Bucklesberry, Back in the Day: Hickory Grove Church (20)
Hickory Grove Church (20)
Dr. Joe Sutton
FIRMLY METHODIST
After separating from the Union Baptist Association (U.B.A.) in October 1884, Hickory Grove operated as an independent Baptist church. No longer a purely Baptist work, preachers from different denominations were invited to conduct worship services. Possibly by design, this was an opportunity for the Church to consider theological perspectives and doctrines other than Baptist.
By year's end, Hickory Grove was not only disaffiliated from the U.B.A., their desire to continue as an independent Baptist church had apparently waned. In December 1884, they elected Rev. William Ellis Swain (1856-1923) of the Methodist Protestant Church (M.P.C.) Conference to preach one Sunday each month. The pastoral call to Rev. Swain effectively placed Hickory Grove on a trajectory toward becoming a firmly Methodist work:
1884, December 31: "In accordance with an invitation extended by the Church at Hickory Grove, Rev. W. E. Swain, of the M.P.C. [Methodist Protestant] Church, will preach at that place the first Sunday in each month, at 11 o'clock a.m., beginning the first Sunday in February, 1885. The members of the Church and Christians, and people in the community, are cordially invited." (The Daily Journal, New Bern)
With new pastor Rev. Swain of the M.P.C. Conference poised to preach on the first Sunday of each month, the third Sunday ministry of Rev. James D. Carpenter came to an end. Associated with the M.E.C.S. conference, he was transferred to Hyde County in late-December 1884. Rev. Alpheus McCullen (1859-1929), also of the M.E.C.S. Conference, followed Rev. Carpenter to continue preaching at Hickory Grove on the third Sunday of each month.
Unfortunately, the 1885 new year rang in with no reported services at Hickory Grove. Rev. Allen J. Hires (1822-1906), pastor of the Missionary Baptist Church in La Grange, was asked to fill the pulpit until Rev. Swain could arrive and settle in. When Rev. Hires failed to show on the appointed Sunday, news reporter S. I. Sutton intimated the possibility of foul play from former Baptist pastor Rev. B. W. Nash:
1885, January 1: "Rev. Mr. [Allen J.] Hires....did not preach at Hickory Grove, as announced, probably because it was announced that Rev. Mr. Nash would preach there on that day, which we learn he failed to do. It may be that the last appointment was intended to prevent the first, and if such was the object it was effective." (New Berne Weekly Journal)
For reasons unknown, newly appointed Rev. Swain did not deliver his first message as scheduled in February 1885. Instead, his inaugural service came in March, per a news report that indicated further action to come from the Church:
1885, March 4: "Rev. W. E. Swain preached a most excellent and instructive sermon at Hickory Grove last Sunday. There was no preaching or meeting of Church on Saturday, the appointment not being sufficiently known. There will be a meeting of the Church on the first Sunday in April, to which all members are especially invited, the object being to take some action with a view to the future good of the Church at that place." (The Daily Journal, New Bern)
Meanwhile, newly-assigned third Sunday preacher, Rev. McCullen of the M.E.C.S. Conference, apparently had a change of heart. He withdrew his appointment in mid-March 1885, likely due to a realization that Hickory Grove was tending toward affiliation with the M.P.C. Conference, given their favorable reception of Rev. Swain:
1885, March 18: "Rev. Mr. McCullen requests us to give notice that he has recalled his appointment at Hickory Grove." (The Daily Journal, New Bern)
The next article in this series will discuss Hickory Grove as a new Methodist work. Interested readers may enjoy a previously published Bucklesberry article titled "Dog Days 1886 (Part 2)" available at https://bit.ly/4wWT6yM.
