Oakland Church

(Pine Grove)

(1887-)

The Gospel Messenger August 26, 1922 page 542

A New Congregation Organized

  November, 1877, Eld. T. B. Digman, then residing near Oakland, was invited to preach at the Bray schoolhouse by Thomas Cross and wife.  Accordingly, Mr. Cross piloted Bro. Digman along a log road, about eight miles northwest of Oakland, where he preached at the above-named schoolhouse, leaving an appointment for December.  Before this time one of Cross’ children had died, and Bro. Digman preached the funeral on this trip.

  April, 1878, Bro. Cross was baptized, and woman soon after. The next winter, at a series of meetings, the following persons were baptized: John Sines, Freeman Lewis, Wm. Cross and Alex Sours.  The three first were baptized the same night, but the last deferred his baptism, and next June Joe Friend was baptized. Then, for six long years, there was no ingathering.

  In 1884 a meeting was held and eight were baptized, and in 1887 the membership had grown to fifty-four members, when they were organized.

  During the coming summer, at every monthly appointment there were some baptized – at one time eleven.  By October, the congregation had grown to 125 members. Among these was W. T. Sines, who later became elder of the congregation.

  The congregation was formed of a part of the Bear Creek, Md. Congregation ion, and a part of the Eglon congregation of West Virginia.  They now decide to guild a churchhouse, and Br. Adam Sell offered to saw the lumber free of charge, if the members would do the “offhearing.”

  Adjoining congregations were solicited and $170 having been received, they proceeded to built, but when the frame of the house was up, the money was all spent.

  Some advised discontinuing the work, but others said: “Our enemies have boasted that we are not able to build,” and so the building was completed and dedicated on the third Sunday of August, 1888.

  Eld. T. B. Digman was ordained and given charge in 1887. The following have been her ministers: Eld. T. B. Digman, Eld. W. Taylor Sines, H. B. Sines, A. L. Sines, P. P. Snyder, Walter Spiker, Jonas Sines. – all of whom are yet living except the second named.

  The following have acted in the office of deacon, John Sines, H. B. Sines, Alph Nethkin, Henry Sines, Wm. Reams, L. G. Shaffer, Zenas Mellott, Perry Sines, C. B. Sines.

  At the regular quarterly council, In June, 1922 at the Pine Grove house. It was decided to divide the congregation.  The adjoining elders were notified, and the Ministerial Board invited, with one of the adjoining elders, to be present at the division of the congregation July 29, at the Pine Grove house.

  This history would not be complete with out stating that the name of the congregation was changed from the Oakland to the Pine Grove congregation in 1921.

  The council convened July 29, and effected the division very harmoniously. The line runs from Cranesville, W. Va., to the mouth of Hoys Run, then to Deep Creek bridge on the State Road, then to Deep Creek.

  The new congregation decided that their name should be Oak Grove, and they will have their first council at the Seybolt schoolhouse Aug. 19, more fully to organize.

  The wirer was chosen as elder in charge for the balance of the present year.

  There will likely be between 75 and 100 members in the new congregation.   Emra T. Fike.   Oakland, Md., Aug. 5