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

I Melrose Avery plans were devel.
oped for an annex. Mr.. Edgar
Stark drew up the plans and with
some financial assistance from the
Home Mission Board, the addition
was completed and dedicated in
l948.
The continued interest in the
Bible School indicates the present
facilities inadequate. The congre-
CATION is now planning for further
expansion and if additional land
| can be purchased, hope to be able
to house the children now attend
ing the school. The years ahead
will determine the wisdom and
the faith of Presbyterians in Key
West.
WORKERS
History should be an imperson-
al and objective report. Accord
ingly the history of the First
Presbyterian Church would be
incomplete without reference to
people who have made the church
a reality. While members and
friends will evaluate the services
of people differently, many good
workers may not be included in
any list. Those here mentioned
will include those sufficiently &C.
tive or holding such positions as
to be included in the official rec
! ords. Naturally all cannot be men
| toned for, many have rendered
/ yeoman service too often un-no-
ticed, and space would not permit
| a complete list. A few of those
who have made valuable contri-
buttons to the progress of the
church should be mentioned.
Among those to >be Included is
Mr.. and Mrs. A. c. Elgin. This
couple came into the church when
it was first organized and are the
only charter members still with
:; this church. Mr.. Elgin has served
as a deacon, elder. trustee and
Bible School superintendent He
can always be found in his pew
whether the weather be hot or
cold. Mrs. Elgin attends occasion
ally only because of i'll health.
Except for short period when
Mr.. Elgin was in business in Mi
ami, they have been members of
the local church.
Mr.. Elgin was agent for the P
& o Steamship Company which
had a dock at the foot of Duval
Street, the present location of the
Gulf Oil Co. II was Mr.. Elgin who
, advocated as early as 1915 that
the congregation purchase a lot
for a church. On June 20, 1924
, the Rev. Mr.. Sinks reported that
there was a debt of $4,000 on the
church lot. Six days later Mr.. Ell
gin reported that the debt had
been paid. Beginning as dea-
con in 1924. he was elected and
ordained an elder the following
year. Today his wise counsel and
commanding personality carries
considerable weight in all the de-
alterations of official meetings.
Another indomitable worker
who stood alongside Mr.. Elgin in
the long hard road to procuring
church, was Mr.. Andrew R, Mil
Ter. They both worked to obtain
the funds, had sufficient faith in
the congregation and the church
to sign the necessary papers to
obtain the loans necessary for the
building programs. Mr.. Miller
served as deacon, elder and trus-
tee and it was largely through
his implicit faith and unselfish
service that Presbyterianism sur
vived and prospered in Key West.
His widow, Mrs. Andrew Miller,
is a regular attendant at all the
services when she is in the city.
Working in the same office with
Mr.. Elgin was Walter HI, Norman.
Mr.. Norman was interested in
Presbyterianism to such an ex-
tent that he was quite active in
the organizational r11cting. At
that time heswas ordained an eld-
er April %, t909sin the City. Hall.
He was reelected an elder atsa
meeting January 27, 1924 and was
active in procuring the original
lot for the first chapel. His poor
health made il necessary for him
to relinguish his official duties
with the Church.
Another prominent worker in
the church during the early and
trying days was Mr.. and Mrs.
Edward Grain. Mr.. Grain ran a
book store on Green street but
gave unstintingly of his time for
church work. He had been reared
an Episcopalian but through the
influence of his Presbyterian wife
and sensing the great need of the
Key West Church, he joined and
became an ardent worker in the
church. Being able TO speak Span
ish he would gather a group Of
Cuban boys on Sunday afternoon
and teach them the bible. Where
ever he and his wife could get
group of children together they
had a Sunday School.
One of the most exacting jobs
in any church is that of treasurer.
Up to a year ago Mr.. Atwood
Sands held the position of deacon
and treasurer. While he contin-
ues as an esteemed deacon, his
health made it necessary that he