Popular Springs Baptist Church

As read by Mrs. Arnold J. Woods at an ‘old fashioned” church service at Poplar Spring Baptist Church Sunday, November 30, 1969.

During the spring and summer of 1853, a little band of men and women met in this community with the desire to organize a church.

After much discussion as to the place and the need of various committees was settled, and the necessary initial business issues involved were satisfactorily arranged, the discussion turned again to the place to erect a Church. Having very little money with which to buy land, one of the members of the organization volunteered to give 14 acres for the purpose of erecting the proposed Church. This person was the late James Jackson Woods, father of J. J. Woods. And the property he gave was this site on which Popular Springs now stands.

A presbytery was appointed and the following Constitution was adopted:

GEORGIA, BULLOCH COUNTY, August the 7th, 1853. We, whose names are undersigned, feeling impressed with a duty, having given up ourselves to the Lord, and now to each other, we trust by the will of God, have this day called upon our Brethren, James R. Miller, John H. Cowart and William Lee the acting presbytery to constitute us into a regular organized Baptist Church, after the primitive or ancient-made known by the name of Poplar Springs.

We trust we have been brought by divine grace to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ and by the influence of his Spirit to give ourselves up to Him. So we do now solemnly Covenant with each other that, God enabling us; we will walk together in brotherly love; that we will exercise a Christian ear and watchfulness over each other, and faithfully warn, rebuke, and admonish one another, as the case may require; that we will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together nor neglect the great duty of Prayer both for ourselves and others; that we will participate in each other’s joys and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows; that we will earnestly endeavor to bring up such as may be under our care in nurture and admonition of the Lord; that we will week divine aid to enable us to walk circumspectly and watchfully in the world. Denying ungodliness and every worldly lust; that we will share together of the Spirit of faith Evangelical Ministry among us; that we will endeavor by example and effort to win souls to Christ, and the life amidst evil report and good report seek to live to the Glory of Him who both called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, and given us a place, much better than that of earthly Sons and Daughters”-

We do hereby certify that we have performed the service required of us in the Constitution of the Popular Spring Church.

This is the birth of Poplar Spring Baptist Church, organized August 7th, 1853. Just a little more than a century ago.

So many of us here today point with pride to the fact that it is OUR CHURCH, our fathers and great, great grandparents’ Church.

For the benefit of those interested in the first chartered members and others of the church from 1853 to 1893, a period of forty years, I shall be glad to give them now (this information is taken from the fist page of the first records ever written of the church. The old book, yellow and worn with age; time has almost erased parts of it and it is difficult to read.)

The male members:

Theoplitus Scarborough, James Elerby, Absalom Scarborough, Wiley Gay, James J. Woods, James Davis, John H. Brown, James Scarborough, Isaac Roberts, Luke Woods, Miles Scarborough, Clemons Mercer, W. D. Scarborough, I. N. Scarborough, Hezikiah Bowin, R. B. Scarborough, B. W. Wilkinson, James Elerby, William A. Lee, Manning Brown, Joshua Hollaway, Jackson Collins, J. M. Roundtree, Ander Bird, Augusta Lanier, Hiriam Hodges Morgan Brown, Barrian Daughtry, Joshua Lanier, Joseph A. Scarborough, Malcolm Woods, John Ellis, Matthew Bowen, Benjamin Clifton, Charles M. Williams, Berriann Johnson, John Bowen, Cuyler Lanier, Henry Brown, J. H. Scarborough, Absalom Scarboro Jr., Jefferson J. Parrish, John Turett, James Womack, John Barber, Peter Gill, Albert Johns, Jacob Summerlin, Johnnie Lewis, Lewis B. Womack, K. J. Davis, Henry Shuman, Jas, A. Woods, WD Woods, R. A. Hendrix, James Woods, Marlon Davis, Eleaser Brown, D. C. Woods, D. R. Woods, William Lanigian, C. B. Aaron and L. B. Womack.

The Female Members:

Nancy Scarborough, Mary Elerby, Demaris Scarborough, Elizabeth Bowen, Rebecca Brown, Sarah Scarborough, Alalizar Scarborough, Pheribea Brown, Vary Crain, Nancy Woods, Sealey Patterson, Elizabeth Scarborough, Jain Scarborough, Margaret Scarborough, Elizabeth Roundtree, Elizabeth Daughtry, Catherine Dixon, Nancy Davis, Martha Ann Brown, Sara Brown, Elizabeth Sikes, Sally Brown, Elizabeth Bell, Angeline Roundtree, Catherine I. Wilkerson, Nancy Ellerbee, Lundindia Scarboro, Laura Lanier, Loret Kennedy, Jain Clifton, Elizabeth Williams, Francis Brown, Sara Ellis, Clarky Ellis, Safronia Brinson, Sara Roberts, Annie Bowen, Octave J. Lanier, Caroline Brown, Zelpha Lanier, Jane E. Mercer, Nancy Lanier, Josephene Hendrix, Elmira Parrish, Susanna Woods, Henrietta Scarborough, Nancy Hendrix, America Bowen, Pollie Lanier, Nancy Lanier, Rebecca Womack, Mary Cowart, Lucindia Cowart, Martha Barber, Margie Woods, Margaret Woods, America Woods, Mrs. John Truett, Melissa Scarboro, Sallie Scarboro, Janie Brown, Elizabeth Scarborough, Jeanette Aaron, Minnie Scarboro, and Annie Scarboro.

Colored Members:

Colored members as listed in the Minutes taken from Page 2 of the first book, Quote:

“Charmy of the Mincy Estate”
“John of the Parrish Estate”
“Moses property of M. Mercer”
“Dell, property of A. M. Cowart”
“Ben, property of M. Mercer”
“Ben, property of Andrew Bird”

“Taken from the minutes, July term, 1862, the following, called for experience on the Sabbath, then came forward a black man, Moses, the property of M. Mercer and was received and baptized.”

The first church, built on this site, was constructed of unpeeled logs, cut and rolled by the male members. The church stood on what is now the grave of Rev. and Mrs. JA Scarboro. It was his request to be buried in the spot where he preached his first sermon. A short time before he passed away he placed a brick on the spot where the pulpit of the old church stood and it is here that he is buried.

The present church was build a little more than 65 years ago. Pastors serving the church during the last 100 years, Rev. James R. Miller, for whom the Miller Association was named, now deceased. Rev. M. M. Cowart, deceased; Rev. Zack Cowart, deceased, better known as “Little Zackie”; Rev. R. J. Williams, deceased; Rev. James R. Elerbee, deceased; Rev. Henry G. Edenfield, deceased; Rev. P. I. P. Edenfield, living, Rev. Tillman, deceased; Rev. McIntyre, deceased; Rev. Gus Grover, living; Rev. H. C. Carlyle, living; Rev. Gus Peacock, living; Rev. Roy Drowdy, living; Rev. D. W. Griffith; Rev. C. Thomas Bennett; Dr. James E. Bellis, living.

PREACHERS ORDAINED:

Rev. J. A. Scarboro, deceased; Rev. J. T. Harrelson, who is with us today; Rev. Charles Scarboro, Gainesville, Fla.

Poplar Springs inspired and helped organized the Elberthel and Macedonia Churches in 1882.

A Sunday School was organized. It was first mentioned in the minutes of 1861 and again in 1879 -- “Resolved that we try to get up a Sabbath School at this place.” Sunday School was finally organized in March of 1882. The following were the first officers: Peter Gill, superintendent; J. J. Parrish, assistant superintendent; J. H. Scarboro, teacher of the Bible class; O. B. Aaron, assistant; and L. A. Scarboro, secretary.

In the early days of the church the thirteen points of order of decorum of the church was rigidly enforced; and very few members were not disciplined, particularly for non-attendance at Conference. If any member missed two Conferences, a committee was appointed to visit them and find out their reason for being absent. If the excuse pleased the church, they were forgiven, but if the reason was not acceptable the member was excommunicated., as indicated in the minutes.

Poplar Springs may well be proud of the sacred memories held dear in the hearts of sons and daughters. She has been a guiding influence in the destiny of hundreds of men and women who have taken their places here in this community and many, many others. This is a sacred and hallowed spot to those of us here today, whose loved one have lived, loved and been such a vital part on the organization and “carrying on” of the Church and its affairs. Sacred is the memory of those who have served and served well and are now gone on.