The Key West Citizen Newspaper, September 25, 1954, Page 5

Early Difficulties Are Overcome By The First Presbyterian Church ‘The First Presbyterian Church Was organized on April 28, 1909 after an 8-day meeting conducted by the Rev. J. W. Rosebrought, evangelist from St. Johns Presby- tery. Thirty charter members were re- ceived amiong whom only Mr. and Mrs. A, C:; Elgin of Key West re- main presently members. A Sabbath School was organized with Lt. J. S. Dusenbury, as super- | intendent. Early meetings of the congregation were held in the Key West City Hall. Early Difficulties The Church had difficulty in se- curing a regular minister after its organization and the records show that the first regular minister Rev- erend H. H. Newman, was not calt- ed until March 1912, ‘ At this time several additional members were received, among them the Donald H. Cahpman fam- ily whose name appears in the re- cords until 1924 as Sunday School | Superintendent. The first minister resigned just four months after coming. He was followed two years later by a Tex- an, Rev. John MacWitliams, why stayéd nine months. Meeting Places During the early years the con- gtegation met in various places a- round town — the City Hall, the Harris School, at the homes of members of the congregation. In 1916 the Rev. S. W. Rogers was called as minister. He stayed for one year. From 1917 to 1923 no record appears. In October 1923 the congregation was again called together with « Rev. P. W. Sinks, as Stated Sup- 'y- At this time the name of A. R. Miller appears on the records es having been received from the First Presbyterian Church of Jack- sonvile. Mrs. Andrew Miller is still an ac- tive member of the Church. Dur- ing, this time the Church services wete held in the Monroe High School, First’ Church Building Under the leadership of Mr. A. C. Elgin and Mr. Miller plans were made:to build a Church at the cor- ner of South and Watton St. This building is now the Church Manse. . ; From 1924 until ee congre- gation met in the building at Soath and Walton. A number of ‘minis- ters served the ‘Church from 1924 to 1927 when the Rev. DeBarritt came. Dr. DeBarritt' is remember- ed by several Church members, After a, ministry of three years Dr. DeBarritt left the First Pres- byterian Church to become minis- ter of the newly organized Trinity Colored Presbyterian Church on Simonton St. Present Church Built In 1931 Dr. J. C. Gekeler was called to become the minister. Duz- ing his pastorate the present Church structure at the corner of White and Washington Streets was built. Again the new Church was built thru the efforts of the small con- gregation and considerable _ help from. the Home Missions Commit- tee. In 1935 the disastrous hurricane hit the Keys. The backbone of the Church was composed of those con- nected with the P and O Steamship Co. and the result of the hurricane was that these families were for- e@d.to move from.Key West. Evangelist Minister After the hurricane the Church membership declined until it was left without any officers and the Presbytery saw fit to give the min- ister the powers of an evangelist, allowing him to act without a Ses- sion. The longest tenure, of any miz- ister to serve the Key West Church, has been that of Dr. Gekeler, who was minister just under ten years. Dr. Gekeler died in 1941, Other Ministers Rev. M. G. Lyerly came to Key West in 1941 and remained until 1943. In January’ 1943 Mr. W. M. Whitley a Presbyterian Elder. from Ohio became a member of the Church and shortly thereafter the Session was again constituted. Mr. Lyerly resigned in. May of and was followed by Mr. Sellers, and was followed by Mr. Sellers, pg remained pastor for 16 mon- Mr. Sellers was followed by the Rey. M. E. Avery, under whose leadershp the Church began to show its potential as a growing con- . gregation. Growth of Church Dr. Avery served until early when he was succeeded by Coi. Ralph Rogers a retired Army chap- lain and Methodist minister. During Col. Rogers tenure of four years the church grew in numbers and enthusiasm. Col. Rogers ter- minated his connections with the{ Chureh in 1953 and was followed by another temporary supply minister, Rev. Ivan C. Smith of Wichita, Kan sas. The present minister, Rev. Rich- ard E. Coulter came to this Chureh on August 1953 and was installed as Pastor on September 20 of last Citizen Staff Photo by. Sybil. Dr. Bruce Gannaway, _Superin- tendent of the Miami District of the Methodist Church. and former pastor of Ley Memorial Methodist Church, will be the guest’preacher tomorrow at Ley Memorial Church, 1304 Truman Avenue at Bayview Park, ‘Dr. Gannaway was pastor at Ley Memorial back in 1930-31. Since that’ time he has served successfully as a pastor in West Palm Beach, Haines City, and Jacksonville. Immediately before coming to the Miami District in 1952, he was | Superintendent of the Sarasota! District of The Methodist Church. Baptismal Service During the course of the morn- ing service tomorrow, Dr. Gan- naway will baptize the infant son of the Reverend and Mrs. Eldon Simmons. The infant- will be baptized Robert Eugene. Immediately following the -morn- ing service the first Quarterly Conference of the Church year will be held. : Reports will be heard from the several departments of the Church, Other activities at Ley Memorial tomorrow will include Sunday School at 9:45 in the morning, Methodist Youth Fellowship at 6:30 p.m. and evening worship at 7:30. The pastor’s sermon topic for the evening will be ‘Fallacies Of The Accepted.” Mid-Week Activities The Women’s Society of Christ- ian service sponsored Prayer Group will assemble at 9:00 o’clock Wednesday morning for the regular weekly prayer time. Other activities for Wednesday Spiritual Nature Of Reality Topic At Christian Se. How understanding of the spir-| itual nature of reality brings en-| during health, harmony, and pro-| gress—will be set forth at Chrisian Science services tomorrow. The Lesson-Sermon entitled “Reality” includes the following | from I Peter (1:24), 25): “For all) flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endur- | eth for ever. And this is the| word which by the gospel is| preached unto you.” From “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy the following correl- ative passage will be read (335:27- 29): “Reality is spiritual, harmon- ious, immutable, immortal, divine, eternal. Nothing. unspiritual can be real, harmonious, or eternal.” The Golden Text is from I Dr. Bruce Gannaway To Preach At Ley Memorial Methodist Ch. are mid-week worship at 7:30 p.m. to be followed at 8:30 by Choir rehearsal. The regular monthly meeting | time for Ley Memorial Methodist Men has been changed from the first Friday night in the month to the Thursday preceding the first Friday. This shift in time will continue throughout the football season. This means that the Men’s Club will meet this Thursday evening} at 7:00 o'clock, Vincent Gehr Is Soloist At Church of Rock The regular Sunday schedule at the Church of the Rock will start at ten o’clock with Sunday school. Mr. Ralph Noble, the superinten- dent, has assembled a fine group of teachers. Their faithfulness is indicated in their attendance record which 1s perfect except for sickness or ab- sence from the city. Boys and girls without a church home are invited to look in on this. group. Gehr Is Soloist At the eleven o'clock worship service Mrs. Martha Robinson has arranged for Vincent Gehr to sing the special number. He has chosen “His Love Abid- eth Forever,” by Root. Mr. Gehr is a frequent soloist at the Church of the Rock and is most popular with the congregation. Mr. Rogers will preach at the morning service using as his sub- ject, “‘The Silver Lining.” Encouraging Words These words generally imply joy and gladness following sorrow or frustration and seem to encourage hope for better things. Naturally there is an old recipe for joy and gladness — life itself, offered by Paul and Silas. They Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” The Siver Lining is for all those who believe. Picnic For Youths The Padgetts who are directing the youth activities, have arrang- ed a picnic for the teenagers Sun- day afternoon. Corinthians (1:31): “As it is writ- ten, He that glorieth, let him glory. jim the Lard.” aid “Believe on the Lord Jesus! They will go up the keys for a| 729 FLEMING STREET THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — is located on the corner of White and Washington Streets, and has the distinction of being the “southernmost Presbyterian Church.” Reverend Richard E. Coul- ter is pastor of the church and the manse is located at 1020 South Street. The present church building was erected during the pastorate of Dr. J. C. Gekeler. It is noted for its simplicity and beauty.— Salvation Is Topic At Ist Baptist Church On Sunday morning the sermon topic at the first Baptist Church will be taken from First Peter 4th chapter 18th verse “If the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” What is the meaning of this language? Why is it difficult to be saved; Not as to its outcome but as to its process? Reason Given There are several reasons. First there is‘the deceitfulness of our old nature. Doubts come, tempta- tions assail; the spirit that is born again has to live in a house which is terribly exposed. Then the righteous are saved as to the process with great difficul- ty, because of the weakness of the new nature. Weakness Of Men When a man is born into the Kingdom of Christ he is very weak and undeveloped. When a little, tiny babe comes into our home, oh, what a weak thing it is. How helpless, how dependent that jlittle bit of humanity—even so are we when we are born again— Born by the spirit—taken out of the Kingdom of Darkness and put into the. Kingdom .of Light. Power Of Satan Then again the saving of the righteous is attended with great difficulty because of the power of Satan. The Christian is in the midst of a terrible battle, in which we ex- perience victory in fellowship with Christ. The evening sermon topic will be—“The Office of Deacon,” taken from 1st Timothy 3rd chapter. Ordination Service At the close of the evening ser- vice, Mr. P. J. Sims will be or- dained to the Office of Deacon. The Choir under the capable direction of Mrs. James Mc- Elhaney will render special music at both services, with Michael Marescal at the organ, LL | swim and picnic lunch after which they will hold their devotions on the grounds. Miss Carol Harris will have the lesson. | , All those without a church home |in the city are invited and en- couraged to visit the Church of the Rock. You'll find a cordia: welcome. YOUTH CHRIST ee é REV. J. PA TOUCHTC™ ‘or, First Methodist Church TONIGHT, 7:30 P.M. | HEAR Saturday, September 25, 1954 THE KEY WEST CITIZEN SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON By RALPH ROGERS Living Witnesses. Mat. 5:13 - 16, Acts 4:14 - 16, 8:4 + 8, Il Cor. 5:14 - 20 It’s a good thing to take an oc- casional inventory, a self-examina- tion of one’s Christian experience. There is no better yard stick, 10 more accurate mirror, to note the beauty or blemishes of Christian character, than through the Ser- mon on the Mount. As Living Witnesses we find in today’s les- son, not the defects and short- comings of our neighbor, but those of ourselves, Salt Is Good One good lady on a saltless diet was asked if she enjoyed her food. She stated that it didn’t taste good, that she had no appetite. Food without salt is tasteless, lacks the tang and taste which we like. Salt makes food appetizing, desirable, attractive. Salt has conviction and power. It effects whatever it touches. It can be destructive or constructive, de- pending on where it is used. Liv- ing in a salty atmosphere we find that it can destroy the fenders of cars and tends to corrode metals. It is thus destructive. On the other hand it is a preservative. Our fore- fathers used it to preserve fish and meats. The Christian uses it to pre- serve the truth — remains faith- fu! to such convictions as he may find in life. Sueh truth has mira- culous power. It has been remarked that far too many Christians lack the salt of conviction. We can become en- thusiastic about athletics, a ball game, a game of canasta, or an extended vacation. When it comes to our religious faith, we're as meek and mild and apologetic as so many mice. We lack the fire, courage, enthusiasm and convic- tion which is as necessary in re- ligion as in any endeavor for suc- cess. Salt not only is a preservative, gives tang and taste to food and to life, but is considered as pre- cious as a man’s life. From this we get the title, “the salt of the earth.” Jesus used this compli- mentary term in speaking to his followers. The group might be small and consist of poor, common folk, but such a group with the salt and tang of sincere conviction can witness effectively for Christ. Ten such righteous men ean save a city. (Gen. 18:32). ‘William M. Thompson, in his “The Land and the Book,” tells of a merchant in Sidon who bought quantities of salt and hid them in houses on the hill to keep from paying taxes. The houses had earth for floors and the salt soon lost its either uses his saltness to witness for Christ, to redeem the world, or else the world robs him of his ‘Christianity. Dwight L. Moody wrote in a friend’s Bible, “This Book will keep you from your sins, or your sins will keep you from this Book.” We Are The Light Jesus also likened his disciples to light. Perhaps he had just pon- dered the darkness of the night when the shadows of evil played mercilessly upon the innocent. When the sun pushed back the darkness, dawn brought the light of day when the forces of evil scampered for cover. Jesus is the light of the world and his light shines through his disciples. Looking into the mirror of this Sermon, we try to find ourself. We may be carrying our light in the noon-day sun when it does little good. It is like the talented man or woman radiating enthusiasm and interest in worldly things, but shedding little or no light on the POINCIANA BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL, 45 A.M. PREACHING, 11 A.M. BY PASTOR 6:30 P.M, Training Union PREACHING, 7:30 P.M. Tuesday, 7 P.M., Pr at Old Home, Stock Island WEDNESDAY, 7:30 P.M., PRAYER MEETING AT CHURCH All Members Urged To Come CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY Wednesday Evening Meetings ai 3 @'Cicca Reading Reem in the Church Building ie epen on Tuesday and Friday from 3 - 5 P.M. precious jewels of eternal life. Or we might be the talented individual with precious talents hiding them under a bushel. How many of us| like to belong to the church, to en- | joy its music and services, and | yet just absorb, never reflect the | light we receive. Do we let our light shine, Christ in some definite way? During the Crimean War Flor- ence Nightingale walked through the dirty, filthy hospitals minister- | ing to the British wounded. The} wards were dark and she carried a lamp. Years after those s 'diers remembered her how she came in the middle of the night when their Pains were the worst, always car- trying a lamp. She became know to those men as “the Lady with the Lamp.” ins have a tremendous responsibility. When an officer of a church, influenced by a neuro- tie female of the congregation, writes a letter itemizing the ima- ginary deficiencies of the pastor, or of others, resulting in disrup- tion, discontent and division, that individual and that church fails to reflect Christian light. The young People begin to question Christ and his church. Of such a witness for Satan it is said ‘“whoso shall of- fend one of these little ones who believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were do we witness for) CHURCH OF CHRIST M. A. CREWS, Minister yy and Von Phister Streets BIBLE stupy — 10 a.m, UNPAY 1PM, - ‘ WOAM — Bible Quiz by W. Ray D: Each Sunday 4:30 P.M. Over WMIE Miami MORNING SERVICE — 11 A.M. EVENING SERVICE — 7:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY: BIBLE STUDY — 7:30 P.M. -- Everyone Invited ——— Located at 1304 Truman Avenue ——— 9:45 A.M.—SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:50 A.M.—MORNING WORSHIP DR. BRUCE GANNAWAY, GUEST PREACHER 7:30 P.M.—EVENING WORSHIP Subject: “FALLACIES OF THE ACCEPTED” drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Mat. 18:6). We Are Ambassadors Paul caught the spirit of the Ser- mon on the Mount when he wrote the Corinthian Church that “we are ambassadors therefore, in be- half of Christ.” The primary pur- pose in Christ’s coming was to save the world. To be saved, however, is not enough. We have an addi- tional duty, that of speaking for Christ. The message that the Chris- tian witness brings is that of re- conciliation with God. That simply means that there has been a state of estrangement between God and man. On the part of man he has been in sin and fear and unbelief. On the part of God there has been a condemnation of evil and dis Pleasure at man’s disobediance God so loved the world that he gave his Son to be sacrificed for the sins of all mankind. As a re- sult of this love and sacrifice, it means the Christian death to self and to dedicate his life in service to Christ. Those who have over- come their self-centeredness have died to self and are thus qualified to witness for Christ, to be his am- bassador. In his Pearls for Preachers, Dr. Hart has told of a book written by R. G, Ingersoll in his attack on the the fly leaf of which he wrote, “If all Christians had lived like Aunt Sarah, perhaps this book would never have been written.” If all Christians would be “Living Wit- nesses” like Aunt Sarah, there would not be so many infidels in the world. Christ is the only an- swer. iy the A. and used by perm! Do the duty which lieth near- es' —Thomas Carlyle, The Salvation Army GOLDEN EAGLE HALL 1215 PETRONIA STREET Lt. and Mrs. Henry Russell, Officers in Charge Sunday School, 10 A.M. HOLINESS MEETING, 11:00 A.M. EVENING SERVICE, 7:30 P.M. Bible Study, Wednesday, 7:30 P.M. OUR MOTTO: Heart to God and Hand to Man Church Of God Of Prophecy 909 ANGELA STREET J. L. Tracey, Pastor Old Time Preaching and Singing SUNDAY SCHOOL, 10 A.M, Morning Worship 11:00 A.M. Evangelistic Service 7:45 P.M. Wednesday , 7:48 P.M., Prayer rome Pie's Service Come and Bring Your Friends INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE ROCK “On This ROCK I Will Build My Church” TEMPORARY QUARTERS: 535 FRANCIS STREET (Corner Southard and Francis Streets) RALPH ROGERS, Minister Mrs. Martha Robinson, Piants? SUNDAY SCHOOL, 10:00 A.M. Ralph D. Noble, Superintendent MORNING WORSHIP 11:00 A.M., 535 FRANCIS STREET Subject: “THE SILVER LINING” Youth Fellowship, 6:30 P.M. VISITORS WILL FIND A CORDIAL WELCOME “A GROWING CHURCH IN A GROWING COMMUNITY“ First Presbyterian Church WHITE and WASHINGTON STREETS RICHARD E. COULTER, Minister 9:45 A.M.—Rally Day in the Church School 11:00 A.M.—Morning Worship Sermon: “THE PLACE CALLED CALVARY” 6:30 P.M—Pioneer and Senior Youth Fellowships 7:30 P.M.—Evening Worship Bible Study from the Epistle to the Hebrews Visitors and Service Personnel Will Find A Warm Weleome In This Friendly Church St. Paul's Episcopal Church CORNER of DUVAL and EATON STREETS THE REV. JOHN 8. ARMFIELD Rector 7:30 A.M.—Holy Eucharist 9:30 A.M.—Church School 11:00 A.M—Momning Prayer and Sermon (Nursery Conducted During Service) 6:30 P.M.—Young People’s Service League 7:30 P.M.—Evening Prayer and Sermon VISITORS CORDIALLY WELCOME AT ALL SERVICES AND BRING A FRIEND 9:45 A.M—SUNDAY SCHOOL Allen Carey, Superintendent 10:50—Morning Worship Subject: “LIFE I$ VALUABLE TO GOD” 6:30 P.M., MYF, MIF Worship Services 7:30 P.M.—Evening Worship DR. BRUCE GANNAWAY SPEAKING Methodist Ch urch