Revival.1909.Hopkins.HISTORY

Hi Nancy,
I don't know if you have this history available but thought other might be
interested in it.  I tried to send it to Ky list but it was returned.

I have this copy of the history of this group of people  as my
grandparents. Charlie William Adams, George Dulin Morgan  and their 
families were very much involved in this history.
If you see your family mentioned I would love to hear from you. 
Melodean Morris Mallrich
loisdean@worldnet.att.net.

In 1909 an evangelist by the name of Blessing from either Indiana or
Illinois came into Western Kentucky holding services in arbors or in 
groves of trees.  The doctrine he preached was the Church of God 
Reformation unknown in this part of Kentucky.

I was present at the revival in Castleberry when the nucleus of Whigs 
Chapel was converted. Brother Will Morgan, his wife Nancy, and their 
two sons, George Dulin and Nelson accepted the new faith. Charles Adams, 
his wife Pernecie (Neecy and their two daughters Susan Sewall and Silva 
Adam Morgan were converted.  John Morgan and his wife were also in
the number making professions.  Frances Moore and her daughter, Maggie who
had attended the revival at Cranor School house came to the altar and 
took a stand with the new faith.

Prior to this revival, Bro. Blessing held services at Madisonville, Cranor
School house and Pea Ridge (Cedar Hill).

The congregation sat on wooden planks.  These services were also in brush
arbors, near Charles Franklin, Sam Franklin and the school house on the 
hill. At this revival some of the families to take a stand with the church 
were Franklins, Butlers, Bentons, and Staffords.  Claud Denton, Tiny 
Denton, and Martha Butler were the first to profess.
In the early years Pea Ridge converts met in brush arbors in summers and in
homes during the winter, and sometimes in Good Hope Church on Sunday 
afternoons. The Crofton group at first met in brush arbors in summer and 
in Dulin Morgan's house in winter.
Traveling evangelists continued to come by holding a revival when they came.
Some of the evangelist who came were Brother Blessing several times, Brother
Heading, and Brother Bennett three times.
Great revivals were held in Crofton (West Grove) church area.  People came
from all directions, many in wagons three or four miles.
The Pea Ridge group was very supportive and sometimes stayed several days to
help.  Their coming was enjoyed by all.  Their singing was great.
By this time James Sewall became active in the church preaching and helping
with other activities.
By 1913 a small rough plank chapel was built on property donated by Charles
Adams.  It was to be named Adams Chapel, but it soon became known as Whigs
Chapel, Mr. Adam's nickname was Whig.
Mr. Dulin Morgan was a carpenter, and he and Mr. Sewall assisted by some of
the neighbors built the chapel.
Whigs Chapel was located about 4 1/2 miles west of Crofton and about 3/4
miles east of Adams Cemetery in front of Dulin Morgan's house on the same
spot where the revivals were held.
The movement was a blessing to all.
It furnished a place for fellowship with friends, to hear the Bible
preached, which caused much Bible reading and discussion.  There were
several good Bible readers in the community and members of other 
denominations. Whigs Chapel had few converts.  The evangelists were very 
strict. They stressed plain dress, no trim, long sleeves, no jewelry, long 
hair, no hair color, no cosmetics or any kind, no use of alcoholic 
beverages, tobacco in any form, coffee, tea, no medicine of any kind, 
prescribed or over the counter.  Doctors were absolutely forbidden.  They 
depended only on Divine Healing.
One evangelist objected to the visiting saints being entertained in homes
not embracing their faith.  His permission had to be obtained to do so.
The neighbors knew and loved each other in good times and bad, helped each
other in need, and continued to do so regardless.
Many fine people were part of the new religion and their influence will 
long be felt.
Whigs Chapel lost many members by death, and leaders moving away so it died
as a church, but as a church it will always live on in lives and other 
churches. 

Mr. Charles Adams and wife, Pernecie, died and are buried in Dunning
Cemetery near Crofton.

The Morgans, Will, Nancy, George Dulin, Nelson, Sylvia and Isabell, James
Sewall, Susan, and their daughters Nellie and Nevelyn  son Hanson moved to
Hopkins County and worshipped with the group at Daniel Boone (Cedar Hill)
where later a church was built.  James Sewall was its first pastor.  Later
the church was moved to Madisonville.

Joanna Dunning and Garfield moved to Illinois and worshipped with a group 
there. When Dulin Morgan and James Sewall sold their farms in 1919 the 
Chapel was torn down, sold and removed.  Nothing remains to mark the spot, 
unless possibly a corner stone.

The Church of God Reformation is this part of Kentucky has its actual
beginning in rural Whigs Chapel (West Grove), being the first church built.
When the group move to Daniel Boone(Cedar Hill) and later Cedar Hill Church
moved to Madisonville, many followers of the faith can trace their roots to
Whigs Chapel.

This report was compiled by Hazel Toy Parker Gladdish who lived in the
community at that time and from a report compiled by Madisonville Church of
God in 1980 by former members of Cedar Hill Church of God.
I was also informed by a Mrs. Westerfield that a church was formed at
Pleasant Ridge near Owensboro around the same period of time.
Brother Blessing was the evangelist and practically the same evangelists as
those at Whigs Chapel traveled through their area (1909, 1910, etc.)
P.  S.  Mrs. Hazel Toy Parker Gladdish was 90 years old March 24, 1990.

Submitted by: lois mallrich <loisdean@worldnet.att.net> 
Date: Thu, 15 May 1997