The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1917-01-13
PLEASANT GROVE

| - OAAA oCi ' ACC IIOlll A/CCs OlDbs Il llO
pastors of the city were invited to
attend the closing service. The
Rev. S, G. Manuel, pastor Union
Baptist Church, was master of cer-
emonies. He prefaced the occasion
by speaking briefly of the achieve
ments during the last four years.
Rev. w. H. Carter, pastor of the
New Hope Baptist Church was
slated to preach in absence of Rev.
Bazie who was to preach at that
hour. Rev. Carter delivered the
goods. The congregation was large
and very enthusiastic, approxim-
ately Sl4.00 was donated. to Rev.
Chappelle as an appreciation.
There were two candidates to have
been baptized Xmas day, but ow-
ing to hinderances, they were not.
Rev. Chappelie administered the
rites of baptism to them, (Macie
and Verill Coe) in the closing of
the services.
Reports show that our church
has steadily grown financially as
we'll as spiritually. Approximately
S1400 have been raised during last
year. Some of the young people
of the B. Y. ?. U. paid their last
tribute to the retiring pastor by
giving him banquet, Tuesday
evening, Jan. End. 1t was enjoyed
by all. This saying would lot be
complete without informing the
readers of the loyalty the girls are
in whatever is intrusted upon them.
They are as most young people.
are veiy easy to become discour-
aged when darts and shots as it
were are hurled from the ambush
of their fellow workers and by
standers.
There has indeed been victory
achieved without bloodshed. But
there is no victory without hard
ship or sometimes hope losing. 1t
has been rightly said that the dark
est hour is just before day.
There was big stunt pulled off
New Years. night, when a large
crowd was entertained with a can
tata program conducted by Mrs.
Nancie Hawkins who always wrest-
lie with life's oppositions and bring
things to the front worth while.
She attained this by starting in
her early life. Every body was
made to feel glad over the per-
formance. The Get acquainted
Day" was nicely attended in our
Sunday School Sunday. There
were 100 women and girls and 5S
men and boys. Prof. u. NJ. Mitch
ell was the speaker of the hour.
He spoke on: why we are
Strangers" and proved to be
no doubt, one of the great orators
in hisday. He is an admirable
product of the race.
Rev. McClain of East St. Louis,
and the Missionary of the Wood
River Association filled the pulpit
Sunday. He preached from the
text. / am not ashamed of the gos-
pei of Christ, for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one
that believeth. Rev. McClain is a
strolg gospel Minister and has ac-
complished much. The B. Y. P.
u. met in its regular session and
elected Misses Margaret Holman,
pres, Callie Thomas, vice pres,
Mildred Robinson and Threbia
Holman as Sec. and assistant Sec.
Laura Walker, Treas, Elizabeth
Walker, organist; Messrs. l.. ID.
Parker, Chaplain and Jr. teacher,
S. R. Robinson, Sr. teacher, and
Miss Callie Robinson, teacher of
little folks. The B. Y. p. u. has
done a great work under the form
er leaders owing to the fact that
they always do things well, and
we hope for them a brighter fut-
ure. They are worthy of our
flowers in their pathways for these
help us to grasp after the things
that at first seem difficult.