HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      131

church buildings preceded the present splendid edifice, which is the most
commodious and finest example of church architecture in Brazil. When
Brazil became a city the Methodists were still worshiping in a frame
building. In January, 1878, they dedicated Hendrix Chapel, which was
a fine brick church for that time, costing $12,000. The present church
was built in 1900. It is claimed that the Sunday school of this church
is the largest and most flourishing in the state of Indiana. At the Easter
celebration in 1907 the total enrollment of the school was placed at 2509,
so that, approximately, one person out of four in the total population of
the city was connected with the school. The membership of the church
is about one thousand, and in the aggregate of contributions to church
and charity work and in the active work of the organization and the
strong influence on the individual members, this church ranks among the
foremost of this denomination in the state. Rev. J. N. Greene has been
the pastoral leader of the church during these years of its greatest pros-
perity. Mr. W. E. Carpenter is superintendent of the Sunday school.
    The Presbyterian church is likewise one of the older religious bodies
of the city. When the church was organized here in 1858, or soon
afterward, there existed a group of the Old-School Presbyterians.
These two bodies united about 1865. The first church house of the regu-
lar organization was erected on what was known as lot 6, Brackney’s
addition to the town of Brazil, and it was in this frame church that
the citizens, in October, 1866, cast their votes for the incorporation of
the town. The brick church which is still used by this congregation was
erected about 1875, at a cost of $7,000, and is probably the oldest church
edifice in regular use in the city.
    The First Christian church was organized about the same time as
the Presbyterian, in 1858, but did not grow for a number of years and
was finally reorganized in 1877. Their first church was erected on
Washington street in 1880-81, being dedicated in the latter year, and cost
about $3,000. In 1900 a new brick church was built at a cost of $25,000.
Fire destroyed this building on February 5, 1905, leaving only the walls
standing. It was rebuilt the same year on a larger plan, and is one of
the most modern church homes in Brazil.
    The Catholic church of the Annunciation had its origin about 1868.
After being organized the following year, it bought the old building
formerly occupied by the branch of the Presbyterian church which has
already been mentioned, and moving the building to Lambert street used
it for a house of worship about ten years. The present church, which
occupies a site at the corner of Lambert and Church streets, was begun
in 1879. The date on the building is 1880, but the services of dedication
did not occur until September, 1883. The organization at that time was
not a wealthy nor numerous one, and it was as a result of much sacrifice
and united endeavor that the debt for the erection of the building was
lifted. The parochial school under the management of the Sisters has
been one of the educational institutions of the city for a number of
years, and about three years ago the new parochial school was built, a
two-story brick school that bears comparison with any of the school
buildings of the city.
    The postmasters of Brazil from the time of the founding of the
office to the present, including its history as a village,, town and city, of
which the dates and terms of service can not here be given, but of