The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-27

largest audiences that has ever graced the auditorium of the First Methodist church.
 Growth of Church
 He traced the growth of the church from the time 1t was estab- lished by pr. T. c. Slaughter in a little frame building at Twenty first street and Sixth avenue, north, at a total cost of s1 coo to the building of the present church edifice and Sun day school building at Sixth avenue l and Nineteenth street Those pio- neers builded well and securely, he l4oId his congregation, until today the church ranks first among all of the churches in the Methodist conference of the south-
 1 Before launching into his discus sion in detail Dr. Stuart made per Eonal talk to all of the older mem bers of the church and their descend ants. In naming the original official board of control, he asked all of those present who were related to any member thereof to stand up. I There were only two instances in which responses were made. The original board, as named by Dr. | Stuart. included J. W. Sloss, T. T. Hillnaan. C. P. Williamson, J. W. | Sears, Reuben Roberts, E. P. Greg
  Descendants of Mfr, Williamson and Mir. Lykes responded while Mrs. Francis was the only original char I ter member of the church. who was present at the half-century annfver- sary. Is Potent Force
 Dr. Stuart then launched into the i discussion of his text and brought out very forcefully the principles for | l founded and which, he stated, has kept it very potent force in the world. He outlined particularly the customs of the church, its mourners bench and the fact that it kept all ways alive the sacredness of the fam Lily altar He stated that the prin- cfpIes of the church will always live land that with due regard to it's bril- Iliant past and particularly the past Fof the First church of Birmingham the duty of all of those affiliated with it today Is to build an ever greater structure in the future or the achievements of the past.
 The progress of the First Methodist church has been extraordinary, pr IStuart stated. but as Paul told the church at Philippi the past must sim ply be put before the present church in order to achieve greater accom- pltSnfnenIS ln the luLurSs W udt tut First church of Birmingham has done, he stated, Is simply a pictoria Representation of what all of the churches in southern Methodism have done in the past 50 years. Southern Methodism, he said, has always looked to the First church at Bir- mingham as its leader and in al things that stand for the progress oi Methodism, it has stood first
 Growth of Church
 Dr. Stuart then outlined the growtf of the church in members and 1T equipment. From a handful of ar dent advocates. it has grown, ht pointed out, to a membership o more than 2,80o with an equipmen for church and Sunday school that il possibly better than any other churci in all of the United States.
 Prior to Dr. Stuart's address, Dr ], c. Morris, who was the first pas tor of the church in it's present build ing. made a short talk in which h. church to lay the foundation ol which the present structure rests, Hi talk was redolent with the early sac riffces made by the original pioneer who conceived and brought int, being the present organization. Whel he concluded. his talk was heartil, applauded.
 A special program of music wa rendered by the choir during tn service while at its conclusion pamphlet copies of historica sketch of the church written an, compiled by Dr. Morris were dis tributed to all of those who at tended.