The American Missionary — Volume 50, No. 08, August, 1896Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 50, No. 08, August, 1896
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
We have asked the pastors of some of our churches to give to us
sketches of the histories of those churches--their location, pastors
and membership, the condition of their members financially and otherwise,
how many have homes of their own, and what are their employments.
The details are truthful and are of value as showing the people
in their church, home, and business life.
* * * * *
DEER LODGE, TENN.
By Mrs. Ella Gill Sedgwick.
Deer Lodge, on the Cumberland Plateau in east Tennessee, is delightfully
located. The adjacent country is highly picturesque--rocky cliffs, deep
ravines, winding wooded streams, giving beauty to the landscape. To the
eastward, stretching far in undulating lines, are the mountains, seen
through a purple mist of great beauty. We often repeat the words, "As
the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his
people." We are nearly 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, so the air
is pure and healthful. A spicy fragrance fills the air, blown down from
the pines that crown the hills.
Deer Lodge has been settled mostly by Northern people. In a religious
point of view we are divided into Congregationalists, Methodists, and
Baptists, with a few Episcopalians. There is only one church building,
however, the Congregationalists'. This is a beautiful little edifice
worthy of the growing importance of this interesting field on the
Cumberland Plateau. The church has a choice location on Ross Avenue.
On April 13, 1889, the corner-stone was laid, and on August 4 of the
same year the church was dedicated. The church has good officers and
earnest working members. The present membership is forty-one. No
hostility is shown toward our church by the members of other churches,
but all are united and recognize in every one who loves the Master a
fellow-worker in the vineyard of Christ.
The present pastor, Rev. G. Lusty, during his residence among us has
endeared himself to all. A promising work is being done in the
Sabbath-school, and we believe that from it constantly go forth many
little rills of influence that are entering the homes and bringing the
people a higher and purer life. The Christian Endeavor society is doing
a good work among the young people. The prayer-meetings held on Thursday
evenings are well attended. The growth of the church has not been rapid,
but is steady, and during its history has enjoyed some revivals of
religion.
Under the direction of the pastor's loyal wife the young people have
been gathered into a sewing-school at her home every Saturday afternoon,
and everything is done to encourage the little fingers in their attempts
to guide the needle; and we feel that here, too, is a work being done
that will bring forth fruit in the homes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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