The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-25
FLORIDA CHURCHES.
New Organizations Springing Up Ev-
eryvhere.

eryWhere.
Orlando. Fla, Jan. 24-The recent meet
ing here Of the Florida conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal church, south. and the
assembling this week of the ConvOcatiOn
Of the Missionary Diocese Of Southern
Florida Of the Protestant Episcopal
church. gives the Morning News CORE
spOndent an opportunity to assure its
readers that the destructive freeze OF last
winter while it made poor in purse many
of our people, failed to chill their relig-
ious ardor or make them poor in spirit.
1t is true that some churches in certain
sections have suffered in financial sense,
yet other sections have been unusually
blessed. There never was greater activ-
ity among all denominations. nor better
results for the state at large.
Much of this is due to the work of church
extension, opening up of new fields in
which the denomination has not hereto
fore had a permanent foothold. OF these
the Christian denomination. (alsO called
Disciples and Campbeilites) has made re-
markable progress. influential members
of this faith from other states have made
winter homes here, or become permanent
settlers, and through their efforts, houses
of worship have been built ana good COM
gregations gathered into them. The mis-
sionary spirit in this denomination has
been active. and Rev. DR.. Williamson OF
Atlanta, and other eloquent and able d.
vines have given the field a faithful Gull
ture. AS a result the recent state conVen-
tion showed the most gratifying growth
of the denomination in Florida. Mrs. Gen.
Withers and her daughter, Miss Rebel
WitherS. of Kentucky, who have an ele-
giant winter home at OCOee and Rev fu-
fus A. Russell. the well-known business
manager of the Jacksonville Metropolis
have been among the most active workers.
While not recognized as a strictly or
thodoX denomination, the seventh Day
Bapusts have come into this state and
that has not failed to gather large FOL
lowing under their banners. With plenty
of money behind them the missionaries
are enabled to reach many neglected ana
out-of-the-way places, and these oner Pc
culiar advantages to them Tor securing
converts to their faith. Orlando was Sc
lected as headquarters, and here the lead
ing officials reside and send out a liberal
supply of the church and Sunday school
literature published by the denomination.
With ministers of eloquence in the pull
pit and persuasive manners among the
people the denomination has succeeded,
by a short period of missionary labor. IN
getting a permanent foothold in the state.
Owing to the large number of northern
and western Methodists that reside here
all the year round or have winter homes
in Florida, the Northern Methodist
church, so called, has established itself
in some localities, Trinity church, at
Jacksonville, think. being its most sue
cessful local organization. At Winter
Park the Rev. J. II. Martin with the as
sistance of northern winter residents, has
Just completed new CnurCn DullulnSt
which Bishop r. S. Foster of Boston,
Mass is 20 dedicate in a few weeks. The
first Northern Methodist sermon was
preached in that city June 3, 1885, in the
Congregational church, and from that
time the few followers OF this faith have
struggled on, meeting in private houses,
enter a fine church building of their own.
This is the history of the few northern
Methodist churches scattered over the
state they have grown up from the per-
sistent, patient efforts of little bands OF
earnest Christian men and women.
OF the older denominations, the Pres
byterians, the Baptists, the Southern
Methodists and the EpiscOpalians, 1t can
be said that they have never had a more
active year of Christian endeavor. Many
new church organizations have been per-
fected a number of new church buildings
erected and some parsonages provided.
Missionary work has been a special fea-
ture with even the settled pastors, proba-
| bly, spurred to it by the loss of town and
city members owing to the freeze. Be
that as 1t may, they have gone out into
bthe country, and into the highways and
| held services when they could, the result
\ fof which has added largely to the mem
| the organization of new churches. All
things considered this has, therefore,
| been a year of exceptional activity in re-
ll1igious circles, inspired largely by the
disasters of the late freeze and 1t is to
| be hoped that this jealous missionary
| spirit viii grow and flourish although re-
newed prosperity and returning popula-
ton may come to our state in the near III
ture.