Tebo Baptist Church, oldest church in the Tebo
Association, hallowed in memory, its history mellowed
by many generations of Christian men and women, who
have interpreted His Book to their best ability, will
celebrate its Centennial, Sunday, June 30.
TEBO BAPTIST CHURCH CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL
[Note:] This article was written shortly before the Centennial Celebration, June 30, 1940.
Click on the pictures for a larger view.
Sunday, June 30th, marks 100th year for Influential Pioneer Church--Chas. F. Thomas,
Ordained at Tebo, to Preach Saturday Evening, June 29th--Basket Dinner at Noon
Sunday--Church Redecorated for Celebration--Former Pastors to be Guests
Tebo Baptist Church, oldest church in the Tebo
Association, hallowed in memory, its history mellowed
by many generations of Christian men and women, who
have interpreted His Book to their best ability, will
celebrate its Centennial, Sunday, June 30.
For 100 years this pioneer church has stood a beacon to
Godly men--holding aloft the strictest Christian
beliefs--the guiding light of a whole community. Down
through the years that light still shines among men, unchanging, a pathway to weary feet, a
solace to God-hungry souls.
Tebo, cloaked in history and romance, is on a grassy knoll, in the center of a quiet, wooded
section on Big Tebo Creek in Leesville Township. The church faces south with Big Tebo to the
west, sweeping around a bend, it's swift current slowing into quiet waters beside a sandy island
where many baptisms have been made since the church was founded. The cemetery lies to the
right. Black oaks shade the northwest corner of the church, a big ash and smaller oaks temper
the summer sun and break the winter winds. Under this inviting shade a basket dinner will be
enjoyed Sunday noon, following the Sunday morning service.
Saturday evening the address will be given by Rev. Chas. F. Thomas of Holly, Colo., who was ordained at Tebo.
Past ministers, who have been invited to
attend, include: Revs. Emmett Farrier, of
Warsaw; J. E. Turnage, of Liberty; L. A.
Brown of West Lacok Texas; A. M. Wynkoop,
of Eudora; H. F. Phillips, of Mt. Vernon; E. F.
Hood, of Norborne; R. I. Clemings, of
ElDorado Springs; J. I. Tate, of Edgar Springs;
Lee Penney of Bolivar; J. A. Leonard, Aledo,
Ill.; Nelson Engelbrecht, of Clinton; T. F.
Simmons, now past 80 years old and retired,
of Bolivar.
The membership has tirelessly cooperated in preparing the church for its Centennial. It has been
repainted white, and inside the woodwork has been made a dark buff color and the walls
repapered in soft tones of tan and rose, the rose-tan window curtains freshly laundered, floor
scrubbed and everything is in spotless readiness. The church is lighted by three gasoline lamps
centrally located in the church. A reminder of former times remains in the wall brackets
attached to the window frames, which held the kerosene reflector lamps of years gone by. The
interior work was done by Mesdames Lee and Virgil Ashley, Homer Carleton, Ray Berhard,
Robert and Gene Belton, Minnie Wallace, Pete Summers, Claude Inloes; Misses Tracy Orton,
Margie Delozier, Marcia Merrill Ashley, Elizabeth Belton, being assisted by Messrs. Gray
Lawler, Lee and Virgil Ashley. The first coat of white paint on the outside was put on by
Hayden Wallace, Marvin and Rufe Delozier, Rolla Hopkins, Bud Moore and Claud Inloes. Lee
and Virgil Ashley and Hayden Wallace completed the outside paint job last week.
First Tebo Church
Tebo Baptist Church was organized in 1840, the work of Daniel Briggs and a few earnest men
and women to whom the vast stretches of native prairie and the solitude of virgin forest made
their preservation from danger seem only through His care, and fostered in them the need of a
shrine in the wilderness where He could be worshiped in truth and humility.
The first building was of logs, native to the land, and typical of the era. A big chimney, with
wide fireplace, gave warmth and on its puncheon floor stood split log seats, benches and rude
pulpit. Used as a house of worship on the Sabbath, it also served as the first school in Leesville
township, taught by Robert Briggs.
Tebo was originally a primitive Baptist Church and its members rigidly observed the church
doctrine which not only included constant attendance and wholehearted support of both church
and Sunday school, but also a strict adherence to a high standard of home life.
Records dating back to April 10, 1884, outline the Tebo Church's 10 "articles of faith." About
June, 1906, began the minutes of each church service which were kept by Rev. R. Jenkins, first
moderator, and T. S. Ashley, clerk, [according to records at hand].
Strict Discipline
These early Christians were stern in their interpretations of the gospels. Adherence to duty and
Christian conduct allowed no deviation from established rules with judgment on backsliders
unrelenting and condemnation for error swift.
In the early church history are many instances where "the hand of church fellowship" was
withdrawn--causes for which scripture could be quoted. The records concerning such cases
reveal great human interest and weakness to which the flesh has been heir since earliest history.
One man was excluded from the church for refusing to be reconciled with a "brother." In
February, 1908, the church voted to "withdraw the hand of church fellowship from him for
departing from the faith," for he had broken the law to "love his neighbor as himself," and "to
dwell at peace with all men." The rites of the church were denied those guilty of breaking the
seventh commandment or bearing false witness, as the ninth commandment warns against.
Again there was an instance of a member being ejected for showing contempt of the church,
indifferent to the admonition of Proverbs 15-5 that "a fool despiseth his father's instruction; but
he that regardeth reproof is prudent," 15-4 also, "a wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but
perverseness therin is a breach in the spirit."
It was often moved that the deacons look into the report that "some of our Members have been
swearing and drinking." "Walking disorderly" was also cause enough to be ejected from the
church and charges were preferred for fighting and using profane language, or disregarding the
proper observance of the Sabbath by working or indulging in unapproved pleasures.
At one church service it was moved that a wayward member be given one more month to appear
before the church, but as he did not respond, he was removed from the church on charges of
drinking, swearing and "absenting himself from the church." Non-attendance and non-support
were dealt with vigorously. Truth was named freely and error was never glossed over.
Temperance was also emphasized, even as the Lord admonished Aaron in Leviticus 10-9.
Second Church Building
In 1855, a neat, frame building about 24 X 40 feet, was erected at a cost of about $600.00.
Services at this time were conservative primitive Baptist type, as they considered it unessential
to have church societies, Sunday schools, missions and theological seminaries. At the death of
Rev. Briggs, however the members, desiring Elder W. A. Gray for their pastor, voted to take the
name Missionary and join the Tebo Baptist Association.
J. L. Briggs, son of Daniel Briggs, was the third pastor, being here until 1871, when Thomas
Briggs took the charge. About five years later, the church was divided because one group of
members did not believe in secret lodges. These people, under the pastorate of J. L. Briggs, who
disbelieved in such societies, organized a separate church and met for two years in the same
building. As long as J. L. Briggs lived, this body met separately and they constructed another
building about 50 yards northwest of the original Tebo Church site and at the latter location Rev.
Thomas Briggs continued to preach.
Bitterness and dissension were laid aside at the death of J. L. Briggs in 1887 and the two sections
again united with Thomas Briggs as their leader. He was beloved by his congregation and at his
death was buried under the site of the pulpit of the first church where he had so faithfully
preached. This spot is now in the well kept cemetery east of the present church.
Large Membership
From the beginning, Tebo had a comparatively large membership, its first members being the
sturdy pioneers who has passed through real hardships, building into their character a steadfast
determination for progress. Records give as the original members besides Rev. Daniel Briggs,
the first pastor, his wife Caroline, and William Butler, John Anderson, Mary Putnam, Robert
Briggs and Zachariah Fewell. As others came into Leesville township from their eastern homes
they sought a place for worshiping their Master, finding the Tebo Church a temple of comfort
both in fellowship and spiritual contact. Even before the highest peak in membership reached by
Rev. Simmons from 1907 to 1913 there were 112 in 1882. Although some are in far away homes
and many dead, over 500 names are on the books as members. Even without a pastor now, the
Sunday school is composed of a group of between 60 to 75, who devoutly and conscientiously
work toward keeping Tebo a strong and holy sanctuary.
From the time of its organization, Tebo Baptist Church has had among its members a Briggs
preacher, until the death of Rev. Billy Briggs earlier this year. His two sons, Jim of Lamonte,
MO., and Henry, of Osewatomie, Kans., were both ordained at Tebo in 1912. These are great
grandsons of Daniel Briggs, whose determination and faithful efforts helped to bring about the
organization of Tebo 100 years ago.
Homer Delozier, of Lamar, MO., and Hugh Sperry of Clinton, were ordained at Tebo. To those
also invitations have been extended to be "home" for the centennial celebration.
Outstanding Ministry
Rev. T. F. Simmons, under whose pastorate Tebo Church flourished, followed the ministry of
Rev. R. Jenkins, who sowed in the hearts of his congregation the seeds of repentance and filled
them with the desire to turn from worldly things. Rev. Simmons found a rich harvest, reaping an
increase in membership and capacity attendance at the church to hear the Gospel--the bread of
life--and God's voice calling them to repentance and to renunciation of their sins.
Other pastors at Tebo included: Ed Russell, R. K. Tinsley, L. T. Barger, J. H. Phillips. Nelson
Engelbrecht preached until about three months ago, ans as yet Tebo members have not called
their future pastor.
Revivals
The Revivals, sometimes simply referred to as "meetings," had an important part in building
Tebo. The people, then as now, quickly responded to messages of the true salvation, and were
eager to reconsecrate themselves to their Lord. It was not unusual for the church to be packed to
overflowing, as night after night some missionary or pastor, his whole being filled with zeal for
his divine calling, gave them gospel messages of eternal life. At these times the hitching racks
on either side of the church and even the fence about the cemetery would be lined with
carriages, wagons, buggies and saddle horses. Others came on foot to drink at the fountain head
of truth. The meetings extended two, sometimes three weeks, depending on how great was the
need. Revivals were usually held after harvest of the small grains, when the congregation could
devote its every energy to God.
Present Sunday School
The excellence of their Sunday school attendance is due to their splendid corps of workers:
Superintendent, Robert Sheek; teacher of the men's Bible class, Elmer Huston; women's Bible
class, Mrs. Robert Sheek; young men's, Bob Lawler; young women, Miss Elizabeth Belton;
intermediate, Tracy Orton; young married women's, Mrs. Gray Lawler substituting for Miss
Naomi Snow; juniors, Miss Ruth Mantonya; primary and beginners, Miss Dorothy Orton;
pianists, Miss Orton and Mrs. Sheek.
Men who have held the Sunday School Superintendency includes; J. B. Higdon, John Renfro, J.
H. Wear, A. G. and R. I. Sheek, Olin Gray, R. G. and Gray Lawler, C. E. Briggs, A. W. Orton.
The church has had but two treasurers, G. W. Denison before the present treasurer, R. E. Huston.
Those chosen to be deacons at Tebo have included Daniel Briggs, J. E. Delozier, Huston Burrus,
J. B. Higdon, G. W. Denison, W. J. and R. E. Huston, T. G. Ashley, A. W. Orton, R. D.
Belton, C. E. Briggs.
The present Trustees are S. L. Ashley and Gray Lawler; deacons, Elmer Huston, Robert Belton
and Art Orton.
The Centennial Planning committee included: Gray Lawler, R. E. Huston, Lee Ashley, Ike
Moore, R. G. Sheek, and R. D. Belton.
The music committee was Dorothy Orton and Ada Carleton.