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.)
 
 

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