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White Plains Friends Meeting

Items related to the White Plains Friends Meeting. THE HISTORY OF WHITE PLAINS FRIENDS MEETING The roots of Quakerism in Surry Quarterly Meeting of Friends can be traced back to the year of 1772 and perhaps as early as 1751. The roots of White Plains Friends Meeting began in the Westfield Friends Meeting. From Westfield came teachers, some of whom were also "preachers", to share their concerns and abilities in our community. In the 1850's the first family of Friends, the Vestal Hutchens family, came to this area. We can rightfully call Vestal Hutchens the founder of White Plains Friends Meeting, for it was through his efforts and in his home that the seeds for our Meeting were sown. Along with Vestal Hutchens, the name of Christina Sparger Marshall must also be listed. These are the spiritual ancestors of White Plains Friends Meeting. White Plains Friends Meeting came into existence as a body of worshippers about 1870, although it did not become a Monthly Meeting of Friends until January 4, 1890. It was recognized as a Preparative Meeting in 1887. In 1874 a building committee was appointed to make plans for a Meeting House. C. Marshall, George Y. Nichols and Vestal Hutchens made the plans for a much needed place of worship. The building of the first Meeting House began on the site of the present Meeting House. Much of the material for this first building came from the trees growing on the site. These had to be hand cut and hewn. The first pews were logs laid on the floor with slabs nailed to them for seats. This first Meeting House served as a school as well. Friends believed the education of individuals was essential. On October 11, 1889 White Plains Preparative Meeting requested Westfield Monthly Meeting of Friends to establish our Meeting as Monthly Meeting. This request was approved and sent to Yadkin Valley Quarterly Meeting of Friends. Surry Quarterly Meeting had not yet been established. Yadkin Valley Quarterly Meeting of Friends gave approval on December 21, 1889. T. Wesley Wooten, Andrew Norman, Susanna Hutchens, Dr. E. Benbow, Pricilla Patterson, David E. Sampson (who at a later date was the founder of the Winston-Salem Meeting), W. H. Pell, Mary Cook, Mary Venable and Joseph Venable were appointed to meet with White Plains Friends Preparative Meeting and officially establish our Meeting as a Monthly Meeting of Friends. Thus, on January 4, 1890, our Meeting held its first session of Monthly Meeting for Business. There were one hundred and twenty-nine Charter Members. William 0. Bunker was appointed Presiding Clerk, Lottie Marshall-Assistant Presiding Clerk and Nathan Hutchens was appointed Treasurer. Lottie Marshall Robertson provided the above information on the 50th anniversary of White Plains Friends Meeting in 1940. The current Meeting House we worship in each week was completed in 1961. Under the ministry of Willie Frye, pastor from July 1953 to June 1956, a Building Fund was started. Pastor Fred Morgan, Jr. continued this project during his pastorate from 1956 to 1959. The building goal was realized under the ministry of John M. Pipkin. The first Meeting For worship was held March 12, 1961. Gaston W. Christian was Chairman of the Building Committee.