The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-11-24
THE BAPTISTS IN WELSH.
Address of Pres. Jno. II. Cooper at the
Dedication of the First Baptist
Church of Welsh, Sunday, November
10, 1905.

Inc llFSJ fecOFu Ol DdpblSba h"'N
been able to find in Welsh is Septem-
Der l3, 1887, when it seems Baptlst
church was organized under the name
of "Christ's Church, " with eight men,
bers. On November following, Bro.
A. G. Dunn was called as pastor. NO
other record is found until April y,
1889, when meeting of the church
was held. Rev. J. B. Hame, acting as
at this time, five were taken
into the fellowship of the church; two
by letter and three by baptism. On
the first day of August of the same
year, another meeting was held, pre-
sided over by NJ. L. Davis. AT this
meeting it was reported that the men,
beers. acting upon their individual re-
sponsibility, had secured the pledge OF
a lot upon which to build and S391.0o
besides. Sunday after this, however,
the brother who had pledged the lot
upon which to build and who, by the |
way, was Henry Welsh, the father or
the town, died without making any
provision for the transfer of the lot
to the church and so it was lost.
About this time a number of our
brethren attended our state convention
which met that year at Lake Charles,
and endeavored to secure some assist
ance to build, but were unable to 90
so: not even able to secure the prom
Use of our state board to give US a.
pastor. In November following, a.
meeting was held and letters of dis.
mission granted to two Of the thirteen
members. So far as | am able totind,
no other meeting was held until July
g, 1892. At the conclusion of meet
ing held by Bros. NJ. E. Shattuch and
J. J. Baria, when it was found that
only seven members remained; one
was lost sight of and two excluded at
that time. Bro. NJ. E. ShattuCh was
called as pastor and three days later,
on July 81. 1892, Bros. M. L. Sloane
and w. G.. Brown were ordained dea-
cons. No turther records can be found
until September B, 1896, when the
church met. At the close of meeting
held by Bros. z. J. Moberly and J. L.
Barrett, when two were received by
letter, four under the watch care of
the church and two candidates for bap-
tisrn. The four received under the
watch care of the church afterward
presented their letters and we're re-
ceived into the fellowship of the church,
but those received for baptism were
never baptised until after the present
organization. One Of them was bap-
tised and received into the fellowship
of the church, but so far as we know
the other never has.
Bro. J. L. Barrett was called as pas
tor and held regular monthly service
until April II, 1897, when he resigned.
During Rev. Barret's pastorate there
we're six received into the church and
three dismissed by letter. $30.45 was
raised for all purposes.
Nothing further is known Of Bap
lists here until about the beginning O.
, 1902, when our state board sent Bro
S. c.. Self into this field as a mission
airy.
In the early part of May, 1902, Rev
A. L. Johnson, then general mission
] arv for the state, visited Welsh an(
} assisted Rev. Self in a meeting o
several days duration, at the conclhs
ion of which, on the 18th day of May
} the following persons met at the resi-
dence of DR.. Jno. H. Cooper and or
} gained the Missionary Baptis
Church of Welsh: VI. L. Sloane, Mrs
A. G.. Sloane, DR.. Jno. H. Cooper
.. Mrs. Lorena Cooper and w. G
. Brown, of the defunct Baptist churcl
, of Welsh, A. G. Shipman of Dul
church, Hampton, Illinois, S. Black
ford, of defunct Wisconsin church
j. F. Tubbs of a defunct church o
Molina Junction, Texas,C G. E. Hoppe
of Gillsburg, Mississippi, Miss Bel
Holl, Odessa. Missouri, Miss Mar.
Robertson, Cabool, Missouri, Mrs
E. Medus, Whiteville, Louisiana, F
H. Goodreau, Mrs. Agness Goodreau
Miss Eldia Goodreau and r. M. Ora
of Crowley church.
A building committee consisting Q
j. F. Tubbs, W.. G.. Brown, A.. c
Shipman, r., NJ. Gray and John H
Cooper, was appointed to secure
suitable location and estimate cost O
a suitable building.
This committee soon reported tina