The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-05-12
History OF Key West Church OF
Christ Dates From June 7. 1912
Lawrence B. Hood
Is Oldest Member:
Williorns Collins
Is Minister

.s'-rhc history Of the Key West
Church of Christ dates from June
Il 1912 when eleven persons as
sen1bled for the first worship SER
- vice in the Monroe County Court
= Room. None of the original or
charter members of the congrega-
ton are now living in Key West.
Lawrence p. Hood, 9l6 Seminary,
has been with the congregation
longer than any of the present
members and has been an out
standing leader and worker in the
purchase of property and ercc-
ton OF church structure located
on hShby avenue, just off Flagler
street. at Won Phistcr. In coopera-
ton With largely transient mem
berShip, Mr., Hood has untiringly
laborcd to sec that the church had
a comfortable and suitable place
in which to worship God. The
cong cgation owns and enjoys a
modest and adequately equipped
structure and plans are under
way to erect additional class
rooms and other essential facili-
tics toward teaching the word of
God and engaging in spiritual
MWk. r
The congregation has been
erucd by Evangelist S. F. Nor
t.row, OF Miami Bonnie Morton,
add by the present ministcr Will
% liam g.. Collins who came to the
congregation in April. 1913, after
attending Harding College. Scar
eN, Ark. Other evaneelists assist
a inc, Inc. congregation in special
services are J. p. Prevatt, Gus
Dunn, Sir, Glenn r. Shoemaker,
S;is and c. w. Scott.
Recent Meeting
Strengthens Church
Recently the Seventh Avenue
Clitnch OF Christ in Miami sent
tl,eir evangelist. c, w. Scott, to
assist tic church in Key West in
series of gospel and cvangelistic
services. AT the time the congre-
CATION numbered approximately
81 active members. Three weeks
Of cvangoliStic meetings has re-
suited to date in nine baptisms,
Unc restoration and one to place
membership and with three other
persons expressing a desire Ito be
haptised and all of, them adults.
Unusually good attendance and
interest has characterized the
meetings in spite of the necessary
irregular attendance of members
connected with the navy, marine
and civil service, ,ta
William B. Collins, recently
:, moved, into h c dwelling to
the rear of the church building as
given by G, l.. Shields, owner Of
White Laundry and an active
member of the church. The house
+, Is being equipped with suitable
furniture and office fixtures, for
the minister. Two of the rooms
will be used as classroons until
addition to the present structure
is completed next year. A baptiS-
Try was completed just before the
meeting and is arranged SO that
the temperature Of the water may
he raised during the cooler per-
inds Of the year.
The worship of the church OF
Christ is characterized by SIM
plicity. There is congregational
singing of gospel hymns without
the use of accompanying inStr-s'
mcntS Of music. The church does
hot use choirs or quartcts in their
services of worship with the wor-
J. ship of the Individual stressed
The Lords suppef is served to
worshippcrs each Lords day Oh
Sunday. The members give lib
u evsily ms supporrof the work of
the church with their contribu-
tons averaging approximately
: $l,75 per member, per Sunday
N IllC1 ID GA Unusually ihSh "'Ni
age among churches generally to-
day, reports c. w. Scott
1.-THE aim and purpose OF the
Churches of Christ throughout
the world is to plead for the uni
ty of all believers in Christ upon
the Word of God alone" Speaking
where the Scriptures speak; re
manning silent where the scrip
lures arc silent" Calling Bible
things by Bible names and doing
Bible things in Bible ways and
"Iu faith, unity; in opinion, libcr'
tx; and in all things charity" are
slogans often heard repeated by
evangclists and ministers of the
Church of Christ which stresses
2 Z the, peculiar and restorative work
~ Membership Il