Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-26
CONTENTS OF CORNER STONE,
BURIED 81 YEARS AGO, ARE
UNEARTHED AT MEADOW CITY
Interesting Relics Are Brought to Light AS
the Result of Destruction of the First Bap-
list Church By Fire; Congregation Was
"SmaIl But Full of Faith"
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO MORNING soRNA1)


Las Vegas N. NJ. Feb. 25.-Con-
tents of the corner stone of the
First Baptist church, destroyed by
fire early this month. disclose that
the congregation, when the build
ing was erected, in May, 1885. was
small but full of faith" Among
other things in the corner stone
was a history of the congregation,
written by Rev. M. II. Murphy.
who organized the church at Otero,
NJ NJ, az ian arm Of the Baptist
church in Trinidad. Colo" and
saw II develop into a "body" in a
fully functioning church organiza-
ton at Las Vegas.
The whole town of Otero, which
was in Colfax county a few miles
south Of Ration, was moved to Las
Vegas in so when the railway
building gang ceased to use Otero
as a base.
Mr.. Murphy found a few Bap-
lists ut Otero in May. 1879, inelud-
ing Father Coville Mr.. and Mrs. c.
p. Hovey and daughter and I+r.
and Mrs. John Ward. In January,
1880, he visited the members of his
flock, who had removed to Las
Vegas, and found that they were
holding Sunday school and prayer
meeting regularly at the home of
Mr.. and Mrs. r. IT. Hamilton. Rev.
Thomas Harwood, n Methodist
missionary, occasionally held serv-
ices for the Baptists, and young
layman, Homer NewberrY. gave
valuable assistance. On January
81, 1880. Mr.. Murphy began his
pastorate, having been called to
the church. He had an organiza-
ton consisting of fourteen constit-
uent members. The congregation
worShiped in a small building on
Sixth street, which it called "the
chapel" and which later was sold
to ]. s. Elston for $1,000. when the
new church was built. Mr., Murphy
began his work with q three weeks
revival which was fruitful The
little congregation grew for time
and then later was struck hv adj
versity when people began moving
away from Las Vegas with the
progress of the railroad south and
west. and because Of a stuallpox
scare. At one time the member
ship dropped to five.
Revs. Potter and Cohenour were
pastors during the depression. The
Rev S. German, who had been n
Baptist missionary in New Mexico,
1S52-62, and who had retired from
the hard work Of the mission fields,
was called and accepted the pastor
ate, with the consent of the home
mission board. Mr.. German at
once began raising money for q
new church. and on May %. 1885,
the corner stone was laid In spite
of his venerable age, Mr.. Gocman
gave the church such good service
that It has ever since been strong
and virile organization.
At the laying of the corner stone
the principal address was given by
Rev. James Fraser. pastor of the
First Presbyterian church.
Among the contents of the cor
ner stone was a copy of the Las
Vegas Daily Optic for Wednesday
MAY Of, 1885. The paper was of
four pages and filled with local and
territorial news. In typographical
appearance it was pleasing, and
contained few errors. r. A. Kist-
Ter was editor and owner. Mr.. Kist-
Ter, once brilliant journalist. died
about ten years ago, down and
out"
Advertisements in the paper
show that in 1885 the First Ma
tional bank had an authorized cap-
ital of 100000. of which 100000
was paid in, and surplus OF $780,
900. The San Miguel National
bank, which has since been merged
with the First, had an authorized
capitalization of 100000. of which
$4,000 was paid in. and surplus of
S25,000, with individual profits OF
$4,000. The officers were M s.
Otero president: Jacob Gross. vice
president; NJ. A. Otero, Jr., who
later was governor of the territory
cashier.
Some of the advertisements In
the old Ontic were those of the fol-
lowing attorneys: Lee & Short,
Frank Springer, who now spends
most of his time at the national
museum at WASHINGTON; Louis
Sulzbacher, now of Kansas City;