Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1922-11-03
r. f. MOOR. FATHER OF MASONRY.
CHRISTIAN LEADER LAID 10 REST


AfIln ans larry Ire
Riehafd Edward Moore was born
Ia arowpevilie. Pennsylvania, Feb
raafy E, 1850; his parents were
William ard haieieti Coleman Moore
When seven years oof age, he vas
brought to Chicago ~ parents and
entered 10 The Old Jones school
where he latef completed MS elemen-
fa.y education. His early life was
orc Of sufdious preparation for tte
great work he seemed 70 know lay
aEcad of hibr to perform.
SIS Church Lie
In February. 1871, Mr. Moore
joined Bethel a. NJ f. church Of
which lfs mother was member and
an organizer The church was then
located on Third Avenue between
Taylor and 18th streets On the
rebuilding Of the old church after
the second great Chicago fire, he
assisted in laying The corner stone.
At the time h was serving as
Captain Of lhe Hannibal Guards, the
only eolofcd military company 10 the
state Of Illinois at that time.
This commission was awarded to
him by. the governor of the state
and had the distinction of being the
first military award given TO col
orcd man in the state Of Illinois. On
this occasion, October II, 1873, just
forsy-seven years 10 the day he dies,
Captain L. f. Moore in command
Of the Hannibal Guards furnished
the escort to the Masons of Chicago
who oflie'esea At the laying OF the
eorger stone.
Sunday School Superintendent;
Shortly after joining the church
he was made superintendent OF his
Sunday school and succeeded himself
in this ollice for twenty-six conseeu-
tive terms, making total Of thirty
nine invaluable years Of sers-ee ren-
aercd 10 the children and young
people of his church. He made
Bethel Sunday school the grandest
and most widely known IN the con
nection. The majority of the con
trbutions Of Bethel church To soei-
esv have been made from the Sunday
school under Mr.. Moore's admin
istration. From the Sunday school
have come stewards, stewardesses,
choir leaders, Christian Endeayor Of
iieers and workers, orators, and
ministers, missionaries all OF whom
have gone forth following the CLEAN
that had been held before them by
their beloved leader and suerinten-
dent
Writes Church History
With Mr.. Moore it was not a mat
ter of keeping up to the standard in
Sunday school work-he set the
standard and other schools church
superintendents and stewards, he
was asked to write the history Of the
church covering fifty-three years of
time. On account of his facinating
little volumes THE History of Beth
el Church, it is possible for the
present generation to look back with
inspired vision upon the lovely be-
ginning and behold the rapid and
wonderful progress of the church
that is now the great Bethel.
On his little book, DR.. j. w. Jeni-
fer, photographer OF the A. NJ. Il.
church wrote, The History of Bethel
Church, Chicago, Illinois, By Z. E.
Moore in its makeup, elearness of
statement Of facts, as well as its sub
ject-A historic narrative of the
founding and growth of that great
organization, will be found very en-
tightening TO such as would be in
formed as to the chief events and
actors in the early history of Afri-
can Methodism in Chicago"
Just before his death Mr.Moore
nearly completed fuller and larger
history Of the church, which justly
makes Bethel church, all African
Methodism and the race his debtors.
FrAternai and Social Service Pro.
For more than forty-five years,
Mr.. Moore has been an active mem-
ber of the Masonic Fraternity serv-
ing in nine branches Of the Order.