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A History of Bethel United Methodist Church [part 2 of 2]

 

On November 5, 1850, George Pegram deeded land into Bethel trustees: Robert Dwiggins, Samuel Lowery, John Pegram, Sr., Thomas W. Pegram, Humprey McKinney, John B. Dwiggins and Hubert Peebles to build a house for worship for the benefit of members of the Methodist Protestant church. I believe this was the old church that stood at Miss Minnie Pearman's. In 1860, Nancy Pegram deeded land for a school.

August 28, 1898 William N. Pegram, and wife, Dorothy Pegram deeded land in line of church lot and public school to trustees of Bethel Methodist Protestant Church for love of the cause of Christ and respect of the dead for burial purpose.

On October 5, 1905 Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Pegram and Mr. Henry Vass deeded land for Bethel School and the school was moved from the Church to where A. W. Brown lives now.

On April 7, 1906 William N. Pegram bought the land which runs west of Bethel Church for $40.50 from the Board of Education  and gave the school site to the Church.

QUARTERLY CONFERENCE MINUTES
AND OTHER RECORDS

The information given in following reports was compiled from excerpts taken from official minutes of Quarterly Conference and other records.

In 1892 the first Quarterly Conference of Flat Rock Circuit convened at Bethel. The pastor was Rev. C. A. Cecil; the District Superintendent was Rev. W. A. Bunch; and the Secretary was Rev. J. R. Dwiggins.

The charge consists of seven churches: Flat Rock, Bethel, Oak Ridge, Kernersville, Pine Grove, Palestine, and Forest Chapel. The pastor's salary was set at $500.00 per year. The president's salary was set at $45.00. Bethel's pastor salary was $80.00.

Each Board member's character had to be approved by an examining board and the board was also required to make a report to Quarterly Conference any misconduct of members.

In 1894 Bethel representatives were N. W. Gordon, W. N. Pegram, Jesse Stigall, D. B. Dwiggins, N. T. Pegram,    W. J. Pegram, J. W. Stone, J. R. Dwiggins. At this Quarterly Meeting, a memorial of Ashley Dwiggins was sent to the Baltimore Protestant for publication. The pastor's salary was increased to $700.00. In 1895 all churches on the charge started Sunday School except Palestine. Enrollment at Bethel in Sunday School was sixty-seven members.

The Sunday School enrollment at Bethel in 1895 included:

Male:

Female:

J. Stone, Supt. Dorothy Pegram, Teacher
W. N. Pegram, Teacher Nannie Fuller Carry Pegram
A. W. Jones, Secretarv Julia Preddy Sallie Pegram
A. W. Pegram, Treasurer Altie Brlttain Ida Dean
J. G. Stigall Martha Anthony Ella Preddy
Tomas Fuller Mary Pegram Nellie Huffines
F. M. Pegram Polly Self Mollie Stone
W. J. Jones Lou Self Sallie Holbrook
W. S. Jones Della Pegram Essa Pegram
A. A. Jones Mattie Anthony Sallie Neugant
Huston Jones Claudia Pegram
W. A. Dye Nannie Pegram
Arvil Pagram Caroline Pegram
W. E. Stone Navy Preddy
Gordie Anthony Lilly Stigal]
Albert Anthony Gertrude Stigall
Clyde Pegram Maggie Preddy
Virgil Pegram Sarah Stigall
E. W. Jones Minnie Huffines
Early Pegram Pearl Ham
N. T. Pegram Ora Jones
S. F. Jones Nannie Pope
R. R. Jones Ida Huffines
J. M. Stiga]l M. E. Dwiggins
Frank Jones Lettie Gordon
J. R. Dwiggins Rosy Pegram
L. Huffines Flossy Pegram
D. S. Holleyworth Mollie Pegram
Arthur Ham Addie Jones
      

In 1896 F. M. Pegram became Sunday School Superintendent. In 1897 Quarterly Conference decreased pastor's salary to $565.00.  In 1900 it was decided to divide the charge to Flat Rock Circuit and Oak Ridge Circuit.  Flat Rock Circuit consisted of Bethel, Flat Rock, Palestine, and Gideon's Grove.  The pastor's salary was to be $400.00.

In 1903, Mr. J. B. Ogburn and Mr. J. R. Dwiggins were appointed to buy a house for the parsonage from Mr. W. B. Gentry.  They bought it for $700.00.  A corn crib and buggy shed were built in 1907 for $17.00.

Pastor's report of 1903 states "Sister Julina Williams, one of Flat Rocks oldest members has recently passed away.  She was a good woman and died in her faith.  This seems to be the first time woman was recognized.  She was Mrs. H. B. Pearman's grandmother.

The pastor states plans were being made to build a new church at Bethel.  This is to be made of brick size 36 by 50 feet. The Quarterly Conference of 1906 resolved and passed that all official board members who did not appear at quarterly conferences must have a good written excuse or they would be taken off the board by the Character Examining Board..

The motion was made and passed that all colored people use their own cemeteries as burying ground and not use the cemeteries of our churches on circuit.  Dick Weathers was the last colored man buried at Bethel in 1932 by special permit of the Church.

In 1907 Bethel built a new church.  Mr. Neecy Gordon and Mr. Oliver Pegram were builders by help of church members.  The rocks for the steps came out of a branch. Mrs. Curtis Jones says she remembers her daddy bringing them to church on the wagon.  At this time the bell was also bought for the church.

They had a lot of foresight when they built this house of worship for it is our present church but has been remodeled until it looks like s new church today.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Case donated land in 1915 to Bethel Church. Property of Bethel Church was valved at $3,000. In 1917 Rev. J. R. Hulton was elected as pastor of the charge. In 1919 the pastor's salary increased to $1,000. In 1922 Bethel reported to conference that they had painted the church roof which cost $46.49.

I came to Bethel Community in 1922 and remember Rev. J. R. Hulton saying in his sermon that a man who would not pray was worse than an old hound dog -- even an old dog knew to look up and beg for a piece of bread then wag his tail in appreciation.

In 1923 the pastor's salary was increased to $1,219.50. In 1925 Bethel painted the church. In 1926 carpet for the floor cost $85.00. In 1927 the Delco plant bought for Bethel cost $325.00. In 1931 cedar trees sold off the cemetery brought in $75.00. In 1937 electric lights were installed for $21.00 and the inside of the church was painted for $75.00. In 1942 Troy Pegram received local preacher's license. He preached at Bethany one Sunday a month for five years. In February, 1957 the addition of Sunday School rooms was started. An architect from Duke helped with the plans. In February we voted whether to brick the church. Two voted for and thirteen against. Troy Pegram pledged $500.00 to brick the church and challenged other church members to follow. Meeting the challenge were Mr. Broadus Pearman with $500.00; Mr. H. A. Pope, $50.00; and Mr. Charlie Pope, $50.00. It was then decided to brick the church. The Woman's Society of Christian Service solicited members and families agreed to buy memorial windows. The Charlie Pope family bought the picture window of Christ.

At this time, the church was plastered; a new ceiling put in; new floors were given by Pink and Clara Dwiggins; New pews were bought by families of the church; new pulpit furniture, altar rail and piano were purchased. Windows were $125 each and pews $97.50 each, and the piano was $800.

At a dinner meeting in April 1961, the Young Married Class elected a committee to make plans for fellowship hall. In June 1961 a building committee was elected by the church with Wade Apple and Tom Lee as co-chairmen. Other members were: H. B. Pearman, Sr., Wayne Jones, Vance Dwiggins, Luther Combs, Hugh Beeson and W. E. Bailey. Cost of building was $18,500 besides the labor given by members.

A second hand stove and refrigerator were given by Mrs. Tom Beeson and Mrs. Ellen Bailes.

Women Society by help of other members carpeted the church. The Fish Fryers bought a new stove and refrigerator for fellowship hall; carpeted the Sunday School rooms; and bought new tables and chairs for the class rooms.

How many souls have been converted? We used to average around fifteen to twenty per year. Have we put too much stress on tbings instead of a new life in Christ? John Wesley insisted his followers keep a diary for the benefit of the soul; to help them to live Christ like; and to correct the mistakes of the day.

A sermon I came across in this research. "Christ I know, Paul I know, but who are you? What have you done for Christ?"


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