Arizona republican., 1902-09-29
CORRECTING HISTORY
Interesting Facts Brought Out by the
 Baptist Church Fire.

l.. T.. Shaw, who has resided in this valley fer probably a quarter of a cen tury or whereabouts. has written The Republican from Iron Springs regard ing what he says has been an oft re- peated error. namely, that the Baptist church was the oldest protestant church building in the city. It is a mat ter in itself of small importance but he
 writes in the fear that the feelings of some members of other churches might be hurt, and then goes on to say that the M. E. church south was erect ed some five or six years before and he
 helped build it.
 MT. Shaw's intention was the best in the world but he has not lived in this valley long enoguh yet to fully appre- ciate just how fast Phoenix is growing. Since he left here the NJ. F. church south has been torn down and a hand some new brick structure is being
 built in it's place. It had ceased to be long enough before to place the Bap-
 tist church easily in the patriarchaI rank.
 But MT. Shaw calls attention to an- other error that has been generally circulated. That is the old brush church spoken of in The Republicans account of the fire. That there was an old brush church or
 building of some kind many people remember but just who it be- lOnged to was not clear and on the day of the fire many old residents said it was the first Baptist church The matter is interesting by reason of cer- tain amusing things that have occurred since it's day and age.
 Mir. Shaw says first that the old Brush church was not built on the cor ner but in the central part of the block and further that so far as he knows no Baptist had anything to do with it. The church was started as a Union Presbyterian and Methodist church. the Presbyterians doing most of the work
 The funny part of the story is that very soon after the brush church was
 built a long article appeared in some Methodist newspaper claiming the cree tion of a bran new church built entire ly of brush and poles. Soon after that the same claim was made by the Pres byterians. Now comes The Republican eighteen years afterward trying to es- tablish a Baptist claim on a building
 that long ago served it's purpose and passed out of mind. MT. Shaw, while he does not say so, intimates that if the
 Baptists were going to steal something they would rubber around till they got something worth while. He closes his letter as follows:
 Dear Brother: My eyes are getting dim and my nerves very unsteady but l cannot stand the accusation. The Baptists first worshipped publicly in the little old frame building now owned by H. w. Ryder"
 The following statistics of the church society may be of interest to some:
 The first Baptist church in this city was organized in 1881 and the church
 building was erected in 1884 The roll of pastors includes R. "A. Windes. U. Gregory, D. D., s. P. Davis. J. VI. Fow- Ter, F. D. Rickerson, D. D.; Jean Vane, s C. Davis, C. w. Smith and Lewis Halsey, D. D.
 The present officers are: Rev. Lewis Halsey. D. D., pastor; deacons. l.. D. Coggins, w. H. Cavness. Dr. John Wix Thomas, B. F. McFal. H. G. Peek ings: trustees, P. l.. Kay, c. D. Doris. l.. W. Coggins. R. F. Garnett, J. H. LangstOn.
 The church home was al first a frame
 building, in 1892, through the efforts of pr. Rickerson, it was cased with brick and otherwise improved At the annual meeting of the Arizona Baptist convention in April, 1902 the church reported 19S members and the following contributions for benevolent work: Territorial missions, $155.4 home missions, $117.9S; foreign missions. l c D for family in need). $19760. The Sunday school reported 2S1 schol- ars, perhaps the largest school in the territory. The church is well organized in all departments, it's societies includ- ing the Baptist Young Peoples Union, Ladies' Aid, Kings Daughters, etc