The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-07

|pecLeQ TO dLtGIlQ Ille ll1eGIlILS LnOSe
who plan to be present have been
asked to notify Mrs. S: H. Coward,
church hostess, not later than to-
wife called on Mrs. Shearin and
inquired about the church furni-
ture, as to it's availability and
price. Mrs. Shearin offered to give
the furniture to the Leland church,
stating that she would much
rather it be used for the Lord than
to remain idle. Since this church
near Castle Hayne which had been
abandoned, was once used as a
sort of mission station by the First
Baptist church Of Wilmington,
it was necessary to get the re-
lease and approval of the First
church before the furniture could
be moved. This may not have been
necessary, but it was at least ethi-
cal. Mrs. Shearin gave all the
furniture including the pulpit Bible
and organ to the Leland Baptist
church free. Only God knows what
this gift meant to this little strugg-
ling church, and surely God will
richly reward Mrs. Shearin for her
kindness and help.
Later another pulpit Bible was
donated by Mrs. W. S. Edwards
and family.
The Wrightsboro Baptist church,
where the Rev. and Mrs. H. S.
Strickland held their membership,
donated the church bell. This
church has already given $50 to
the Leland church. and had shown
wonderful spirit of cooperation
all the way. For all these gifts the
church was and is most grateful.
The church made every pay
ment on time to R. T.. Williams.
In fact. the Indebtedness was paid
off ahead Of time. Much sacrifi-
cial giving was made by the small
membership. 1t was found out af-
ter the church was paid for, that
the pastor had served the church
during the time of indebtedness
without remuneration for his SER
vices. He had an arrangement
with the church treasurer. R. v.
Williams, whereby the treasurer
would be certain to shake hands
with the pastor before he left the
church yard, SO that the money
given to the pastor could be re-
turned to the treasurer without the
members knowing it.
The WOODBURY. Presbyterian
church was a great benefactor in
the early trying times of the
struggling Baptist church at Le-
land. The WOODBURY. Presbyterian
church has secured electric lights
for their church and gave the ALA
din lighting equipment to the Lee
land church. This equipment was
later passed on to another church
after the Leland Baptist church
had installed electric lighting taci-
lities. Thus we see the fine spirit
of cooperation manifested by tne
brethren regardless OF church af-
filiation.
The Leland Baptist church was
organized with a membership of
IL. Nine other members were re-
celved the first year by baptism.
The 1914 church letter to the Viii.
mlngton association showed a to-
tai membership of 179. This num-
Der will be even greater in the
l945 minutes. The pastors salary,
as shown by the 1926 minutes, was
$lOO. for the year. The
1914 minutes shows the pastors
salary for the past year as being
$l,Ol0. The total gifts for all pur-
poses for the year Of 1926 were
$l74.6O The total gifts as shown by
the 1914 minutes were $3,219.87.
Inc total enrolment of the SUNDAY
ocnool IN 1926 was 70, with an av-
erage attendance of 40. The 1914
minutes show a total enrolment of
loo, with an average attendance of
70. Thus you see the growth of the
Leland Baptist Church.
The Leland Baptist church has
mad three pastor including the pre-
sent pastor. They are: The Rev.
II. S. Strickland, who served for
something over IA years; the Rev.
l.. r. Jordan, who served about
two years, and the present pastor.
the Rev. Woodrow W. Robbins.
who began his work with the
church in 1912.
Such family names as the Will
Hams, Edwards, Picketts, Seasons
Chlnnis, HUMANS and Ganeys and
others are familiar names AMONG
the old timers.
The church now has buildino
fund for the purpose of BUILDING .
new brick structure to the glorv
OF God as soon as practical.
Thus a growing church with
mol heritage faces the future un-
der the leadership of the present
pastor, the Rev. Mr.. Robbins
seeking those whom she NAV min
sister unto in the Masters name
Forward march