FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.



   In i832 to i835 Elder R. T. Dillard was in charge of
the church.
   In 1835 to i839 Elder Silas M. Noel was pastor. He
died May 5, i839. He was succeeded by Dr. B. P. Drake,
a member of the church, a physician, and set apart to the
ministry of the church.
   In i840 Rev. William F. Broaddus, of Virginia, was
called to the pastorate at a salary of 1,500 per year, with
the privilege of conducting a young ladies' school. Re
continued in the pastorate until I845, when he resigned.
He was a very able minister in the pulpit and an excellent
teacher.
   In i845 Rev. W. M. Pratt, D. D., was unanimously
invited to take charge of the church for one year, at a
salary of 700.
   So, according to contract, he returned, after a tour
through Virginia, and commenced his pastorate August
I, 1845, expecting to close up and go back at the end of
a year.
   The church sent a committee each year for seventeen
years, to renew the call. The people in this region know
whether his labors during this long pastorate were a suc-
cess or a failure. He has, preached during the pastorate
three thousand two hundred and seventy-one sermons;
baptized into the fellowship of the church three hundred
and eighty-six; two hundred and seven were received by
letter, and eighty by relation and restoration, making
six hundred and seventy-three additions.  Number of
members in i845 two hundred and sixty-nine; number in
i863 three hundred and twenty-six.  The church con-
tinued in great harmony during this period, with very
little disturbance. During the period of the civil war it
required great prudence to steer the ship of Zion through
the troubled waters, but she got through safe and sound.
   In the spring of i853 the church resolved to erect a
new house of worship, and secured a lot with a good
dwelling on Mill street, and broke ground for founda-
tion the rst of April. On the i9th of November, i854,
the last services were held in the old meeting house which
had been occupied for over thirty years, and the church
used the basement of the new church on December 3d,
following. The house. was not completed for dedication
until August I9, i855, when Drs. S. W.-Lynd and R. T.
Dillard preached on the occasion to a full house at II a.
m. and 4 p. m. The cost of the house was i5,ooo. We
raised by subscription 8,296, by collection and subscrip-
tion on day of dedication 796.73, and the contractors al-



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