Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-04-01
A Remarkable Church.


covered the ''most wonderful church
in the country--a church Of 5000 com
municants, built and run on solid bust
ness prisciples.
"Rsy. NJ. A. Matt hews, of Seattle"
writes Mr.. Myers, ''holds unique
position among the pastors Of this coun
Try. His flock 10 the largest Of any
Presbyterian church in the world and
his church, The First Presbyterian
of Sc tile, has the second larges MEM
bership of any denomination ia Chris
tendon. The structure 10 one Of the
most beautiful in the United States.
at requir, 80 ushers to seat the peo-
pie at the various services and 20 men
to take the collections. Everything
works like clockworh and there is new
er hitch from one end of a service to
the other The church seats over 5000
persons and there are seldom less than
1000 in attendance.
"Ihe stairways are used to the extent
that the fire marshal will permit aud
the walls are lined with men and wom
On, usually three or roar deep all
around the immense auditorium. Ii 10
no unsommon thing for DR.. Matthews
TO see two or three hundred persons
turned away for lack of room nj the
evening service, when, perhaps, he has
gre ched to nearly 1900 in the morn
ing and the same number at 3 O'Clock
in the afternoon. There have been as
many as 10000 persons 10 worship In
the CHI urcb at one time. There is sell
dom a night when some service is not
held
IA most wonderful part of the
church is the pastor, who last year
preached 1874 sermons, delivered 70 adj
dresses, IS lectures, q speeches, took
charge of 81 Bible classes, conducted
So funerals, married 30 couples, bal.
tized 10 infants and 50 adults, served
l6 conmunioHs, attended 343 cabinet
meetings. 334 consultation sessions and
Interviewed 9,i4 persons. He made
l,209 visits to his parishioners, took in
over 500 new members, attended 11S
committee meetings and ll9 public de- |
votional meetings and assisted 81 other
churches and lodges to conduct their
services. He attended III social meet
ings in connection with his church |
work and delivered "a Informal talks. !
CDR. Matthews is a physician to the |
body as we'll as to the soul, aud is an
alto rney of high standing. He is pro-
badly doing more good for the evan
gelzing of Seattle and the state of
Washington than any other man.
"There are more Presbyterians con-
nected with Dr. Matthews church
than there are in The entire San Fran
cisco. bay country, including San
Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and
other cities.
Three hundred and eighty-fve
thousand persons worshpped in the
church last year. There are 10000
persons connected with tie church in
one way or another, and it has 5000
communicates and 1000 noncom mum
icants. During 1909 DR.. Matthews,
with his co workers, organized three
new churches, and as each one of these
took few of his old members this
showing is astonishing. There are con-
nected with the church 10 Bible clubs,
7 young peoples societies debating
club, two mems clubs and splendid
brotherhood.
"The entire city of Seattle, covering
as much ground as any city Of its
size in the country. with three mag
nigcent lakes in its very heart, and
with Puget Sosnd in its very midst,
is apportioned off. Each small sec
ton is in charge OF a lieutenant who
reports to a captain. The captains re-
port direct to DR.. Matthews, t he las
| tor
"The budget for next year shows
need of SIS 900 for running expenses.
| "Ih the church there are large Ii
brary and four small ones, SWIM
KY
SUM, 90 telephones and several ranges
large enough 10 banquet 500 men and
women with no Inconvenience. Many
small gas raages are scattered at var
ious points IN the church for the use
Of the women in their committee
meetings.
"Bathtubs and bathrooms are in the
church. and the new ventilating sys-
tenn cost $4,000. This changes the air
every three or four minutes.
"The pastors study and office looks
like the entrance to the head office of
some big corporation. 10 enter the
anteroom of DR.. Matthews office one
would think that he was visiting the
| IAt,tf Ia on 4. Il