HISTORICAL FOUNDATION, MONTREAT, N C

May 11, 1946 / ABH

 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, U S, BETHESDA (Smith County) Texas.

 "At a meeting of East (ern) Texas Presbytery at Longview, in the Fall of 1880, a Comtt (Commission) was appointed to organize a church at Lindale, if the way be clear. Rev W R McLelland and Elders J M Shelby and Thos Niblack were appointed said Comtt (Commission). On the twenty-sixth (26th) day of March 1881 the Comtt (Commission) met at the above named place."

 "The following persons were received by letter from the Bethesda Church, (Perry County*), Alabama, viz: Lilly McGahey, W T McGahey, M E McGahey, W L Henderson, E S Henderson, S J Henderson, F S Henderson, Viola Dobbins, Jas McGahey. The following from Tyler: Thos A Love, Francis A Love, J A Henderson, Mrs S J Henderson, Hugh C Henderson, Mrs. Hugh Henderson."

 "The following were duly elected elders of Lindale Church: Wm L Henderson, J A Henderson. The former having been previously ordained was installed. The latter was ordained and installed, according to the authorized form."

 "The following brethren were elected, ordained and installed Deacons: Thos A Love, F S Henderson. The Church was then declared fully equipped for duty and the blessing of the Holy Trinity invoked upon it."

(The foregoing is a full and exact copy of pages 1 and 2 of Vol 1 of the Sessional Records of the Bethesday Church made by Rev S M Tenney, DD, June 25, 1925)

The name "Lindale Presbyterian Church" was changed to that of "Bethesda Presbyterian Church" at the Fall Meeting of Eastern Texas Presbytery 1885.

"This church has given to the ministry of the Gospel one son, Rev Franklin S Henderson, son of J A Henderson, one of its first elders. With very few exceptions from the beginning, the membership of this Church has been composed of the descendants of W L Henderson and wife. It is notably a family Church. It has constantly maintained a strict type of discipline."