The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-01-14
BURNED IN CHURCH.
$4,000 Mortgage on Baptist
Church Edifice Released.

Note for this Debt Paid on and the In
slrument Burned BY Trustees in
| Presence Of Audience Bills Paid
and e5O3 in Baak--Rey. McCutch-
con Praises His People.
Sunday was a notable epoch in
the history Of the Baptist church of
MorgantoBns An impressive ceIe
hration of the paving off, of the last
dollar of the debt agains. the new
church edifice was>held t burning
before the whole congregation OF the
note tor $4,000, which had been just
paid off, and to secure which a mort
gage had been held upon the church
property.
Sunday morning January 18th,
1908, will long be remembered by
the members of the Baptist church
in Morgantown, who were able to
get ont that morning The weather
was extremely disagreeable, and the
steady fall of rain had found en-
trance through the roof of the church
so that there was considerable an
noyance from leaks, the first ever
noticed in the new church. The
choir was driven from it's booth at
the organ to the piano in the sun
day School room.
But rising above these little an
noyances, the people we're profound
| ly thankful for one thing. The
church debt was all paid of, and a
balance 10 bank of $503.69 to the
credit OF the organization.
The pastor, Rev. J. L. McCutch-
con conducted the service. He took
advantage of the occasion to com
pliment the church as body, for
having done we'll. swell done thou
good and faithful servant" had teen
sent to him by one contributor to
ward paying off the church debt.
| That brother was not at church
Sunday morning, but was sick at
his home upon the hillside. The
pastor expressed his appreciation
of the message, and passed it on
with increased emphasis to his peo-
pie, who had so generously lifted
the entire debt at his suggestion in
nine short months.
Last spring, Mr.. McCutcheon con
ceived the idea that enough money
could be raised by subscription TO
pay off all claims against this church
about $4,000 in all, and burn the
mortgage. So he set about, the
work. Many were pessimistic, and
said he was making big request of
his church. Undaunted by dis
couragements, he continued his sol
icitation, and finally when the
whole amount had been subscribed,
and $500 additional by Mr.. Lewis
Runner at the Pump Station, the
less hopeful ones said it was easy
enough to get promises to pay in the
future, but the collections could not
be made. Mr.. McCutcheon had
made allowance for some delinquents
for this course, and still commended
he would raise the mortgage by the
beginning of the new year.
A total OF 1852 was subscribed
to the fund, and imagine the sur
prise in Mr.. Nc utcheon's congre
cation, when he announced that
1852 had been collected. Not a
dollar subscribed but was paid in
full.
| Besides the $4,000 mortgage held by
the bank, there were a few bills out
standing due to contractors. AL
these were paid in full, and new lol
for a mission church at the Peninsula
was also paid for, and deed secured
After paying all these obliga ion, 8
balance remains of 1903, SO to the cred
1t of the church.
To make the occasion most impress
sive, the pastor invited to the front o.
the pulpit the trustees. Messrs r. e
L. Allen, W. K. Price, and Uolumbu:
Long. Then he handed out to then
one by one the various receipts, deeds
aud released mortgages, showing the
payment Of everything just as he had
announced. When he came to the
note for $4,000, which bad been held
by the Second National Bank, it was
decided to bnrn it, as it would be Of
no use as a matter of record. The
trustees lighted match, and burned
1t to ashes 10 the presence of the whole
congregation.
1t had been the desire to burn the
mortgage, but upon second thought il
was suggested that this paper might
be interesting as matter of record,
so it was preserved, and the note de
stroyed instead.
The Lords Supper was celebrated
at the close Of the service, and never
was it celebrated by the Baptist PEG.
Pile with more thankful hearts, oil
with more gratitude for the work OF
their pastor.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CHURCH.
The new Baptist church is very
commodious and handsome ediflce OF
brick.
The erection of the new church was
begun nearly ten years ago, but 1t was
delayed several years by one Of the be-
quests for the building being tied up
10 the courts. 1t was finally COM
pleted and dedicated in the winter OF
1897. The building itself represents
a cost and value of about SIS 900, be-
side the large lot, which would be
worth probably $4,000 or more at
prevailing prices on High street.
| The old Baptist church was brick
structure Of very plain architecture.
1t stood on the present site of Mrs.
St. Clair's house on Chestnut street.
The old building and the lot upon
which it stood were purchased by J.
W. Wiles when it was decided to
erect the new church in 1894. 1t was
his first Investment In Morgantown
real estate and he prizes very highly
a nicture of the old hufldinO which he