The Arkansas Bible School at Martinville
by J. W. Peake
Editor's Note: The following article is taken from The Christadelphian Advocate
(November 1927), published by Albert Hall (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada).
It relates the early history of the Bible School operated by the
Christadelphians in Martinville, northeast Faulkner County, which continues
today The author, a Christadelphian in Kentucky, had visited the Bible School in
the summer of 1927.
TO THE BRETHREN AND SISTERS OF THE UNITED STATES:
With my sister wife and son, I recently joumeyed to the little town of
Martinville, Arkansas, in order to be present, and help in a small way, at the
Arkansas Bible School. Many of you know of the unique work that is being done at
that School each year, while many of the readers of these lines will have had it
definitely brought to their attention by this article for the first time. My
purpose in writing my impressions of the Bible School and its work is to excite
as far as possible something like a general interest in that good work.
We had heard about this laudable work two years ago from our esteemed brother,
John W. Lea, who was at the School two years ago and helped in the teaching. Our
interest was augmented by his detailed description of the plan followed and the
work being done, and we took occasion this year to attend the sessions, which
were begun immediately after the Arkansas Fraternal Gathering held at
Martinville; that is, from August 1st to 14th, inclusive.
The little town of Martinville is about twenty miles north from Conway, and is
therefore that distance from the nearest railway; but it is reached by motor
conveyances over Federal Highway No. 65,2 being about one mile off that highway.
The town of Martinville was named for the late Brother J. D. Martin,3 who,
thirty-five years ago, erected in his town a substantial pavilion for the use of
our people in his State, when they had Brother Thomas Williams visit them each
year and address them and their neighbors during their Fraternal Gatherings.
This pavilion has now been turned into a commodious dining hall, a large kitchen
having been built on one side of it. There had been built lately, in addition,
large sleeping quarters for the men and boys on one side of the lot, and on the
opposite side one for the women and girls.
In addition to these accommodations, between fifteen and twenty tents and board
booths were set up for use of families this year-all adjacent to the buildings
above referred to.
For the use of the classes they put up large tents, furnished with benches,
while a larger tent was erected in the center of the grounds, which was used as
a place of general assembly. Under this tent, during the progress of the School,
meetings were held for singing, Scripture readings, short exhortations, etc.;
also, for classes in the class periods.
There were two class periods of one hour each in the morning and one in the
afternoon. Each day was closed with singing and a lecture, or talk, between 7
and 9 p.m. This same arrangement has obtained for the past few years, or since
the present equipment has been in use....
Do you ask what you can do? In the first place, if you do not live too far away,
and can go to the School, make your arrangements to go there as the children of
Israel went once every year to Jerusalern to the Feast of the Passover, and as
the nations will be expected to "go up from year to year to worship the king,
the Lord of Hosts," in the age to come. The cost to each one for enrollment has
heretofore been only $2.00, but this year it was decided to make this merely
nominal charge $3.00. This entitles each one to three good meals each day and a
place to sleep. Everything else is as free as the air you breathe.
This year, we went from Anchorage, Kentucky, and took our only son; and two auto
loads went from Henderson County, Ky. There were also the five children of one
brother living at Topeka, Kansas, and others from Texas and Arizona. The brother
from Kansas brought his children down by rail and left them in charge of the
managers of the School, but returned home because he could not stay away from
his work. Besides these, the brethren and sisters from various parts of Arkansas
came and brought their children, or sent them.
Now the managers decided this year (partly as the result of having considerable
rain during the sessions) that the Bible School should and must have a permanent
building for the general meetings, as also for class work, so that the people
can be protected from the elements.
[There followed a description of the "auditorium" which was planned, followed by
an appeal for financial help from the members of the Brotherhood. The new
building was constructed in 1928 and is still in use at the Bible School.]
Lastly, I want to say a word about those who originated, and continue to carry
on this fine work.
The suggestion to open a Bible School came first from Brother Ben Scroggin, of
Biscoe, Arkansas. This suggestion was then taken up by Brethren O.L. Dunaway and
Charles Martin, of Conway, by Brethren J. S. Martin and J. R. Frazer of Little
Rock, and by Bro. S.O. Jones of Biscoe (who is secretary-treasurer), and with
the help of others, including many good sisters, the School was established in
the summer of 1923.
All of these brethren and sisters have done nobly, but Brother O.L. Dunaway is
the one mainly depended on to husband this fine effort and keep the fire of
faith and enthusiasm burning. He is a man of wide experience in the public
school work in his state, and is thus especially fitted by experience and
natural endowment to have charge of the Bible School.
I want to mention, in closing, that Brother J.D. Martin, who died in November,
1924, gave the large tract of land now being used by the promoters of the Bible
School, so that there is nothing to be paid on the land.
The location of the School is ideal, being far away from the allurements and
distractions of any large city, situated on a rise, below which is a large
valley [Cove Creek], affording a very attractive view of cultivated fields,
streams, etc., back of which are wooded hills. Also to the north is a range of
high hills that swing around to the west.
The effect upon every devout person spending two weeks at this place is to make
each feel a calmness and serenity that eminently fits him or her for the worship
and work that is to fill those two weeks....
*****
The November 1927 issue of The Christadelphian Advocate also listed 62 "Christadelphian
Meeting Places" - 35 in the United States, nine in Canada, and 18 in Great
Britain. The only meeting place listed in Arkansas was: "Little Rock, Ark.-Fratemal
Bldg., 3rd and Center Sts. Sunday School, 10 a.m. Lecture and B. B., 11 a.m.
Bible Class, Wednesday evening, 8 p.m." [B. B. probably stands for "breaking of
bread," a service listed for most of the American and Canadian meeting places.]
Footnotes:
lSee also the article by Irene Medlin, "The Arkansas Christadelphian Bible
School," Faulkner
Facts and Fiddlings (Fall 1966), pp. 63-65, and the article by Tom McDonald,
Log Cabin
Democrat (July 14, 1996), p. 1B.
2In 1927, what is now Arkansas 25 and 285 (through Wooster, Shady Grove, Bono,
and Twin
Groves) was "the Damascus Pike" from Conway to Damascus.
3According to an article in the Centennial Edition of the Log Cabin Democrat,
the community. originally known as Cadron Cove, was re-named in 1887 for Capt.
W. W. Martin. “Martinville,” Faulkner County: Its Land and People (Conway:
Faulkner County Historical Society, 1986), pp. 306-307. The town was probably
named in honor of both the brothers, William Wyle and James Daniel Martin.
Margaret Dunaway. "The Daniel Martin Family:” Ibid.. p. 385.