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Show Page 26<br><br>[PHOTO: BURLINGTON CHAPEL.] entirely removed. About $500, however, is still due on the lots. The chapel, which is of brick, has an audience-room 30x40 feet, and a classroom 15x20 feet, and is quite completely but plainly furnished. Mr. George H. Ward, one of the first superintendents of the Sunday-school, for more than a year conducted the Sunday evening service and had general charge of this Branch. He is a man of sterling qualities, and the community hold him in grateful remembrance. On leaving the city he was succeeded by Deacon W. W. Randolph, whose perseverance largely had brought the chapel to completion, and who has continued to serve the cause there with unflagging devotion. The usual special yearly meetings were recently held for lour weeks, the pastor and Rev. Mr. Adams assisting. Some of the best members in the church are the fruit of this Burlington work, in which almost the entire community takes a personal interest. About twenty Baptist communicants center here. This enter- [PHOTO: DEACON RANDOLPH] prise already has several well-established departments, is self-supporting and very promising. The Sunday-School. The first superintendent of the Burlington Branch Sunday school of the First Baptist church was Mr. Frank Bothun. His successors have been Mr. George H. Ward, Mr. L. W. De Witt, Mr. F. M. Orem and Mr. J. N. Courtney. Miss Sadie Ford and Miss Mary Chapman have served as secretaries. Upwards of 100 are enrolled. A novel and interesting feature of this successful wide-awake school is the recent introduction of a kindergarten department for those under school age. Already the number reaches toward twenty. The very little ones can thus be entertained during the school session and no one need be detained at home on their account. Miss E. F. Eyles teaches the kindergarten class at present, Miss Bertha Moore the Bible class and Mrs. Wilson the regular primary class. The Endeavor Society. The Burlington Branch Endeavor Society was organized in September, 1892, and reorganized as a regular Christian Endeavor society in February, 1894. The meetings are held Thursday evenings and are characterized by an earnest devotional spirit. It is alert to guard all the interests connected with the work. The special undertaking of the society at present is a plan for raising the entire balance which is due on the chapel lots. The success of this enterprise is urgent, as the church must delay other important projects until this debt is provided. The society is constantly affected by removals. The present membership consists of thirteen active and two associate members. The officers are: President, L. E. Forbes, secretary, J. N. Courtney; treasurer, Harry Chapman. Rio Grande Branch. THE Rio Grande Branch Sunday-School of the First Baptist Church was organized at the residence of Mr. Wi1liam Wismer in November, 1891, as the immediate [PHOTO: MRS J. J. CORUM.] result of the canvass which had been made by Mrs. J. J. Corum in an important community without a Sunday school, one mile west of the church. A small cottage was rented, a stove borrowed, some plain benches made and the work begun. Walter C. Orem was the first superintendent, and continued to serve until one year ago, when Mrs. Corum was elected. John Wismer is the present efficient secretary. The school early became self-supporting and has also borne its part in contributing to benevolences. Before the chapel was built it was greatly cramped for room. The enrollment is now upwards of 120, and constantly increasing. From the first the enterprise has enjoyed the sympathy and cooperation of the community and has proved to be a very important center for Christian work. It is in the midst of a growing section, adjacent to a public school of 700 pupils and not far from the center of the city. The two weeks of special meetings just closed, which were led by Miss Carrie I. Elton, a visiting missionary of the Women's American Baptist Home Missionary Society, have given an uplift to the Rio Grande work in every department. The pastor and others made a specialty of the visiting, the working force of the church rallied to their support, and as one result seven have already been added to the church, four of whom are adults, and others will follow. The Relief Society and Industrial School. Early in the history of the Rio Grande work, Mrs. Corum organized the ladies into a Relief Society, which has been very successful in raising funds for the various needs of the field, as for instance, providing for the poor, assisting the Sunday-school in its annual festivals and securing needed chapel furnishings. Some months ago Miss E. F. Eyles opened a Saturday afternoon Industrial School, which is growing in numbers and influence and is recognized as an important factor in the work, being especially appreciated by the community. The Memorial Chapel. For nearly two years the Rio Grande Sunday school was confined to two rooms in a small cottage. However, after a very few months the Endeavor Society of the church undertook the herculean task of securing a chapel. They proposed to find donations in this city which would at least cover the lots [PHOTO: MEMORIAL CHAPEL.] and the expenses of raising the needed balance. After a long and persevering struggle they saw the corner-stone of the new Chapel laid on Sunday, April 22, 1894, and on the first Sunday of the following June the school, headed by a detachment of the Boys' Brigade, marched from the cottage to their new quarters. The Chapel, which is located on Second South street, between Ninth and Tenth West, is built of red brick, trimmed with gray stone and finished in oiled pine. The audience room is thirty-six feet square, the lecture room, |
