Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-04-10

stone OF the new NJ. e. Church,
now building, was laid with
Impressive ceremony.
Work has been going on the
foundations since last fall but 1t has
been necessarily slow on accounted the
bad weather during the winter; mat
5ers will be pushed now, and compile
lion will be reached during the sum-
ner.
The old Methodist church which had
TODD for over thirty years was wreck
ID last fall, the last service held In the
building being on Sunday, Oct. q,
1901.
The first Methodist Episcopal
to be organized in or near
Mexico was formed in 1882 by Rev.
Robert Younger at the home of John
C. Martin, a mile and a half north
east Of this city. The membership
not large, but all were earnest In
their work. Among the charter MEM
bers we're: John @. Martin and wife;
John Allen and wife; Allen Nelson,
Elizabeth Martin, Henry Keeton and
wife; Robert Mcintyre and wife.
Gideon Williams and wife we're the
first to join after organization.
The meetings were held at the
homes OF the different members for
years. During the falls Of the forties
camp meetings we're 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 a brick church was built en-
the present site OF the City Hall; this
was used until May, 1871, when the
church recently torn down was dedlcat-
ed.
The old church used from 1850 10
1871, was built after much effort and
was used for various purposes during
the war; one report has IL that II was
used as a soldiers barracks, another
that IL served the ignUble role Of q
troop horse stable.
Up 10 1859 the following preachers
had served in the Mexico church:
John Thatcher, James NJ. Green
John Granville, Jesse Sutton, John
Young. John F. Gray, Daniel Penny
W. A. Mayhem, Robert Hatton, J. r
TaJ lor, Robert Baldwin, W. Jordan.
Marshall Mcllhaney, Henry Kay, Jno.
W. Cook, W. T. Ellington, A. E.
Sears. Horace Brown, 5. W. Cope, ].
r. FJresman, Robert Loving.
BUILT MODERN HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
In 1869 Rev. II. A. Bourland took
charge Of the Mexico church and held
some mighty revivals in the old
church at the southwest corner OF
jefferson and Promenade streets.
One revival In particular lasted fol
six weeks and the congregation grew
III numbers from about 200 TO over BOG
there having been liz accessions
during the six weeks meeting This
remarkable influx OF new Christian
blood into the organization caused DIR.
Bourland to offer a plan for raising
money for a new church. This was In
1870 and the money was raised to erect
a $4,000 edince, which stood as a
monument to his efforts until last
fall.
The new building was dedicated By
Bishop Marvin on May q, 1871, and
was used regularly for over 30 years.
Among the members Of the clergy
present at the ceremony OF dedication
we're: Z. VI. Marvin, ]. d. Vincil, A.
Moore, Horace Brown, S. L. Woody.
From that date, when the member
ship amounted 70 about 300, to this
the church has been a power in relig-
ious circles in this city. OF course,
the three hundred membership ia.
cluded the liz members taken In at
the great revival, but the church has
steadily grown and now amounts to
nearly half a thousand.
Since the building Of the church in
1870 the following preachers have
served at that church: John @. Mar
win, w. NJ. Newland, David Penny,
Rev. Mr.. Ledbetter, A. P. Linn, T. j.
Gooch, ]. d. Vincil, P. d. Vandeven-
ter, w. H.. Lewis, ]. S. Smith, E. l..
Miller, J. A. MumpOwer, 7. G.. Whit
ten, ]. II. Prichett, ]. H.. jackson, f.
Marvin, W. A. Hanna
Among the Presiding Elders who
have served in the district are: w.
Patton, Jesse Green, N. G. Bergman,
w. W. Redman, A. Monroe, Tyson
Dimes, B. H.. Spencer, W. G. Caples,
James Robinson, Il. NJ. Marvin, S.
Leeper, Horace Brown, d. Q. O'How-
ell, w. II. Lewis, J. A. Mumpower,
z X. Miller, r. II. Cooper, John An
dersOn.
The first actual citizens Of Mexico
TO become members Of the oongrega-
tiOn were Mr.. and Ms. Alfred eau
thorn. Mr.. Cauthorn was also the
first Sunday School superintendent Of
the county. He Is now living In Cor
wallis, Oregon, and is % years Of age.
Among the older members Of the
congregation the following are re.
membered:
Abner Harrison, father OF A. N.
Harrison, now Of Oklahoma.
Rev. Mr.. Fish, father-in law OF p.
N. Morris.
David Williams, father Of County
RecBrder Williams.
Henry Williams, father.in-law Of
W =. Reed. nov Of ST. Louis
Rev. W. II. White, father OF Mar.
shaielect w. II. White.
MB Mary A. Pitcher, mother Of
Mn. T. d. Graham.
Joseph Lupton, father Of c r. Lup.
ton.
C. C. Ricketts,, attomey-at-law In
the ffties
Aaron Wells.
Henry Keeton.
u Ia II L.