The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-05-03
CHURCH BUILT
IN ONE DAY

4 49, - n Z
NEW METHODIST CHURCH wxss
ERECTED BETWEEN DAWN
AND DUSK AS PROPOSED.IS
DEDICATED IN EVENING WITH
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES - 500
PERSONS PRESENT. -
Spartanburg's fourth : and newast
Methodist church was built yesterday
between sunrise and dusk.
In handsome building at the cor.
ner OF South Church street and Cres-
cent avenue, not stick Of which iraS
been standing IA hours before. 800
people worshipped last night, whila
three times that many stood o,,tside
vainly seeking to enter.
Although built in a single day. m
Bethel church is as substantiai n
structure, the carpenters agreed. ], n
II Six months had been devoted to the
1ob. 1t Is far handsomer building.
according to Maj. Augustus III. Kirby.
" years old, than the first Method,sta
church erected in this city. whfch
was dedicated in 1886, and took =
year to build.
Finished Appearance.
with carpeted aisles, mission styla
pews. an altar decorated with flow
ers, a piano in the choir loft ana an
the other requisites in place, the in
terror of the church last night pre-
sented as finished an appearance. as
the exterior, which was neatly paint-
ed In white, with green trimmings.
Estimates Of the number of people
VINO watched the building OF the
church vary, but it is believed bv
some that as many as $4,000 persona
visited the place during the day
Many people came from the country
m busgiss and wagons to see the nm.
usual spectacle, and the number ~
passengers carried on the so,k,.
Inurch street car line was the sraas 3 Y
,st for single day IN the hist6ry e 1
e 'sssss sfss2s ass st assisa ssz sSs sssss Z
Made Possible by system.
System. carefully prearranged, was
The charm which enabled the 150I
mechanics, painters, pa
plumbers. electrical work
ers and other artisans to perform the
feat. Every man knew exactly where
to get the material needed and where
to put 1t. The workmen rarely. gotj
into each others way. and there was
not an accident. =
The Rev. ]. w. Shell, who formerly
was iV charge OF the work OF xhel
Methodist Church in the section|
where El-Bethel stands and who was
one of the prime movers in the pro-
ject, was the first man on the scene
yesterday morning. He reached the
lot at Sis o'clock. Five minutes Ia
ter the Rev. John w. Speake, pastor
OF Bethel church, the mother OF El-
Bethel; c. p. Hammond, chairman OF
the building committee, and J. M.
Crawford, Of the Magness Trust Com
pany, general superintendent Of he
enterprise, reached the scene
Major Kirby Arrives.
Major Kirby, patriarch Of local
Methodism, who was to drive the first
nail, arrived with a number Of car
penters, about $50 o'clock.
The brick foundation was already
in place, having been completed Tues
day evening. The building materials
had also been assembled on the lot.
Every piece was numbered and laid
where the workmen knew they could
find it.
At 6 o'clock Mr.. Shell invoked the
divine blessing on the undertaking
and prayed that there woull be no
accident. Five minutes later the car
penters raised the first corner post
and Major Kirby drove the first nail
He used an ancient hammer which
he said, had been lost In 1845 and not
found again until 1866. Major Kirby
made one or two false strokes and
his grandson, A. M. Chreitberg, Of.
fered to hold the nail for him. Majo,
Kirby declined assistance, howeve,
and proceeded to drive the rail with
out further trouble.-The Spartanburs
Herald, May End.
i
Il Wy vU ~