SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH FOR COLORED PEOPLE AT ASHEVILLE, N. C.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH FOR WHITE PEOPLE, ASHEVILLE, N. C.
THE dedicatory service of our second Seventh-day Adventist church in this city occurred January 17. There was a good attendance of the citizens. The dedicatorial sermon was preached by Elder W. A. Westworth, president of the Southeastern Union Conference. Elder R. T. Dowsett offered prayer, and Elder D. A. Parsons presided as local pastor.
This is the second Seventh-day Adventist church which has been dedicated to the work of this closing message in Asheville during the last two years. The first one was built and set apart to the Lord’s service in 1907, for the use of the colored brethren, of whom there has been a faithful company in Asheville for some time.
A very neat two-story parsonage of seven rooms, with modern conveniences, on the lot adjoining the church, is also shown in the accompanying illustration. These buildings, and the grounds on which they are situated, were the personal donation of Sister J. E. Rombaugh, of this city, to the Southeastern Union Conference. The entire cost of ground and buildings varies but little from twelve thousand five hundred dollars. Of this sum, it should be stated, the colored brethren donated over one hundred fifty dollars toward the erection of their house of worship.
Brother J. S. Killen was first sent by the North Carolina Conference to carry on the work here. He labored faithfully in the distribution of literature, and in the holding of Bible readings. He also took the oversight of the erection of the church for the colored brethren.
In the meantime, while the buildings were progressing for the work in the interest of the white people, an arrangement was agreed upon between the North Carolina Conference and the Southeastern Union Conference, to set off Asheville and its adjoining territory to be worked by the Southeastern Union Conference for a time, until the work becomes quite fully established. In carrying out this plan, the union conference invited Elder D. A. Parsons to take the oversight in the Asheville mission, assisted by his mother, Mrs. L. A. Parsons, as Bible worker. The conference also promised that other workers would come to his aid as soon as possible.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PARSONAGE, ASHEVILLE, N. C.
The colored brethren are greatly favored by having had among them, the past few months, Elder M. C. Strachan, of Washington, D. C., who is here, not as a laborer, but to recruit his failing health. Although he has not been actively engaged in public work, still by his counsel he has greatly encouraged and strengthened this little company of believers. We are pleased to see our brother regaining his health, and to feel that it will not be long until he will be able to resume his work.
Immediately following the dedication, Elder Parsons began a series of meetings in the church. These are still in progress, with an encouraging interest, and we trust that some precious souls will see the truth and will joyfully obey it. We are all of excellent courage in the Lord. SIDNEY BROWNSBERGER.
