Wanette First Baptist History

Elder G. W. Herrington

Historical Record of the First Baptist Church, Wanette, Oklahoma

At about 4 p.m. June 14, 1903, according to a former appointment, Elder G. W. HERRINGTON of Tecumseh, Indian Territory, being the Missionary of Friendship Baptist Association, called the people together for the purpose of organizing a new Baptist church of Wanette, Indian Territory.

This meeting was held in the new store building opposite and north of the S. I. MILLER store. After stating the object of the meeting, also, engaging in worship, he declared the Presbytery in order to proceed.

The opportunity being given for Charter membership, three came presenting letters, as follows: F. M. (Marion) SMITH and wife, Lillie SMITH, from Tecumseh Baptist Church, and Mrs. B. Z. COPELIN from the recently dissolved Lone Oak Baptist Church. Letters were read and accepted, after which these three members adopted the Confession of Faith and Church Covenant as given by J. M. PENDLETON.

Being duly organized, Brother HERRINGTON was elected moderator, pro tem, and Brother J. W. BAILEY, Church Clerk, pro tem. Opportunity was then given for others who might wish to join this little band of Believers, and the following presented themselves: Arthur PETRIE, on promise of letter from Lexington, I.T., J. W. BAILEY, on promise of letter from Hogan’s Creeks, Tennessee, Miss Jessie SLAUGHTER, on promise from letter from Harrisburg, Kentucky, and Mrs. Maude McGEEHEE was received by relation.

The Wanette Baptist Church was the name chosen by and for this little body of newly organized Believers and they agreed to meet the second Sunday in each month for worship. Brother HERRINGTON agreed to preach for them the second Sunday in July and Saturday night before. A collection of $3.00 was taken with which to buy song books.

The Wanette Baptist Church was now duly organized in the little new town which had sprung into existence in early February of this same year, 1903.

Elder G. W. HERRINGTON, Moderator and Organizer, J. W. BAILEY, Church Clerk, pro tem.

The United Brethen was the only church who owned a building in Wanette at that time and they very graciously granted the Baptists the use of it for their services once a month. The Baptists were very grateful for this Christian spirit and generosity, and held their services there until they were able to provide a place of worship of their own.

A Union Sunday School was organized in which all religious denominations worked together. Brother Marion SMITH was elected S. S. Supertintendent and the Sunday School work was moved along harmoniously with him as leader. Arthur PETRIE was chosen song leader with Mrs. Arthur PETRIE and Mrs. W. S. HURST, organists.

In Church conference, July 12, 1903, the church voted to petition Friendship Baptist Association for membership by letter, and appointed two messengers to attend.

According to the church records of June 12, 1904, it seems that W. H. CARTER was the first regularly ordained Deacon, acting officially, having been ordained before uniting with Wanette church by letter.

The first revivial meeting recorded was from June 14, 1904 to first Sunday in July, inclusive, with Brother J. A. SCOTT, Territorial evangelist in charge, assisted by Brother G. W. HERRINGTON, Associational Missionary, and Brother W. T. SCOTT. Number added to the church, during this revival, in the different ways of receiving membership was 19. Collections for the Meeting, Home Missionary Board and incidental expenses were $53.00. First Associational letter was authorized August 14, 1904, to be prepared and presented before the church later, ready for the Association.

In November, 1905, they bought the Christian Church building with four lots, for which they paid $650.00 cash and gave them their seven vacant lots previously bought.

In regular conference November 12, 1905, a motion carried to incorporate their church by securing a charter according to Articles of Incorporation written in the back of Church Record used at that time. On November 27, 1905, those Articles of Incorporation were read and adopted.

The following brethren were elected as trustees of the Church property: F. M. SMITH, William H. CARTER, I. A. SMITH, Arthur PETRIE, and J. J. QUINAN or QUINON. After having secured their own church building they organized a Baptist Sunday School with W. H. CARTER as their first Superintendent. Other elected and filling that position along through the years following were: J. K. BECKNER, T. F. SOUTHGATE, F. L. MILLER, E. L. WALTON, R. V. LONGWITH, Mrs. G. A. COLE, P. M. TANNER, Ted Everett, E. L. HOLMES and Fred RAY. Pianists for the church and its organizations were: Mrs. Ruby PETRIE, Mrs. R. V. LONGWITH (nee Margaret TAYLOR), Mrs. Alice LOWRY (nee Alice LYLE), Mrs. George E. ALEXANDER, Raymond KELLY, Mrs. T. P. CANNON, Mrs. Lillian TOMLIN (nee TAYLOR), Mr. F. L. MILLER, Mrs. Millard BOX, Mrs. Jack FELLOWS, Mrs. Jack OWENS, and Mrs. W. R. THOMPSON.

Choir Leaders: Arthur PETRIE, W. A. TAYLOR, Lynn TAYLOR, Raymond KELLY, T. B. DAWSON, Charlie STATZER, Ted EVERETT, and Mrs. Sue BECKNER.

Pastors serving the church from it’s birth in 1903 through the years are: Elders G. W. HERRINGTON, J. M. KAUFMAN (aka COFFMAN), Mark PAGE, R. F. McBROOM, J. R. NIX, J. W. FIELDS, J. D. WILLIS, Charles E. WARD, Earle SHELTON, B. ATTEBURY, W. F. FERGUSON, George L. JOHNSON, A. D. ROBERTS, W. N. WHICKER, F. B. PARKER, George W. ALEXANDER, S. E. SPARKS, B. W. MANTOOTH, Ray T. HART, Millard BOX, Jack FELLOWS, Jack OWENS and W. R. THOMPSON. Time of service ranged from six months to four to five years.

Church Clerks having served from a few months to nine or ten years are: J. W. BAILEY, W. H. CARTER, Arthur PETRIE, Jack HOLT, B. B. HOWARD, Miss Jessie SMITH, J. A. BECKNER, Olen FENNELL, Miss Mittie HULSE (now Mrs. Grover CLARY), T. P. CANNON, Raymond KELLY, Mrs. G. A. COLE, E. W. BOURASSA and Mrs. J. P. WILLIAMSON.

For quite a long time after the church’s organization in 1903, they had services only once a month, but later on, twice a month, and for several years now, full time, with pastor’s salaries varying according to their ability to pay. For the past three or four years, they have paid $25.00 per week.

In 1929, the old church building bought in 1905, being greatly in need of repairs, was wrecked and converted, by rebuilding, into a nice six or seven rooms pastor’s home. Later a large concrete basement was constructed on their church lots just east of the home in which services were held; their plans were to erect later on, a nice church building above, when financially able. But due to the failure of the First National Bank in March, 1930, in which so many of the members of the church, and others too, lost heavily, they were unable to build and finally after a few years lost their church property.

In 1938, the church bought the OG&E building on East Main Street, remodeled it and used it for a church until 1942 when they sold it to G. A. COLE as part payment for the large brick and stone COLE Hardware building on West Main Street, which had been vacated a year or so before. By remodeling this building inside they have a nice church building with rooms for Sunday school, Baptist Training Union, Women’s Missionary Society, etc., also a large recreation hall above.

Those having served as W. M. U. and W. M. S. President’s are: Mrs. Delia TAYLOR, Mrs. A. LYLE, Mrs. G. A. COLE and Mrs. W. A. GRISHAM. They meet each Tuesday at 2 p.m. for their lessons; it is instructive and inspirational work.

Prayer Meeting is scheduled to meet each Wednesday evening from 6:30 to later, owing to the time of year. The pastor leads if he can be present but on account of classes at O.B.U. and the train service, it itsn’t possible at this time, so one of the Deacon’s or some other member leads in the service, and Scripture Reading, when it is desired that all present join in the discussion of same.

The monthly business session is held following the prayer service on the first Wednesday evening of each month of which a record is kept; also, any other necessary events of the previous month.

The B. T. U. and the B. Y. P. U. and classes for all ages in that division of the Church work meet for their lessons an hour before the time for the preaching service on each Sunday evening. Brother Jack SKINNER is the very efficient leader of that part of Church work at this time.

All divisions of the Church organizations and their work are classified to meet the requirements of different age groups.

The Baptist congregation is composed largely of membership from the surrounding country and the attendance, to some extent is dependent on weather and road conditions. The church organizations are goverened by the same conditions.

During World War II, sixteen young men from this church were in the service of their country; their names are insribed on a Service Scroll, with a star beside each, which hangs in the Church. None of them made the supreme sacrifice.

The church at the present time, is in very good condition, financially, having no outstanding obligations and a small surplus of funds.

The membership from its small beginning in June, 1903, has gradually grown. Some have been lost during the years by change of residence, death and other causes, but the membership August 1, 1945 was 169.

On March 31, 1946, the church changed the time of their business meeting from the first Wednesday evening to the first Saturday evening of each month, in order that the pastor, Brother THOMPSON, could be present.

At the business meeting in August, 1946, Mrs. J. P. WILLIAMSON, resigned as Church Clerk, but her services were continued until October at which time Mrs. Ethel RAY was elected to that office.

The above is a brief record of the Wanette Baptist Church from June 14, 1903 until October, 1946, as taken from the Church Records.

The Associational letter of September, 1946 showed a revised membership roll of 124 resident and 70 non-residents. This compiled data is as nearly correct as could be ascertained by Mrs. J. P. WILLIAMSON, church clerk.

LATER RECORDS

On November 2, 1946, at the business meeting, Brother THOMPSON tendered his resignation as pastor to be effective on Sunday Evening following.

Brother Leo SULLIVAN was called to the care of the Church, November 31, 1946, at a weekly salary of $35.00, and with a residence provided for him to reside on the field.