In 1955 James Laird was preaching for the church in Asheville, North Carolina. He wrote a
1
letter back to O.B. Hampton. He recalled the beginning of the church in Kennett: “I had a humble part in starting the church there. Before there was a church there in Kennett, before there was a meeting conducted there, I was living in Holcomb, Mo. I decided to get a preacher and take a tent to Kennett for the meeting. A young man who had been leading the singing for me and I, borrowed a wagon and team from a man in Holcomb and hauled the tent to Kennett. We had to pass through some back water near White Oak and the front wheels dropped into a sunken place and we were stuck, as it was early in the spring, the water was cold, and I had to get out and wade that cold water to a farm house and get a man to bring his wagon and load the tent into it, and pull our wagon backward to where we could turn around and go another way. In pulling our wagon backwards about a quarter of a mile, a little before we got out of the water, one of the wheels fell of our wagon. Again I got out and went to the farm house to borrow a garden rake to see if I could locate the tap. I did locate it and got the back wheel back on and we got to Kennett that night, wet and cold, and had no supper.”
(Later on, while living at Campbell, Laird was approached by a man selling farm produce. As they talked he realized it was the same man from whom he borrowed the garden rake. The
CHAPTER ONE: IN THE BEGINNING
To know the past is essential for many reasons. Such important
concepts as identity, appreciation, and maturity demand an awareness of history. Learning the stories and the names that are significant to bringing one into existence help to create an endearment which motivates an almost sacred feeling of gratitude.
This deepens one’s connection to all that has gone before and causes one to stay on the right path as the future
is pursued. In the words of our “founding preacher,” James Laird, in a letter written to O. B. Hampton back in Kennett in 1955, the story of our beginning should be told “to let them know what it cost to build the church there.”
James Laird moved from Tennessee to Holcomb to preach in January of 1911. He determined that there was a need for the church to be established in Kennett. So he drove down in a wagon in the spring of 1911 to put up a tent for a meeting. He got stuck on his way and had a1 James Edgar Laird
OB & Mamie Hampton
man told him, “you found it the first rake!”) He continued, “That was the beginning of the work there in Kennett. I conducted some two or three meetings there, baptised a number, including brother Hence James and his family, got them to buy the lot, and encouraged them to build the first frame building. But before we bought the lot, we met for some time in an old upper room where they would have a show the night before and left beer and whiskey bottles all over the place. We had to clear away the bottles, sweep the floor and smell the beer and whiskey while we endeavored to worship the Lord.” He mentioned, too, that he helped start the work in Senath and Hayti, helped “fight the summerites out of Holcomb,” and helped build the church and meeting house at Rogers Chapel and at Haywood Chapel.
Morgan was involved in the first unofficial Abilene Christian College Lectureship in 1910.
2
A note in church records indicated that Morgan’s meeting began May 14, 1911 and continued
3
until the 31 . C. W. Brannum mentioned the location as the “old Airline Service station” andst that T. H. James was converted in this meeting. There were ten baptisms and 27 members who placed membership. The first Sunday of worship was held at the courthouse, put in order by Evangelist J. E. Laird of Holcomb. C. W. Brannum later says that they met in the circuit court room of the old courthouse. The officers were listed as W. O. Hampton (secretary), F.
M. Holmes, W. F. Copeland, and J. S. Warthan (elders), and A. J. Amick and Robert Stanley (Deacons). See appendix 1 for list of member names.
terrible time making it. But he got W. E. Morgan of Abilene, Texas to hold a protracted tent meeting on the lots east of the square on Depot street the second Sunday in May. B. W.2 Green testified that the meeting was valuable.3
The newspaper described the location as west of the Wyman hotel. A singing class from Holcomb was in attendance. It began at 11:00 am on Sunday, May 14. His topics included:
The Lost Wife
Heaven, and Who will be there?
Our relation to Jesus Christ
The Bible: how to read and how to understand it The power of God=s Word
The area of the tent meeting which led to the establishment of the church (seen from Cedar Street in 2007).
The area of the 1911 tent meeting as seen from First Street in 2007.
Salvation by Faith Salvation by Grace
The Christ, and How to come to him What Must I do to be saved?
The Thief on the Cross
The Three Heavens and the Three Hells The Vine and the Branches
To Whom, What, of Water Baptism The Natural and Spiritual Kingdoms How to Build up the Church
A Change of Heart, Heart Felt Religion, What is it?
The Four Beasts (Revelation 4 Chapter)th
An attendant noted in the paper that the revival was intensely interesting. Morgan preaches the old Jerusalem gospel with power. He deals in purely biblical facts, and not in the reminiscences of a life spent in licentiousness. It was still going on May 26 when the paper noted that it was taking place in the Decker Hotel.
Consider this editorial on Friday, June 2, 1911:
This week, Kennett did very well. It entertained the Bloomer Girls at baseball; started up a “Holly Roller” meeting; and listened to an anti-organ preacher in a protracted meeting. We are versatile, if anything.
The meeting lasted more than two weeks. It was said that Morgan satisfied his followers though there was some criticism of his views on the question of the kind of music that should
W. E. Morgan among the RBS class of 1909 at Abilene Christian College (see footnote 4): he is the second from the right at the bottom
W. E. Morgan in the group of men forming the first unofficial lectureship at Abilene Christian College in 1910 (see footnote 4)
Concerning the picture of the men of the lectureship, they are: J. S. Banner, George Harvey,
4
Archie B. Baxley, D. Coffman, J. C. White, A. R. Lawrence, Lee Coffman, Sally Nichols, U.
G. Wilkinson, A. H . McGarock, Price Billingsley, Steve Powers, James Powers, R. L.
Whiteside, C. R. Nichol, W. E. Morgan, Hiriam Fisher, Earl Hays, M. Zellner, Earl Slater, Parker Hendrix, Barney McGasland, Griffin Parker, John M. Rice. Concerning the RBS class, back row Scarbrough, Oeff, Viola Zellner, Otis Reynolds; middle row Hiram Fisher, Pem Dabney, Mary McDonald, Inys Whiteside, Jim Harvey, Ceal Lanier, Roy Estes; front row Olen Whiteside, Earl Hays, Eula Mae Baxter, Bertha Glass, Lon Harvey, Nora Powers, Archie Baxley, W. E. Morgan, Vincent Sikes.
According to church records, the church met for the first time on June 4, 1911. The offering
5
that day was $1.14, with $.45 going toward communion costs.
Church records showed that James Laird was paid $1.30 on October 29, 1911 and $2.19 and
6
$4.46 on December 3, 1911. The rent for the Opera House was $3.00 per month and the light bill was typically $1. Other operational costs included song books, literature from Gospel Advocate, coal, and the expense “for building fire.”
be used in church services. There were a number of converts under his preaching.4
On June 30, 1911, this notice appeared in the paper:
The branch of the Church of Christ that held the tent meeting here a few weeks ago, has rented the Kennett opera house, and now holds regular services there. Preaching the first Sunday in each month, by Elder J. E. Laird; Sunday school every Sunday morning at 9:30, and prayer meeting at 7:30 every Thursday night.5
Another notice appeared October 20, 1911:
The branch of the Christian church that is opposed to musical
instruments in service, hold Sabbath school and preaching and other religious services, at the Kennett opera house, every Sunday, and have good crowds.
The next thing said about the church was that Laird was preaching in the Opera House at 11 am and 8 pm on Sunday, December 24, 1911. His topics were Athe Prodigal Son@ and ALet no man lead you astray.@6
W. E. Morgan
Thompson was well known as a song leader and had the distinction of leading the first song
7
in Freed Hardeman’s Chapel Hall.
According to Arkansas Angels, Mason was a teacher in a school near Cardwell when a
8
meeting with John R. Williams was held in June of 1911. He was converted at that time and through the encouragement of James E. Laird, pursued a life of preaching. He also served as president of Monea College. In 1915 he and his wife, Winnie (Boles) moved to the Ozarks, living in Rogersville, Missouri. From there he went out on several evangelistic missions, sometimes including Kennett.
Elder T. B. Thompson, a Church of Christ minister (I think from Campbell, but who also worked at Rector) preached at the courthouse on Sunday, March 3, 1912 on worshiping God. 7 W. E. Morgan of Abilene returned on May 5, 1912 for another protracted meeting. He brought Mr. Ussery of Ft. Worth, Aone of the greatest singers of the South,@ with him as a song leader. At the same time, Mr. Ussery held a music school in the Opera House to which 40- 50 people came.
M.S. Mason began to work with the church in June of 1912. 8 The Church of Christ meets for song practice and Bible study at the Opera House on Thursday evenings from 8 to 10 o’clock. Everybody cordially invited to come and be members of a Bible class that will edify you. M. S. Mason
Elders were selected at some time, for the next notice comes on November 29, 1912.
We wish to announce that the members of the Church of Christ meet every Lord’s Day at 9:30 am at the opera house to study the Bible and hold communion services. All who can and will come are cordially invited to meet with us and study the Bible with us. Rance James and J. S. Worthan are the present elders.
T. B. Thompson I. M. Ussery
M. S. Mason
Brother Horton was paid $2.97 on April 13, 1912 for preaching, though records show that he
9
was also paid $2.50 on February 9 and $2.13 on June 1.
A brother Jeff Cook also preached for the church in 1913 (June and August) as did “Brother
10
Tice,” who apparently held a tent meeting. The total expense of the tent meeting was 21.99, with $3.57 going to tent freight and .99 going to freight on chairs.
Brother “Leman,” as the church records designated him, was paid $7.00 either per Sunday or
11
per month, covering the first four months of 1914. Burley Lemmons, according to Arkansas Christians, was born in the early 1890s and attended the County Line Bible School in
Bakersfield, MO until 1913. He returned to Pocahontas before entering Monea Bible College in the fall of 1913.
It was announced on April 11, 1913 that Evangelist J. C. Horton would conduct a series of meetings in the Opera house on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday April 13, each at 7:30. Also in the same9 column, a man named Thomas R. Barrett died and B. W. Green of the Church of Christ conducted the funeral.
The Church was still meeting at the opera house for Bible study and communion. J. S. Worthan made it known on July 4, 1913 that T. B.
Thompson would preach the next Sunday. So preaching was not always a feature of worship. They got men when they could. Laird shared his duties sometimes with Holcomb and sometimes with Senath.10
Laird married a Bernie girl (Miss Ivy Higginbotham) on July 9 of 1913.
On January 4, 1914, Burley Lemon spoke on AGod is Not Mocked@ from Gal 6:7. Burley Lemon was then called the church=s pastor on January 30. He was to speak on February 1, 1914. AA Soldier of the Cross@ was his topic and Ahis singer@ was with him. He returned the first Sunday in March to speak on AFrom the Cross to the Crown.@ The church met at 11:00 and 7:30. It seems that he spoke on the first Sunday of the month, for he returned April 5 to speak on
AStewardship,@ from 1 Peter 4:9-10.11
A strange notice was then printed on April 24, 1914:
To Members of the Church of Christ
We, the undersigned, hereby notify members of the Church of Christ, and especially J. C. Horton
Brother C. B. Thomas spoke at the tribute service for C. W. Brannum in 1977, when he lived
12
at Poplar Bluff. He recalled his relationship with the Kennett church going back to 1916. He was living at Holcomb with his uncle J. E. Laird and did some of his “practice preaching” at Kennett. He remembered a few of the people meeting at that time, between 25 and 30 at the time. He remembered the Greens, the Hamptons (one of whom he knew growing up in West Tennessee), two families of the James, sister Sinclair and her three daughters who lived on College Ave (two blocks North of square), and the Blankenships. His first attempt at
preaching was 1914 in Rector, at a mission point of the church on the East side of town. His first time to preach in Kennett was on October 1, 1916, the subject being “Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone.” On November 5, 1916 he covered “Doing What We Can for the Lord.” On December 3, 1916 he spoke on “The Home of the Soul.” Then on January 7, 1917 he
preached on “Worship God.” On May 6, 1917 he talked about “The Cost of Christianity.” On June 3, 1917 his subject was “Courage.” It was the last time he spoke in Kennett. According to volume 2 of Preachers of Today, Brother Thomas attended Monea College and Freed Hardeman College before preaching in Detroit (1926); Pontiac (1926-28); Jackson, MS (1929-1932); Holdenville, AL; Dallas, TX; and again in Jackson, MS (1956–).
members of the congregation worshiping at the opera house, that a meeting will be held at that place, Sunday, April 26, at 9:30 a.m., to talk over business of special interest. You are earnestly requested to be present. With love to all,
Yours in Christ,
J. S. Warthan, Ranse James
Nothing was indicated anywhere about what that meeting was about. On May 1, 1914 a notation was printed about preaching at the opera house by Rev. Spiller, minister for the Church of Christ, at the usual hour. Then a meeting was held, beginning August 2, by Elder John Summitt, of Cardwell.
The newspaper notices went silent at this point. Church records show that the church was still in the opera house in 1915. Some preachers included Brother Summitt, who received $2.00 on April 10 and Brother Laird, who received $3.31 on September 26. In 1916 the church bought a stove for the opera house, at the cost of
$9.40. A brother “Mokelly” spoke in January and a “local boy” by the name of Brother Thomas preached fairly often. 12
Another note of interest appeared in the paper
All persons having interest in the Church of Christ at Bark Camp, which was blown down in June, 1916, having objection to the proceeds of same being turned over to the Church of Christ in Kennett to erect a new house, will be reimbursed.
John Summitt
Brother Dollison was paid $25 for the meeting. Dollison was the editor of the Rector
13
newspaper and served as legislator for the state of Arkansas in 1890. He was not a preacher but a leader in the church at Rector.
On the Lord’s Day afternoon there was to be a service at Johnson’s Island, south of town, by
14
request. The topic was “All Spiritual Blessings in Christ.”
Again, nothing seemed to have come of this, at least publicly. B. W.
Green died shortly thereafter, his obituary appearing in the paper on March 30, 1917. He was a well known
farmer at Bark Camp. He was also the “best blacksmith around.”
The year 1917 had Brother Thomas working with the church with visits made by Brother Laird.
Another series of meetings began at the opera house on Sunday, September 9 of 1917. The preacher was J. W. Dollison of Rector. Something13 interesting was added to the announcement.
The only entrance to the place of meeting is on the public square between Luters drug store and the New York store, the
stairway on the north end of the building having been abandoned on account of being unsafe.
J. W. Dollison made sure his topics were announced:
Thursday evening: Jesus at Bethesda
Friday evening: Sins of Omission and Commission Saturday evening: Importance of Studying Scriptures Lord=s Day morning at 11 o=clock: The Christ Life Lord=s Day night: The Sins of Neglect14
The paper of November 2, 1917 showed that Laird was then living in Senath and had recently started two new churches: Wardell, MO and Steward, MO. He was helped by a man of Greenfield, TN named L. T. Holland.
Then the church announced in December of 1917 that it was moving its place of meeting:
C. B. Thomas B. W. Green
The church had paid $3 a month rent for the opera house and began paying $15 a month for
15
a room at the Cotton Exchange bank in January of 1918.
This was an old, vacated church building that used to be where the current Kennett National
16
Bank stands. Other notes of interest in the paper include: a meeting in July at Hollywood with J. W. Brents; “Rev. Ketcherside, of Flat River, Mo., preached Saturday night and Sunday to a large crowd at the church of Christ” (Holcomb items from September 27, 1918); Ketcherside moved to Holcomb in October of 1918; “T. B. Larimore, a speaker of national renown, just closed a two week meeting in Senath” and he came through Kennett to visit a friend named T.
The Church of Christ requests the Democrat to announce that they have changed their place of meeting from the old opera house building where they have been meeting for so long to Room 204 in the New Cotton Exchange Bank building. The new quarters are very comfortable, being provided with steam heat and electric lights, and a good attendance is anticipated.15
On December 28, 1917 it was announced that James Laird, now of Senath, would hold preaching services Sunday morning at 11 o=clock in one of the rooms over the new Cotton Exchange Bank building.
Laird preached again in Kennett on Sunday, April 14, 1918. Church records show that he preached in Kennett quite often in 1918, receiving $5 each time.
Then July 14 of 1918 another meeting was held:
J. W. Dollison and James E. Laird, preachers of the Church of Christ, will begin a series of meetings on Sunday, July 14 , at the East Side Chapel on East First Street, acrossth from the New Steam Laundry.16
A “Time for Talk” image of the Cotton Exchange Bank from about 1900.
Front view in 2007 of what used to be the opera house
J. W. Dollison
L. Marlow (September 27, 1918).
Church records indicate a payment for the deed in 1918 and a lot note payment made in the
17
amount of $50 on January 18, 1919. Other note payments were recorded on March 29, May 19, October 4, November 25, November 26, and December 6. It was noted on December 6 that the fidelity note was paid in full with a payment of $800.61. For this the church borrowed from the James and Jaques families, making payments to them for the next few months.
A brother “Saliman” preached in the year 1918, but Brother Dollison began monthly work with the church at a cost of $25 a month.
It was in 1918 that the church purchased property on which to build its first building.
E. B. Mobley and his wife sold lots 5 and 6 of the Fifth Block of the “Shelton Addition to the City of Kennett” for the price of
$1300. T. H. James, J. R. James, C. E.
Jaques, and G. J. Cook were the leaders then. The deed was stamped on August 21, 1918 at the cost of $2.50. It was later corrected to be dated on May 24, 1919. 17 It seems that the church had two preaching
services per month, according to the Democrat of March 14, 1919:
J. W. Dollison returned to his home at Jonesboro, Ark., Monday morning after conducting the services at the Church of Christ, which are held twice a month.
The church then attempted to reach out with a singing school in July of 1919. Two or three ads were placed:
A. N. Phepps, of
Rogersville, Mo., one of the most prominent song leaders and music
teachers of the Church of Christ, will conduct a singing school July 3 tord 12 , inclusive. Allth instruction will be free and every one is invited
to take advantage of Mr. Phepps’ offer. Classes will be held from 8 to 10 o’clock during this time. Every one is invited, especially the singing talent of Kennett. Services will be held in the new tabernacle.
T. H. James C. E. and Reva Jaques
Old Stucco Building
C. W. Brannum provided this detail on the day of his tribute in 1977.
18
Mason and Harden were paid $200 for the meeting. Also recorded in July of 1919 was that
19
the church reorganized with W. I. Reddir, J. R. James, and Claud Jaques as elders. Members were also listed by name in the church records.
The event was interesting, but what was the Anew tabernacle@? That was what the new building was also called in the church records. The church paid Frank Camrean and Jason Hall (or Hale) for work on the
“tabernacle.” In 1920 Noah French was paid to paint for the church. There was an old house in this location, surrounded by high weeds when it was purchased.18
We learn from meeting ads on July 4 and 11 that Rogersville was also where M. S. Mason lived. He then held a meeting for the church from July 12-27 of 1919. Topics included a lesson entitled, “Are We Campbellites?”
While this meeting was held, so was another in Campbell with N. B. Hardeman. He ended his meeting while Mason was still here. So on Tuesday of the meeting, Hardeman came to the meeting, said to be taking place Aat the Church of Christ at Third and Slicer Streets.@
The fact of the new meeting place was finally clarified on August 1, 1919:
Evangelist M. S. Mason, of Rogersville, Mo., and Chas. F.
Hardin, of Campbell, have closed their meeting at the new building of the Church of Christ, at 3 and Slicerrd Streets, with 22 additions, and church greatly revived. The church invites very cordially everyone to attend Wednesday evening prayer meeting and Bible study and worship every Lord=s Day at 10 a.m. Preaching services will be announced later.19
An entry appears in church records noting that $90 was used to pay preachers “of special
20
meeting.”
They then announced that the following July (1920) another three weeks meeting would be held at the same place with the same speakers.
The year 1919 thus saw the purchase of property and the building of a building as the main achievements. Money was also spent to support Brother Laird “in defending the gospel,” for song books, and to support Brother Dollison in his continued work monthly with the church.
Dollison received $25 per month and Laird was paid $50 for both halves of December, seeming to imply that he was coming to Kennett to minister regularly.
Quite a bit of inactive time passed until February of 1920 when a rather significant event was held in Kennett. From February 16 to February 21, a ASpecial Meeting@ was held with the following program:20
Monday at 2:00 The purpose and need of this meeting (Laird)
Monday at 7:00 AIs singing a part of the worship in the Church of Christ; if so, who should engage in it? And is instrumental music
permissible in such worship; if not, why not?@ (Hardeman) Tuesday, 10:00 Roundtable Talks
Tuesday, 2:00 Discourse by J. S. Jones
Tuesday, 7:00 Is it in harmony with the teaching of the NT for Christians as individuals to devote a part of their means to build and maintain schools in which the Bible is taught as the most important study in the curriculum? (Hardeman)
Wednesday, 10:00 Roundtable Talks
Wednesday, 2:00 My years of experience as an evangelist in destitute fields.
(John R. Williams)
Wednesday, 7:00 Some of the causes of the dearth of preachers among the Churches of Christ and how to overcome it (R.H. Johnson) Thursday, 10:00 Roundtable Talks
Thursday, 2:00 Discourse by J. H. Harper
Thursday, 7:00 What part of the property accumulated by Christians belongs to them, and what part to the Lord; and how the Lord=s part be used so as to promote His kingdom among men? (John R.
Williams)
Friday, 10:00 Roundtable Talks
Friday, 2:00 Discourse by A. Douglas
Friday, 7:00 Is what is called AGroup Evangelism@ scriptural; if so, how may it best be inaugurated and what will be the result? (J. W.
Dollison)
N. B. Hardeman was President of Freed Hardeman University and a popular speaker. John
21
R. Williams, of Obion County, TN, was a lawyer and preacher. He wrote “Notes from West Tennessee” for Gospel Advocate. By age 70 he had baptized 2500 people, established 18 congregations, revived 4 others, and encouraged the building of some 13 church buildings.
No one did more meetings in West Tennessee between 1885 and 1925 than he. He also conducted many religious discussions. J. Stanley Jones was from Tennessee and preached in
As the meeting was going on , the church asked the paper to21 R. H. Johnson
John R. Williams N. B. Hardeman
J. S. Jones
The 1911-12 class of County Line Bible School. In the back row, second from left is John H. Harper. In the front at the far right is Burley J. Lemmons.
A. Douglas
Wingo, KY (1933-1937), Senath, MO (1920-1923; 1937-39), Melber, KY (1933-37, 47-48), and Leachville, AR (1949-). He conducted religious debates and did radio work. It was said in Preachers of Today (Vol. 1) that he helped establish congregations in Wardell, Silverdale, and Bark Camp, MO. Alexander Douglas served in the Union Army and began preaching in 1890 in Independence County, AR. J. H. Harper preached in Randolph and Clay counties in Arkansas. His funeral was preached by Landon Saunders at the Success Church of Christ.
Taylor was paid $50 for the singing school.
22
Brother Mason was paid $28.88 in 1920 and then he and Harden were paid $250 for the
23
meeting.
make a special announcement:
We have been asked by the church authorities to call the attention of their parents to the boys who have been playing baseball on the lot of the Church of Christ.
The church authorities are opposed to using the grounds for a baseball ground on account of the danger to the windows, and desire the ball games stopped.
Within a couple of weeks of the meeting, Professor Taylor, a trained singer, conducted a 10 night free singing school at the church. Beginning March 1 he offered this school to whoever would attend. 22
True to the advance announcement a year prior, M. S. Mason of Springfield, MO began a series of meetings on July 10 and continued until July 31, 1920. He was called “an
experienced preacher who preaches a full gospel in a plain, kind, and convincing manner to both the church and the people.@ Some of the questions he addressed:
Where will you spend eternity?
What will you do with Jesus?
Are you on the right road?
One of the best song leaders in the brotherhood, Charles F. Hardin, led the singing. On July 30 they announced that the meeting held the interest of all and 17 people were added to the church. It was the Alargest crowd ever seen at present meeting place.@ It closed on Friday with 9 additions, for a total of 27 during the meeting. People were then invited to come on a regular basis. APreaching service twice each month on Saturday night, Sunday morning and night, except during the summer months.@
The church schedule was clarified a little on October 1, 1920. James Laird is said to be of Piggott, Arkansas. He “filled his regular appointment at the Slicer St. building the last Sunday at 11:00 am.” He also conducted a successful meeting at the Bark Camp school house, about
Laird was paid twice each month for a total of $50 monthly. He was paid $75 from the
24
church in Kennett to conduct the Bark Camp meeting with “brother James.”
Laird continued to be paid $50 a month for two Sundays and in January 1921 money was
25
sent to Brother Dollison and to Mason and Hardin.
Brother Morgan was paid $20 in April 1921.
26
3 miles west of Kennett. 24
The year of 1920 showed the church trying different things. They continued to do work on the new building, including landscaping, but they also gave attention to preaching and singing.
They purchased seating for the building, advertised their meetings (paying $5.75 for meeting bills), and helped others conduct meetings (contributing to costs of Bark Camp and
Blytheville). Contributions for the year totaled 3153.58 while expenses totaled 3134.72, 940.00 toward preaching.
One question any historian wants to know pertains to the number of members in the church.
An announcement on the front page of the Democrat on February 4, 1921 answered that question:
Regular Bible study every Lord’s Day at 10 am; preaching at 11 am by the local minister.
There will be no evening service at the church as the time will be spent on mission points.
Services at Bark Camp school house Sunday afternoon at 3 o=clock, and at Thomas school house at 7:30 pm.
Our attendance last Lord’s day was 115.
A similar announcement was made on February 21, 1921. They enjoyed a discourse from the local minister on the 11 chapter of John. The services at Bark Camp and Thomas schoolth
“were attended by large and attentive audiences.” The last Sunday=s attendance was 104. It would seem that Laird preached and lived in Piggott, but took the first and third Sundays of each month to preach in Kennett. 25
It seems this was the routine for the church for a while. W. E. Morgan of Childress, TX, preached at Slicer St., Bark Camp, and Thomas school on April 1, 1921. 26
In what had become a mid-summer tradition, M. S. Mason and Charles F. Hardin returned in July of 1921 to hold another meeting. To say the least, the paper advertised that these
Mason and Hardin were paid $150 for the meeting. In the same month the church purchased
27
chairs and worked on the baptistry.
There was a note on June 16, 1922 which indicated that Rev. Talcott, pastor of the Church of
28
Christ, conducted a funeral at Oak Ridge cemetery. Meanwhile, N. B. Hardeman held a meeting at Senath on June 30, 1922.
Lowery was from Paragould, according to Senath news on December 7, 1923. In an obituary
29
of his wife in 1939 it was said that the couple resided in Monroe, LA and her funeral was held in Senatobia, MS. Mr. Lowery formerly served as a preacher for the Church of Christ in Cardwell and Paragould. He also owned and operated the Cardwell Outlook newspaper (most recently, it notes, about sixteen years prior to 1939). In Preachers of Today (Vol. 1), he was said to be of Ripley, MS. He preached at Senatobia, MS (1915-1921), Memphis, TN (1925- 1928), and Monroe, LA (1936-1943). He conducted numerous debates and did radio work.
He also served as editor of Green County Observer in Paragould, AR for four years and the Mississippi Evangelist. He was also a public school teacher.
preachers Aare not strangers to the people of Kennett, having been here before and proven their ability.@ By July 15 there had been large crowds and six additions. By July 21 there had been 13 additions and Athe largest crowds in the history of the work in Kennett@ had attended. By the time of the close of the meeting on Sunday, July 31, 47 people had been added to the church in what was called Aone of the greatest meetings ever held in the city.@
J.S. Jones of Senath preached in a meeting at Bark Camp in August 1921. There were 55 additions, 50 by baptism.
Very little was said about the church the next few months in the newspaper. Church records showed that Mason and Hardin were paid again in August, as was Brother Laird, and several payments on notes were recorded, as well as help offered to some people in need. The regular light expense (1.50) and cleaning costs were recorded monthly. 28
Then, beginning on December 31 and going until January 6 of 1923, there was a special meeting held.
Sunday, 11:00 The Power of the Press J. P. Lowery29 Sunday night Why We Sing and Do Not Play J. P. Lowery Monday, 2:30 How Churches May Scripturally
Cooperate in Preaching the Gospel J. W. Dollison Monday night The Change of Heart J. W. Dollison
Tuesday, 2:30 How to Identify the True Church J. H. Harper Tuesday night The Great Commission Joe Netherland Wednesday, 2:30 The Mission of the Church Joe Netherland Wednesday night This Treasure in Earthen Vessels J. H. Harper
Colley preached at Paragould (1922-1924), Union City, TN; Winters; Central Park in
30
Houston; Paris, TX; Vernon; New London; Texarkana; West Memphis; Memphis; and several other places. He did mission work in Bragg City, MO and Walcott, AR. He debated and authored books of class notes.
According to notes in 1923, the church paid Brother Laird $50 a month as well as rent on his
31
house, which was about $12 a month.
The church paid $1.10 for the use of a tent in May 1923. In July the church installed fans in
32
the building.
Thursday, 2:30 Financing the Church R. L. Colley Thursday night A Way that Is Right and Cannot
Be Wrong James Laird Friday, 2:30 The Unity of God=s People James Laird Friday night The Deliverance of the Children
of Israel R. L. Colley30
James Laird placed a notice in the paper of March 30, 1923, stating that preaching was held every first and third Sunday at 11:00 and 7:30. Bible study was held every Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30. The next Sunday the sermons would be ASpiritual Visions@ and ANine31 Great Things.@ In April 1923 he listed the subjects as ABrotherly Kindness@ and AThe Evidence of Pardon.@ Later in April he advertised that M. S. Mason would preach on Wednesday night, May 3.
Laird went to Bay for a conference of Church of Christ ministers and to Bragg City for a meeting he was assisting with in that month of April 1923 as well. In early May he also preached at the Antioch church as well as at “big meeting in progress at Bragg City.” Then, in May he announced that he himself would speak at a tent meeting on the west end of St.
Francis St., on the new AHay=s addition.@ It was postponed due to the weather but was held a week later.32
R. L. Colley James P. Lowrey
Joe Netherland
According to
33 www.therestorationmovement.com/white,ls.htm, L. S. White became a
Christian at the age of 16 and preached for the Gallatin church, the Pearl and Bryan Church in Dallas, TX, as well as congregations in Sherman, TX and Wichita Falls, TX. He published several books, did extensive radio work, and baptized more than 8000 people. He actually debated Charles T. Russell in Cincinnati, OH in February of 1908.
The church paid Brother White $160 for the meeting and Sister Laird $11.00 for boarding
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Brother White. The same month had Brother Reagan holding a singing school for the church.
The church was still paying on a note. Also, in January and February of 1924 they gave
35
money to Brother Elkins, probably for helping him rather than for his preaching, though it is hard to know.
Laird announced on May 18, 1923 the subjects for the following Sunday included ASpiritual Eclipse@ and AHow the Holy Spirit Converts People.@ He also held a
Bible School in Senath in June of 1923. He held a series of
meetings in Morriston, AR in August of 1923. That same month the church in Kennett had L. S. White of Dallas, TX for a meeting. 33 They had services every evening at 7:45. He was described as Aa pleasing talker, choosing his topics to fit the occasion, and never taking advantage of his congregation, by making embarrassing statements.@34
It seems that by 1923 James Laird was living in Kennett, preaching here the first and third Sundays and going to Senath the second and fourth Sundays. But he would do meetings in various areas as well.
He spoke on AThe One Body@ and ADoubting Thomas@ on Sunday,
December 2, 1923. His son was also listed in the school rolls that week, attending North School in grade 3, room 5.
Once again, nothing was said about the church for quite some time. Then, out of 35 nowhere, a note appeared in the paper. It effectively ended the first chapter of the Kennett church=s history:
A Word from Rev. J. E. Laird
In a communication from the Rev. J. E. Laird, formerly pastor of the Church of Christ of this city, he advises us to change his address to 821 S. St. Louis Street, Tulsa, Okla. His letter in full follows, and may be of interest to his Kennett Friends who are interested in he and his family.
The Democrat comes regularly each week as a welcome visitor. It seems like receiving a letter from home.
L. S. White
I have found more information about James Laird from other sources, the copies of which
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are in the church history materials. He was baptized by Len D. Williams in 1903 and began preaching near Hornbeak, TN in 1906. He was the uncle of Leslie G. Thomas and C. B.
Thomas. It has been said that he is among the direct descendants of Moses E. Lard. In 1926 Mrs. W. T. Bush founded the Southern Christian Home. She had contact with two homeless children and took them to James E. Laird, preacher for the Church of Christ in Ft. Smith. By his advice they were placed with her in a private home. Eventually this effort became
Arkansas Christian Home, then Arkansas-Oklahoma Christian Home. It then moved to Morrilton on the former Harding College campus, and became Southern Christian Home in 1936. Between his time in Kennett and Fort Smith, he was the preacher for the Tenth and Rockford Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma (from 1922 to 1923).
According to the second volume of Preachers of Today, James Laird had six children (Kity,
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Joe, James, Halcyon, Helen, and Marilyn) and preached in several places beyond what has been mentioned here. He was at the Southside congregation in St. Louis; a congregation in Charleston, South Carolina; North Side in Summerville, Georgia. His final work was in Menlo, Georgia. He wrote in several periodicals and authored such tracts as “How to Locate the True Church” and “Divine Healing.” He worked on the radio and held twenty debates.
His son, Joe, also became a gospel preacher. According to www.freedhardeman.com /JamesELaird.htm, he served as superintendent of Potter Christian Home in Bowling Green, KY from 1941 to 1945 and taught at Blue Ridge Encampment over a number of summers.
I like this country very much. We have had excellent rains this year, and the crops are very fine. Of course, this is not a farming country as you have in that country-and there are not many countries that have-but what crops they raise here are sure looking good. Mostly dairy and truck raising near here, but some cotton and corn farther out.
Tulsa is a beautiful city of about one hundred and ten thousand population and is growing rapidly, as it is one of the great oil centers.
Church work here is moving along nicely.
With best wishes, I am, Yours truly,
Jas. E. Laird (August 18, 1924, Tulsa, Okla.)36
So effectively ended the adventurous inauguration of the Church of Christ in Kennett,
Missouri. Everything that follows and everyone who joins hereafter is in some way a credit to the work of James Edgar Laird.37
