Mexico weekly ledger., 1915-03-11
BETHEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

merged into what is now the Ladies'
Aid society. Mrs. MoIiie AeFadden
was the hrst president who In turn
was succeeded By Mrs. Belle Miller.
The leadership finally passed into
the hands OF Mrs. j. G. Ware, where
Il still remains.
The society is at present in a
hourishing condition and Is making
its influence felt on the side OF
everything for which the church
stands: always giving literally TO
the benevolent causes, extending the
helping hand to the poor and suffer-
ing. and forward in securing COM
Portable eonvenienees for the house
OF worship 1t has become a power
for good in the congregation. The
membership at this time is q. The
secretary Is Mrs. P. II. C~authorn;
vice-president. Mrs. R. B. Kerr;
treasurer, Mrs. Marston Beamer;
assistant secretary. Miss Margaret
Powell. Money raised last year for
all purposes-Scho0l Of the Ozarks,
Orphans and Home church-amount-
ed to s4S,
Location
The site OF the church building
was ftly chosen. Being centrally
located in a sort Of valley. near a
tangled wildeood with shade In sum
mer and protection from the storms
of winter, It is an ideal place, not
only because OF its easy accessibility,
but also because Il is a beautiful
- -t.t.~..a.., aRRf Tho round
for the building and cemetery was a
part Of the farm OF Mr.. r. b, Kerr
and was given by him to the church.
The house was erected In 1876 and
cost about 81. 500. In cash, and labor
freely given by friends Of the move
ment.
The frame consists Of native lum-
Der and was taken from timber land
belonging at the time to Mr.. Kerr.
but which Is now a part OF the farm
of Mr.. A. G. Morgan. just south
of Marston Beamer. Those who re-
member the events of that day think
that the very spot on which the saw
mill stood can be identified. The
other lumber was hauled from Han
nibal, a distance Of as miles. Think
of it, We men, who ship your stuff
by steam or electricity, travelling 80
miles over roads. none OF the best,
requiring a team of two, possibly
four, horses and time, not less than
three or four days, and. after such
expenditure Of time and labor, bring
ing home only a wagon load of lum-
Der! Nothing but faith in their
cause could have sustained them
thru such labors and brought them
TO the realization of their dream
and the advantages we possess today
are due to their forethough and heroic
effort.
Reflections
According to the dates given at
the beginning of this sketch, Bethel
Church was 46 years old the 18th of
November last, now almost round
ing out its first half century. Dur.
ing that period the old generation
has all but passed away. Those who
were in their teens at the time OF
the organization have grown gray,
while the yet unborn, together with
the smaller children of that. day
are the middle aged men and women
of the present. Thus during the life
of the church four generations have
appeared; one has departed, another
has almost finished its course, tht
third is in the heyday of a vigorous
life, fighting the good fight, while the
fourth rejoices in the budding age
Of childhood and comprises the re
serves for the future.
To many Bethel is a sacred spot
Here the gospel has been faithful,
preached and by its light many havt
been turned into the way of righte
business. Here for more than tw'
, score years the mingled voices o
, old and young have been lifted VI
in praise to the Redeemer. Here tn
/, people have often assembled to She
the tear of grief or sympathy owe
the form of some father or mothe
/ in Israel, or dear boy or gin O
sweet babe. Here many little one
lhaye been dedicated to the Lor,
thru the waters Of baptism, From
this place Of worship have gone on
streams OF holy influences that hay,
helped to make the Christian FAM
! lies of the community what they are
- From this congregation ~probabll
! 100 members have been dismissed b,
! letter, who having been trained II
! lChristian life and duty in the homt
Ichurch have gone to help and blesI
other churches far and near, Will
more than so have quit the churcl
! militant to join the church triumph
I ant.
: Bethel has also given two of 1t
. sons to the gospel ministry, both o
! whom have proved themselves abb
? and successful ministers Of tn
" word: Rev. NJ. H. Kerr Of Washing
: ton, Mo, and Rev. J. =. Kerr of Per
: ny, Mo, while another, Roswell Hen
c derson, is pursuing his Biblica
$ studies at the Seminary in Louisville
Truly, Bethel has been honored ant
!. ! blest and it is not strange that font
memories cluster around it and tina.
; those who still live within its bound,
love and serve 1t with purse ant
prayers and earnestly labor and pral
! that it may long stand to Justify tn,
c wisdom of its founders and %contipu,
to bless all who come under its in
d fuence.
There's a church in the valley, b,
the wildwood,
n No lovelier spot in the dale.
: No place is so dear to my childhood
: As the little white church in III,
/, vale.
"Let us go to the church in the wild
a wood.
z To the place where the wild flower
bloom;
e Where the parting hymn will b.
chanted.
As We weep by the side of the tomb
From the church in the valley b,
the wildwood,
When my day fades away into night
! would fain from this spot of m,
childhood.
n Wing my way to the mansions o
light"
Mexico, Mo, Feb. 16, 1915.
by the Rev. H. B. Banks. Repro.
duced through the courtesy Of The
Mexico Message.