Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-09
NEW CHURCH ORGANIZED.
Oakland BaptIsts Cut Loose From the
Fourth Avenue CongregatiOn-They Will
Go IL Alone,

Oakland BapiIsts Cut Loose From the
Fourth Avenue CongregatiOn-They Will
Go it Alone.
At the close of the evening services at
Linden Grove Chapel in Oakland, yester-
day, a congregational meeting was held for
the purpose of considering a church organ
izatlon. Linden Grove Chapel is at present
under the jurisdiction of the Fourth Avenue
Baptist Church, end the latter organization
made the proposition that the members Of
the chapel congregation form an indie
pendent church of their own. This propo-
sition is made necessary by the fact that the
section of the city in which the chapel is
situated is growing very rapidly, and an in
dependent church would be much more
beneficial than a branch of the downtown
organization.
Rev. VIM. Ward West, the assistant
pastor in charge OF the chapel, presided at
the meeting. After some discussion, It was
voted to accept the proposition of the
mother church and form aseparate organiza-
tion. A committee of two was then ap-
pointed TO visit the Baptists in the neigh
borhood and see if they would furnish the
money necessary for the support Of the new
congregation. This committee is to report
next Sunday Dight, and it is expected that
they will be very successful in securing
promises of financial aid. After some
further discussion the meeting adjourned.
The chapel organization was formed just
two years ago last night, and the meeting
partook of the nature of an anniversary
gathering. The chapel, and the ground on
which it stands, corner of Bates and At
wood streets, belong to the Fourth
avenue congregation, and, when
the new church is fully organized,
the property will be decided over to it as
free gift. 1t will be seen, therefore, that the
new church will start under extraordinarily
favorable auspices, as the securing of site
and the erection of building thereon, with
the consequent debt, have always been causes
of great deal OF trouble to new organiza-
tion. Indeed, many churches have struggled
for years under heavy debt, and were COM
PEELED to disband at last
The pastor of the new church will likely
be Rev. William Ward West, who now has
charge of the chapel. He is a young man
and well liked by the members of lis flock.
After the meeting the reporter had a short
talk with Mr.. West, and in the course of
the conversation the gentleman said:
''The rapid growth of this section makes
the new church q necessity, and I expect
that it will be success from the start. We
have now congregation of over 100 active
members, and more will join after the organ
ization is perfected. There are a number of
Baptists in this vicinity who go to the city
to attend morning service. but when our
new church starts they will attend here.
You see, we do not hold morning services at
present, but only Sunday school and the
evening meetings. Everyone seems anxious
for the success of the new undertaking, and
devoutly hope that they will not be dis
appointed"
Mr.. West also said that the separation
was entirely without snimosity on the part
of either the chapel people or the down.
town church. The only reason was that
given above.