Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1909-07-15
NUMBER 7

on the church roll but were OF that
type who had the glory of God in view.
They were Baptist and regarded the
upbuilding ard stimulation of this new
organi cation in Marion the nearest end
that led to His glory. They were those
of our number whose faith in God was
strong, some of whom could see grand
conse quences growing out of our small
beginning. We to-day, remember every
one of them; we remember their cour-
age; their zeal and their prayers. How
well the writer remembers the earnest
efforts and prayers of some of those
who are gone, how their burdened souls
would cry out to God that He would open
to us some means by which we could
effect an organization through which
we might train up our children in the
gospel. Those prayers were not in
vain, for note in our first church
meeting of those who were received for
baptism the names of Norval Pierce.
John Fritts, Nina Cole and Fannie
Henry.
What a cloud over spread our skies
ss those dear ones we loved so well
dropped from our ranks one by one, in
those days when we were so few, we
felt, we had none to loose, and when
one left us, we could but feel it was
our own immediate lose.
On the other hand our hearts we'll up
in gratitude to God, to-day, that in his
wisdom He has permitted more than
half of our original number to meet on
this good day after the lapse of more
than a quarter of century in this, our
first reunion, TO partake of the hospi-
tally of our first deacon, our first clerk,
and through all these receding years,
our first, our only, our ever present
Sunday Schoo, Superintendent.
That God, my Brethren, in all these
years has most wonderously blessed us,
we have but to consider what we were
in our beginning and what He has en-
abled rs to accomplish through Him
in the years through which we have
passed.
In the year of 1884, we planned the
erectio OF our first house of worship
which would cost US with church lot
not less than $25O0.0O. this we built
when our combined wealth perhaps
would not exceed $4,000. We planned,
we prayed, we worked together, by
everyone standing at his post doing
whatsoever our hands found to do, nor
did we cease until the last nail was
driven and the finishing strokes given
Who of us can ever forget the time
when we were first permitted to wor-
ship God in Marion under our own vine
and fig tree?
This must have occurred in January
or February, 1886, never were songs
sweeter, prayers deeper or more heav-
en- moving, what seasons of rejoicing
we had together in those early days.
Heaven came down our souls to
greet,
And glory crowned the mercy seat"
We all recognize through these years
that have come and gone, that we have
been greatly remiss in our duty to God.
yet He has just lavished upon us His
blessings and continually we have
grown in numbers until to-day we
have an enrolled membership Of two
hundred and forty-three.
One thing NAV be said of US and in it
we may have just pride, we have been
united, we have always regarded it
fact, if we are ever a strong force for
God and His truth we must "see eye
to eye and speak the same things" and
| may add through all these years there
: has never occurred one thing TO divide
us. Peace and harmony have been the
cement that has bound us together in
a common brotherhood.
In our history we have had the SER
vice of eight Cody men for our pastors.
Our first wes Elder e.. II. Gregston.
who served US from April, 1884, until
June, 1885.
Our second was Elder }. w. Crewd-
son, who served from June, 1885, until
December. 1887.
Our third was Elder T. N. Compton.
who served from December, 1887, until
August, 1890.
Our fourth was Elder j. S. Miller,
from October, 1890 until December,
1891.
Our fifth was Elder T. c. Carter,
who served the long term from Deem
Der. 1891, until December, 1899.
Our sixth was Elder T. A. CONWAY,
from January 1900. until January, 1906.
Our seventh was Elder j. II. Butler
who served from April, 1906, until July
1908. When we secured the services
of Elder Martin f. Filler. our eighth
pastor, may he long continue to re-
main such. 49, %st--T---.---
We have now briefly passed over our
history of the last twenty-five years.
Many, many, incidents could be refer
red TO that would would be of real in
terest to us all but that would length
en- a paper of this description, too far.
| will desst.
In conclusion, my brethren ID sis
ters, indulge me in few reflections. AS
our remaining years come and go our
numbers will lessen faster.
In our weakness thro these years we