The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-08-04

! erred as TeaocF, eiisr a { -ierS
gf he ,5s52n fick cffice he
nov holds. Mrs. Gisson ha@ heer
most active in the Women of the
Church and is now the efficient
Pastors Aide. Jesse. the daught-
er, has been SO reared in the
church that she can handle most
any position. AS a little girl she
was herded to the Bible School
where with only few children
she had opportunity to watch the
process of church administration.
She has taught in the school, play
ed the piano for the church and
/ Bible School, sings in the choir
and for a year served as Church
Secretary There are many famil-
les like that in the church and
they are the salt of the earth.
Another such family is that of
Mr.. and Mrs. w. M. Whitley. Mr..
Whitley has served as deacon, eld-
er and clerk of the Session. He
was recently elected to the office
of trustee and continues to be
active in the work of the church.
His wife has served as President
of the Women of the Church and
has proven an able guide and
mentor in the deliberations of
that body.
Space does not permit the list
ing of all the fine families faith
fully working in the First Pres
byterian Church but suffice to
say that with an official family
of some twenty-five deacons and
six elders, the church continues
to be in excellent hands. Add to
these all the workers in the Bible
School, the youth groups. the Wo-
men of the Church, and it can be
seen that they approach the ideal
of the motto, Every Member an
Active Member"
WOMEN OF THE CHURCH
No church can function with
out women. Women have been
active in the better things of life
from Old Testament days to the
present The Apostle Paul said,
Let your women keep silence in
the churches" Il Cor. l4:34l but
Peter saw fit to- restore one Tab
itha to life for, this woman was
full of good works and aims deeds
which she did" (Acts 1856 The
long hard struggle. the disappoint-
ments, trials and fluctuations
common to any new and small or
ganization, were readily overcome
and dissipated by the faith and
service of the women of the
church. Eighteen, more than half
the charter members of the church
were women. This group, like wo-
men of all ages, recognized the
many needs and gave of their
time and effort unselfishly to the
service of the church. While the
record may not show the works
of the women, those familiar with
such organizations know that
back of all progress and activity
is group of noble and consecrat-
ed women. They lent encourage
ment to the men in the modest
planning down through the years,
and when time came for building,
the women did more than their
part
In order to provide funds to
carry on the work, the Presby-
terian women opened Tea Room
on Duval Street and took turns
in serving as did Dorcas of old
The financial needs of the church,
the buying of the first lot and the
very first building in 1924 could
never have become realization
without the support and assist
ance of the women. With food
sales, rummage sales, dinners and
entertainments, funds were found
to pay and finally free from all
debt. the property of the church.
Modern woman is just as ener-
getic and idealistic as their grand
mothers. While men hesitated and
talked. the women just two years
ago decided that the First Pres
byterian Church should have an
organ. The Women of the Church,
under the able leadership of
Mrs. Walter Bell, appointed a
committee for the project. They
raised the initial payment, sell