MOUNT PILGRIM ASSOCIATION.
Organized in 1874 by Revs. W. H. McAlpine, J. R. Capers, and William Ware, with other leading men; occupies the chief mining regions of Alabama. Their last minutes give the following churches and ministers:
CHURCHES.
- Birmingham—Sixteenth Street, Shiloh, Sixth Avenue,
- Hopewell, Sardis, First Baptist, North Birmingham, Mt. Olive,
- Mt. Pilgrim, Healing Springs, Spring Street, St. James, Bethlehem,
- Bethel, Vernon.
- Bessemer—Jerusalem, Canaan, Red Mountain.
- Pratt City—Mt. Hebron, Pleasant Hill, Rising Star, St. James.
- Coalburg—Coal Chapel.
- Patton—Mt. Nebo.
- East Lake—Mt. Zion, St. Peter.
- Helena—Mt. Moriah.
- Dolomite—St. John.
- Avondale—Mt. Calvary.
- Blossburg—Mt. Hebron.
- Woodlawn—Jackson Street.
- Warrior—New Bethel.
- Rosedale—Walnut Street.
- Trussville—Mt. Joy.
- Compton—Mt. Olive.
- Oxmoor—Shady Grove.
Rev. J. P. Barton, Pastor Peace Baptist Church, Talladega, Ala.
President Baptist State Convention.
MINISTERS.
Revs. T. W. Walker, T. L. Jordan, G. W. Parks, William Ware, G. S. Smith, W. A. Shirley, A. J. Fikes, R. Donald, P. C. Caddell, W. T. Bibb, J. A. Peele, S. D. Sanders, William Walker, E. E. Perryman, R. H. Vogle, M. C. Adams, J. P. O’Riley, A. A. Scott, L. V. Ellison, J. E. A. Wilson, V. Huntington, F. M. Miller, B. P. Palmo, H. Neally, F. C. Chandler, S. M. Hall, H. Zimmerman, S. L. Belser, W. E. Craddock, J. B. Gardner, S. A. Latham, Van B. James, P. Woollen, L. J. Green, R. Johnson, L. W. Wells, J. M. Anthony, L. C. Jones.
As educators, they have Messrs. T. H. Posey, J. C. Barker, F. P. McAlpine, and A. J. Edwards.
Rev. L. D. James is missionary of their district. Their membership is about 6,000, and their church property is worth not less than $50,000.
BIRMINGHAM CHURCHES.
The oldest church in the city is the Spring Street Church, Rev. L. J. Green’s church, but the Sixteenth Street, Sixth Avenue, and Shiloh Churches are the most influential churches. The Sixteenth Street Church was organized in 1873, it appears, and her pastors appear in the following order: Revs. J. Readon, W. Reed, A. C. Jackson, W. R. Pettiford, and T. L. Jordan. In a property point of view they owe much to Rev. A. C. Jackson, under whom they obtained the present church lot, three other lots, and a small frame building, say about $5,000. This $4,000 or $5,000 went toward the erection of their brick edifice, erected under the pastorate of Rev. W. R. Pettiford. They owe about $3,000 on their building, the payment of which has been much hindered by the scarcity of money. In all the most progressive plans of gospel work in this section, this church has led the way; and their advance on these lines is chiefly due to the presence of Dr. Pettiford and the missionary ladies. The Sixth Avenue Church is the next to appear. Its pastors have been: Revs. Silas Jones, T. W. Walker, J. W. White. They have recently offered the pastoral charge to Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite, who is expected to assume management this month (May, 1895). They are in debt also.
The church that is the marvel of the city is the Shiloh, under Rev. T. W. Walker. This church was organized May 3, 1891, as the result of preaching service supported by a society known as the “Christian Relief Association.” They now have the smallest debt, the largest house and the largest congregation in the city. Often when 1,200 or 1,500 people are in the house, a good part of the street is full of persons who are anxious to approach near enough to hear. Of course the pastor is the source and center of this successful church, but he has been fortunate in drawing about him some very business-like as well as very agreeable people. The following anniversary program, etc., will give an idea of the church’s operations and system. (This program, with facts like it, is given for its suggestiveness):
May 3, 1891
May 3, 1895