Mount Pleasant United Baptist Church, Hartsburg, Missouri, Records, 1858-1950 (C2990)

8 volumes on 2 rolls of microfilm

MICROFILM

INTRODUCTION

Meeting minutes and membership lists dating from organization in 1858 through May 1950 for a Boone County, Missouri, church. Minutes deal with construction and maintenance of church building, fund-raising, member discipline, officers, delegates to the Little Bonne Femme Association of the Southern Baptist Church, and searches for ministers.

DONOR INFORMATION

The Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Records were transferred from the State Historical Society of Missouri Newspaper Library to the Manuscript Collection on 14 October 1971 (SHS Accession No. 888).

HISTORICAL SKETCH

Organized in July 1858 as the Claysville Church, the name was changed to Mount Pleasant United Baptist Church in August of the same year. The town of Claysville was established in 1844. Hartsburg, the 1950 address for the church, was not established until 1892.

P.H. Steinberger, the first pastor, was called to preach for nine months. A land deed was obtained in January 1859, and it was agreed to build a church house. But it was not until June 1860 that H. Rice, Joshua Kelley, David Rice, John T. Nichols, and Moses H. Jones were appointed to build the church. A January 1863 entry notes that the building committee reported the subscription of $108. It is not clear when the building was actually constructed or by whom.

Church organization placed the pastor as the moderator for meetings. Committees were elected and appointed to carry out duties for the church. Their work included visits to parishioners accused of misconduct, the formation of woodchopping parties to supply church heating needs, and parties to clean the cemetery. Delegates were sent to the Little Bonne Femme Association annual meetings. Church social activities included basket dinners and a revival meeting held in the fall. Special treats were provided for children at Christmas.

In August 1883 the church voted to build a new church house rather than to repair the old one. A committee was appointed to raise funds.

The Sunday School program was established in 1901. Later minutes contain references to the Sunday School program, the superintendent and class teachers, and treats for Christmas.

Minutes for November 1910 record the motion to call a half-time pastor, which resulted in the unanimous call of the Reverend N.B. Green. It is unclear how long half-time preaching continued. An October 1941 meeting again brought the approval of half-time preaching, which continued until February 1945.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection was microfilmed in 1956 by the Historical Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tennessee. There are no target dividers between volumes or at the end of the rolls.

The minutes consist of terse statements of motions until entries dated in the 1930s when a small amount of explanation is included. This change in entry style coincides with the election of women as secretaries for the church.

Lists of members are erratic. Prior to Brother Gadd, who was called in 1935, few pastors remained longer than two or three years. Most of the minutes concern calling a new pastor or building repair and maintenance. Church organization is reflected in the establishment of committees. Funding was a recurring problem for the church, as indicated by the number of fundraising committees organized to secure the remainder of the pastor's yearly salary or to pay for building maintenance.

Though the minutes do not concern themselves with worldly events, they do indirectly reflect the Great Depression through notations about salary cuts and the decreased mission pledge. Similarly, World War II caused changes in meeting and service times due to daylight savings time, and the Easter service of 1942 was dedicated to the parents and relatives of servicemen.

VOLUME LIST

Minute Books

v. 1July 1858-January 1876.Minutes detail the organization of the church, securing land for the church site, first ministers, fundraising for building the church, and committees appointed to visit members relative to breaking the rules by dancing, drinking, or unseemly behavior.
v. 2January 1876-December 1894.Contains rules of decorum, church history, list of members, and minutes. In August 1883 the members voted to build a new church house rather than repair the old one, and a committee was appointed to raise funds. The volume concludes with a list of delinquent members dated 1889, the church covenant, and articles of faith.
v. 3January 1895-December 1906.There were six pastors during this period, and the minutes reflect this recurring problem. Sunday School was incorporated into the church program in 1901. On page 130 is a list titled "For Year 1906 Additions to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church by Experience and Baptism and Letters and Restoration." The volume concludes with membership lists with notations of death dates.
v. 4January 1907-July 1919.The volume begins with an alphabetical listing of members which notes how and when members were received and/or dismissed. The majority of the entries deal with the calling of pastors.
v. 5August 1919-1930s.Consists of membership lists in alphabetical order, giving address, how and when received or dismissed, and death date.
v. 6January 1920-January 1931.The majority of entries concern locating a pastor. There were at least six pastors during this period. This volume concludes with a handwritten list of names on notepaper.
v. 7February 1931-July 1940.Begins with an alphabetical enrollment list giving name, address, membership date and how received, dismissal date and reason, and death date. The Reverend H.W. Gadd of Jefferson City became supply pastor in January 1935. In March of the same year he was called as permanent pastor and was still the pastor in May 1950 when this collection ends.
v. 8August 1940-May 1950.Begins with an alphabetical membership list. In October 1941 the church changed to half-time preaching, which continued until February 1945. Concern for World War II is reflected in the monthly message to boys in the service and the 1942 Easter Sunday Son's Service honoring parents and relatives of boys who were in service or shortly would be. The majority of minutes in this volume concern building maintenance, the installation of a furnace, roofing, painting and papering, and care of the cemetery. This volume ends with copies of treasurers' reports and notations of church officers.

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.

  • Alexander, R.L.
  • Baker, G.M.
  • Baptist Church--Missouri
  • Black, G.L.
  • Church records
  • Gadd, H.W.
  • Green, N.B.
  • Missouri, Boone County
  • Missouri, Hartsburg
  • Mount Pleasant United Baptist Church, Hartsburg, MO
  • Pollard, S.H.
  • Wright, A.H.