Smyrna church near Goodwater: R. E. Webb of Kellyton has conducted the singings for many years (Goodwater dispatch)
21 May 1922 · The Birmingham Age-Herald (Birmingham, Ala.)
Named here: Robert Edwin Webb, Rev. Goodman, pastor of Smyrna church, who resides near Ashland
Transcription
Read from the image (line breaks not kept). The dateline is cut at the top edge of the clipping and reads, from the Library's OCR text, "Goodwater, May 20.—(Special.)—"; the item's headline is above it and not in the clipping.
Goodwater, May 20.—(Special.)—Three miles east of Goodwater is Smyrna church. This church is a primitive organization, and is one of the oldest churches in this section. The church has been moved one time from near Socapatoy, south of Goodwater, to its present location. This church has been for nearly 100 years the center of the social and religious life of the community. The church is painted and is kept in good repair. Only short distance is the district school of that community and the school building is neat and well kept.
One thing that attracts a passerby, especially if he is a stranger in the community, is the large cemetery near the church and school which is kept free of weeds and grass the year round. The people of the community meet twice each year and clean off the cemetery and church grounds. Most of the graves are marked by modest tombstones and monuments.
On Sunday there will be held the annual foot-washing and sacrament in the morning after a sermon by Rev. Goodman, pastor, who resides near Ashland. This is a solemn and impressive occasion. In the afternoon there will be held a singing in which the Sacred Heart and Christian Harmony are chiefly used. R. E. Webb of Kellyton has conducted the singings here for many years.
Many of the leading ministers of the primitive faith for the last 100 years in this section of the country have been pastors of this church.
A large crowd attends these annual events at Smyrna from far and near.
Citation: [Smyrna church], a Goodwater dispatch dated 20 May, The Birmingham Age-Herald (Birmingham, Ala.), Sunday 21 May 1922, p. 2, col. 3 (state news); image, Chronicling America, Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85038485/1922-05-21/ed-1/?sp=2).
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| Person | Fact | Document says | Tree says | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Edwin Webb | Church and singing | "R. E. Webb of Kellyton has conducted the singings here for many years": the annual singing at Smyrna church, a Primitive Baptist church three miles east of Goodwater, from the Sacred Harp ("Sacred Heart" as printed) and Christian Harmony tune books | Residence 1910–1930, Socapatoy, Coosa County; died at Kellyton 1932; nothing on church or singing | new |