The Federated Church, formerly the Presbyterian, 1954.
1938, and the Federated Church outlined its program of activity. Certain dissatisfaction developed, and on February 5, 1939, part of the former members of the Christian Church withdrew from the new organization and resumed services in their former church building.
Reverend James W. Bell, who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at the time of the unification, continued as pastor of the Federated Church until April 7, 1940. Reverend Kenneth Stuckey is the present pastor.
THE METHODIST CHURCH had its beginning in 1857 when it was listed as one of the seven appointments in the El Paso Circuit, which included El Paso, Panola, Chenoa, Willow Tree School, Bunch Grove School, Potter's School and Secor. Though it was a large circuit, going almost to Roanoke, there was no church edifice, so the first quarterly conference was held in the freight house in Panola on November 6 and 7, 1857. Zadock Hall, pioneer Methodist minister, presided; R. Smithson was the preacher in charge and Franklin R. Tobias the local preacher.
The circuit was organized by electing three men from each appointment to serve as steward, class leader and on missions. The claims of the preachers that year amounted to $310, and the conference voted to pay the Reverend Smithson $175 per year "for his table and traveling expenses." Our circuit was in the La Salle district of the Peoria conference.
March 1, 1864 the trustees purchased two lots in El Paso from Mr. and Mrs. George L. Gibson, one at the corner of Second and Chestnut, the other at 240 East Third. Services had been held in the schoolhouse prior to the erection of the frame church on the corner site at a cost of $7,000. The Reverend Thomas Eddy, D. D., editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate, dedicated the building July 30, 1865. The lot on East Third was sold July 2, 1867 for $1,400, the price
Page 191