The Tupelo journal., 1904-07-08
A New church.

worship. Inere are TOUR handsome
and commodious brick churches
having all the up-to-datc accesso-
RES, and one large frame building
that answers we'll for it's denomi-
nation. All of these churches are
free from debt. The recent dedica-
ton of the Methodist and Cumber-
land Presbyterian edifces told
that every dollar of indebtedness
of each of them had been extin-
guished. The churches of Tupelo
are structures OF which the vari-
GUS denominations may justly be
proud.
There are FIVE organized bodies
of christians among the white cit
liens of the city and four among
the blacks. These bodies embrace
the best of the two races. Their
membership is made up of the
classes that stand for morality and
all the christian virtues. There
are many outside of them who
ought to be in them and it can be
said truthfully that there are some
outside Of them who + fully as
good as some who are on the in
side. These charches afford relig-
ious or spiritual privileges and op-
portunities for all who desire TO
avail themselves of them. Unfor-
tunately for the community and
especially for themselves, there
are many who do not ARE to avail
themselves of these privileges.
These churches are ministered to
by experienced, good men, who
are devoting their lives to the SER
vice of the Lord and are endeavor-
ing to increase their folds and ell
evate the people of the city into
the ways in which they should go.
Each Of them is laboring faithful
ly and zealously in his own field
and they are joined as a body of
christian ministers in the united
effort to give to everybody the
means and the opportunity of hear
ing the truths of the gospel. The
people of the city are to be con-
graduated upon these facts and
conditions.
But, the circumstances and sit
uation of a large part of u peo-
pie are srch that they can not, OF
will not, attend the services at the
churches now used. 1t Is not our
purpose, nnr is it our business, to
discuss this phase of the subject.
W. only know that there is a large
and increasing number of good
people Of the city who, from rea-
sons or causes satisfactory to them
selves, do not avail themselves of
the privileges which these church
es afford. They are as good peo-
pie as we have in our midst and,
doubtless, desire as much as any
others to enjoy the bles sings and
pleasures of christian worship.
But, from some cause they do not
avail themselves of the opportuni-
ties freely offered by the present
churches.
Because of the social and bust
ness Surroundings Of these worthy
citizens they dwell in communities
remote from the present church
(es and but few Of them at
tend the services Or the Sunday
schools. held in them. This is
greatly TO be regretted and the
christian people of the city should
join in an effort to remove what
ever obstacles may be in the way.
In this boasted land of christianity
and in this day of boosted civiliza-
ton the blessings of each of these
beneicent influences should be in
easy reach of all-the high, the
low, the rich, the poor. We are
called upon every day to assist in
furnishing the gospel to remote
people. 1t were far more chart
table and christian like to first
furnish 1T to the friends at home
who need it than to send it to the
people whom we are taught are
heathens. The wonderful ex-
hibits of these people at the
Worlds Fair at st Louis plainly
show that they are fully equal to
ours in most of the present day
arts and sciences. Our object in
writing this is to suggest that
steps be taken to build a church
at a convenient place for the peo-
pie Of South Tupelo to worship in.
The large number of families
dwelling there have only an open
covered shed, lily provided with
seats ect. in which to worship.
A nice building, ought to grace
that part of the city. If one were
erected it would be used by all
within reach. Churches would
be organized, Sunday schools es-
tablished and societies formed.
The moral and intellectual needs
of many people would be promot
ed and the whole community
would be the gamer. Who will
second our motion and start the
ball to moving? This is written
after mature reflection. 1t would
a 70 bo q mica ond laudahla