THIS BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF

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• THIS BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH IS DEDICATED TO THE
  MEMORY OF
• ALMA AULENA BEDINGFIELD SMITH
• Mrs. Milo Smith, Sr.
• Wife of
• Milo Smith, Sr.
• Mother of
• William R. Bill Smith
• And
• Milo Smith, Jr.
• Without her untiring, unselfish and long,
  dedicated effort, her love for the
• First Baptist Church and her love for the Lord
  this work would have never been begun. This work
  is but a brief portion of the entire history of
  the
• FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
• Dublin, Georgia

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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Dublin, GeorgiaAll
Pastors DATE NAME 1827 Dr. B.B.
Buchanan 1828 Rev. Jordan Baker 1829 Rev.
Hammack 1830 Rev. James Williamson 1833 Rev.
J.M. McDonald 1835 Rev. David G. Daniel 1840
Rev. Larry Hobbs 1850 Rev. Bolling Hobbs 1855
Rev. L.B. Lee 1857 Rev. W.J. Baker 1860 Rev.
William D. Horne 1865 Rev. Edward B.
Barrett 1868 Rev. Washington L.
Geiger 1870-1891 Rev. Whiteford S. Ramsey 1892
Rev. C.W. Minor October 1, 1892-Sept. 2,
1893 1893-1895 Rev. J. Ware Brown 1895-1896
Rev. E.W. Marshall 1897-1899 Rev. James Cary
Solomon 1899-1901 Dr. Robert E. Neighbor 1901
Dr. Millard Alford Jenkens November 13, 1901-July
1906 1906-1909 Dr. Allen Fort, Jr. 1909-1912 Dr.
William A. Taliffero 1913-1917 Dr. T.W.
Callaway 1918-1919 Rev. R.L. Baker 1921-1941
Dr. C.D. Graves 1941-1944 Rev. Grover F. Tyner
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• 1944-1955 Dr. R.D. Hodges
• 1956-1960 Dr. Charles H. Allen
• 1960-1970 Dr. Stanley R. Hahn
• 1970 Rev. James I. Brown
• (June 14, 1970-September 2, 1979)
• 1980 Dr. Bill Wood
• (January 3, 1980-May 30, 1982)

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Dublin Baptist ChurchDedication ServiceSunday
December 20, 1908

• AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST SERVICE HELD IN THE NEW
  SANCTUARY OF THE DUBLIN BAPTIST CHURCH, DUBLIN,
  GEORGIA DECEMBER 20, 1908
• This event marked the first service held in the
  new sanctuary that had been
• recently completed. The record states that at
  this opening service every seat on the
• first floor and the balcony was filled with
  chairs being placed in the aisles. The
• beautiful new sanctuary was seen for the first
  time by many of those present. Just
• prior to the sermon by the pastor, Rev. Allen
  Fort, Hon. James B. Sanders arose and
• said that he wished to read a resolution, which
  had been prepared appropriate to
• the occasion. The resolution was as follows
• Whereas God has permitted us to come together
  for the first time in the new
• auditorium which He has graciously given that we
  may use it for His glory, and
• Whereas, we are profoundly grateful to Him for
  His enduring goodness and mercy
• therefore, be it resolved by the First Baptist
  Church, that we express to those who
• have made this building possible our thanks for
  their contributions and prayers for
• the new building. That we express our thanks to
  the building committee for their
• wisdom and foresight in the preparation of the
  building, in the securing of the
• plans, and in their faithful discharge of the
  trust committed to them by the church.
• That we especially thank W. W. Robinson for his
  faithful service in seeing that the
• plans were carefully executed, and for his
  splendid business and building judgment
• which he has so graciously given us in the
  construction of the new church.

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FOUND TWO DEEDS TOFirst Baptist Church Property

• Deed from 1841
• Deed From 1901

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A COPY OF THE DEED FOR THE LAND ON WHICH THE
BUILDINGS OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH WERE
BUILT GEORGIA LAURENS COUNTY This Indenture
made this the 9th of February in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and forth one
between Jeremiah Yopp of the County and State
aforesaid of the one part and Bolin Hobbs and
John Woodard Deacons of the Baptist Church of the
same place of the other part. Witnesseth that
the said Jeremiah Yopp for and in consideration
of ten cents to him in hand paid at and before
the sealing and delivery of the presents the
receipt where of is hereby acknowledged had
granted, bargained, sold, and conveyed and does
by these presents grant bargain, sell and convey
unto the said Bolin Hobbs and John Woodard
Deacons of the Baptist Church and their
successors in office one acre of land situate,
lying and being in the First District of
originally Wilkinson, now Laurens County known
as the place where the Baptist Church now stands
to be used only as a place for a Baptist Church
to be, to have and to hold the acre of land
aforesaid together with all and singular the
rights, members and appurtenances to said land
belonging or in any wise pertaining to the only
proper use benefit and behalf of them the said
Bolin Hobbs and John Woodard Deacons of The
Baptist Church and their successors in office
forever in fee simple and the said Jeremiah Yopp
for himself his heirs, Executors, Administrators
the said bargained premises unto the said Bolin
Hobbs and John Woodard Deacons of The Baptist
Church against themselves and against the claims
of all other persons whatsoever in witness
whereof the said Jeremiah Yopp hath hereunto set
his hand and seal this the 9th of February in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
forty one. Signed sealed and delivered in the
presence of Francis Thomas J.H. Yopp
(seal) J.M. Guyton

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• We do not have a picture of the church built in
  1827. the next best thing we have is a statement
  by Judge J.B. Wolfe who saw the 1827 church and
  wrote, in 1904, this description of the oldest
  church.
• Until the present church was built in 1867,
  replacing the 1827 building, the church
  worshipped in a small unceiled, unpainted
  building that stood on the same lot just in front
  of the present one. The pulpit and seats would be
  quite a show now. The pulpit, high up, close
  boxed thing, a little window just over the head
  of the preacher, who could not be seen when
  sitting, and not much when standing.
• The seats were plain wooden benches, often of
  puncheons sawed out by hand. These were common at
  that day in all country churches.

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BUILDINGRow of Oak Trees on the Left.Church
Street to the Right.Bellevue to the Front
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Another View 1867 Building
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1867 Building Relocated to North Decatur
StreetBricked up in 1980, now called the Second
Baptist Church Formerly The Dublin Baptist
Church located on 405 Bellevue AvenueChurch
Still in Existence in 2008
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Dr. Millard Alford JenkensBorn November 17,
1872Pastor FBC November 13, 1901 to July 1906
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Drawing Made in 1905 of the Proposed NewDublin
Baptist ChurchDrawing Made By Alexander Blair of
Macon, Georgia
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Picture of Melrose Abby in ScotlandThis is What
Dr. Millard Alford Jenkens Saw in 1904 in
Scotland that Inspiredhim to want to Build in
Dublin
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This is a View of the Dublin Baptist taken From a
Position in Front ofthe Modern day City Hall of
Dublin looking Back Toward the Frontof the
Church. Note the Open Windows. About 1912. Also
Note the Unpaved Street
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This is a Front View of What is NowFirst Baptist
Church of DublinThis View Was Taken About 1952
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A VIEW OF FIRST BAPTIST OF DUBLIN2008
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• According to Judge J.B. Wolfe, a former member of
  our church and well respected resident of our
  city, our church held its first service in the
  original Laurens County Court House. The church
  continued to meet there until the first church
  building was built in 1827.
• __________________________________________________
  ____________________________
• As we celebrate the 100 year anniversary, we are
  about to begin the first complete renovation ever
  undertaken of our original 1908 church building.
• It has served us well for a long time but now the
  time has come for us to make some needed and very
  costly repairs to the exterior of our building to
  seal off the exterior masonary surface to prevent
  a continuation of a long standing moisture
  problem.
• Through the years this problem has caused many
  problems with the interior surfaces of our
  building. After completing this exterior project,
  we will begin some extensive repairs to the
  interior of our building.
• __________________________________________________
  ____________________________
• This would be a good time for our church members
  to consider seriously the giving of some gifts
  over and above our usual tithes and offerings.
  The cost of this renovation project will be
  substantial.
• Some of us will want to make a contribution in
  memory of a friend or family member, and some
  will want to make a gift to honor a friend or
  family member.
• __________________________________________________
  ____________________________
• This would be a good time to consider prayerfully
  giving to our building renovation
• We may be able to extend the life of our church
  another 100 years.