With the coming of the Iron Pipe Foundry from Newport, Ky. to Addyston, O., there were a few good Baptist people, conspicuous among whom was Mrs. Mary Begley. In due time, as her children grew up around her, she felt the great need of a Bible School of her own faith, where the children of the village might be taught the simple Gospel truths, as she understood them. By her earnest efforts and the co-operation of the other Baptists of the village and vicinity, a school was organized in the Public School building. This Sunday-school continued for several months, with good attendance and increasing interest. There were occasional preaching services in the school house by Rev. W. D. Holt, of Cincinnati; Rev. Greene, of Covington, Ky.; Rev. J. F. Heacock, of Oak Ridge, Ky., and other Baptist ministers, as the opportunity afforded.It was determined by the Baptists of the community that a church should be organized at this place. On Sunday, September 24, 1899, at a meeting presided over by Rev. J. F. Heacock, letters were presented as follows: From Newport, Ky., Mary Begley; Lenoxburg, [Pendleton County] Ky., Wm. Wallace and Mrs. Wm. Wallace; Hogan Hill, Ind., Eliza Wilson and Artie Wilson; Sand Run, [Hebron] Ky., W. G. Estes. By baptism on the same day: Noah Staton, Anna Staton, Olive Begley, Lucile Galladay, Sallie Gowens, Nellie Wallace, Onie McGill, Lizzie Nulle and Mrs. North. By experience: Lillian Whitlock, Wm. Peelman and Mrs. Wm. Peelman.
These brothers and sisters, eighteen in number, resolved themselves into an organization, under the title of "First Baptist Church." Rev. Heacock preached the sermon and read the "Confession of Faith," and the new church sang, "Blest Be the Tie that Binds."
The church secured the services of Rev. Heacock as pastor, the church raising $400 on the field, and the O. B. C. giving $200 for the first year's service. In this way it was made possible for the Church to have full time preaching from the very beginning.
The church grew rapidly in numbers, and officers were soon elected: Deacons, Dr. O. J. Wood and Wm. Wallace; Clerk, W. G. Estes; Treasurer, Mrs. Lillian Whitlock; Trustees, Noah Staton, Wm. Hammond and Silas Nichols.
For one year the church continued its worship in the Burr Oak School House, but its rapid growth created a spirit of prejudice in the pedo-Baptist churches, and through their instigation the School Board was induced to put the Baptists out of the school house. Without a day's notice, the furniture, consisting of an organ, a bookcase and about fifty chairs, was thrown out on the commons, and there was not a vacant room in the village to rent.
A few days later, God heard His people's cry, and led Mrs. B. C. Whitlock to give $25, with which a payment was made on a small-chapel, purchased from a Building and Loan Association. The chapel had been built for the Negro Methodist. Five hundred dollars was the amount paid for the building. At the time of the purchase, the building was unfinished, and $500 more was expended in making it a respectable place for worship. When the building was completed, Dr. George
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R. Robbins, of Cincinnati, preached the dedicatorial sermon, made an appeal to the people, and raised sufficient money to liquidate all indebtedness.In June, 1902, the church was compelled to buy two vacant lots adjoining the church property in order to protect itself from a saloon, which threatened to build a sample room against the side of the church house. At that time the entire church property was deeded to the Cincinnati Baptist Church Union.
In June, 1903, the church experienced the severest shock in its history, in the resignation and hasty departure of its pastor, leaving the church, "As Sheep Having no Shepherd." Then for several months the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Joseph Hawkins, of Cincinnati.
In December, 1903, Rev. N. H. Poole was called and accepted the pastorate of the church. During his pastorate, a number of important improvements on the church property have been made.
In 1905, a Sunday-school room was built, a baptistry, and water and gas lights were put in the house.
In 1906, eleven new opaque windows have been put in the building, the entire building thoroughly painted and otherwise beautified. During the three year's pastorate of Brother Poole. 119 members have been added to the church, a B. Y. P. U. and a W. M. U. have been organized, and are doing good work.
During the seven years of the church's existence, the Ladies Aid, with Mrs. Begley as President, has responded by heroic work, and has aided materially in meeting its financial obligations.
Two Bibles have been given to the church, one,a valuable Teacher's Bible, a present from Brother Burbanks, a member of the Lincoln Park Church; the other a pulpit Bible, a present from Captain Wise, of Home City, O.
The church will celebrate its seventh anniversary on the 24th day of this month. During these few years, God has signally blessed the Baptist Church at Addyston. It has now a property valued at $2,000, 162 members, and no indebtedness. The future outlook for the church is very bright.
The present officers of the church are: Pastor, Rev. N. H. Poole; Clerk, L. O. Fury; Treasurer, Sadie F. Wood; Sunday-school Superintendent, Lillian Whitlock; Deacons, Dr. O. J. Wood, Dr. J. B. Hannah, Noah Staton and Hogan Hess, President of B. Y. P. U.; L. O. Fury; President of W. M. U., Lillian Whitlock.
============= [From Miami Baptist Association Minutes, 1906, pp. 30-31. Document from the Miami Baptist Association Office, Cincinnati. Transcribed and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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