1922: The Seventh-day Adventist church that now sits on the beautiful campus of Bass Memorial Academy has its roots in the tiny community of Talowah, just 2 miles south of BMA.
As far as can be ascertained, the first Adventist in the area was Mr. J.L. Waller, a literature evangelist working in Hattiesburg. As he came upon the sparse community of Talowah, he envisioned a school, a church, and possibly a sanatorium. He began to promote the idea everywhere he went. In Hattiesburg he sold a book, Bible Footlights, to Mr. W.E. Cooper, who accepted the message of the book, was baptized and carried the message to his sister, Mrs. F.E. McKee who was living near Philadelphia, MS. She passed the message on to others. Late in 1920, Mr. Will Coble, Mr. Tom Coble and Mr. Commodore Hendershot moved to Talowah, followed shortly thereafter by the Turner, McKee, Hasting and Wells families. Before long a meeting was held to organize the first Sabbath School. The date of this organization was July 31, 1922. >>continued HERE<<
As far as can be ascertained, the first Adventist in the area was Mr. J.L. Waller, a literature evangelist working in Hattiesburg. As he came upon the sparse community of Talowah, he envisioned a school, a church, and possibly a sanatorium. He began to promote the idea everywhere he went. In Hattiesburg he sold a book, Bible Footlights, to Mr. W.E. Cooper, who accepted the message of the book, was baptized and carried the message to his sister, Mrs. F.E. McKee who was living near Philadelphia, MS. She passed the message on to others. Late in 1920, Mr. Will Coble, Mr. Tom Coble and Mr. Commodore Hendershot moved to Talowah, followed shortly thereafter by the Turner, McKee, Hasting and Wells families. Before long a meeting was held to organize the first Sabbath School. The date of this organization was July 31, 1922. >>continued HERE<<