Fruitdale Church

(1896-)

The Gospel Messenger May 2, 1896 page 285

The First Church of the Brethren in Alabama.

  The Brethren who settled in and near Fruitdale, Ala., requested the General Missionary Board to send several elders to organized them into a church.  The Board selected Eld. Daniel Dierdorff and the writer to go there, and, if thought best, to organize them. Bro. Dierdorff not being well enough, sent Bro. P. R. Keltner in his place.

  Bro. Keltner and I met in Chicago April 14, and went from there to Fruitdale, via St. Louis.  We arrived at Fruitdale April 16.  We preached each evening while with them.

  On Saturday, April 18, we met the members at the above place for organization.  After the usual devotional exercises and a Scriptural lesson, we proceeded to the organization upon a true and loyal basis to the Lord and the General Brotherhood.  We very much regretted that Bro. James M. Neff could not be present, but, owing to his wife’s serious sickness, neither her nor his wife could be there.  Then letters were read and there are several members there who had not yet received their letters.

  They have three ministers in the second degree and one deacon.  They called the new church “Fruitdale.”  They decided to have council-meeting quarterly, and preaching every Sunday.  They expect other brethren to locate there soon, among them an elder.  We believe that, by a consecrated effort and faithfulness to the Lord and the Bretherhood, they will succeed.  They have an excellent climate, - winters are short and mild. The soil is not very productive.  Lumbering is engaged inexpensively and profitably.  The manufacture of turpentine is also engaged in extensively.  It is thought that fruit culture will prove remunerative.

  We start home April  20, where we arrived the 22nd.  We found all well, for which we thank the Lord.   W. R. Deeter.

The Gospel Messenger May 9, 1896 page 302

The First church of the Brethren, in Alabama, was organized at Fruitdale, April 18, elders W. R. Deeter and P. R. Keltner being present.  Among the letters reads were those of three ministers, James M. Neff, Daniel Hershey and N. R. Baker.  Bro. Baker was advance to the second degree. No elder was selected to take this church in charge for the present.  Bro. William Zern is our only deacon.  Bro. N. R. Baker will represent the congregational Annual Meeting.  Al love feast will probably be held immediately after Annual Meeting, as there will, no doubt, be some Brethren with us from a distance, at that time.

  Bro. Neff could not be present at the organization on account of his wife’s illness.  Brethren Deeter and Keltner remained a few days and did some very acceptable preaching.  Every member seemed encouraged, and others seemed will impressed by the Brethren’s plain, earnest and able sermons, as well as by their pleasant manners.  David E. Ennis.  April 23.

The Gospel Messenger March 4, 1905 page 140 Vol. 44 No. 9

Fruitdale. – Our series of meetings, conducted by Bro. A. Hutchison, are still in progress.  Three were baptized to-day. We expect to dedicate our new church Feb. 26. When Bro. Hutchison leaves us the preaching will be done by Bro. M. Wine.  He is young.  Ever since our church was organized we had preaching each Lord’s day, but it will be impossible for Bro. Wine to fill all the appointments. How glad we would be if some minister would move among us. There are places around us where there are a few members living that desire preaching.  We are three hundred miles from any organization of the Brethren. – J. Z. Jordan, Fruitdale, Ala., Feb. 20.