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Source: The Ellaville Sun Friday, July 1, 1938 Vol. 2, No. 1
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The Ellaville Sun Friday, July 1, 1938 Vol. 2, No. 1
MRS. J.M. LAWHORN TO BE 101 TUESDAY
Aged Schley Woman
"Just Tired"
Confined to Bed for Past Five Weeks;
Husband, Already 101, Remarkably Alert; Both Untouched by Modern Times.
Mrs. J.M. Lawhorn of Schley County, enfeebled and somewhat weary, becomes 101 years old Tuesday.
Her more active husband, to whom she was married 75 years ago after a courtship which began when they were tiny children, reached his 101st birthday on February 1.
Although remarkably alert until that time, the aged woman has been confined to bed for the past five weeks. She sits up in bed much of the time but complains of being "just tired." She declares a doctor has never visited her and refuses to allow one to be called now.
Mrs. Lawhorn's hearing is badly impaired and consequently she finds conversation difficult. But she smiles, with bright eyes, and extends her hand to visitors when they come in, and leave.
Her husband still insists upon doing chores about their farm in Concord community. And his physique and bearing belie his age. However, he has declined sharply in health during the past year and a half since this writer called for an interview shortly before his one hundredth birthday
anniversary. The aged couple have never attempted to adjust their lives to a changing civilization. They belonged to another era and they can scarcely believe and are little interested in modernity. Neither has ridden on a railroad train, talked over a telephone, worn a pair of eyeglasses, owned a radio or "gotten around" to learning how to read and write.
They have done almost no traveling. He has been to Columbus, 50 miles away, several times and to Americus, about 25 miles from his home, many times.
She's been to Americus too, but never further away.
Mr. Lawhorn is a teetotaller. "I never took a drink of likker in my life.
Folks that drink Likker get killed. And I don't smoke or chew. Got my first one to tackle. All tobacco does is make you sick. And I'm too young to learn."
He doesn't want any false teeth to replace the natural ones, pulled many years ago. "I eat as good as anyone. I don't want any other teeth."
Mrs. Lawhorn doesn't like automobiles. "I tried it once and it made ne sorta dizzy. But I don't want to go no further than I can walk, anyway. I've seen trains pass but never rode on one or saw one stopped."
Looking back over their 75 years together, she says she's cooked three meals for him practically every day and observes, "That's a heap of meals. Sure that would have fed all the Yankee and Confeds for one meal, anyway."
They were sweethearts about as far back as they can remember. How many times did he propose marriage? Well, he couldn't remember. A dozen? he was asked. "I recon so", he replied.
(Transcriber's notes: According to the "History of Schley County" in a biography authored by Inez Robinson Smith, James M. Lawhorn was born February
1, 1837 and he married Eliza Jane Hearn, who was born July 1, 1837. She died Oct. 25, 1938 and Mr. Hearn died Sept. 26, 1940. Mrs. Smith indicates they are both buried at Phillippi Primitive Baptist Church cemetery. Their graves it would seem are un-marked.)
MRS. MURRAY LOOKS FORWARD TO MEET
Mrs. Munro Murray of Ellaville, one of the oldest and most faithful members of Philippi Primitive Baptist Church, looked forward hopefully Thursday to being able to attend the Saturday session of the three-day communion meeting. Mrs.
Murray, widdow of Elder Munro Murray who served for 29 years and was its pastor when he died in 1929, says she has missed very few meetings since she began attending 70 years ago. She has either carried or sent dinner to Sunday service of "July meeting" practically every year for the past 65 years.
PHILIPPI BAPTISTS RETAIN OLD FAITH
102 Year-Old Church Host to Annual Three-Day Meeting, Opening Today;
Principles and Customs of Historic Church Are Told in Interview with Its Pastor
(Editor's Note: Here is a story of abiding faith, and we are presenting it with the reverence such a story demands. Material was obtained by an interview with Elder S.H. McCorkle of Ellaville who approved the article in its published form as authentic and sincere.)
Men and women of great and small belief flock to historice Philippi Primjitive Baptist church near here today (Friday) for the opening of the traditional three-day "July communion meeting" of worshippers who hold fast to the deep faith and sincere simplicity of their forefathers who established the church
102 years ago.
The major event of the church program for the year, meeting annually attracts hundreds of denomination members and interested persons from a wide area.
Elder S.H. McCorkle of Ellaville, the pastor, has invited Elder M.A. Hall of Arabi, Ga., and Elder W.H. Hancock of Macon to assist in conducting the meeting.
Services will begin each morning at 10 o'clock and dinner will be served on the grounds Sunday at noon.
Gasoline and highways and streamlining, destroyers of countless rural churches, schools and general stores, have neither altered the simple rituals of these staunch people nor lessened their reverence for the deep convictions and lasting faith of their ancestors.
Significant and striking is the Primitive Baptist minister's complete reliance upon "the help of God" for his sermons.
"In my nine years as a pastor, I've preached about 1800 sermons," declared Elder Hassell McCorkle, "I never prepared an outline, or made any notes. I simply read a passage from the Bible, and take a text. To preach the gospel I rely solely on the help of God and the reading of the Bible.
The light-haired, 40 year-old pastor said he did not know of a Primitve Baptist preacher who did otherwise.
Constitution of the church and practice forbid use of musical instruments but congrgational singing of old-time hymns is an important part of all services.
Custom dictates that the brethren sit on the right hand side of the church and the sisters on the left, but this is not a rule and sometimes is not carried out, explained Elder McCorkle.
Climax in Sacredness
The meeting reaches its climax in sacredness on Sunday with the profoundly moving communion supper and footwashing ceremonies. "Close communion" is strictly observed and members of other denominations are not allowed to take part.
The pastor breaks the bread and pours the wine. Prayer pleading that the act may be blessed is offered.
"then the brethren and sisters gird themselves with towels and begin to was each others feet," said Elder McCorkle. "Common wash basins are used and both feet are bathed."
"We do this as an act of humility. We do it because we feel it right. We get a happiness and joy from it that we can't get anywhere else."
Prayer appealing for Divine guidance is said. The people burst into song, joining in such time-tested hymns as Amazing Grace. Sweeping emotion marks the service. Many cry, sometimes there is shouting.
Followers of other creeds, or no creed at all, witnessimg the service for the first time often are stirred by its sacredness that they cannot restrain tears.
"After the service," continued the Philippi pastor, "we Strike hands as a token of love and appreciation. This time we extend an invitation to everybody who is present to take part."
Acquaintanceships Renewed
This service usually is held during the forenoon, and ends the annual meeting. Dinner time comes late, no sooner than 1 o'clock. Basket lunches are spread and the fellowship of the gathering takes on a note of added wholesomeness. Scores of people annually choose this day for "homecoming" in order to visit relatives and renew old acquaintances.
Love of the Almighty and of a man for his neighbor does not stand alone in these throngs
the love of a boy for a girl shares interest. Down through
the decades, particularly during the wagon and buggy eras, courtships have flamed. And, members recall, many have gone the long way to the altar.
The weather-beaten house of worship has a history almost as old as the church itself. It was erected many years before the War between the States as a two- story compartment structure, one side being for the use of slaves. After the war, the building was reduced to its present size and negro affiliations ended.
Philippi is one of the ten churches comprising the Upatoie Primitive Baptist Association
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