USA > Texas > Harrison County > Marshall > History Of Marshall Texas > Part 8
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A union Sunday School was organized after the frame building was completed in 1849. The International Les- sons were used. The Sunday School was re-organized and started using the graded plans and adopting the Southern Baptist Convention Series of Lessons. The Standard of Excellence was reached in 1927. Up till 1928 the budget was operated through the Sunday School to get the finances. The Educational Building was constructed in 1928 and was four stories high with 25,296 square feet of floor space. It had seventy-four rooms that accommodated one thousand and five hundred pupils. Each department had a bell con- trolled from the director's office. There was water, light, heat, and fire hydrants on each floor and a telephone in each department.
A "Young People's Bible Society" is known to have been organized in 1891, for the purpose of aiding youth to understand the scriptures. During Rev. S. H. Frazier's ministry there were ten unions in the First Baptist Church. Each union gave a monthly report to the Church confer- ence. Each union had a short service, following which they adjourn and assemble in the auditorium proper. In 1926 several different religious books were taught to the B. Y. P. U. classes; different books were taught semi- annually. In the last quarter of 1927 the organization attained the Standard of Excellence for an A-1 General Organization. The B. Y. P. U. trains young people to go out into the world as prepared and trained leaders. Their motto is: "Training for Service."
In the early days of the church all that the women did was to go to church as members. In 1884, the "Mitchell Aid Society" was organized as a union for women, taking its name from Dr. W. J. Mitchell, who was pastor at the time it was organized. The women collected freewill offerings and gave a total of $400 to aid in removing the old church and in erecting the new. church building. They collected money in 1892 to aid in purchasing pews, pipe organs, and carpets for the church. The name of this organization was changed in 1915 and called thereafter the Woman's Missionary Society Auxiliary to the Church. The circle plan was adopted. The women held a meeting each week and studied missions. They gave free suppers and in 1927
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gave $7,769.55 to the church. Today each woman who is a member of the church is automatically a member of the auxiliary. There are other organizations, also, such as the Y. W. A.
The Soda Lake Association held its first meeting in 1850 near Marshall at Soda Lake. The First Baptist Church in Marshall had a membership of seventy-one on September 15, 1860, according to the Association. There were fifty whites and twenty-one negroes. In this con- ference the First Baptist Church decided to organize a Second Church. This was during the pastorate of Rev. M. E. Weaver. The organization was effected on September 4, 1904, and the new Church was constituted by forty mem- bers of the First Baptist Church. A lot was purchased for $350, the total cost being $4,200. The Rev. M. E. Weaver conducted the first service in the church on March 3,, 1905. After the organization messengers were sent to the Soda Lake Association and a Sunday School was organized. There was an enrollment of one hundred members; deacons were ordained; a Ladies' Aid Society- was organized, with Mrs. N. L. Bender, and a B. Y. P. U. was organized.
The Baptist General Convention of Texas met at Mar- shall in 1894. Until then the messengers to the convention 'had been given free entertainment whenever they met, but this time letters came in every mail from messengers who were coming to the convention, for it was to be an im- portant one. The entertainment committee realized some- thing had to be done for every room in the hotels were filled as well as all the rooms that could be spared by Bap- tists in the city. Something they knew, had to be done, as still more letters came in the mail. So they asked the people of Marshall if they could spare some rooms. Not a one refused. Thus all Baptists who came to the convention were cared for, although the city literally overflowed with them. That, needless to say, was the last General Con- vention that received free lodgings. Today so many attend the conventions that they have to be held in the largest cities.
There have been many evangelistic services held in the City of Marshall. Some have been held in tents, some in houses of worship, and some have been held as union ser- vices in whch all denominations gather to hear great preachers and singers. One of the greatest of these ser- vices was held when Rev. George Cates, a school mate of Rev. M. E. Weaver, who was pastor of the First Baptist Church at the time, held a service in the Tabernacle Build- ing on North Washington Avenue. The result at the end of
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THE RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF MARSHALL
the week was six hundred and thirty-six converts lined on one side of the street ready to be greeted as Christians.
Two bells have been used at the First Baptist Church. The first one was confiscated and sold for the causes of the Civil War; the second bell was bought after the war was over and had $80 worth of silver molded into it to better the tone. The silver was contributed by the members of the First Baptist Church. The bell was used many times in case of a fire, but it has not been rung for many years. The bell was cast by Kyle and Company of Louisville, Kentucky.
There have been many good pastors at the First Bap- tist Church since the organization of it in 1845. The pastors serving in the order named, have been the fol- lowing: Dr. John Bryce, Jesse Witt, George Tucker, A. E. Clemmons, Bayliss, W. G. Lancaster, J. L. Blitch, W. D. Beverly, T. N. Coleman, G. W. Rogers, W. J. Mitchell, J. M. C. Breaker, John Holland, M. T. Andrews, E. L. Wesson, M. E. Weaver, Robert Wilson, A. A. Duncan, William T. Tardy, C. P. Morris, R. L. Baker, M. E. Hudson, B. A. Copass, G. J. Rousseau, Tillman D. Johnson, S. H. Frazier, 8 Harlan Matthews, W. H. Sims, and Arthur B. Rutledge.9 Dr. Arthur B. Rutledge is pastor of the First Baptist Church in 1947.10
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Marshall was first organized on April 11, 1848. Rev. T. B. Wilson was pastor of the church from 1850 until his death in 1873. Up till 1936, the second longest pastorate at this church was served by Dr. J. A. Ward, who was at Marshall ten years. The Sunday School was organized in 1851, with Dr. Alfred Johnson serving as the first superintendent. The church in 1869 organized the Ladies Aid Society. In 1893, it organized the Women's Missionary Society.
The First Presbyterian Church of Marshall was organ- ized on May 30, 1850. Plans were laid before the Board of Domestic Missions through Col. B. L. Holcombe. W. M. Staples was appointed to come to Marshall to organize the church, but when he arrived he was slightly crest- fallen to find the Holcombe family the only Presbyterian family in the town. P. W. Wassinee came to Marshall, however, and promised to assist in the establishment of the church as he was travelling for the Bible Society. The
8A Brief History of the First Baptist Church of Marshall, Texas, 1845-1928.
9Mr. J. Wesley Smith.
10 Marshall News Messenger, January 3, 1947.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL
Baptist Church gave them permission to meet there, but Staples found, as they were preparing to hold services, that arrangements had been made by another group to meet there also. So, the group adjourned to the Holcombe home and held the service that evening. The little band of five met at each other's house and held meetings. Finally, when the court-house was completed, the Presbyterians made arrangements to meet there, until their church was com- pleted in the spring of 1852.11 In 1851 Dr. W. C. Dunlap had come to Marshall to serve as pastor for the, church. He remained for ten years. Dr. George Ewell, Judge Williams, and Judge Ector were the first elders.12 During these years, the Texas and Pacific had extended the rail- road line through Marshall, and many people began to pour into the town, a large number of them being Presbyterians, who joined the church by certificates. It was necessary to enlarge and improve the building in 1870, and a new building was completed in May 1884.13
The Woman's Missionary Society was organized in April 1888, while Rev. John' T. McBryde was pastor.14 In October 1895, Rev. John E. McLean accepted the call to the church as pastor. In 1936, the church had one hundred and ninety-five members enrolled. 15 The pastor of the church in 1947 is Dr. W. C. Cummings.16
The Trinity Episcopal Church was organized on Christ- mas Day of 1850, when Rev. Henry Samson came to Mar- shall and surveyed the prospects of a church. Thirty persons signed the articles of association, and he returned to organize a parish in January 1851. In June 1851, Bishop Freeman, missionary of Arkansas and Texas, held the first confirmation meeting in Marshall.
Mrs. J. P. Henderson, wife of the Governor of Texas, at that time, undertook to organize a mission with the purpose of building Episcopal churches in eastern Texas. In a few months of time she had raised three buildings in three towns in. East Texas, one of them being at Marshall. She bought the lot on the corner of North Grove and West Houston Streets in order to erect a building capable of seating two hundred. But the Civil War interrupted build- ing plans. During the war there was only a deacon to minister to the people. The zeal of Dr. A. T. Smith kept
11Marshall News Messenger, August 23, 1936.
12Sketches Drawn From Marshall and Vicinity, Past and Present.
13 Marshall News Messenger, August 23, 1936.
14Sketches Drawn From Marshall and Vicinity, Past and Present. 15 Marshall News Messenger, August 23, 1936.
16 Marshall News Messenger, January 3, 1947.
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the church doors from ever being closed, however, he played the melodeon, providing the instrument himself. When he was not at his church he played for other congregations, especially the Old School Presbyterians. After the war the church was badly in debt and there appeared to be no recourse other than selling the lot and the church building, which the congregation proceeded to do. Dr. James Starr purchased it. Dr. Starr, his wife, and daughter Hattie, were devoted members of the church and it was deeded back to the church after the construction had started 'on it.17 Rev. Henry F. Selcer is pastor of the church in 1947.18
The Catholic Church was organized at Marshall in 1874. Father Thomas Loughery baptized Miss Julia Powers on May 3, 1874. Father Louis Granger was the next priest appointed to this parish. He was at Marshall for forty years, from February 2, 1877 to January 14, 1918. He constructed the first Catholic Church in Marshall. The mass was held in the rectory before the Church building was constructed. Granger held socials for three succes- sive evenings and made $1,500 with which he constructed the church. Father Granger brought two Sisters to Mar- shall in September 1880 to begin a church school. They were the Sisters de Chantal and Lucilla. In December 1880, Sister Prudenciana, came to teach advanced classes. There was a definite increase in the number of students as time passed. In 1905 the Sisters purchased the old St. Mary's academy, on the condition that it would last for at least forty years. Father Granger obtained a charter to confer graduating honors.
On September 18, 1910, the corner stone of a new building was laid. It was completed in 1911. In January 1918, Father Granger died. He was succeeded by Father James Burnes. He advanced the erecting of the new church which had been the dreams of Father Granger. Father Burnes was succeeded by Father James Schauf in 1923. He constructed the present Catholic Church at a cost of $40,000, excluding the furnishings. The most Rev. Joseph Patrick Lynch, Bishop of Dallas, Texas dedicated it on April 21, 1926. The main auditorium seats five hundred. Father L. L. Meyer came to Marshall in 1929.19 He is pastor of the Catholic Church in 1947.20
Before the Civil War, several Jewish families had set- tled in Marshall. They held services in the Odd Fellows
17 Marshall News Messenger, August 23, 1936.
18 Marshall News Messenger, January 3, 1947.
19 Marshall News Messenger, August 23, 1936.
20 Marshall News Messenger, January 3, 1947.
.. .
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL
Hall, until the number increased enough for them to build a synagogue. They organized the "Hebrew Benevolent Society" in 1881, and bought a plot of ground for a ceme- terý. The membership increased and a congregation was formed in 1887.21 The name adopted was "Moses Monte- fiore Congregation Adath Israel."22 The first regular rabbi, Rev. H. Saft, a scholar and a well educated man from Mt. Vernon, Indiana, served two years. He was succeeded by Rev. A. Meyer who also served two years. The next year the synagogue had no rabbi because of a disagreement concerning who should occupy the pulpit. The Sunday School, however, continued, through the service of ladies, the leader being Miss Bertha Dopplemayer.23 The first officers were as follows, President, D. Dopplemayer; Vice- President, I. Brisker; Treasurer, Alex Marcus; and Secre- tary, I. Kalish. 24
The First Christian Church came into existence many years ago. In 1888, T: B. Elwood called a meeting to be held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church after he had talked with its pastor. Five persons including T. B. Elwood met there one evening in the fall of 1889, and decided to make a public call through the press. The next Sunday quite a number met at Lyttleton's place and observed the Lord's Supper, which they have ever since. They next called for an evangelist; C. M. McPherson an- swered and held a meeting in the old court-house. The next Sunday an organization was started. A. J. Bush came as pastor, and the congregation purchased a building for $950, which was sold later for $600. Before the pur- chase they had met in the Y. M. C. A. hall. The lot the church stands on in 1947 was purchased for $625. R. H. Fife was the first permanent pastor.25 Rev. W. H. Ever- ton is the pastor in 1947.26
The Church of Christ, Scientists at Marshall was organ- ized in 1889.27 At that time the church was granted a charter by the State of Texas, 28 but the present church building was not erected until 1904. From 1889 till 1904, the services were held in the old Capitol Hotel, in rooms over the Marshall National Bank, and later in the Starr Bank Building at the corner of Houston and Lafayette
21 Marshall News Messenger, August 23, 1936. 22 Sketches, Drawn From Marshall and Vicinity, Past and Present. 23 Marshall News Messenger, August 23, 1936.
24 Sketches Drawn From Marshall and Vicinity, Past and Present.
25 Marshall News Messenger, August 23, 1936.
26 Marshall News Messenger, January 3, 1947.
27 Marshall News Messenger, October 26, 1941.
28Sketches Drawn From Marshall and Vicinity, Past and Present.
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Streets. 29 In 1947 the church is located on the lot on which the Marshall Masonic Female Institute stood, at the corner of North Franklin and West Burleson Streets. 30
The Church of Christ was organized in Marshall in 1915. A group of people began meeting every Sunday in the City Hall of Marshall. The first sermon at these meet- ings was given by A. E. Findley. As time went on, more members began to come to the services. The first elders of the Church of Christ were T. B. Elwood, R. A. Hall, and Wilson LaGrone; the first deacons were W. V. Trasher, W. J. Massey, and Wes Weaver. The charter members of the church were Mrs. I. S. Coon, Mrs. Mollie Coon, Mrs. Dona Coon, Mr. and Mrs. Organ, Mrs. O. T. Craver, Mrs. Mattie Mahone, Mr. and Mrs. W. V. Trasher, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Hall, Sam B. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson LaGrone, and Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Massey. Foy. E. Wallace, Sr., held a meeting in 1918, and soon after, lots were purchased for the purpose of constructing a house of worship. The lots were located at 900 North Franklin Street and a house, thirty-four by fifty feet, was soon constructed. This build- ing was used until June 1941, when the present building was constructed. The building today is a brick structure, while the first one was a frame building. The present building has an auditorium with a seating capacity of four hundred. There are nine class rooms in the building. The ministers who have served at the Church of Christ are: R. D. Smith, Ernest Witt, S. C. Kinningham, LaMoine Lewis, Cleo Scott, Dillard W. Thurman, and Merle Bryant.31 The minister of the church in 1947 is Merle Bryant. 32
The Nazarene Church was organized in Marshall in July 1932, down on the corner of Grand Avenue and North Washington Avenue. A tent was set up at this site for services. An evangelist, I. M. Ellis, held a young peoples' program, out of which grew the interest that brought about the organization of the Nazarene Church. Property was bought at 803 East Grand Avenue. Rev. J. A. Russell served as the first pastor of the church, remaining for four years. In 1936, Rev. G. S. Rogers of Elk City, Oklahoma was called to succeed Rev. J. A. Russell. At that time the church had forty-five members. In 1938, the church bought property at 403 East Burleson and started erecting the new building. In 1941, Rev. Rogers resigned and Rev.
29 Marshall News Messenger, October 26, 1941.
30 Sketches Drawn From Marshall and Vicinity, Past and Present.
31Mrs. G. C. Sikes. Newspaper clipping.
82 Marshall News Messenger, January 3, 1947.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL
Mack Anderson came as the successor. In the meantime the new church building was constructed and paid for. Nine months later Rev. Earl Powell was called from Miami, Florida. He stayed until October 1945. At the end of his ministry the church had one hundred and thirty mem- bers. Rev. R. B. Gilmore of Sherman, Texas, was called to be pastor of the church in October, 1945. He is still the pastor in 1947. In 1947 the church has one hundred and forty-five members. Each year the church holds two or three revivals.33
The Memorial Baptist Church began as a mission, under the direction of the First Baptist Church. It was organized into a church in 1937. The church today has four or five hundred members. Rev. T. R. Morris is pastor of the church at the present time. 34
The Central Baptist Church has also been organized within the last decade. On October 17, 1943, several dea- cons from the First Baptist Church were called to a meet- ing, held in C. M. Turlington's office. The call had been made by Richard Porter for the purpose of organizing a new church. The group was composed of the following: Mack V. Runnels, W. M. Summers, Herbert Pace, J. P. Meadows, Gordon Peteet, W. F. Lott, C. U. Bridges, Frank Banta, and Joe McGilvray. They voted unanimously to organize such a church and proceeded to appoint a commit- tee, which they gave the power to collect funds and to pur- chase the property for the home of the new church. The committee was composed of Richard Porter, Frank Banta, C. M. Turlington, and Joe McGilvray. After the meeting had adjourned, they told the pastor of the First Baptist Church that there would be no attempt to ask members of the First Baptist Church to join and affiliate with theirs. Negotiations were made with the Wesley Methodist Church, as it was disbanding to go into the Southern Methodist Conference. On November 1, 1943, the committee bought the Wesley Methodist Church for $10,500 in cash. The committee had collected $2,500 and borrowed the remaining $8,000 from Judge P. O. Beard of Marshall. The organ- ization of the church was planned for November 7, 1943, at 2:30 P. M.
A committee composed of Joe McGilvray, Richard Porter, and Mack V. Runnels called on the District Mission- ary of District 1 of the Texas Baptist General Convention, Morris A. Roberts of Longview, for a conference upon
33Mrs. Elmer Wheeler.
84Mr. J. Wesley Smith.
1
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THE RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF MARSHALL
information relative to the organization, of the church. They wanted to stay within the rules of the Southern Baptist Convention. Roberts assured them of his co-operation. A committee sent invitations to churches and denomina- tional leaders in East Texas to aid in helping organize the church. At the meeting, Morris A. Roberts was chosen as the moderator, and Rev. T. B. Randolph of the Port Caddo Baptist Church, Marshall, Texas, was chosen as clerk. Many pastors from all over East Texas came to the meeting. The sermon was brought by Dr. Porter M. Bailes of Tyler. Dr. H. D. Bruce asked for an offering to be made and $112.50 was collected. That afternoon ninety- one members were taken into the fellowship of the church. The officers were to be elected at the evening services. The first officers and Board of Deacons were as follows: Rich- ard Porter, Temporary moderator; Herbert Pace, Clerk; Frank Banta, treasurer; A. H. Faulkner, W. M. Summers, and C. M. Turlington. The trustees were Joe McGilvray, Gor- don Peteet, Richard Porter, W. M. Summers, J. P. Meadows, Herbert Pace, M. V. Runnels, W. F. Lott, Frank Banta, C. M. Turlington, and C. U. Bridges, deacons. On November 10, 1943, another conference was called and Richard Porter acted as moderator. Joe McGilvray was selected to serve as chairman of the Board of Deacons. A committee was appointed to nominate all officers for the organizations of the church. The committee was composed of Mack V. Runnels, J. P. Meadows, Herbert Pace, and Gordon Peteet. At this meeting Miss Lucile Williams was selected as Social Secretary and choir director of the church. Miss Eloise Crenshaw was elected on the basis of a part-time Secretary. The first General Secretary was W. F. Lott. The church voted to hold a Charter Member roster for a short period of time and that brought the number of members to one hundred and forty-four.
On November 21, 1943, a conference was called and appointed a Pulpit Committee composed of Joe McGilvray, Chairman; Aubrey Faulkner, Lucille Williams, Dr. C. A. Wyatt, and Mrs. Edward Peteet. On November 23, 1943, the first meeting was held to formulate the policies of the church. A check was forwarded to the Co-Operative Pro- gram at Dallas, Texas, in the amount of $262.50. The first pastor contacted and heard on December 12, 1943, was Dr. C. E. Autrey, pastor of the First Baptist Church at West Monroe, Louisiana. There were one hundred and twenty- one present in Sunday School that day. A contract was approved by the church on December 29, 1943, to be given to W. J. Hardy to remodel the building. A gift of $1,000 to the
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL
endowment fund of the College of Marshall was approved to be paid that year. Joe McGilvray was appointed to make the plan of pastors each Sunday until the church elected its pastor. Rev. O. F. Dingler, pastor of the Calvary Bap- tist Church of, Beaumont, Texas, was called to preach on the night of February 9, 1944. The building was being repaired and the church services were held in the annex of the church. On February 11, 1944, a conference meeting was held, the result being that Rev. O. F. Dingler was called back at a salary of $5,000 annually and a suitable home. Plans were also made to secure an Educational Director, at a salary of $3,600 annually. Rev. Dingler was found at Albuquerque, New Mexico. On February 27, 1944, Rev. Dingler held a service at the church and accepted the call to come to Marshall. He came back March 12, 1944. The church in the first five months had raised $12,000 in cash and had baptized fourteen new converts. The first revival was held by Rev. Dingler, beginning April 9, 1944, and resulted in forty-three new additions to the church.
The second revival meeting began September 10, 1944, and it brought ninety new additions to the church. The membership at that time was four hundred and thirteen. The first full-time secretary was Miss Bertha Fogle, who was employed September 1, 1944. The following men were voted by the church on July 12, 1944, and were or- dained on September 6, 1944, as Deacons: Lamar Smith, Dr. C. A. Wyatt, J. L. Bryant, H. D. Hollis, A. H. Faulkner, and Guy Stokes. A check was sent to the East Texas Bap- tist College Endowment Fund in the last week of September. At the end of the first associational year the church had a membership of four hundred and nine, thirty-nine by baptism, and total receipts for the year were $27,166.99. On October 3 and 4, 1944, the Soda Lake Association met at Jefferson in the First Baptist Church and Rev. Dingler and the moderator presented a petition to the association to enter the Central Baptist Church. It was accepted unani- mously .. On November 5, 1944, Dr. Porter M. Bailes came and gave the sermon for the first anniversary of the church. The Training Union was under Mack V. Runnels, the Di- rector. The first meeting was held on November 7, 1943. At the end of the first year the enrollment was two hundred and thirty-six.
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