Bethlehem Baptist Church 1887-1888

Samuel G. Medley, Baptist Pastor

These are from the Bethlehem Baptist Church near Grubville, Mo. There are many missing pages, but this time I didn't photograph them all. My camera battery was getting weak, so I didn't photograph pages that basically said, "We had no business and the meeting was adjourned." But there were some pages missing too.

Dec. 1886 ". . .who should constitute the presbytery. Bros. Steel, Cox, McKay and Frazier were named and clerk ordered to write to the brethern. . ."[George Steel and J.R.Cox---not sure which McKay nor Frazier]
Jan. 8, 1887 ". . .Deacon L. H. Lee offered his resignation as deacon of the church as he was getting old, could not hear [he was 74 years old]. The church requested him to remain as deacon which he consented to do. The church appointed a committee to visit Deacon Brown and ascertain the cause of his staying away from church and request him to come to church the next meeting. The committee Bros. S. Medley, Edsell, and Robert McKay. Bro. S.S. Bittick and his wife was granted letters of dismission from the church." [Jacob Edsell or James Edsell]
April 14, 1887 ". . .the committee made a report and brother Joseph Brown excluded from the fellowship of the church by request. . . Bro. Wm. Alwood was chosen deacon. . . Elder Wm. McKay and Bro. Short was chosen to assist in ordination. . ." Joseph Brown later became re-instated because he's mentioned in the minutes for Sept. 1888.
July 15, 1887 ". . .The church proceeded to ballot for delegates which resulted in choice of Bros. John T. Lee, Wm. Elvoid and Price McKay. Bro. David Perkins and Sister Connie [Kansas] Perkins applied for letter. There being a charge against Br. David, the church could not grant him a letter. On motion the church granted Sister Connie letter of dismissal."

Cintha Beeler, wife of Green Herrington

May 12, 1888 ". . .Preaching by Bro. Medley [Samuel G. Medley]. . . in the case of Bro. Lester Henry. . .the committee made their report. . . and he excluded from the fellowship of the church. A charge was preferred against Sister Henry for denying the faith. A committee appointed to visit her. . . the Church authorized the Clerk to mark out the name of Green Herrington. . .J.R. Cox moderator J. L. Perkins, clerk."

Bethlehem Records 1882-1885

Jane Elizabeth McCulloch Pounds, first wife of Isaac Evans Pounds
p. 55 Nov. 11, 1882 ". . .the church agreed to pay the pastor fifty dollars to labor as pastor for one year. The church gave Brother Pierce the right hand of fellowship greeting him as pastor. The church re-elected Bro. John T. Lee [son of Margaret Julia Graham and Lewis Harrison Lee] as treasurer for the ensuing year. .." John S. McKay, Clerk Elder N. M. Pierce, moderator.
Jan. 13, 1884 ". . .the abstract of names from the church book as corrected was presented. . .committee discharged. . .Stephen Pounds not present. . .new one appointed to report a February meeting. Bro. Silas Pounds [brother of Stephen Pounds]. . .Judson Pounds and James Thompson. . ." Sadly, there are pages missing.July 1885 ". . .Bro. Price McKay, the clerk was appointed to write the letter of greeting to the association. . .appointment of brothers John Lee [Margaret Julia Graham's grandson?], J. Price McKay and John S. McKay [delegate to Association]. . .the church agree to the ballot for pastor which resulted in the election of Bro. N. M. Pierce. . ."
Aug. 8, 1885 ". . .Bro. George Evans charged with dancing. . .a comitee appointed to cite him to the church com. John T. Lee, John S. McKay. Bro. August Marrah [sometimes written as Merrieu] charged with dancing. ..committee appointed to cite him. . .Joseph Brown [son of Mary Polly Graham] and Julius Valley [Julius Valle was the son of Caroline Tyrey]. Sister Emily Pilant charged with dancing. . .a committee appointed to cite her. . .Silas Pounds and Sister Frances Lee [daughter of John T. Lee?]. Ardell Dickey charged with dancing. . .com. appointed to cite her. . .John Lee Perkins and Sister Martha Bittick [daughter of Margaret Julia Graham]. ..a letter from George Steel requesting the church [assist]. . .J. Price McKay in going to school and also to bring his case before the association. S.S. Bittick appointed to take subscription and collect for that purpose. . .John S. McKay, Clerk Deacon L.H. Lee, moderator."

Bethlehem Baptist Minutes 1881

These records are from the Bethlehem Baptist Church near Grubville, Mo. The tombstone above, for James W. Thompson who died Feb. 21, 1890, is in the cemetery there. The membership records for this period, show the condition of some of these documents and why there are pages missing. Click here.
Feb. 12, 1881 ". . .Owing to a violent storm there was no meeting of the Church on Saturday nor any preaching on the Sabbath. . ." George Steel, Clerk [married to Margaret Julia Graham's granddaughter Mary Mildred Lee]
March 12, 1881 ". . . The Committee in the case of Bro. Wm. A. Jones made a report and was discharged. Bro. Jones having written a letter to the Church in which he acknowledges his faults and asks foregivenes, the church forgave him and the case was dismissed. Bro. Jones also applied for a letter of dismission which was granted. The case of Mary Patton was next taken up but as the sister was sick, the case was continued. The clerk George Steel tendered his resignation. . .Bro. Stephen Pounds [Lucinda Graham's brother-in-law] was unanimously elected. . .Bro. Wayne K. Deffenbach applied for a letter of dismission which was granted. . .Bro. George Steel applied to the church for license to preach which was granted. . . The case of Sister Margaret Leeper [daughter of Arah Graham and Giles Sidney Lee] having obtained a letter from the church and having united. . ."

continued: "with a church of another faith and order church while wishing and praying for Sister Leeper's prosperity is compelled to exclude her from fellowship. . ."

April 9, 1881 ". . .the case of Sister Mary Patton was taken up and a new committee consisting of Bro. Stephen Pounds and Sister Margaret and Ardell Carrow were appointed. . .charges of immoral conduct were preferred against Bro. Fred Weber, and Bros. J. P. Lollar, Theodore McKee and George Steel were appointed a committee to see Bro. Weber. . .Bro. [J.J.] Carrow, Treasurer made his report which showed that the Church has only paid Bro. McKay ten dollars of his salary for the current year."
May 7, 1881 ". . .The case of Sister Patton and Bro. Weber were continued there being no report from the committee of such a nature that the church could act upon them."
Aug. 1881 ". . .The committee on singing. . .recommended the Baptist Tune and Hymn Book and the Church add Lord Book on motion the Church ordered two dollars and fifty cent be raised and sent the delegates to the association. . .church instructed a letter of Recommendations for Br. Elder George Steel to presented to Brotherhood wherever his lot may be cast. . ."

Bethlehem Records 1880

Feb. 21, 1880 ". ..adjournment there being no Pastor nor a quorum present. . ." March 1880 ". ..the case of Missouri Wilhite was taken up and dispersed by excluding said sister from the fellowship. . .a committee of two be appointed to visit on Br. William Pounds and report at our next meeting in April. J. J. Carrow and Silas Pounds, committee. Also a committee of two be appointed to wait on Br. Robert Hunt and Br. Henry Hunt. . .committee Lester Henry and Augustus Graham. Sister Mary Wiley asks for a letter from Bethlehem Church."

April 17, 1880". . . Brother Wm. Pounds case taken up. . .said brother was excluded from the fellowship by request and swearing the case of Robert and Henry Hunt. . .committee failed to report. . .Mary Patton's case was continued until our next meeting."
October 9, 1880 ". ..No pastor being present Elder L. H. Lee. . .acting as moderator. Sister Martha Whitsett applied for a letter was granted. . ."

Nov. 14, 1880 ". . .After sermon by pastor from 2nd Cor. 10 ch. 4 verse the church proceeded to business. The case of Bro. Henry Hunt was taken up and after some discussion the brother was excluded the offense being dancing. . ."November cont.
"Brother Wm. Jones for conduct unbecoming a Christian and the clerk was appointed a committee to write Bro. Jones a letter asking him to meet with the church if possible and answer the charge or else give the church a satisfactory answer by letter

Elder L. H. Lee called the attention of the church to the fact that a letter written by Elder Wash. Stephens which appeared in the "Central Baptist" Oct. 30, 1880 contained many gross misrepresentations about our church and its action in regard to the erring members. After an informal discussion, during which the letter was read to the church, it was decided that it is beneath the dignity of Bethlehem Church to engage in a newspaper discussion. . ."

Bethlehem Baptist 1877-1879

These documents from Bethlehem Baptist Church in Grubville, Missouri were found in this house---it now holds hay and yes, that is open in the top story. It's a miracle that these documents are in as good of condition as they are. Some of the worst pages are featured in this posting.
Some of these documents have large chunks missing.
1877 ". . .Brother Martin Eoff came. . .and making some acknowledgment. . .church received him in full fellow. . ." The Financial Committee ". . .collected $42 and . . .lacking a small sum of having. . .and subsciption enough to pay off pastor salary. . .the name of Thomas Hudson was found. . .have the most votes without a special meeting being called. . .and the name of Thomas Hudson was. . .5 and objections on the grounds that he. . .a legal baptist menitster based on. . .report of the committee appointed. . . .St.Louis Association to invest. . .his standing as a minister . . ."
There was another page similar to this which I did not photographed because there were scribbles over it and it was written on as was this one: "This minutes done away with".
The page above mostly consists of names on a petition but I don't know what the petition was for:
------1, Bittick, Frost, George R. Frost, Wm. F. Lee, John M. Wilson, John F. Wilson, O. H. Lee (Oliver Henry Lee), Bonnie Wilson, George H. Frost, C.R. Lamar (Charles Robert Lamar), Jefferson Frost, Wm. Bazeale, Absalom Klump, C.H. Ramy, Newton Eoff, Daniel J. Henry, Huldah Frost, Adaline (Graham) Wilson, Emily Henry, Mary A. Wilson, Fannie Wilson, Josie Wilson, Euginie Klump, Mary E. Klump, C.M.Frost, Margaret Lee, Melvina C. Lee, Martha A. (Lee) Bittick, Amanda (Graham) Harbison, Nancy C. (Baker) Graham, Martha J. Lamar, Mahala J. Frost, Lucinda Frost.
'This foots up the minutes up to this date including the Petitioner request from Bethlehem Church done by order of the church now in session. . .next regular meeting March 1879."

March 1879 ". . .dispensed with Sister Sarah J. McKay. . .letter of dismission. . ."

Bethlehem Records 1876

P. 78 February 1876 ". . .as our pastor was proventially detained away from attending called Brother McKay occupied the stand and preached Saturday and Sabbath. . ."

There was no page 79---it was missing.
Page 80 "29th day of April 1876 a special meeting was called for the express purpose of getting a reconciliation between Elder Wm. McKay and Brother L. H. Lee (Lewis Harrison Lee). After some explanations were made and the erring party discussed the subject to some extent. . .giving each other the forgiving handshake. . ."

There was no page 81---it was missing.
P. 82 August 1876
Althought the church chose Elder William McKay, Brother Robert Wilson and O.D. Bittick (Oliver Delor Bittick who was married to Arabelle Lee and Martha Adaline Lee who were Margaret Julia Graham and Lewis Harrison Lee's daughter and granddaughter) to represent them at the Association meeting, Brother Wm. McKay asked the church for letters of dismission for him and his wife. Is this the same as Elder William McKay or is this someone else with the same name---his nephew with the same name would been just 17 years old. . .
Page 85---I'm not sure what this is---some sort of membership list: William McKay, Thomas Pearce, Lucy McCullock, Docy McFry, Jane Evans, Mildred Lee, Sarah Wideman, Malidy Wideman, Unity Evans, Martha Whitsell, Robert Wilson, Jessa Beeler (dismissed by letter)

Bethlehem Baptist minutes 1875

These minutes are from Bethlehem Baptist Church in Grubville, Mo. Double click on any of the documents to enlarge and read them. The stone above is for John P. Lollar who was the clerk for many years.p. 73 Feb. 1875 continued
The church "procede to ballot for a pastor to serve. . .ending Sept. 1875. . .the church agreed to pay Bro. Wm. McMurta six dollars per month. . .Certain vouchers agree to see Brother Mc paid for his services to wit Brothers A.P. McCulloch, J.J.Carrow, L.H. Lee, and C.K. Herrington, James M. Pounds on motion Church adjourned. . ."

April 1875
Brother George Steel brought a motion ". . .relative to having the list of names on the church book reconsidered and near as can be ascertained the number that has moved off and gone off, died and does not attend. . ."

p. 74 April 1875 continued: A committee was appointed: George Steel, George H. Frost and J. P. Lollar.

May 1875 This committee reported back on the membership list.
P. 75 July 1875: Brother A.P. McCulloch has been the treasurer of the church.
p. 76 August and September 1875
This discusses their preparing a letter for the Association Meeting.
P. 77 November 1875 H. Hensley has been selected as pastor ". . .for fifty dollars until the association in Oct. 1876. . ."