Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, May 4, 1924, Page 24

PAGE EIGHT. * '@be Casper Sunday Cribune SUNDAY, MAY 4, 1924. NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TO HELP GREATER CASPER Rey, Chas, A. Wilson, D.. Di Pastor MARVELOUS GROWTH ~EMPHASIZES NEED OF NEW MODERN EDIFICE Increase in Membership of 710 in Three and Half Years Calls for Immediate Work in Erect- ing Adequate Building. The First Presbyterian Church of Casper is an outstanding church of ance by departments: Beginners 94, Primary 124, Men’s Class 93° Mrs. the denomination throughout the| Wilson's class of women 184, other Rocky Mountain states. Organized| departments 1 The average at- eleve urs ago with a charter|tendancr. che past math was 530. membership of 66, its recent growth| The Sunday morning attendance has been phenomenal. Its organ-|!s always large, and recently it has been larger than ever. On spectal occasions it is utterly impossible to take care of the hundreds who wish to attend this church. ‘The First Presbyterian Church ‘exerts a large fring energy and aggressiveness have been"in keeping with the spirit of the repidly growing city, and have given it a large place in the community life. The average ad-| Influence in the affairs of the com- ditions to the membership for the|™munity. On its roll of membership are many outstanding business and eleven years since the church was|TiSresonal men of the city. ‘They organized have been more than the|are men of large vision, who desire original membership. In the last} that the church shall stand for the three and a half years 710. new| bishest {deals of life and service. members have been received; more The Sacrificial Spirit than 200 per year. The spirit of sacrifice is not want- ing. One couple of humble means All departments reflect this large} ang moderate salary has pledged Increase. A recent membership| $500.00 to the building fund A campaign of the Ladies Aid So-]Sunday school boy earning a Mttle UR ee dition o: »jby his own efforts has subscribed clety resulted in the addition of more} Dy. his own efforts has subseribed timn 100 new members, making a Primary and ner De rtments present total of more than 300 mem-! recently contributed $135.00 for the s and the regular meetings of| building fund for their own new » society always have a large at-|church for which they are looking forward. Young women of the Pesdance Westminster Guild have raised in Sunday School Crowded cash and subscriptions from their The Sunda hool occuples every | salaries $1,000.00, and are continuing available space of the church bulld-| faithfully their efforts to add great- ing and tabernacle at Sixth and|ly to this sum. People have en- Durbin s, and it has been found|thusiasm for things that cost them necessary to secure outside space|something. They work hard for tn private residences to care for|that which 1s worth while. The elasses. Easter Sunday the high|new church will have something for wnter mark of attendance whs|everybody, men and women, boys renched, with an attendance of 66 and girls. It will be worth our avith the follow! as the attend. best efforts to make it a reality, How. Needs Of Church Will Be Met (By Building Committee) An auditorium capable of holding the large and constantly increasing number of church-goers, many of whom are turned away for want of room. ‘The auditorium of the new building will provide seating for 650 and in addition, thereto, a balcany will provide seating for 230. The auditorium has been designed to ac- commodate the average regular at- tendance, but the plan of accommo- dation is elastic to the extent and purposes of taking care of the un- usually large attendances as at spec- lal services, at which times it is an- ticipated to provide seating for ap- proximately 1100. A large assembly room of the same size as the audi- torlum for wholesome entertainment social gatherings, lectures, concerts, community meetings, dinners and other uses, and a large and conven- ient kitchen and serving room con- nected with it, For Sunday school purposes, this large assembly room will be assigned to the use of the Primary and Beginner's Dtpart- ment, which department has now an average enrollment of 275. By means of a system of folding and sliding doors, the whole of this as- sembly room can be made into a series of large or small class rooms. At one end of this assembly room has been provided a stage and dress- ing rooms, this for the purpose of lectures, concerts, Sunday school en- tertainments, and such other activi- ties as will not be conducted ih the auditorium of the church. An exceptionally large room, also in the basement, to be known as the Recreation Roore, which space has been designed to meet the require- ments of the Junior Department, and Boy and Girl Scout activities. For the Bible Class A room for the great body of men who meet for Bible study every Sun- lay morning, who already crowd to overflowing their own room, and are now looking forward to a much greater number, with accommoda- tions inadequate as they now are, ‘A room for an ever-growing class of women, which at present has no room large enough to meet its ne- cessities. Some fifteen separate class rooms large and small, for voys and girls, and modern facilities for efficient ay school work. unday school rooms for. a great and constantly growing school, al ready so large that every room is crowdel to overflowing. A séparate room for a permanent Chureh secretary, which service has now become an absolute necessity. Location of New Church * ‘The location is one of the finest in the city, Elghth and Wolcott Streets, 0 Park, and so cent cessible to all parts of the cit The foundation of the new-build. ing is already in place, and ‘your building committee is pleased to re- port that with the issuance of this bulletin this work will be almost free of financial encumbrance. This work is open for inspection and a visit to the building site will give an excellent idea of the general shap nd size of the building when completed. The exterior of the building will be faced with a dark red rough brick, and will be trimmed with a light stone, which effect 1s most pleasing and desirable for church buildings. ‘The structure will be set off with a large tower on the corner of Eighth and Wolcott streets, and the main entrances to the church will be through this tower. Separate entrances are provided to the Sunday school unit behind and adjoining the main body of the church building. _ Facing Eighth Street oo and City Park oe Side Elevation of New Church BUILDING PROGRAM NONE TOO LARGE, DR. M’GARRAH TELLS MEN’S CLASS AT MEETING TUESDAY EVENING Noted Finance Expert and Organizer of Big Denomination Reviews Plans and Tells Of Its Great Possibilities. By DR. M cGARRAH.- (Adderss Before Me n's Class Tuesday.) It is a pleasure for me to visit) for entertainments and amateur again the city of Casper. When I|dramatics, together with a ladies’ gue ae ee parlor, on amplo kitchen, and a siopped last October on my way to Oregon, } was deeply impressed by the character of the people, and uy the past growth and future possi- bilities of the city, My earliest memories are of the ofl develop: ments near my home in western Pennsylvania. Much of my activity has been in oil producing oom- munities, so that I am better able than most men to understand your community and its future. My other duties prohibit me from meeting most of my invitations per- sonally to help finance chu but because of. the impres: gained on my former vis't to this city and to this church, I have re- fused nearer and easier trips to help here where the opportunities are so great and so urgent at this time. The proposition here, as I under- pacity for 500 at banquets. Your plans are large but they are none too large. Many of you khow the eity of Tulsa, the center of the oil Interests of Oklahoma as Casper will be the metropolis of the oll interests of Wyoming for the next 200 years, In 1900, a friend of mine became pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Tulsa, The membership, then about 120, half Indians, was worshipping in a cheap frame build- ing. When ofl developments began, erected and financed with difficulty in 1907 and 1908. But the growth of membership was such that it has been twice enlarged. They are just completing a plant worth at least $700,000, to-serve a present member- ship of neariy 3,000, a building such as you propose was | your leadership in other moaern | plans. Just a word as to present-day Protestantism in general. A gen- eration ago, the churches had not adopted modern methods. Ministers were usually more concerned about traditions than with energetic pro- motion of the principles’ of Jesus and the development of worthy pro- grams of service to boys and girls and to the community. Churches were often stagnant. But Protestantism has been achieving new ideals and efficiency under new leadership. During the last census period, while the popu- lation increased 15 per cent, the Protestant. membership fricreased 26 per cent and the contributions of Protestantism increased 100 per cent for buildings and local ex- penses and 200 per cent for mis- sions. Methodists, Baptists and other wide-awake progressive evan- gelical churches are advancing the country over by leaps and bounds, The Presbyterian church, in par- ticular, has made a net gain of 200,000 in four years. When George Washington died, there were only 15,000 members in the Presbyterian church, U. 8. A. ‘This has increased to almost 2,000,000; with perhaps as many more adherents. The Presby- ter church, since 1800, has in- stand it, is as follows: This Pre: Your proposed building to cost reased seven times as fast as the byterian church has the largest|$150.000 should be financed more|P0PUlation. The growth of this membership of any of the Protestant] casily than Tulsa Presbyterians} ChUreh in Casper ts therefore not churches in Casper, Organized only | financed ther second building. Just | usual. 1f years ago, it has now 820 mem-| as in the Tulsa church, your church] The sum of $100,000 may seem bers. The three years since Dr.| has an unusual leader in Dr. Wil-|!@tse—especially in yiew of the fact and Mrs. Wilson came as your lead- son, whom, with Mrs, Wilson, you ers have seen an average of more|have all céme to love because of than 200 new members per year.| What they are, and to respect be- Your Sunday*school, crowding this| cause’ of their devotion to this equipment to the limit, overflowing | church and because of the wonder. each wee arby homes be-|ful growth of this church since caus runs continually | their coming. above s. That 6 My experience has taken me to in the school on more than two thousand churches. final proof of the utter|1I have helped to finance buildin y of this present plant. |in Boston and Seattle, in Florida You propose, therefore, to-erect a/and in San Diego, and in almost modern and complete house of wor-| every section between. My _ work ship which will accommodate 880 worshippers regularly, and 1,100 on special occasions. This will contain accommodations for an efficient Sunday school with an enrollment for 20 years has been that of church diagnostician and physician, You will then appreciate ray ding- nosis when I predict for this church a church membership of 1,500, and of 1,200 to 1,500 pupils; together|@ Sunday schoo] almost as large, with recreational rooms, a social| within 10 years, if vou proceed with hall where 800 people can be seated| your proposed edifice and follow —4 First Floor Plan Showing Auditorium and Many Class Rooms this church ,raised over 330,000 in Chureh And the Community By L, A, REED ‘Civic government, public schools and the church are paramount to every community, if it Is to prove worthy of the high ideals set forth by those who fashioned our nation. Without civil government there is lawlessness, without tne public school, ignorance and superstitution, without the church and its elevating influence, the morale of the people descends to a low levet. The nations that have fallen, the governments that have passed, have passed because of moral delinquen- cies and weaknesses, rather than be- cause of martial or material disas- ters. It does not matter how wealthy a people’ may be, how wise or in- dustrially efficient, if there is not the God-fearing home, and the sense of responsibility to" God ever fails to ee | jeez | Fi TEE | STLLEeET ae | T a 1 + r- [cores ri Se be preached from the pulpits of our land, no matter what other forms of prosperity or culture we attain, we will not survive; no other nation has, “It i# righteousness that ex- alteth a nation.” Casper holds an important posi- tion tn the industrial activitjes of the west. In the ight of past ex periences 1f we are to maintain this prestige, we must look well to the spiritual side of things by encourag- ing the church life of our com- munity. The need for better places of worship in Casper must be evi. cash and subscriptions last year to cover cost of excavating and founda- tion and leave a surplus in subscrip- tions. Let not this sum frighten you. I have been with scores of churches of working people, where they have raised $200 to $300 per member. You need only about $200 per member, all told. Of course you have many children, but on the other hand, you have many friends who will contribute from $200 to $2,000 each, even though they are not members, What method will bring the de- sired results? I am here not so much to raise money as to help you to rafse the money by advising as to the plans ahd methods which wili bring the results, and to help the committee to avold mistakes. At this point, let me add that I receive no percentage, I receive only my expenses. I am not a profiteer, taking a slice for myself. The first*step to success 1s to allow time for payments. Few peo- ple are able to pay cash for a home. They pay so much per month on the purchase price or as rent. Many poeple buy cars on installments. Instead of buying a five year sup- ply of cafdy or Cigars, instead of providing} the year’s groceries and clothing in one payment, they make many small payments. So, a worthy urch building can be paid for only by installments. Forty months will be allowed for payments. Twenty-five dollars’ per month will bring in $1,000. ‘Twenty dollars per month means $300, and $15. per month means $600, People dent to all; the lack of better church buildings 1s criticized by our guests, who compare our equipment with towns less fortunate in a business way. Situated as we are, let us not for- get that it 1s not the possession but the use of opportunity and resources that counts with God and in history. . ' Relation to Business Life By J. W. JOHNSON If we will but stop for a moment and consider, we Will readily see that the relationship of the church to the business Mfe of the community is becoming more and more closely established every d We can easily recall that a num- ber of years ago the great railroad 5 ems began to provide the R. R, M. C. A. for the benefit of their employees. They found that the men were more contented and effie- jent If provided with a clean place to go where they could indulge in healthy exercises and other means of recreation under the influence of 4 religious atmosphere. This worl has been so extended that at the present time nearly every large cor poration 4s providing such places for their employees, Notably among these we may cite Mr. John H. Con verso, President of the Baldwin Locemotive Works; John Wanna- makey, and “57 Variety" Heinz, whd spent vast sums of money every eatin, Uy tN Public Has Obligation To Church and Work It Performs. can thus meet their subscriptions easily. 3 My Masonic lodge in the east is raising a building fund payable in months. They set a minimum of 200, or $8 per month, refusing to accept.less from any member. As a 00d Mason, for a generation past, {am taking my share and paying tionthiy. But a church building is more important to a family than a lodge room, One goes to the lodge. per+ haps once a month, but the modern church is open twenty times each month. A prominent Mason re- marked: “Over a period of three months, I visited the lodge rdoms three times, or about the average; but my wife and children and my- self were in the church more than 100 times. That is why I volun- tarily pay many times as much towards a church building as toward a lodge building.” Some people say: “I never go to chureh. Why should I help pay for church buildings?” Such people do not appreciate the church's values, I spent two years in a Call- fornia mining country for my health. Having been in business, 1 beught a house and lot tn a cer- (Continued on Paye Seven) What Leading Citizens of Casper Think year to carry out this line of work nd they have found that their best efforts le in surrounding their em- yees with religious influences and training during their leisure hours. We find further that the church is One of tle most helpful and neces- Sary institutions in the life of! a elty. The church. stands for truth, honesty and integrity, ‘and creates & moral atmosphere without which no city can succeed, Tam glad to note that the church of today is a much more Democratic orgahization’ than was the church of a few years ago. You may go to your chureh today, and in attending the Brotherhood classes you will find that you are provided with the really big men of your city for lead- ers and you are always assured that there will be something of interest that will. with it the desire to “Come Agu and with regular at- tendance you will soon realize the close connection that the church really has with your business, and this is true in many other features that the chureh has to offer in all its different branches until we will gradually realize that {t is not only our duty, but a pleasure to attend, and you will come to know that it {fs just as important for the business men of today to follow the teachings of the Bible in his dalty transactions fg it is that the church shall have (Continued on Paye Sever.)