1924

Uniting in a "jubilee" service, Cumberland Presbyterian churches of Nashville held a meeting Sunday afternoon at the First church. The occasion was in celebration of clearance of debt from the property of two of the strong churches of the Lebanon Presbytery, Edgefield and Addison avenue.

Under the pastorate of the Rev. B. F. Guinn, the Edgefield church adopted a definite plan for liquidating the church's indebtedness, one feature of which was payment by every member of 10 cents each. The Addison avenue church under the leadership of the Rev. Robert C. Alexander, received several large subscriptions.

The meeting was presided over by the Rev. B. F. Guinn. Special music was rendered by Mrs. N. Hawkins, of the Edgefield church and the united choirs of the First, Addison avenue, and Edgefield churches.

As the voluntary, Chopin's Prelude was rendered by Mrs. S. L. Miller, the pianist of the First church, "Onward, Christian Soldiers," was sung by the audience. The opening prayer was by the Rev. Leon Hooper, the pastor of the Watkin's Park church, and moderator of Lebanon Presbytery. The "Coronation" hymn was sung.

The scripture lesson was read by the Rev. Robert C. Alexander, from Psalms, 95-96. Prayer of thanksgiving was led by the Rev. Mr. Guinn.

The addresses of the afternoon were delivered by the Rev. J. W. Dishman, who fills the chair of Bible Study at Bethel College at McKenzie, under endowment of the Woman's Board of Missions; and the Rev. Hugh McCord, former moderator of the general assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and traveling secretary for the budget and tithing.

Speaking on "A Cumberland Presbyterian Jubilee," Mr. Dishman said, in part:

"The jubilee was instituted in Jewish times in recognition to God, when debts were wiped out and a year of rejoicing followed.

"I am happy at the removal of debt from these churches. I helped to organize the Edgefield church, when Dr. Kirkpatrick was its pastor, and Judge John Frizzell its superintendent of Sunday school. I helped organize the church at Watkins park and joined Presbytery at the First church.

"I have no patience in being satisfied with what you do. Yet, our hearts rejoice at the success we have made. Here we can set up the stone."

The united chorus rendered the anthem: "Come and Worship the Lord."

Speaking on "The Future Cumberland Presbyterian Church," Mr. McCord said in part:

"We ministers would often do better if we would advise with our elders. The future of the church is wrapped up in today's membership.

"If there is no right vision the church cannot live. Any sect which loses its vision of the Divine program perishes.

"Four features of vision must be if we are to carry on: First, the missionary spirit, living for the future. The Cumberland Presbyterian church must set up the standard of a missionary sentiment. Letting this expression to God show our interest in the missionary movement, we must turn to the widest open fields to do missionary work in the home land. I am depending on you to join with me for the country church.

"An evangelistic vision. Our church was born in a revival. We should burn the old fires until they burn out the sin. We ought to organize the evangelistic effort. Some men are called to do evangelistic work. These ought to be placed on a regular salary.

"The educational vision. Some times we are charged with not being in favor of an educated ministry. We believe in an educated ministry and an educated laity.

"A financial vision. Let us look up into the face of God and say: 'Thy plan of meeting financial problems shall be obeyed.' If we have the proper financial vision the missionary program will be taken care of. It is not because young men and young women are unwilling to go. The evangelistic program will go on. God pity us, who believe in a 'whosoever-will Gospel, and deny them the financial help they must have. God's plans cannot fail, neither his promises."

After the doxology the benediction was said by the Rev. S. A. Sadler, the pastor of the Grandview church.
[Source: Nashville Tennessean, August 11, 1924, page 10]

The Edgefield Cumberland Presbyterian Church, now located at the corner of Tenth and Russell Streets was organized in the afternoon of May 5, 1872, in the public school building in Edgefield on the north side of Russell Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets. The use of the school building was tendered by the mayor and aldermen of Edgefield which at that time was a separate city from Nashville.

On Sunday morning of the above date the Rev. J. D. Kirkpatrick, D.D., preached from the text, "Go Work Today in My Vineyard." In the afternoon of the same day, Dr. Baird conducted a service after which the new congregation was officially organized with the following persons becoming charter members: John Frizzell, Mrs. John Frizzell, John E. Gulbert, W. R. Cornelius, Robert McClay, O. H. Hight, Mrs. O. H. Hight, J. M. Bruce, S. B. Hogan, Mrs. Ann Beneke, J. L. Scott, H. C. Thompson, Mrs. Mary Webb and Mrs. Mary Williams.

The services of the Church were held for some time in the public school building and in the Pythian Hall on the second floor of the building on the southeast corner of Fifth and Woodland Streets. In 1873 the Congregation moved into its first building erected at 604 Russell Street under the leadership of its first pastor, The Rev. J. D. Kirkpatrick. Within the course of years the Congregation had outgrown the wooden building on Russell Street and in 1905 moved into a beautiful brick building they had erected at the corner of Ninth and Russell Streets.

The Congregation carried on in this building until about May 1913 when it exchanged said edifice for its present property at Tenth and Russell Streets. The first floor of a new educational building was completed in 1957. The church looks forward to the completion of the educational building and the erection of a new sanctuary in the near future to provide adequate facilities for a thriving congregation.

The following ministers have served the church as pastor since its organization.

J. D. Kirkpatrick, D.D.
M. B. DeWitt, D.D.
R. M. Tinnon, D.D.
E. B. Crisman, D.D.
B. W. Binkley
George Shelton
J. H. Zwingle
B. J. Reagin
W. H. Butler
E. E. Coleman
B. W. Covington
B. F. Guinn
J. Miller Cook
George W. Sparks
Charles R. Matlock, D.D.
E. H. Denman, Jr.

[Source: Year Book and Directory Edgefield Cumberland Presbyterian Church. July, 1959, pages 5-6]