Agnes Scott College - Silhouette Yearbook (Decatur, GA)

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Shumate and his wife, Amelia, became members of the church, the first members received on examination as to their religious experience. Rev. Alexander Kirkpatrick, an Irishman educated in Scotland, served as the first stated supply. He built the first manse, which is still standing and is now known as the old McAllister place, served as pastor ' s supply, and taught school in the academy. Iu 1830 a portion of laud was set apart for the purpose, and the first house of worship built by the church was erected on the present site of the old church. This structure was a frame building 40x60 feet. In 1S46 it was torn down and the lumber carried to Marthasville, now the city of Atlanta, to be used for the erection of store-houses. In the place of this the brick church now standing was built by the architects, Daniel Killian and B. D. Shumate, at a total cost of $2,200. In 1S5S Dr. Wilson left Decatur and became pastor of the First Church of Atlanta. From that year till 1867 there was no regular pastor, but the pulpit was supplied from time to time by Dr. James Patterson, Dr. John L. Rogers, Reverend Thomas E. Smith, the first minister after the war, father of Bessie Smith, one of the students at Agnes Scott in the present year, Jas. L. Kirkpatrick, Dr. De Witt Burkhead, a noted divine from South Carolina, and Rev. M. D. Wood (1S71). From 1S72 to 1SS7 Dr. Donald Frazier was pastor of the church. Among the ministers sent out from the church are Rev. A. G. Johnson, T. F. Montgomery, P. P. Winn, E. K. Winn, of Petersburg, Va., W. W. Brimm, of Atlanta, Chalmers Frazier, son of Dr. Donald Frazier, D J. Brimm, of Columbia Theological Seminary . He was the son of W. W. Brimm, was named for an elder of the church, Daniel Johnson, and was educated by the church. The Sunday School of this church was organized June 19th, 1831, with James Lemon as the first superintendent. He held that position till 1S39, when Levi Willard, an elder of the church, was elected and remained superintendent till 1S64. While the Federal army occupied the country in 1864 and till the close of the war there was no regular superintendent. In 1S65 Benjamin T. Hunter was elected third superintendent, and was succeeded in 1867 by Wm. C. Moore, who retained the position till his removal from Decatur. He was followed by Milton A. Candler, then a deacon, afterwards an elder, who now holds the office. The first teachers were James Lemon, Mrs. Olivia Clarke and Miss Rachel Calhoun. In 18S7 the charge was left vacant by the death of Dr. Frazier, and for a year Mr. Hugh K. Walker served as stated supply. In December, 188S, Rev. F. H. Gaines took the charge and retained it till 1896. In 1SS9 Dr. Gaines expressed his desire and prayed that a Christian school for girls be established in Decatur. As a result of his prayers and efforts what afterward became the Agnes Scott Institute was founded. A Presbyterian school for girls was established in a frame building, now rolled away and used for a boarding house, which then stood on the present

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f)istory of the Decatur presbyterian Cburcb THE Decatur Presbyterian Church is the oldest organization of the kind in northern Georgia, and is the mother church of many of the neighboring congregations. From it have gone out the First Church of Atlanta, the churches at Rock Spring, Acworth, Marietta, Midway, Stone Mountain, Lithonia and Kirkwood. The church was organized under the name of West- minster Church, October 29th, 1S25, by Rev. John S. Wilson, D.D. Dr. Wilson was the first pastor of the church and held that position fifteen years, his place being supplied at intervals by the Reverend Alexander Kirkpatrick. At the time of the organization there were eight constituting members : Wm. and Mary Bryce ; James and Man- Lemon, great-grandparents of Grace Baxter, a former student at Agnes Scott ; Wm. Carson and his wife, Jane ; Thomas Harris and Rebekah Luckie. On Sunday, October 30th, 1S25, three elders were chosen by ballot and the sacrament of the Lord ' s Supper was administered. This was the first com- munion service in Decatur. At this service t ables were used, and before the members might receive the sacrament they were required to secure from the elders ' • tokens, small pieces of lead one inch square ami one-fifth inch thick, as a sign of their membership and good standing. Dr Thomas was the first presenter of these tokens. The first services of the newly organized church were held in a small frame building erected where the cemetery now is. Shortly after its organization the name of the church was changed to the Decatur Presbyterian Church. In 1S26 the Presbyter) ' of Hopewell held its fall session in Decatur, the assembly gathering in the academy arbor near where the people met for worship. During this meeting was held the first revival in Decatur, conducted by Dr. J. C. Styles, the evangelist. Till 1830 there was no regular church building, services being held in the male academy, and it was in this academy that the great revival under Dr. Styles was carried on. Other noted ministers who conducted revivals during the early history of the church were Dr. Cunningham, Dr. Talmage, President of Oglethorpe Uni- versity, Dr. J. T. Leftwich, and Dr. Moses Waddell, President of Franklin College. In 1827 there was an incorporation of trustees, and in the same year James D.

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site of the Institute, and the old Ansley house on the opposite side of the railroad was used as a dormitory. In 1891 the Agnes Scott Institute was dedicated and the faculty of the Seminary was increased and transferred to the Institute. In 1892 thtre was dedicated a new Presbyterian church, built on a site more centrally located than the old one . For some time the erection of a new church had been debated, and it was finally decided upon for several reasons, among which was the proximity of the new site to the Institute and to the main part of the congregation which had gradually settled at a distance from the old church The propert}- of the old church was bought by the members, and a school for bovs was established in it. This school was incorporated as the Donald Frazier High School, May 30th, 1S92. By a recent amendment of the charter of the school two of the trustees must be appointed by the Synod of Georgia. Two are elected by the session of the church, three represent the stockholders, two of these being chosen by the Synod. In 1S96 Dr. Gaines resigned his charge over the church to assume the presi- dency of Agnes Scott Institute. Practically he had held this position since the organization of the school, being president of the board of trustees and president of the Institute in all except name. Rev. James G. Patton, of Henderson. Ky., then became pastor of the Presbyterian Church .