The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-04-16

To 1857, the Rev. R. P. Kerr be-
came first the stated supply and then
pastor. He served until the summer
Of 1871. During these years the
church was burdened with the debt
incurred to meet its obligations to the
E rst church. The times were hard.
The whole country passed through a
period of financial distress. At one
time it proposed to sell the church
property and build on a less valuable
lot Somehow the crisis was safely
passed. The debt was paid; the
property was not sold, The COM
muniOn roll was purged and the church
prepared for a renewed advance.
Judge Richard Field was called to be
a ruling elder and Mr.. George Hutchi-
son to be deacon. DR.. Quarles, on
the resignation Of Dr. Chaney, 10
1916, was called TO the active presi-
dency and management Of the Semi
nary. That institution continued to
flourish and to be great blessing to
Presbyterianism in Missouri.
In the summer of 1878 the Rev. G.
L. Leyburn was elected pastor and
served as such until the spring OF
1888, when, at the call Of Lafayette
PresbyterY, he took charge Of its
church in Spri ng6eld, Mo. 10 several
respects his was a notable pastorate.
The number OF communicates, which,
In 1879, was only 154, rose to 273 In
1885,. In May 1880, the First church
dlsbanded and many of its members
came to the mother church. In 1885
the congregation granted TO Lafayette
PresbyterV joint control Of the Sem
mary. One of the elders, Mr.. S. G.
Wentworth, who had contributed
largely by his energy, wisdom, work
and contributions to the success of
the Seminary, founded an academy,
now known as the Wentworth Mill
tary Academy, which is one of the
most Furnishing schools of that char.
acter and grade in the Middle West.
A comfortable manse was built and
the congregation brought thoroughly
into the line of work of the Southern
Presbyterian church. Judge w. T..
Wood, who had removed from, and
then returned to Lexington, was
again elected an elder together with
Capt. S. j. Andrew and Mr.. Robert
Taylor. The last named had been an
elder in the First church. Messrs. W.
B. Wilson and S. S. Reeder were
made deacons
In 1886, DR.. Quarles accepted the
chair Of Philosophy in Washington
and Lee University. Mr.. j. u. Blan-
ton took charge Of the Seminary. he
soon called for additional accommo-
dations to which the congregation
responded by the erection of another
wing to one of the buildings.
The Rev E. G. Gordon came tc
the pastorate in the fall of 1888, and
served until the summer of 1892,
when he went to Westminster Col.
lege as its acting President and Pro-
fessor of Biblical History. During
this pastorate, the church one year
contributed oyer 81, 200 to the Synodi.
cal Presbyterial Home Mission work,
and in pledging this sum led the
Synod Of Missouri In a revival effort
in eyangelistic work. A movement
was also formulated for the remodel.
ing and enlargement of the church
building, which was accomplished in
Nav, 1898, at a cost Of about $4,000
The Rev. A. S. Moffett became
pastor 10 the summer of 1898, and
served until June 1897. During this
pastorate, Messrs S. Sellers, ] R,
Moorehead and Jno P Gordon were
elected elders, and MesSrs. A. G,
Young aud E B Vaughan, deacons,
The communion roll steadily increas.
ed and contained 2S7 names in 1896.
There we're an astounding growth in
the Suuday school In 1892, the en-
rOlment of officers and teachers was
1856; 10 1897, it was 253 There were
a great Increase in the contribu,
lions to Foreign Missions. In 1896
81 100 was contributed to that cause
and 1923 in 1897
In the fall OF 1897, the Rev. E. @,
Gordon was again elected pastor. He
began TO supply The pulpit regularly
in January 1898. and was installed ir