The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-10-02
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OPEN At SELMA
Naturalization Is Largest In His
tory of Town
DEDICATION SERVICES
DEDICATION
SERVICES
Three Days Session Begins at New
Methodist Church-Bishop Gambler
viii Preach Sunday-circuit
Court Has Busy Day.

Selma, October 1.-(Special.)- SELMA
opened today. The matriculation is the
largest in the history of the city and
despite the establishment OF additional
school room there is likely to be an
overflow. At the Dallas academy 451
pupils were in attendance this morning
which was larger than the first day of
last year.
The city sch ools this year are under
the direction of Prof A. F. Hartman,
who succeeds Miss Emily Ferguson as
principal, the latter having taken the
place of Prof Hardeway, whose Ill
health a few months before his death
was the cause of the board giving him
a years leave of absence rather than
accept his resignation. Other changes
in the faculty are Miss Morrow of
Demopolis, who has charge of the
seventh grade In place of Professor
Mitch ell; Miss Hayes of Florence, who
succeeds Miss Harwell In the fourth
grade; Miss Powers OF Opelika, who
takes the place OF Mrs. NJ. r. Knight,
who retires from the third grade.
Selma's public schools are divided into
the Dallas academy, grammar and high
hool, the Baker school and the East
End school, white institutions, and the
Clark school, colored. Next year a
separate high school will be built, the
site having already been purchased.
Church Dedication Services.
Tonight. with an address by II. H.
Stewart on the history of Methodism in
Alabama the three days dedication
ceremonies of the Church Street Meth
odist church were launched. The
structure will be formally dedicated to
the worship of God through the SER
vices of tonight, Friday, Saturday night
and Sunday, when Bishop Gambler will
preach.
The present Church Street Methodist
church has been In use since 1902. VIII en-
the first services were held there on
July 30, commencing in the Sunday
school rooms at $3.50. Rev. w P. Hurt,
pastor at that time, officiated.
The history of the church es of
Methodism in Selma is momentous In
1885 the first church, frail wooden
structure, was reared, builded by ]. L.
Claughton. Only eight members were
recorded, but the church grew and
prospered, being received into the Ala
bama conference in 1897, and given
its history was synonymous with that of
Selma for many years, the church
growing and prospecting with the town.
In 1853 new structure was started
the work being suspended for a time
on account of a fearful plague of small
pox, but later taken up and completed.
But the new structure must needs be
changed again and again, owing to the
exigencies of the growing town. Finally
in 1893 storm, passing one Saturday
night while the choir was at practice,
tore the spire from the church and
casting it downward into the building.
thereby demolishing the roof A new
building was needed and at the next
Thursday night a quarterly conference
was held at the parsonage of Rev. 7.
F. Mangum, presiding elder, it was
voted that a new house of worship be
erected to cost not more than $4,000,
hence the inception of the present
Church Street Methodist church.
Work started Immediately, the build
ing committee being T. w. Hail. chair
man; DR.. T. e. Howard. M. Woolsey.
Eugene Robbins, w. NJ. Vaughan and
T. ID. Kemp. The finance building COM
mittee was H. H. Stewart, chairman;
B. S. Bib, F. S. Kincey, J. w. Green,
I. ID. Lloyd and s. A. Fowlkes.
Circuit Court.
In the circuit court today two cap
ital cases were taken up. Ed Clay,
who killed Henry Miller on the Sum-
merfield road in dispute arising over
sack of tobacco, was given two
years Imprisonment. Sam Huckabee,
who cut Arthur Coleman in q game
of craps, death resulting later from the
wounds, was tried and the case is now
in the hands OF the jury.
Local and Personal.
Today has been moving day in Selma
and many were the changes made.
]. J. King, state senator from Maren-
go county and prominently mentioned
as candidate for probate judge of his
county, was visitor to Selma today.
j. A. Steele of Consul was among the
visitors in Selma today.
S. e. Parrish of Consul was visitor
to the city today.