The History and Establishment

of Methodism in Lumpkin

In 1837, Willard Boyard Boynton and his brother Hollis Boynton sold Wm. Shields, Matthew McCollough, C.R. Perry, John W.F. Lowerey, and Loverd Bryan, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, three and a half acres of land to be used for church purposes and also for the demetary.  Soon after a house of worship was built which was used till 1859, when a nicer and more commodious church was erected on the corner nearest Church Street.  This was during the Pastorate of Rev. G.G. N. McDonnell.

In 1896, the church was remodeled while Rev. T. W. Darley was in charge.  This was never very satisfactory, and soon thereafter, the matter of building a modern brick church was discussed.  In 1908, a more eligible lot was purchased on the corner of Broad and Church Streets and the collection of funds for the work began.

July 4, 1909, will be remembered as the first Sunday the new church building was used; before the usual time fo beginning the Sunday School exercises many gathered eager to be on hand at the start.  “Onward Christian Soldiers” was the first hyumn sung, followed by the usual opening exercises led by the Superintendent, Mr. B.l. Wood, after which the teachers took charge of their classes to teach to each the truths from the lesson for the day taken from the 15^th chapter of Acts; each teacher took charge of the room appointed her, and the window in each was the one for which the class had raised the necessary amount.  In the first class room, the plate is inscribed “The Infant Class” and represents a field of the”lilies of Palestine’ of which our Lord said, “Consider the Lilies of the the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin, and yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”  Are not the dear little ones the lilies of the home who have no care of thought of the morrow but are provded for by the loving earthly father who is a type of the Heavenly Father who provided for by the loving earthly father who is a type of the Heavenly Father who provides for all of His children.  This class is taught by Miss Kate Kirksey who has about twelve little ones under her care.

The next room is No. 2, taught by Mrs. R.F. Hobbs and composed of children too old for the infant class.  Their window represents the infant Jesus in the manger.

The large class in the next room which has No. 3 in the window represents Jesus at the age of twelve in the temple at Jerusalem is taught by Miss Lucy Simpson.

Jesus the good shepherd is the subject of the window in the classroom of No. 4 of which Mrs. E.C. Hobbs is the teacher.

A class of wide awake boys compose No. 5 which is under the charge of Mrs. M.E. Hawes and their window represents Jesus blessing the children.

Class No. 6 is taught by Miss Carrie Singer and composed of girls, who claim their window is the prettiest, being old enough to see the picture of Christ in the garden Gethsemane more than symmetry of line and the blending of color.

In the next room, which is occupied by No. 7, are two windows not quite as large as the others representing the Crucifixion and the Sepulchre—to be seen at their best they must be viewed in the afternoon when the rays of the setting sun rest upon them which brings out all of the rich colors of the glass.  In one, in the distance is the hill of Clavary on which are whown the three crosses brought into view against the sky lit up by the glow of sunset and in the other, the empty tomb.  In this room, which is called the Ladies’ Parlor, is a grate so it can be heated easily.  There are also electric lights not connected with the main switch.  The Steward’s meeting and the meetings of the various societies of the church are expected to be held in this room.

No 7 is taught by Mrs. Mamie Carter and they purchased a window which was put in the main auditorium which represents the Sower in the act of scattering the seeed.

Mr. Pugh has charge of Class No. 8 whose window represents Christ knocking at the door, and is in one of the vestibules which will be used by class as recitation room.

No. 9 has been recently organized and is taught by Mrs. N.V. Robertson, while the Bible class is taught by Mrs. J.B. Law, and is composed of the older members of the school.

The school has anefficient corps of officers and teachers.  Mr. B.L. Wood is Superintendent, Mr. E.T. Hickey, Assistant superintendent, Mr. Gill Robertson, Secretary, and Miss Carrie Singer, Treasuer.  There is a great deal of interest shown in the school and everything is being done to make it a model school; a system of promotion from class to class is being arranged and will soon be put into use in the school.

The following early history of the Methodist Sunday School is the one submitted to the school by the late Mr. E.F. Kirksey at the celebration of its missionary anniversary in 1874.

We invite you to become a part of the church today 

and a piece of its history tomorrow.