Sunday was a historic day and the scene
presented in and about the church, with automobiles parked in
every direction and vehicles by the score,, was study in contrast
when one remembered the long and notable history of this church on
a hill. The old graveyard, where the fathers and mothers of the
church and the beautiful ones, of long ago sleep, added to the
sacredness of the occasion and lost some of its gloom by reason of
the pretty children playing among its vine covered stones.
Fully 1,000 people were present and the
big dinner, spread at the edge of the grove back of the church,
sent memory racing back to other historic gatherings on the same
spot. The big crowd was fed without stint on the best the land
affords.
The day’s program was interesting and
did not tire. In the forenoon the choir did some especially good
chorus singing and Mary Alice Curtright sang a solo. There was
duet by Ray and Elwood Curtright followed by Rev. Owens of
Holliday in the communion address. Rev. Powell read the history of
the church and following this the money was raised, the finance
committee, made up of Jas. Young, Jr., E. B. Dry, R. A. Curtright,
and Rev. Powell, doing good work.
In the afternoon Rev. Powell, an
exceptionally able man, preached a splendid dedication sermon,
Rev. Shively preceding him in scripture reading and prayer. Miss
Essie McGee of Paris sang and was followed by the Madison lady
quartette, Mesdames Ragland, Noel, and Frank, in “Lord, is it
I.” A day well near perfect ended with singing of “God be with
you until we meet again.”
Flags figured largely in the decorations
and patriotism and religion were happily blended.
Union church was organized in 1835 with
14 members—John A. Holloway and wife, Benjamin Mason and wife,
Thomas Watts and wife, James Hawkins and wife, Joseph Foreman and
wife, John Foreman and wife, William Foreman, Mrs. Woodward and
Eliza Chapman. John Foreman and Benjamin Mason were the first
elders, Joseph Foreman and James Hawkins deacons. They first met
at a school house nearby and for two years at the old Foreman mil,
Elder Thompson doing the preaching. Later there came to the
congregation from Kentucky Thomas Barker and Henry Glascock and
their families. The first big meeting was held in 1839 just south
of the James Foreman house, “near a good spring,” and there
were 17 additions. Barton W. Stone of Kentucky, who with Alexander
Campbell, started the Disciples movement, was present and did part
of the preaching. The other preachers were Henry Thomas, Jacob
Creath, John R. McCall, and Alfred Wilson.
Another meeting, with 26 additions, and
at this time the first church building was projected, being
finished the following year. Thomas Barker furnished the lumber
and Wm. H. Foreman dressed it, the men of the congregation
building the church. Last Sunday Pleasant Curtright and Sant Stone
were the only two men on the scene who were there as boys when
first building was dedicated. The latter rode there horseback
behind his mother. With the exception of two or three farms it was
all open country between Paris and Union at that time. The second
church, even more famous, was built in the seventies and it was
the scene of many notable gatherings. The present elders are R. A.
Curtright, E. B. Dry, and Austin Foreman; the deacons, Dave
Dawson, Mart Wills, Tom Curtright, and A. and K. Curtright.
Union has many beautiful traditions
behind it and is upholding them with the fine spirit that has
always pervaded its membership. It is gratifying to note that some
of the money raised is to be used in beautifying the historic
churchyard, where sleep so many men and women, of blessed memory,
who helped to make Monroe county what it is.
Source: Monroe
County Mercury, June 15, 1917, page 2