Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1915 — EFFORT TO UPBUILD THE BAPTIST CHURCH [ARTICLE]

EFFORT TO UPBUILD THE BAPTIST CHURCH

Rensselaer and Jasper County Organizations Now Under Control of • State Convention. S. 1 The special council of teh Baptist churches of the Monticello district met in this city Wednesday and steps were taken to try to build up the Baptist organization in this city and in the country, where theer are three other churches, namely, at Wheatfield, Parr and in Milroy township. The church building at Parr was destroyed by fire recently but the organization still exists. The plan adopted was to turn the property here over to the Indiana Baptist Convention and to place the convention in complete charge of the local work, and to have Jasper county made a missionary field and a

minister under the pay of the state convention to be placed in charge. All moneys collected from the local field would be turned over to the' state convention for expenditure. The Missionary Baptist church of this city was some years ago a quite strong organization but many of the old members have moved away and the membership has gradually decreased until there are now only about 45 members and many of them are not very active. The meeting here was attended by a number of wealthy members of the church in the other towns of the district and it was placed squarely up to them as to what should be done with the local church. It was suggested that a more active effort should be made to secure new membership or the work be entirely abandoned here. The members of the special council were unanimous in urging that an effort be made to save the church and the plans outlined above were decided upon and a committee composed of Rev. J. M. Kendall, of Morocco, Rev. G. W. Livingston, of Wolcott, and Rev. O. E. Miller, of. Burnetts Creek, was appointed to carry the plans into execution.