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Three years before the state of Arkansas was born the church of Christ
meeting at Delight, Arkansas came into existence. Andrew Jackson was
president of the United States at that time, the beginning of the Civil War
was twenty eight years in the future, the first steam locomotive had made
its maiden run from Baltimore to Ellicott City, Maryland two years before.
The friction match, the sewing machine and the telegraph were unknown, oxen
still pulling the plow and the wagon, the old flint lock rifle was the
constant companion of the settler, and Indians still roamed the hills and
valleys of our state. The old Antioch church of Christ was established
under the preaching of Elijah (Uncle 'Lige) Kelley in April 1833.
This is one of the oldest, if not the very oldest, local congregations of
primitive Christians with an unbroken record in the state, nation or world.
Six years after the determination of the restoration movement to go back to
New Testament ground in all things this church was born. It is extremely
doubtful that another congregation of this age can be found that has
remained true to the principle of "speaking where the Bible speaks and
remaining silent where the Bible is silent." For one hundred and fifteen
years this church has earnestly contended for the faith which "was once
delivered unto the saints." The descendants of the men and women who banded
together in that day so long ago to keep house for the Lord are still
keeping house for him with the help of others who have come to this
beautiful little Arkansas village of the Delight-ful name. The same gospel
is preached, the same worship is offered to God and the same Christ is
honored that manifested the work and worship of this congregation in its
beginning.
Elijah Kelley, the minister who first preached the Jerusalem gospel in the
wilds of Arkansas, was born in Tennessee in 1800, moved with his parents to
Illinois when a small lad and came with them to what is now the town of
Delight in the year 1815. There were no schools and few neighbors in the
section of the state to which the Kelleys had come. 'Lige was an ambitious
young man, one who was not content to grow to manhood without an education,
so he was sent to the state of Alabama to school. There he came in contact
with those who preached the gospel in the same manner as it was proclaimed
in the first century of the Christian era. He became obedient to its
teaching in 1824 and was added to the New Testament church by the Lord of
heaven. (Acts 2:47). He returned to his paternal home after his years of
school in the east and began the proclamation of the Gospel of the Son of
God. His labors were fruitful to the extent that in April of 1833 ...
(there was) ... perfected the first organization of primitive Christians
perhaps in the state.
The list of charter members as taken from the records of the secretary of
the old Antioch church of Christ is as follows: Ann Brueer, Sarah Blocker,
Elizabeth Blocker, Margaret Bagwell, Minnie Bolt, Serilda Brewer, A.B.
Clingman, Ann Clingman, John Carpenter Jr., Elizabeth Carpenter, John
Carpenter, Alexander Clingman, Jane Carpenter, Sarah Carpenter, Louisa
Carpenter, William T. Dickson, Nancy Dickson, Poly S. Davis, Susan Davis,
Leroy Dickson, Ann Davis, Nancy Dossey, Ashley Dickson, Nancy Dickson,
Elizabeth Green, Jeremiah Green, Mahala Griffin, John Hoofman, Mary M.
Hoofman, Phebie Johnston, Martha Johnson, Micajo Johnson, Bellinda Jordan,
John Johnston, William Kelley, Elijah Kelley, Elizabeth Kelley, Rebecca
Kelley, Giles Kelley, Robert M. Kelley, Wesley Kelley, Sarah Kelley, Elijah
Kelley Jr., Elizabeth Kelley, Margrett Kelley, Nancy Kelley, Catharine
Kelley, Elizabeth Kelley, Thomas Love, Mary McLaughlin, Ulila Mansfield,
Martha Mobley, Barbary Mobley, Margarett Jane Mobley, Harriet Samuels,
Nancy Wilson, James Ward, Milly Ward, Jefferson T. Wood, Susannah Wood,
Rebecca White, Jordan White, Elizabeth White, and Elizabeth Jane White.
The hand of Elijah Kelley penned the record of this church for more than
half century. His preaching founded it. For two generations he watched the
sons and daughters of his flock grow to manhood and womanhood, marry, rear
children, obey the gospel, die. Finally his voice was stilled in death and
the hand that kept so diligently the records of the church so dear to his
heart laid down the pen to take up the harp. Elijah Kelley died in 1884.
His work lives on. What a rich heritage these simple folk of the past has
handed down to this commuity, state and nation! Eternity alone can evaluate
their influence for good.
A building of logs was erected near the present meeting house of the church.
This was late in 1833 or in the year 1834. For a time this housed a school.
The second building of this congregation was a type known as a box building.
It had no studdings, and was not ceiled either on the sided or overhead.
This building was torn down to make room for the railroad. Another was
erected on the small branch east of the present building. While this
building was being erected a tornado destroyed the unfinished building.
Undaunted the work was begun anew and pushed to a successful finish. This
building was also damaged by storm and for a number of years had to be
propped up with timbers. This building was replaced by the splendid meeting
house that now housed the church of Christ in Delight.
Many faithful gospel preachers, a list too numerous to mention, have labored
with this church. Many of them have crossed the great divide. Their labors
live. May the work that has been of such long duration and of such splendid
fruition continue to bear fruit as the years continue to unfold toward that
day when our Lord shall return to gather his people unto him.
Geo. B. Curtis
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The Gospel Light, July 29, 1948, Delight, Arkansas, pages 2-3.
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