The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-06
WEEK END NEWS NOTES
 OF MONTGOMERY CHURCHES
BY MRS. L. W. WRIGHT

To the Dexter Avenue Mefhcdist Church second in size of its church building. It's membership and In een- eral importance in Msthodism in Mont gofnery. is attached q history of cour- age and self-sacrifice on the part or its members that is possessed by few churches In Montgomery Ine DemteI built in a day." but several years passed and q number, of changes in locality were made, before the handsome church on the corner of Dexter Avenue and McDonough Street was completed and ready for worship.
 A second Methodist Church had long been problem with the Methodist de- nomination of Montgomery. The con gregation had outgrown the Court Street. or mother church. and the build ing of a second church was agitated for years before any definite steps were taken in that direction.
 Tn the year 1884, Rev. J. o. Andrew. pastor of the Court Street Church, took the matter in hand, and some plans for the church were formulated. These plans, however, failed to materialize at that time, but were in reality the seed sown from which has sprung magnifi- cent results
 During this time. a few members of the Court Street Church kept up se- ries of cottage prayer meetings, intend ed as a foundation of the second church, and on this foundation the church was ultimately builded.
 In the year 1887, through the direc- ton and the influence of pr. Henry D. Moore, then pastor of the Court Street Church, the lot on the corner of Dex- ter Avenue and Bainbridge Street was purchased. On the lot was a four-room cottage and storeroom which had been used as a saloon and in this room the first service of the new church or- ganization was held the first Tuesday night of January, 1888. It was con- ducted by Rev. Dr. Moore.
 At the December meeting of the Ala bama Conference in 1887, Rev. J. P, Roberts was assigned to the pastorate of the new church. He remained one year. preaching and holding all the services in the little storehouse The next year. Rev. c. M. Sellers succeeded Mir. Roberts in the work.
 At the Conference of 1889, Rev. J. B. Cumming was sent to the Dexter Ave- nue Church, and remained with the congregation four years. Possibly to Mir. Cumming. more than to any other minister, is due the growth and pros- perity of the church, and to him and his wise counsel certainly belongs the credit for the present location and the handsome church building. The con- viction grew steadily almost from the start. of the mistake in location of the church on Dexter Avenue and Bain- bridge Street, and on the coming of Mir. Cumming to Montgomery. he shared that conviction with his congregation.
 Shortly after taking up his work, he called a counsel and held . conference on the matter, with the result that. to the generosity of Dr. M. F. LeGrand, w. M. Teague and W. F. Vandiver, all members of the Court Street Church, the lot on the corner of Dexter Avenue and McDonough Street was purchased, and given as a permanent location for the Dexter Avenue Methodist Church. The first property of the church was disposed of. and a rude tabernacle was built on the north corner of the new lot, and for several years the congre- gation worshipped there, while the foundation of the new church was be- ing laid and the walls began slowly to raise.
 So slowly did the work on the church progress that the Dexter Avenue Church" became sort of jest in Mont gomery and the congregation became greatly discouraged. It was decided as the best plan to dispose of the lot on Wnlch the LADcrnAcie was puilts anu the county court house was secured as a place of worship to hold services.
 The last service held in the taber- nacle is considered as the greatest ser vice ever held by the church. It was to be a rally day for the congregation, and by a happy inspiration, 2 woman of the church caused to be made min iature of the unfinished church, and placed over 1t an arch with these words, "The Roof Must Go On" The inspira- ton was caught by the Sunday School superintendent who was conducting the rally, and he improvised a song. "The Roof is Going On.' and, looking at the miniature and singing the song, the en- tire congregation caught the inspira- tion and the work moved on anew.
 During the pastorate of Rev. A. c. Rush the auditorium was finished. and the church was consecrated. The min isters who had served in the capacity of pastor of the church to this time were Rev. J. P. Roberts, Rev. G. M.