Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1958-06-04
BY DENA CHAMBERS

Once-upon-a-tiEle sounds like
the beginning of 1airy tale and
SO docs the growth and accom-
plishments of the people in the
ST. Pauls Methodist church when
the tale is told" Recently il
celebrated its golden annivers-
airy and at the same time honor
ed its oldest 1nd oily surviving
chatter member, Mr.. J. Lewis
The morning message was Civ
en- by Rev. Joseph +. Coble, Su-
perinteHdent Of the Methodist
Retirement Home, Durham, and
a former pastor. At noon the
ladies served a picnic lunch of
fried chicken and ali the Access
series. Judging BIZ the platters
of chicken on the able there are
few friers left in many of the
Met hodist homes ir Tabor City.
one fellow said, Il wish l could
eat like a camel drinks water,
Id fill up for all OF next week"
Another former pastor, DR.. T.
b. Hough, now sewing Chestnut
Street Church Lulpberton, gave
the afternoon message in the
anniversary service. During the
service picture Of the head of
Christ was given to the primary
department by Mrs. Harry Bell
AZ, her mother, Mrs. Hicks in
memoriam to TN, memory Of
little Martha GoldfinCh, the
daughter of Mr.. ana Mrs. Albert
GOldfinch. Mr.. Goldiinch is the
Methodist District Lay Leader of
the Wilmington Dist Mrs. Hicks
made the presentation and Mr..
S. I. Rogers, General Superin-
tcndcnt of the CAurch School,
accepted it fo- the church
The service was dedicated to
M. Lewis for his long and loyal
services to his chulch He has
served in almost every office in
the church. He was appointed
Sunday School superintendent in
1911 and served intermittently
in the capacity for twenty five
years. He has retired now but
continues to oe a .oyal support
er of the church.
When asked about the early
yArs of the church ne replied"
"At first we held Sunday School
in the afternoon but later we
changed our school 10 the morn
ing" Thinking a moment, he
chuckled and adder, "A preach
er can preach to two but a sup
erintendent can't held Sunday
school with two; sometimes we
didn't have Sunday school"
st. Pauls' birth Vas in 1908
1T the Carolina warehouse with
emit members, organized by
Rev. l.. <. Sawyer. then pastor
OF seven other churches. The
church has had a SLOW but steady
growth in membership and spec
tacular in their ambitious plan
ming.
Soon a building was erected
on the corner OF Fifth and Lewis
streets by the second pastor
Rev. w. b. Humble. At the end
o. his ministerv there were
forty six members. The congre-.
CATION outgrew the building andl
plans began for larger and
more adequate structur Money
was raised in almost every way
that was honest. Rev. Joe F
Coble started the campaign rails
ing almost $4,000.
He was succeeded by Rev. G.,
w. Crutchfield, who built the
present church on a lot given byI
ny r. r. Rogers. 1t is q brick
structure with a marble front.
The interior Is an off-white with
a touch of mahogany trim. Roy
al scarlet velvet covers the
floors and deeper red leather
upholstery is On the furniture
The windows. are outstanding in
their symbolism and coloring;l
they depict the history OF Chris
tianity in their symbols.
1858 when Rev. PAUL
Carruth came TO the work IL was
Zion-Tabor City charge. Soon
Zion church merged with Tabor
City making a station church atl
Tabor City. The cd parsonage
and church were sold and a newl
eisht-room, brick enc was erect
ed at is Elizabeth St. valued at
$4,000.