Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-01-22
History of the First Baptist Church
 Of TuesOn.
Tucson Baptis, Recorder.


 The First Baptist Church Orgauiz- ation of Southern Arizona, was formed in Tucson, at the residence of l. ;. Dodge, April 7th., 1881, with six mem bers, to-wit: Rev. U. Gregory, D. D. Alice l.. Gregory, his wife. D. ;. Dodge and Leila Dodge, Alice Samuel, and Briggs Goodrich. At the same meeting, a board of trustees were elected, of the following persons, wis: C. M. K. Paulison, Chas, D. POst7n, BenI. Good nch, Edwln $. Dodge and Rev. U. Greg ory, D. D. On the l2th., the first meet ing of the trustees, convened at the Residence of the pastor, tO effect an organization. C. M. k. PaulisOn was chosen president of the Board, and Benj. Goodrich, clerk. On the seventh of May, lot was purchased, by the pas tor, for the erection of church and parsonage; of which lOO by G6 feet, on Stone Avenue and Eighth street, was purchased of him, for church purposes. Dr. Gregory having been invited to spend s1-le time, at Tombstone, to perfect an organization of the church in that city, the latter part of April, accord ingiy on the 26th., he met the Baptists of Tombstone, and organized the Second Baptist Church in Southern Arizona, at the home of Brother Stillman Thomas, with seven members. On the 18th. of May, recognition services were held, in the Presbyterian Church, at Tucson. Rev. !. w. Osborn, of Nebraska, preached before the Council at II A. M., and Rev. Dr. O. c. Wheeler, moderator. made the evening address. J. W. Osborn, was clerk of the Council.
 Three members were added to the Church, by letter. Immediately after the public recognition services, steps were taken by the Trustees toward the erection of House of Worship, and a subscription book was opened for that object: But before much had been accomplished, the hot season was upon us, and it was voted to suspend Oper- ation until September or later. The sickly season continued through Sep | tember, and 1t was October before Oper- ations were commenced for building | A building commute was chosen con- sisting of Dr. Gregory, Bros, PaulisOu and Dodge, to prosecute the work of erecting Q church edifce on the corner of Stone Avenue and Eight st.
 On the return of Dr. Gregory from the missionary trip to Old Hat District by the invitation of Dr. Hurd, (pastOr oi the PresbyteriOn Church) he occupied his pulpit one half of the time, and con tinued 10 do SO until the first of January 1882. During the fall and winter. ser vices have been held in the vicinity O the depot: At first preaching service + the R. R. Reading Room at II A. NJ. and later in the season a Praise Servicu and Bible Reading at the residence O
 Mir. Zeigler, east of the railroad depot These meetings were for a short tim
 suspended on account of the sicknes
 and death of the Pastors little daugh
 ter, Lulu Gregory, who died Novembe
 12th. The death of Bro. c. II. K. Paul isOn, the President of the Board O
 Trustees, October 22d, and the abscenc
 of E. $. Dodge, imposed the sol
 responsibility of prosecuting the work
 collecting funds and pushing fOrwar,
 the erection of the church edifice
 which has been successfully accom-
 plished and 1t IS now ready to be dedI
 cated to the service of God, on Sunday January 22d, 1SS2.