The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1922-03-24
The Growth of a Church
in Williamson, West Va.
tRy Ethel D. Roberts

I am sure that my friends In dear
old Lawrence will be interested In this
subject, and since the growth OF the
new Methodist Church South OF VIII
hanson Is somewhat In connection
with myself, that is, 1t has grown and
matriaiized since my coming here, will
try TO give same in detail.
I left the X. n. c. In September OF
1918 and took up my first work In this
little city. At that time EXPLANATIONS
were often heard to the effect that
with liberty bonds, war work. ETC..
the new church must be postponed"
However in the spring OF 1919 the ex-
cayatlng had begun and the foundation
was soon in. All through that year
the building went upward as fast as
material and workmen could be OBJ
tanned. The spring OF 1920 found US
within the walls of the new church,
but as yet very incomplete. With the
first service, urgent requests were
made for membership, however, since
the Easter season had passed, /, alone
was taken into the church and receive
ed the ordinance OF baptism on that
| day,
Progress was made rapidly that
year with the interior decorations etc.
and the spring OF 1921 found the build
ing complete and was dedicated. The
various divisions OF the building are
as follows:
The first floor liz divided into vesti-
bule, Sunday school assembly room,
kitchen and pantry. There Is a COM
plete assortment OF china. silver, etc,
10 cook for and serve two hundred
and fifty persons, the assembly room
being converted into a banquet hall
upon short notice. Here luncheons and
banquets are given TO the clubs and
social affairs connected with the
church. In the assembly room all pri-
mary grades of the Sunday school are
assembled and divided into various
groups: there are two pianos In this
department, one, purchased and used
by the Card class, another for the oth-
err primary departments.
The second iioor is divided into yes
thule, auditorium, ladies parlor and
pastors study. The adult department
of the Sunday school assemblies In the
auditorium for the opening services.
| In this room is piano used for the
Sunday school and pipe organ for
the church services. The ladies par
Elor needs special mention, as 1t Is ar
tistically decorated and beautifully
| furnished and arranged. Here the La
dies Aid Society, Ladies Missionary
Society and other meetings and va
rious classes are entertained.
The third floor Is divided into var
ious Sunday school rooms and bal
cony. The Sunday school rooms are
well arranged and furnished, where
the separate classes may assemble and
discuss thoroughly without interrupt
ton, their own themes Of the lessons.
The different departments OF the
Sunday school worked diligently for,
and purchased various equipment of
the church, the Ladies Missionary
Society purchased the silver, china,
etc. OF the cooking and serving de-
partment; the Ladies Bible Glass pur-
chased and selected carpets, seats,
pulpit furnishings. etc. Other depart
ments the various windows, etc, The
Swastika class OF which am a mem
Der, purchased and had installed the
pipe organ. In describing this will
use the pastors statement: "A thing
of beauty and joy forever"
Each and every member is very
proud OF this church which throws its
doors open to the traveller or who
ever will, may come and the spring
of 1922 is approaching with more
Methodsm evidenced than has ever
before been shown in our little city.
AS the audience assemblies, the choir
passes under the archway to their re-
spective places, the pastor comes forth