Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-11-07
M. E. CHURCH HISTORY.
The Church Was Organized in 1882
Building Now Being Torn Down
Stood for Thirty Years.

Although all of the members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
are pleased that they are to have a
new house to worship in, the older
ones watch the tearing down Of the
old building with touch OF sorrow.
The old building carries with il
many pleasant thoughts Of work done
in the Masters vineyard, work done
when all seemed black and hopeless,
work done with love as an incentive.
The old church now being wrecked
to give place to new and finer build
ing, was erected shortly after a big
revival was held In the old Methodist
Church, which stood where the City
Hall now stands. The meeting was
conducted by Rev. Fl. A. Bourland,
and continued six weeks, resulting in
1l2 accessions to the church. This
remarkable influx of Christian blood
into the organization caused Dr. Bour-
land to offer plan for raising money
for new church. This was In 1870
and the money was raised to erect a
$4,000 church, the one now being torn
down.
The new building was dedicated by
Bishop Marvin on May q, 1871, and
the building was used regularly until
Sunday, October q, 1901; over thirty
years.
Among the members Of the clergy
present at the ceremony Of dedication
were; e. M. Marvin, j. d. Vincil, A.
Moore, Horace Brown, S. L. Woody.
From that date, when the member
ship amounted to about 300, to this
the church has been a power In rellg-
ious circles in this city. or course,
the three hundred membership in
cluded the 1l2 members taken in at
the great revival but the church has
steadily grown and now amounts to
nealry half thousand. Since the
building of the church In 1870 the
following preachers have served at
that church:
- Martin, W. NJ. Newland, David
Penny, Rev. Lenbetter, A. P. Linn,
T. J. Gooch, J. D. Vincil, P. D. Van
deyenter, W. Il. Lewis, ]. S. Smith,
e. L. Miller, ]. A. Mumpower, T. G.
Whitten, ]. II. Prichett, J. II. Jack
son, f. Marvin, W. A. Hanna.
Among the Presiding Elders who
have served in the district are:
W. Patton, jesse Green, N. G. Ber-
ryman. w. W. Redman, A. Monroe,
Tyson Dimes, B. H. Spencer, W. G.
Caples, James Robinson, E. M. Mar
vim, s. Leeper, Horace Brown, D. @.
0'Howell, W. II. Lewis, j. A. Num-
power, e. X. Miller, r. H. Cooper,
John Anderson.
WHEN CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED.
The Mexico church was organized In |
1882 by Rev. Robert Young, at the
home of John C. Martin, a mile and a
half northeast Of this city. The mem
bership was not large, but all were
earnest in their work. Among the
charter members we're: John G. Mar
tin and wife; John Allen and wife;
Allen Nelson, Elizabeth Martin, Hen
ny Keeton and wife; Robert Mcintyre
and wife.
The meetings we're held at the
homes Of the different members for
years. During the falls Of the forties
camp meetings were held near town.
During this period a log house on the
west side of the square was bought
and used as a house Of worship.
In 1850 the old brick church was
built on the present site of the City
Hall; this was used until the church
which is now being torn down was
built.
Prior to Rev. II. A. Bourland taking
charge of the church in 1869, the fol-
lowing preachers served:
John Thatcher, James NJ. Green,
John Glanville, Jesse Sutton, John
Young, John F. Gray, Daniel Penny,
W. A. Mayhem, Robert Hatton, J. r.
Taylor, Robert Baldwin, w. Jordan,
Marshall MeIlhaney, Henry Kay, Jno.
w. Cook, W. T. Ellington, A. E,
Sears, Horace Brown, S. W. Cope,
]. r. Forseman, Robert Loving.
The iirst actual citizens Of Mexico
to become members of the congrega-
tion were Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred Cau-
thorn. Mr.. Cauthorn was also the
first Sunday School superintendent Of
the county. He is now living In
Oregon, and is IS years Of
age,
Among the older members Of the
the following are re-
membered:
Abner Harrison, father Of A. NJ.
Harrison.
Rev. Fish, father-in-law of P. M.
Morris.
David Williams, father Of Recorder
Williams.
Henry Williams, father-in-law Of
w. f. Reed, Of Moberly.
Rev. w. II. White, father of W. II.
Kern White.
Aaron Wells, built house that Mrs.
Hutton owns
Mrs. Mary A. Pitcher, mother Of
Mrs. E. d. Graham.
Joseph Lupton, father of c. R. Lup-
ton.
c. c. Ricketts,, attorney-at-law in
the fifties.
Henry Keeton.
w. ID. ii. Hunter.
Alfred w. Cauthorn, father OF B. r.
Cauthorn.