Life and Works of Alonzo Nunnery

Below is a collection of some items related to the life and ministry of Alonzo Nunnery. The “Gleanings of Pastorates” of Nunnery is neither inclusive nor exhaustive, but just notations of places I have found where his pastorates are mentioned. The debates are (generally) debates referenced in periodicals, which references I found while researching Nunnery. Some may find the appellation “Campbellite” offensive. Nevertheless, I have chosen to keep it, if this is how these debaters were designated where I found he references. At this time I have neither the time nor inclination to research to which branch of the Restoration Movement they belonged. The bibliography goes with “A. Nunnery”: his hand against every man – which I will post later today. I am not including details on newspapers & periodicals. You can find those in the footnotes of “A. Nunnery”: his hand against every man.

Gleanings of Pastorates of Alonzo Nunnery

• 1894 Mt. Gilead, New Hope, Judson (Baptist and Reflector, November 15, 1894, p. 2)
• 1895 Judson Church (perhaps same as Parker’s X Road) (Baptist and Reflector, July 11, 1895, p. 5)
• 1895 Parker’s X Road, Lexington, Tennessee (Baptist and Reflector, October 10, 1895, p. 13)
• 1897 First Baptist Church, Darden, Tennessee, circa 1897-1900 (Baptist and Reflector, February 1, 1900, p. 7)
• 1897 Baptist Church at Lavinia, Carroll County, Tennessee (Baptist and Reflector, September 30, 1897, p. 16)
• 1901 Antioch Church, Medina, Tennessee, 1901 (Baptist and Reflector, August 8, 1901, p. 13)
• 1901 Mt. Pleasant Church, Bradford, Tennessee, 1901 (Baptist and Reflector, August 8, 1901, p. 13)
• 1902 Antioch, Chapel Hill, Jackson Royal Street, Maple Springs, Medina, and Mt. Pleasant (Minutes of the Central Baptist Association, September 17-19, 1902)
• 1903 Chapel Hill Church, Medina, Tennessee, 1903 (Baptist and Reflector, September 17. 1903, p. 4)
• 1903 Maple Springs Church, Mercer, Tennessee, 1903, 1907 (Baptist and Reflector, March 7, 1907, p. 12; August 22, 1907, p. 12; et al. For five years, so 1902-1907)
• 1904 Baptist Church at Caruth, Missouri, (Baptist and Reflector, February 18, 1904, p. 9; 1902-1904, Dunklin Democrat, December 9, 1904, p. 3)
• 1907 Kennett, Caruth, and Malden, Missouri, before going to Royal Street Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee in 1907 (Baptist and Reflector, February 28, 1907, p. 4)
• 1907 Ridgely, Tennessee (Baptist and Reflector, February 7, 1907, p. 12)
• 1907 Baptist Church, Granite, Oklahoma (The Mangum Star, June 6, 1907, p. 5; Mangum Sun-Monitor, October 10, 1907, p.5)
• 1914 Lake Creek Baptist Church for about 12-15 years, so circa 1914-1928 (William T. Swanson in The Baptist Worker, September 1939, as cited in The Kingdom of God, p. 5; The Granite Enterprise, April 11, 1957, p. 1)
• 1914 Duke Baptist Church, Duke, Oklahoma (The Tribune-Progress, December 11, 1914, p. 1)
• 1920 Baptist Church at Roosevelt Oklahoma (Baptist and Reflector, October 21, 1920, p. 15)
• 1921-1939 Bridge Creek Baptist Church, Blanchard, Oklahoma (Swanson in The Baptist Worker, as cited in The Kingdom of God, p. 6)
• Circa 1921 Organized Ninth Street Baptist Church, Chickasha, Oklahoma (Chickasha Daily Express, May 5, 1921, p. 3)
• 1930’s Ninth Street Baptist Church, Chickasha, Oklahoma; probably some in the 1920’s also, but not continuous (Chickasha Daily Express, October 9, 1936, et al.)

Identified Debates of Alonzo Nunnery

• E. C. L. Denton (Church of Christ) July 17, 1899, Darden, Tennessee; the church’s origin, doctrine, and practice (Baptist and Reflector, June 29, 1899, p. 13; Aug. 3, 1899, p. 7) This was Nunnery’s first debate.
• Name unknown (Campbellite) Fall 1902, near Marmaduke, Arkansas (Baptist and Reflector, December 04, 1902, p. 13)
• W. T. Boaz (Campbellite) November 10ff., 1903, Chapel Hill Church, Medina, Tennessee (Baptist and Reflector, Sept. 12, 1903, p. 4; the Baptist and Reflector announces this for Nov. 10, but History of the Restoration Movement: William Thomas Boaz gives Feb. 1903; perhaps they debated twice?)
• I. M. Ussery (Christian Church) September 5-10, 1902, Europa, Missouri; the origin, doctrine, and practice of the Christian and Missionary Baptist churches (Dunklin Democrat, July 29, 1904, p. 2; Sept. 23, 1904, p. 3)
• S. K. Powers (Martinite Baptist) August 15ff., 1907 Cottonwood, north of Eldorado, Oklahoma; the use of conventions and boards, doubting one’s salvation, and praying for sinners (Baptist and Reflector, June 13, 1907, p. 12; Mangum Star, Aug. 15, 1907, p. 6)
• W. C. Witcher (Church of Christ) August 24ff., 1908, Lake Creek Baptist Church, near Granite, Oklahoma (The Granite Enterprise, August 20, 1908, p. 5)
• U. G. Wilkinson (Church of Christ) November 30ff., 1908, Duke, Oklahoma; general church question (Primitive Christian, Nov. 5, 1908, p. 6; Dec. 16, 1908, p. 6)
• J. H. Lawson (Church of Christ) November 22ff., 1909 (5 days), Metcalf, Oklahoma (Baptist and Reflector, Nov. 18, 1909, p. 12; Hollis Post-Herald, Nov. 18, 1909, p. 3; Christian Companion, Jan. 13, 1910, p. 11. 2nd debate between Lawson & Nunnery)
• J. C. Weaver (Methodist) April 19-27, 1910, Russel, Oklahoma; the church, infant baptism, mode of baptism, apostasy, church government, and communion (Mangum Sun-Monitor, April 7, 1910, p. 1; The Western Methodist, May 26, 1910, p. 3)
• Joe S. Warlick (Church of Christ) circa November 28, 1910, Pleasant Ridge, north of Hobart, Oklahoma (The Granite Enterprise, December 2, 1910, p. 8)
• H. M. Cagle (Landmark Baptist) May 1911, Dodsonville, Texas (Hollis Post-Herald, May 18, 1911, p. 7)
• J. C. Glover (Christian Church) October 23, 1911 (8 days), Sophia, Bever County, Oklahoma; general propositions (Christian Companion, Nov. 2, 1911, p. 4; Nov. 23, 1911, p. 8)
• Rev. Armstrong (Unknown, from Cordell, Oklahoma) May 5, 1912, Mountain Home, Oklahoma (The Granite Enterprise, May 10, 1912, p. 1
• J. H. Lawson (Church of Christ) August 12-16, 1912, Navajoe, Jackson County, Oklahoma (The Altus Times, August 15, 1912, p. 6)
• W. C. Witcher (Church of Christ) July 10, 1913, Cooperton, Oklahoma; general church question (Christian Companion, June 19, 1913, p. 4)
• J. B. Lashley (Christian Church) Circa August 29, 1913, “fundamental differences between these two denominations” (Rush Springs Herald, August 28, 1913, p. 1)
• Joe S. Warlick (Church of Christ) April 1914 (8 days), Minco, Oklahoma (Comanche Reflex, April 17, 1914, p. 1; Minco Minstrel, April 24, 1914, p. 1)
• B. W. Dodson (Methodist), September 1914, Roaring Springs, Texas; infant baptism, sprinkling, immersion, apostasy (Baptist and Reflector, September 24, 1914, p. 16)
• I. P. Whitaker (Russellite) March 17, 1915, Baptist Church, Ivanhoe, Oklahoma (The Ivanhoe News, February 18, 1915, p. 3; The Beaver Herald, April 1, 1915, p. 5)
• C. H. Kennedy (Christian Church) May 4, 1915, Baptist Church, Devol, Oklahoma, (Devol Dispatch, April 30, 1915, p. 4)
• C. A. Smith (Landmark Baptist) June 25-28, 1916, Spring Creek Church north of Gracemont, Oklahoma; “each affirming that the Baptists with whom we stood are the Regular Baptists” (The Baptist Worker, July 12, 1916, p. 2)
• G. W. Crawford (Landmark Baptist) July 2, 1916, School house, Granite, Oklahoma; “The Scriptures teach that the people known as Landmark Baptists are the regular Baptists (Crawford). The Scriptures teach that the people who do their mission work through Conventions, by means of Boards, are the regular Baptists (Nunnery).” (The Baptist Worker, July 12, 1916, p. 2)
• H. H. Stallard (Socialist) July or 4, 1916, Granite Oklahoma; Socialism and Christianity (The Baptist Worker, July 5, 1916, p. 8; The Socialist Antidote July 15, 1916, p. 1)
• B. H. Burnett (Socialist) written debate in The Socialist Antidote paper of Mangum, Oklahoma, circa July-November 1916 (The Socialist Antidote, Nov. 15, 1916, p. 3)
• Lee Roy Elkins (Campbellite) August 8-12, 1916, Harmony Church, 5 miles west of Snyder, Oklahoma; general church question  (The Baptist Worker, Sept. 6, 1916, p. 2)
• Rev. Beauregard [(sic) Ben M. Bogard, rlv] (Landmark Baptist) January 16, 1917, Landmark Baptist Church at Alex, Oklahoma; boards and associations (The Alex Tribune, Dec. 22, 1916, p. 4; The Baptist Worker, Jan. 10, 1917, p. 2)
• Joe S. Warlick (Church of Christ) February 1917, Brady near Wynnewood, Oklahoma; setting up the church or kingdom (The Baptist Worker, Feb. 14, 1917, p. 8; March 14, 1917, p. 1. Nunnery says this is his 4th debate with Warlick)
• J. H. Lawson (Church of Christ) circa October 1917 (The Baptist Worker, October 19, 1917, p. 8)
• Mr. Scearcy, or Searcy (Campbellite; possibly George T. Searcy) December 2-5, 1917, Belzoni schoolhouse, Antlers, Oklahoma; church origin, doctrine, and practice (The Baptist Worker, January 9, 1918, p. 14)
• J. F. Curtis (Mormon/Latter Day Saints) Circa September-October 1918 (10 days), Crescent Church near Durham, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma; general church question (The Baptist Worker, October 9, 1918, p. 2)
• W. G. Roberts (Church of Christ) circa September 1919, Holcomb, Missouri; church and salvation (Baptist and Reflector, Sept. 11, 1919, p. 30; The Baptist Worker, Sept. 17, 1919, p. 1)
• W. T. Beasley (Church of Christ) November 15-22, 1923, Lake Creek Church, near Granite, Oklahoma (The Baptist Worker, November 14, 1923, p. 4; note: date may be wrong; when Nunnery commented on it in the Worker, it was in the past.)
• Mr. Reese (Campbellite, of Byers, Texas) November 1923, Cottonwood schoolhouse, northeast of Carnegie, Oklahoma (The Baptist Worker, November 28, 1923, p. 4)
• Bynum F. Black (Church of Christ) First week of July 1924, Snow Hill Baptist Church, near Tuttle, Oklahoma (The Baptist Worker, Aug. 6, 1924, p. 1; The Living Message, Sept. 25, 1924, p. 15)
• E. M. Borden (Church of Christ) July 1925, Addington schoolhouse, near Marietta, Oklahoma; General church question (The Baptist Worker, June 24, 1925, p. 1)
• A. D. Dies (Church of Christ) March 15-22, 1926, Carryville, Arkansas; the doctrines of their churches (Dunklin Democrat, March 9, 1926, p. 4; The Baptist Worker, Apr. 7, 1925, p. 2)
• Mr. Cowan (Campbellite; perhaps J. N. Cowan?) July 10, 1927 (6 days), Levelland, Texas; general church question (The Baptist Worker, August 10, 1927, p. 2)
• Bynum F. Black (Campbellite) October 15, 1927, Dewar, Oklahoma; salvation, church (The Baptist Worker, Sept. 14, 1927, p. 6; Oct. 19, 1927, p. 2)
• G. W. Whitfield, T. M. Huffhines, G. F. Slape, G. C. Hill, J. J. Risinger (Landmark Baptist) February 21, 1928 (8 hours), Blair, Oklahoma; Orphans’ Home controversy in the Baptist General Assembly of Oklahoma (The Baptist Worker, February 8, 1928, p. 4. Debate stenographically recorded and printed book form).
• Jack L. Nevel (Non-denominational) September 2-3, 1929, Hallett, Oklahoma; baptism of the Holy Ghost and healing (The Baptist Worker, Sept. 18, 1929, p. 4)
• Mr. Farrow (Unknown), April 9, 1932, City Hall, Chickasha, Oklahoma (The Chickasha Daily Express, Apr. 8, 1932, p. 4)
• J. W. Diggs (Unknown), April 16, 1932, City Hall, Chickasha, Oklahoma; Rich man and Lazarus, parable or literal (The Chickasha Daily Express, April 13, 1932, p. 5)
• Allie Cocheran (Unknown; possibly Allie Cochran, Freeman, Oklahoma) April 23, 1932, City Hall, Chickasha, Oklahoma; “That the Scripture Teaches that the Church of Jesus Christ was Set Up, Formed, or Established During the Personal Ministry of Jesus Christ” (Nunnery affirmed) (The Chickasha Daily Express, April 19, 1932, p. 4)
• Allie Cocheran (Unknown) April 30, 1932, City Hall, Chickasha, Oklahoma; “That the Scriptures Teach That the Church of Kingdom of Jesus Christ Began on the First Pentecost After His Resurrection” (Cochran affirmed) (The Chickasha Daily Express, April 26, 1932, p. 4)
• J. W. Diggs (Unknown), May 21, 1932, City Hall, Chickasha, Oklahoma; Annihilation of the wicked (Diggs affirms, Nunnery denies) (The Chickasha Daily Express, May 20, 1932, p. 4)
• Norman Cooper, (Church of Christ) date and place unknown (The Encyclopedia Of Religious Debates, Volume 1, A-D, Thomas N. Thrasher, p. 146)

Publications related to Alonzo Nunnery

• The Baptist Banner 1900-1907 (periodical), Jackson, Tennessee
  
• The Baptist Worker 1909-1939 (periodical) Granite and Chickasha, Oklahoma
  
• The Socialist Antidote 1915-1917 (periodical) Mangum, Oklahoma, Nunnery served as an associate editor
  
• The Kingdom or Churches of Jesus Christ (book)
  
• A History of the Hawkins Matter (book)
  
• Blair, Oklahoma Orphans’ Home Debate (book; exact title unknown)
• Sunday School Literature, Baptist Worker Publishing Company

Bibliography

• “Alonzo Nunnery (1861-1939),” a 2016 Hall of fame Monograph; article by Luke Holmes from The Oklahoma Baptist Chronicle (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Eli H. Sheldon, Editor), Autumn 2016, Volume LIX, Number 2
• History of the American Baptist Association: Commemorating the Seventy-Fifth Meeting June 20- 22, 2000, Robert Ashcraft, editor, Texarkana, TX: American Baptist Association, 2000
  
• History of the Baptist General Assembly of Oklahoma and Other Beginnings from 1903 to 1982, T. L. Duren, editor, Baptist General Assembly Historical Committee, n.d. (circa 1982)
  
• History of the Lexington Baptist Male and Female College, by J. A. Deere (written circa 1956)
  
• Minutes of the 14th Annual Session of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, November 11-12, 1919
  
• “Nunnery Movement,” Roger D. Hebard, Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists, Vol. II, Norman Wade Cox, editor, Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1958
• Proceedings of the Sixty-Sixth Session of the Central Baptist Association, September 17-19, 1902
  
• Prophets With Pens: a History of the Baptist Standard, Presnall H. Wood, Floyd W. Thatcher, Dallas, TX: Baptist Standard Publishing Co., 1969
  
• The Baptist and Reflector, Nashville, Tennessee
  
• The Baptist Worker, Granite, Oklahoma
  
• The Chickasha Daily Express, Chickasha, Oklahoma
  
• The Chickasha Star, Chickasha, Oklahoma
  
• The Greer County Democrat, Mangum, Oklahoma
  
• The Kingdom of God: a Study Course, Mike Brawner, Dodd City, TX: by the author, 2021
  
• The Life and Works of Benjamin Marcus Bogard, L. D. Foreman, Alta Payne, Little Rock, AR: Seminary Press, 1966
  
• The Oklahoma Baptist, Chickasha, Oklahoma
  
• The Oklahoma Baptist Voice, Rocky, Oklahoma
  
• The Mangum Star, Mangum, Oklahoma
  
• The Tribune-Progress, Mountain View, Oklahoma