The Nation Must Awake by Mary E. Jones Parrish

Author:Mary E. Jones Parrish
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Trinity University Press
Published: 2021-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

History of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

The Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Tulsa, Okla., was organized in the year 1909 by the late S. Lyons with a small group. He pastored this people about eight months and resigned. Rev. Leonard was then called to the pastorage of the church. He only stayed a short time, and then Rev. C. L. Netherland, the third pastor, filled his place as pastor of this little flock for about eighteen months, then stepped aside and encouraged them to call Rev. F. K. White, who was the fourth pastor and prime mover of the buying of the present site where the church now stands. Rev. White left them in the year 1914 for California. Before leaving he persuaded them to elect R. A. Whitaker, the present pastor, who came in the darkest hours when odds were all against us.

At that time we were worshipping in the school house on Hartford, and in less than three months after my arrival we were ordered to vacate. This we did with a three days’ notice. We moved in a “dance hall” in the Woods Building, on Greenwood Avenue. It was there that friend and foe said that the day of hope had passed and it was then that we went boldly to a “Shrine of Grace” and God opened the door through Brother C. Henry, who came to our relief with a message of hope.

The next move was the “Tabernacle” building and the breaking of the ground for the new church site. This will show you where we were seven years ago. We started the “land breaking” without a penny.

Five years ago in June we had a big rally and raised seven hundred and fifteen dollars and fifteen cents. With this we started the work on the foundation of the present building. We had to build up a credit, and work by chances. This was a hard task, as we had plenty of knockers, but we soon found that every knock was a boost. We had a good standing with the following business firms: Ketchum Lumber Company, Miller Furniture Company, Tulsa Brick Company, as well as with our own members and friends, Brother J. H. Goodwin, Mrs. M. A. Wright, Mrs. Ida Grant, Mrs. M. Littles, J. Woods, J. E. Stewart, A. Allis, J. W. Franklin and many others whose names I cannot call.

We give you this bit of history so you will understand what seven years of toil in a field where conditions and odds are against one means.

We thank the many friends who stayed with us and gave us words of cheer. God bless the good people of Tulsa and the great state of Oklahoma. We have gained many friends of the other races. We shall never forget you and pray the blessings of God upon you. This is our prayer.

R. A. Whitaker Pastor

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Leaving Tulsa, as I did, on May 26, 1921, to be present at the graduation of my two daughters, Ruth and Eunice, the latter

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