A PROUD HISTORY

The Fairfax Central Baptist Sunday School Union was organized in 1890 at Clifton, Virginia, the Second Baptist by Rev. R. H. Goffney and delegates from the following Sunday Schools: Mt. Calvary, Fairfax; Mt. Zoar, Hughesville; Mt. Olive, Cub Run; Little Zion, Burke; First Baptist, Manassas; Second Baptist, Clifton. 

A large delegation from each of the above-named Sunday Schools assisted in the organization, electing the late Robert Hunter, Mt. Calvary as the first President, Miss Alice Williams of Manassas, Treasurer, and Rev. R.H. Goffney, Secretary and Missionary. 
By-laws were adopted, proposing to meet every quarter at such places as designated at each meeting, and if any changes should be made in the by-laws three months' notice would be given of the changes before becoming effective. 

The following are some of those that assisted in the organization: The late Brother Johnson of Manassas; Robert Hunter; Dr. R. Pinn of Burke; W. H. Harris, Cub Run; and the late William Anderson of Hughesville. Our first meeting adjourned to meet at Manassas, our third meeting was at Gainesville. There was no other meeting until the next year at Fairfax. 

Strange to say, before this meeting some brethren got together and made a slate and sent out notices that the Union would meet on Saturday instead of Sunday. However, there was a meeting on Sunday--after a heated debate the Constitution was amended--proposing to meet annually, forming a Convention, electing Rev. L. H. Bailey as President. Thus you see out of the Fairfax Central Baptist Sunday School Union came the great Northern Virginia Baptist Sunday School Convention. 

Our next meeting was held the next year at Occoquan, Prince William County. At this meeting the late Rev. Marshall D. William met with us for the first time. 

The Sunday Schools of Fairfax did not look favorably upon the amended Constitution, they felt that a convention was a good thing but what was most needed in the county was the original quarterly Union, where we could get together at least quarterly instead of animally as the amended Constitution required. Finally the Sunday School workers in Fairfax went back to the original Constitution and until this day (December 1931) we are sailing on. 

For thirty-seven years we have served this county and have done excellent work for the up building of the Sunday School--such as giving poor Sunday Schools literature, helping to build churches, contributing to public schools. We have given Bibles to several of our newly dedicated Rosenwald Public Schools. We have contributed to Manassas Industrial from time to time. Last but not least we have assisted a number of worthy young students in Manassas Industrial School. No worthy cause is ever overlooked by the Union. 

The article above was written by Rev. R. H. Goffney and published in the Sunday School Broadcast, December 1931.

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Click here to view the minutes of the Union subdivided into Gifts, Recommendations, Christian Fellowship, Religious Training, and Special Guest. Note, the following years of the minutes are missing; 1890 to 1916, 1939 to 1941, 1952 to 1960 and 1966 to 1976.