Bucklesberry, Back in the Day: Hickory Grove Church (15)
Hickory Grove Church (15)
Dr. Joe Sutton
BAPTIST INTERLUDE (Cont.)
From nearby Duplin County, Rev. James D. Cavanaugh (1837-1904) was a Baptist minister who dabbled in politics. He lost his 1882 race for a seat in the N.C. House of Representatives. In October 1883, Hickory Grove chose him as pastor to succeed Rev. B. W. Nash:
1883, October 25: "The members of Hickory Grove Church met last Sunday and elected Rev. J. D. Cavanaugh, of Duplin County, pastor for the ensuing year. This church has been without a pastor for the past year, but has been served by the Rev. B. W. Nash of the Baptist Review." (New Berne Weekly Journal).
Oddly, the news item did not acknowledge Rev. Nash as the outgoing pastor. Quite the opposite, it stated the Church had no pastor at all for the previous year. Yet, a July 27, 1882 news piece explicitly named Rev. Nash as the "pastor" at Hickory Grove. Additional news reports published throughout 1882 (January, June, and July) and in 1883 (January, March, April, May, July, and August) confirmed he preached his regularly appointed Sunday services at Hickory Grove.
Rev. Nash, then, performed ongoing pastoral service at Hickory Grove during much of 1882 and 1883. Whether he pastored for only one year, or two years at most, his tenure at Hickory Grove Baptist Church nonetheless was brief. The reason the Church sought another pastor is unknown. Rev. Nash was apparently displeased, though, with the choice of Rev. Cavanaugh as his successor. Missing-in-action, as it were, Rev. Nash failed to preach his appointed Sunday after the congregational vote:
1883, October 31: "Rev. B. W. Nash did not fill his appointment at Hickory Grove last Sunday." (The Daily Journal, New Bern)
Assigned to preach on the fourth Saturday and Sunday each month, newly-appointed Rev. Cavanaugh did not have to wait for his pastorate to officially begin in 1884. He was in the pulpit at Hickory Grove in November 1883, displacing Rev. Nash. By all accounts, Rev. Cavanaugh was faithful throughout 1884:
1883, November 18: "Rev. J. D. Cavanaugh will preach at Hickory Grove on Saturday before the 4th Sunday in this month, at which time he will inform the church as to his acceptance of the call of the church as pastor." (The Daily Journal, New Bern)
1883, November 29: "Rev. J. D. Cavanaugh filled his appointment at Hickory Grove last Saturday and Sunday. I learn that the congregation was large on Tuesday, and that he is making a very favorable impression on the people. So mote it be." (New Berne Weekly Journal)
1884, August 28: "Rev. J. D. Cavanaugh preached at Hickory Grove last Saturday and Sunday, his regular appointment." (New Berne Weekly Journal)
Next month's article will discuss Hickory Grove's trajectory towards Methodist affiliation. Interested readers may enjoy a previously published Bucklesberry article titled "Accidents Happen (Part 2)," available at https://bit.ly/4uvZQTa.
