The "Why" of sending forth this brief history as a publication, is because of love and appreciation for PLEASANT SPRINGS MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, the people whose effort were blessed of the Lord in leading me to accept Christ as my Savior. Also as a minister called of the Lord to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, this church was help and encouragement while I was in school.
I'm glad and rejoice that our family the Gordon's and other families, have had part in the ONE HUNDRED YEARS of their noble history.
Distinct honors were bestowed upon Eld. C. Bishop to bring the 100th Year Devotional Message when this history was read by Bro. Allen D. Bishop. Also, Eld. W.S. Gordon was invited to bring the 100th Anniversary sermon and to read from the origianl records as kept by his grandfather, Alexander Gordon, one of the early clerks keeping the records of 1883. A former Pastor, Bro. Earl Smith delivered the afternoon message and their Pastor Eld. John Morrow opened and led the services in the 100th Anniversary celebration.
My sincere thanks to Eld. Homer Gunn for his effors in collecting this material for the 61st Anniversary celebration and to Bro. Allen D. Bishop whose efforts bring this history for the ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
My prayer is that this HISTORY will encourage more efforts to publish truth as our blessed Lord PROVIDES.
W.S. Gordon, 1971
This partial history was taken from a paper compiled by Eld. Homer Gunn and read at the sixtyfirst birthday observance of Pleasant Springs Church April 26, 1931, with vevisions and additions by Allen D. Bishop, in an effort to give a short resume of this Church's one hundred years work for the Lord in this community, Birdtown, Conway County Arkansas.
As Americans, we study the history of the United States from its beginning until the present time. We are concerned with facts of its growth; and how it compared with other nations; and its relation to world affairs, and if possible learn of conditions and forces that have contributed to bringing about the preeent status of this nation. All of us are affected by the laws of the land and the events that transpired down to the present time.
Likewise we, as children of God, study the progress of his churches down through the ages and especially those churches that have held to the doctrines and principles once delivered to the Saints. Members of Pleasant Springs Church should be particularly concerned about its history, because of its influence on our spiritual lives here and in eternity.
The community should know the church's history, because it, through its members, has been intimately associated with passing events in this area for the past hundred years, standing fast for what it believes to be the Word of God and by precept and example endeavoring to lift the surrounding area and as an instrument in God's hand, offering Christ to all who will accept him on the terms set forth in God's Holy Word.
While we are assembled here today, let us observe some of the facts associated with Pleasant Springs Church during the past one hundred years.
The Pleasant Springs Missionary Baptist Church was organized on April 30, 1870 with 10 charter members. Elds. B.H. Bearden and Thomas Moody served as council aiding in the organization. Following is a copy of the minutes of the organization and a list of the charter members as recorded by Eld. Thomas Moody, Clerk protempore.
Organization of Pleasant Springs Church, Conway County, Arkansas April 30, 1870.
We, being requested by the brethren and sisters to meet them for the purpose of organizing them into a church, having met them, viz.,
Elias Tiner
Luciel Tiner (This name uncertain from old record)
Wesley C. Bryant (This middle initial should be "T" according to relatives)
A. Hood
Amanda M. Tiner
Kindness Tiner
Anna Johnson
Sarah Bryant
Elizabeth Honeycutt
Susan Hood
Having called the above brothers and sisters together and finding them orthodox in faith proceeded to organize them into a church which is called Pleasant Springs.
B.H. Bearden and Thomas Moody
Although Pleasant Springs Church has never been what would now be called a large church, it enjoyed a substanital growth from the first. The first few conference meetings held after its organization, it received members from other churches.
Several members came from Providence church in Jefferson County Ark. Some from Friendship Church, which according to older people, was located at Solgohachia, Arkansas. Through passing events of the past one hundred years we are not able at this time to trace the letters of some of the other members to their original churches, but undisputed opinion is these churches were
strictly orthodox in faith as held by this Baptist Church.
Eld Thomas Moody was chosen as the first Pastor and M.E. Moore, who united with the newly organized church at its second conference meeting was chosen as clerk.
The first committee appointed consisted of M.E. Moore, Elias Tiner, and Pastor Moody. This committee was appointed to draft rules of Decorum for the Church. Under the rules drafted by this committee and accepted by the church, the preacher in charge, moderating, the order of business was as follows: (1) To invite visiting brethren and sisters to seats in conference, (2) To give invitation for membership by letter or experience and baptism, (3) to inquire for reference, or to bring up other business. In addition to these were the usual rules of parlimentary procedure and further rules requesting that each male member attend each conference and in case they failed twice, the church requested they give reason for their non attendance. If they missed three times the church reserved the right to "inquire after them as she deemed best." The rules also set forth the usual policies of Baptists regarding the governing of the church by the majority of the member's assembled in conference. This church over one hundred years ago, has been one of the distinguishing marks of all true Baptists down through the ages, since the first Baptist Church was called out during the Personal Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, and has been enjoyed by Pleasant Springs Church since the day of its organization. This church has always stood in direct opposition to the slightest tendency toward the destruction of local church independence, and has constantly maintained "The existence of a direct line of succession of the Lord's churches from Christ's Personal Ministry until now."
As a rule Pleasant Springs Church has
been regular in its representation at associational Baptists. The first mention of it representing at an association was in Sept 1870, when it was represented in the Cadron Baptist Association by M.E. Moore, Cicero Tiner, and Wesley T. Bryant. (This was prior to the organization of the United Association of Missionary Baptists, which has held 95 sessions at this time. In the minutes of July 1873 we have the record of a motion being passed authorizing the Association messengers of this church to do all in their power to bring about the reconciliation of what was then known as the Springfield and the Landmark Associations. In the year 1883 a resolution was adopted by the church, having been previously adopted by the Association, this church agreeing by this action to help support a home missionary. On one occasion, Pleasant Springs concurred with Friendship Church in requesting that the mission board employ but one missionary that year, instead of two. In addition to these activities we have record of this body taking collections, on various occasions, for mission purposes. If we may judge by witnesses and by records kept by clerks, we may truthfully say that the Pleasant Springs Church, especially in its earlier history, endeavored to play well its part in associational activities and has stood firm for what it has conceived to be the proper method of doing mission work, advocating a willing spirit of cooperation based upon the Bible spirit of mutual help and brotherly love.
It seems appropriate to list a few of the revivals of the church as we give this short history. The first revival held by this church resulted in the salvation of six souls and the addition to the church. This meeting was held in August 1879 and lasted nine days. Pleasant Springs has held revival meetings
regularly but we will list only a few of what seems to be the better ones. In August 1883 there were twelve additions in a meeting held by J.K. Broadaway. In 1895 there were fourteen additions, twelve by baptism and two by restoration. The evangelist was Eld. J.F. Ford. In 1921 Eld. R.L. Douglas held a revival with eleven additions. One of the great meetings was held by Eld. G.E. Jones in the summer of 1930. There were seventeen professions and seventeen were added to the church, sixteen by baptism and one by letter. In this revival there was a great rekindling of God's Spirit in the heart of the people of this community. In July 1941 there was a great meeting that resulted in nine additions by baptism. In August 1950 perhaps the greatest meeting was held by Eld Carl Williams (especially for additions). There were nineteen added by baptism and seven received by statement. In 1961 there were nine additions in revival held by Elder Corbet Mask. In 1963 Eld. Alvin Mayall was evangelist in a meeting, after which nine had come for baptism and three by letter. This is by no means all the successful revival meetings held by this church and souls have been saved in regular services throughout its history.
It is not likely that Pleasant Springs would have made this same progress without the able leadership and strong teaching of its many pastors. Therefore we wish to list, as far as records will permit, the pastors for the first one hundred years of this church's history.
1870-1873 Thomas Moody
1873-74 B.M. Stevens
1874-75 B.H. Bearden
1875-76 Thomas Moody
1876-77 O.M. Lucas
Sept 1877-April 1878 Thomas Moody
April 1878-July 1879 no pastor
1879-1880 J. Mayall
1880-82 G.W. Ford
1882-84 J.K. Broadaway
1884-85 No pastor
1885-86 J. Mayall
1886-94 B.M. Stevens
1894-96 J.F. Ford
1896-98 G.W. Ford
1898-1904 Vacancy in minutes
1904-05 W.D. Driskell
1905-06 J.F. Ford
1906-07 W.B. Driskell
1907-08 E.L. Tiner
1908-09 J.F. Ford
1909-10 W.H. Vest
1910-12 vacancy in minutes
1912-13 W.B. Driskell
1913-15 J.W. Waters
1915-18 R.L. Douglas
1918-March 10, G.M. Ayers
March-Sept 1919 C.F. Medlin
1919-27 R.L. Douglas
1927-28 Terry Cole
1928-30 R.L. Douglas
1930-31 G.E. Jones
From 1931-45 record is missing, but it is known G.E. Jones, T. Cole, Roy Martin, Roy Moore and Carl William were some of pastors serving.
1945-47 Harvey Pane
1947-48 Ernest Davis
1948-49 H.S. Hankins
1949-52 Carl Williams
1952-53 No pastor
1953-54 Roy Moore
May 55-Sept Niles Tripplett
1955-56 Guy Lamb
1956-57 Eld. Croswell
1957-59 Earl Smith
1962-64 Robert Payne
1964-65 Joe Trafford
1965-67 Thomas L. Bullard
1967-69 Olen Perry
1969-present John Morrow
R.L. Douglas has the distinction of serving the longest as pastor of Pleasant Springs Church. There can scarcely be too much credit given the men who have so faithfully discharged their duties in the pastoral work of the church. Pleasant Springs has had the services of many able men as pastors during its one hundred years of services and the record bears noting their labors were not in vain.
Pleasant Springs Church has had nine of its members ordained to the Gospel ministry. They are here listed: R.L. Douglas, J.H. Chambers, Cyril C. Bishop, Homer F. Gunn, Will S. Gordon, J.C. Crabtree, Lester Wright, Harvey Pane and Thomas Bullard. C.C. Bishop was the youngest minister in the United Association at the time of his ordination, and possibly in the State, which was the year 1930. Some of these ministers have gone to meet the Lord, but most of the living are still active in the work.
This brief sketch of the history of Pleasant Springs Church would be incomplete without mention being made of its discipline. The first charge was preferred against a member.
All through the pages of the old record we have evidence of this body's strictness with regard to Christian conduct and loyalty to Baptist doctrine. There are various records of members being excluded from the fellowship of this church for unsoundness in faith, non attendance, mis-conduct, dancing, Sunday desecration, etc. This church has endeavored to deal fairly and in the spirit of brotherly love when considering differences arising between brethren, or when hearing charges brought against an unfortunate brother or sister. This procedure usually brought about satisfactory settlement of all differences arising between brethren in this body. To avoid being referred to as hypocritical it should be confessed this body has not practiced discipline in recent years as it should.
It would be unfair to try and mention all the outstanding names in connection with the history of this church but in looking through the records many of the old family names don't appear any more, as many passed on and others moved away, others arose to take the leadership that the Lord's work could continue here.
In closing this partial record of Pleasant Springs Church's first one hundred years, it seems appropriate to list the following facts relative to it history.
1. The Pleasant Springs Church was organized April 30, 1870.
2. It was named after a spring located about one and one half miles Southeast of the present location.
3. It was organized in a log school house near the spring after which it took its name. Later it was moved to another house, also near the spring, then to the present location and has occupied this present building for fifty-five or six yers.
4. Thomas Moody was the first pastor and M.E. Moore was the first clerk.
5. The State of Arkansas was only 34 years old when Pleasant Springs church was organized.
6. This Church is older than the University of Arkansas.
7. This Church first represented in the Cadron Association.
8. This Church is older than the United Association as it is today.
In concluding this short work we may note there is much in its history of successes to build upon and we may further profit from its past mistakes.
Our fathers have wrought well in God's vineyard. Let us vow at this time to continue the work here for God's honor and glory until He comes to take us home.
Note: In the paragraph relating to the ordination of ministers, Will S. Gordon's name was listed among those ordained by Pleasant Springs Church, but at the time of my surrender our family had moved to England, Arkansas where the Union Valley Church called for my ordination and did the work.
Nevertheless, I shall always remember with a deep sense of loving gratitude what PLEASANT SPRINGS MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH did for my unworthy life.
W.S. Gordon, 1971