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s to North Carolina State Library Raleigh E2 Presented by B B B 1 B B B B B E3 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/churchofmessiah100geor THE CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH EPISCOPAL LAWRENCE AND GREENE STREETS ROCKINGHAM, NORTH CAROLINA " A HISTORICAL SKETCH 1900- 1975 THE REVEREND ROLAND J. WHITMIRE, JR. RECTOR Picture of the Altar of the Church of the Messiah . ^Jke L^hurch Lsf Jvie IV e65ia 1900 - 1975 A sketch of the work of dedicated Episcopalians in Rockingham, North Carolina, during both the Mission and Parish Periods. Compiled By George Z. Alden 1975 Rockingham, North Carolina • i— i o O 6 o +-> o : <JjediLcaluiton This Sketch is dedicated to all those members of the Episcopal Church who worshiped in Rockingham without a regular church; all who had a Dream of years to come, and those who made the Dream come true; and all those who labor now in the Service of the Master. op m > o • I— I a; c3 CO u o o •l-M SOURCE MATERIAL To do justice to the history of a church, one must search in many places for clues. What is more complicated, with all its ramifications and overlapping of powers than the govern-ment and protocol of the Protestant Episcopal Church as it exists in the United States of America? Of the reputed 3,400,000 Episcopalians in this country, the members of the Church of the Messiah of Rockingham, North Carolina, have, from time to time, participated in most of the phases of the over-all episcopal process. Who were they? Where are they? Who was born, baptized, confirmed? Who played his part as an actual member in our local church? Who laughed, sang, played the organ, came to church in weather foul or fair? Who served as acolytes? In Sunday Schools? Who gave gener-ously of his knowledge, time, wealth and influence? His penny, his simple faith, his love of beauty, of friendship? Who ar-ranged the flowers, beautified the buildings, cared for the linens, hosted parties, prepared endless dishes for covered suppers? Who fathered and mothered the children needed to perpetuate the members of the church? Who attended the funerals and bade farewell to our parishional brothers in Christ? Much of the personal history in this sketch has been selected from a medley of facts found in the Isaac London Scraphook. As editor of the Post-Dispatch for nearly half a cen-tury, and likewise an Episcopalian who, over the years, served in many responsible capacities, Mr. London knew and recorded information long since forgotten by most citizens of the com-munity. In the February 11, 1932 issue of his newspaper, he made this prophetic statement in his resume of church history up to the celebration of the Rev. Mr. Hartzell's Tenth Anniver-sary as rector of the Church of the Messiah: ", . . in this sketch and history, the Post-Dispatch is thinking not so much of the present, but looking to the future. We can well imagine the interest any one 25 or 50 years from now (43) might have in looking back to and reading this copy. And we urge many of you to file this issue for future reference." Some facts were obtained from the Vestry Minutes of recent years. Some from the Church Register. The church bul-letins were most helpful pertaining to events of the last twenty-five years, bearing various titles. Sketches of various church parishes were scanned. Some church histories by authors of note. The Diocesan Journal was a 'must' in checking dates of bishops and rectors. The Rev. Mr. Whitmire was most cooperative in making Church records available. September, 1975 -jromword When I asked Zack Alden to undertake the task of writing a Parish history, we both knew it would be a difficult job, primarily because there seemed to be so little material available except the Parish records, which begin with 1917, and the historical sketches done by Isaac London. Then we began to look everywhere and ask questions of those who could re-member "back when". We wrote the Historiographer of the Diocese, found stacks of old bulletins, financial records and Vestry minutes, and obtained histories of St. Paul's Church, Monroe and Calvary Church, Wadesboro (where many of our early clergy served). With these, plus the Parish records and Mr. London's invaluable writings, Zack plunged into the time consuming task of carefully reading even-thing, searching for our history. Obviously, all could not be recorded, but what we have here is a fine blend of historical facts about this Parish, the Diocese of North Carolina and the National Church, stories of the people who labored for Christ here in Rockingham (which helps us to know them as persons) , and even some Church doctrine. It is a delightful little book, due to the writing skill and willingness to take the time to do it right by Mr. Alden. We will be eternally indebted to him for this labor of love. The two of us agree that in the process of writing her history and meeting her people we fell in love with "the grand old lady on the hill", and we know as you read this book, if you have not already done so, you will too. Roland J. Whitmire, Jr., Rector Church of the Messiah ^JabiG of Contents Page (Picture of the Altar) Opposite p. 1 Title Page -— 1 (Picture of the Choir) 2 Dedication . 3 (Picture of the Church of the Messiah — 1963) Source Materia! .—— — ._— . 4 Foreword -_~ 5 Prologue . ._ ._ . 7 Diocese of North Carolina and Chronology of Bishops 9 Mission Clergy __._ __" . , . 10 The Church of the Messiah — 1900-1975 13 The Parish Church — 1924-1975 19 (Picture of the Church of the Messiah — 1932) Opposite p. 19 Postscript ,.______ . . . . 72 The Appendix,; In Memoriam ___.=-,_"_______ __""___" 73 Memorials —._ . .__ . 75 Organists of the Church ___________________ 80 Rectors of the Church of the Messiah _. .— 81 Copy of the Church Deed - ___"____ 82 Of Places of Worship "__.-___"____"__ 83 The Vestry — 1975 — "___"__ 85 I^mlo9ne DIOCESE OF NORTH CAROLINA (Chronology) Colonial Background of the Church Almost a century before the first clergyman arrived in the North Carolina Colony (1700), English emigrants had ar-rived in Virginia, accompanied by their chaplain, the Reverend Robert Hunt (1607), and founded Jamestown. In 1611, Captain John Smith described the Church as follows: "We hung a sail to four old trees. This was our Church until we built a homely thing like a barn. Yet we had daily common Prayer, morning and evening; every Sunday two ser-mons; and every three months, the Holy Communion." Robert Hunt died shortly after the settlement and was replaced by Alexander Whitaker. He received a tract of land of one hundred acres, together with a fixed salary, generally paid in tobacco. The Colony was considered until the Revolution of 1776 as a missionary district of the Diocese of London. While other religious groups were tolerated in Virginia, they had no politi-cal rights. The Vestry was an influential force in the early life of the Church of Virginia, and the clergy, in fact, were com-pletely at their mercy. (The Colony had become a hiding place for many second-class clergy, quite unessential in England, and here in the Colonies were far from spiritual models for their parishioners. Because of increasing political tension between the mother country and the Colonies, by 1760, the Church which represented the Crown and its authority was certain to suffer in its influence. For forty years after the grant of Carolina to the eight Lord Proprietors (1663) by Charles II, practically nothing hap-pened church wise. Quakers were the dominant religious sect in the Colony. Colonial-governor Hennison Walker (1699) was instrumen-tal in causing the Colonial Assembly to pass the first Vestry 7 Act, providing for election and organization of Vestries, for the establishment of parishes, building of churches, and for a poll tax for the support of Clergy. The first Anglican clergyman came to the North Carolina Colony in 1700, and remained six months. However, "We were heartened by the news (1700) that English churchmen had formed a missionary organization called the 'Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG).' Reverend John Blair was sent as missionary in the North Carolina Colony (1704)." "None of us can ever forget Trinity Sunday (1706) when the Reverend Richard Marsden celebrated the first Holy Com-munion recorded in North Carolina and baptized forty-five per-sons. We cannot forget that thirty-three of the forty-six Anglican clergymen who have served us since 1701 have been sent by the SPG. We are proud that seven native sons of the Colony have made the arduous voyage to England to be ordained. Church work was confined to the coastal counties until 1740, when chapels and churches were built in Williamsboro, Hillsboro, Orange County and as far West as Salisbury. "With great enthusiasm, we report that efforts of Gov-ernor William Tryon, are bearing fruit in the work of the church here in the colony. We are hampered by the fact that we have no bishop to provide for us, and that our young cannot be con-firmed. It is perhaps within the ranks of the clergymen them-selves that the need for 'godly counsel and supervision' of the Bishop is most sorely felt. We now have 18 resident Clergymen in the colony, who were either ordained prior to their arrival or have gone to England for the laying on of hands. In this year of our Lord, 1765, we can report progress from the Colony of North Carolina." (Based on report prepared by "Committee on Religious Activities: The Carolina Charter Tercentenary Commission.") DIOCESE OF NORTH CAROLINA (Chronology) 1776 — North Carolina Constitution adopted. Disestab-lishment of the Church of England, parent of the American Protestant Episcopal Church. 1790 — First Convention of clergy and laity of the Epis-copal Church in North Carolina. 1794 — Election of the Reverend Charles Pettigrew as Bishop. (Never Consecrated.) 1817 — Diocese of North Carolina organized in Newbern, North Carolina. For several years under the direction of the Rt. Reverend Richard Channing Moore, Bishop of Virginia. 1823 — The Reverend John Ravenscroft elected Bishop. 1830 — Bishop Ravenscroft died. 1831 — The Reverend Levi Ives elected Bishop. 1853 — Bishop Ives resigned. The Reverend Thomas At-kinson elected Bishop. 1873 — The Reverend Theodore Benedict Lyman elected Assistant Bishop. 1881 — Bishop Atkinson died. 1893 — Bishop Lyman died. The Reverend Joseph Blount Cheshire succeeded as Bishop. 1894 — Journal of the Diocese of North Carolina, page 88 : (from the records of the Rt. Reverend Joseph Blount Cheshire, D.D., Bishop) "The third Sunday after Easter, April 15th (1894), in the Presbyterian Church in Rockingham, kindly offered for the service, I said Morning Prayer, preached, and administered the Holy Communion. In the afternoon I said Evening Prayer, and baptized an infant."l 1895-1901: Journals of the Diocese: Constant references to the fact that Bishop Cheshire made annual visitations at Rockingham. 2 1901 — Journal for the Convention, page 61 : (from the records of the Bishop) "October 14, the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity: Conse-crated 'The Church of the Messiah', Rockingham, assisted by the Reverend Messrs. Fetter, Green, Parkman, and Archdeacon Osborne; preached, and administered the Holy Communion. "In the same church, in the afternoon, confirmed two persons." 3 1918 — Reverend Henry Beard Delany elected Suffragan Bishop for work with Negroes. 1922 — Reverend Edwin A. Penick elected Bishop Co- 9 adjutor. 1932 — Bishop Cheshire died. Succeeded by the Rever-end Edwin Anderson Penick, D.D. 1950 — The Reverend Richard Henry Baker elected Bishop Coadjutor. 1. Reference furnished by Dr. Lawrence F. London, Historio-grapher of the Diocese of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 2. Ibid. 3. Ibid. 1959 — Bishop Penick died. The Penick Memorial Home for the elderly in Southern Pines is a noble tribute to this Ser-vant of the Lord. 1960 — The Reverend Thomas A. Fraser elected Bishop Coadjutor. 1966 — Bishop Baker retired. The Rt. Reverend Thomas A. Fraser succeeded Bishop Baker. 1967 — The Reverend Moultrie Moore elected Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. MISSION CLERGY Although Rockingham was incorporated as a township in 1784, no records seem to be available about any Episcopalians who might have lived in this area for nearly three quarters of a century afterward. However, when we come to the Episco-pate of the Rt. Reverend Thomas Atkinson, we begin to find references in the Journals of the Diocese of North Carolina of visitations to this area by the clergy to administer to the spiritual needs of a few members of the Church. The Bishop was the administrator of the Diocese from 1853 to 1881. Furthermore, he took refuge in Wadesboro during the Civil War and was probably the only available clergyman left in the district to carry on the work of the Church. As already mentioned, during the early years of the Church in Rockingham, both as an unorganized Mission and an organized Mission, the majority of rectors who served the people came as missionary priests from the Parish of Calvary Episcopal Church in Wadesboro, or from St. Paul's in Monroe. When no rector was assigned to this district, the Rev. Edwin A. Osborne, Archdeacon of the Convocation in Charlotte, usually supplied. Rev. Edwin Augustus Osborne: May 6, 1837 - October 12, 1926 (Served in Rockingham, 1907-1913-1914) Had long and fruitful life as a priest of the Church. Born in Laurence County, Alabama, May 6, 1837. Was a Cap- 10 tain in the Confederate Army in 1861; a Colonel of the Fourth N. C. Regiment. Distinguished Officer. Later, admitted to the bar. Served as Clerk of Superior Court for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, for nine years before entering the ministry. Serv-ed with zeal and integrity as missionary rector. Then as assist-ant to Bishop Cheshire at St. Peter's in Charlotte as an Arch-deacon. Supplied at many churches in his advanced years of retirement. At the Rev. Osborne's death in 1926, Bishop Cheshire remarked, ". . . he seemed the most perfect exemplification of Christian character I have ever known." Rev. A. H. Boyle: Rector of Calvary Church, Wadesboro, 1877- 1880. (Mission rector in Rockingham. At the 64th Diocesan Conven-tion recommended that the services be maintained in Rocking-ham.) Rev. Mr. Boyle came to North Carolina to fill the va-cancy at Calvary in Wadesboro, and to serve St. Paul's in Mon-roe, a mission church at the time, 1877. He came from the Dio-cese of Central Pennsylvania. Said to be a man "of unusual mentality, an accomplished linguist, and a fine preacher." His salary was $100.00 per year. Rev. Francis William Hilliard: July 18, 1832-Died Cir. 1910. (Served the unorganized mission in Rockingham from 1893 to 1895) Graduated from Harvard College in 1852. Came to North Caro-lina as tutor to wealthy children near Edenton. After ordina-tion, served in Plymouth and in Chapel Hill. Became Chaplain to the Southern Army during the Civil War. Served parishes in New York, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, and Maryland. In his late years, he founded a school for Young Ladies in Oxford, North Carolina. Rev. Charles Fetter: August 6, 1845-September 26, 1908. (Mission rector to Rockingham from Wadesboro. Twice Rector there; likewise serving the Church of the Messiah: 1896-1900; 1908-year of death.) Born at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Taught in North Carolina and Virginia. Ordained deacon by Bishop Cheshire in St. An-drews, Greensboro, North Carolina, 1893. Ordained priest by the Bishop in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Raleigh, 1895. Served several churches in North Carolina, before moving to Kentucky, then to Southern Virginia. Returned to Calvary Church in Wadesboro in 1908. Died the same year and was buried there. Greatly beloved by his parishoners. Rev. James Luther Martin: Rector at Monroe from 1905 to 1906. Went from St. Paul's to Calvary, Wadesboro: 1906 to 1907. Came from Maryland. Splendid organizer. Good priest. (Served as visiting rector at the Church of the Messiah in Rock- 11 ingham for over two years. Moved on to supply at other par ishes.) Rev. Richard R. Phelps: Rector at St. Paul's, Monroe, 1906-1908. (Served as visiting rector at the Church of the Messiah, replacing Rev. James Martin.) Rector from August 1906 to January 1908. Moved to Henderson - ville, North Carolina. Traveled to his mission appointments via motorcycle rather than by horse and buggy. Rev. William H. Ball: St. Paul's Monroe from 1910 to 1911. (Mission rector to Rockingham while serving his regular charge in Monroe.) Served in Wadesboro before going to Monroe. A native of London. Missionary to South Africa during the Boer War. Children enjoyed him. Accepted call to Concord in 1911. Returned to Monroe for retirement. Died, November 1918. Buried in Monroe. Rev. Jeptha H. Swann: Came as Rector to St. Paul's in May 1914. (Made a few visits to the Church of the Messiah in Rockingham.) Remained in this area less than a year. He then moved on to Texas. Rev. Thomas L. Trott: Rector of St. Paul's, Monroe, 1915-Jan. 1918. (Well known rector in Rockingham while serving in Monroe.) The Church of the Messiah had been an organized mission since 1900. Good attendance; many activities. A bachelor. Very conscientious. Felt great responsibility for his rectorial duties and each of his parishioners. U. S. declared war on Germany, April 6, 1917. Young men leaving for training camps. Mission left vacant in Rockingham when Mr. Trott left January 1, .1918, for High Point. Rev. Sanford Louis Rotter: Rector of St. Paul's, Monroe, July 1918-January 1922. Tireless worker and a great humanitarian. (Mission priest to Rockingham for four years.) Born July 12, 1873 in Petersburg, Virginia. Grew up in New York City. Attended private schools. Graduated from Colum-bia University, B.A. and M.A. in Latin. Taught for a while. Studied law. Passed the bar, but entered newspaper business. On editorial staff of Josephus Daniels' Raleigh News and Obser-ver. Army Chaplain in World War I. Felt called to enter min-istry. Enrolled at Virginia Theological Seminary. Ordained and went directly to serve at St. Paul's in Monroe. Then served nearly twenty years in Virginia before being killed in an auto-mobile wreck on December 5, 1941. 12 Note: It was Mr. Hilliard (of Monroe) who had first reported monthly services in Richmond County when there, were about twelve communicants, but had been relieved from "this distant work" by the spring of 1895. Later rectors from Monroe (as we can well see from the foregoing account of rectorial duties) served at Rockingham. But from 1915 to 1922, the Mission was in the charge of Rev. Messrs. Trott and Rotter. At the end of that period the Church of the Messiah, at its own request, was cut off from Monroe, and in 1923 pledged itself for the entire support of a minister, thus becoming for the first time in its history a full-fledged parish. THE CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH 1900 — 1975 (A Historical Sketch) Early Anglican and Episcopal wcrship in North Carolina: Though few in number, it is a known fact that scattered families who were members of the Episcopal Church lived in and about the small, rural town of Rockingham in the late 18th century, and during the Civil War days. Some had drifted in-land due to war conditions further east. Rumor has it that the earliest Anglican worshipers came from Wilmington. Some were descendants of families dating from Colonial days when the Church of England was still the prevailing form of worship. Many old churches of that period still stand in the Coastal areas of North Carolina: namely, Bath, Edentcn, Elizabeth City, New Bern, and Wilmington. St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Bath, according to State records, is the oldest church in North Caro-lina, and one of the oldest in the nation. The Episcopal Church, the modified American form of the Anglican Church, did not make the same inroads among the growing number of settlers as did the new off-shoots of the Christian religion springing up following the Protestant Refor-mation, such as the Methodist, Presbyterians, and the Baptists. Hence, for several generations, as the story goes, anyone who wasn't a Methodist in Rockingham was considered a "foreigner." Since the Church of England was strictly regulated by the dictates of the kings of England during the* 17th century, the good Anglicans, separated as they were by distances from the homeland, were not kept informed as to the rapidly changing conditions. Other complications existed also: the Colony was jointly managed by the Lords Proprietors; even more devastat-ing, an aspirant to the priesthood had to travel to London to be ordained, because no bishops were allowed in the Colony (as a safety measure against insurgent authority). Episcopalians m Rockingham : Facts and Rumors; When one attempts to pin down facts about a town and its inhabitants after a few decades have elapsed, one finds that such facts are elusive to come by. As the late Isaac S. London confessed in an article he wrote in 193'? to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Reverend Howard S. Hartzell as rector of the Church of the Messiah, he had to depend on the memory of the "old timers." His information was gleaned from the Shaws, who came in 3 879; the Kings and Maurices, who came in 1900; and Mrs. A. L. McDonald, who came in 1896. But oven these pioneers in the establishment of the Messiah Church had to theorize to some extent about earlier days. It seems that during the Civil War days, Bishop Atkinson, then Bishop of the whole of North Carolina, came occasionally and held service in the old Courthouse in the center of town. Some services, how-ever, were held over the Old Everett Hardware. Episcopalian a f'md a home for Worship: "The Church <?f the Messiah." According to all available records, the present structure of the Church of the Messiah Is the only place of worship ac-tually owned by members of the Episcopal Church in Rocking-ham. It was erected at what is now known as the corner of Greene and Lawrence streets on land deeded to the struggling little Episcopal flock in 1899, by the late Captain W. I. Everett. The (then) frame building was completed and consecrated Oc-tober 14, 1900. Bishop Cheshire, one of the most active bishops to hold office in the Diocese of North Carolina, officiated at the consecration. Prior to obtaining a House of Worship of their own, Episcopalians, like the Christians of old, met in private homes, public buildings, and in some of the sanctuaries of other denominations, especially of the Presbyterians. Money at this period of history was a scarce commodity. Appomattox had not faded from the memory of most living adults. And signs of new industries and prosperity were slow in making their ap-pearance. Churches in the South after the Civ:! War The growth and prosperity of churches in the South, as elsewhere, was synonymous with the economic, social, and poli-tical growth of the towns or cities in which they happened to be located. Richmond County had been created by law from part of Anson County in 1779, and the City of Rockingham was incorporated, June 2, 1784. Most of the cities, including Rock-ingham, following the devastating effects of the "War between the States", slowly regained their pride and prosperity as new-industries were introduced. Even though agricultural, due to cli-mate and fertile soil, the South at the turn of the century began to hear a new sound. —- the sound of machinery and the rolling wheels of engines towing endless streams of freightcars. Cotton was "king" and mills were turning out millions of miles of fabrics to be sent to the far comers of the globe. Successful farmers 14 consolidated their funds to finance their projects. Technicians from the North and England were imported to direct the willing workers, desperate for funds with which to reconstruct their own lives. Rockingham was no exception. By the end of the first quarter of the 20th century, a dozen cotton mills had sprung up. Thousands of workers were spending their payrolls here. The economy improved. Owners, directors, bankers, lawyers, et al, became men of wealth. But this period of progress was sadly interrupted by World War I, and then the terrible epidemic of influenza in 1918. It was a time of mourning for friends and relatives in Rockingham. Where was the Episcopal Church? Well, most of the churches in the South had divided from their Northern counter-parts when war became inevitable in 1860. After the Civil War ended, many churches were slow and reluctant to recast their Jots with their brothers north of the Mason and Dixon Line. (Some, at this late date, are still bargaining about their re-union.) The Episcopal Church, however, reunited with the North-ern Branch shortly after the cessation of hostilities, and the Diocese of North Carolina reunited with the National Church in 1886, guided by the wise and scholarly Bishop Atkinson whose episcopate services lasted from 1853 until his death in 1881. For many years, the Episcopalians had neither plan nor means of obtaining an edifice for worship until Major John D. Shaw and his family moved back to Rockingham in 1879. The Shaws moved to Rockingham in the 1860's, then after a short period of time, Major Shaw saw fit to return to his native Texas, but, when business trends took a turn for the better in the East, he returned to North Carolina, going first to Lincolnton for an interval of time. Finally, though, he came back to Richmond County to become a vibrant part of the community. A family of means and prestige, it was they who piloted the creation of the Church of the Messiah. They continued to sponsor it faith-fully in the years to come, not only with money but also with leadership, teachers, and with unflagging spiritual example. The John D, Shaws, together with their relatives, the Fairleys, were many in number, but it was the daughter Easdale, who never married, that carried the torch of the Church of the Messiah until she died in 1960 at the age of ninety-six. She is buried in the old Eastside Cemetery, along with her mother, brother, and father, who during his lifetime, had been a distinguished corp-oration and railway attorney during the days of President Wood-row Wilson. Miss Shaw's ancestral home, first known as the "Old Cov-ington house," after many improvements was renamed "Golden Springs." It was half a mile southeast of town and a fine ex-ample of Colonial architecture. It played an important role in the social and spiritual life of the town. Sad to relate, it burned in 1937 when workmen were attempting to burn out a hornet's 15 nest. Some folks maintain that many important records of the early years of the local church were lost in the flames. With the passing of time, few will remember Easdale Shaw, the woman; but those who see the handsome reredos in the Sanc-tuary of the Episcopal Church will see her exquisite gift to the interior of the church. To quote Mr. Isaac London: 'The mag-nificent Reredos presented to the Church in 1940 by the late Miss Easdale Shaw is one of the finest carvings in the State. In fact, this Reredos and the Cedar of Lebanon Altar should rate as the SHOW spots of Rockingham." It is interesting to note that once the site for the con-struction of a church was secured, the ladies of the congrega-tion almost alone carried forward the work of the Church of the Messiah, which is a replica of the church in Lincolnton, North Carolina. Actually, Miss Shaw and Mrs. McDonald (Miss Katie) went to Lincolnton themselves with their carpenters and obtained the exact dimensions of the newly constructed church there, permission having been given by the distinguished Rector, Dr. William Wetmore, and the architect. Furthermore, these two ladies never ceased to work for the interest of their church throughout their lifetime. The whole amount of indebtedness was paid upon the completion of the church except a final payment of $300.00, which was secured by the Reverend Mr. Fetter from the Church Building Fund. Reverend Charles Fetter lived in Wadesboro and visited Rockingham once a month. It was under the fine leader-ship of this good man that the Church of the Messiah was begun in 1899 and completed in 1900. Reverend E. A. Osborne, Arch-deacon of the Convocation of Charlotte, was also of great as-sistance in the work. The early members of the Church report that to know this venerable and beloved man was an inspira-tion and benediction of itself. It was he who performed the first confirmation in the newly built church, the subject of con-firmation being none other than our present, persistent church attender, Mrs. Sallie (Long) Shaw. So finally, the dream of the faithful little band of workers became a reality. The following account of the consecration of the Church of the Messiah ap-peared in the Anglo-Saxon (the only paper published in Rock-ingham at the time), edited by Hon. A. J. Maxwell, issue of October 18, 1900: 16 "THE CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH" The New Episcopal Church Consecrated Sunday "The consecration of the Episcopal church at Rockingham took place last Sunday, October 14th. Bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire was assisted in the consecration service by four minis-ters, Reverend E, A. Osborne, of Charlotte, Arch Deacon of the Diocese of North Carolina, Reverend E. P. Green, of Ansonville, Reverend Henry C. Parkman of Monroe, and Reverend Charles Fetter of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, who has been in charge of this church and under whose ministry the church was built. ''The sendees were solemn and impressive. The instrument of endowment was read by Major John E. Shaw and the sen-tence of consecration by Reverend E. A. Osborne. "The appropriate sermon delivered by Bishop Cheshire was from Genesis 28th chapter, 17th verse: 'This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.' "The beautiful music was furnished by a large choir of young men and women of the town. A profusion of roses were placed upon the altar, and the little church looked very pretty in the bright sunshine. "The large crowd that gathered to witness the interesting ceremony overflowed the church. A number of friends from Laur-inburg, Laurel Hill, Hamlet, Sanford, Wadesboro and the sur-rounding country were present. " 'The Church of the Messiah' has been selected as the name for the new church." "The Bishop announced that he expected to make arrange-ments for preaching in the church once a month."1 1. Hon. A. J. Maxwell, "The Church of the Messiah," The Anglo- Saxon Chronicle, issue of October 18, 1900, quoted in Isaac S. London, The Post-Dispatch, February 11, 1932 issue. Among those who comprised the Episcopal Church con-gregation and assisted in its erection in 1899-1900 were: Major and Mrs. John D. Shaw, Miss Easdale Shaw, Mr. Edwin Sully, Messrs. Charlie and Walter King, Mr. Fred Maurice and wife, Mrs. T. B. Covington, Mrs. Crawford Webb; Mrs. S. Biggs, Mrs. Jane Napier, Mrs. Hattie Edwards, Dr. and Mrs. Williamson, Mrs. Tally Dawkins, Dr. Watt Steele, Mrs. Julia Wheliss, Mrs. Allen Beck; Mrs. Henry Fairley, Mrs. W. N. Everett, Mr. Amasa Alden, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. McDonald. 17 The Parish Church Learns of Its Ancestry One of the imponderables regarding a complete lack of records of Episcopalians in Richmond County, and in Rocking-ham, in particular, during their mission days is becoming in-creasingly understandable as the records of the older parishes in the Diocese become available. An overall picture of church life is now emerging. Most of the early missions in this vicinity, such as Rock-ingham, Hamlet, Laurinburg, Euto, and Ansonville came under the jurisdiction of the Archdeacon Osborne (later Archdeacon Hardin) of the Convocation in Charlotte. Even the two well-established parishes of Calvary in Wadesboro, and St. Paul's in Monroe, depended upon the Archdeacons to supply their spirit-ual needs when they were without a rector of their own. Other-wise, the rectors of Calvary and St. Paul's were assigned by the Archdeacons in charge to make regular visitations (usually once a month) to their mission charges. Now, the missions of the eighteen and nineteen hundreds have long since risen to the status of parishood, but, proud as they are today of their meaningful destinies, they are like adopt-ed orphans who have risen to adulthood without knowing exactly how they were begotten. But the records of the adolescent mis-sions were, in reality, reported to the Bishop of the Diocesan Convention by the attending priest, along with his own parish information, Bishop Cheshire's judgement was that "the missionary work has never been so well attended to in this Diocese as it was under the Archdeacons. (The missionary convocation and archdeacons were abolished in 1929 and powers were concentrated in the Diocese,,) They had supplied vacant parishes and missions, visit-ed scattered communicants, counselled young missionaries and been effective in special emergency/9 Bishop Cheshire, amid his manifold episcopate duties in the Diocese of North Carolina over a period of 30 years (1893= 1932) , was a profound scholar of church history, and the au-thor of several books. He often stated that the Anglican Church had no standing in the colonies after the American Revolution, The Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in Philadelphia in 1789. And the Diocese of North Caroina was formed by the Rt. Rev. Richard Channing Moore, Bishop of Virginia until 1823, The Diocese, however, was organized in Newbern in 1817. oo Oi 03 CO Sh •l-H Ph a The Parish Church 1924-1975 * * * * * Reverend Howard S. Hartzell called a* Rector When Rev. Sanford L. Rotter resigned from St. Paul's in Monroe, January 1, 1922, the Church of the Messiah had lost a very effective leader. But, since many new members had been added to the congregation, the vestry and laity decided that the Church had outgrown its Mission days and was ready to ap-ply to the Bishop for advancement to parish status. The celes-tial omens seemed to favor such proceedings, because Howard S. Hartzell, a promising young Episcopal minister from Penn-sylvania had, on June 15, 1921, married the widely known Miss Mossie Long of Rockingham, and the groom had left a very favorable impression with members of the Church. He was at the time serving the church in Smithfield when he received the call from Rockingham. The jolly "Miss Mossie," as she was known to hundreds in her home town, gleefully told of the Rev. Mr. Hartzell's dif-ficulty in deciding to accept the call to her beloved Rocking-ham. In fact, Archdeacon Bethea came to consult with him about the matter. And upon his report back to Bishop Cheshire said, "Pa is praying and Ma is packing." But he did accept, and during his twelve years at the Church of the Messiah Parish, the Church had its best growth, assisted by his energetic wife who played the organ and taught Sunday School. He preached his first sermon at his new charge on February 5, 1922. He and his wife took up their residence at the home of Mrs. Bettie Long; but he divided his time jointly with the Hamlet Mission, six miles distance. He at once began reorganizing the Rock-ingham Mission. (It was to be another two years before the local mission gained parish status.) On June 15, 1922, a public reception was tendered Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell at the home of Miss Easdale Shaw. It was attended by 150 people. This was the first anniversary of the Hartzell's marriage. The congeniality of all was remarkable, for devoted members from all the town churches were present. Mrs. Hartzell had been a "pillar" of the Methodist Church while living in Rockingham. For many years she was the organist for the superb Methodist choir and large congregation. Just before the assemblage dispersed, the guests were asked to come to the front lawn. There, Mr. A. L. Ormond, pastor of the Methodist Church, presented the Hartzells, as a token of love and appreciation on the part of the Episcopal Church, a new Ford Roadster. (This selfsame Ford proved to be immune to wear and tear, for ten years later, "Miss Mossie" was still, chugging about the streets of Rockingham — from the moment of the presentation of the car she became the official chauffeur for the rector of the Church of the Messiah. She was later 19 confirmed by Bishop Cheshire and became a devoted worker in the Episcopal Church. The Methodists could no longer call the Episcopalians "foreigners.") Soon after the Rev. Mr. Hartzell came to the Rockingham Mission, he organized a chapter of the Brotherhood of St. An-drew, the charter members being A. G. Corpening, C. C. Crofton, I. S. London, W. W. and C. W. King, and B. T. Payne. The Brotherhood held public meetings each Sunday afternoon dur-ing 1922. Speakers from other churches participated in the proj-ect. For example, Mr. F. W. Bynum spoke on "Immensity of Space"; Mr. L. J. Bell explained "Relation of School to Par-ents," and Mr. W. L. Parsons chose to speak on "Confidence, Cause, and Leadership." The 1922 Convention in Raleigh in the fall was a banner event for the Diocese of North Carolina, and doubly so for the members of the Mission Church in Rockingham. First, the Rev. Edwin Anderson Penick was elected Bishop Coadjutor to suc-ceed Bishop Cheshire (only ten years later) ; second, The Church of the Messiah of Rockingham, Richmond County, requested the Bishop for his consent to petition the 1923 Convention for ad-mission as a Parish in union with the Convention. In 1923, the Rockingham Mission requested to be cut off from the Monroe foster church, and pledged themselves for the entire support of a minister. The request was then referred to the Committee of New Parishes, which proceeded to ascertain whether the Church of the Messiah conformed to the require-ments for admission as set forth in Articles III and IX of the Constitution, and Canons XX and XXVII of the Diocese of North Carolina. In due time, the Committee issued an approval for admission, and in 1924, the Church of the Messiah officially became a Constitutional parish in the Diocese. It had been 25 years since the original frame structure was built in 1899, and Rev. Mr. Hartzell felt that it would be a vast improvement to brick veneer the building rather than scrape off the paint. Moving of the old frame building The old frame building, erected in 1899-1900's, was mov-ed 30 feet to the west before being brick veneered in order to give more space for the Sacristy. Then, too, Rev. Hartzell was looking to the future when more space would be needed for the erection of a parish house. (This moving cost $500.00.) . . . ... So he started a campaign to get the job done — the "Buy a Brick" movement. Friends from all over the State generously helped by buying a brick for one dollar. The congregation was divided into teams which vied with each other in selling the most bricks. Mrs. Lynwood Fowlkes' team seems to have been the winner. Within two months enough money had been raised to start work on the project. A building committee of C. W. King, chairman, W. R. Jones, Miss Easdale Shaw and Mrs. W. L. 20 Parsons, Treas., was named. Bricks were ordered, and the weathered old church began getting a face-lifting on October 8, 1924. It was a heartening story. Hard work and even sacrifice entered into the project. Private donations, parties, sales, etc., plus $600.00 received from the Holt Fund wiped out the Duilding fund debt, which amount-ed to $6,000.00. The last note for $400.00 was cancelled, Jan-uary 21, 1928. In the spring of 1924, Laurence and Greene streets, running by the church, were graded by the town and paved. In the same year, the George M. Bowes family moved to Rockingham from New Jersey and soon became invaluable assets to the church. Mr. Bowes served as Treasurer for the next ten years. In November of the following year, the R. P. Dicks came. They too were from New Jersey, and made outstanding contri-butions to the Parish Church. Their children helped to strength-en the Church School. Mrs. W. N. Everett was welcomed back to the congregation in 1928. Her husband, the Honorable W. N. Everett, had died in Raleigh, February 7th of the same year while serving as Secretary of State of North Carolina. He had been serving in the State House of Representatives, but, upon the death of Col. J. Bryan Grimes, was appointed Secretary of State for North Carolina by Governor Cameron Morrison. In 1927, Miss Wilma Biggs was sent by the Church to Philadelphia to prepare for the order of Deaconess. After her ordination, she left to do mission work in Quantanamo, Cuba. On the night of May 9th, 1927, the Ford Coupe (present-ed to Rev. and Mrs. Hartzell by the Episcopal congregation 4 years previously) was robbed of its rear wheels and tires while the owners were attending the Diocesan Convention at Burling-ton. But without the Rector's knowedge, a delegate to the Con-vention took up a free-will subscription and had the wheels and tires replaced. On May 12th, the Guild held a very successful Fashion Show in the rose garden of the H. C. Wall home. Four firms of Rockingham, two of Hamlet, and Ivey of Charlotte participated. The Guild cleared $150.00 for its treasury, with some 350 people attending. On December 7th, 1929, the Guild placed in the aisles of the Church a beautiful new green carpet, at a cost of $140.00. The Vestry passed a resolution of thanks to the ladies for their loyal support and cooperation. The following year, the Guild installed kneeling benches in the Church. Soon after Rev. Mr. Howard Hartzell accepted the call to the Church of the Messiah, he began exhorting his Vestry to start thinking about two acquisitions of property essential for a successful parish: a rectory and a parish house. Even if the Parish could not build in the near future, Rev. Mr. Hartzell, a 21 thoughtful planner, insisted that a lot be provided for each building; then build as funds became available. The Vestry, in June 1930, had pictures taken of the Church and grounds, and Vestryman R. P. Dicks carried these to New York and consulted with Architect Upjohn, who had agreed to make preliminary drawings of a parish house. These, when made were to be submitted to the congregation, and plans put under-way, looking forward to building such an addition. One of the outstanding characteristics of Mr. Hartzell's rectorship in Rockingham was his hearty cooperation with the ministers of other denominations. And this spirit was, in turn, fully met by those ministers. Each summer, "union services" were held on Sunday nights, alternating with the other churches; and during Lenten season, he had the Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist ministers to assist in his services. During the first 32 years of the Church of the Messiah's existence, the Church School was its mainstay of unity and fu-ture growth. And two of the most faithful regular attendants upon it during all those years were Walter and Charlie King as, indeed, they were in all other phases of the Church's ac-tivities. Eugene Payne was the School Superintendent from 1915 to his death in 1922; and Isaac S. London succeeded him and was still serving in that capacity during Mr. Hartzell's rector-ship. The school at that period numbered 30 pupils and 4 teach-ers. The Bible Class was taught by the Rector. The Young People's Service League, with Frances Maurice as president, was organized in 1922, and met regularly every Sunday night. It contained young folks from other churches as well as its own. In addition to the Y.P.S.L., the Church School, and the Brother-hood of St. Andrew, there were other organizations that should be mentioned. The Vestry at this period was composed of the follow-ing: A. G. Corpening, Senior Warden; Charlie W. King, Junior Warden; Walter W. King, Secretary; George M. Bowes, Treas-urer; other members of the Vestry were I. S. London, R. P. Dicks, and T. A. Covington. Then, in addition, there were the Guilds, the Auxiliary, the Altar Guild, and the Parish Council. In other words there was a beehive of activity and interest within the "Living Church." Tenth Anniversary Service for Rev. Mr. Hartzell On the night of February 7, 1932, the members of the Church of the Messiah met as a body, with guests from all the other churches in town, to honor the Rev. Howard S. Hartzell and to demonstrate their appreciation and love for his christian leadership and good citizenship during the twelve years of his rectorship at the Church of the Messiah in Rockingham, North 22 Carolina. Few live to earn 3uch genuine approbation. "The church was never prettier than on this occasion," wrote Mr. London, who served as Master of Ceremonies. "The altar was banked with potted plants and lilies, placed thery by Mrs. C. P. Stewart and her sister, Mrs. A. G. Corpening, in memory of their mother. The altar candles seemingly were re-flected in the quietude and friendliness emanating from the scores from other denominations who have always been most cordial to this small congregation." (There were at this period 30 members who were over 22 years, and 25 who were under that age.) The Methodist pastor "called in" his service for the night, and many Presbyterians were in attendance. The Baptist pastor and his deacons sent representatives who read a set of resolu-tions from that Church. The choir was augmented by Miss Elizabeth Brewer at the organ, and Wilbur Whitlock and Perry Covington, tenors. The vested choir of twenty voices came in by the front entrance, singing "Onward Christian Soldiers" as they marched down the long aisle, with the Chorister bearing the cross in front. Mr. Hartzell read the Scripture and the Apostles Creed — then turned the program over to the Chairman of the Vestry Com-mittee. When the Chairman asked all those in the congrega-tion who were present when the Church of the Messiah was consecrated, October 14, 1900, to please stand up, the follow-ing were among those who stood: Miss Easdale Shaw, Mrs. Fred Maurice, Mrs. L. C. Sharpe, Walter King, Charlie King, Mrs. Fannie Thomas, J. D. Cameron, Mrs. Alec L. McDonald, and the beloved Mrs. Lucy P. Russell, distinguished Presbyterian leader, citizen, and historiographer of Rockingham and her church, as well as the University of North Carolina. (She at-tained the age of 100.) For the next hour, the congregation heard four promin-ent citizens of the county laud the Rector of the Church of the Messiah for his ministry and good citizenship for the past ten years. It is doubtful if any rector ever heard a warmer accolade of praise. Mr. Fred W. Bynum, Sr., Superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School, pointed out the qualities of the rector which had endeared him to all the denominations in Rockingham. He then referred to the Scripture where Moses looked heavenward and asked help from the Lord in time of a great battle, and the Lord commanded him: "Hold out your arms, and as long as your arms are extended, the battle will be with the Lord." But as the aged Moses* arms grew weary, they fell by his side. Then Aaron and Hur lifted up the arms of Moses until a great victory had been won. In this analogy, Mr. Bynum maintained that Mr. Hartzell had stood under the "arms" of the Messiah Church and of the town, while much good had been accom-plished. 23 Mr. Roy Rosser, Superintendent of Hamlet Episcopal Church School began by quoting from the once fiery evangelist Billy Sunday, who said while preaching in Monroe: "There lies sleep-ing the Episcopal Church. It it ever wakes, it will be one' of the most outstanding factors of righteousness the world had ever known." Mr. Rosser then accused Mr. Bynum of pirating the sub-ject he had planned to speak on, "the spirit of brotherhood." After a few appropriate comments, he closed by saying he found Mr. Hartzell a man as other men, but one who walk-ed close to his Maker and a minister who wore his vestments with honor to the Church he served. Mr. L. J. Bell, Superintendent of City and County Schools, amid eloquent phrases of some duration found Mr. Hartzell "a man in the finest sense of the word — a man who stood four-square to all the windsthatblew." While C. B. Deane, Register of Deeds, Richmond County, termed Mr. Hartzell a man of "true chivalry, unspotted, who had kept his soul his own, a lovable and honorable man." The Rev. Mr. Hartzell, in simple humility, accepted the compliments in the name of the Episcopal Church, but claimed no part of it for himself. Howard S. Hartzell remained at the Church in Rockingham another two years at great personal sac-rifice financially. His salary was a meagre $800.00 from the Rockingham Mission, plus $400.00 from the Hamlet Mission, at one time. However records show that in 1927 his total salary totaled $2,000.00. In 1929, his salary was listed in the London Scrapbook as $2400.00, a salary paid in an odd fashion: The Church of the Messiah paid $1600.00; Hamlet paid $500.00; and the Rector received another $300.00 from the Holt fund of the Diocese. At long last, he did accept the call to St. Mary's Episco-pal Church in High Point, N. C, leaving February 9th, to assume his new rectorship. At his last Sunday night Services of the Church of the Messiah, a truly community congregation gather-ed in the House of Worship to its overflowing to bid him fare-well. And there were many, in leaving the church, who had moist eyes as they shook the Rector's hand. The Rt. Reverend Joseph Blount Cheshire Passes On December 27, 1932, the loved and widely respected Bishop Cheshire of the Diocese of North Carolina, passed away on Tuesday night, in a Charlotte hospital, at the age of 82. For three hours the Bishop's body lay in State in St. Peter's Church, a church he had served magnificently in the early years of his ministry. His body was then moved to the Church of the Good Shepherd, in Raleigh, his home, for the funeral. The final rites of burial were conducted in Calvary Church, Tarboro, where his distinguished father had served as rector 24 three quarters of a century previously. He was buried on the family lot. Great numbers of people from all over the State were present for the simple burial services which were conducted by Bishop Edwin A. Penick, assisted by Rev. Bertram E. Brown, rector of Calvary Church. Rev. and Mrs. Howard Hartzell, Mrs. W. N. Everett, and George S. Steele attended the funeral services in Raleigh. For the Parish of the Church of the Messiah, the death of Bishop Cheshire ended a cycle which had literally embraced the unorganized Mission Period, the Organized Mission Period, and the first eight highly promising years of the Parish's 'union' with the Diocese of North Carolina. He was the Symbol of Church Authority; it was he who had confirmed members of the congregation who were now fathers and mothers themselves. He had made dozens of visitations to Rockingham to officiate at weddings and rites of burials and special social occasions. He was a good earthly Shepherd and he knew his Sheep. As the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, the Rt. Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire, D.D., served an episcopate of thirty-nine years, many years beyond the lengthy episcopates of the Rt. Rev. Levi Silliman Ives, second Bishop of the Diocese, and Bishop Atkinson, the third Bishop. Bishop Ives, the indefatig-able worker that he was, resigned, however, after twenty-two years due to favoring a more Roman-prone episcopacy than the Protestant Episcopalians would tolerate. Bishop Cheshire served the Diocese in one of its greatest periods of growth. While serving as rector of St. Peter's Church in Charlotte during his youthful years, he saw the Diocese of Eastern Carolina formed in 1883 because the old Diocese had expanded beyond the powers of a single bishop to care for. Later, in 1898, while Bishop Cheshire was caring for the Diocese of North Carolina, plus the Jurisdiction of Asheville in the west-em part of the State, he saw that section of the Diocese become a duly organized diocese, known as the Diocese of Western Caro-lina with the Rt. Rev. J. M. Horner as Bishop. The first Bishop, Rt. Rev. John Stark Ravenscroft, S.T.D., who gave leadership to the Church in difficult times and ren-dered a great service in extending the Kingdom of God, suffered from poor health. He died in the seventh year of his episcopate. Bishop Atkinson, the great statesman, priest, and mission worker, served a fruitful episcopacy of twenty-eight years. Dur-ing his episcopate, the number of clergy increased from 36 to 76; and the communicants, from 1778 to 5,889. Bishop Lyman, who preceded Bishop Cheshire as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese, was in his 58th year when he became 25 head of the whole Diocese of North Carolina. His early years had been spent as a kind of roving missionary Bishop without 'portfolio' whose zeal and assignments took him over Europe and America. His tremendous knowledge of church affairs made him an invaluable representative at home and abroad. He served twenty years in the Diocese. Farewell Party for Hartxells at Wall Home The H. C. Wall home, the evening of February 7th, was aglow with warmth and cordiality when the Episcopal ladies gave a reception in honor of Rev. and Mrs. Howard Hartzell who, in a few days, were to take up their duties in High Point. Among the well-known members of the Church of the Messiah who officiated for the occasion were Mrs. George M. Bowes, Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Wall, Rev. and Mrs. Hartzell, Isaac S. London, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Corpening, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Covington, and George Bowes; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ellerbe, Mrs. J. Pickett Leak, Mrs. E. Burton Bristow, Mrs. W. R. Jones, Misses Lena Payne London, Eleanor and Sairfax Dockery, Louise Corpening, Elizabeth Shaw, and Manie Leak Payne. Mrs. W. N. Everett, Miss Heloise Smith, Walter King and Mrs. Cornelia Edwards, Miss Easdale Shaw, Mrs. Bettie Long, and Mr. and Mrs. Charlie King. The lovely reception was one of many gestures on the part of the parishioners of the Church of the Messiah and the townspeople at large to exhibit their warm regard for the Rev. Mr. HartzelFs years of service in Rockingham. RECAPITULATION 1©-Yesr Parish Report 1934 Communicants of the Church Of The Messiah Mrs. E. B. Bristow Mrs. Grover Baxley George M. Bowes Mrs. George M. Bowes Miss Grace Brown Bowes A. G. Corpening Mrs. A. G. Corpening Mary Corpening Sammy L. Corpening Louise Corpening T. A. Covington Mrs. T. A. Covington Robert P. Dicks Mrs. Robert P. Dicks Miss Lydia Lee Dicks Miss Jane Dicks Miss Nancy Dicks Bunnie (Nora) Dicks Betsy Sairfax Dockery Eleanor West Dockery Frank Ellerbe Mrs. Frank Ellerbe Mrs. W. N. Everett Mrs. W. N. Everett, Jr. W. N. Everett, III Ida Graham Hinson Mrs. W. R. Jones Walter R. Jones, Jr. 26 Walter King Charlie King Mrs. Charlie King Mrs. Pickett Leak Isaac S. London William Everett London Lena Payne London Fred Maurice Mrs. Fred Maurice George Maurice Mrs. George Maurice Mrs. Alex L. McDonald Mrs. Mial McRae Joseph Meacham Mrs. R. B. Napier Bennett Napier Dick Napier Miss Johnsie Patterson Miss Mildred Meacham Miss Manie Leak Payne Mrs. Oscar Ratliff Miss Easdale Shaw- Miss Eloise Smith Mrs. Russell Shaw Miss Elizabeth Shaw J. W. Strothers Mrs. J. W. Strothers Miss Maude Strothers Miss Jeannette Strothers William Wiley Stancell Bill Stancell Miss Patsy Sullivan Mrs. L. C. Sharpe Mrs. Henry C. Wall Grover Wheliss Margaret Wheliss Nellie Wheliss LOST BY REMOVAL: B. T. Payne A. G. Corpening, Jr. Thomas Siegal Linton Mrs, Sylvesta Biggs Mrs. Robert Fetner Risden Bennett Napier Janie Biggs Henry Fairley Elsie Fairley Mrs. Frank Ellerbe William Henry Hart Mrs. Jack Bennett Miss Nancy Fairley Miss Katherine Fairley Miss Dorothy Fairley Mr. C. C. Crofton Mrs. Walter Parsons Miss Janet Fairley Miss Rose Biggs Robert S. Leak Mary Ford Jean Ford Jean Ford Mrs. Mark Linneham (Mrs.) Morgan Miss Wilma Biggs Miss Vesta Biggs Marshall Farm'lv Pettyjohn Family LOST BY TRANSFER: Mrs. Grady Garrett Mr. Harold Howarth Mrs. Garvel English (Mattie Sinclair) Mrs. B. T. Payne LOST BY DEATH: Mr. Eugene Payne Mrs. James Dawkins Miss Julia King Mrs. Roberdel Pinckney Leak Mr. Alex L. McDonald Mrs. M. J. Napier Mrs. Lena Everett London Mrs. Watt Steele Mrs. Crawford Webb Mr. Amasa Alden Communicants Gained From Other Parishes Mr. George Bowes Mrs. George Bowes Mr. Robert Dicks Mrs. Robert Dicks Dr. William Stancell Gained By Confirmation: 35 Baptisms: 22 27 The Church of the Messiah Left without a Rector Upon the departure of the Rev. Mr. Hartzell for High Point in February, the Church of the Messiah was without a regular rector, and was supplied for several months by young theological students assigned by Bishop Penick. Henry Johnson, Jr., of the Virginia Theological Seminary was a visitor; also Rev. Matthew George Henry, who was destined to become the third Bishop of the Diocese of Western Carolina in 1948, and served as Bishop until 1975, dying shortly before he had planned to retire. The Rev. Thaddeus A. Cheatham, Rector of the Village Church in Pinehurst made three visits to the Rockingham Parish during the year of 1934, as well as on many other occasions. He was rector of his beloved Village Church from 1909 until his retirement in 1952. Even though without a permanent rector, the Lay Read-ers, the Choir, and the Laity were determined to keep the work of the Church going "as usual," and attended all gatherings in encouraging numbers. The Easter Services of April 1, 1934, were particularly meaningful to the Parish congregation. The day was beautiful, and Bishop Penick had come to celebrate the Sunday Com-munion. A goodly group of 88 members heard the Bishop's sermon, among whom were many young college students home for the holidays. Miss Elizabeth Brewer, home for the week-end from Gaff-ney College, played the organ. The choir marched in from the front entrance and down the long aisle with Bill Stancell bear-ing the Cross. In the choir were the following: Mrs. George Bowes, director; Mrs. Pickett Leak, Mrs. Ella Napier, Nancy Dicks, Payne London, Eleanor and Sairfax Dockeiy, Louise Corpening, Bunny Dicks, Betty Walters, Bettie London, Cecilia Dicks, Tencey McRae, Frank Ellerbe, and Bill Stancell. The Bishop was a dinner guest of Isaac S. London. After the meal, the Bishop drove to Southern Pines for a 3 o'clock service. Immediately after the Easter Service, a vestry meeting was held. Those present were Walter and Charlie King, Isaac London, A. G. Corpening, George M. Bowes, Frank Ellerbe, and R. P. Dicks. The motion passed that the Bishop be asked to assign James Edwin Bethea, Deacon, to this Parish, to come here July 1st. Bob Dicks offered free use of a house for six months. The Parish was to pay $800.00 on a year basis. He was to be elevated to the priesthood on January 1st. The Parish could then call him permanently. He could accept or decline. The Bishop had spoken most highly of Rev. and Mrs. Bethea. The Vestry were expecting Hamlet to join in with $600.00 basis salary, since they would share in his ministry in the county. 28 The vestry passed a motion accepting the plan, with special thanks to Mr. Dicks for his generous offer for a rent-free house for the new rector's stay in Rockingham. The Rev. Mr. Bethea agreed to serve the Church of the Messiah as a Deacon until he should be ordained to priesthood. On June 30th, he and Mrs. Bethea arrived in Rockingham, and for the two ensuing months took up residence in an apartment in the Ned Covington home. On July 1st, he held his first service at 11:00 o'clock. His text was from the 9th chapter of Matthew, 13th verse: ". . . not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." The congregation was most pleased to have this fine young couple. Mrs. Bruce Benton, wife of the Baptist minister, played the organ. The choir was supplemented by Elizabeth Shaw and Mary Blanche Palmer. The congregation numbered 44. The "mercury" stood at 97 degrees. In the second month of Rev. Mr. Bethea's ministry at Rocking-ham, he was forced to enter St. Peter's hospital in Charlotte for a month's treatment of an over-active thyroid. His father, the Rev. Morrison Bethea of Reidsville, held services for his son on August 19th. The Rev. Henry Johnson, Jr. of Tarboro conduct-ed services on September 2, 1934. An operation was deemed necessary for the young clergyman on September 7th. Rev. Matthew George Henry of Chapel Hill returned for services in September, and Rev. Ernest M. Winborne of Mt. Airy likewise supplied for the Parish's ill rector in the same month. It was November 1st before Rev. Mr. Bethea again took up his duties in the parish. Soon he and his wife entered enthusiastically upon their duties with extra services and work in the Church School. The Rev. James Edwin Bethea Elevated to Full Priesthood . . . On April 2, 1934, the little Church of the Messiah was the setting for one of the most sacred rites of the Protestant Episcopal Church — the ordaining of James Edwin Bethea to the priesthood, with the full blessings of the Church to perform the Mystery of Baptism, to celebrate the Holy Communion, and to conduct religious services according to the laws recorded in the Prayer Book, subject to the guardianship of his Bishop of the Diocese and the congregation he serves. In the rite of Ordination, Episcopalians believe that the laying on of hands upon the head of the ordained, by the Bishop and his fellow ministers, passes on, unbroken from the time of Christ and his Disciples, the gift of the Holy Spirit as the Lord commanded his Disciples to do. Present for the awesome occasion were Bishop E. A. 29 Penick, and Dr. Wallace Rollins, Dean of the Episcopal Sem-inary at Alexandria, Va. In addition, there were fifteen Epic-copal Clergymen to assist. At the appointed hour of 10:45, with Mrs. Hartzell at the organ, the procession entered the Church, followed by the Bishop and clergymen. A large congregation was present, and many ministers of other congregations represented their own congregations. The ordination sermon was delivered by Dr. Wallace Rol-lins, under whom the candidate had taken his three years of preparation for the priesthood. The candidate was examined by Bishop Penick. He was then presented to the Bishop by his father for the "laying on of hands" by all the clergy present. Then followed the Holy Communion, the Recessional, and the Benediction. Many gestures of goodwill and entertainment followed throughout the day and evening for the Rev. Mr. Bethea and his wife, and for the many out-of-town guests. Episcopal Clergymen Participating in the Rev. Mr. Bethea Ordination : Bishop E. A. Penick, Raleigh Dr. Wallace Rollins, Alexandria, Va. Rev. Morrison Bethea, Reidsville Rev. Howard S. Hartzell, High Point Rev. Thaddeus A. Cheatham, Pinehurst Rev. David Yates, Tarboro Rev. Fred Drane, Monroe Rev. I. H. Hughes, Concord Rev. Craighill Brown. Southern Pines Dr. Robert Drane, Edenton Rev. J. Q. Beckwith, Hillsboro Rev. Thomas S. Clarkson, Smithfield Rev. Frank Dean, Wilson Rev. William Gordon, Spray Rev. Claude Hobart, Cheraw Rev. Andrew Milstead, Statesville * * * * The remainder of the year 1935, following the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Bethea to the priesthood, was a very satisfying one from the point of view of activities, attendance, and gen-eral interest on the part of the congregation. Bishop Penick re-turned in October for his regular yearly visit. In November, the Rev. Robert E. Roe of Greensboro held a Mission at the Church of the Messiah, lasting throughout the 6th, 7th, and 8th, assisted by the Rector. The Church sent $29.50 to the Thompson Orphanage in Charlotte for a Thanksgiving offering. On December 12, 1935, a son was born to the Betheas in the Rex Hospital in Raleigh; weighed 71bs., 7oz. Named 'Robert ;>0 Morrison' for two grandparents. Mother and child returned to Rockingham, February 13, 1936. The opening Lenten Services for 1936 were held by Rev. Edwin Bethea in the Richmond Theatre, from 12:15 to 12:30. The presentation of Lenten offerings was held in the Church of the Messiah, April 26th, at 3:30. A picnic followed at the rear of the Church. Rockingham's offering: $42.26: Hamlet: $29.00; Wadesboro: $21.00. Southern Pines had one teacher and 13 pupils present at the picnic. The 120th Annual Diocesan Convention was held in War-renton, May 12, 13, 1936. Isaac S. London drove his car on the 12th, carrying Rev. Edwin Bethea, and Messrs. Barlow and Capehart of Hamlet. Left 6 a.m. and returned at 6 p.m. September 5, 1936, the young son of the Betheas was baptized. Sunday night, October 25th, after holding a confirma-tion service in Hamlet, Bishop Penick came to the Church of the Messiah for 7:30 evening service at which he confirmed seven candidates. The seven were presented to the Bishop by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Bethea. Rev. J. E. Bethea Resigns Rev. J. E. Bethea, who arrived in Rockingham, June 30, 1934, resigned on October 26, 1936, to accept a call to the church at Culpepper, Va., with about 175 communicants. Mr. Bethea's last Sunday here was November 29th with a full church. He and his wife and year-old son left with ex-treme regret of the town and Church, Monday, November 30, 1936, for Culpepper, Va. The joint vestries of Rockingham and Hamlet held two meetings in Hamlet during November. On November 15th, the Rockingham Church had its every member canvass. Budget was $1909 — $300 Forward Movement; $1609 local, of which $800 was salary, and $350 for rectory rent. The canvass resulted in $1350 in pledges. It was agreed by both Churches that the new rector would stay in Hamlet. That meant Hamlet would pay $420 and fur-nish a rectory, or equivalent to $780. Rockingham would pay the rector $980. On February 14, 1937, a committee of A. G. Corpening, George M. Bowes, and W. King, accompanied by E. Walker Duvall of Cheraw, went in the Bowes car to the Church of the Ascension, two miles from Hagood, and 18 miles southeast of Camden, S. C, to hear Rev. George H. Harris. Rev. George H. Harris, of the Hagood and Statesburg churches, in South Carolina, preached here, March 7th for the 31 Morning Service, and in Hamlet for the Evening Service. The congregations liked him very much and extended him a call. (Apparently, the Rev. Mr. Harris refused the call, for no fur-ther comment appears in the records.) 1937 — A Year of Change and Adjustment The departure of the Betheas brought both sadness and regret. The Church family had opened their hearts to them in their sorrows, and taken pride in their successes. In two and one half years they had come and gone. Now, a replacement was to be found. From November 30, 1936, until June 1, 1937, the Church of the Messiah was again served by various clergymen. Rev. Mr. Cheatham of Pinehurst held services May 2nd. Beginning June 6th, Rev. Mr. Robert M. Man, senior at the Theological Seminary at Alexandria, Va., came to hold regular services dur-ing the summer months, although the Church School would not be opened until September. Rut church services were held every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. and at 11:00 at Hamlet. The congregation was particularly taken with the young minister's graciousness and affability. On April 4th, Bishop Penick was given a new Buick on his birthday by admiring members cf the Diocese. April 30th, the District Auxiliary met in the Episcopal Church. Lunch was served in the basement of the Methodist Church. Anson, Moore and Richmond Counties were represented. Fifty-five ladies were present. In June, the church roof and steeple were covered with John-Manville asbestos shingles at a cost of $550.00. Earlier in the year, the Episcopal Church was the recipi-ent of 50 new Prayer Books, the gift of the Nov/ York Bible Society. In July, Student Minister, Robert Man, swapped service with Rev. Mr. Pulley of Wadesboro so that Communion could be given here. Mr. Man left August 30th to complete his Senior year in theology. Church School was resumed Sept. 12, 1937. Twenty-five were present. The ante-bellum home of Miss Easdale Shaw burned Oc-tober 19, 1937. It was bought by Major John Shaw in 1890. It was insured for .$10,000.00. October 14, 1937, Elizaoeth Shaw and Foy Barwick were married at the Church of the Messiah at 8:10 p.m. Rev. Howard Hartzell returned to Rockingham to officiate at the beautiful ceremony. The Y. P. S. L. was organized in October. Mrs. T. C. Gutherie, Jr. was in charge. Members had a wiener roast at the Doekery Club, December 3rd. New Minister Arrives 32 Rev. Edwin Hurst, the new rector at the Church of the Messiah, and his family came from Erwin, September 2, 1937. He would reside in Hamlet. The Rev. Mr. Hurst and Mrs. Hurst had three children: Edwin W. Jr., 19, a student at the Univer-sity; Mary Harriett, 16; and George Stackly 14. The new Rector held his first service September 5th. The annual Hallowe'en party was held at the church at 6:00 p.m., November 1st. Barbara Maurice won first prize for best costume; Charles King, Jr., won second prize. Each received a small New Testament. The congregation "pounded" Rev. E. W. Hurst and family with groceries. A Union Service was held at the Methodist Church, the night of December 5th, to welcome Rev. Edwin Hurst who came here September 2nd. Brief talks were made by Rev. J. F. Herbert of the M. E. Church; Dr. A. A. Walker of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Bruce Benton of the Baptist Church. Fifteen Civitans attended in a body. Seats were reserved for them. The annual Christmas Tree at the Church, the night of 23rd, was a joyous occasion. Mrs. Lydia Love was at the piano. Walter Jones, Jr., was Santa Claus. Forty-eight people attend-ed. The Candle-light Christmas Eve Communion service was held at 11:30 p.m. Afterward, the young folks went caroling with Mrs. T. C. Gutherie. New Rector's Health Shattered From September 2, 1937, to April 15th of 1938, the Church activities had moved along smoothly. The Rev. Mr. Hurst had been warmly received as the new rector, and he was residing in Hamlet, according to the new agreement with the congrega-tion there. Then came Good Friday, on April 15th, and the tragic nervous breakdown of the Rector, beginning during the three-hour service. His condition worsened and he was placed in the Hamlet Hospital. Mr. Robert M. Man was wired, and he came from Alex-andria, Va., to hold the Easter Service. The Choir of twenty gladdened the hearts of the sixty-four worshipers in attendance. After the 10:45 a.m. service in Rockingham, Mr. Man conduct-ed an 11 :45 service in Hamlet. The Sunday following Easter, the Rev. Edwin Bethea, the previous rector to the Church of the Messiah, who happened to be visiting in Reidsville, came to Rockingham for services here and in Hamlet. Bishop Penick preached at 8:00 p.m., May 1, 1938. The congregation numbered 125. The Vestry requested that the Bishop assign Rev. Mr. Man to the Rockingham church, pending his ordination to the dioconate. The Bishop had Rev. Mr. Hurst moved from Hamlet Hos- 33 pital to the State Hospital in Morganton for more effective treatment. The Rev. Mr. Man returned to the Church of the Messiah, June 19, 1938. He preached his first sermon as official Deacon-in- Charge of the Church. He was by this time quite well-known to his congregation. By August 14th, the Bishop had assigned the Rockingham deacon still another mission obligation — that of a Sunday-night, eight o'clock service at the reopened church of St. David at Laurinburg. There were 48 persons present for the first night service. The work and popularity of the Rev. Mr. Man increased tremendously. He became associated with civic and inter-de-nominational activities as well as boosting the various avenues of services within his own parish. On November 8, 1938, Rev. Robert Man was married to Miss Edna Lee Henley at West Durham at a five o'clock service. The young couple spent a week following the marriage festivi-ties at the Henry C. Wall clubhouse, five miles south of Rock-ingham. At his January 1, 1939 visit to the local parish, Bishop Penick confirmed young Kathryn McRae, granddaughter of "Miss" Katie McDonald, a charter member of the Church of the Messiah. February 9, 1939, Dr. W. W. Stancell died in the Ham-let Hospital from burns suffered when a lighted cigarette set fire to his mattress. On February 26, Bishop Penick visited the Church for a 4:00 p.m. service and preached to a congregation of 68. At the conclusion of the sermon, the Bishop dedicated a handsome new Pulpit, presented to the Church by Walter and Charlie King, in memory of their parents and three sisters. Robert Martin Man Ordained to the Priesthood The Rev. Mr. Man was ordained to the priesthood in the Church of the Messiah, May 29, 1939. The Service started at 11:00 a.m. with the full choir of 14, together with the Bishop, Rev. Mr. Man, and six visiting clergymen coming down the aisle with the Processional. Dr. Charles Lowry, Ph.D., of the Alex-andria Seminary, preached the sermon. He then "charged" the 27-year-old minister. After the various phases of the service, Communion was held. The entire attendance numbered 102 people. After the ceremony, the visitors were taken to the Rockingham Hotel for lunch. The visiting clergymen were as follows: Bishop Edwin A. Penick — Raleigh Rev. John A. Wright, Christ Church — Raleigh Rev. Thaddeus A. Cheatham — Pinehurst 34 Rev. Willis G. Clark, St. Peter's — Charlotte Rev. Craighill Brown — Wadesboro , Dr. Charles Lowry — Alexandria Seminary A large number of inter-denominational clergymen and guests participated in the joyous occasion. Rev. Mr. Man celebrated his first Communion service, June 4th. Twice during the summer of 1939, Rev. and Mrs. Robert Man went to Camp Penick, Vade Mecum, to visit and assist in the work there. When Adolph Hitler began his mad campaign in Europe, September 1, 1939, seeking world domination, the greatest war in the annals of history soon engulfed nearly every nation of the Planet Earth. The U.S.A., reluctant to get invo;lved, by 1941, was fighting a global war on two fronts. Not until 1945 did the tumult finally cease. And the little town of Rockingham and its people had borne their share of the conflict. * * * * The Church on September 10, 1939, voted to buy from HOLC the I. S. London home, adjoining the church property on the north- This 80 x 165 foot lot was bought by London from John L. Everett in 1919. HOLC took it over May 6, 1939. The papers were signed by the Vestry, September 11, 1939. The Church was to pay $4,000 for the property, with $400 cash down-payment, with the remaining $3600 to be paid over a period of 20 years at $28.48 a month. The deed was signed September 28, 1939, by seven vestrymen — A. G. Corpening, Charlie W. King, Walter King, George Bowes, Walter R. Jones, Jr., Grover Wheliss and Isaac London. Payne London and Edwin William Hurst, Jr. were married November 30, 1939. Many friends and relatives were present for the simple but lovely ceremony. Saturday, January 13, Bishop Penick came from Raleigh by train and met with the Vestry at Cope's Inn. He gave a report on Diocesan funds. He preached at the Sunday morn-ing service. The choir was accompanied by Mrs. William Love at the organ. The Bishop confirmed Josephine Henry and Isaac London, Jr. The ladies of the Church instituted a series of four semi-monthly duplicate bridge games for funds for the new organ. Mrs. W. N. Everett, Sr., died of a heart attack at the home of Mrs. B. F. Palmer. She was born August 8, 1886 and died February 28, 1940. Rev. Howard Hartzell was in charge of the funeral, assisted by Rev. Mr. Man. (First use of the new organ.) Pall-bearers were William and Henry Dockery, Marl- 35 borough Pegues, Ozmer Henry, Nathan and Nash LeGrand. Through the efforts of the Guild and other ladies of the Church, under the presidency of Mrs. Henry C. Wall, and the generous cooperation of friends, the Church, on February 29, 1940, installed a new organ, costing $1500. Of the amount $900 was paid in cash. (Model D. Hammond.) Mrs. Mial McRae the former Kathryn McDonald, born 1897, died at 8:00 a.m. Easter Sunday, March 24th, as a result of an auto accident. Funeral services were held at the Church on Easter Monday, the 25th. Burial was at 3:00 p.m. in East-side Cemetery. Isaac S. London resigned as superintendent of the Church School, March 12, 1939. Rev. Robert Man appointed Warren B. Bezanson, a teacher in the high school, to replace Mr. Lon-don, who had served faithfully in that capacity since the death of Eugene Gray Payne in 1920. In the 19 years of Mr. London's term of office, he missed Church School only 10 times. After the Easter 9, 1939 service, Rev. Mr. Man presented Miss Easdale Shaw and Miss Eloise Smith a gift in appreciation of their many years of service to their church. The two ladies were then making their permanent homes in Charlotte. The 123rd Annua! Diocesan Convention The 123rd Annual Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina was held with the Church of the Good Shepherd in Raleigh, May 18th and 19th, 1939. It was scheduled to meet the following year with St. Peter's in Charlotte. The conven-tion voted down the proposal to allow women to be eligible for the Vestry. The 1940 Budget was set at $62,591. A $1,000 sum was apportioned for the expenses of the North Carolina Churchman on the basis of 4,000 free copies to parishioners. Bishop Edwin A. Penick was authorized to name a com-mission on "faith and order" to study Christian unity, especially of Episcopalians and Presbyterians, as contemplated in national "conversations" between the two sects. Attending from Rockingham were Rev. Robert Man, George Bowes, and A. G. Corpening. Born at 10 p.m., May 3, 1940, in St. Peter's Hospital, Charlotte, a 4-pound son to Rev. and Mrs. Robert Man. Rev. Mr. Man had been rector in Rockingham since June 19 1938. Passing Events in the Life of the Parish During the months of July and August of 1940, the hand-some reredos, Bishop's chair, and credence table donated by Miss Easdale Shaw in memory of her parents were installed. Later in the year, November 3rd, these memorials were dedicat- 36 ed by Bishop Penick, Rev. Mr. Hartzell (now a rector in High Point), and Rev. Mr. Man, rector of the Church. On his visit to the Church of the Messiah, February 2, 1941, Bishop Penick officiated at the 10:00 a.m. Communion Service and confirmed the following new communicants: Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Deal, young Marx Deal, Mrs. J. M. Osteen, Miss Helen Long, and Grover Baxley, Jr. On April 30, 1941, Helen Marshall Long of Rockingham and David Follett of Adams, Massachusetts, were married in a lovely afternoon ceremony. Rev. Mr. Hartzell, brother-in-law of the bride, performed the rites, assisted by Rev. Robert Man. The Church was filled to over-flowing. The women of the Church raised enough money to install three wrought iron antique gold lanterns in the nave of the church, and also a pulpit lamp during the month of May, 1941. The cost amounted to over a $150.00. Rev. Tommie Lee Trott died, July 26, 1941, in Statesville at the age of 65. He was fondly remembered here due to his serving of the Church of the Messiah from 1915 to 1918. The Civitan Club, December 4, 1941, voted the 1941 Cit-izenship Cup to Rev. Robert Man. During the following months, due to the scarcity of rationed gasoline and tires, Rev. Man used a bicycle to make his tours about the countryside. On May of 1942, he reported to Fort Bragg and passed the physical exam for army chaplain. Then on June 11, 1942, much to the regret of the members of the Parish, he was ordered to report to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, as 1st Lieutenant. When he left for overseas, he weighed 230 pounds. Reverend Robert Williamson Turner, Jr., New Rector The Rev. Mr. Turner, a graduate of Sewanee, was born in Tennessee, April 26, 1916. He was raised to the Diaconate by Bishop Penick, January 24, 1943. He arrived in Rockingham, February 1, 1943, to serve as a replacement for Rev. Robert Man, now serving over seas. His first service was held Feb-ruary 7th. Mrs. Helen Cox Snead was the organist. On the night of Saturday, April 10th, 125 soldiers slept on the church floor and benches due to an overflow at the U.S.O. Building. Shortly afterward, Rev. Mr. Turner posted placards about town, welcoming soldiers to all services at the Church of the Messiah. At the May 23rd Sunday services, eighteen soldiers were in attendance. Mrs. Alec L. McDonald, charter member of the Parish, died July 26, 1944. She was the former Miss Katie McMackin. She was 79 years old. Rev. Robert Turner went to Tennessee, January 30th, 1944, for two weeks, and on February 6th, Stackley Hurst, of Hamlet, 37 read the service. He was a sophomore at the university. After graduation, he planned to study for the ministry. Bettie Louise London and Ensign Baxter B. Slaughter, Jr., were married at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 2, 1944, in the Meth-odist Church by Rev. B. B. Slaughter, father of the groom, and Rev. Robert Turner. The Presiding Bishop wired all churches, Friday, April 28, 1944, to be on alert for the Western European invasion "D", and when it came, to open churches for prayer. Rev. J. Edwin Bethea was awarded the degree of 'Doctor of Divinity,' April 29, 1944, at Washington and Lee University. He was rector of the Church of the Messiah from June 30, 1934 to October 26, 1936. He left to assume a rectorship at Culpepper, Virginia. He later served at Lexington, Va. Bishop Penick visited the Parish on Good Friday, March 30, 1945. He conducted a 11:00 a.m. service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Turner. There were 62 persons in the congregation. During the service, the Bishop confirmed the following members as new communicants in the Church: William Edward and Mildred Harrison, Mrs. Wilton Fielder and Wilton, Jr. (15), Kayway Nicolson (15), and Pickett Leak, Jr. (13), Mrs. J. M. Nicol-son by handshake, since she had previously been confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church before being received into the Epis-copal Church. Rev. Robert W. Turner, at Bishop Penick's request, gave up his rectorship at the Church of the Messiah to serve as rector at Mt. Airy and Walnut Cove. He would also be the Business Manager of Vade Mecum. He had been at the Rockingham Parish since February 1, 1943. During his 26 months, the Church had grown, the rectory had been painted and improved, and the entire debt of $2400 on the rectory paid. A Baptistry had been built in the south side of the church and not a penny of debt on the property remained. Rev. Mr. Turner left the Parish, April 4, 1945, to assume his new duties. During the summer months of 1945, Stackley Hurst, stu-dent and lay-reader, and Rev. Thaddeus Cheatham held services on numerous occasions. * * * * With the formal surrender of Japan, September 1, 1945, President Harry Truman proclaimed Sunday, September 2, 1945 as V-J Day for the United States of America. Captain Robert Man, rector of the Church of the Messiah from 1938 to 1942, returned to his former parish, which he relinquished upon becoming an army Chaplain, for a visit and held services on December 30, 1945. A large congre- 38 gation was in attendance to hear him and to convey their good wishes. He began work as rector of Christ Church, Covington, La., January 10, 1946. Reverend Ralph A. Bridges — New Rector Since the departure of Rev. Mr. Turner as rector of the Parish, April 4, 1945, the Church had been without a reguiar minister for nearly a year. During the interim, Student Lay- Reader, Stackiey Hurst of Hamlet, Rev. Thacideus A. Cheatham of Pinehurst, Rev. Mr. Hobart of Cheraw, and Lay-Reader Ar-thur C. Cunday had supplied the needs of the Church of the Messiah. Although the Vestry had met on November 7, 1945, to consider calling Captain Alfred Bridges and again on January 14, 1946, it was not until their meeting with Rev. Mr. Bridges on February 19, 1946, that they called him as rector and he accepted the call. Rev. Ralph A. Bridges was born near Mt. Gilead, August 27, 1911. He attended Catawba College, then pursued his prep-aration for the ministry at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. He was ordained to the Diaconate, June 1936. He then served 18 months at two missions near Burlington. In Jan-uary of 1938, he went to serve the Church in Erwin. When America became engaged in the conflict with Japan, he joined the Navy as Chaplain in November 1942, and served until August 22, 1945, fifteen months of which time was spent in the Pacific Group islands. Back in the States and discharged, he was ready to resume the duties of a parish rector. Captain Bridges had married Francis Patricia Jones of Montgomery, Alabama, Oc-tober 22, 1943. Rev. Mr. Bridges conducted his first service in Rocking-ham, March 3, 1946. A full choir and a large congregation greeted the new minister. Thus began a happy relationship be-tween the congregation and its rector which lasted throughout the three years that he remained in Rockingham. Since the Presbyterian and Episcopal Churches were gain-ing new ministers simultaneously, on Sunday, March 17th, at a 7:30 p.m. service, the Baptist Church played host to both clergy-men. All churches took part in welcoming Rev. Jennings Reid to the Presbyterian pastorate, and Rev. Ralph Bridges as rector to the Church of trie Messiah. Mrs. John Chase of Florence, on May 5, 1946, gave a lovely silver bowl for the Baptismal font, in memory of her sister, Mrs. A. L. (Katie) McDonald, who died July 26, 1944. Bishop Penick visited the Episcopal Church, Sunday, Oc-tober 20, 1946. He confirmed a class of seven: Mrs. Hill Martin, Ann McCullough Nicolson, Margaret Sinclair Baxley, Franklin Jefferson Garrett, Eugene Phillips Bishop, Robert Edward Leak, and John Perry Fielder. 39 Isaac Spencer London, Jr., born August 5, 1926, died in Veterans Hospital at Fayetteville, N. C, January 20, 1947. Funeral services were conducted here in the Episcopal Church, Wednesday the 22nd, by Rev. Ralph Bridges. Burial was in the Eastside Cemetery. His mother, Lena Everett London, born Aug-ust 10, 1892, died January 1930, was moved from Everett little cemetery January 29, 1947, and reinterred by her son Issac. Benediction at the grave was given by Rev. Mr. Bridges at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, January 30, 1947. Only the family was present. Twenty cases of polio were reported in Richmond County after July 1, 1947, whereupon the County Health Board closed schools after Wednesday, September 17th. Church strvices and movies barred children under sixteen. Ban was lifted and the schools re-opened after being closed twelve school days. The Men's Club, which had been meeting for a monthly supper the past year, met at Blewett Falls, April 20, 1948. Watt Jones was elected leader for the new year, succeeding N. R. McElveen. Rev. Ralph Bridges informed the group that he had accepted the call to the Church of the Holy Comforter in New Orleans, for June 1st. He preached his first sermon here, March 3, 1946. Wednesday, May 26, a reception was held in the Com-munity Building for Rev. Mr. Bridges and his wife. The follow-ing night he was the speaker at the Civitan Club. On Sunday, the departing Rector held his last service with 65 members of the congregation present. Tuesday, June 1, 1948, the Bridges family left for New Orleans. The Parish had lost a very fine man and minister. Mr. Malcolm Bowes died of a heart attack, Thursday, June 17, 1948. His funeral was held in the Church of the Mes-siah, the church he had served most faithfully, even beyond the call of duty since he had arrived in Rockingham in 1924 from Pennsylvania. Almost consistently he had served as treas-urer of the Parish, and in any other capacity where his great and practical experience could be of use. He was truly a staunch 'pillar' of the Church. Beginning in the month of June, with the departure of Rev. Mr. Bridges for a rectorship in New Orleans, Stackley Hurst was again called in to hold services in the Parish. Rev. P. Robert Baird from Sanford also supplied, and Stark Dillard, University Student, conducted three services at intervals. When Bishop Penick made his visit to the Parish, January 30, 1949, he agreed to the Church of the Messiah's calling Stack-ley Hurst to serve the Church upon his graduation in June. At a supper held in the Community Building earlier in the month, the congregation had unanimously agreed to call Stackley Hurst, who had been associated with tht Church since he was a youngs-ter. 40 According to the wishes of the Parish, Bishop Penick or-dained Mr. Hurst to the Diaconate, June 28, 1949, at an im-pressive service. The young minister was warmly received. Rev. Mr. Hurst was born in Ingold, Sampson County, S. C, July 8, 1923. His father served briefly in the Parish in 1937. He re-ceived his B. A. at the University, June 10, 1946. Then he at-tended the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., for a year. In 1947, he entered the Philadelphia Divinity School, graduating, June 1949. He held his first official service July 3rd. Mrs. Henry Fairley, a sister of Miss Easdale Shaw and one of the first members of the organized Mission in 1900, died in Charlotte, April 12, 1949. She was buried in Laurinburg. On his visit to the Parish, January 22, 1950, the Bishop preached to a congregation of 110. During the service, there were eight members of the Church confirmed: Mr. and Mrs. W. Alex Snead, and son, Alex, Jr.; Mrs. F. W. Symmes, Edwin B. Bristow, Jr., Williard Spencer Taylor, Jr.; Timothy Nugent Tay-lor, and Mrs. James Cameron. Rev. Stackley Hurst was ordained to the priesthood at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 1, 1950. Bishop Penick was in charge of the service. The Very Reverend Frank Dean Gifford, of Philadelphia Divinity School, preached the sermon. Ten mini-sters of the Diocese took part in the impressive Act of Ordina-tion. A large congregation was in attendance. Lunch was served in the Parish House for relatives and visiting guests. In the fall of the same year of his ordination to the priest-hood, Stackley Hurst was asked by Bishop Penick to assume the managership of the Vade Mecum property, and to serve the Missions of Walnut Cove, Germantown, and Mayodan. Although he had supplied at the Rockingham Parish on numerous occas-ions, he had been the permanent rector here only about sixteen months. He left October 17, 1950. A special convention of the Diocese of North Carolina met in Raleigh, September 14, 1950, and on the seventh ballot, elected Rev. Richard Henry Baker of Baltimore, aged 53, Bishop Coadjutor. He would be in the order of succession to Diocesan Bishop in the event that the Rt. Rev. Edwin Penick's seat became vacant, for the Bishop was now in his 64th year of age, and 28th year as a Bishop. (Rev. Mr. Hurst and Calhoun Pruitt went as delegates for the Church of the Messiah in Rockingham.) The Post-Dispatch printed a history of Rockingham, North Carolina, September 27, 1950 as a result of the presentation by the British Counsul of a Plaque for the Destroyer Rockingham. Exercises were held here, September 21, 1950, honoring the oc-casion. (The birthday of Richmond County is February 1, 1779. The official birthday of the town of Rockingham happens to be April 19, 1784. Lots were bought April 1, 1785.) The Vestry had met, September 26th, to consider a new 41 rector. Reports on Rev. C. E. B. Robinson of York, South Caro-lina, were most favorable. In fact, Rev. and Mrs. Robinson were invited to a reception at 4:00 p.m. on October 16th, in order that a number of the members of the congregation might meet with them and get acquainted. The church members were delighted with the Robinsons, and Rev. Mr. Robinson was called as R,ector to start April 1, 1951. For years the members of the Church of the Messiah had discussed the need and practicality of constructing a parish house, but no positive action had been taken. At the same meet-ing of the Church, when Rev. Mr. Robinson was called as Rector, a committee of seven was named to expedite a building pro-gram immediately. The Parish House Building Committee was as follows: J. M. Nicolson, Chairman Mrs. Lynwood Fowlkes John R. McCracken Charles King Wra. Edward Harrison Calhoun Pruitt Mrs. Henry C. Wall The Vestry and Building Committee met at Cope's Inn, January 12, 1951, and approved the plans for the new Parish House on the north side of the church. The total cost was to be about $25,000. The Church had $10,000 cash on hand. A note would be taken out on one of the local banks for the remaining $15,000; and R. C. Price was chosen to do the work. The lot was actually staked off, January 17th, and on the 23rd, a ma-chine excavated for the foundation. It also uprooted the huge oak tree, long a land mark of majestic beauty. At the Confirmation Service, Thursday, October 26, 1950, Bishop Penick confirmed H. B. Garden, young John Garden, James Moss, and Miss Jane Doster. An interval of six months passed before the services of a regular rector were secured for the Parish following the de-parture of Rev. Stackley Hurst. Beginning December 24, 1950, Rev. Francis Osborne held services in the Church each 1st Sun-day, until the Rev. C. E. B. Robinson arrived April 1 1951, to assume the full-time rectorship of the Church of the Messiah. Edwin Hurst served as Lay-Reader at the night services during this intervening period. On March 10, 1951, the vestrymen of the Church signed for a $9,000 note with the Farmers Bank, and a similar one with the Richmond Bank ($18,000), in financing the construc-tion of the new Parish House. The signers were as follows: A. G. Corpening, John McCracken, Pickett Leak, W. E. Harrison, Jr., Isaac London, Marion Miller, George Browder. Reverend Mr. Robinson New Rector 1951: Rev. C. Earle Robinson and his wife arrived in the Parish on March 29, 1951, and his first sendee as the Rector was on 42 April 1st. He was born January 30, 1890, at Coudersport, Penn. In 1918, he married Susan Chase of Waterford, N. Y. He was the father of three children — Gilbert, head of the Ceramic De-partment at Clemson; Peter, who would graduate, May 1951, at General Theological Seminary, and Mrs. S. K. (Mary Anne) Lowry, Jr., of York. Bishop Richard Baker, now the new Bishop Coadjutor since January 1951, held morning services at the Parish Church on Sunday, April 22nd. preached the sermon, and formally install-ed the new Rector. Standing with Rev. Mr. Robinson were Senior Warden, A. G. Corpening, and Pickett Leak. A Vestry election was held at noon, Sunday, April 29, 1951. Twenty-five voted in secret ballot. The nominees were as follows: 3-year terms: Calhoun Pruitt and J. M. Nicolson; 2-year terms: Pickett Leak and W. R. Jones, Jr.; 1-year term: H. B. Garden and W. E. Harrison, Jr. The list of men over 21 years eligible for the vestry; G. Calhoun Pruitt, James M. Nicolson, Wm. Ed Harrison, Jr., A. G. Corpening, Hugh L. Deal, Walter R. Jones, Jr., Wm. Walter King, Charles W. King, J. Pickett Leak, Isaac S. London, J. Grover Wheliss, Edwin W. Hurst, Jr., Walter F. Long, III, John McCracken, A. Alex Snead, George Browder, Marion Miller, James Moss, and H. B. Garden. The memberships of Mr. and Mrs. Riggs Goodman from Rock Hill, and Mrs. Catherine Johnson from Raleigh were trans-ferred to this Church, May 13, 1951. Reverend Mr. Robinson New Rector: April 1, 1951 (continued) The Reverend Mr. Robinson proved to be a meticulous or-ganizer. His years of service in the Ministry had made him a wise and scholarly judge of human nature. His sincerity and persistence in congregational growth, both spiritually and nu-merically, soon became evident to his new parishioners. In ad-dition, he was a proficient musician, the clarinet being his forte. A musical career had been his early choice in life before he felt the urge to enter the ministry. He often accompanied the Choir in the many classical selections which he and Mrs. Helen Snead arranged for special programs. One of Rev. Earl Robinson's first endeavors was the pub-lication of his "Messiah Messenger", a combination news-letter, church-bulletin, and scholarly excerpts from church documents and current publications which represented his wide field of reading material. He sought diligently to inform his congrega-tion of their church heritage. On the occasions when the Services of the Messiah Parish were broadcast on radio and TV, he made the listeners' time worthwhile. And he carefully screened good reading matter and 43 broadcasts which he might recommend to the youngsters in the Church School. The Bazaar of November 26, 1952, was a most outstand-ing example of congregational cooperation on the part of young and old. It was sponsored by rhe ladies of the Church, but every-body participated to the fullest in making it the success that it was. The final proceeds from the undertaking amounted to $430.00. An additional sum of $70.00, raised from bridge parties, made it possible for the women of the Parish to give $500.00 to the Building Fund for the Parish House. In his 1952 Yearly Report, published February 1, 1953, the Rector was most pleased with the progress made in the pre-school department and with the leaders and teachers. His praises for the Choir, and the Altar Committee, the Junior-Choir, the Acolytes and Lay-Readers were jubilant. The Women's Com-mittee, Auxiliary "treasury report" was most impressive. Begin-ning the year with a balance of $327.35, by ingenious devices, their yearly total was $1,983.14 of which $1,150.00 was con-tributed to the Building Committee to reduce the Parish House debt. Mr. John Papson by his will left to this Parish $127.50. With this money the Vestry procured a suitable cover for the Font. The remainder was applied to the Parish House indebted-ness. Of the $18,000.00 borrowed from the Farmers Bank and the Richmond Bank by the Vestry to finance the construction of the Parish House, $5,514.82 had been paid off by the end of the year 1952. The funds had been produced by various means: Friends outside the Church; Memorials; the Walter King, John Papson, Lucy Parsons Estates; regular installments by mem-bers of the congregation; building and loan interests; the St. Anne's and St. Clair's Auxiliary; the Dick Chapman lecture (Sponsored by the men) ; several outright gifts, sometimes an-onymous. The St. Anne's Auxiliary members, working individually at doing their own thing, turned in $250.00 to be applied to the Church debt. This was May 24, 1953. Some Progress Reports : A. At the Parish Meeting, December 2, 1953 Edwin W. Hurst and Walter F. Long were elected to the Vestry for terms of three years to succeed J. Pickett Leak and Walter R. Jones, whose terms would expire at the end of the year (1953). B. The Vestry met January 5, 1954, at the home of E. W. Hurst, Jr. The following officers were elected: Senior Warden, James Nicolson; Junior Warden, Cal-houn Pruitt; Secretary, Alex Snead; Treasurer, Walter F. Long. The pledges for the 1954 expenses fell short 44 $700.00 of the budget of $6,787.35 adopted for the year, even though Mr. Hurst had done an excellent job in conducting the Every Member Canvas for Church Funds. February 14, 1954, the "Messiah Messenger" reported as follows regarding the Parish House indebtedness: a reduction of Church debt by $1,745.79. The source of funds for such purposes were derived from the ladies of the Church; additional memorial gifts: for Grover Wheliss, Mildred Harrison, and Ardistide Kalevas. Individual contributions of Church members made up the rest. According to the will of the late W. B. Cole, the Church of the Messiah received $2,000. The Vestry decided to invest this sum in a trust fund in his name, the income to be used for the Parish. C. The Reverend Mr. Jeffress, Diocesan Director of Re-ligious Education, upon his visit to the Church of the Messiah, October 11, 1954, met with the Sunday School teachers, and with Mr. Edwin Hurst, superintendent of the Church School. He praised all the persons connected with this department. He maintained that the system used and the efficiency of the instructors were by far the best in the whole Diocese. Through the medium of "The Messiah Messenger", for the First Sunday in Advent, November 28, 1954, the Vestry expressed a note of thanks and appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Nicolson for their gift of ten shares of stock in the Union Oil Company of Cali-fornia. This monetary gift was added to the Trust Fund of the Church. At this half-way period of Rev. C. E. B. Robinson's rectorship of the Church of the Messiah (1951-1958), this cryptic comment appeared in "The Messiah Mes-senger": "As I understand the history of the Church of the Messiah, the Church became a parish in 1924, but in 1929, it threw in the sponge and went in with Hamlet, Laurinburg and the Diocese, jealously keep-ing the name of a Parish, though acting as a Mission. That has been the state of affairs until about four years ago. Then we began acting like a Parish. It looks like we're going to make it this time." The Church of the Messiah Trust Fund was enriched, Jan-uary 9, 1955, by a gift of ten shares of Pacific Mills stock by Mrs. Elizabeth Wall. The two newly elected members of the Vestry at their January meeting were Melton Michel Georgion and Walter Ral-eigh Jones. The officers were as follows: Senior Warden, Edwin 45 William Hurst; Junior Warden, Walter Franklin Long; Secre-tary, Melton Michel Georgion; Treasurer, William Watson Bishop. The rector reported only a one-thousand dollar reduction in the Church debt during the year of 1954. Of this amount $600 was raised by the women of the Church. The first three quarters of the Parish year 1955 were mark-ed by three phases of activity which called for extra spotlighting: (1) The inspiring Church Institute presented by the De-partment of Christian Education of the Diocese of North Carolina, April 23 and 24. The following dis-tinguished Christian leaders participated in present-ing various topics: The Rev. Gray Temple, rector of St. Peter's, Charlotte, Chairman; Rev. C. E. B. Rob-inson, rector of the Church of the Messiah, Rocking-ham, Diocesan director of Religious Education; Mr. E. M. Holt, of Cone Mills, Laymen's work; Mrs. E. G. Peoples, Provincial President of the Woman's Auxil-iary; Mrs. John Haney, Adult Advisor to our Young People. The Institute was held for the benefit of Messiah Church, All Saints, and St. David's. (2) Sunday night, May 22, the excellent Parish Choir gave the Cantata, "Christ the Victor," by Dudley Buck. The Choir was assisted by Shirley Leonard of the Charlotte Symphony, Virginia Milroy of the Greens-boro Opera Association, Ronald Milroy of the First Presbyterian Church of Winston-Salem, and Reilly Mathews, Jr., of the Moravian Church in Winston- Salem. (3) The attendance and high rating of the Sunday School — thanks to such faithful teachers as Mrs. Smith, Mrs. France, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Edwards, Ethel Browder, Emily Dockery, Barbara Georgian, Meta Covington, Mike Georgion, and Superintendent, Edwin W. Hurst. While praising the Sunday School Department, Rev. Mr. Robinson suggested that the congregation should give several "alleluias" for the following ladies who cared for the Guild of the Christ Child (baby sitters to you) : Lillie Deal, Nellie Leak, Grace Bowes, Agnes Pruitt, Ellen Nicoison, Delores Edwards, Jamie Covington, Lena Everett, Susan Robinson, and Virginia Pruitt, director. On Sunday after Easter, at the Diocesan Presentation Serv-ice for the Children's mite box offering at St. Luke's, Salisbury, we were represented by Tom Taylor, Bunky Symmes, Theron Phifer, Vicki Phifer, Marilyn Miller, and C. E. B. Robinson. Our children's mite boxes offered $28.10. The banner which Marilyn made for us was the best one there. Quinquagesima, February 12, 1956: Ash Wednesday — the first day of Lent. In checking some of the Rev. Mr. Robinson's instructional literature for special days of the Church year, you 46 would find the following quote from the Emporia (Kansas) Gazette for the above occasion: "The Church is a gathering place for people of like minds and particularly of like economic status. We have different faiths for people of different incomes, and the lower the income, the hotter the hell and the brighter the heaven. As income rises, hell cools, heaven becomes rather nebulous and less gaudy. The church becomes a pleasant gather-ing place, a sort of club where men and women meet with peculiar felicity and considerable freedom of thought and ac-tion." Long time ago, when we were building the Parish House and had spent all the money we could borrow from the banks, the following good Christian men signed notes so that we could get enough money to complete the building: W. R. Jones; W. R. Jones, Jr.; A. G. Corpening; W. Alex and Helen Cox Snead; J. P. Leak; Walter F. Long, III; H. B. Garden; E. W. Duvall; G. Calhoun Pruitt; G. S. Chapin. A sufficient amount had been paid on the debt at this accounting that those notes had been cancelled. We shall always owe thanks to the good Christian members of the congregation. On Sunday next before Advent, thirteen Church members became communicants of this Parish — 2 by transfer; 11 by confirmation. Only three of these were born here; two more within the State; and the rest came from Massachusetts, Okla-homa, Ireland, Missouri, Poland, and New Jersey. Easter Tide — 1957: The white super-frontal for the Altar, the handiwork of Susan Robinson, was a gift from the Robinsons in thanksgiving to God for six happy years of life in the Church of the Messiah. The hangings for the pulpit and lectern and the Bible marker were the gift and handiwork of Ellen Nicolson and Susan Robinson. The burse and veil for the Communion vessels were the gift of Connie Leak. November 17, 1957, the Rev. Urban (Terry) Holmes, from Chapel Hill, N. C, who served here during his Dioconate, (now dean of the School of Theology at Sewanee, Tenn.) was a visitor at the Church of the Messiah. At the time of his visit he was serving as Chaplain at Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, La. Knowing that he would in a few weeks be leaving the Rockingham Parish which he had lovingly served for seven years, the Rev. Mr. Robinson explained in one of the last issues of his church bulletin the proper procedure for a congregation to continue strong and effective while searching for a new rector. In fact, he had been advising the Vestry about such matters for nearly a year. He assured the members of the Church of his devotion, and apologized for his occasional scoldings (because he loved them). He wanted the Church of the Messiah to achieve honest-to-goodness Parishood rather than, in reality, acting like an organized Mission. 47 Like a kind father leaving a heritage to his children, he spelled out the reasons why he was leaving them in a state of good health: The church had three fine licensed Lay-Read-ers: Edwin W. Hurst, Jr., Calhoun Pruitt, and Edward Bartlette; the Wardens had appointed the following to serve until the new rector assumed his duties: Gail Johnson, in charge of music; Charles King, Jr., advisor to acolytes; Payne Hurst, account-able for Altar supplies; Edwin Hurst, executive head of Sunday School; William Jones, secretary and. treasurer; Calhoun Pruitt, in charge of opening devotions. Edwin Hurst would also con-tinue as director of the Brotherhood of St. Andrews. In his final bulletin, January 19, 1958, the departing Rec-tor reminded the congregation that Holy Communion Service is the only Christian worship, the only worship ordained by Christ, the only worship which only a Christian can do . . . Any other devotional activity is but a preparation for Holy Communion — including baptism, confirmation, confession, and absolution. On January 31, 1958, Rev. and Mrs. Robinson left Rockingham for their permanent home in York, South Carolina. February 23, Rev. Mr. Robinson, accompanied by Mrs. Robinson, returned at the Vestry's request for the purpose of celebrating Holy Communion and dedicating the burse, commun-ion veil, bible markers, and super-frontal for the Altar, prev-iously donated by Mrs. C. P. Stewart and Mrs. Mary Robinson in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Corpening. The workman-ship was that of Mrs. Ellen Nicolson and Mrs. Virginia Pruitt, a valuable donation indeed. The Sunday following the visit of the Robinsons to the Church of the Messiah, the contents of a letter from them was published in the Church Bulletin expressing sincere thanks for the check for $200 presented to them by the Senior Warden, and explaining how deeply touched they were by the number of parishioners and friends from Rockingham, Hamlet, Wadesboro, Laurinburg, and Charlotte who attended the reception given in their honor. (The Ladies of the Church did such a magnificent job upon this occasion that the Vestry voted them a cum laude note of thanks.) The Rev. Mr. Robinson was sorely missed upon relinquish-ing his rectorship of the Rockingham Parish. Several visiting committees began immediately to search for a replacement. With the close of the 1957 Church year, there were 94 communicants in the Parish. The Sunday School had 14 officers and teachers; 16 members in the adult Bible class; 44 in other classes. Wednesday, February 26, the Vestry invited the Rev. John Zunes from Cooleemee, N. C, to conduct Evening Prayer. The Rev. Mr. Zunes and his wife were in Rockingham seeing the town and the Church of the Messiah. Later in the evening, at a special meeting of the Vestry, it was voted unanimously to issue a call to the Rev. Mr. Zunes, subject to the approval of Bishop Penick. With the Bishop's blessing, Rev. John Zunes did 48 accept the call to the Rockingham Parish, and provisions were made for him to assume the rectorship in his new church on April 8, 1958. The young Zunes couple — John and Helen — had one son, 15 months old Stevie. And they hoped to move here shortly after Easter. The new Minister was a native of Norfolk, Va., and an alumnus of V.P.I. , Blacksburg, Va., Duke Divinity School, and Virginia Seminary. Helen was a native of Wilson, North Carolina, and a graduate of Mary Baldwin, Staunton, Virginia. For the interim of the next two months, the Parish Church proceeded nobly under its own steam; however, for the Good Friday and Easter Services, the Reverend Harry C. Cobey of Hamlet, came to the rescue. The Rev. Mr. Robinson had re-turned to conduct the Palm Sunday Services. Rev. Mr. Zunes Assumes Rectorship of the Rockingham Parish On the Second Sunday after Easter, April 20, 1958, the Rev. John A. Zunes, in his official capacity as Rector of the Rockingham Parish, expressed both his and his wife's happiness at being connected with the Church of the Messiah. They looked forward to the joy of sharing with the congregation the work of God's Kingdom, and wished to thank all who had made the task of getting settled in the Parish rectory an easy one. Saint Peter the Apostle's commemorative day for 1958 fell on June 29. So it was a joy to see the Altar and all the markers and hangings adorned in the beautiful red trimmings ap-propriate for the occasion. The red Super-frontal, Pulpit Ante-pendia, Lectern Hangings, as well as the Communion Burse and Veil, were given to the glory of God and in loving memory of their parents, Arthur Glenn Corpening, and Louise Linton Cor-pening, by Arthur Corpening, Jr., Samuel L. Corpening, and Mrs. Louise C. Perry. The work was done by Ellen Nicolson and Virginia Pruitt, the same ladies who made the beautiful white hangings for the Altar and chancel the past Easter. During the month of July 1958, Bishop Baker of the Dio-cese of North Carolina, together with many more American Bishops, met with some 400 Bishops of the Anglican Communion from all over the world at Lambeth Palace, London, in the ninth Lambeth Conference. This Conference meets approximately every ten years, and it is made up of Bishops from all over the Angli-can Communion. They discuss together the affairs of the Christian Church in the world today under such topics as: The Holy Bible, Church Unity, Progress in the Anglican Communion, Conflicts between and within Nations, and the Family in Contemporary Society. The decisions of the Conference are not binding on the member Churches as would be Canon Law. On the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity, Bishop Edwin A. Penick, now in his 71st year of life and in failing health, visited the Church of the Messiah, preached the sermon, and con- 49 firmed the following candidates into the membership of the Protestant Episcopal Church: George Alexander Graham Brow-der, Jr., Thomas Hector Phifer, William Nicolson Smith, Carl Kenneth Welch, and William Lawson Welch, Jr. In the Invocation Prayer of the Order of Confirmation in the Book of Common Prayer the Gifts of the Holy Ghost are listed as these: The spirit of wisdom and understanding; The spirit of counsel and ghostly strength; The spirit of knowledge and true godliness; The spirit of holy fear, or fear of the Lord. On Good Friday, March 26, 1959, a Community Three-hour service was held in the Church of the Messiah, at which time each of the Seven Words from the Cross were used as the basis for prayer and meditation. The following Churches participated in the service : Park Ave. Presbyterian ; Pee Dee Methodist; Church of the Messiah; First Presbyterian, Hamlet; Cartledge Creek Baptist; First Methodist; First Baptist. DIOCESAN BISHOP PENICK DIED APRIL 6, 1959 At the regular Diocesan Convention of 1958, Bishop Penick's retirement was announced to take place April 4, 1959, and his many friends and admirers had been raising funds with which to buy a suitable home for his retirement — a tribute to the man who had served the Diocese faithfully for 37 years. But Bishop Penick died, April 6, 1959, and Bishop Baker succeeded as Diocesan. Bishop Penick, the son of an Episcopal minister, and the father of one, was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, on April 4, 1887, where his father was Rector of the Church of the Ascension. He graduated at the University of the South, at Sewanee, Tenn., in 1912. He earned a Master's degree from Harvard, and in 1909 entered the Virginia Seminary as a candidate for the ministry from the Diocese of South Carolina. Shortly afterward, he was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Guerry, and in 1913, he was ordained to the Priesthood in Grace Church, Charleston. He served as Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Columbia, South Carolina, until 1918 when he entered the Service as Army Chaplain. In 1919 he was called to Saint Peter's Church in Charlotte and remained there until he was elected Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of North Carolina. He was consecrated there by Bishop Cheshire. He was only 35 years old when he became a bishop. Bishop Penick won the reputation of being an able ad-ministrator, a wise counselor, and an outstanding preacher. He served on the National Council of the Episcopal Church, and was President of the Fourth Province, Vice President for the American Church Institute for Negroes, and on several other Church boards. The death of Bishop Penick on April 6, 1959, and the 50 election of Reverend Thomas A. Fraser, D. D., as Bishop Co-adjutor, February 3, 1960, at the "Special Convention", occurred during the departure of the Rev. Mr. Zunes as rector of the Rockingham Parish and before the Rev. Mr. Sparks assumed his rectorship here, June 1, 1960. Edward Hurst was the only dele-gate from the Church of the Messiah to attend the "Special Con-vention." Before being elected Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of North Carolina, the Rev. Mr. Fraser had served in the Diocese of New York. In 1944, he became the Rector of St. Paul's Epis-copal Church, Alexandria, Virginia, coming to St. Paul's Church, Winston-Salem, in 1951. He was consecrated Bishop at St. Paul's Church, Winston-Salem, May 13, 1960. Rev. Mr. John A. Zunes Accepts Call to West Virginia Church After serving one year as rector of the Church of the Messiah, the Rev. Mr. Zunes announced in the April 19, 1959 Church Bulletin that he had accepted a call to become rector of Christ Church, Wellsburg, West Virginia, on May 1. He and his family would leave the evening of April 29. He also an-nounced that the Senior Warden had arranged for Rev. C. E. B. Robinson and the Rev. I. Harding Hughes to be here for services for the next few Sundays. On the last Sunday that Rev. Mr. Zunes held services here, he issued this statement in his church bulletin: "We will cer-tainly remember this congregation in our prayers, and I hope you will remember us in yours." NEW MINISTER FOR EPISCOPAL CHURCH — JUNE 1, 1960 Effective June 1st., Rev. Jesse S. Sparks became Rector of the Church of the Messiah at Rockingham. The Episcopal congregation felt most fortunate in his acceptance to this Parish. Mr. Sparks was 28, a graduate of the College of Charles-ton, and the Divinity School at Sewanee. He was born at Bath, in Eastern Carolina, son of Mrs. Alice W. Sparks and the late Jesse S. Sparks. He was furnished an apartment in the Oakwood Apart-ments on Everett Street; the Rectory was for rent. He was ordained into the Episcopal ministry May 15., 1959, at St. Stephen, South Carolina, and since 1958 had served the Church at Pinopolis. Mr. Sparks succeeded Rev. John Zunes who resigned April 29, 1959. The local Episcopal Church, started in 1899 and com-pleted in 1900, was at the beginning a frame structure, but was moved forward and brick-veenered in the mid-twenties. It was consecrated October 14, 1900. The Rev. Jesse S. Sparks held his first Sunday Services at the Church of the Messiah on Whitsunday (commonly known 51 as Pentecost), June 5, 1960. This great feast day is one of the three festivals of note in the Church Year, which include Christ-mas and Easter. This is the day when the promise of our Lord, the Son of God, was fulfilled, in that He, having departed at the Ascen-sion, sent the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Blessed Trini-ty to give life to the Church and all the members of the Church by His indwelling presence. The eager, alert note sounded in the young Rector's in-troductory sermon was quite indicative of his active leadership in the Episcopal Church during the next two years of his rector-ship. The masthead of Rev. Mr. Spark's bulletin (titled simply "The Parish Bulletin") usually read as follows : The Right Rev-erend Richard H. Baker, D.D., Bishop; the Reverend Jesse S. Sparks, Rector; Mr. Ed. Hurst, Sen. Warden; Mr. Walter Long, Junior Warden. Since the practice of taking Communion in an Episcopal Church is often wrongly misunderstood by members of other religious organizations, Rev. Mr. Sparks offered this instruction in one of his early bulletins: "This is a question which has never been answered officially by our Church as a whole, so practice may vary from place to place. It should be remember-ed that this is the Lord's Supper, not a Church Supper. Visitors, who are baptized members of other denominations and accus-tomed to receiving Communion in their own denominations are invited to receive with us. However, if a person continues to attend this Church as an "unofficial member", the situation changes. Episcopalians do not receive Communion until they are confirmed. Our Church does not encourage us to take confirma-tion lightly. Therefore, if anyone wishes to receive Communion regularly at our Altars, he or she should first be confirmed by the Bishop. During the summer of 1960, Rev. Mr. Sparks vacationed in Europe, July 26th through September 2nd. Lay-Readers Hurst, Pruitt. and Bartlette assisted by the members of the Vestry con-ducted services during his absence. It was at this time that the Reverend Howard S. Hartzell, who had served as the rector of the Church of the Messiah from 1922 to 1934, returned to Rock-ingham with his wife "Miss Mossie" to live in semi-retirement. He became Rector Emeritus of the local parish and taught the adult Bible Class. He was also available for administering the Holy Rites of the Church when the Rector was called elsewhere. Sunday, September 11, 1960, Mr. Tommy Taylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Taylor, was the guest preacher at the 11:00 o'clock Service. At this time he was a Middler at Vir-ginia Episcopal Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. 52 QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK Q. What is the work of a Priest? A. The office of a Priest is to minister to the people committed to his care; to preach the word of God; to baptize, to celebrate the Holy Communion ; and to pronounce Absolution and Blessing in God's name. Q. What is an Episcopal Church? A. An Episcopal Church is a Church which is governed by Bishops. NEW CHOIR DIRECTOR The rector and Vestry announced Sunday, November 13, 1960, that the Church of the Messiah had employed Mis3 Joe Prevette to direct the choir. Miss Prevette, a graduate of Greens-boro College, and holding a Ma.-ter's Degree in Sacred Music from Union Seminary, New York City, was formerly employed as Choir director at the First Presbyterian Church, Rockingham, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Monroe, North Carolina. The new Church Year of 1961 began with the following elected members serving on the Vestry: Walter F. Long, III, Senior Warden; Walter R. Jones, Jr., Junior Warden; E. Bert McLaurin, Secretary; R. Edward Bartlette, George A. Browder, J. Pickett Leak, Hugh A. Lee, James W. Smith, James Tumage. The Church Staff consisted of these people: Treasurer, Mrs. E. Bert McLaurin; Organist and Choir Director, Mrs. Seweil Bowers; Assistant Organist, Mrs. James E. Turnage; Parish Sec-retary, Mrs. R. Edward Bartlette; Church School Supt., Mr. E. W. Hurst, Jr.; Church School Sec, Mr. T. Norris France; Chairman of Ushers, Mr. R. Edw. Bartlette; Pres. Women of the Church, Mrs. T. Norris France; Key Man, Mr. E. W. Hurst, Jr. Bishop Fraser paid his annual visit to the Rockingham Parish, January 15. He came not only to administer confirma-tion, but also to visit our Christian Community as the chief Pastor of our Church. He celebrated Communion at the eight o'clock service and administered confirmation and preached at the eleven o'clock service. He was also available for pastoral visitation. The loose offering was given to the Bishop for his Discretionary Fund. There was a Congregational Meeting, Tuesday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish House. The purpose of this meeting was to learn what the Diocese could do about estab-lishing a Home for the Aging in Southern Pines. A chairman of the Episcopal Home Building Fund from Charlotte told the story of the Episcopal home. The Vestry met in the Rector's 53 study at 5:00 p.m. for the same purpose. Mr. Bert McLaurin was the Parish Chairman for this cause. The initial cost of the Home for the Aging was $350,000, and the Church of the Messiah was asked to contribute $5,000. The Vestry felt that this was not an unreasonable amount for our Church to raise and asked that each communicant give this cause his serious consideration. Support of the home was asked by making a pledge spread over 24 months or three tax years. At its January meeting the Vestry unanimously agreed to accept the full amount of the Episcopal Maintenance Assess-ment for 1961 — $371.05 and $500 of our Church's Program Quota. It was hoped by the Vestry that more could be given later in the year. Mrs. John C. Dockery announced in the April 16, 1961 Parish Bulletin that the Fashion Show had proven a great suc-cess. The proceeds amounted to $223.89. She expressed her thanks to the members of the Episcopal Churchwomen for their willing spirit of cooperation displayed during this endeavor. Cal Pruitt reported that he had received a total of $152.00 for the purchase of seventy-six new hymnals for our church choir. He wished to express thanks to all who contributed to the Hymnal Memorial Fund. The 145th Annual Convention Announced The 145th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina was duly appointed to be held in St. Timothy's Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, May 9 & 10, 1961. The fol-lowing men were elected by the Vestry as delegates: Bert Mc- Laurin, Jim Nicolson, Ed. Hurst, and Cal Pruitt. Alternate dele-gates were: Watt Jones, Hugh Lee, Norris France, and Don Chaplin. At its April meeting the Vestry of the Church of the Mes-siah designated October 1st. as Mortgage Burning Sunday. As of March 31, the parish house debt was $1,870.00. Of this amount $1,055.25 had been pledged, leaving $814.75 unpledged. The Vestry and Rector urged all members of the congregation to take care of their pledges and help to meet the remaining indebted-ness by the date scheduled for the Mortgage Burning. The struggle to raise the capital for the payment of the Parish House had been in progress since January of 1951, but now the goal seemed to be within sight. Whitsunday (Birthday of the Christian Church) — May 21, 1961 The Church of the Messiah received five children into the congregation of Christ's flock on this Whitsunday. This Sunday was originally called "White Sunday," because white garments were worn by the newly baptised on this day. 54 Another event in the life of the Parish on this day was the dedication of our new Allen organ. The congregation grate-fully received this organ from Mrs. Henry C. Wall, and dedicat-ed it to the glory of God and in loving memory of her husband, the late Henry C. Wall. Last Sunday, May 28th, with the closing of the Sunday School for the summer months, awa
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|Church of the Messiah, 1900-1975 : a sketch of the work of dedicated Episcopalians in Rockingham, North Carolina, during both the mission and parish periods
|Other Title
|Church of the Messiah, Episcopal, Lawrence and Greene Streets, Rockingham, North Carolina, a historical sketch, 1900-1975
|Alden, George Z.
Church of the Messiah (Rockingham, N.C.)--History
North Caroliniana
Rockingham, Richmond County, North Carolina, United States
|Time Period
(1900-1929) North Carolina's industrial revolution and World War One
(1929-1945) Depression and World War Two
(1945-1989) Post War/Cold War period
(1954-1971) Civil Rights era
|Colored illustration mounted inside front cover.
|Rockingham,N.C. : [s.n.], 1975.
|Religion in North Carolina see http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p249901coll37/id/23786
|Physical Characteristics
|84 p. : ill. (1 col.) ; 23 cm.
General Collection. State Library of North Carolina
|Digital Characteristics-A
|7191 KB; 100 p.
|Digital Collection
|General Collection
|Digital Format
|Pres File Name-M
|Full Text
North Carolina State Library
Presented by B
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2013
1900- 1975
Picture of the Altar of the Church of the Messiah
^Jke L^hurch Lsf Jvie IV e65ia
1900 - 1975
A sketch of the work of dedicated Episcopalians
in Rockingham, North Carolina, during both
the Mission and Parish Periods.
George Z. Alden
Rockingham, North Carolina
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