CENTENNIAL STORY, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, TYLER, SMITH CO, TEXAS, 1848-1948 ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Used with the permission of Dr. Michael Massar, Pastor First Baptist Church, Tyler, TX Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net 8 March 2001 ***************************************************************** OUR EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS - WMU and Brotherhood WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION MRS. M. T. ROGERS Preeminent in Christian women's work is the Woman's Missionary Union, more familiarly known as the "W. M. U." If space would permit, a lively and interesting story could be told. However, the W.M.U. has its place among the IMMORTALS of First Baptist Church history. The activities began early. In the minutes written on September 5, 1880, we find: "A. J. Haw­thorne was present in the interest of Foreign Missions, organizing the Annie Luther Missionary Society, electing a full corps of officers." The same year that the Baptist State Convention began its organiza­tion of the women into societies the Tyler Baptist women were organized. Twelve years later, January 8, 1892, the organization called the Ladies Aid Society had thirty-eight names on the roll. There were four officers, a constitution, and an order of business. The officers were elected for six months with Mrs. S. Abbott as the first president. To give an idea of how they worked, we find a mo­tion reading "that the missionary work be separate from the Aid Society the motion carried." The first place of meeting was in the basement of the church at four o'clock in the afternoon. The next place of meeting was in the auditorium. Still later, they met in the "lecture room which some believe was in the basement. On April 25, 1892, began a week of prayer and self denial. The minutes further reveal that all missionary fees, the Buckner Orphans' Home pledge, and other indebtedness had been paid. Fostering a young Ladies Aid Society, the parent organization February 27,1893, paid a pledge of $100 that the young ladies had made to the church indebtedness. A report showed there had been a "Training School" during the year and the society had been asked to make a pledge to the school, but the "motion was overruled, as the project for the year was to pay off the church indebted­ness." If one entertains the idea that interest in youth is a modern movement, note should be taken of the minutes of September 24, 1900, which reads "Dr. Gambrell, the pastor, asked the society to entertain the young folks of the church. The suggestion met with approval and plans for their entertainment were made for the immediate future." Not only the needs of the local youths were being cared for, but this same year the society voted to give the Thanksgiving offering to Buckner Orphans Home, which custom remains today. The Christruas contribubon was seventy-five home made cakes for the "child­rens" dinner. Not all the work done was "aid." In April, 1901, there was a contribution to Home and Foreign Missions. The financial report for 1903 showed the total amount given to missions and all funds was $1,073.01. The names and faces who are passing before us in memory makes us realize our great heritage. We humbly bow our heads and in our hearts give thanks for the inspiration we receive from these women of faith. The W. M. U. policy had been to make its contributions separate from the church budget to its many interests. Late in 1947, it was thought advisable to become a part of the unified budget of the church, providing for the items under local expense, and the women reserving the opportunity to make the usual special gifts to State, Home and Foreign Missions and Old Ministers Relief. Many other things the women have done in the name of the Master are not written in this book. WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION OFFICERS FOR 1948 President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. M. T. Rogers Vice-President . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. J. T. Blackwell Recording Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Carl McFarland Corresponding Secretary . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. T. B. McConnell Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. George T. Daye Parlimentarian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. C. M. Hix Auditor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. H. M. Eagle Young People's Secretary . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Hartsel Wilson Y.W.A. Counselor's . . . . . .Mesdames J. C. and J. M. Boucher Junior G. A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Jessie E. Jeffers Sunbeam Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. John D. Matthews Beginners . . . . . . . . . .Mesdames Ben Wilson and Bob Garner Primary . . . . . . . . Mesdames T. F. Crocker and R. L. Eddins W. M. U. AUXILIARIES The contribution of the women to the progress and sucess of our Lord's work in the church has always been strong and vigorous. A Young Ladies Aid Society was the first W. M. U. Auxiliary. It was organized February 27, 1893. Since that time, down through the years, the Womans Missionary Union has given to children and youth missionary training. At present, its auxiliaries are flourishing in numbers and interest. Each group meets weekly and has its own mission program and projects. Each presents a missionary program to the W. M. U. once a year. The Christian leadership of these groups is of the highest type. Each organization having a counselor as follows: Sunbeams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. John D. Matthews Beginners . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Ben Wilson and Mrs. Bob Garner Primary . . . . . . . .Mrs. T. F. Crocker and Mrs. R. L. Eddins Junior G. A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Jessie E. Jeffers Intermediate G. A. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Curtis Wooten Y.W.A. . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. J. C. and Mrs. J. M. Boucher * * * * * THE BROTHERHOOD BROTHERHOOD No. 1 President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C. E. Prestridge First Vice-President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Burns Second Vice-President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. C. Matlock Third Vice-President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dick Gulledge Fourth Vice-President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Guy Irby BROTHERHOOD No. 2 President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norval Palmer Membership Vice-President . . . . . . . . . . . . .W. H. Wilson Program Vice-President . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Roy Chappell Social Vice-Pres. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joe Bowers Secretary and Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Waldrow The organized activity of the men of the First Baptist Church is of recent origin. In 1941, its first year, the brotherhood had an enrollment of fifty-three, with J. R. Pierce as president. Its growth in interest and membership gradually presented the need for a second brotherhood for younger men. The first group has sixty members while the second has twenty-five. Each group meets weekly serving supper at intervals for members and their guests. The purpose of the Brotherhood is to discover, develop, and utilize the talents of the men in the membership of the church; to support the cooperative program; and to assist the church in its overall activities. The groups have been active in organizing other Brotherhoods in Smith County. In the summer of 1947, the two Brotherhoods sponsored the building of the $9,000.00 Tyler Cabin at Pineywood Baptist Encampment.