Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-10-21
THE MEXICO BAPTIST CHURCH.

listers and laymen who are prominent
in affairs of business and state.
THE MEXICO BAPTIST CHURCH,
In the year 1857, a few Baptists in
the then new and small town of Mex
leo organized themselves into a
church. For three or four years the
little band maintained an existence,
but the confusion of war put an end
to their work and organization. Ten
years after this first beginning, TWEEN
ty-fve Baptists, some of them mem
bers. of Hopewen church, near the
town, and some of them recently come
there from other places, united in
forming the present church. 1t would
be impossible to put in a few words
the history of these thirty years and
the struggles and triumphs which have
marked their course The twenty-five
members have grown to be nearly 400
and the feeble band has become one
of our very strongest churches. In
addition to the prominent and efficient
people who now compose the working
force, some noble souls have finished
their course and have entered into
rest. Such names az Gov. @. Fl. Har-
din, Joel Guthrie, Mrs. Mary Sims,
John Gordon, James Carroll, w. v.
Walker, E. 8. Frost and many others
have honored the roll of membership
and are cherished in the community.
Some of their fellow laborers and sue
cessors will greet the visitors this
week. They are worthy the places
they fill. Such names as Harper,
Guthrie, KEENAN,, Hit, Griffee,
Yancey, Jesse and many who have
more recently come into the church
will grow familiar to Missouri Baptists
in the cordial hospitality with which
they are met.
All the pastors of the church are
still living. They are 8. A. Beau
champ, Texas; J. D. Murphy, Sedalia,
Mo-; ]. @. Maple, Keokuk, Iowa; j. @.
Armstrong, st. Louis; A. M. Varde-
man, Kentucky; A. E. Rogers,
Nevada, Mo-, and N. R. Pittman.
Mexico.
In the day of "small things" the
church was aided by the State Mission
Board, but ten times the amount
given has been returned with generous
interest to the Boards treasury,
besides liberal gifts to all our general
undertakings. The church is noted
for its liberality. Partly because OF
its location, partly because of the
activity of some of its members in
State Missions, but chiefly because OF
it's hospitality, this has been for years
the meeting place of the State Mission
Board in its quarterly sessions. Patient
and unwearying hospitality has been
extended every time to the dozen or
more brethren, who come from all
parts of the state to give their atten-
ton to this work. These Mexico
brethren hang around the church door
and beg the members of the Board to
eat with them and to sleep In their
homes,
Four years ago the present house of
worship was dedicated. 1t was built
and furnished at a cost of $4,000.
Comfort and utility governed its
arrangements, though it is not without
beauty. The main entrance passes
along beside the Sunday School room
on the left and enters a magnificent
audience room, almost square, with
bowling floor and circular pews. The
arrangements and furnishings are
modern and complete. The seating
capacity is something more than a
thousand. Deacon John A. Guthrie,
treasurer of the State Mission Board,
is superintendent of the Sunday
School.
Mrs. M. M. Williams, of Kansas
City, q sister of William Armstrong,
of Perry, has been attending the As
s~ociation for twenty years. She at
tended the first session sixty three
years ago. She Is rs years old. She
is here In Mexico now, and is active
and vigorous. She car take a grip in
her hand and walk a mile while some
modern women are waiting for a con-
veyance.
Rev. J. II. Eager, pastor of a Bap-
fist church In Florence, Italy, Is at
tending the Association.
Among the distinguished visitors lie
Rev. I. T. Tichenor, OF Atlanta. He
represents the Home Board of the
Southern Baptist Convention.