[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 16, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF MT. MORIAH BAPTIST CHURCH

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                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 16, 2011

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a 
very special occasion today--the 150th anniversary of the Mt. Moriah 
Baptist Church in Delta, Alabama.
  The first mention of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church was on October 21, 
1859. Mt. Moriah along with eight other churches met and organized what 
was then called the Boiling Springs Association.
  According to Baptist Archives, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church was 
established by 1860. The First pastor was Hiram J. Hickey, First Deacon 
ordained was John Garrett and First Clerk was Eli Frost.
  On May 3, 1890, church minutes state the previous conference minutes 
were destroyed by fire and could not be read. On September 1, 1890, 
membership consisted of 37 men and 65 women. Total funds were $2.85, 
but Amazing Grace could still be heard through the church doors despite 
the hardships endured.
  The church has been in three associations of the Southern Baptist 
Conference for a total of 150 years. When the Boiling Springs 
Association dissolved in October of 1898, after convening for 39 years, 
each church was granted a letter to join the Calhoun, Cleburne or Coosa 
River Association.
  One month later 10 churches met at Ramah (now known as Delta Baptist 
Church) for the purpose of forming the Clay Association which Mt. 
Moriah became a part of. Association records show the Clay Association 
was founded on November 25, 1898. Mt. Moriah was recognized as one of 
two churches that were chartered founders of the Clay Association and 
were honored at the association meeting for the 100th Anniversary of 
the Founding of the Clay County Baptist Association in 1998. When the 
Clay and Carey Association voted to break joint partnership Mt. Moriah 
became part of the Carey Association.
  The present church was erected in 1957. Mr. Earnest R. Clarke, Sr. 
and Mrs. Irene Sprayberry Daughterty have been members of Mt. Moriah 
for over 75 years. Since 1957 the church has gone through several 
remodeling projects and has added a fellowship hall.
  I congratulate Mt. Moriah Baptist Church on their 150th anniversary 
and wish their congregation the best.

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