The Story of Black Jack Bethel Church

June 20, 1897 - The Church "elected Rev. Bro. R. F. Miller, one of our membbers, delegate from this church to Miss. Bap. State Convention that, meets in Grenada July 8, Prox." Brother J. B. Lawrence is pastor and W. J. Watlington clerk, at this time.

July 18, 1897 - Brother A. V. Rowe, former pastor, now corresponding secretary of the Baptist State Convention, acknowledged he had received another collection from the church for state missions, for twelve dollars and fifty cents. Seemingly so far during the year forty four dollars and thirty cents had been made to the yearly "apportionment" for that purpose.

August 21, 1897 - Brother J. B. Lawrence was called "to the pastorate of the church for another year." He was to preach two "Sabbaths" in each month, beginning January 1898. The salary being three hundred dollars. A protracted meeting lasting seven days was closed. There were twenty-seven additions twenty-two baptism and five by letters and restoration.

During the months of September and October the community was in the throw of yellow fever. Services were not held, due to quarantine because of this dreaded disease. The pastor was quarantined in Rankin County. There was a note in the minutes that listed fifty seven cases of yellow fever and five deaths in Clinton.

November 15, 1897 - Five dollars was taken for associational purposes. Brother Lawrence accepted the call to be the pastor for another year - Preaching two Sundays each month. The clerk was given permission to drop about twenty-five names from the church book - those not attending, or giving anything for the support of the church.

March 1898 - "The 3rd Sabbath in August next was selected as the proper time to begin our annual protracted meeting." And indeed for many years this was deemed the "proper time" to have our meetings.

June 12, 1898 - After the sermon by Pastor J. B. Lawrence, the Lord's Supper was observed, a collection was taken for missions in the amount of ten dollars which was sent to Brother A. V. Rowe - prier to this date, twenty dollars had been collected for missions during the year.

June 26, 1898 - "The pastor, Bro. J. B. Lawrence. Bro. J. F. Wood, Sister Millie Wood presented letters for membership and were duly rec'd. The right hand of church fellowship was then extended to them and to Sisters Lily Wood, Maria Hendrick and Naomi Watlington, who had not heretofore received that recognition."

August 3, Sabbath 1898 - The set protracted meeting was begun on this date and assisting the pastor was Brother J. T. Ramington of Clinton - as with so many of the Church's supply or visiting preachers - it was often written that they were "students" or from "Clinton."

September 2, Sabbath 1898 - The pastor was sick at his home in Rankin County.

September 4, 1889 - The pastor was sick and quarantined at his home. The? the notation "yellow fever in Jackson." This pastor being J. B. Lawrence.

October "Second Sabbath" 1898 - The clerk W. B. Watlington writes - quarantined away - yellow fever in Jackason." The minutes read simu.... November the thirteenth.