The Columbus dispatch., 1906-12-09
THE CHURCHES OF COLUMBUS

parish are looked after by the Ladies
Aid Society. the officers of which are
Mrs Thomas Hardy, president: Mrs.
W. S. Newly, treasurer, and Mrs.
Hugh Hairston, secretary. During
the past year the vestry room has
been repaired and new furniture ad-
ded to the rectory through the efforts
of the ladies composing this society.
The altar and chancel are cared for
by the Altar Guild, of which Mrs.
Frank Phillips is president and Miss
Julia Rhett treasurer. This society
is working to secure new commun-
ion service and for new vestment
and linen case. They already have
a goodly sum in hand, and the re-
chased.
Prominent among the edifices in
Columbus devoted to the propagation
of Gods word and the cause of re-
ligion generally is the First Metho-
dist church With its massive walls.
its spacious auditorium and its spire
of lofty proportions. it is a structure
to which any city might point with
pride. The church is one of the larg-
est and handsomest in Columbus,
and the congregation is correspond
ingly large. there being more than
seven hundred names on the mem
bership roll. During the past two
years the church has been thoroughly
repaired several thousand dollars
having been expended in replacing
the old roof with one of more mod
ern construction and in redecorating
the main auditorium and Sunday
school room. Rev. l.. M. BrOyles has
Just closed his second year as pastor
of the church. and Notwithstanding
the fact that some of the members
have removed from the city and 9TH
ers have died, the congregation has
not decreased being practically the
same as when he began his work
here From a financial standpoint
the church is in splendid condition.
Besides paving the pastor a salary
of $500 per annum, the sum of $500
svnary purposes. Connected with the
church are the Home Missions So
ciety with Mrs. j. S. Moore as pres
ident; the Foreign Missions Society,
with Mrs. T. j. Stokes as president,
and the Pastors Aid Society, with
Mrs w H. Brooks as president. All
these societies are in prosperous con-
dition, and are doing effective work,
the two missionary societies each
having more than fifty members. The
Sunday school, of which Mr.. w. II.
Carter is superintendent, has about
three hundred members, and there
is also a fiourishing Epworth League
connected with the church. A new
carpet will soon be added to the fur
nishings of the auditorium. This
carpet, which has already been paid
for. cost nearly 500. The twenty
gentlemen composing the board of
stewards are: Dr. w. w. Westmore
land, Dr. j. w. Lipscomb, Messrs. O.
P. Brown, r. A. Carson, J. f. Ran
die, E. T. Moore, A. w Hampton,
w. c. Beard Thomas Harry, Z Nj.
Chapman, T. =. Lawrence, Felix Gun
ter. w. c. Ia1rteI, f. E. Buder, Gid
p. Harris, Inn J. L:pse.-. q. Il Grif-
fin, D. r. Mr,..ery. Fl. L 5owitn. J.
l. Sturdivadt.
One of the oldest, as we'll as one
of the largest, churches in Columbus
is the First Baptist church at the
corner of Seventh street and North
Second avenue. The edifice was built
in 1857, and although the building
has stood for half d century it does
not show the mark Of time. 1t has
been repaired at frequent intervals,
and in appearance will compare fay-
orably with any church in the city
Rev. w. A. Hewitt, the present pas
tor, has been engaged in his pres
ent work about eighteen months,
having come to Columbus on Aprli
1st. 1905. Since he became pastor
the congregation has grown rapidly
so rapidly. IN fact, that last spring
the need for additional room made
itself so apparent that the erection
of a new church was seriously agl-
tated Clinging around the building,
however, are many happy memories,
and some of the older members of
the congregation advanced the idea
that to permit it's demolition would
be close akin to vandalism. Out of
respect to the views of these good
people. the idea of replacing the
building with modern structure
was abandoned and il was decided