urvey of land known as the Byrd survey; and the "Mt."
was due to its elevation. It was understood that so soon as certain
obstacles were removed, the two churches were to become one. Hence the
house was used a year or two before our organization was established.
And, in one view of the case, Mt. Byrd had its origin in 1832; and in
another, in 1839.

On the second day of August, being the first Lord's day, 1839, an
organization was established on the following covenant:

"We, the undersigned individuals, agree to have fellowship with
each other, and to be united together in the bonds of Christian
affection according to all the rules of conduct and requirements of
God, as contained in His Word--the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments."

CHARTER MEMBERS.

Robert Moffett, Elizabeth Moffett, Lucinda Moffett, Sarah Ann
Moffett, Catherine Stipes, Alexander Moffett, Nancy Moffett, Emily
Moffett, Harriet Moffett, Jane Moffett, Porter Fisher, Caroline
Fisher, Hayden Fisher, Robert Thompson, Anna F. Thompson, Polly
Blake, Elizabeth Taylor, Susan Taylor, Zachariah Taylor, Sally
Taylor.

Porter Fisher was chosen elder.

In September following, Dr. Curtis J. Smith and Newton Short held them
a meeting, resulting in forty additions.

The members of the first organization began to move their membership to
Mt. Byrd, and soon the two congregations were one.

The following is a list of the overseers of the church, in their order,
from its establishment till 1885:

Porter Fisher, Hayden Fisher, John B. Floyd, James Jones, Samuel
Morris, John A. Bain, Isaac Trout, John S. Maddox, Jacob Trout,
George Craig, F. G. Allen.

The following are the names of the preachers who have served the church
a stated length of time:

Porter Fisher, Hiram Stark, J. Newton Payne, Dr. C. J. Smith, Henry
Rice, Jesse Mavity, Dr. Sadler, J. A. Bain, G. B. Moore, A. A.
Knight, J. C. Walden, J. V. Price, F. G. Allen.

In addition to meetings held by the regular preachers, it has enjoyed
the evangelistic labors of some of the ablest preachers in the
Reformation.

From its organization to June, 1885, there were added to the church, at
various times and in various ways, 982 members. At this time (June 12,
1885) the membership is 350.

In addition to removals, deaths, exclusions, etc., we gave a large
number to the Bedford Church when it last organized (1874), and our
colored