The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1895-07-28
OUR RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE.


parsonage including value OF lot, -
worth 81 500. Brother Pickens Is
considered one Of the strongest men
Z in the conference and the district has
advanced rapidly under his admins
T tration.
Ardmore district extends from the
Comanche line 10 the mouth Of the
/ Washita river, and from Red river
on the south TO the Arbuckle noun
tains on the north. In this territory
+ the NJ. +. Church South has nearly
one hundred organized congrega-
tions, upwards Of thirty-fiVe hundred
mem bers, twenty-One pastors, about
/ fifty local preachers, thirteen
churches, worth sl5,cOO and sixteen
parsonages, worth 5000. Several
other churches will be built By the
end of the year, and as a suitable
capstone for work on this line Messrs.
K. Hardy, a. J. Wolvcrton, NJ.
Wheeler and \. G.. Pickens, acting
for this church, have bought tract
Of land in the north part Of the city,
ten acres OF which will be set apart
as a site for the college, the rest cut
up into residence lots and put on the
market. Work on the college build
ing will begin as soon as possible
/ FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
An o2itomized record Of her or
ganizstion, struggles, contributions
and growth:
The First Presbyterian church of
Ardmore, 1. T., was organized by the
Rev. J. Mofatt, OF Pauls Valley, in
Mrs. RobinsOn's school house, June
p, 1890, with four members; namely,
y. ID. Mathews, Laura Mathews,
NOW Mrs. Renniel, VIM. Newell and
Mrs. Nora Van Denberg. A. ID.
Mathews and Mrs. Nora Van Denberg
have from her organization been
vitally identified with her struggles
and work. \. ID. Mathews was
elected ruling elder in which place
he has ever served honestly and
/ faithfully. For many months after
organization, the church did not
have the regular service Of a minis
ter, but visiting ministers held an
|, occasional service wherever they
could secure a suitable place, until
September 1891, when Rev. ID. II.
Crockett was called to the pastorate
of the church.
In February, 1892, the church toe K
steps toward the procuring Of site
aud erecting a church edifice, which
was completed about the middle Of
) June. 1892.
In September OF the same year, the
beloved pastor, Rev. ID. X. Crockett,
was stricken while preaching, which
caused his death.
Rev. II. II. Shawhan, OF Princeton
Theological Seminary, who so en-
deared himself to Ardmors people,
was appointed by the Board OF Home
Missions TO look after the interests
OF the church, and preached his first
sermon on Easter Sunday, 1898.
, In May following he was regularly
called rs stated supply of the church
by the congregation, i'm which rela-
tionship he served with great &C
ceptance for about fourteen months,
when IN health compelled him 70
sever his relationship with the
church and seek a more congenial
climate. The pulpit remained vacant
for a period of about six months ex.
cept an occasional service, until
January 1885, when the present pastor
the Rev. c. {. Mckinley, was called
and accepted the care Of the church
The church has never had a
phenominal growth in numbers, but
a steady healthy increase.
Her struggles have been severe,
but out of them all she has come
forth refined and strengthened fol
new victories.
During the year OF 1892, this church
raised for all purposes about sl7OO;
the year 1898, about 500; the year
1891, about 5000.
We are free Of debt, have n com
Portable, neat church edifce and .
beautiful little house that would b,
a credit 10 any small church.
One OF the most efficient aids {,
: the work OF the church has been tn,
! Ladies' Aid Society.
II is difficult 10 see how the churcl
would have met many OF its obliga
tions, but for the timely aid provide,
!, and received through the instrumen
n tality of this noble band Of women
Y When We review our history ",
n have much TO praise God for an,
y take courage. We believe God ha
), planted and cherished this church
e and has and is advancing his king
, dom fhrnurrh har in.frttr,.,,t,Iff,- a.