(Continued from page 40.)

Panola, Chenoa, Willow Tree, Bunch Grove, Secor and Potter school house. Among the charter members of the church here were Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Geiger and Mrs. Celicia Boner, who are still here. In the fall of 1858 Rev. A. E. Day succeeded to the pastorate and the late Jacob Betz was one of his official board. In 1859 Rev. F. M. Smith was appointed to serve El Paso Methodism and among the officers were H. L. McOmber and O. P. Shaw. Rev. P. A. Crist came in the fall of 1861 and remained two years, giving place at the end of this term to Rev. J. E. Rutledge, who remained one year. Thus far services had been held in the school house. The need of a church building had long been felt and upon the appointment of Rev. J. B. Craig to the pastorate in 1864, plans for a new house of worship were laid and within the following year the first Methodist church of El Paso was built. If our readers imagine that to build a church under the difficulties and perilous times of that day was an easy matter they have simply misjudged the facts. The war was on, material was high, money scarce, the public worried about the country's distress and more than an ordinary amount of courage and perseverance was necessary to carry the work through. Late in the fall of 1865 the church was dedicated and great was the joy of the congregation. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Thos. Eddy, D. D., of Chicago, who was at that time editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate. After the arduous duties of two years' services, Mr. Craig gave place for Rev. W. P. Graves, who remained one year, being followed in the fall of 1868 by Rev. John Borland. This was another single year pastorate and in the fall of 1869 Rev. P. M. Armstrong came. Now follows another one year pastorate and P. A Crist is preacher in charge. In the fall of 1870 Rev. W. E. Williamson was appointed by Bishop Janes and remained two years. Following him came Rev. E. P. Hall and one year later Rev. G. W. Gue became the El Paso Methodist parson. After one year Rev. W. E. Stevens came and in the fall of 1875 the honored and sainted Father Worthington began his pastorate. Rev. J. S. Millsap followed in 1876 and remained three years. His work was blest by over 200 conver-

(Continued on page 44.)

 

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