The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-05-01
FIRST BBRTISTS
HAVE BEEN ACTIVE
Cong egation Has Grown
Rapidly Since 1t Was
Organized.


/ fifth anniversary this week, was O.
gained May 4. The following sketch
OF the congregations history was pre-
pared by the pastor, Rev. Dr.. w. j,
Eddy.
There had been some preaching at
different times for many years by such
men as Rev. A. ]. Garrett, Clean c.
Keys, Patrick H. Murray, John 7. Rey'
nolds, W. L. Powell, L. E. Peters and
others.
For a few years before the orgaAiza'
ton Of the church Sunday school had
been started which had been found diff
ficult to maintain, and few times it
became inactive 1t was in 1892 the
Rev. ". E. Powell and L. e. Peters
came and stirred up some new interest
in the idea Of a church organization
The Sunday school was recognized by
L. E. Peters in the old rink on Madi
son street, but later A. J. Stone Sc
cured the High school building on the
corner OF Main and Quincy streets for
the use of the school, 1t was in this
building that the church was organ
lied. Rev. W. E. Powell conducted
services for some time before the or.
ganization, in the Presbyterian church
This privilege was by the courtesy Of
the Presbyterian pastor and his con.
gregation. Rev G. NJ. Shot came to
Fairmont about February 20, 1893, and
conducted a three days meeting on
the evening OF the 23d OF February a
temporary ORGANIZATION was formed
and Rev. Mr.. Saott was made the TEN.
porary chairman and G. NJ. Alexander
was elected the temporary clerk.
1t was at this meeting the Rev. Mr..
Shott was called as pastor. This body
of Baptists named the church "The
First BapgSt Church OF Fairmont."
May 4, 1893, permanent organiza.
ton wGs eft lopting the name
that hal t Justly recognized.
! Tie we persons Who com.
pc,c t' .ation.
3 our ,ais original number we have
IS u.t:1bc.s at this time the follow.
ing: J. II. Kinkead, Mrs. Mary Kin.
j.oad. o. ]. Morrow, Mrs. Martha Nor.
Tow, Mrs. A. ]. Stone, Mrs. Mary A.
F,ckinger, ]. NJ. Watkins, Mrs. Mintie
Fisher, Miss Eliza Davis and L. c.
Bailey.
j. H. Kinkead was elected clerk and
has served in that capacity for twenty
five years. The church this year re.
lieving him from active service, but
giving him the honor OF the office so
long as he remains a member of the
organization.
DR.. P. B. Ogden, o. ]. Morrow and
A. j. Stone we're elected as trustees,
the latter not being a member of the
organization but greatly interested in
the new enterprise, ]. NJ. Watkins and
c. w. Arnett were a little later elect.
ed to places on the board Of trustees.
DR.. P. B. Ogdn, l.. C. Bailey and j.
E. Koon were the first deacons. On
April 80, 1894, the first converts for
the new organization were baptized in
the Monongahela river by the pastor.
Rev. Mr.. Shott on the 29th of May,
1895, resigned his pastorate to accept
call to the North Baptist church,
New York City. At this time there
were ninety members in the church.
During this short pastorate of two
and one.half years lot on the present
site Of the church was purchased and
q building was partly erected at
cost Of $4,122.45 which was all paid
at this time but $500.
The church on the 22d of septem.
her, 1895, called Rev. VIM. j. Haiti.
claw, of Louisville, Kentucky, who
completed the building at cost Of
about $6,25O with debt of more than
$1,000 yet to be provided. The church
was dedicated August 18th. 1896.
April IS, 1897. Rev. Mr.. Haltzclaw
preached his farewell sermon. The
membership during his administration
had increased from so to 100.
On the 18th OF June, 1897, Rev W.
j. Eddy, who had Just finished his
course in Newtare Theological Sem.
mary, Boston. came and began work.
It will be only few weeks until he
will have spent twenty.one years as
pastor of this church. At the close
of his first year the church was out OF
debt ana ready for great work Dur.
ing his pastorate more than one tE5u-
sand persons have been received into
the membership Of the church. The
church now has membership Of near.
ly six hundred.
Because of this growth the building
has been enlarged twice. The first
time the whole structure was lifted
up and story put under the entire
building and made into many rooms
for Sunday school purposes. Then
again when more room was needed
two story addition twenty.six by forty
feet was added to the rear.
The entire building is used now to +!
house what may be regarded as five
Sunday schools which have their own
independent opening and closing exer.
cises. We also have extensive plans
In operation for home department and |
cradle roll work. These schools all as.
semble Immediately after their ad.
journment for what Is called Junior
Congregation sermon preached by the
---X1Ss$oF. It is largely through this
method Of preaching that nearly all
our boys and girls who are old enough |
to understand what it means to be
saved have become christians.
The present pastor has always been
strong advocate Of the teaching de-
paFtment Of the church. He believes
that in order to make efficient chris.
tians that the foundation must be lain
in the work Of the Sunday school in |
the preaching of the Word and In an
early christian experience in salvation.
.. G, Shafe7 who was one Of the most |