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Cedar Lane Baptist Church, a small rural church, has a thrilling history filled with incidents and experiences which evoke precious memories to its members, whether they have been a part of this church since its beginning or for just a few years. The church was organized formally in 1941, but it had its real beginning in 1917 when an inter-denominational Sunday School--using Southern Baptist literature--met in a little one-room school building situated near the present Exie Carson home. Leaders in this early Sunday School were Mr. and Mrs. George Ratliff, staunch Methodists; Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Price, staunch Church of Christ members; and Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Vaughn, strong Southern Baptists. Mr. Vaughn was superintendent of the Sunday School. May Werlla and Earl, Bowie, and Frank W. Vaughn were the beginning members. A few years later a nice two-room school building was erected on the west side of the Hawkinsville Tap railroad one-quarter mile down on the Buckner Prairie road. It was a lovely place on the edge of the woods on Caney Creek. Later this lovely building was enlarged to four rooms and accommodated the growing attendance of Sunday School and the Baptist Young People's Union (BYPU).
The first revival was held in the summer of 1918, conducted by Rev. Gilliam, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Bay City. It was held in a large hay barn belonging to Harry Hamilton. Some who were converted during this revival and were baptized in Linville Creek became the "arm" of First Baptist Church, Bay City. There were 15 in all, including B. F. Stevens; Abe, Ben, John and Vevi Stevens; Flora Hamilton; and Earl, Bowie and Frank Vaughn. Through the 1920s and 1930s, there was Sunday School every Sunday afternoon with preaching twice a month. On one Sunday the Baptist preacher came and two weeks later the Methodist minister would preach. For some 12 years Rev. Odis Rainer, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bay City, served the Cedar Lane church. The roads had a great bearing on church attendance, since there were only dirt roads in every direction, and when it rained, these were almost impassable. Even when on horseback, a rider sometimes had to take to a pasture because the mud on the road was too deep. Services, therefore, were not attempted when the weather was not bad. In the early 1930s, a nine-foot-wide concrete road was constructed from Bay City to Sargent passing through Cedar Lane. All of the lateral roads, however, were still composed of dirt, and members still could not get to church when it rained. As roads improved more families moved into the area and the church began to grow.
Leaders in Sunday School were chosen not because of church affiliation, but for their dedication, willingness and abilities. For years Mrs. G. E. Ratliff, devout Methodist, was Sunday School superintendent, song leader and adult teacher. The preachers who came to Cedar Lane from Bay City and other towns were reimbursed only with love and a freewill offering--sometimes as small as 50¢! In the late 1930s a regular fee of $2.50 per trip was paid to the visiting minister. Rev. Odis Rainer was the first preacher to receive a regular salary. Through the early years, teachers in the Cedar Lane public school became involved in the church and assumed roles of leadership. Some of those teachers were Ruth Warren, Eva Berg, Earl Mayfield, Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Shannon, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Balusek, Mary Elizabeth Cash, Claire F. Pollard, the four Stevens sisters--Vevi, Frances, Molly and May--Exie Ratliff, Helen Sanders, B. P. Riddle and Sam Walker. In the summer of 1941, Rev. Rainer, then living in Houston, held a revival, which resulted in the organization of the Cedar Lane Baptist Church. On August 31, 1941, the organizational meeting was held with Rev. Rainer as moderator. The following ministers assisted: Brother Cross, Paul Davis (pastor of First Baptist Church , Bay City), Rev. George Lee from Newgulf; and Rev. Reifel of Sweeny. At the invitation, 41 charter members responded. Rev. Rainer accepted the call to be the first pastor. The first deacons elected and duly ordained were: D. W. Weldon, B. F. Stevens, Ira Clements, Sr., and Brother Cross. Charter members were:
When Rainer, the first pastor, left in March, 1943, there were 59 members on the roll. He was to be succeeded by the following pastors: C. A. Voyles (1943), Dr. John Parten (1946) and Victor L. Nichols (1949). The congregation set as a goal the building of a sanctuary, and the members began in earnest to see that the goal was attained. Mrs. Estill, a faithful Methodist, offered a lot across the highway from the Estill store and post office. Ira Clements, Sr., owned land adjoining Mrs. Estill, and he offered an acre (and more if needed) for the church building. At this time the church was without a minister, so Rev. L. R. Crouch, associational missionary of the Colorado Baptist Association, helped in the planning and building. On July 2, 1950, the ground-breaking service was held and by December 31, 1950, the first unit of the building was completed. Raymond Morrell was called as pastor in July, 1950, and he served until July, 1952. Four deacons were ordained on the day the church's first unit was completed--Eaton Grisham, Millard Walker, Newt Weldon and Homer Morrow. The parsonage was completed in April, 1951. Three young men of the church chose the ministry--Milton Litzler, Maurice Morrow and Kenneth Weldon. The weekly newsletter edited by May Werlla, was established and 34 members were added to the church roll. Cedar Lane Baptist Church has continued its growth through the years under the following ministers: Albert Billingsley (1952-55), H. G. Holmes (1955-59), Martin Y. Rucker (1959-65), Victor Edge (1965-70), Gus Prince (1970-71), Herman Coe (interim pastor), Truman Turk (1972-75), Charles Cochran (1976-81), Raymond Blount (interim pastor) and Jim Hardaway (1982- )
Historic Matagorda County, Volume I, pages
609-610 |
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