The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-04-05
GRAND AND GLORIOUS OPENING.
The Pleasant Green Baptist Church
destroyed by Fire July ID, 1919,
Rebuilt in Less Than a Year by
Rev. Geo, MeNeal, Pastor.

Rev. Geo. MeNeal, Pastor.
Work as we'll as pray" has reward
ed the efforts of the communicates
and pastor of the Pleasant Green Bap-
fist Church, with a new edifice. I'm.
der the able and distinguished leader
ship of Rev. George McNeal, who has
been pastor for twenty-six years.,
Pleasant Green Baptist Church, which
was destroyed by fire July IA, 1918,
has been replaced by a new stately
church edifice, whose spires kiss the
clouds and the chimes of whose bell
can be heard for miles around.
The church was formerly located at
First and Splitlog avenue, Kansas
City, Kansas, but the new edifice, to
keep pace with its worshipers, is now
located at Fourth and Oakland, a logi-
cal and convenient location for a
church, and pastor like the Reverend
McNeaL. His untiring as well as bust
ness methods can be well emulated,
as in less than nine months after the
destruction of his church, we find Rev.
McNeal and his congregation and
many friends opening their new
church, which is proof sufficient that
God helps those who help themselves.
Sunday, March 81, was a beautiful day.
Nature seemingly rejoicing and rem
dering her assistance in making the
day one OF long remembrance. Dr..
L. K. Williams, the able divine of Chi
cago, was to have delivered the open.
ing sermon, but was prevented from
doing so by a severe attack of the la
grippe. However, the pastor, Rev.
McNeal, was equal to the occasion,
and preached both at the morning and
evening services, causing many hearts
to rejoice.
The services began at $50 a. m.
with sunrise prayer meeting, which
was well attended and a spiritual talk
with the Master of Heaven and Earth
was had, thus beginning the feast
which lasted throughout the day and
into the night. At $3.50 a. m. Mrs.
Lydia Rogers conducted the Mission
Circle. At IL a. m. the pastor, Rev.
McNeal, preached a sOul-stirring ser.
mon, in fact, II OF the kind that we
remember he preached when he came
to us some twenty-siX years ago. He
was blessed with a full attendance.
AT 2:30 p. m. the road from all the
churches led towards that of Pleasant
Green Church. 1t was estimated that
at least 5000 members and friends
were present. To the beautiful strains
of the organist, the choir robed in
white, marched to their places and
sang Holy, Holy, Holy" which
showed how we'll they had been
trained for the occasion by their choir
ster, Mrs. Sarah Hammett Bartell.
DR.. l. H. Anthony, one of u lead
ing physicians, made the preliminary
remarks and introduced as master o
ceremonies Rev. d. A. Holmes, pas
tor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church
who at once took charge of the pro
|, gram, which in itself was a rare trea
of intellectual and artistic rendition
Mrs. Sarah Hammett Bartell rendered
a very beautiful solo, such as she alone
is capable. Mr.. n. w. Thatcher, oul
undertaken, spoke of the past anC
present of Pleasant Green Baptist
Church. Our W Mr.. Boatner Cbari
tone) favored us with a solo. Remarks
were made by the following pastors
Of the city, viz, Revs. j. f. Griffin
Moses Williams, j.. r. Richardson, D
B. Jackson and W. A. Bowren. Repre-
%sentatives from the different lodges
temples and courts also made timely
remarks. The Mayor, H. A. Menden
hall, with City Commissioner Chap
man and Brown, made remarks com
/ ~plimentary of the great work done
: Mrs. R. G. Jackson, VIZ. Whitfield, tn,
Alabama Quartette and the Metropoli
tan Baptist Church Choir also furnish
ed excellent musical numbers.
This meeting which was attended
by practically all OF the citizens o
Kansas City, Kansas, was indeed quit,
a success both spiritually and finan
cially. There were eleven souls adde(
to the church as candidates for bar
tism. The evening services were wei
attended. The total collection for tn,
day was $1329.75 Every member re
spending to roll call with five dollars