Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1920 — SERVICES ARE APPRECIATED [ARTICLE]

SERVICES ARE APPRECIATED

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH HAD SUCCESSFUL YEAR UNDER NEW PASTOR. ' --T".?: The Rev. William T. Barbre, who, on February Ist, finished one year’s service as pastor of the First Christion church, was very much pleased when the official board of his church gave him a very substantial increase in salary. The official board meet in regular session in the church Tuesday evening. The affairs of the church were gone over very carefully and board' and minister were delighted (with the degree of success which 'had come to the congregation. The finances of the church are in the best condition they have been since the beginning of the local organization. AU departments and especially the Bible school are under splendid headway. During the yea)r the Rev. Barbre held two revival meetings. About one hundred fifty have been adddd to the church roU. The membership now is near the five hundred, mark.

Lead by the virile minister the church has taken on new life and the co-operation of congregation and pastor in a strenuous effort has accomplished results which are very pleasing bo those interested in this religious organization. The Rev. Barbre is a graduate of the Indiana State Normal School at Terre -Haute. After his graduation he taught school for four years and was at the time he entered the ministry a member of the Columbus high school faculty. He has taken post graduate work at Butler College. He has an A. B. degree from the Normal school. I

He was for eight years pastor of the ClTristian church at Rockville and two years at Sheridan. He resigned from Sheridan to enter the war. He was commissioned a First Lieutenant and sefved' as chaplain and wag ready for overseas duty when the armistice was signed. After his discharge he accepted a call from the church here and his services date from the last of January, 1919. The Rev. Barbre is not only an efficient and industrious worker in the church but he is very active in the life and movement of the vicinity in general. He Is as popular with the people outside of the church which he lerves as he is with the members of us congregation.