Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-12-11
FIRST
IN STRUCTURE
ON SUNDAY
Completion of Build
ing Marks New Ep-
och For Oldest Pro-
testant Church

since NAY 4 luiS year the city has
seen the beginning and completion
Of n of the most completely APP
pointed churches in this section, sit
uated at the corner Of Palm boule-
wards and Elizabeth street.
Its congregation, established in
1919, when Rev. Daniel Baker, ID. D.
came from Point Isabel, the church
has grown steadily with minor set
backs until today it has ar enrolled
congregation Of 230. Rev.. Baker,
who followed close upon the heels
Of the Catholic padres, the first mis-
Eionaries 20 this part of the country,
laid the beginnings of Presbyterian
ism here so that with the coming OF
Rev. Chamberlain in 1850 the task OF
establishing a local church was al
ready well under way.
The final services were held last
Sunday in the old church which still
stands on the same spot, corner OF
Elizabeth and Ninth streets, where
IL was originally built just n years
ago. During the '70s a tornado dam
aged the church, but IL was rebuilt
Rev. Chamberlain remained as pas
tor is years, longer than n other
minister has remained here in that
capacity, and not only was he de-
voted TO the church work, but was q
great help in the reconstruction
work after the Mexican war and in
the progress Of this part Of the
state.
AIDS BUILDING FUND
His daughter, Mrs. Richard King
who died at the King ranch near
K~ingsville about four years ago, was
a charter member Of the church and
remained a loyal friend to the
church Of her fathers foundation
until her death. Among her papers
was found a statement leaving SILL
100 toward the building fund for the
new church.
Rev. Chamberlain was not only
active in church work here but was
the first w~orshipful master CT the
Rio Grande lodge No. 81, A. I. 4 A
vi. and was district deputy grand
master Of the lodge of the state ii
Texas az the time he died on Nov
4, 1866.
Another early worker in connec-
t.on with the local church was Miss
Melinda Rankin. who came 70
Brownsville in 1852 Just two years
after Rev. Chamberlain. She es-
tablished n school for Mexican girls
in 1854 on Washington street and
three years later went into Mexico
where she became the first bearer
Of the Protestant faith into the
northern part of that country. AS q
result OF her untiring efforts four
teen missions were established an
the territory she visited
During the times of depression N
the sos Prof. I. Il. Barbour came 4
the church and was instrumental N
keeping interest in the church from
Establish Sunday School
In 1903 DIR. S. II. Bell moved tc
Brownsville with his family and es.
tablished a Sunday school and serveC
6 superintendent until 1872, a
which time he retired from active
service in the school. Tributes from
many friends of Brownsville stats
that he deserves more credit thar
nyone for keeping the Protestant
faith alive in the Rio Grande Vale,
during those times. His three child
rem. Florence. Henry. and 5. Ii
Bell, Jr.. are ell residents q
Brownsville.
The other pastors who followed il
succession after Rev. Chamberlain
were Rev. w. J. Porter. Rev. J. y
Schiltz, Rev. A. n. Graybill, d. ID.
Rev. ]. W. Grsyfill, Rev. w. {. Eos
ter. j. w. Skinner, ID. d., Rev. w. M
Lafranee, ID. D.. X. l.. Olfield, Rev
w. A. Ross, Rev. w. r. Thorburn
Rev. r. G. Cannon, ID. D., Rev. ]. g
NJ. Ramsey, Rev. A. II. McNaiT, an
the present pastor. Rev. 4. Il. Day
Who has been with this churcl
since October ], 1920, coming her
from Delphi. Ind.
The principal speaker for thil
evenings services at the new churcl
will be Rev. j.. W. Skinner. one o
the former pastors who came 70 TIT
church in that capacity in 1908
Some OF his other church work cor
sisted in conducting missionary worl
across the border among the Mexican
reople. AZ present he is president o
the Texas-Mexican Industrial lnsti
tu.e nj Kingsvilie where he is con
tinuing the work in the Presbyterian
church. the school being an eStab
lishment Of that denomination.
When the present pastor, +. J
Day, came to the Valley, the churcl
enrolment was only 80 and In III
years following his arrival in DC
fober, 1920. from Indiana. the churcl
has steadily grown until today tn
congregation stands at $50. Cele
hrating its diamond jubilee Octobe
4. 1925. azd ~prolonginE the celebra
tion seven days. the church at tina
time boosted n membership Of zoo.
Turning 70 the history Of the new
church building. rlsns for q new
adifice had been in the minds Of tn
congregation for several years al
though no definite steps We're q
toward the project until May is
1925. at which time . committee wa
named 10 select the site for the new
structure. The lot upon which IN
cid building stands was deemed TO-
small for the needs Of the growinl
congregation. so IL was sold and III
present location purchased.
The ground for the new churcl
was broken the first Of May In 1927
and excavation work began at once
fnyinr Of the corner stone. was he'll
July IL, with Rev. Z. +. Day OF
ficiating and Rev. Skinner assisting
From that time on the construction
went rapidly forward and the build
ing IL finished except for some min
church Officers and Committees
Session-Rev. Emmett T. Day
Moderator; j. A. Russell. Clerk: ID
r. II. Bell, A. N. Tandy. T. A. Boory
r. II. Cowan. W. r. Miller. s. W. Nc
Kerxie. Prof. G.. r.. Mooshart-
peacons-H. VI. SHELTON, chairman
r. ~ nodd. secretary-treRSurer; j. Il
patselI. s. II. Bell. Jr.. Cleve Tandy
n q Iamherth. W. III. Huffman. r. 7
erhuarz. n. Mathers- r. T. Harris
Trustees-Dr. s. II. Bell. Clyd
Tarfv ". II. Clay.
Sunday School-Cleve Tandy, SUP