The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-01-24
STORY PUBLISHED IN METHODIST
& LAYMAN'S HERALD WILL BE
READ WITH MUCH To-
CAL INTEREST, ~

m hEdU WlldS MUM LIZ $ "A
CAL INTEREST. AZ
Tie Methodist Laymen's Herald
gives the following interesting ac-
count Of the growth Of the Levi D.
lIarr Bible class in this city. The
article was written by ]. c. Blake
more, a member OF the class and Is
as follows:
ut has been in the mind of the writ
or for some time to give to the read
crs of the Herald some things con-
corning the origin and growth of the
East Fairmont Union Bible class. On
Sunday, May 25, 1918, there came
into the Eas. Park Union Sabbath
school and into the Mems Bible class,
of which, the writer was teacher, Mr..
Levi B. Harr, whose name is known
FAR and wide as one of Fairmont's
most wide awake real estate men. AT
tile close of the school this man arose
End made an announcement. He said
he wanted the writer and as many as
would, to, meet at his home on Nor
santown avenue on the next NWednss-
lay evening for the purpose of organ
izing a, class for the study orithe BIZ
sic. aF 4rn
So according to announcement 20
persons met at his home at the ap-
pointed time aand there put intoSet5.
scct INSTRUMENTATION that us now
tnown as title East Fairmont Union,
'sible class. j MR. Harr. twas made
esident of the class, and the writer
,ecame the teacher. So say that the
lass madea wise\selcction for presi-
dent is putting 1t mildly. AS to the
'eacher, well they might have done
better.
Now this was the beginning but it
is not the end, and tile end is not yet.
This class took on life from the start.
III has steadily increased in numbers
from 20 members at the first meeting
70 142 at the beginning OF the new
gear. There was an average attend
lnce during this time of 40. Largest
attendance at any meeting was ~. AT
The beginning this class took up the
.tudy Of the same lessons that are
used in the Sabbath schools and in
connection with this they have char
cter study and round table discus
lions. They have a committee Oh
membership Whose principle duties
are to solicit new members. Also Il
lick committee whose business 1t is to
look after the sick in the community.
o see that they are provided with
roper care and attention. There have
been some, things in the progress of
his class that are very noticeable.
In the beginning there were very few
that could be counted on to lead In
prayer, Now It is no trouble for the
leader to go around and select half
!ozen men and women to offer a short
prayer ut the opening. And. as the
'eader remarked at the last meeting,
In the beginning 1t was difficult
."metimes to get enough persons to
take part In the program to take up
:he time Now It is difficult to have
lime enough to give all an opportun.
lily that want to take part"
From the time the class was organ
ICED up to October 10th. it met at the
homes of the people in the neighbor-
hood. On that date It met for the
first time at, the new East Park school
building IN a room that had been es-
pecially prepared for that purpose.
%ow chance. visitor to this class
would see something like this: a band
Il men and women engaged in the
work of helping each ether and try
Ing to help some one else. They
would probably see mothers taking
some active part in the program of
the evening. and, their little children
sitting or playing nithe floor, and
II is no very uncommon thing to see
cliild that has grown tired and
sleepy lying on the floor sleeping as
peacefully az If it were in its own
home.
Although might say this class has
had phenomenal growth from the
very beginning. yet it is not vet salts
Gcd: There are plans on foot now by
which it is hoped in a short, time to.
Increase the number to 800, in fact 1t
will not be satisfied until every per-
son in reasonable distance has been
solicited and given an opportunity to
become member. In this particular
the work Of the class is two-fold,
While 1t is working to get the older
snes in the class it is also working
70 get the children into the Sunday
school.