Jackson County IL Archives News.....BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY IS OLD October 16, 1923
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Mary Riseling riseling@insightbb.com July 13, 2006, 7:30 pm

Murphysboro Daily Independent October 16, 1923


    The First Baptist church of Murphysboro was organized June 27, 1867, with
approximately 60 members, by Rev. MONGER of Carbondale.  A building was started
and the cornerstone laid for the church in that year where the Woolworth store
now stands, but it was not completed.

    Later this congregation acquired the old Southern Methodist church at the
corner of Locust and Twelfth streets, where the congregation worshipped many
years until the building on the corner of Logan and Fifteenth streets was built
thirty years ago.  This building is now being replaced by a fine new brick
structure, which it is expected will be ready for occupancy this winter.

    In the interim the services of the church are being held in the Liberty
theatre on Walnut street.

    The Free Will church was organized in 1875 by Rev. G. A. GORDON, who
recently passed away at this home in Ava.  These two churches consolidated in
1912, making a membership of about 400.  Soon after consolidating they voted to
raise the building, putting in a basement; in this they have worshipped with
overflowing classes until it became necessary to transfer two classes to the
parsonage and build an annex later for the Junior department of the Sunday
school, the Beginners working in a dwelling house on the property bought
adjoining the church.  In the year 1922 the church, feeling the great need of
larger quarters and more adequate equipment voted to raise a building fund of
$65,000 for a new house of worship.  The membership has increased to more than
900 and First Baptists are proud of the first step they are able to take in
laying the cornerstone of their new church, which took place Sept. 16.

    The following are the officials of the church:

Rev. H. T. ABBOTT, Pastor
Frank McCORD, Trustee
John SWAFFORD, Trustee
D. W. PENROD, Trustee
Fred SCHUMAKER, Trustee
J. E. ESSICK, Trustee
H. C. ROBERTS, Finance Committee
F. C. THIEME, Finance Committee
H. A. BASKIN, Finance Committee
W. N. PARKER, Finance Committee
Floyd WOODS, Finance Committee
Frank McCORD, Finance Committee
Mrs. Laura SILVEY, Music Committee
Mrs. Park KESSELL, Music Committee
Mrs. H. C. ROBERTS, Music Committee
Mrs. John PIERON, Music Committee
Miss Ruby FRANZE, Organist
Mrs. H. C. ROBERTS, Missionary and Benevolence
Mrs. Park KESSELL, Missionary and Benevolence
Mrs. Laura SILVEY, Missionary and Benevolence
James GRIFFIN, Financial Secretary-Treasurer
H. C. ROBERTS, Deacon
George E. SMITH, Deacon
Frank McCORD, Deacon
E. G. SMITH, Deacon
Floyd WOODS, Deacon
F. E. PERKINS, Deacon
Aden MALLORY, Deacon
Park KESSELL, Deacon
Emry DERRINGTON, Deacon
Ralph BLACKWOOD, Deacon
Laura E. SILVEY, Deaconess
Carrie ROBINSON, Deaconess
Florence BROWN, Deaconess
F. E. PERKINS, Supt. of Sunday school
Fred SCHUMACHER, Asst. Supt. of Sunday school
Irene BROWN, Secretary-Treasurer of Sunday school
Jennie THOMPSON, Presidence B. Y. P. U.
John SWAFFORD, Church Moderator
R. A. GARDINER, Church Clerk
John SWAFFORD, Building Committee
Robt. GARDINER, Building Committee
John ESSICK, Building Committee
Fred SCHUMACKER, Building Committee
H. H. WALLACE, Building Committee




Additional Comments:


Transcribed by Mary Riseling from grandfather C. E. RISELING's collection of old
newspapers.

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