While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
"Christ loved the Church and gave himself
for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse
it with the washing of water by the word.
That he might present it unto himself a
glorious Church."-Paul.
Constituted In 1907
The following is the enabling act of the
General Assembly at Columbus, Ohio, May 24,
1907, establishing the synod of Canadian, to
consist of the colored Presbyterian
ministers and Churches in the states of
Arkansas and Oklahoma.
It Is Hereby Enacted By The General
Assembly
"That the Synod of Canadian is hereby
erected and constituted, to consist of the
Presbyteries of White River, Kiamichi and
Rendall; and the synod of Canadian, as thus
constituted, shall meet in the meeting place
of the First Colored Presbyterian
congregation in Oklahoma City, on Tuesday,
the 8th day of October, 1907, at 7:30
o'clock p. m.; that the Rev. W. L. Bethel
shall preside until the election of a
Moderator, that the Rev. W. D. Feaster
preach the opening sermon and that elder J.
H. A. Brazleton act as temporary clerk,
until the election of a stated and permanent
clerk."
The assembly at this time enlarged the
boundary of the Presbytery of Kiamichi so as
to include the south half of the state of
Oklahoma and established the Presbytery of
Kendall to include the north half of it, the
Canadian river, and below its mouth the
Arkansas River, forming the boundary line
between them.
It also enlarged the boundary of White River
Presbytery to include all the colored
Presbyterian ministers and Churches in the
synod, or state, of Arkansas.
First Meeting At
Oklahoma
The first meeting of the synod of Canadian,
was held in the colored Methodist Church of
Oklahoma City. The Presbytery of Kiamichi
was represented by 3 ministers and one
elder, namely, Rev. R. E. Flickinger, and
Elder Jack A. Thomas, representing Oak Hill
Church at Valliant, Rev. W. H. Carroll,
Garvin, and Rev. T. K. Bridges, Lukfata.
The Presbytery of Rendall was represented by
Rev. W. L. Bethel of Oklahoma, who served as
moderator, John S. May of Watonga; William
T. Wilson, Reevesville; Oscar A. Williams,
M. D. Okmulgee; Samuel J. Grier, Guthrie;
and elder J. H. A. Brazleton of Oklahoma,
who served as temporary clerk.
The Presbytery of White River was not
represented by any ministers or elders.
The Oak Hill Church was also represented by
Miss Malinda A. Hall, representing the
Women's Missionary and Christian Endeavor
societies, and by Solomon H. Buchanan,
representing the Sunday school and Oak Hill
Aid society.
At the first meeting, held on Tuesday
evening, Oct. 8th, a special address was
delivered by Rev. William A. Provine, D. D.,
representing the Board of Publication of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Nashville,
Tennessee. Another visitor, who was present
with him at this first meeting, also
delivered a short address in behalf of the
cause he represented.
Inasmuch as White River Presbytery was not
represented by a minister or elder, the
sentiment prevailed, that those present did
not form a quorum, and nothing further was
done save to adjourn until the next morning.
At the meetings held on Wednesday morning
and afternoon considerable indisposition to
organize was manifested by most of those
participating in the discussions, because
the colored people had not been previously
consulted as to their wishes, before the
Synod of Canadian was established by the
General Assembly. As nothing further was
accomplished the meeting was adjourned a
third time.
On Wednesday evening Oct. 9th, after a
sermon by Rev. R. E. Flickinger, the Synod
of Canadian was organized. Kev. William L.
Bethel was elected Moderator and elder J. H.
A. Brazleton, clerk. The principal business
transacted was the enrollment of delegates,
the arrangement of the standing committees
and the appointment of a special committee,
to prepare a set of standing rules to be
submitted at the next meeting.
Second Meeting At Oak Hill
The second meeting of the Synod of Canadian
was held at Oak Hill Academy Oct. 1-4, 1908.
The Presbytery of Kendall was represented by
Rev. W. L. Bethel, who delivered the opening
sermon, and elder J. H. A. Brazleton of
Oklahoma. The Presbytery of White River was
represented only by Rev. W. A. Byrd, Ph. D.,
of Cotton Plant, Ark., and he was elected
Moderator. Rev. William H. Carroll of Garvin
was elected stated clerk, after the adoption
of the standing rules presented by Rev. R.
E. Flickinger. The meetings, which included
one in behalf of the Women's work, were
continued over Sabbath.
In 1909 the Synod met at Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
In 1910 it met at Little Rock, Arkansas, and
Rev. W. J. Starks of Frogville served as
moderator. At this meeting a resolution was
adopted establishing a Synodical Women's
Missionary society by the appointment of
Mrs. C. S. Mebane of Hot Springs, president,
and Miss Cassie Hollingsworth of Little
Rock, Ark., secretary. The next meeting of
synod was held at Hot Springs, Ark., Oct. 6,
1911, and the foregoing resolution was
re-approved.
At Garvin In 1912
On Oct. 3, 1912, the Synod of Canadian met
in the new Presbyterian Church at Garvin,
Okla., and the opening sermon was delivered
by Rev. C. S. Mebane, D. D., of Hot Springs,
in the absence of the moderator, Rev. A. M.
Caldwell. Rev. Virgil McPherson of Camden,
Ark., was elected moderator and Rev. M. L.
Bethel of Oklahoma, temporary clerk.
The representation and attendance at this
meeting, the sixth one, was greater than at
any previous one. It consisted of 15
ministers and 5 elders as follows:
C. S. Mebane, A. E. Rankin and Virgil
McPherson from the Presbytery of White
River.
Martin L. Bethel, the Synodical Sunday
school missionary, and J. S. May from the
Presbytery of Kendall.
Wiley Homer, T. K. Bridges, R. E.
Flickinger, William Butler, R. D. Colbert,
W. J. Starks, W. H. Carroll, the stated
clerk, N. S. Alverson, P. S. Meadows, J. A.
Loving, and elders, Calvin Burris, St. Paul,
Solomon H. Buchanan, Oak Hill; Lee V. Bibbs,
Forest; T. H. Murchison, Garvin, and William
Harris, Hebron; from the Presbytery of
Kiamichi.
At this meeting Rev. R. E. Flickinger
presented his fifth and last report on the
work of the Board of Missions for Freedmen.
He had performed a leading part in effecting
the organization of the Synod, at a time
when it lacked a legal quorum, because of
the previous order of the General Assembly
establishing it. The General Assembly at its
next meeting approved the organization and
made it effective.
Grateful
Recognition
The following words of grateful recognition
have been taken from the minutes of the
synod of 1912, the first year they have been
printed.
Rev. R. E. Flickinger, superintendent of
Alice Lee Elliott School, in a lengthy and
very pathetic address, made known to synod
his intention of giving up his charge and
returning to his home in Iowa.
The period of eight years which he spent in
our midst was ended with many deep regrets
on the part of all with and for whom he
labored.
"His work as superintendent of Oak Hill
Academy, now called Alice Lee Elliott
school, will be long remembered, for he
secured and permanently established the Oak
Hill Farm, and developed industrial features
in the school far beyond what was even
expected. We cherish for him the feelings of
gratitude and appreciation, that belong to
the unselfish worker he was."
Women's Synodical Missionary
Society
The Women's Missionary meeting at synod in
Garvin in 1912 was the first one at which a
complete organization was effected. It is
therefore of historic interest.
The meeting was opened by Mrs. C. S. Mebane
of Hot Springs, convener, and she was later
elected president. Mrs. W. H. Carroll was
elected secretary, Mrs. W. J. Stark,
treasurer, Mrs. Emma P. White president of
the Young People's Work, and Miss Bertha L.
Ahrens, corresponding secretary.
Others who were present and enrolled as
members were Mrs. M. L. Bethel, Mrs. Martha
Folsom, Mrs. L. Walker, Mrs. Nellie Milton,
Sarah Milton, Ledocia Milton, Mrs. Fidelia
Murchison, Mrs. Garfield Lewis, Mrs. Ed.
Thomas, Mrs. Violet Shelton, Emma Beams, and
Emma L. Carroll.
The address at their popular meeting in the
evening was delivered by Rev. A. E. Rankin
of Crockett, Texas; and a paper from Mrs. D.
J. Wallace of Okmulgee was read by Mrs. M.
L. Bethel. Muskogee was chosen as the place
for the synodical meeting in 1913.
Dependent Condition Of The
Churches
The synod in 1913 the sixth year after its
organization, represents three Presbyteries,
that include all our colored ministers and
Churches in the states of Arkansas and
Oklahoma, and, since 1910, those also that
are in the east half of Texas. Its roll
includes 42 ministers and 46 Churches, whose
membership of 1269 contributed to all local
purposes, such as maintenance of buildings
and pastoral support, the sum of $3,212.00.
This is an average of less than $70.00 for
each Church in the synod and less than
$48.00 each, for the Churches in Oklahoma
and east Texas. This statement indicates,
that the ministers serving these Churches
are almost wholly dependent for their
income, on what they receive from other
sources, than the dependent congregations
they serve, and, that only by the practice
of the most rigid economy, in personal
expenses, is it possible for them to make
ends meet and maintain a good name in their
respective communities.
Popular Evening
Meetings
The evening meetings of synod and a part of
the afternoon sessions may be made very
profitable to the local congregation, by
arranging before hand for special addresses
on the part of representatives of the
Boards, or members of the synod. There are
some causes, such as education, evangelism,
the Freedmen and Women's work that are of
popular interest, and a stirring address on
these subjects is always appreciated. Such
addresses are a means of instruction and
serve to awaken popular enthusiasm.
Some synods have adopted the plan of holding
an annual Sunday school convention during
the evening and day preceding the meeting of
the synod. These endeavor to bring before
the young Sunday school workers, the very
best speakers available, on the subjects to
be discussed.
The arrangements for the popular addresses
should be made several weeks in advance, so
the speakers may be prepared and the people
be duly notified.
Benediction
"May the God of peace that brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great
shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of
the everlasting covenant, make you perfect
in every good work to do his will, working
in you, that which is well pleasing in his
sight through Jesus Christ; to whom be
dominion and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Rev. R. D. Colbert
Rev. M. L. Bethel
The Sweet Potato Field. 1911 Looking north from the Frisco railway:
the boys' temporary hall at the right.
Two Sets Of Portable Roofs For Sweet
Potato Pits 1. A set of roofs set aside on their
edges for the summer.
2. A set as they appear when set over a pit.
The ends are closed during Winter.
Looking northwest toward the rear of Elliot
Hall.
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Choctaw Freedmen and Oak Hill Industrial
Academy, 1914, Robert Elliott Flickinger
