The Story of Black Jack Bethel Church : Page 21

In the early days our members believed firmly in discipline, and a summon to meet the next conference was a common occurrence. There were many tavern in the community, and courses for running horses. Any brother guilty of profanity, or being drunk, or betting, and any sister guilty of dancing, was promptly cited to meet conference. Any memer absent twice from services would be called to make proper explanation, or cited for backsliding. Not even the clerks and deacons got off, for the record shows that several of them got into trouble. It was said in the early years the men all brought their rifles to church as protection from Indians and wild animals. Sometimes, hounds would run deer, or bear, through the church grounds and the men would take up their guns and join the chase. This seems to have been permissible. Usually the transgressor apologized to the brethren and promised to do better in the future, whereon he was pardoned and restored to good standing. Who can maintain that this was not a wise and good policy!

During the civil war ominous notes creep into the record, "No service today; enemy in land." And this, "No preaching in consequence of Bro. Walne being surrounded by the enemy." But despite the dangers and the tradgedies, Blackjack survived. In fact there was a regular pastor, Bro. T. J. Walne, throughout Civil War. Preaching and comforting during the time of trouble, so Bro. Walne, who prayed with and comforted the countryside during the years of their tragedies, was greatly beloved by all.

Some years after the war the church went into a decline and languished for years. More than to anything else this was due to the hard-times which fell on our land like a blight. After getting to a point where it did not even have a regular pastor, the church resolved to rebuild its house of worship. W. F. Heard, R. B. Pepper, W. J. Watlington, H. C. Watlington, and S. P. Stubblefield were appointed a building committee. In the Spring of 188? the renovated and remodeled building was dedicated. Bro. A. A. Lomax preaching the sermon from Haggai 2-9, "The glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former." It was a great day, and I remember it well. It was the last service my mother ever attended as she died shortly afterwards.

After the dedication there was a new feeling and it was decided to have ? great meeting in August. For this purpose, the beloved Lomax and Bro. A. V. Rowe were engaged. It was a great meeting and many people joined the church, and the church was greatly revived. After the meeting, Bro. Lomax persuaded the church to call Bro. Rowe as pastor. Bro. Rowe accepted the call, and was our pastor for eight years. Under his ministry Blackjack prospered like the green bay tree. In 1893 he resigned to become Secretary of the Convention Board, which position he held for 21 years. In this wider field of service he made the baptist cause in the whole state to prosper as Blackjack had done Truly, Dr. Lomax had described him as "A lion of the tribe of Judah."

Dr. A. A. Lomax was long a power in Mississippi. No man did more to drive out whiskey than he. In addition to his power in the pulpit he was a great stump speaker. In early life he had worked in a saloon, and no whiskey speaker ever knew the subject like Dr. Lomax. He would convulse his audiences refuting the whiskey argument. With it all, he was as gentle as a child