The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-16

room. The new church was dedicated on Sunday February, 21. iS4T Mir Finley was assisted in the deoicatory exercises by Dr Hamilton of Mobile; Rev. J. C. Keoner of the Methoatst Episcopal schurch and afterwards Bishop; Rev. H. Talbird Of the Raptist -l ehnreh and Rev. c. H Shaver of the Methodist Protestant church.
 In the year Is5g the church was again enlarged at th expense of se.eee In the year 1857 Dr. c. w. Fl. Fetrie was installed as pastor. At that time fhere ,swsEe ninety-etght members ana
 urink T next twenty yesxs the con s3 fn3 ~ increaaSA SNo al RRYsxm frRRHAN &As80xss. E.s Tie niin4sfers wfio served iltescnurrh from the date of It's organization t2 the present are;
 1880 . Rev. James Martin. for one third of his tirna during three months.
 1S31-IS36--Rsv. A. N. Cunningham. II 1s3S>--Rev. " Y. Allen oE Kentucky. until his removal to Texas at the close of the year sst ruary until his death. July 23.
 1s4eS StSsST- Rev pivid Finley. E ls5TsfsS5-Br, Gsosgs F. W. Pet rie
 1ss5-1ss2-Dr. J. Dewitt Burkhead,
 1892 l900--Dr E. F. Davis.
 i lso1-l9os-pF, GsoFge " Patter- " son. yr@F V z kt NAs2 fl No church 4of Morisgonfery -soss more prosperity than the First Tres hyterlan church. Five years lgo when pr. Patterson came 10 Montgomery and ] assumed charge of the pastorate of the church there were 5ea members and there are now 577 members
 Since the death of pr. Patterson in May of this year the church has been without a paster However. Eev, Ii. M. .EdmoAds of the Southern Pres ] bytarian University at Louisville, Ky, has been called to the church and it Is generally understood that he will assume charge of the pastorate of the church on the completion of -ls thso. logical course at the University next
 May. In the meantime Dr. F. G. Railey of Virginia. is the acting pastor of the church.
 On the occasion of the fiftieth an- niversary of the church, in February. 1897, .he- event was celebrated with appropriate services. The celebration took place on Sunday February 2l. Dr.
 J. R. Burgett of Mobile preached tlle celebration sermon at II o'clock in the
 morning and att night history If
 the church was read by E. P. Morris sette and history of the pastors Of the church was read by the pastor
 Dr. Davis. On Monday evening a His tory of PgeEtgte rtapiym fn Alabama
 was read my Dr. BnTgett and history of the Organization and Growth of the Central Preshyterlan Church of
 the City" vas read by the pastoF of the Central church, Dr. Neal L. ,Adlder- so On Tuesday morning Rev J. L. Browplee, of Union Springs, preached and at night Dr. R. Ceoif of Selma de-
 iivered au address on "The Distinctive Principles of PPesbyterianism.p On Wednesday morning Dr. Cecil preached and at night pr A. B. Curry oG Bfrm3 Lo.r
 ity.2 On Thursday morning pr. Curry preae4fed and Thursday night Prof, Ge6rgc R. McNeili, A. NJ Ph D., Of iPalladega, lectured on 'tPresbyterian- < Ism and Education" On Friday even
 ing the women of the church gave ss ss 9iS 4 Ss ss eEs z x. EaiEll E ss df 6slis M eEs tffghss cf Mossts s-f goEnery- werEs Ivftetfs ne +ex ereises
 were concluded on Saturday night with , a praise service.
 The history of the First Rrsspyter-
 ian chhrch is marked at sntegvalB down through the years with events of more .fs lY se alS aa sS tS ithe SilSits F llave re- suited from a number of protracted meetings held within the sacred edi- -sIfice and perhaps no chnFch Il ln the city thas, -exerted a wider and more bene- fhficial influence on the eommunity.
  q The present ruling Elders are. H. M. Sohmervihe, E. P. Morrisette, w e1 D. Brown, F. P Glass. J. W. Durr IT, Ri V C. Griffen, Judge Joseph Carthel. Judge J. B. Fuller and Judge J. T. Cook. 5'@ The Eoard of Deacons is composed
 of J. W. Durr Sr., E. Winter, A. H. McNeel. C.. w. Buckley, w. H. Hub bard. M. HenderSpns J. C.. Cowan and NV. sE.j Fleming i it5au ssG l.oy yF inaaeiallgb the; church. isz in 'splen. did SQaRalt4ens sAt a recent "eongre- l t.sational rdn estfngy theoauestion of the church finance was discussed and at ] that time money was subscribed to , liquidate the entire debt. The church ' house Is valued copservstiveiy at $40,- ] 00O and the manse on south Perry street Is valued at S1S,000.
 Entering into the life of the church and contributing in n0- small abart tC the general growth and prosperity are the many societies of the cnurch. Besides a nlid week prayer meeting , l service and one of the largest Sunday , Schools in the city. there is flourish.
 ing ChristlRn Endeavor Society, Ladies : Aid Society, Willing -w9rkers Circle Lizzie, Wimbish Foseign Missionary So. 1, ] cletyY Young -5 Ladies 7Ssuilds Ladies ! Ward Mestipgs,. and vsa HouRH Mems F Baraea,, class taught byl Gen,-; R, D q I1ohnstons- ..-.- >-f2 .refs.gf
 
 , sustained a number of afflictions dur. , Ing the year chief of which was tho loss by death on May g. of the pastor Dr. George W. Patterson. Possibly ir
 Montgomery there was no more popu, ! lar minister or a more beloved mar by all denominations and all people than Dr. Patterson. His death was great sorrow to the church and to thG
 community in which ne lived How.
 ever, with zeal for the cause which ha.
 ever characterized the congregation oi
 that church a committee on call of ( pastor was appointed and steps were
 taken at once to secure a suita bie pas.
 tor for She church. The standard sci , by Dr.J iPatterSoh and Efis several pre-. ? kdecessors had been So high fhatto finC ' a fninister,, inl position t6 accent thu call, was no small matter and no lighl
 undertaking. Rev. H. M. Edmonds, ol York, a student at the Presbyterian ' Theological University at Louisville Kentucky, accepted the invitation tt come to Montgomery and supply the ! pulpit of the church during the sum. [ mer months. The excellent sermons | which he preached; his convincing man.
 ner of presenting the truth and his ac. ceptable pastoral WorK during the a short time in which he served the ? church won the hearts or the entire h congregation and directiy after his re- l turn to the university ~in September ? by Unanimous call Of the. .don gregatior ! the past6rate of, che oh urch was ten l dered iblnaf Realizing, the dmpossibility ? of his accepting ,the cali until after l his graduation in May, 1907. provision B was made for a supply for the time