The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1944-09-29

uHClIicdioA NihiNii, doiAiiE DdNk W
early settlers is most interesting,
and according to the memory of
some of its oldest residents, the
following has been CLEANED:
The church was organized in
year 1858 under the names of
East Paseagoula. and Mrs. w. H.
Myers, who has reached the adj
vanced age of SO and now lives
on the River road, is the only
surviving charter member.
There were seven families in
this locality at that time, and the
pastoral charge was in the Ala
bama Conference. The congrega-
ton worshipped in a log school
house, where the negro cemetery
is now located. The name of the
settlement and church was
changed to Moss Point, and some
of the early preachers Revs.
Bond, McAnn, Randall, Carter
and Fleming, all of the Alabama
Conference.
During the Civil War the ac-
tive work of the church was
greatly hindered, but soon after
the war the church was revived
and serving as pastors in 1868 to
1866 ere Revs. w. II. Carter
and M. E. Butt. From 1866 to
1871 no record of pastors has been
secured. Revs. w. B. Phillips, p.
H. Napier, Benjamin Jones, j. b.
K. Smith and George F. Thomp-
son served from 1872 to 1879.
During this period the growing
congregation moved from the lit
tie log school house to a school
house on the 1t where the resi-
dence of Mrs. c. w. Jackson is
now located.
Later the Methodists and the
Masons united and built a two
story building, the lower story
being used for church services
and the upper for Masonic meet
ings. This dilapidated building
was recently torn down and upon
this lot is now located the Young
Mems Business club. This place
of worship "a used by other de-
nominations until about 1876,
when the Presbyterians built
their present house of worship.
The year of 1880 marks a new
era in the history of the church,
and during the four-year pasto-
rate of Rev. j. M. Weems, a beau
tiful an dsubstantial frame church
was built, situated on the vacant
lot between the present church
building and the parsonage. In
1882 the building was dedicated
by Rev. c. w. Carter, DID, and
the following constituted the
Board of Trustees: The late Hon.
M. NJ. Evans, T. A. Coulson, ST.,
l.. N. Dantzler, VIM. Griffin, M.
Goff, and II. c. Vaughn. Here the
Methodist congregation worship
ed for 81 years. The following
pastors served during this period:
Revs. J. M. Weems, R. J. Jones,
j. P. Drake, L. Carley, c. A. Pow
ell, W. T. Adams, l. W. Cooper,
H. r. Singleton, J. E. Carpenter,
w. r. Bailey, H. w. Featherson,
c. w. Black, E. H. Mounger, w.
B. Lewis. T. B. Holloman, Robt.
Selby, w. M. Sullivan, and B.
F. Jones.
The year 1914 marks another
milestone in the records of the
Moss Point Methodist church, the
present beautiful edifice was
completed with the cornerstone
bearing the inscriptions. Erected
in Memory of their mother, Mrs.
Fran Dantzler, by her children"
These sons and daughters of the
late Mr.. and Mrs. l.. N. Dantzler,
ST., are Mrs. A. M. Cowan and
Mrs. George lizard of Mobile, Mrs.
Annie Bond of Nashville, Mr.. A.
F. Dantzler of Biloxi, Mr.. G..
Bruner Dantzler of Gulfport and
the late L. M. and J. L. Dantzler,
all formerly of Moss Point.
On Sunday, Nov. Is, 1914. the
Methodist congregation assem-
bled with those of the other
churches in the vicinity and many
out-of-town visitors. for the Ded-
icatorial Service by Bishop w.
A. Gambler. The occasion, be-
sides its impressive ceremonial
feature. was a benediction to the
great congregation assembled,
and the Spirit of the Most High
was felt throughout the entire
service.
AT the close of the sermon the
officials of the church. including
the late c. M. Farley. G. w.
Bowen. Fritz Colmer. H. D. Coul-
son. A. NJ. Cowan. o. c. Cowan.
j. W. Griffin. c. W. Jackson. j.
N. Rape. c. H. Wood and Julian
Stewart now living in Gulfport.
assembled at the front of the
altar, and the late G. H. Wood,
president of the official board.
presented the building to the
church, and immediately follow
ed the sacred dedication by Bish-
op Gambler, assisted by Rev. B.
F. Jones, pastor, and Rev. ". H.
Huntley. presiding elder.
The adfF4na ht,fIt arI .a..~rA