Is among the largest and oldest Associations in the State, having
been organized in 1869 by Revs. Henry Bynum, Wm. Coleman and W. E.
Northcross, aided by Dr. Joseph Shackelford (white), of Trinity. I was
with them as they met in the session of 1893 in the Courtland Church.
In 1827, a Mr. D. P. Bestor, a white minister, preached in this section
and began the work of organizing among the whites. I was told that the
white church, constituted in Courtland in 1827, had long passed away
and that of their building “one stone was not left upon another.” Only
the vacant church lot remained to tell of what had been. The white
people were gone we knew not how nor whither, but that the gospel which
they had preached was blooming like a green bay tree in the hearts of
their ex-slaves, this large Association was tangible evidence. The Rev.
John Belle reminded his brethren that the time had been when he was the
only man in the body who could write and when committees went out to
consult and agree, and then returned to submit verbal reports, which he
as clerk was expected to formulate. He compared this state of things
with the present condition, wherein the _writer_ was the _rule_ and the
_non_-writer the _exception_.
This body is noted for church building. The people in Huntsville and
Sheffield owe their buildings to the plan and liberality of this
Association. The Rev. Paul Jones, for many years their moderator,
was full of missionary zeal and wise plans, and pushed things in all
directions. His death caused them a great loss.
Their minutes give the following churches and pastors: Tuscumbia
church, Rev. W. E. Northcross; Courtland and Sheffield, Rev. G.
B. Johnson, of Courtland; Red Bank and Iuka, Rev. John Belle, of
Courtland; Pleasant Grove, Mt. Zion and Little Zion, Rev. E. M. James,
of Courtland; Russellville and Florence churches, Rev. E. C. White, of
Tuscumbia; Mount Olive, Rev. L. Warren, of Leighton; Palmetto, Rev. M.
Jones, of Russellville; Galilee and Mount Pleasant, Rev. B. King, of
Leighton; Town Creek and Moulton, Rev. A. J. Owens, of Moulton; Mount
Moriah, Rev. H. R. Baker, of Tuscumbia; Macedonia, Rev. A. Troupe, of
Town Creek; Elm Grove, Rev. William Weaver, of Oakland; Mount New Home,
Rev. William Morris, of Leighton; Huntsville Church, Rev. O. Gray,
of Huntsville; Cave Springs, Zion and Bethel, Rev. James Hampton, of
Leighton; Zion No. 2., Rev. J. H. Betts, of Florence; Cater’s Branch,
Rev. A. Davis; St. Peter’s, Rev. H. L. Ellis, of Flint; Jerusalem and
Salem, Rev. D. Jackson, of Tuscumbia; Mt. Olive, Rev. G. S. Ricks, of
Leighton; Decatur Church, Rev. M. J. Hooks; Hillsboro, Rev. B. Swoope;
Baptist Chapel, Rev. James Young, of Florence; St. Paul and Hopewell,
Rev. S. Wadkins, Tuscumbia.
They report church property worth about $25,000. Their principal work
has been in the way of starting missions and building churches. They
have 6,000 members, and an excellent territory, but they greatly need
a school. Professors H. H. Stewart, of Courtland, and J. P. Gettis, of
Decatur, and Dr. Sterrs, of the same place, are the most advanced men
of their fellowship. Dr. Sterrs is a successful young physician as well
as preacher.