.L.D. (he being excluded from the church) to demand his credentials and ordered clerk to attend to same. . .J.P.McKay, moderator; Geo. Harrison, clerk

April 13, 1912 ". . .the clerk was granted more time to secure J.L. Dickey's credentials. . ."

July 1912 " . . .Sister (Anna Perkins) A. H. Coleman called for letter which was granted.  Sister Amanda [Reiter] Ingalls called for letter and was granted. ..next regular conference, messengers elected Roy Perkins, George Harrison, Verna Harrison.  J.P.McKay, mod; Geo Harrison C.C."

110 Aug. 10. 1912 ". . .Clerk ordered to write J. L. Dickey to return credentials to church.  Mrs. Ellen Owen called for letter which was granted.  The church then proceeded to elect a pastor for the ensuing year which resulted in the election of Bro. Roy Perkins. . ."

". . . Bro. N. Eoff serve as moderator and J. W. Bittick clerk pro tem.  1st the church proceeded to elect a pastor which resulted in the unanimous vote for Bro. J. P. McKay to serve the remainder of the year. 2nd the time of business meeting was changed Sat. before second Sunday to Sat. before the 4th Sunday. . ."

114 April 27, 1913 ". . ."at their request Mr. and Mrs. Phenty [Annie Reiter] and Mrs. Millie Belew were granted letters of dismission to unite with the DeSoto Baptist Church.  After discussing some needed improvements on the church building, the church adjourned. . ."

Nov. 22, 1913". . .the church call a Presbytery namely Bro. J.B. Emmons, E.E. Howe, J.E. Short, Wm Alvoid, Newton Eoff, J. P. McKay, A H Blake, Fred Gasche and Dan Henry for the purpose of ordaining Bro. Roy Perkins . . ."

118 Nov. 30, 1913 ". . .the council composed of the following named Brethren E.E. Howe, Newton Eoff and J.P. McKay, Deacons J. Adams and Dan Henry.  Just before the preaching said council met and organized for the purpose of examining Bro. Roy Perkins to the work of the Gospel.  E.E. Howe was chosen to preach ordination sermon and led in examination of the candidate.  Newton Eoff read charge to candidate and JP McKay led the ordaining prayer.  Mrs. Mary Huskey called for letter from the Bethlehem Church to unite with some other church of the same faith and order which was granted.. . "