Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-04-08

$113 was given last year for all pur-
poses, an average OF 50 cents per
member. This places the school in
the front rank among the schools of
Mo. Presbytery, though not the first
in that rank, for Bethel Sunday
school gave last year an average of
$3.50 per member. Thus the banner
which has been so proudly and hon
orably borne by Benton City will
now, doubtless, be transferred to
Bethel. And this the Benton City
school will gladly do for it is not
in them to be selfish but rather to
rejoice in the advancement of a Sis
ter School.
Mr.. Watts assistants are Miss
Barnes, Sec. and w. Erisman, treas
urer. There are 9 classes including
large infant class. The new ar
rangement of the church building is
great convenience, since it makes
possible the seclusion of part of
the school during the hour of recit-
ing the scripture lesson.
THE LADIES AID AND MISSIONA-
RY SOCIETY.
This society, as its name indicates,
helps in the work of the church
both at home and abroad. That is,
it gives to foreign missions and most
generously aids in maintaining the
enterprises of the local church. Last
year, in addition to it's customary
gifts for benevolence, 1t assumed
the entire expense of the work of
finishing the interior of the new
church building, including the pur-
chase of an organ, carpets and
lamps, all of which has been sue
cessfully accomplished. The amount
raised last year was 1897. The
society has been in existence since
1890 and has accomplished a noble
work, being one of the most active
and practical agencies in the church.
The officers this year are, Mrs.
e. w. Rockwell, President; Mrs.
Emma Erisman, Secretary; Mrs. j.
w. Hines, Treasurer. The present
is 80.
PROTRACTED MEETINGS.
The history of Benton City church
would not be complete without no.
tice of is reyivals. Indeed it has
been and is a church of revivals. No
one feature in it's history is more
marked. 1t is quite customary to
read in the records and hear related,
by friends, accounts of meetings in
which II, 10, %, 80 etc., are added
to the church by confession and GER
tificate. This has been a source of
constant blessing both to the mem
bership and the community. A
country church that has services
only twice a month however ably
and devotedly it may be served by
its pastor, is largely deprived of his
help and influence, especially if he
does not reside in the bounds of the
and therefore for
church to be often visited by conse-
Grated evangelists and pastors,
means inspiration, uplift and growth.
Bro. A. A. Wallace connection
with Benton has been close and his
visits frequent. Here he made his
first attempt at evangelism in 1888,
when II were added. During the
pastorate of Rev. ]. E. Kerr he held
another meeting with excellent re-
suits. In the first of these he was
assisted part of the time by the ever
ready and faithful Cowan and
who were rarely ever
known to refuse when invited to par
ticipate in such work.
Benton is also greatly indebted to
DR.. w. w. Robertson. Especially
during the days of its infancy when
in his monthly visits he preached
and sang, prayed and exhorted,
as only he could do, and, as it were,
held a meeting every time he
came.
The church has also been visited
by evangelists of the synod, among
whom were DR.. Drew and Xenophen
Ryland, both of whom by their
warm and weighty messages called
numbers into the kingdom. Ben
toms last meeting was held last fall
by the pastor, Mr.. Pearman, assist
ed by Mr.. Mitchell, when "a were
converted and the church greatly
revived. These are important facts
and figures and showthat both the
church and the brethren of the pres
bytery were wide awake to the OPP
portunities of the situation and that
Miss Harrison and the other pion-
GERS with her were wise in their day
and did their work not only with
reference to their own interest, bur
to that of posterity as well.
Some of these visiting preachers
have rested from earthly labor,