By Gordon Parks - Dec 12, 2000
 
  In 1887 Reverend James W. Parks wrote a four part series titled "Recollections" in the Wesleyan
  Christian Advocate. James 1815-1888 had spent some time with his son Reverend William Asbury
  Parks in Oxford, GA where James had apparently been sick. James's wife Sarah F. Newton Parks and
  son Reverend Isaac Glenn Parks had died in 1885.
 
  The following abstracts contain location and people information I thought you might find interesting.
  There is more but about preachers and topics that I decided not to include. If you want to see the full
  text let me know.
 
  27 April 1887
  …….When but five years old, my parents residing in Franklin county, I was sent to an old fashion old
  fiiel school, to one Mr. Lowery . They call him School Master Jimmie. One of the principal exercises of
  the school was that of whipping. The unsuspecting pupil was ofttimes startled at having the long
  hickory switch pitched at his feet, and then required to take it to the teacher and receive the
  whipping, which was always severe.
  ….I went to another teacher, Thomas Craven, a local preacher, in Habersham county.
  …..I well remember the first camp-meeting held at old Mossy Creek Campground (White County GA
  gp), about sixty-five years ago. The first "tent holders" were my father, Henry Parks, Andrew Dorsey,
  James, Clem and Daniel Quillian, James Lowery, Jacob Duckett, N. Pitchford, David Jarard, and a few
  others. A brush arbor was the shelter for preaching. "The trumpeter" was required at day-break to
  walk around the entire encampment, blowing the trumpet, "to blow the people up" as they said. Dr.
  Askew, a local preacher, the grandfather of Dr. A. G. Haygood, lived near the camp-ground.
 
  4 May 1887
  ………
  ….My father removing back to Franklin county, we lived with old Grandfather Henry Parks, the father
  of William J. Parks. Old Henry was a man of extraordinary common sense, and was a Methodist
  exhorter. He was a soldier in the old revolutionary war-was wounded in the battle of King's Mountain.
  He settled in Franklin soon after the war. Converted under the preaching of Major, a pioneer
  preacher, he espoused the cause of Methodists-a people in that day much spoken against. Assisted
  by a few neighbors, he built, near his home, a little log meeting-house, know then as Parks'
  meeting-house. The large church now in Banks county is the outcome of the log hut first built.
  Methodism in Georgia owes much to this man.
  ………At Mossy Creek I was converted one night in the tent of David Jarrad, at eleven years of age.
  When I came to myself, for there was a time when I knew nothing pertaining to this world, I look
  around, saw my father, Uncle Billy Parks (William Justice Parks gp) , and Grandfather Henry Parks.
  Uncle Billy made some exclamations of praise the only time I ever heard him in words of praise.
  Grandfather (he was 68 years old. Gp) called me to him as I supposed to give me a talk, when he
  only said, "Now, James, keep out of bad company." That little piece of advice I have never forgotten.
  Many new converts are led away by falling into bad company.
  ….
 
  11 May 1887
  Lumpkin camp-meeting was established fifty years ago (located in originally Lumpkin county and now
  Dawson county. gp), the grounds being laid off by Henry P. Pitchford in 1837. Henry Parks, Henry
  Newton, George Bruce, Luke Hendrix, Shepherd Jenkins, and others to the number of nine, were the
  first tent holders.
  ……..The presiding elders who attended this camp-meeting, at different times, were Isaac Boring,
  Russel Rennau, W. J. Parks, Walker Glenn, Jackson P. Turner, Payton P. Smith and George Bright, all
  of whom have passed away……….
 
  18 May 1887
  Many years ago my pastor went home with me from our church (my house has always been a
  preacher's home), and after spending a day and night he went on to his next appointment. After
  leaving, my two youngest children (this would have been twins Willis Bascom and Martha G. gp) came
  to me and said, "Father, that preacher never said one word to us the whole time he was here."
  ……I close my recollections, though have not written much I wanted to write. The Lord give us such
  preachers and power in the Church as we had in other days.
 
 
  Jas. W. Parks
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