Goodspeeds, 1890
Religious affairs, here as elsewhere, date from the first settlement of the community. As usual, the Methodists and Baptists were the pioneer Christian workers of the Territory, followed by the Cumberland Presbyterians and Christians.

The organizations of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, located within the county, are embraced in three circuits. The Melbourne circuit: Rev. W. L. King, pastor, has eight appointments; the Newburg circuit: Rev. William A. Peck, pastor, has five appointments; and the La Crosse and Evening Shade circuit: Rev. J. S. Brooke, pastor, has also five appointments, the latter being in Sharp County.

The aggregate membership of each, as shown by the last conference minutes (1890), is as follows: Melbourne, 399; Newburg, 684; La Crosse and Evening Shade, 301; making 1,384 in all. Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, there is but one organization in the county.

Of the Missionary Baptist Church nineteen organizations are known, sixteen of which belong to the Rocky Bayon Association, two to the Big Creek Association, and one to Independence Association. Those belonging to the first named are Melbourne, Lunenburg and Franklin, of which Elder J. L. Brown is pastor; Saints' Rest, Bellview, Mount Nebo, No. 2, and Piney Bayon, of which Elder J. J. Vest is pastor; Mount Pleasant and Bethel, of which Elder J. D. J. Faulkner is pastor; Zion Hill, Concord, Fairview and Philadelphia, of which Elder William Duren is pastor; Pleasant Valley, with Elder S. A. Merchant as pastor; Mount Nebo No. 1, with Elder J. H. Soden as pastor; and Hidden Creek, which has no pastor at present. Those belonging to Big Creek Association are Cross Roads and New Prospect. while the one belonging to Independence Association is called Wilson Creek. The aggregate membership of these organizations within the county is between 790 and 800.

The ten organizations of the Christian Church here consist of Mill Creek, at Melbourne; Walnut Grove, Oxford, Franklin and Iuka, with Elder H. T. King as pastor; Kent Mill, Liberty, Pleasant Spring and Newburg, with Elder W. G. Cypert as pastor; and Twin Creek, with Elder G. H. Metheny as pastor. The aggregate membership is 503.

The organizations of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church are Mill Creek, at Melbourne, and Mount Olive, with Rev. P. M, Jeffery as pastor; Nubbin Ridge, Rev. R. H. Evans, pastor; Olive Branch, Rev. J. S. Bone, pastor; La Crosse, Rev. W. B. Baird, pastor; Barren Fork, Rev. A. C. Evans, pastor; Dry Town, Rev. J. S. Bone, pastor; Palestine, Rev. Clark, pastor; Rocky Glade and one or two other organizations.

Many of the church organizations have Sunday schools connected with them. and nearly all have regular preaching, and are doing good work in the cause of Christianity. There is an organization of the Adventists at La Crosse.