Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-01-07
Er.t PrcshNlcrInn Church.

The story of the Presbyterian
church is interviewer into the very
history Of Tulsa.
In the summer Of 1882 the first
house was erected in Tulsa. on Aug
ust 10. 1883, just year subsequent
to that time, the Rev. II. NJ. Lough-
ridge superintendent of the Wealaka
school Of the Presbyterian board OF
| home missions began monthly preach
! ling here. The meetings were held on
the porch OF II. c. Halls store, lum-
her being carried from the lumber
yard in the rear for seats. The peo-
pie while they gathered to listen to
the words of this pioneer missionary
could watch the crowded gambling
tables which We're openly running
nearby.
Rev. Loughridge after a number OF
months gave way to Rev j. n. Dia-
ment. Then in 1885 Rev. VIM. Ha-
worth came to the town as the Pres
byterian missionary, and on October
. of that year he organized the First
Presbyterian church of Tulsa with
fifteen charter members Before the
close Of the year the membership
was increased to twenty three. Dur
ing the next six months school
building was erected and as soon as
the building was completed services
were held in ii each Sunday. Rev.
Haworth was succeeded by Rev. SAN
gree, He again was succeeded dur
ing the following year by the Rev.
r. NJ. Loughbridge, organi,r OF the
church. He again in 1891 was sue
ceeded by Rev. II. J. Lamb. who gave
way in 1898 to Rev. d. ~ Leerskov
who remained until 1896. ON June
l. 1896, Edwin Hubert Browes was
called to give all his time to the Tulsa
field ON August 2, 1898, Rev. Leon
ard p. Davidson took up the work. on
August 2, 1899, the corner stone of
the new building was laid. The cost
OF the structure was $4,000.
The first elders of the church were
Josiah G. Perryman and James NJ.
Hall. At the congregational business
meeting held October II, 1899. three
additional elders were elected as fol-
lows; Otis S. Morrow, J. Il. Mills and
VIM =. Hall
The first Sunday school was or
gahized in 1883 in tent. The church
communion set and the Sunday school
library were presented to the church
in 1899 by friends of Mrs. Marion
Leavitt Davidson, who died March
Is of that year.
In 1899 the Home Board sold to
the City OF Tulsa the Mission School
property with the understanding that
1t become the site Of undenomination-
al public school buildings. The pres
ent handsome high school building
now stands on this property.
Rev. c. w. Kerr. the present pastor
preached his first sermon in Tulsa
Sunday December 81, 1893. The
Presbyterians were then worshipping
in the old Mission school building. On
the 10th Of February. 1900. Rev Kerr ,
moved TO Tulsa and became the pas
tor of the church which position he
Is still holding. At that time the
membership was less than a hundred
today IL is SIS with Sabbath school
having a membership of i5O. The
church Is well organized along every
line.
An April Sth. 1900, the Presbyter-
ians dedicated their first church home.
1t was n frame building costing So
800. IL was situated on the corner OF
Fourth and Boston where the PIo-
neer buildi ig now is. on February
17th 1911. they dedicated their hand
some new home at the corner OF
Seventh and Roston streets This
building, furnishings and ground cost
ing s72.500.