The Burke County news. [volume] (Morganton, N.C.) 1899-1901, 1899-10-27

" Jesse Page lS93-o4
W. H. Leith. lSose-s
r. H. Parker, 1899
The Sunday School of the Morpantor
Church is one of the largest and mos,
fourishing in Western North Carolina,
James A. Claywell has, with an inter.
mission OF n or two years, been its
superintendent for nearly 10 years. Ir
that period of time it has grown from
a school of forty n fifty teachers and
pupils to its present size and prosper.
Gus condition.
For the present year, the following
constitute the Board of Stewards, l. I.
Davis, B. F. Davis, A. F. Somers,
I. l.. Hemphill, J. n. Payne, H. F.
Payne. H. W. Connolly. and E. B.
Claywell.
B. F. Davis is District Steward and
E. B. Claywell Recording Steward.
H. w. Connolly, B. F. Davis and
f.. b. Claywell are the building com.
mittee for the new church, and w. H.
Sloan is architect and contractor.
Ground for the new building was
broken in September, 1899. and
the corner stone was laid on the 18th
of October, AID, 1899.
Such, in brief, is the history of the
Morganton Methodist Church. Around
the old building which, in peace and
war, in storm and in sunshine, has
stood for more than half a century,
cluster many sacred memories From
it's pulpit, true soldiers of the cross
have preached salvation through faith
for fifty two years,-men who through
evil n through good report have, like
the great apostle Paul fought a good
fight, who ave kept the faith, and
most of whom have finished their
course, and for whom ''there is laid w
a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give
them at that day Within its pews
have sat three generations of devoul
men and women, whose example was
an inspiration to good works. and
whose godly walk and p;ous CONVEX
sation were like incense in the temple
of the King. Many of them now
''sleep the sleep that knowsnowaking'
within the ha,lowed precincts of the
old church yard. Others have been
transferred to other fields, there to per.
form the work of the Master. If this
sketch were complete, mention should
be made of the James of many of the
members of the church, both living and
dead, who by their constant attendance
on it's service, by the years of work
they have given to the maintenance o.
its institutions, and by their generou,
contributions to its support have s.
largely added to its influence anC
spiritual and material growth.
While to the writer. who hereafter
continues the history Of Methodism ir
Morganton may be safely committed
the chronicling of what those member,
of the church now living have done to
wards its upbuilding and support, ma,
be pardoned for mentioning a few o
those who have passed away.
| Joseph d. Ferree. one of the origina
trustees. was a devout local preacher
a man trusted and honored by the PEG
pie of Burke county with importan
public Offices, always the close frient
and assistant OF the pastor and Away
faithful in his attendance on the ser
vices of the church. The home. wher'
he and his sanity wife dwelt for 8
many years was in itself a centre o
christian influence the effect of whicl
is still felt in Morganton and in Ran
dleman where some Of his children ant
grandchildren now reside.
Mrs. Susan Tate. the mother of tn
late Col. Samuel Mcdowell Tate, wa
another strong light in the early his
tory Of the church. For many year
she was one of its most faithful an.
devoted members, and her distinguish
ed son. although connected with Ar
other denomination. was a freQuen
Contributor to the institutions Of tn
Methodist Church in honor Of his sain
ed mother.