davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-12-29

woman reading this mes
sage today who hasn't wondered why
it is that some people die at as or SO
and others live to 70 and IS and 8O-in
full possession Of all their faculties
So far as science can reveal, there
seems to be no principle limiting life.
There are many good and bad rea-
sons why men die, but no underlying
necessary reason why they must die.
Carrel has kept tissue cells of ami
mails alive outside the body for years.
These cells are multiplying and grow
ing, apparently unchanged by ti1ne-to
all appearances immortal SO long as
they are periodically washed of poison
and nourished in proper medium.
If we could at intervals thoroughly
wash man free from his poisons, nour-
lsh him and protect him from infection
there seems to be no reason why he
should not live indefinitely.
That is theoretical, of course. 1t is
the impossible that will never happen.
And yet, within reasonable limits, it is
possible to add ten or fifteen years to
the life OF the average man or woman.
Not just years Of time, but full years
good years productive years
happy years-healthy years.
A great health movement is sweep
ing the world. Hygiene has repndiated
the tine-worn doctrine that mortality
is fatality and must exact year after
year fixed and inevitable sacrifice.
Science, which has revolutionized every
other field Of human endeavor, is at last
turning it's attention to the conserva-
tion Of health
New-York tribune., 1921-12-29

ture keeps her balances very accu-
rately, and in the end all claims must
be paid.
The truth is that person who has
so much vitality as to lead him to defy
the laws of health and to boast that he
pays no price, no matter how he lives,
is likely to be the very man to exhaust
his account of health prernaturely.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-29
Why Do People D;

HY do people dep That is
a very interesting question.
There is not a man or
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-05-20
Multiple Use of Rooms.

lhis l2odern plant is designed for the
multiple use of rooms, thereby meeting
NC terms of economy as well as fur
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-05-20
REV. JESSE LEE cUNINGGIM.

Much of the credit for the new build
ing which stands upon the corner of
Road and Church streets is due to the
efficient leadership and vision of Rev.
Jesse Lee Cuninggim, under whose pas
torate in the years 1916 and 1917 the
First Church congregation determined
to erect a modern plant fop the use of
the church. Near the close of the lat
ter year of his ministry in Elizabeth
City, by the hearty cooperation of many
of the Interested members, he led the
entire congregation to a high point of
enthusiasm for the new house of Wor-
ship. In campaign for funds rang
ing over eight days there were raised
by subscription sixty thousand dollars
for this new enterprise, payments of
which subscriptions were to be in tWen-
ty-f1Ve monthly instaIIments, beginning
January Ist, 1918. Following this sub
scrfption an architect was secured and
beautiful preliminary plans for the house
were drawn. 1t was then supposed that
the amount necessary to build such
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-05-20

| iasm which was needed in the coIIec.
tion of the subscriptions Waned, al
though it was insisted by the minister
and interested lay leaders that the pay
ments be regularly made In order to
have a fund for work when the opper-
tunity came to begin the actual con-
struction. During this waiting period,
it was discovered that the building plans
were not adequate TO meet the needs of
growing congregation aad that they
must necessarily. Do ensar1ed and re-.
Viseu. rms va ksssssrss tH HANDS 81
competent committee who, under the
leadership of the minister, worked away
at it during winter. All this meant
more labor, more money and greater
leadership, for instead of $4,000 plant,
it developed that by reason of the re-
vision and the Increased cost of build
ing because of higher u-ices for labor
and material the building would cost
about $L35,000
The work has soae on since its begin
ming in the latter paFs 99I9 with the
hearty cooperation OF minister and con.
gregation in a most remarkable, fashion.
Mr.. Ormond has always beeR patient
and hopeful in the ultimate completion
of the stupendous task by the end of
his fourth year, when 1t is planned to
entertain the Annual Conference and
dedicate the house to the worship of
God.
Reared in Greene county, N. c., on a
plantation, the present minister had
ample opportunity to learn the practical
side of life. His father died when he
was only sixteen years old and the re-
sponsibiIity of a family together with
the task of working out his own edu-
cation made it necessary for him to
practice the art of economy and diligent
labor. He graduated from Trinity Col
Iege in 1902 with a B. A. degree, and
from Vanderbilt University in 1910 with
the B. D. degree. Before coming to
First Church he has served respective
Iy the following charges: Leasburg Cir
cult, one year; HiIIsboro Circuit, four
years; Hertford two years.
Mr.. Ormond is passionateIy devoted
to the pastorate. Several times during
the recent years offers to enter other
kinds of ministerial labor have come to
him, but he has remained steadfast in
his ideal to serve the church as pas
tor. He loves his flock and enters into
the life of all those who are dependent
upon him for leadership in moral and
spiritual matters. His faith in the peo-
pie with whom he works is one of the
chief assets in the success which he has
enjoyed. His will be the happiest heart
ell IL nhon 1nE,o
the new house is set apart for Divine
worship at the session of the Annual
Conference.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-05-20
Beginnings of Methodism in The
Elizabeth Ctu District
By REV. r. II. WILLIS.

The writer does not claim for
this article anything like COM
pleteness. To give a complete
account Of the beginning OF
RIeti1odisrn in this section would
require more space than is al
lowed for this contribution, and
more time than has been given
in which to prepare it. All that
is attempted is the setting forth
of some of the most interesting
facts. rs
The earliest date connected with the
history of Methodism in these parts is
September %, 1772. About noon on that
day Joseph Pilmoor, one of the first
preachers sent by John Wesley to Amer
lea, preached in Currituck Court House.
This is said to have been the first SER
mon preached by Methodist preacher
in North Carolina. His text was, "He
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost
and with fire." In his congregation
were Episcopalians, Baptists and Pres
byterians, and the sermon made a pro-
found impression upon them. In his
journal Pilmoor says: 'God made His
word Like a hammer that breaketh the
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-05-20

there will have been spent not less thar
$15O,OOO. Not one cent has been Dor.
rowed thus far and perhaps less thar
$1,000 has been given by persons not
members of the First Church congre-
CATION. The house was begun in a time
of high prices and they SCARED still
higher for the first ten months, then
came a slump, the like of which has
perhaps never been witnessed by the
American people. Under all the chang
ing conditions the subscribers have
stood, lGsFa1iy by the enterprise, and
| they are to-day paying into the treas
ury at the rate of six thousand dollars
per month in order to keep the work
going. This same rate will have to be
! maintained till October the fifteenth, if
the work is to be finished without debt
! Many beautiful and expensive houses of
worship have been built upon borrowed
money or contributions made by friends
or Church Extension Boards, but to
erect such a house as the First Church
is building without this abundant out
side help and still without becoming in
volved under a large debt is something
unheard of in this section of the coun-
try. All honor to the sacrificing peo-
pie who are making this achievement
possible! The writer has seen quite a
number of illustrations of sacrifices on
the part of certain members of this
church which will stand out as some of
the most encouraging evidences of mill
tant Christianity ever witnessed.
The Dedication.
According to the custom of the Meth
odist Church, a house of worship can
not be dedicated before the house is
completed and the bills all paid. It is
indeed a noble yet not impossible goal
which the First Church congregation has
set for itself, viz: the dedication of this
new house of worship at the session of
the Annual Conference which will con-
vene here on the sixteenth of Novem-
Der. It is just sixty -four years since
the Virginia Annual Conference met
here for the first time. The Confer
ence held it's sessions in the new church
building and the house wass dedicated
on that occasion. Bishop George Fos-
ter Pierce presided and it is most like
ly that he performed the dedication GER
emony. DR.. James l.. Spencer was the
pastor-host of the Conference in that
historic year of 1857. 1t will be note
worthy coincidence if at this approach
ing session of the North Carolina Con-
ference this new and handsome build
ing can be Set apart by dedicatieaT--If
dedicated at the session of the confer
ence there would be unusual interest in
the possibility of attendance by so many
IL. e. N
ders who have given service here in the
city. At present all except one of the
pastors of the North Carolina Confer
ence who have been appointed to this
charge are living. There is one, and per-
haps more, of the Virginia Conference
pastors who served here, living.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-05-20
REV. JESSE MARVIN oRMoND.

The present minister at the First
Methodist Church is Rev. Jesse Marvin
Ormond. He was appointed to the
charge in December, 1917, and is now
serving his fourth year. Mr.. Ormond
had a rather difficult and delicate task
before him when he came to the PASTOR
ate of the First Church by reason of
the tremendous undertaking begun under
the leadership of his predecessor, and
also because of the stress and strain
of the great world war, which in large
degree stood like a stone wall in the
way of all progressive action inthome
affairs. The first payment on the sub
scriptions made few months before
was due January lst, 1918, just one
month after his arrival on the field. No
building projects could be started under
the rulings of the U. S. Government DUR
ing the war, hence much of the enthus-
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-05-20

house as the congregation needed was
provided for in the subscription already
made.
About the time of these stirring
events in the First Church Mr.. Gun
inggim received an attractive offer of
the chair of Religious Education in the
Southern Methodist University, Dallas,
Texas. Feeling so keenIy the Divine
call to the proposed field of labor, he
asked the presiding Bishop for an ap-
txolstmehk il Hiatt fastEtnfioH, which took
him away from the peetorats In tke
city and from - congregation whose
grief at his going was intense.
Mr.. Cuninggim is still a member of
the North Carolina Conference which
he Joined in the year 1895, being re-
ceived at the Annual Conference ses-
sion which convened in the First
Church, Elizabeth City, that year. He
is graduate of the University of North
Carolina, received the degree of B. D..
at Vanderbilt University and did post
graduate work for three years at the
University of Chicago. He is the faith
er OF the Correspondence School of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and
vas for number of years Director of
that school. He also instituted the
department of Ministerial Supply and
Training for the church and was profess
sor of Religious Education at Wander
biIt University several years.
He is expected TO be here to attend
the session of the Annual Conference
which meets November 18th, and par
ticipate in the dedication ceremonies.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-05-20

nishing more shapely and comfortable
rooms for the class work of the Sun
day School than is the ability of the
out-worn Akron plan. When the organ
ization has been completely worked out
as designed by this building and the
modern plan of the Sunday School work,
each church group will have a section
of the house in which it can multiply
| it's activities and exercise all the re-
! ligious inclinations of the individual de-
partments. The Young Peoples depart
ment, for example, will be the most log
ical place for the meetings of the Ep-
worth League, the mems class rooms
will become a sort of mems centre at
the church where they can hold such
conferences as they may from time to
time desire, the Ladies' Parlors may be
used also for the ladies' class rooms or
other activities of their group, and
each can have such furnishing and
conveniences as will best serve the needs
of the several groups.
Two Offices have been provided on the
north side Of the building which can be
used for Pastors study, Choir Room,
double Offices or class rooms, as the
needs may demand.
Such items as the installing of con-
ducts and wiring for purposes of vac
uum cleaning, lantern and picture ma
chimes and electrical call bells, seven or
eight lavatories and toilets have not
been omitted in the plans.
Present Status of the House.
The Sunday School end of the build
ing is nearer completed than the front
or church auditorium. A corps of work
men are busy finishing up the inside
work as rapidly as possible at present.
The beautiful art glass windows have
been ordered and will be shipped in
few days for the rear section of the
house and a little later for the front
section. The heating plant, pews, Or
gan. and other furnishings, are being
ordered out as rapidly as the needs re-
-uuire. There is ample time for the work
to be completed before November 10th,
unless some unforeseen difficulty should
arise.
The Heroic Labors of the Congregation.
If there has ever been in the obserVa-
ton of the writer such an illustration
of heroic effort and determined strug-
gle against difficulties to accomplish
great task for the Church as the First
Methodist Church congregation has DEM
onstrated in this erection of new build
ing. it is not recalled. The enterprise
has been financed upon the voluntary
subscriptions of the members of the
church, with a very few appreciated con-
tributions by persons outside the mem
bership. By the time of completion
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-05-20

A Modern Plant.
This is not an institutional church, as
we have generally regarded such build
ings, but it is designed upon modern
ideas of church organization and work
The church auditorium is modelled af-
ter the fashion of the best houses OF
worship to be found in church arch1tec-
ture of the present day. The main floor
will seat four hundred and fifty persons,
while the beautiful horseshoe balcony
will seat three hundred persons. If all
the available space is used it would be
possible to accommodate a maximum of
nine hundred to one thousand. Inc
thought Of beauty, comfort and worship
fulneSs has been uppermost in the build
ing Of this auditorium.
y large social hall is provided be-
meath the church auditorium on the
ground floor with modern equipment for
serving the social needs of a large con-
gregati0u.
The Sunday School.
The Sunday School has had a large
place in the mind of those who made
church auditorium by a corridor is the
main floor of the Sunday School assem-
bly, hall. This plan is departmental
throughout By this is meant that each
Of the seven departments of the mod
ern Sunday School organization Will
have separate apartments for worship
as Well as for instruction. In addition
TO this it is provided that all the de-
Fartmcnts can assemble for purposes OF
Inspiration and announcements. 1t is
worried ont upon the basis of an actual
attendance Of from eight hundred to one
thousand. which will care for an enroll
ment Of larger number. And each de-
par.lneLt is estimated upon the. same
general basis with ample provision for
each coup.
There will be three departments on
'Ae ground floor, which is not below the
grade level and which will therefore be
IS beautiful and comfortable as any part
u Tie building. These departments are
Tie I'esinners, Primary and Junior. On
The first Or main floor two departments
VII! be served, viz: The Young Peoples
"Ao Adult. On the second floor there
arc he Intermediate and Senior DEPART
-'ht'. These have small assembly rooms
"i" elass rooms separated by non-moV-
"'ie partitions. The members of these
Two groups do not go down stairs for
Ue general assembly, but pass out into
d beautiful balcony in the rear, which
may De done in a few moments.
Multiple Use of Rooms.
lhis I5odern plant is designed for the
multiple use of rooms, thereby meeting
"'e terms of economy as well as fur
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-05-20
4 elimination of Cherished Hopes
and Heroic Efforts
BY REV. j. M. oRMoND.

The handsome church building illustrated here and which
under construction the
Elizabeth of the cherished
of the of the First Methodist Church
order of church building for this
the country whether be from the standpoint magnhcence
appearance Of adaptabiy
needs working congregation It is the best example of
northeastern Carolina. The
this house the twentysxt day Of September 1919
has seriously interrupted several the
conditions Failure material
financial world have initiated
of the work Notwithstanding
which church aboed still
building time for the
the enextA Conference November 16, 1921.
The Little River news., 1921-05-21
Arkinda News.

Arkina, May 19.-(SpeciaD-C. B. Dover was here Wednesday on busi- ness.
 Tax Assessor H. w. Gray was here the 18th and 18th assessing taxes.
 A stranger passed through here this week enroute to Northern Arkansas, and stopped long enough to inform the people of this place that another war would start July 25. He said it would be the worst war in the history of time. He claimed to be advised by God himself direct of all he claimed to tell. He said it was sin to eat meat of any kind also sin to wear leather wool garments. He said it he pur- chased a garment with pearle buttons on it he cut them off and placed rice buttons in their places. We suppose he never did read about Christ's shoes, and about the leather birdie that John the Baptist wore. And where they fed the multitudes on fish, and where they killed the fatted calves. He said he had taken the leather binding off of his bible. We believe in having and doing good, but a fellow might get too good.
 Mrs. D. Green and children moved to Arkinda few days ago.
 The King Rider singing class will be with us on Sunday the 29th. May be it won't rain or anything else bother so we can have a good$inging.
The Little River news., 1921-05-21
cerro Gordo News,

Cerro GordO May l9.-(oPeclalj Ouire a number of people ot oLhei nlaces are attending the meeting here'
 MT. hicks has returned to his nome in uoratio as the berry harvest Is over. c. of
 Miss Elain Brown spent Sunday at Mrs. A. J. Babcocks.
 Mrs. Miller of this place made pus- mess trip to Foreman Saturday.
 Mrs. Golden was visiting III fore- man Saturday and Sunday.
 Ed Babcock of Horat1o spent Ine week end here with friends.
 Ouite a few young peopie are con- fessing and turning over on the Loru side at Shis place. Everyone says the meeting is the grandest they ever attended. |.
 Mrs. George Strawn was called to Texarkana Wednesday to be with her sick daughter. Miss Bettie StraWn, who is seriously sick
 Little Eva BabcOck has returned home from Ashdown.
 Everybody is invited to come and attend our meeting.
 Mrs. A. J. Babcock was shopping ln Winthrop Tuesday
 Messrs. George Brazil, John Guess, and Dr. Harvey made business trip to Ashdown Monday.
 Mrs Dr. Chase spent several days here picking berries to can.
 Mrs. George Brazil has been visiting at Pauley this week.
The Little River news., 1921-05-21
King Rider News.

King Rider, May 19.-(Speclai) oon,a fine weather now, and the 1arh- CTS are making use of II. ose
 Quite a few from here went 'o ae'o'S taxes Wednesday in Arklnoa' a Q
 The King Rider ball team pudav pray match game with ArKllloa oa.a +h;s The team has played two gaihes 'N'> season. and won one ana lost on1
 We noticed in the editorial coiunn of inc News how are your chichene Us. Well our chickens are all rlsh'' o"' fhev happen to be all roosters.
 Evans Brothers set out stra"peilS ,,onts this week. Quite few are pe- ing set out now. o;c +o
 W wright said he was gong tu .++end the all day singing at Oah crove the first Sunday and carry some new song books with hlm: ., ..o,a
 We hone that everybody Will attehu the school election Saturday we nope thev won't forget the date, pu. "s have a few men in our ne1gnporhooo that are very forgetfui: o++or
 The King Rider ball team ettel Lnown as the King Rider ChuMp ? Heads played a game at Winthrop la las. Saturday and lost the sahie ost score was 15 to 2. Errors causeu noS@ of the runs. There was only 1our lee. ulars in the line up. The scores we.e made by c. Dover, second passinnn 1ar He did excellent work at pat anu ai'' base running. , ,rhurs- day. ..;o ,rook
 Arch Dover is farming this week.
The Little River news., 1921-05-21
MIR. PARKS HAS A BILL
Arkansan Would Prohibit Sale
 Cotton in Futures Market.

Washington, D. C., May 1S.-Rep- resentative Tillman B. Parks of Ar kansas introduced bill in the House today to prohibit the sale of cotton in future markets. The bill is simi- lar to the one introduced by Senator Caraway, except that it has eliminat- ed the provision for control of grain exchanges which was covered in a bill passed by the House last week. The Parks bill would prevent the use of the telegraph, telephone or mails for the transmission of messages rela- tive to the sale for future delivery of cotton when it is not intended that the cotton shall actually be delivered or received.
The Little River news., 1921-05-21
Wilton News.

Wilton, May 19.-(SpeciaD- Mrs. s. P. Moseley returned Thursday from Texas, where she has been visiting relatives.
 The Richmond baseball team motor- ed over Tuesday where they were vic- toriCus ma game. The score was ten to eleven.
 Mrs. Grace Gorham IS visiting in Fl Dorado this week.
 Mrs. Luther Clark and Miss Thelma Lott of Ashdown were, visitors here Sunday.
 Several from here attended the clos ing exercises of the school at Hicks.
 MT. and Mrs. John O'Neal and Mrs. Grace Gorham were shopping in Tex arkana Saturday.
 Jim Thompson returned Monday to ElDorado.
 Misses Louise Can't and Sallie Nave Pipkin are visiting in Foreman, the guests of Mrs, Bun Conger.
 Mrs. Hazel Mckinney of Texarkana Visited her parents, Mir and Mrs. Will Rainey, Saturday night and Sunday.
 Mrs. Grady Vaughan and Mrs. V.L. Pipkin were shopping in Ashdown Thursday.
 Miss Mary TyndalI has been the guest of Miss Eva Pettigrew.
 Grady Vaughan and John O'NeaI were here Saturday from Haynesville, Louisiana.
 MT and Mrs. Ed Walker of Ben Lo- mond visited here Saturday night and Sunday.
 Mrs. D. w. Wheeler and daughter, Mrs. John O'Neal were in Ashdown Monday afternoon.
 Several from here attended the ball game at AshdOwn Wednesday,.