Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-08-02
THE REALIZATION OF A DREAM-BOONE
METHODISTS OPEN SPLENDID CHURCH
Splendid New Building Opened on
Last Sunday Surpasses Any
Other in Northwestern Region
(By Col. Fred A. Olds.)

The handsomest church in the six
mountain counties of Ashe, Alleg-
hany, Watauga, Avery, Yancey and
MITCHELL the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South in Boone, was opened
on Sunday. In January 1920, the idea
was conceived and the following sum-
mer work began, under the ministry
of Rev. j. R. Walker. The church is
OF design which meets every re-
qulrement and is in the finest taste.
1t represents an outlay of $4,000.
and so great has been the church
spirit and the public spirit also that
the debt is but trifle.
The opening services Sunday
morning were marked by splendid
weather, congregation which em-
braced representatives from three
quarters of the state, with some from
other states, and the program, ad-
mlrably arranged, was carried out in
a most spirited way.
After prelude on the piano by
Mrs. A. E. South the congregation
bowed in silent prayer with the
four ministers present. The Dox-
ology was sung, the singing under
the direction of Miss Clara J. Nc
Cauly of Chapel Hill, teacher of
vocal music at the Appalachian Train
ing School, many of the members of
which were in the choir, the others be-
ing in the audience. The stirring
hymn, "Old Hundred" was sung, the
Apostles Greed was recited, and
prayer was offered by Rev. j. D.
Rankin of the Apalachpian School,
concluding with the Lords Prayer, in
which the congregation joined. The
pastor, Rev. G. C. Brinkman, read the
122nd Psalm, the congregation re-
spending. Rev. j. M. Downum, of
the Appalachian School, read the
lesson from the New Testament, the
choir sang an anthem and then the
Sermon -wass- PREACHER by Pastor
Brinkman, who took as his theme
Gods command to King Solomon to
build the Temple at Jerusalem, as a
permanent House of God. He set
forth in fervid language the fact that
God demands respect for Himself and
for His House, loves those who fol-
low this demand and Furnishes those
who do not respect Him and His
place of worship, where He is invisi-
bly, present.
Rev. j. R. Walker, the beloved pas
tor who started the building, spoke
of the beginnings, the trials and tri-
bulations during the years, and Of
the splendid church, so fine in design
and workmanship, which has crown
ed the hopes. He offered prayer and
then the dear old hymn "How Firm
a Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord
was sung, and Pastor Brinkman pro-
nounced the benediction.
A bountiful dinner was served on
the church lawn, in the brilliant sun
shine, in this lovely amphitheatre of
the mountains, and was delightful
feature of memorable day in Boone
and the religion roundabout. In
the afternoon Rev. j. R. Walker,
preached a special sermon and dis
cussed the meaning of such church
as this, which represents the desire,
the zeal, the perseverance, the pray
ers and the generosity of a whole
community. He spoke Of the in
creased responsibility such church
carries with it. In the evening, the
Sunday School exercises were held,
these being featured as Children's
Day. The church really represents
the spirit Of the entire Boone COM
munity, without regard to denomina-