Imperial Valley press., 1922-03-30
SOClETY-CLUBS-LODGES
IMPRISONMENT
H. S.
ATTENDANCE GOOD
AT RECEPTION
AT CHURCH

Attendance at the reception to mem
bers last night ut the State street
church was good, a hundred or more
coming in time for the 6 o clock dinner
which was served by the Woman $
Bible class of the Sunday school. A
most sunptuous dinner, it was too, and
all did full justice to it.
Community Singing
The program opened with cOmmuni-
ty singing led by J. H. Carmichael.
Messrs. Harry Maddox, J. II. Carmich-
ael, S. O. Lingo and A. f. Worthy sang
most effectively 'The Little Brown
Church in the Vale,'' and the pastor
led in devotions, giving short sermon
on an appropriate text with adm0nitions
10 the new members of which there are
over forty. Mrs. Campbell was re-
auested to give a brief history of the
state street church and events leading
up to the building of the present place
IN which the congregation holds its
services.
Mrs. A. G. Campbell, Mrs. Ira Aten
md Mrs. Nancy Bowman are all that
ire left of those members who were
here at the beginning of things. Mrs.
Campbell told of the first religious
service ever held in FL Centre. 1t was
conducted in the Franklin hotel which
vas the first house in FL Centre,
moved here from Imperial, the entire
population attended, and it was small
audience at that, she said. But out of
This beginning, grew the first church
N the city, which held its meetings in
the Opera House, one of the first build
ings constructed. 1t is now the Palace
theater. Here all of the church people
met for religious teaching and worship
with DIR. Shepard as the minister. Be-
fore that others had preached intermit-
tently. Though, as is usual in new com
munities, there were many distractions,
baseball being the favorite pastime
md biggest counter attraction on Sun,
lays, but the religious services We're
well attended and there were well de-
tined plans for big institutional
church in which people of all denom-
nations would worship and all enjoy
It's privileges.
Other Churches Built
However, denOminationalism devcl-
opcd in due time, and first one and
then another of the denominations
went off to themselves, building little
churches about the city until all were
out of the union except the Christian
church people, who continued for some
time to conduct the Union Sunday
school, but who were unable to call u
preacher, and were reluctant to start
another UNCONVENTIONAL church in the
little town with it's very small popula-
ton.
Finally they were compelled either
to disband or take steps for an organ
lzatlon of their own. With the help of
Mr.. w. +. Holt. and Mr.. Colson, the
lots ut the corner of State and Fifth
were acquired and the church as it now
is, was built after more or less siren
aous efforts and no little sacrifice. The
project was the direct outcome of the
determined influence Of three women,
Mrs. j. H. Tout, Mrs. Ira Aten and
Mrs. Campbell, together with the sub
stantial backing of w. y. Holt. Mrs
Tout died before the church was com
pleted but the other two women saw to
it that a memorial window bearing her
name centered the front end of bull
ing to which she had looked forwar !.
during the first years in FL Centre. w..
u. COnley was pastor when the chul, i
was finally ready for occupancy aud
!aborcd faithfully for all that is hi~h.
est and best not only in the church at
in the community, until failing he lth
compelled him to leave tlfe city. ''he
COnley family lived here for NJ .rlv
eight years, being closely ident lied
with every activity in the develo, rent
of Ell Centre.
Mrs. Campbell gave many in mate
elimpses of life in this new cantrv
turing those early years, during Ter in.
formal address.
Other Talks Given
$. w. Leffingwell told of tie dis
tinctive things for which the c. ,istian
church stands and why he prefc..s it to
any other.
Mrs. $. O. Lingo who lie. Is the
Christian EndeavOr work and - active
in the Sunday school work tol of why
she is Christian and gave rreat en-.
to the new members, espe
'ially addressing her remarks to the
Young people who are just EN-, ering up-
on their Christian life. Thirt 7 or more
Of those who are now taking member
snip with the congregation e,me from
The Sunday school and CHI tian En-
ieavor societies The progr n closed
with "Blest BE the Tieo which was
sung with deep feeling, and an in.
Formal reception was held following the