Thlopthlocco is a religious center located in Okfuskee County about nine
miles south and one mile east of Okemah, Oklahoma. For years it has been a
meeting place for religious workers such as Training School for Sunday School
workers, District Conferences, Annual Conferences and woman's District
Conference, zone Institutes and several other meetings.
Christianity began
about 1870 and the first missionary preachers sent down to Thlopthlocco
Community were the Rev. Rolly Cawake and Knockney, at this time great majority
of the old Creeks were opposed to the whiteman's religion, no good thing comes
from the white men they said. But a few caught the spark of Christianity and
began to meet and heard the good news gladly, soon the gospel began to spread
like a wild-fire and many Indian hones became the houses of prayer or assembly
place for worship.
In 1873 the meting place of Thlopthlocco Tribal Town
became their house of worship, (this building was used for both Tribal Town
meeting and worship.) The charter members were Ocie Marv, Emv Harjo, and
Tustanvke Harjo, these men came from Alabama State.
In 1880 a church
building was built using the native wood, a log cabin church, this was used
until a better building was made. The prominent members at this time were: Rev.
Tamvs Yahola, Rev. Moses Deer, Tame Halle; William Hill; Mille Yahala, Wise
Deer, Picce Halle, Lane Hill. Other converts were Morihece, Cahmelv, Fekhvmka,
Cile Koke, Mike Hvoco, Hokose, Montvhle, Losana.
In 1892 under the
leadership of Rev. Mose Deer a neat frame building was erected and was used for
several years, and those who had a part in planning this house of Prayer were:
Rev. Mose Deer, Tamvs Yahola, William Hill, Joseph Yahola, Sate Dekvn, Defe
Dunson, Andy Dunson, Louis Dunson.
Thlopthlocco was in Seminole Circuit
which had three Churches, Arbeka Thlopthlocco-Hitchite, and their first licensed
preacher was the Rev. Thomas Little, (Seminole Indian) who labored faithfully
with us for several years. Later Thlopthlocco became a Station as the converts
were many and could take care of all expenses and the church was held every
Sunday for several years, about three years ago Thlopthlocco went back to
Seminole circuit as the members have deceased by deathand we meet twice a month.
Other Sundays we worship with Arbeka, Hitchite and other nearby churches.
In
1922 the members of this church decided to build another church, large enough to
accomodate several hundred people. A stone building was erected with a very
little cost, which stands to this day. The committee who planned this stone
building were: Rev. William Hill, Tom Dunson, Jeff Canard, Wallace Cook and
Reuben Cook.
Thlopthlocco church has another building, a big arbor which can
hold about 400 or 500 people and this is used during the hot summer months. It
also has several camp houses belongizg to a family members of this church, meals
are served in these camp houses.
Thlorthlooco has had the pleasure and
privilege of serving the Indian Mission about three times, the Indian Mission
conference is one of the most important gatherings of Indian Methodism.. it
lasts from Thursday to Sunday night. Hundreds of Choctaws, Plains Indians from
the West, Creeks, Seminoles, Euchees, and others are included in this Mission.
The entertaining church kills serveral beeves and hogs to feed the crowd which
usually are about one thousand people, men, women and children. These meeings
are expensive but each church is happy for the privilege.
The history of
Thlopthlocco is not complete without mentioning the late Rev. Johnson E. Tiger,
a devoted christian, teacher and a leader among us, he served as a pastor of
Thlopthlocco church, he organized Sunday schools, woman's societies and several
other organizations which are still active to this day. He was made a presiding
Elder of Creek District and he served more than 15 years, he was still holding
that important office when that Eternal voice, which all of us hsall hear in our
appointed time, called him. During the years of his christian ministry our
association had been close, he was a preacher and I was a singer, of Creek
Hymns, so he took me along to different Indian churches, and also white
churches, we went as far as Memphis, Tenn., Columbus, Ohio and other General
Conferences of the Methodists Church. I became a preacher in 1907 and was a
circuit preacher and have carried the Gospel of Christ Jesus for over 30 years,
I was on the road every Friday going to my appointments which sometimes took me
as far as Tulsa county, cold or hot, this was my work and I enjoyed it all.
The year of 1945 a great movement called "The Crusade for Christ has been
started by our Methodist Bishops and we are going to do our best.
Our
present pastor is Rev. George Long of Holdenville. He comes once a month. The
present preachers are:
Rev. Louis Dunson, Retired Minister
Rev. Lon
Dunson
Rev. T. H. Dunson
Rev. Thomas Lewis, 1942
Rev. Hon Hill
Rev. Willie Tiger, 1944
Rev. Wayne Cook, 1944 by Louis Dunson