meeting. Thirty-four members answered to
roll call at this time and during Bro. Lampton's ministry there was a net
gain of twenty-eight in the membership. This was the beginning of better
things, the dawning of a brighter day for the church. Following Lampton's
meeting J. E. Jewett preached for the church a year or more and in August,
'88, J. D. Dabney was called as the first regular pastor. Dabney's ministry
covered a period of four years and by his faithfulness of life and work
he did much to strengthen the church and give it standing and influence
in the community. Under his work there was a net gain of fifty-one in membership,
making 113 when C. S. Medbury located with the church, Jan. 1, 1893. Since
the latter date there has been a net gain of 100 and now worshipping in
their beautiful new church home the congregation reviews the past with
thanksgiving and looks to the future hopefully.
REV. J. F. ROBINSON.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The beginning of Methodism in
El Paso, as best the writer can determine, dates back to 1857. The first
quarterly meeting for the El Paso charge was held in Panola Nov. 7-8 and
as there was no church building the services were held in the freight house.
The first pastor was Rev. R. Smitherson and instead of having the comfortable
surroundings which we know today, he had a large circuit of seven appointments,
with not a
church in all. Records show that he preached regularly at the following
places: El Paso,
(Continued on page 42.)
Page 40
-
Next Page
Previous Page
Link back to 1896 album index