The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-11-15
CONDEMNED
Has Been The Presbyterian
Church At Martlnsburg
For All Large Gatherings So
Plans Are Made
For The Construction Of A
Large Banquet Hall
To Accommodate The People
At All Gatherings
Which Are Of A Public Nature
..-PIan Outlined
(By Rev. o. R. Newcombl

tinsburg, SO long the community
church Of the village, must go to the
dry-dock for repairs. The floor that
for generation has held up the
friends galore Of the high school
graduates on commencement day,
the crowds of patriots on Memorial
Day and the multitudes of mourn
ers that have gone forth from the
church doors to bury their dead in
Gods acre" hard by, has beeen con-
demned for crowd purposes.
The only large audience room in
the village is out of commission, save
as small band of Presbyterians are
able to meet there for Sunday school
and preaching services.
1t is hoped to combine through the
community the motives of gratitude
for the past with hope for the future.
BY united effort we can save the
old church for community uses and
also secure banquet hall and kitch-
en- for the village, to be used as free
ly by the community as the church
has always been.
We can have this banquet hall and
kitchen, if
First If we realize the advantage
1t would be to the community.
We need just this thing in the vii
lage. We owe 1t to ourselves and to
our young people to provide for Soc
ial self development in healthful
ways. We need 1t when conventions
and conferences require the enter
tainment at dinner of a number of
guests from abroad The demands of
a gracious and self-respecting hos
pitality require something better
than the old town hall to which we
have often been driven and which is
most unattractive, to say the least,
most inconveniently situated and
most miserably unequipped. We need
such hall, too, many times a year
for our distinctively home affairs,
social functions, etc.
Second. If we will give the money.
The new flooor and banquet hall
equipment will cost about $1,000.
The Presbyterians have pledged
$500. 1t is proposed to invite the
three other churches of the village,
the alumni association and other or
ganizations of the village to raise the
other $500. The possession by the
people of Martinsburg Of commun-
ity banquet hall depends upon the re-
sponse given to this invitation. No
heavy burdens will be laid upon any
one and In the end we shall supply
one Of the great needs of the village.
Third. If we recognize cur oppor-
tunity.
The trustees of the Presbyterian
church will guarantee the use Of the
completed banquet hall and equip
ment to the churches and other organ
izations raising the $500 for the con-
sideration of a rental merely sufiic-
lent to pay for gas and wear and
tear for the time it was actually used
or what 1t would cost them if 1t were
their own.
Every church In the village will
practically own dining hall. For a
fraction of the cost each church will
secure just what 1t 80 often needs.
How else can a church get $500
dining hall for $100? One dollar will
now do the work of five. And further
If this chance is lost, it will be the
old town hall or nothing for a long
time to come. The other three
churches have recently been repair
ed and no one is going to overhaul
them again right away to put In a
kitchen or basement.
The progress of civilization is but
the progress of cooperation. If mu-
tual confidence and an aggressive
public spirit once more assert them
selves in united action, Martinsburg
will have another achievement to
crown the many that signalize her
progressive people.
Questions and Answers
Question: is not this just a Pres
! byterian scheme to work the com
nunity?
Answer;-No. 1t will be practical
| ly Methodist or Baptist or Disciple