The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-12
A REAL FOREST CITY.
A Revival of Religion Followed by
the Organization of N Church.

the Organization OF Church.
Forest City. Fla. Oct. lit would be
hard 10 find a place anywhere more aI,-
prOpriately named than this delightfully."-
located little town. on high rolling ground.
surrounded by a pine forest, 1t is indeed
beautiful for situation and healthy be-
yond measure. While several railroads
run within few miles of its borders,
the Plant systems narrow gauge from
SANFORD to st. Petersburg, the old Or
ange Belt railroad, is the only one that
passes through the city. As the location
IS on a ridge, the rOaG bed has made no
ueep ms or cuts 70 mar the beauty OF the
place, and the company has a handsome.
little depot near Col George w. Cooley-s
large two-story store. Across the street
tracuye orange packing house has been
erected, and since the freeze il has been
used as public hall for large gatherings
ana social entertainments.
Forest City Orange Park fronts the
Of J. d. Hower's famous or
ange grove. On the lot adjoining this
grove Mr.. Hover, who is a millionaire
dry goods merchant of Cleveland, o.,
building, elegantly finished and furnish
ed on the inside, including a fine upright
piano, etc. small cupola contains a
sweet-toned bell which is used to can
the children to school and the people to
cnurch as the building is used both as a
school house and a chapel.
vival meetings have been held here the
result of which, under the earnest labors
OF Rev L. d, Geiger, the consecrated
pastor of the Baptist church at Apopka.
has been the conversion of some twenty
hVe persons, of all ages and both sexes
Ihere being no church organization here
OF any KIND, last night a meeting was held
at the chapel to decide whether these con-
Xerts should form a branch of the Apopka
BaPtlst church, or organize a church of
their own in Forest City. After a most ex-
celent sermon from Rev. Mr. Geiger who
subsequently presided over the conference
meeting, with Mr.. Clarence Cooley as
secretary, the matter was fully discussed
by the chairman and Col. Cooley and
Messrs. Tenney, Shepherd and others,
Rev ). II. Lancy, visiting brother also
participating in the discussion. Rev. Mr..
Geiger was very liberal in his views leav-
ing the people to accept of either of
three propositions, to become a part of
Apopka church, a branch of it with
local organization, or form an independent
church. There were so many, however
VINO had no means of getting to Apopka
TO meetings that the vote was largely in
favor of the latter proposition. Then
came the matter of the support of a pas
tor and current expenses, the chapel max
ing church building not neces-
sary. Col. Cooley announced that
Mr.. Hover had generously offered to
give 500 IL the people would raise that
amount, and subscriptions were called for
ana some $40 raised at once, when Col.
Cooley promptly added another SIS to his
FAMILY subscriptions and the money needed
was mus secured. AS REV. MI. OIeiger,
who is greatly beloved by the people he
had led to Christ, is fully engaged at
Apopka, Brookville and Plymouth he
recommended Rev b. NJ Bean of sum
terville, as a deeply consecrated and be-
loved preacher, and he was unanimously
chosen to temporarily give half his time
to the proposed new church, with a view
to becoming its permanent pastor He will
no doubt accept and Immediately proceed
to organizing the Forest City Baptist
church in due form, and add to its already
large proposed membership.