Bucklesberry, Back in the Day: Hickory Grove Church (25)
Hickory Grove Church (25)
Dr. Joe Sutton
TRANSITION YEARS (Cont.)
Still relatively new to the Methodist Protestant Church (M.P.C.) Conference in 1886, Hickory Grove Church was thriving under the pastorate of Rev. William E. Swain. Unfortunately, after his return to the pulpit that year in early April from an illness that sidelined him in March, Rev. Swain was absent again in May on personal leave:
1886, May 5: "Rev. A. R. Morgan, principal of the L.C.I. [La Grange Collegiate Institute], preached at Hickory Grove last Sunday, filling the appointment of Rev. W. E. Swain, the pastor, who is on a short visit to relations in the eastern part of our State." (The Daily Journal, New Bern).
Rev. A. Rufus Morgan was a local educator and an M.P.C. preacher. In 1887, he became President of Yadkin College in High Point, NC, founded by the M.P.C. Conference. Within weeks after Rev. Morgan filled-in for Rev. Swain, Hickory Grove received a visit from Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Ogburn, D.D., then-president of the M.P.C. Conference of North Carolina. As the State Conference leader, his message to the Church was undoubtedly one of encouragement that likely conveyed a pledge of assistance and support:
1886, June 16: "Rev. T. J. Ogburn preached the commencement sermon at the L.C.I. last Sunday. It was our pleasure to hear him, and although the preacher was evidently unwell, we have never heard a better sermon. Services were held Sunday night and the ordinances of baptism and communion administered. Monday the preacher visited and preached at Hickory Grove." (The Daily Journal)
Rev. Swain's faithful pastoral leadership at Hickory Grove did not go unnoticed. By mid-year 1886, journalist S. I. Sutton commended Rev. Swain's service in a weekly news column:
1886, July 7: "Rev. Mr. Swain preached at Hickory Grove last Saturday night and Sunday, his regular appointment. Mr. Swain has served the Church for over twelve months and has given the congregation, which has steadily increased, perfect satisfaction so far as we have been able to learn. We wish him much success in the work in which he is so earnestly engaged." (The Daily Journal)
Next month's article will complete the discussion of Hickory Grove's transition to a Methodist work. Interested readers may enjoy a previously published Bucklesberry article titled "Thanksgiving 1779 (Part 1)" available at https://bit.ly/3WJbD4i.
