DIVISION SEVKN — SOCIETARY. 



485 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 



The first meeting to talk up organization was held November 

 7, 1883, in Good Templars' hall in the old Library building. 

 Those present were Rev. J. J. Woolsey, Rev. S. S. Fisk and wife, 

 Henry Fisk, W. P. Jacobson, Miss Carrie Jacobson, D. Williams, O. S. 

 Barber and wife, F. C. Quarles and wife, Mrs. Mary E. Case, Mrs. Martin 

 MuUins. The next Sunday, November 14, they met again and completed 

 the organization by electing Rev. Fisk as pastor ; E. T. Pierce, clerk ; 

 S. Washburn, treasurer. 



May I, 1885, pastor Fisk resigned. The church had now secured Wil- 

 liams hall for its meetings, and preaching services were led by Rev. L. W. 

 Hayhurst and others as "supply" until March, 1886, when Rev. T. N. 

 Lord became the pastor. On March 23 articles of incorporation were 

 adopted, and the first board of directors chosen, to-wit : S. Washburn, A. J. 

 Brown, Dr. Theron Nichols, L. F. Miller, Joseph Wallace. At same time 

 a lot 75x210 feet was purchased from Charles Legge at corner of Fair Oaks 

 Av^enue and Locust street, for $1,800, 

 and steps taken to proceed at once 

 with the erection of a church edifice. 

 This work was pushed to completion 

 so that they held their first Sunday 

 services within its walls on September 

 26, 1886. On February 27, 1887, the 

 church was dedicated, free of debt ; 

 and the treasurer's report (showing all 

 bills paid) footed up the total cost as 

 $1^111 -11 — 2- most singular sextuple 

 tally of the Scriptural " perfect num- 

 ber." In August, 1887, pastor Lord 

 resigned. And January 22, 1888, Rev. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. Photo. 1894. 



C. E. Harris became the pastor, in which ofiice he continued until his death, 

 September 25, 1894. During 1893-94 a considerable addition was built to 

 the church. The membership in 1894 was 212. Volumes in library, 305. 

 The church auxiliaries, besides Sunday school, are : Ladies Aid Society, 

 Ladies Missionary Society, Children's Mission Band, Baptist Young People's 

 Union. Officers in 1894 : Pastor, Rev. C. E. Harris. Trustees: Milford Fish, 

 J. W. Camper, Ernest Canfield, A. A. Chubb, C. A. Whitman. Deacons : 

 L. F. Miller, E. Canfield, M. Fi.sh, A. J. Brown. Clerk, Geo. Taylor ; 

 treasurer, Milford Fish. Superintendent Sunday school, J. H. Merriam. 

 Rev. C. T. Douglas entered upon the pastorate April 21, 1895. 



A printed report of 1893 gives the value of the church property as 

 $8,000. Amount of church expenses for the preceding year, $1,485.08 ; 

 and other contributions for various branches of church mission work, mak- 

 ing the total of funds raised and paid out, $1,855.53. 



