BETHLEHEM ASSOCIATION.
This association was organized in 1868, and has given more students to Selma University than any other association in the State, nor has any other been more liberal in its gifts of money. A calculation would, perhaps, show that they had not paid so much as the Alabama District and the Uniontown, but it will be remembered that those are the giant associations, having 10,000 or 12,000 members, while this body has not more than 6,000. Rev. C. Roberts, one of the founders of this body, in his opening speech before the session of 1892, said: “When we began, not one among us could write. We organized in Tuscaloosa, and when the work was done, it seemed so insignificant an idea that we had attempted to constitute and operate an association that it took us two days to accept and recognize what we had done. But see what we are now, and what we have done! Of our own sons and daughters, we have with us to-day teachers of the State schools, teachers in universities, teachers of music, persons of character and of learning. I never in my life, thought I would see so much education in black people.” The “Jones Creek Church,” the church with which the association had convened in the above named session, was the name borne by the white church organized about 1830, which long ago had become extinct. Rev. L. Brown, who now owns a good part of his old master’s plantation, presided at this session, and Rev. I. Dawson was clerk.
Their minutes give the following churches and ministers:
- Sherman Post Office—Galilee, Antioch, Little Zion, Mount Tabor.
- Warsaw—Mount Pleasant, Union Grove.
- Cahaba—Christian Valley, Friendship, Mt. Tabor, Mt. Pleasant.
- Whitfield—Ebenezer.
- Boligee—Mt. Zion, Bethlehem, St. Paul, St. James, Mt. Olive.
- Eutaw—Elizabeth, Eutaw, Zion, Friendship.
- Ramsey—St. Mark, Dowsey, Mary Winston, Jerusalem, Livingston, Shiloh, Pine Grove, New Prospect.
- Sumpterville—Sumpterville, Mt. Zion.
- Mt. Hebron—Mt. Zion, St. John.
- Vianna—New Providence.
- York Station—Rock Chapel, York Chapel, Mt. Harmon.
- Curl’s Station—Mt. Zion, Fourth Creek.
- Gaston—Friendship.
- West Green—Pleasant Valley.
- Tishabee—Christian Valley, Little Zion.
- Gainsville—Gainsville Second, New Bethel, Longford, Spring Valley, Gainsville.
- Epes Station—New Hope, Jones Creek, Miller’s Hill.
- Clinton—Mt. Common.
LEADING MEN.
Revs. G. Young, T. Grant, G. Lowe, J. S. Boatright, I. Dawson, L. Brown, C. Roberts, E. Grant.
There are other strong men among them whose names I could not obtain.
Rev. Daniel Griffin, pastor at Gainsville, has especially commended himself for his studiousness, spotless name, and earnest work. Many of our best young men, teachers and preachers, come of this association.