The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-19

| work was accomplished.
Ii soon became evident. however. that
| a self-sustaining church would not be
built up on Swain street, and the church
determined to seek il more eligible site
nearer the great body of the membership.
! Soon after Brother Gwaltney took
charge of the church, steps were taken
in this direction. and at a conference
meeting. October Z. 1878. the following
resolution was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That it is the sense of
| Swain Street Church in conference as
! scmbled that it is to the best interest,"
I Of the cause of Christ and TO our mem
| bership for this church TO secure and
/ move to more eligible point in the
/ city
1 AT conference of the church held
on December =, 1878, the trustees We're
directed TO secure the lot al the corner
Of Person and Hargett streets. our pres
ent location. A committee, consisting
of the pastor, \. b. Broughton. J. NJ
Harris. j. s. Allen. Il. w. Blake and w
I. Womble, We're appointed to solicit
funds for the erection of a house of wor-
ship on said lot The most remarkable
incident in the history of the church is
the erection OF this building. The LOT
was purchased and work begun without
a dollar in the treasury for such a
purpose, and no one knew at the time
how the bills were TO be met and the
work pushed forward: but the work
went on with very little interruption, and
as the bills became due the money was
in hand to meet them. After a hard
pull Of three years. the building was
dedicated on the first Sunday in October,
1881. with seating capacity of six hum
dred, and the name of Swain Street
Baptist Church was changed TO Sec
end baptist Church.
THIRD PASTOR, REV. DIR. w. 4.
NELSON.
On December 26, 1884, a call was ex-
tended to Rev. DIR. w. A. Nelson as
Brother Gwaltney's successor who be-
gan his pastorate on the first Sunday
in February, 1885. remaining with the
church until January 30, 1881 when he
accepted a call to the First Church of
-Asheville. During his stay about one
hundred and fifty We're received and the
church greatly strengthened in all depart
ments.
REV. IH0S. DIXON. JR, FOURTH
PASTOR
The church being again pastorless,
call was. on the 10th of April, extended
to Rev. Thos. Dixon. Of Goldsboro.
which was accepted. He entered upon
the work on May /, 1887. and remained
until November. 1887, when he accepted
Il call 10 Boston. Mass.
During Brother Dixon's pastorate the
seating capacity was found insufficient,
whereupon the trustees were directed to
have a large arch made in rear of the
pulpit, thereby throwing the main au-
Gience and Sunday School rooms into
enc. giving accommodations for about
one thcnsand two hundred people. After
this enlargement, the church name was
changed to the Tabernacle Baptist
Church.
TIE PASTORATE OF REV. DIR. G.
s. WILLIAMS.
A call was extended to Rev 6. 5.
Williams, Of Nashville. Tenn, and he
commenced his work here en- the iirsr
Sunday in February. 1888 During his
plstorate the church made great pro
grcss. He found the church burdened
with debt of $1,000, which greatly re-
tarded the Masters work in the church.
But by his earnest efforts that debt was
| wiped out. and the mortgage which hung
over the church was lifted. During
| Brother Williams pastorate about eigh-
| ty members were added to the church.
| On October 20. 1889. Brother Williams
accepted a call to Brooklyn, ~ y. and
| OH the 9TH Of November our church was
again without a leader. and the deacOns
We're called upon for the sixth time to
recommend a suitable person for pas
tor
SIXTH PASTOR. REV. ]. J. HALL,
ID. ID.
Or. Williams having accept a call to
Brooklyn, y. Y, Rev J. j. Hall, Of
i Camden county. y. C., was called ana
ON the first Sunday in February, 1890.
he began his labors as our pastor.
Soon it again became necessary to en-
large the seating capacity Of the church.
On October 31st Brethren w H. Holio
way, y. b. Broughton, l.. o. IIougee,
NJ A. Parker, j. NJ. Broughton and
John ID Briggs were appointed to secure
plans and award contract for the con-
templated changes. Tine plans adopted
made a complete revolution in the main
audience room: the pulpit, formerly on
the north end. was placed in an aIcovc
Oh lUt east Sltlt--Int Olu BtUtutS were
taken out and opera chairs substituted,
arranged in semi-circle rows-the entire
floor was carpeted. and a large vestibule
added. The brick wall between the
church auditorium and the Sunday
School room was taken out and rolling
blinds inserted. SO that the two rooms
can be thrown into one, with comfor-
table seating capacity for 1,200 persons.
This great work of remodeling was
completed in March, 1892. and the
church resolved to celebrate the event Iy
week Of meetings, and Rev. DR.. w e.
Hatcher. Of Richmond, Va, was select.
cd to preach on Sunday, the 18th The
meetings were continued through the
week with the following speakers:
Monday Evening-Governor Thos. NJ.
Holt. w. $. Primrose, Esq, Rev. J.
w. Carter, and Rev. ]. n Cole.
Tuesday Evening-Rev. c. Durham,
and Rev. Baylus Cade.
Wednesday Evening J. j. Hall
and j. VI. Broughton.
Thursday EVENING". B. Broughton,
Rev. DR.. Th0s +. Skinner and Hon.
Geo. w. Sanderlin.