Bethlehem Baptist Church 1887-1891

Samuel G. Medley, Baptist Pastor

These are from the Bethlehem Baptist Church near Grubville, Mo. There are many missing pages, but this time I didn't photograph them all. My camera battery was getting weak, so I didn't photograph pages that basically said, "We had no business and the meeting was adjourned." But there were some pages missing too.

Dec. 1886 ". . .who should constitute the presbytery. Bros. Steel, Cox, McKay and Frazier were named and clerk ordered to write to the brethern. . ."[George Steel and J.R.Cox---not sure which McKay nor Frazier]
Jan. 8, 1887 ". . .Deacon L. H. Lee offered his resignation as deacon of the church as he was getting old, could not hear [he was 74 years old]. The church requested him to remain as deacon which he consented to do. The church appointed a committee to visit Deacon Brown and ascertain the cause of his staying away from church and request him to come to church the next meeting. The committee Bros. S. Medley, Edsell, and Robert McKay. Bro. S.S. Bittick and his wife was granted letters of dismission from the church." [Jacob Edsell or James Edsell]
April 14, 1887 ". . .the committee made a report and brother Joseph Brown excluded from the fellowship of the church by request. . . Bro. Wm. Alwood was chosen deacon. . . Elder Wm. McKay and Bro. Short was chosen to assist in ordination. . ." Joseph Brown later became re-instated because he's mentioned in the minutes for Sept. 1888.

July 15, 1887 ". . .The church proceeded to ballot for delegates which resulted in choice of Bros. John T. Lee, Wm. Elvoid and Price McKay. Bro. David Perkins and Sister Connie [Kansas] Perkins applied for letter. There being a charge against Br. David, the church could not grant him a letter. On motion the church granted Sister Connie letter of dismissal."

Cintha Beeler, wife of Green Herrington

May 12, 1888 ". . .Preaching by Bro. Medley [Samuel G. Medley]. . . in the case of Bro. Lester Henry. . .the committee made their report. . . and he excluded from the fellowship of the church. A charge was preferred against Sister Henry for denying the faith. A committee appointed to visit her. . . the Church authorized the Clerk to mark out the name of Green Herrington. . .J.R. Cox moderator J. L. Perkins, clerk."
Sept. 1888 ". . .Bro. Robert Hunt charged fiddling and dancing at balls. . .a com. appointed to visit him. . .Bros. Silas Pounds and George Evans. Bro. Stephen charged with swearing. . .a com. appointed to visit him. . .Bros. J. P. Lollar and Joseph Brown[son of Mary Polly Graham and Henry G. Brown]. Sister Martha V. Carrow charged with dancing . . .a committee appointed to visit her Sisters Joseph Brown [Mary Ann Hanvey?] and Manerva Manion [Minerva McCulloch]. . .W. G. Manion [William G. Manion] and John S. McKay was appointed to draw of the name of members on the church book. . ."
P. 104 Feb. 9, 1889 ". . .Annie Grayham aplide for a letter of dismis to join at Desoto. . ." I didn't correct the spelling on this. . .I'm not sure who she is but am pretty sure this should be Annie Graham.
Aug. 1889 The Church Book of names committee: J. G. Lee, W. Elwood, J. L. Perkins ". . .Brother S. G. Medley and Sister Melvina Graham [Augustus Graham's wife] granted letters of dismission. Sister Bettie Reiter elected solicitor for the ensuing year. . . " Bettie or Elizabeth Reiter was my great-grandmother's sister. I'm very impressed that she has been elected to this job as a single woman of 22 years old.
November 1889 ". . .the reception for members. Sister Annie Hulsey received on her letter from Providence. The presbytery then proceeded to the ordination of Bro. John S. McKay to the Deaconship of the church. . ."
Oct. 10, 1891 ". . .Sister Bettie Reiter elected solicitor for the ensuing year. . ."

Elizabeth "Bettie" Reiter Manion 1867-1904