HISTORY OF THE STONE MOUNTAIN METHODIST CHURCH

The history of the Stone Mountain Methodist Church, located in Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, siJ~een miles east of Atlanta, is a story of faithful souls working together to spread the teachings of Jesus and to build a better conmunity in which to live.

During the year 1939, the city of Stone Mountain passed its century mark having been chartered December 21, 1839 as New Gibraltar. This nar,le 'I-laS changed in 1847, by logislative act, to stone }buntain.

The first years of this little settlement were spent in clearlllg the wilderness, in building homes, in tilling the soil, and in carrying on those duties necessary for their meager existence.

After these physical needs were DIet, it is not surprlSlng that these sturdy souls began to think of meeting together for worshiping God and returning thanlcs for his many blessings to them. Sone fifteen years later, or about 1854, a sr:1all group banded together Dl search of the better way of life, and the Stone Mountain Methodist Church was founded. There were seven persons who were charter menbers of this church. These were: Jv'JI'. and Mrs. Andrew Camp, Hr. and HI'S. Haxie Waits, l'fJrs. J. G. Ra..11.Y-in, Brs. Oliver Wimlingham and Mrs. Ira Camp. During the intervening years, there have been found on the church rolls the nanes of mQl1Y descendents. Upon the roll today are to be fOllild grandchildren, great and even great-great grandchildren of the illustrious men and WO;;len 1,lho shO'\led fortitude and courage in founding the Methodist Church in Stone Mountain.

It has been difficult to secure too many minute details concerning the church prior to 1894 due to lack of printed or written records and carelessness in preservinG those which might have been available at one time. Those available are not continuous, and some much more complete than others. The information given on tho church prior to 1894 was taken from the Georgia Conference Minutes at the Elaory University Theological Library. Most of the record sinco that date was found in the Quarterly Conference records of the Church and fr~~ some of the older menbers of today and from past lustories of the church.

fhe first place of worship was in a buildb1g which had been a part of what was once liThe Fair Grounds. 1I It was here that all vlho wished gathered each Sunday to worship God -- the Methodist alternating Sundays with those of other faiths. This was later the site used for the fonaer Baptist and then Presbyterian Church.

frOG mblutes of the Georgia Conference (as it was then called, all tho state being in one conforence) for the years 1367-1869 in the Emory University Theological Libr[~ry, it was found that the yOlli1g church was thriving 8l1d active. 'The followD1g report was given:

1I1embers 253 white Financial report \WS as fol10Hs: 40 colored

Infants baptized 15 Value of property: Buildings $2600.00

Adults 10 Snttings 375.00 Paid pastor 275.35

Sunday School 314 pupils HOLle l'ussions 15.00 Foreign Nissions 6.00

The Stone MountaDl Church was in the Atlanta District with .Albert Gray, pastor in 1867 ~nd Irlilliara A. Florence, pastor bl charge in 1869. In 1870, a wooden structure was erected on the site of the present building

The records of 1871 through 1874 show Decatur and Stone Mountain as a charge vdth Francis B. Davis as pastor and tI. H. Clark as supply,. During this period the follmdng was reported:

Members 367 white

Property $4000.00 (the church of 1870 has been built) Repair to building ~1500.00 (probably finishing the building) Settil1gs 800.00 Pastor and Associate 250.00

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other pastors serving this church in its early years were Dr. Davies, father of Niss Daisy Davies; Rev. Elam Dempsey; Rev. Wesley G. Smith in 1878, Rev. W. F. Quilli8l1 in 1880 and Rev. Sid Bryant in 1884.

In 1892, it is recorded as Stone Mountain and Clarkston Charge in the Oxford District with W. G. Crawley as pastor.

The 1893-94-95 records show as pastor the Reverend L. W. Rivers, m1d he reported 315 members. The next pastor vJas JaM Spier Hho served from 1896 through 1898.

In 1898, Rev. B. Sanders, father of the late Rev. Atticus Sanders, was sent by the COl1ference to serve as pastor 1898-1900. The Rev. B. Sanders chose to superan­nuate Hhile here, and it Has in Stone Mountain tlli'1t he spent his rer.laining years. The Rev. John H. Gibson served as pastor 1901-02.

The records of January 10, 1903, shaH stone Hountain Methodist Church still in the Oxford District, with the Rev. J. W. Heidt as Presiding Elder. Rev. F. \.J'. HcCleskey Has pastor. The Stone Mountain }-fissions and Circuit records included the following churches: Belmont, Clarkston, Wesley Chapel and Stone NOlUltain. At this Quarterly Conference Rev. f1cCleskey reported fron Stone Mountain, "A Sunday School wit.h I. N. Nash as Superintenden.t, no Epworth LeaGUe or Foreign Missionary Societies.1! At the Second Quarterly Conference, held in Clarkston l~pril 18, 1903, Rev. McCleskey reported nil. Juvenile Society with 16 nembers organized by his ville. n

The Reverend ~f. H. Speer was sent to serve the Circuit in 1904. At the Second Quartorly Conference a Parsonage Cor.rr:uttee 1,>12.S elected with instructions to givG notes and get bond for the purchase of a parsonac;e. Until this t:i.I:1e the parsonage had evidently been rented, as the reoords show IJRent paid on Parsona~el1. The records of the F01.rrth Quarterly Conference ShOH that an Epworth League was organized "I.nth the follovT.U1g officers: President, J. L. Waldrop; Vice-President> j~en Loehr; Secreta~J

8l1d Treasurer, Rufus Sanders.

The Reverend Nath Thompson HilS the next pastor in charge. Th8 Stone Mountain Circuit was Brother Hathfs first charge in Georgi[l, he and "Niss Sarnh l1 coning here directly fron Texas. During his pastorato a thriving Junior League vms organized "loJith Mrs. Bert Wood as leader.

lit the Third Quarterly Conference of 1905, the follo"Wing is found: "The Trustees were authorized to repair the church at Stone Hountain or build a neH one, as they sec fit. Ii In this record "I-lG find Hhere 55 (n8.r.les included) came into tho church during n meeting held in D. tent pitched at the southvlGst corner of Mm.mtain Street and First Main, vnth the Reverend Charles J. Jc~ell doing the preaching.

In November of 1906, Hr. Thompson reported no EpHorth Lengue.

The WOD1all 1 S l~ssionary Society of the Stone Mountain Methodist Church was organized in 1906 nt the Methodist parsonage, Hhich Has at that tirue located on Hountnin Street. It was organized as c.. Home Hissianary Society by HI'S. Nath Thompson, assisted by her husband. Even before this date there was Q Ladies Iud or Parsonage J~d Society Hhich function.ed in the ll1terest of tho Parsonage, but did no connectional Hork. The charter members of the Home ~ussiona~J Society Here: 11rs. S. G. Griffin, Mrs. J. H. Griffin, Miss Ella Hae Griffin, Mrs. J. G. Rankin, }Jrs. ,Tohn NcClelland, l'1rs. Jim Sprayberry, Mrs. I'Tath Thompson, Miss Hettye McCurdy, HI'S. Leolyn Veal Cleckler, HI'S. B. H. Davis and Mrs. J. A. i'laldrop. HI'S. S. G. Griffin 1m3 elected President of the nevI society and served in tho capacity intermittently for many year.

The records of 1907 show that the ProsidL1g Elder was C. E. Dow~an and W. T. Bell was the Pastor in charge. The Sunday School continues to be reported with "I. N. Nash and J ...i.. iJaldrop" as superintendents. Speoific ar,lOunts nre nOl'J reported for missionary Hark. The records show that money was being raised for a new church.

In 1908 the Reverend Firley Baun came to serve the Stone Mountain Circuit. 1,fr. DaUl'l reported a Sunday School Institute conducted by Bro. Henry B. Nays of l;.tlal1ta during the second quarter.

The records of the First Quarterly Conference in 1909 show the n0~e of the charge chmlged to Stone Hm:U1tain-Clarkston. Wesley Chr>.pel was pln.ced ll1 another charge. At this sarne Conference tho follo~Qng is recorded:

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IlQuestion 31 - Is_thore any miscellnneous business?

1IJ.:.lsHer Selected comr.rl..ttee on ne"\{ church at Stone Hountllin, to idt: I. N. lash, J. O. Norris, B. H. Davis, i~. P. Griffin, J. S. &u1kin, H. L. NcElhannon and Firley Bau.r:l. lI lidded later, f..• J. Baxter and F. L. Dou~bnan. In supplement Bro. BaUD vTrites: IISteps are be:ing taken to build a neH church at Stone b:ountain and I am sure this enterpriso ~dll mean Duch to our people there. I doubt if there has ever been n better

_opjJo.l'l:.unity tl13...'t1 the present to build a church there and I hope that it idll be carried on to cOY.1pletion. ll

~t Q later Conference the Trustees Were instructed to sell the Parsonage, adjust the Wesley Chapel D1terest and build a new parsonage on the church proporty in Stone Hountain. This I.,raS done in 1909, using the lumber fron the old church YJhich had boen torn down, as the new church Has to be erected on the sane site.

The cornerstone of tho present church Has laid in 1909. During the l:lonths \{hon the Methodists Ivere ~Qthout a place of YJorship, the congregation of the Presbyterian Church very graciously offered the use of their church, which the ~cthodists gratefully accopted.

Ll 1910, the ~ucker Church was added to the two on the stone Mountain Charge and tho Reverend R. F. Hodnett em,1C to the charge as Pastor. At the Second Quarterly Conference Hr. Hodnett I\Tote: "Not having our mm House of Worship Harks a decided disadvantage to us. II He also reported thc EpHorth League vms IIplarm:ing to put in one of the handsone vlindows proposed for tho new church. 11

So anxious were the menbers to get into the new granite (built of our aim stone Mountain grcuUto) edifice, that maall inconveniences - like bare rock walls and no i·lindm"rs - did not d[1;:lpe~ their spirit s • Even the danpne s s of the dirt floor, i.fhich Has used for some !lonths, did not keep the faithful souls fror.l colling to worship in the "Nei-! Church ll •

With the help of all, it was possible to place in the church the stairled glass . 'vdnnnW8 which today rcr.lC.in beautiful in color and desig11 a fmd before too long the floor vms lQid and the bare gray of the granite was covered \lith snoW'J white plaster and mission wood\wrk throughout. The task of finishic'1.g, heating and furnishing the church took severr'l years, and He find the followinl::; pastors during the years: Rev. D. B. Cantrell in 1912-13; Rev. J. D. Milton in 1914-15; Rev. E. G. Thoffinson in 1916-18; Rov. J. 11.. Partridge in 1919-~O; Rev. o. H. Blackwell in 1921-22 and Rev. John L. Hall in 1923-26. Each of these loyal centleoen played a great part in brD1ginc the church buiJ_ding to completion. fStor the church debt was firlished during the pnstorn.te of Rev. BlachTell, peHS ,,,ore installed to conplete the furnishint:;s of the :interior. ']he debt on these pevIs Has cleared and in the fall of 1926, with Rev. J. L. Hall, p~stor, the church was dedicated by Bishop Werren ~. Candler. J~ter Dany stru~gles and nany heu.rtaches, the long ai{aited dr00J.l had becone r'. reality but the records show that there \m.S no letup in eagerness and onthusinsr.l in co.rI"1fing on the Lord's work.

During the yeQrs 1)'14-1926 there wns reported nt ench Qu2rterly Conference D. VIoll orgQllized Sunday School with such TJ.en as J. I~. ~lalc1rop, E. Ih Grnho.m, and J. E. Griffin acting as superintendents.

Fran the records available, there seeDs to havo been no Epworth Loague after 1910 until Rev. John D. Hilton ims pastor. Ll IJ.ugust 1915, ho called a few of the young people to tho parsonnge and out of prayer in a bedroom, lath only three people present, the League cm-ae forth. On the following Sunday afternoon, the young people of the church riot and Mr. W. R. Sirapson was elected President, ~'t1d under 11is leadership the League room of the church was f:Lushed and lichted. Of course, this irl8.S viith the help of the i,lp"lbcrs of the church, as is 8verythl.J.'1.g in any organization in any church.

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Fran this beginning in 1915, the Epi.lortll League contD1Ued to be 3. ver.! o.ctive part of the chLITch. The young people have ever been ready to assw~e any responsibilities and have helped both spiritually 2nd finDnci211y.

The Reverend b.. S. Hutchi.nson 'vlaS sent by the Conference in Hovenbcr,1926, to serve as pastor at Stono Vm:mtain and Clarkston. The chc.rge was now in the North Atl[mta District. The Rev. Hutchinson served the ch3.rge tHO years. DurinG this t:iDe his daughter, Edna, married Henry KoJllor ond t.hus bec8.n.e the fj.rst to have a wedding :L1 the n8l1 church.

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The Conference of 1928 sent the Reverend ~. J. Sears to Stono Mountain. Bro. Soars served faithfully for the next tHo yoo.rs, and sone of our faithful members of today \-Jore added during his po.storo.te.

The Rov. J e Faster Y01.U1g cnne gS pastor in November, 1930. The Presiding Elder was s. P. \Jiggins. Bro. Young reported a Sunday School, EpvlOrth League, and vlowm IS

~Dssion~r Society, nll active and doing vary fine work.

At the First Quo.rtorly Conference of 1931-32, records show the Presiding Elder as Rev. Nath Thompson and the District changed to the Decatur-Oxford District. Uncle Nath seens not to have liked being a Presiding Elder, as we find the First Quarterly Conference of 1932-33 vdth Rev. R. Z. ~Jler as the PresidinG Elder.

Ii

Rov. Young reports in the Fourth Quarterly Conference of that year: Wo have recently closed what the people of Stone Hountain say to be the greatest revivo~ in the history of the city. Ninety-five mel:1bers were added to the churches of the town, of ,"hich the Hethodist received sixty nine. 1I Dr. Theodore Copoland of Dallas, Texas, vas the evangelist.

In 1934 Dr. Wallace Rogers becQDo the Presiding Elder of tho Decatur-Dxford District.

Bro. Young reports at one conference: llLet ne add in conclusion, to the credit of both congregations (Stone Mountain and Clarkston) they know hov to treat a preo.c11cr and his fDLri.ly. 11 'l'his ShOHS the Yo-une;s had many friends, not only in their church families but in the tvlO cODD.unities as Holl.

The Reverend George vI. Har.ulton follovmd IvJr. Y01mg in 1935. Though he served on1y one year, his easy ChristiDn nanner loft bin loyo.l friends in Stone Ivlountain.

The Rev. Thos. Shackleford CaMe as the next pastor of the stnne Hountain Church in 1936. He ond Hrs. Shaclcleford were faithful Horkers in the vineyard. of the Lord. The church building, ,,'hich the membership had felt quite aclequate only ten short yoars before, was already lacldng in sp,":'.ce for the grmdng church nnd its increasing activ­ities. The Rev. T. H. Sullivan ",as Presiding Elder of the District.

In Noverllber 1938, the Rev. Honry H. Dillard 'vas assigned to the Stone HountcJn­Clarkston CharGe. Bro. and lirs. Dillard labored \,Jell for the Lord, and were good shepherds to the church. The church continued to grow and the plc8 for space grew nore urgent. B"<J tho end of their four years pastorate there "TaS sone definite talk of plans for sono typo enlargement to the church. During his stay, all electric vdrin~

in the church Has replaced and the present lighting fixtures in the auditoriuJ.1 vJere installed..

Tho Rev. Henry H. Jones was now District Superintendent of the Decatur-Oxford District.

The next pastor at Stone Hountain 'm.s the Rev. E. C. SHetno..-a. DurinG this tine, 1942-1\LI-, there was not too nmch natorial :i.r.lproveuent in the church. Stone Hmmto.in, like all other corilIilUnities, Hns too busy in an o.lJ.-out effort to "Jin the "ar. The church did mako em effort to keep in touch Hith the boys fron our com1unity vJho vJGre mmy serving their country, and tried to r:lD..ke those boys Vlho Cc.l·,le to the church feol at home. Tho names of Bany of our nen and "wnen were found on the rolls of the lwny, Navy, Marines, and IJ..r Force, and those on tho hono front ,vere busy with Civilian Defense, Bonds, ffild orrtertaining tho soldiers who Hore patients in the hospitals nearby.

In Novenber, 1944, the Rev. John D. Hroovell cane to servo as pastor. DurinG Hr. l/mX\voll1s pastorate, the intorior of the church was redecorated, and nuch neoded repairs on the roof and vdndmJs "Jere made. The pC'.rsonage also had sor:J.e iJ1prOVer,lonts.

By this tine, there had boon appointed a BuildinG Plmming Coru-.uttee. Though it had not beon too active, there was a Treasurer with a grmJing Building Fund. By Jtll.y, 1947, thoro was in this fund over $4,000.00.

Our District Superllltendent Qt this t~~e was Rov. C. L. luddlebrooks.

In 1947, the North Georgia Conferonce holcl its first sunmer sossion and it Has at this tine that the stone l:P1IDtain Hethodist Church becCJ.lo a full t~.le station, "lith the Rev. Jack W. Nichols coning to serve as pastor. Bro. Jack ~d the chUQ~ch had nuch

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in CODr:lon, since each was tayjnc on new responsibilities -- the church undertaking the finnncip,l risk of o.ssmri.ng D. full tine church and Bro. Jack bringing a bride to share the ups and d01VllS of p~rsonabe life.

SD!CG it had been the dreru~ of the nenbers to add a Duch needed Educational BuildD!b to the chlU'ch proper, it nQ'l,<T beC8J;10 the first ain of all. ;. Building cODoit­toe (L. E. Skelton, F. C. Miller, S. vi. Ashe, Hubert Horgan, and J. C. Black\.Tood) lIaS

appointed ffi!d began ~aking D. study of our neods ffi!d desires, toward drayrlng plans to T.loet then adequately. J.. Finance Cor.1l1ittee (1'1rs. J. E. R'lrrlett, Roy Mitchell, 1'1rs. T. Nooclhan, Mrs. J. M. Norton and Hiss GracG IvIcCurdy) was appointed to Dalee plans for rO-ising the liloney. J',n J~dvisory Boarel (H. S. Snith, J. C. Pounds, E. D. Jordan, and Mrs. D. N. McCurdy) \-Tas nroned to Imrk with the tHO cor.U1itteos and help decide any questions that night arise. It WJ..S decided that the ground for tho new building HOulcJ. be broken when the $10,000.00 Dark was reachod. In October, 1948, that SUI1 was in hand ond the n011 building YID.S beg1ID.

Tho plan, as finally drmm, WQS subr,dtted to oontractors and the low bid 1.JUS $54,000.00. One year after tho c;round was broken and the work llas beZUJl, the thirteen classroons, kitchen, recreation rOOD, and rest rOODs in the new building wero reaoy to be used. 1. gas furnace replaced the old furnace in the raain churcll emel the Sal'l8 type heat 11~S used in the n01.,T annox.

On June 24, 1951, this building was dedicated by Bishop L.rthur J. Hoare. It cost not the ~54,000.00 as quoted by the contractor, but around 025,000.00. This build­

ing stonds as a tribute to the faithful Den and "lOmen Hho joined hands to acconplish this. Through the money donated, the hours of 110rk given, the rock-botton prices at Hhich the Flaterials Hero bought, the church stands today as a nenorial to all yrho had a part in nakinc this dreoLl a reality.

Though the building project took much tLue and money, the spiritual w1d other financinl obligations of tho church did not lag but flourished. The adv~~ce the church has made during these four years was a credit to nur first full time pastor ond proof, that where possible, a church should be a station 1,rlth its oym pastor.

Durine; this period r'lO.ny inprovenents Here Tlo.de on the parsonaLe. One nember gave roofing for the parsonage, another gave a gas heater1 and a nSH stove and refrigerator have been placed in the kitchen.

In July 1950, Rev. E. G. Mackay becono our District Superintendent.

In June, 1952, thG Rev. Lanar Watyjns cone to serve the Stone HOlmtain Hethodist Church. Tm'ough his lec..elership the church continued to progress.

Land adjacent to the church WGS purchased and a parkin~ lot was paved, which added to the safety as 'Hell as the beauty of the church. SidO\'lalks arounc1. tho church and parsonage Hero paved and cenent 1<Talks leading to all church entrnnces were part of the general improvenent of the church grounels.

It nay be that the Hethodists arc a little Olas in th:iJ.1king this, but SODG fecI that the afore nentioned ir1provenent Has the beginning of the sidewalk paving move~ent

",Idch gave to the to\m sane much needed paved sidewuks.

In October, 1953, the Stone lrIountain Eler,lontar-,f School Y!D.S destroyed by fire and tho Methodist Church~ like other groups in the to~m, offered the DoKalb Co~~ty Board of Education their facilities for the use of the school. TI!is created a probleu D1 carryillZ out oouc of the activities of tho church, and no doubt the \-FOrk of the church did suffer some durinG the tllJe when all our Educational BuildinG was used by the school.

Septenber, 1954, found a beautiful neitl school building ready for occupnncy and the Educational Building of the church ylaS paintod and the grounds prepared for plant­ing grass. These illprovenents "IerO filkmced by the DeKalb School Systen.

Fron the time of the dedication of the ch~ITch in 1926 up to the present tiQe, nuch of the work tho.t has boen acconplished can be credited to the faitl1ful Dnd inspirinG leadership of tho IVOLUU!f s Missionary Society, the Chair£~'Ul of the Board of Stewards, and the Sunday School Super:iJ.1tondmrbs.

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On October 24, 1954, the Stone Hounta.:in dethodist Church celebrated its centennial. Bishop VffJ. T. WatldL~s, father of our pastor, Lru~ar Watkins, was the speaker for the occasion. Bishop i'latkins j o:inod other e;reat non \lho have served and helped the church Jmrk nilestones through the first hundred years.

As we c08pleted our hundred yea.r nark, we looked back with a senso of pride. Tho Stono rbwltain Methodist Church has been ever ready to take a stand on the side of right. It has not faltered :in helping the poor and lleedy, both physically and spirituo.lly.

There hns been nuch acconplished in a ll'.1lterinl \laY, but greater still has been the aero.evenen·l- Hade :in such intangibles as faith, hope, love, trust and understancling as Gxonplified :in the lives of strong, good men and Honen Hho have vlOrkod to nake our church the strong institution it is today.

{ill He entered the bicentenary, we pledged to bo nore faithful, work ~ore dil­igently, give ;;lOre freely of til:lO llild talents, and thus the banner given to us frOB loyal neubers of the past \.Jill fly long and its brightness will continuo to sh:L.ie through futuro years.

In June, 1956, the COl,lcr BrmmloHs - H,,'U'y, Corller, Bruce and Jere, cone to serve the stone Mountain Hethodist Church. Hhile hore, Hr. BrmmloH accomplished (of course \lith evoryonets help) what T,1~y believed could not be done, especially so quickly.

The interior of the sonctunry was renovated anel redecorated, naldng quite an inpressive and beautiful settinG for services of dignity. Bofore this Hork l"as conploted, plans were made for a neH parsonage.

!uter making efforts to purchase another site for tho parsonage, it \las docided best to tear dO\.Jl1. the old one md build on the SnLle location. The Bro\,'11low fanily TIovod to the house rented as a parsonago, ond ~,1D.ry said she was the only pestor l s wifo "Jho ever lived in three parsonages lJhile on one assignment. Tho parsonaGe was finished before they left, and they were able to enjoy living in the neH hOLle for sone tiI:le.

Consecration services for the newly decorated sanctuary ~nd for the new parsonage Here held before Mr. Brownlow left for another assigru~ent.

In Juno, 1961, the Reverend John Lindsey cru~e as our next pastor. Betty, John, Brian and Ben soon found their place in our midst.

Tho need for nore space Has very apparent sinco the Youth Dopartnont hnd beon Ilootil1[; across the stroot fron the church in the basoDont of ['. Superannuate Hone. Hmy began to foel that tho need had grmm to necessity. However, sone feared neH obligations When the debt for renovation of the sanctuary and construction of the parsonage had not been fully paid. Tho concern of Ik~y for our young people sOffiled to be upperuost and the congregation got busy and in a short tine had repaid tho out­stmding debt.

Plans Here presented and adoptod for the o.ddition of the Youth Builcling. The plans celled for a sno.ll chapel, poxlor, kitchen and nurseries on the first floor. On the second floor wero five classrooDs, Youth Lssenbly Roon, Pastor1s SGudy mel secretary1s officG. Rest roons were on both floors.

In May of 1965, the p~rsonage was dodicated and a service of consecration w~s held in the litt1u Chapel for tho Youth BuildD1g.

During these past ten yec.rs, it Hould seOD. that the pastors and D8.l.1bers were so busy with naterioJ. grovrth that the spiritual side night have suffered. This \.Jas not true. Hany neubers "Jere added to our church, and all our other co;:rr.utnents and obliE;ations 1,./ero net.

In the surner of 1965, the Reverend George O. Greene cru~e to fill the pastorate of stone Hountain Methodist Church. Carol, George, lvIargie and "little George II soon \mn the hearts of all. The last three pastors had only boys, so 11argie vIas the first little girl to grace the parson~ge.

Nany changes took place - and very quickly, too.. The attendance at c.J..l church services incroased, but I1The Finest Hour of the \~eek" beCal,le phenononal. iJo nc.tter the woather, the crowds cru~G.

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h church secretary, a youth director, and a foreign ~~ssionary were added to tho church staff for the first t~~ea

DurinG 1965 and 1966, some three hundred nenbers wore added to tho church nenber­ship. Ever.10ne seoned inspired and bocane ;'lore enthusiastic about the work of the church. ~hny changes were tnking place in the policies of the church in general and Dany ne", calls caLle. The officers and uenbers nade every effort to accept the chc~lence and assune their responsibility for carrying out what was asked of the church.

Lt tho Honec~1ing in October, 1965, the church honored the descendants of the founders end early ninisters. There were present two sons Dnd a grill1dc1aughter of throo r:rinisters who served before and around 1900. Four of the seven founders were represented by doscendants, even to the fourth ~Gneration.

On this day, ~ painting of the first church, done by John McClelland, a groat groat gr0l1dson of l1r. and Hrs. Andrm-l CO:1P, founder, Has presented to the church.

On Children's Hone Day, tho offering exceeded, nany tiaos over, any in the past. Tho 1966 gifts showed sane b1crease over 1965, and 1967 reached an all-tine high of $2100.00.

The roan in rear of the sanctuary (first known as the League Roan, later as the J~~ Griffin Classroou) Was carpeted and seats, Llatching those in the Sffi1ctuary, Here installed. This gave a nore ~:lprcssive setting whon the two roons were used as one.

In the spr-tng of 1967, it 'Hns decided to mstall a no\r heating and air condition­inC systen. This has beon completed, and is the latest project to dato.

One of tho nost D,nbitious projects started during this tiDo was in tho area of nissionary eiving. l..t Christnastino, 1966, the congre:..;ation r,lade a contribution for Elissions, and "dth this contribution the church assuned part of the support of a nissionary, HI's. Elizabeth Snea.d of Sineapore. SomohO\I, the church becane ,',101'0 and Dare nissionary minded ~d evory year this russion prograJ:l has grown until the year 1968 it approxinatos sane 30% of the total eiving of the church. The church has set a goal to attonpt, in days and nonths to come, to do as Buch for others as for ourselves, and natch the noncy we spend on ourselves, dollar for dollar, the Llonoy \m give for nissions.

In 1968, tho Stone MountaD1 Methodist Chuxch stands on tho threshold of tho greatest year in its history. Its budget Has over-pledged \Jith "EVERYONE OOHm HIS PI.RTII. This has become mIr watchlolord.

Conpilod 2nd published by the Connitteo on Histo~J o.:nd Records of the Stone 1'10untain Hethodist Church, October, 1968, Fuss Grace HcG'urc1y, Chairr.wn.

The years 1970-1974 have been some of the finest years in the historyof the Stone Mountain Church. Many accomplishments have been made.The church has completely paid off the building debt,a new allen organ has been purchase for the sanctuary, the pews cushoned and many other physical improvements made to the property. There have been 264 new members added fram July 1,1970 through March 6,1974. The budget has increased to $ 74,000 annually.We have even greater years in the future ahead of us.

Pl~STORS OF STONE HOIDIJTAIN METHODIST CHURCH

1854 Dr. Davies 1911 - 13 D. B. Cantrell

1867 1J.bert GraJr 1914 - 15 J. D. Milton

1869 Wb.. A. Florence 1916 .. 18 E. G. ThoLw.son

1871 - 74 FrD.l1cis R. Davis 1919 - 20 J. 1•• Partridge

187:3 Wesley G. Snith 1921 - 22 O. J'.1. B1ack\.rell

H.\80 W. F. Qillian 1923 - 26 J. L. Hall

1881 Dr. Boring 1927 - 28 ll.. S. Hutchinson

1884 Sydney Bryant 1929 - 30 A. J. Sears

1891 - 92 H. G. Crm"ley 1931 - 35 J. Foster Young

1893 - 95 L. 1,~. Rivers 1936 George Hanilton

1896 - 98 Jo1m Speir 1937 - 38 T. H. Shnkleford

1899 - 1900 B. &mders 1939 - 42 H. H. Dillnrd

1901 - 1902 Jo1m H. Gibson 1943 - 45 E. C. Swctnar.l

1903 F. H. I:icCleskey 1945 - 47 J. D. MD.xwell

1904 W. H. Speer 1947 - 52 Jack W. Nickolls

1905 - 1906 Hath Thonpson 1952 - 56 Lannr T. Watldns

1907 W. T. Bell 1956 - 60 Coner L. Brmmlow

1908 - 1909 Firley Baur.l 1961 - 65 Jo1m L. Lindscy

1910 R. F. Hodnett 1965 - 70 Geore;e O. Greene

1970~ Present William W.Byington

PRESIDllTG ELDERS OR DISTRICT SUPERmTENDENTS

1894

1895 1897 1900 1903 1907 1911 1915 1917 1921

---------

96 99 02 06 10 14 16 20 24

W. D. Anderson \J. A. Candler

Walker Lewis J. S. Bryan W. R. Foote J. W. Heidt C. E. D01t1J.1M

J. W. Qui11ion B. F. Frazier J. H. Eakes W. H. La.Prade, Jr.

1925 - W. T. Pierco 1928 - 30 S. P. Wiggins 1931 Nath Thonpson 1932 - 33 R. L. Tyler 1934 - 37 Wallace Rogers 1938 - 40 T. 11. Sullivan 1941 - 45 H. H. Jones 1946 - 50 C. ]vi. HidcUebrooks, Sr. 1950 - 55 E. G. l1o.ckey 1956 - 59 J. Walker Chidsey 1960 - 64 De~la L. Haygood 1964 -70 Nat ·G. Lone

1970-Present Frank Prince