Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-02-24
THE FIRST CHURCH
IN DEMING'S HISTORY

Deming boosted OF several we'll
stocked stores. well-patronized gam
bling dens, dance halls and saloons,
before 1t awakened to the fact that Il
had no church. The town really began
It's existence in November, 1880. when
the Southern Pacific, building from the
west, arrived at the present townsite
but II was not until the fall Of 1882
that the Methodist church. still stand
ing and still used as house Of wor-
ship. was begun. IL was completed In
1888. It then had membership OF
two men and FIVE women. The Graphic
couldn't find the names of the women,
but the men were Judge Boone and
Nc. Sollars, the latter being the sun
day school superintendent. Shortly
nfterward W. u. Tossell. who died
about Eve years ago, joined the little
band of the faithful.
The church was built with funds fur
nished largely by the Board OF Church
Extension Of the NJ. T., South, and the
rest by local citizens-the saloon keep
ers of the town furnishing large
share. For many years lt was only a
mission church and was used by all de-
nominations as sort Of union taber-
nacle.
The first pastor was the Rev. F. l..
Stanton, a man Of God well adapted TO
preach the gospel in rude western
town. TO this day the pioneers living
remember him very kindly for his earn
eStness, personal honesty and tolerance
of the conditions in which he found 80
many lost souls struggling for saliva
tion. The Rev. Stanton helped to build
| the church with his own hands and
also the old parsonage, which gave way
but few years ago 10 the more com
Portable one that now stands beside
the church Into the dives the pastor
went for money 10 build hiStemple IN
the wilderness, and he graced many n
dance at which he found opportunity to
point out the glories Of the life 10
come The pioneer uriCft rdd an over
mastering ambition Ia visit the Holy
Land and traverse the same route
which his Master had Travelled 50 many
centuries before. lie realized his am
bition and, in fact, he died in Palestine,
as he would have had it, no doubt.
The pastor didn't have all the culture
which modern congregations demand ;
he wasn't well NJ ON the fine points ot
doctrine, but he had an awful punch
both in his gospel and his right arm,
AMI he would use either with equal
| facility.
In the old days men were most toll
Grant of each others religious beliefs.
The population Of Dcming was then
more cosmopolitan than at present, for
! the lure of III Dorado had drawn men
of many races and religions who cX'
lpccted to find riches in the golden
west or were here because they were
outlawcd at home These men lived
and loved and fought and died, many
of them with their religion tucked
away I'm Il corner of their heart, be-
cause it seemed long way from Dem
| ing 10 God, when Deming was filled
with liQuor-maddcned men and lewd
women Tragedy waited ON the flash
Of gun and when some one expired
before the brass rail or over the poker
chips. he had 10 he buried dcCcutly.
| Therefore committee was appointed
that looked after the uufortmatos
who died away from home and friends.
| The committee consisted of Bob
Campbell, Navajo Bill, Mexican Jo
| Ca womnn), and Nellie Gilpln, al dead
Or forgotten save Navajo Bin who Is