The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-27

Facts About the Old Church That vii
Give Place to Il New Editicc.

tive race To Il New E4tl1lcp.
Soon the presby tcrian church-the
oldest church edlice in Raleigh-wil be
Il thing of the past giving way to Il
handsome and large modern structure.
Mr.. \. NJ. McPhceters. one of the
| oldest members and the Oldest officer
of the church has prepared a short his
tory of it, which we give below:
The First Presbyterian church in
Raleigh was organized in 1906 with Rev
VIM. Turner pastor, and Judge Henry
Potter. William Shaw and John Emons
as ruling elders. Services were CON
ducted i'll the State House. In March,
1910. VIM. White. Secretary of State.
and Secretary of the Trustees of the
Raleigh Academy. announced in the pa
pers The Trustees of the Raleigh Acad-
envy have the pleasure to inform the
public that they have engaged the Rev.
William Mcpheeters from Virginia. Il
gentleman eminently qualified for the
undertaking. to become the principal of
the Academy and pastor of the city
ION his arrival, May LIST. 1910, Or.
McIheeters assumed these duties and
was afterwards called to the passionate
of the Presbyterian church, assisted
by William Shaw. Thos. Enlons. VIM.
Peace and John Smith, as ruling elders.
Services were regularly conducted in
the State House, which had been ten
dered to the Presbyterians and others
for religious worship In 1917 the cor
ner-stone of the present church edifice
was laid. and on Saturday. the 18th day
of February. 1918, the building was,
dedicated to the service of God. These
services were conducted by the pastor.
Rev. DIR. VIM. McPheeters. Rev. John
" itherspoon and Rev. Jesse Ii. Turner
The first child baptized in this church
was Margaret McPheeterS on Sunday.
February 8, 1918. DIR. McPheeters con
tinued as pastor from 1910 to about
1880, when he resigned and a young min
lister from the Seminary Rev. Mr.. Ap-
throp. served the church as Stated Sup
ply. He remained a very short time.
In 1881, the Rev. y. II. Harding served
the church for Il short time and was
succeeded by Rev. Thomas F. hunt and
Rev. Michael Osborn Mr. Osborn left
in 1886. when DIR. Mcpheeters was again
called to the passionate of the church. but
declined.
'Since that time the following minis
tiers have served the church. viz:
'Rev. Drury Lacy. ID. d.. from 1896
to 1854, as pastor.
"Rev. Joseph NJ. Atkinson. u. ID.
from 1854 to 1875, as pastor.
REV. c. r. Vaughn. d. d.. from 1919
to 1878. as Stated Supply.
'Rev. John S. Watkins. ID. d., from
1873 to 1892, as pastor.
THE present pastor. Rev. Eugene
Daniel. d. d.. began his ministration
services October l. 1892
THE State House in which our con-
gregation for so long Il time had wor-
shipped was destroyed by fire in 1881
cornerstone of the present capitol was
laid July 4. 1888. but the building was
not completed when the Constitutional
Convention Of the State met in the year
1880. This celebrated convention, COM
posed Of the best and ablest men OF
North Carolina. held its sessions in our
church building, which was placed at
its disposal as graceful recognition Of
past favors.
THE church edfice since its completion
in 1918 has been remodeled twice. once
in the interior only. and again both in
and outside.
1.-THE first Presbyterian Sunday School
was established i'll 1923 in the City
Academy. with Miss Benedict. an earnest
Christian worker. as its superintendent
and teacher. Necessary funds for its
maintenance were furnished by Mr.. VIM.
White.
"The present building. known as the
Session Room. was built in 1o-J, and
when the Sunday School moved to it's
new home in this building, it's useful
ness greatly increased and 1t was re-
cogniZed as great power for good in
10 cou,,nunitv'