Woman's enterprise., 1921-08-19
FIRST N. E. CHURCH, a,soU1a

The pastor Of the First Methodist
Church has in his possession book
Of great interest, upon the fy-leaf of
which is written: Register of the
Baton Rouge Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, with the General Rec
ords, and Synoptical History of the
Statistics, Revised, etc, Robert J.
Hardp, 1851" 1t is bound in sheep
skin, its pages number to 40, some of
which are written upon and some Of
which are blank, while still others, un-
fortunately, are missing; and has
printed upon the back edge, IN. E.
Church Register" The book is now
about 81 years Of age. 1t contains
many revisions of the church roll,
registers, baptisms, marriages, deaths,
records of quarterly conferences, notes
by various pastors, and other matters
of interest. The history of the church
begins with the year 1884; the first
revision of the roll contains the names
of those who, in 1851, had been men,
bers since 1884. One of the last items |
recorded before the incumbency of the
present pastor, was written by Rev.
J. A. Parker, D. D., and reads thus:
"If l am not returned here next year
1892, trust my successor will keep
un the record.-Parker. Two lines for
1892 follows and no other entries ap-
pear, except those made by this pas
tor.
In 1884 Baton Rouge was made
station; but the first appointment to
this city seems to have been made in
1882 when Rev. E. Tabor had charge
with outlying preaching places.s In
1884 money was subscribed to build
the church, and in 1886 it was COM
.pleted. The task Of raising the funds
and building the edifce was in the
Lords vineyard. AS the church then
stood. it was the first story Of the
present building. In 1860 Rev. W. E.
NJ. Linfield made the following note:
"The new church was built this year;
s14,OOO was raised in cash and sub
scriptions, and about $1,000 was left
to be secured after dedication. The
sermon was preached by DR.. Marshall
the first pastor Of the station" Bro
Linfeld meant by the "new church
that another story had been added tt
the building erected in 1886, and tn
spire, as it now appears, was place.
upon the church. A parsonage wa
bought and furnished that year also
On May 1s, 1861, Brother Llnflel'
made the following note: "Wh'le las
wear offered the occasion for prlvatio'
and liberality and was closed mos
eraciously, the excitement in the po
litical world, the dissolution OF the OF
Government, the preparations for wa
and the hardness of the times hav
furnished the occasions Of great trla
some $1,000 unpaid on church sui
scriptions, and the imposslbllity OF co co
lecting finds us in trying strait. II
ante-rooms of the basement are us'
as sewing rooms for the soldiers WI
are volunteering for the campaign
In 1862, the "short history" relate
New Orleans and Baton Rouge we
captured by the Federalists, and
Ration Rouge Methodist preach
BROTHER Cravens, was taken prison
- New Orleans. During the ye'
1863. 1864, and 1865, Baton Rouge v v
!, tho Federal lines, and no appol
ments were made to the charge
In 1871 Rev. R. S. Trippett was
rointed to Baton Rouge. He
vised means, he states in a short
try, to pay the church out Of
heavy Indebtedness, to raise money
new door in the basement ano
n.int the spire. In 1890, DR.. j.
Parker writes, about $1,000 was 81 !
upon the church in having it repl
cred and refrescoed. He also rem' .
that in 1891 "a lot Of ground at
corner of America and Favrot St. },
v.s purchased. The lot was pa'o