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THE OXFORD CHURCH

North Georgia Conference

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Dedication

Thi brief History of the OXford Church is affectionately dedicat to )liss. Iqnn Branham, the last citizen of the Old OXford and the first citiz. of the n 11', who for 78 years has been a fait ful and lqyal member.

Foreword

To "Miss Ivnn"l Branham, "Uncle Nath" 'l:hompson, Doctor C. C. Jarrell, and "Bilq" Mitchell we are indebted for much of the material that appears in this article.

Other sources of information are: History of Georgia Methodism, Smith;; Giant Against the Sq, Pierce; I.. History of »nory University, Bullock; Emor,y University Publications, Sources and Reprints, Series VI, number 3; Library of Chandler School of Theology, and finalq from ob ervations which the writer h made during his own personal knowledge of Oxford and Emory.

This is. by' no means a complete hiRtory of the OXford Church. A. complete history can never be written. For "the good en do" is not "interred 'With their bones." but continues. to live after them to bless' those who follow them, throughout all time and eternity.

Wilbur .L carlton, Historian

The Oxtord Church

The Oxford Church haa a richness of hi tory equalled by few, if &r'l11' and. perhaps, surpassed by none in Methodi • And it iS3 quite probable that there lsn1 t another in thi area ....hich has contributed so nmch toward the ongoing of the Methodist Church throughout the world. This is due in very large measure to the close correlation between this church and Emory College for more than a. century.

Let it be said in the beginning that this is in no way to be regarded as a. History of Elnory College or a supplement to &lVthing abo t Emory that has been written in the past. Hbwever" no hi tory of the Oxford Church could possib~ be itten without recognizing the inseparability or that church and Emory College. For what would the history of the Oxford Church be 'Without such talwarts' as Alexander Keans..-: A.tticus Y'good~ J. S.. Moore, arren candler~ and .ames E. Dickey~ to mention only a few,?

Because of its &trategic location the' Oxford Church through the yearS' has, exerted a. very great influence for good, not only throughout Georgia and neighboring atates, but even ""unto the uttex­mos.t parts of the earth." Many young men who came to DDory College with no idea of entering th ministry or conse ating their lives to the service of God and the Church came under the influence of the OXford Church and dedicated themselves 'Wholly to His ervice ministers. or missionaries. Joseph Sharp, arren.L Candler" and James • Dick~, all of 'Whom expected to enter the legal profession are good examples of this. )(UW' others returned to their homes as Christian laymen, teachers, farmers, statesmen, merchants, banker, Sunday School teachers, all leaders in their respective communities and bulwarks. of the Church. By no means ere they all Methodists. Thus: the Orlord Church has nriched the apiritual life of the churches of different denominations in many lands.

The name Oxford appears in the minutes of the ~ Georgia Conference for the first time in 1839, with Covington, in the Lthens District. Wm. J. Parks was Presiding FJ.der and J. • Taney Pastore We remained in the A.thens District until 1855 when we were put in the tlanta District, Hartwell H. Parks. Presiding Elder with W. R. Branham pastor of Covington and Oxford, exander Means. supply. In 1883 we were put in a new District bearing our n~the Oxford District. Go w. Yarbrough was Presiding Elder" C. E. D 1\ Oxford pastor with

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A. G. Haygood and I. S. Hopkins as associates. The C"onference was again redistrie-ted in 1931, and the name Decatur-Oxford was given our district, Nath Thompson being named Presiding Elder and Nat G. tong pastor. e are ati11. in the Decatur- Oxford District. .e have a record of the presiding elders and pastors for every year from 1839 through 1.951. except the years 1840" 1844, 1848 for which there is no available information.

Although Oxford was listed as a circuit. for marw, marw years, we may be sure that there was no Sunday in the month without preach­ing services since there were available in thos e days both on the college faculty and in the village ministers of unusual ability. As a matter of fact, at one time during the early days of Emory every member of the faculty was a minister, a situation which meant much to the spiritual. life of the village. During those times the regular pastor of Oxford could hardly rate or rank with his associate pastor when such men as' exander eans, Atticus Haygood, Warren Candler, and I. S. Hopkins served in that capacity.

The first academic session of Emory College began in gust, 1839. Since a place of worship was one of the chief concerns of the college trustees, the,y had a frame building erected during the summer of 1838 which as used on Sundays and for "tlaily prayers"! (tWice each da.y). '1lhis, tt.old chapellti continued to serve as. a church till 1841 when the ft'Old Churchttl was completed.

In this ftOld Churchft: some of the world's greatest and most far-reaching sermons ha.ve been delivered. Such characters as L. C. Lamar, Young J. &lIen, Atticus G. Haygood, and Warren • Candler received there the seul inspiration that made of them world citizens of the first order. .And space would not permit the naming of all the illustrious sons of "Old Emoryn' whose torches were kindled at those old altars under the "power preachingft) of those men of God, most of whom were on the faculty of Emory College. Perhaps through the years the OXford Church has been served by better ministerial tale that a~ other church of similar size in the area.

In 1854 W. R. Branham was sent to serve the OXford-Covington charge. From that time till now there have been members of this Branham family in our church. W. R. Branham Jr. and his family made their home in OXford after his retirenent from the active ministry. He ably filled the pulpit from time to time and was active in the affairs of church and community, serving several terms on the town council and as mayor. His daughter, . ss Martha Branham, is now our efficient church treasurer.

Miss Iqnn Branham, daughter of W. R. Branham Sr., is a member of the OXford church now, 98 years after her father was first sent

e Oxfer4 a ,aste. Fer 78 years- she has been iving of her tille, her talen , her substance, and of herself to the OXford Church, as a loyal and devoted .e.ber. During her more active years she was practically a one wo.an relief agen~ ainistering to those in need, both black an white. Doubly blessed is that church or cOJlmunity that numbers a ft)f1ss IiYnn"f a.aong its mellbers •

. uri.."lg slavery day the egroes who had no duties to pe orm

were rivileged to attend the regular Sunday services, sitting in the gallery which was reserved for the. Sunday afternoon there Y were s e ial services for the slaves in the regu ar church auditorium, which they ere required to attend. A.t the 1 65 session of he North G orgia Conference W. R. Branh was, Presiding Elder of the tlanta

i trict, and Miles • .Arnold was sent to OXford Then this additional assignment appears in the minutes: Colored c arge, Jno. • Yarbrough.

The OXford Church was right in the "thick of the fight" etween the North and the outh in the controversy over slavery, which finally caused the division of the Methodist Church. And, as a matter of fact, the Old Church was used as a hosp tal from 1862-64 ding the War Between the State. Bishop Andrew lived in OXfo , and f course his fami belonged to'the Oxford Chur h. Tne slave girl, Kitty, attended services in the Old Church and lived in her . 01Il1 cottage nearby. Not far from the drew lot the OXford Cemetery stands an impressive marble marker to Kitty, the alave girl, who through no a t of her own or her aster's caused the division of the Method' at Church. On th s marker is a brief history of important events connected with that historic incident.

t this, oint it seem not out of lace to eak brieny of our Oxford Cemetery which Bishop Candler eferred to as the estminster Abbey of Georgia Methodism". In thi hallowe apot alee many of ./ the illustrious ioneers or Methodism in Georgia an of Emory College. To visit this cemetery an to read the names on the head­stones is to feel that thi is' indeed "holy groundn'.

Henry n'Billy" W.tchell who has been connected t Emory longer than any other living employee (about 5 'years l gave so e of the facts concerning the Old Church. His materna grandmother, Ellen Robison, belonged to President Luther Smith. d his grand­father, Neil Robison, belonged to Alexander eans. His mother was " unt Sarah" Mitchell, and rom her he learned muc about tile old days at OXford.

There s one ver,y interesting point that "Bil~" brought out concerning the cuItural and religious in luences which the OXford Church has had on the people of his race and the unusual advantages

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that they have enjoyed in this historic village. The negroes had the benefit of the best preaching the Methodist Church could afford as well as the best in the field of musical entertainment, lectures, etc. since all these activities took place in the It01d Church". The negroes knew that the gallery was for them, and they attended. Thus the OXford negroes in all probability had the best cultural and educational advantages of any in the world during the old Emory College days.

The WOld Churchnr which was completed in 1841 and dedicated the I J same year by Bishop 'lliam Capers still has the partition down the middle, a reminder of the day when the men sat on one side and the women on the other. The date, 1841, was chiseled on the cornerstone by Dr. G. Go Smith Sr., son of the pioneer Rev. Isaac: Smith. Dr. Smith came to Oxford to practice medicine and to educate his sons. Rev. G. Go Smith Jr. was a well-known author and historian of the ' Methodist Church. TWo other sons, James Rembert Smith and Edward Smith, were ministers also. ~ daughter, Lizzie, married Rev. A.. J. Jarrell. They were the parents of OXford's own Dr. C. C. Jarrell.

One of the most powerful reachers during the l890 l s was Dr. J. S.• Moore, Professor of Latinrin Emory College. He was a rather plain-spoken, frank individual concerning whom the following incident was related by Uncle Hath Thompson who was present.

~ncle Leonard~ Thomas, for many years postmaster of Oxford, wore a very large silver watch and a. correspondingly large and conspicuous chain. One Sunday while Dr. Moore was preaching, "Uncle Leonardn" who was sitting where Dr. Moore had a good view of him, took his watch out in such manner as to attract his attention. Dr. Moore paused, "Um-m-m, Brother Thomas, do you think this s:ermon has lasted long enough?"' "'Yes"', came the reply. lI':All right; weill dismiss you. "I Whereupon Bro. Thomas got up and walked out of the church closing the door behind him with such vigor that the sound was heard throughout the building. ltNow we t 11 proceed with the sermon", said Dr. Moore.

One of the most far-reaching sermons ever delivered in the "Old Church'" probably was that of Dr. Haygood on Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, 1880. On that occasion he recounted the numerous reasons the Southerners had for being grateful and expressed his awn gratitude that slavery had been abolished. It was a very liberal, courageous, and forward-looking address. At the conclusi n of the service Dr. Callaway moved that the sermon be published, and the congregation concurred unanimously in his opinion. ~ copy of this sermon came into the hands of George I. Seney, a New York banker. He was so favorably impressed with the spirit of it that when Dr. Haygood was

in New York in 1881, he was invited t Mr. Seney1s office. Dr. Haygood had no idea what :Mr. Seney had in mind. But our Seney Hall here in OXford on the old Emory Campus is the vi ible, tangible, and material result of that conference in Mr. Seney's office after banking hours. For he gave Emory College $130,000 of which $50,000 was pent in erecting S.eney Hall.

In all probability Henry • Grady's famous address, -The New South", never wou~d have been delivered except for that Thanksgiving sermon by Dr. Haygood in 1880... Mr. Grady himself ia reported to have aid, "i ighted my torch at Hargood's flame.~

During one college generation, while the writer was a student in Oxford, there were three future bi hops and two future U. S. senators attending Emory: Arthur Moore, m. Watkins, and arvin Franklin, and Spessard Holland, and Tom stewart. The of 1891 of Emory College furnished the ethodist Church with two bishops_, wm. N. Ainsworth and James E. Diek~. £ total of eleven bishops or future bishops have lived in OXford: Ainsworth, Andrew, Candler, capers, Dickey, Franklin, Haygood, Key, Moore, eree, and atkins. The Bryan brothers, Wm. J. and Nathan, each represented Florida in the U. S. Senate. L. Q.• C. Lamar represented the state of Miss. in both houses of Congress, as Secretary of the Interior under Cleveland, and in 1888 was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Vice-President Alben Barkley was once a student in Oxford and "Worshipped in the "Old Church"'. Although these men were not all residents of Oxford except as students, yet the OXford Church was their official church.

The students formerly lived in the OXford homes and became, in many instances, almo t like members of the family. Practically all the homes had family prayer, and the students in most cases attended prayers with the family. 'Jlhiso influence had a f r-reaching effect for- good upon the students. This situation together with the old rule requiring student to attend church s.ervices each Sunday made it easier for the church to perform its function with regard to the students.

The following quotation oncerning the influences of WOld OXford"' is taken from El\1llock's Histo~ of Em0ri: "Whatever the incidents whi h led tbem to it, maJIy'oysexper enced a religious q}lickening while students at Emory which did. not leave them through all of life. Many there gained the dynamic of vital Christianity and carried it in teaching, preaching, and in private lives, to others. atever criticism today may pass upon the religious or educational techniques of those times, maqy looked back to their

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student dayS' at OXford as a. turning point in life. In achieving this result the college was realizing a primary aim of its founders and supporters.n'

In 1858 there was a: great revival in lIhich Young J. Allen took a very prominent p rt. In 1882 under tticus G. Haygood there was an unusually successful revival in lfhich probably as many as a hun­dred in the community and the college were converted. Under Dr. Candler it wasn't uncommon for a revival just to ~reak out" under his preaching or that of Dr. J. S.. )loore. Then they would "'strike While the iron was hot", and. a great revival would ensue. During Dr. DickeyIS adminis,tration Rev. :. G. Crawley, who was pastor 0 f the OXford Church at the time, conducted a very successful revival in which many were converted or reclaimed.

D • Candler not only attended the .ednesday night prayer ser­vices, but he generally conducted them also. Dr. Dickey likewise was a regular attendant at prayer meeting and frequently led the service. nBil4rft Mitchell is authority for the statement that on one stornw 'Wednesday night at the "Old Churchtt. there was nobody present except Dr. Dickey and Hugh Howell. But Dr. Dickey conducted the prayer service anyway. Mr. Howell verified this statement. (He said he was janitor and had to be therel)

OUr present church, Young J. Allen llemorial, was completed in 1910 while Dr. Dickey wa president of Emory. The "'Old Church'" was gradually abandoned and tell into disrepair. But in 1932 it was restored through the untirin efforts of Bishop Candler. Per­haps one of the most impressive services ever held in that historic old building was the funeral of that distinguished churchman. On that occasion Bishops Mnsworth, arlington, Moore, Kern, and Watkins were on the platform, and the main auditorium was filled to overflowing with ministers and others from all walks of life who had gathered to pay homage to one of the great souls of the ages.

Several years after Biah p Candler's death the Old Church~,

because of neglect and dasuse,again, had to be restored. Through the organized efforts of Bishop Arthur oore and others, and under the general direction of Bishop Moore, this was accomplished in 1949. The building is now in good condition, having an apartment 'Which accommodates two college students who act as caretakers. The ladies of the W.•S.C.S. hold. their general meeting on the first Llonday night in each month in the "Conference Room1fl of this build­ing. The Spiritual Life Group of the W.S.C.S. also holds its meetings there on the second and fourth Wednesday afternoon. The commencement exercises of Emory-at.-Oxford are now being held each

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spring in this ItQld Church";. 0 it is to be hoped that it will con­tinue to serve a useful JUrPOse for maqy years to come as well as stand as a shrine, and a memorial to OXford's and Emor,y's illustrious ot other years.

As has already been stated, our present church was completed in 1910, a memorial to the pioneer missionary to China, YO'U..'lg J. Allen. A:lthough this building is the property of Emory University, the village of Oxford has enja,red its use for these forty-one years_practically free of charge for most of that time. At present we are paying the University a small amount for use of the building and for heating and janitor service. This is; a very beautiful and worshipful sanctuary which is' found in few villages like OXford, and which we would not have had except for Emory College.

The OXford Church has always been a liberal church. It always pays its assessments in full. As far back as 1861 when it was in the Atlanta District, the Oxford Church reported 1625 for missions at ' the Annual Conterence~ This was 455 more than any other church in the district reported. The same year it paid $1350 for "Sunday School Requisites"'. The church that came second in the district reported only- $300. The OXford Church reported a,oo Sunday School Reading Books, ,85 being next highest in the di~tric~•

.' The Missionary Society and tile W.S.C.S. have -rivaled the Sunday

School, and no doubt surpassed it , in liberality. And in addition have done much to alleviate suffering among the needy at home and abroad and to spread the gospel. There are three very active and enthusiastic circles with a ,total membership of 83. The circles are named in honor of three of the most faithful and active members of "Yesteryearn', The Susie Bonnell S:tone Circle, The Addie Branham Circle, and The Emmie Stewart Circle.

our church has had an unusually large aumber of la,ral and ' devoted members and efficient officials. Although it is not a good policy ordinaril,y to single out individuals, there are three, in addition to those already meationed, that stand out so prominently in the mind of the writer that he cannot refrain from mentioning them by' name. Mr. Jo Co Kitchens for 25 years was our church treasurer and in all probability never made an error. His report was always ready on time and in good shape. Prof 0 Ro L. "'Uncle Bob'" Paine for many years was chairman of our board of stewards, and a wonderful influence for good among the students. He never lost his youthful enthusiasm, his ~est for living, or his keen and wholesome sense of humor. Prof. Harry H. Stone was born in axford, reared and educated here and then spent his entire adult life in the service of Emory. He was a grandson of Bishop Capers;; an outstanding churchman, a perfect Christian gentleman.

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Orlord~ Shrine of Methodism's Dnmortals.l

~y God grant to us who n01l' live and labor in this holy pilace thesdom and piritual vision to "'fol101l' in their train""

°lbur Carlton, Historian

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These na~s below appear exactly as the.1 are found in the Conference minutes. This accounts for the inconsistencies in the spelling of some of the names.

Pastor

• 0 Talley

Matthew Raiford g. B. Longstreet

Robert Steele

Jas. r. Jackson John Co ons John C. ons, Luke J. Davies

to be upplied Geo. Fa erce,

• Means, sborn L. Smith,

Wm. Jo asnett, Jno. I. Bonnell

1851 Vim. J. arks Covington and Oxford CalBb • Key, (Jano 8, 1851) Jesse R. Littlejohn

1851 >. J. Parks Covington and OXford W.. A. Florence, ( ec. 24-31, 1851) • • Norman

1852 W. J. Park Covington and Oxford. Wm. A. Florence, John Ford

1853 John W. Talley Covington and OXford Geo. C. Clarke, Albert Gray

1854 John W. Talley Covington and xford Walter R. Branham 1855 We were put in the Ltlanta District

Hartwell H. Parks Covington and Oxford W. R. Branham, Means supply

1856 .• R. Branham Covington and OXford E. .. eer .A.. Means supply

1857 alter R. Branham Oxford ircuit John W. Talley Cicero JL. :Mi.tchell

supp y

1858 • R. Branham OXford Means supply

John W. Talley

1859 J. • ar orough Oxford • J. Sasnett supply

Robt. Wo Lovett e to be supplied

• Means supply

860

1861 186Z 1863

1864

1865

1683 1884 1885 1&66 1887 138 1889

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Jho. .• Yarbrough

• • Y rboro h J. • Yarborough Walter R. Branham

Oxfo

OXford OXford Covington and Oxford

The Conference for 163 and 164 met in Columbus on ec. 3, 1863. he next Conference convened at lthens Jan. 5-1 , 1865. • R. Branham

The next Conference Macon. Jas. • ayne

J. D. Gray J. • Gray

• D. GrayG. W yal'orough G. • YarDrough G. • yarbrough G. W. Yarbrough

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• H. Evans Geo. W. Yarbr ugh

m. Evans • Gray

John W. arborough .. eans supply

OXfor J. •• Yarborough • eans supply

(for 1866 appointments) met ov. 15, 1865 in

Oxford lliles • nold Colored charge no. • Yarbrough

A.thens District

Pastor in Oxford

• ingleton and • Co alory • ingleton

Singleton les • nold bert Gray

W. R. anham • R. Branham • R. Branham

F. :0. Davies G. Haygood G. Haygood

• Lallaway • Callaway

M. Callaway and W. R. Branham • Callaway ani W. R. Branham

J. L. "erce and J 0 L .erce and

Oxford District 16a3

First time

J. L. Pierce and J. L. ierce and M. Callaway

• E. awman and A.. C. E. Dowman and I. M. H. Eakes and •

• fl. ~keB and •

• G. Haygood • G. Haygood

• G. Haygood • G. Haygood

G. Haygood S. Hopkin • ....candler

Candler

1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900

1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930

1931 1932

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Presiding Elder Pastor in Oxford

R. J. Bigham R. J. Bigham

• Do Anderson W Do Anderson0

Walker Lewis Walker Lewis Walker Lewis Jo So Bljran J. S~ Bryan w. Ro Foote W. Ro Foote

Wo R. Foote J. W. Hudt JI. Wo Hudt J. Wo Hudt J. • Hudt C. E. Dowman Co E. Dowman Co E. Dewman C. Eo Dowman J 0 Wo QW.1lian J 0 W. Quillian J. W. Quillian J. Q.uillian·0

W. B. Fraaer W. Bo Fraser

o Bo Fraser Wo B. Fraser If. R. Mays Ho Mays0

H. Bo Mays H. :ao Mays W. Go Crawley Wo Go Crawley Wo G. rawley

o G. Crawley E. F. Dempsey E. F 0 Dempsey E. FoDempsey E. F 0 Dempsey Nath Thompson

Nath Thompson R. Zo Tyler

Mo H0 Eakes and W. So. Candler M. H. Eakes and &. Candler0

J. Dickey and Jo So Moore0

JoE. Dickey and J. S. Moore Jo E. Dickey and W. Ao Candler Ho Wo Joiner 00 C. Simmons and Wo Ao Candler o. Co Simmons and W. Ao Candler 00 C. Simmons and W. Ao Candler 00 Co Simmons ~ •

• Mo Ryburn (died) Simon Shaw finished year

Simon Shaw Go W. Duval G. W.• Duval G. W. Yarbrough and Ro Go smith G. W. Wo W. W~

• Yarbrough Bo Dillard H. LaPrade Jr. Ho LaPrade Jr. Ho LaPrade Jro

W. H. LaPrade Jr. W.• G~ Crawley W. G. Crawley o. L. Kelly 00 Lo Kelly M. S. Williams M. S. Williams Mo S. i1liams w. W~ Carroll w. W Carroll0

Wow.. Carrol .0 B. :Dillard

W. Ho LaPrade Sr. W. H. LaPrade Sr. W.o H. LaPrade Sr. W. H. LaPrade Sr. Lester Rumble Lester Rumble

R. Eliz:er A.• Bo Elizer Nat G. Long

Decatur-OXford District 1931

First Time

Nat Go Long Ralph B. Hawkins