Our Local Congregation History 1885 - 1964

This material was copied from an article written by Kittie Thornton, and was included in the Garland County Historical Society publication, "The Record."In compiling the history of this wonderful church, we find that the first date appearing was in the Fall of the year 1885, in which a small band of the Disciples of Christ, coming from Kentucky, Illinois, and the surrounding territory, gathered together for a meeting. Hot Springs, at that time a village, was their meeting place, and, an appeal having been made to the newly formed Arkansas State Board, Brother J.C. Mason, State Evangelist, came to hold the meeting. These people were drawn together by a common desire to worship and serve God as Christians only, as they had learned to do. So, in a building belonging to the Presbyterian Church, the site being a spot near the present St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Spring Street, the meeting was held. A Ladies Aid Society and a Sunday School were formed after the meeting, with Mrs. H.C. Smith as the president of the Society, and Mrs. J.C. Howell, the treasurer. The Sunday School met in the home of one of the members. Mr. Charles S. Goslee, now deceased, recalled in 1951 his remembrance of meeting in the old Presbyterian Church, which was later abandoned, the members going to the First Presbyterian Church on Whittington Avenue. He also recalled meetings in the former old Second Baptist Church, located at that time on Rector Avenue. This building, too, was abandoned with the acquiring of the present property on Fourth Street and Garland Ave. The members of the Christian faith, not having a real church building of their own, had also been meeting in homes of different members of the church.In 1886, John A. Stevens succeeded Mr. Mason as State Evangelist, and during that summer, held a meeting in Hot Springs.Due to the efforts of the Ladies Aid Society, in the year 1887, a piece of ground, the address of which became 19 West Grand Avenue, was purchased. The trustees to whom this land was deeded were H.C. Smith, J.N. Rust, and James Williams.In 1889, the Board of Church Extension, having recently been organized, the members made an appeal and F.M. rains, first secretary of the church organization, came to Hot Springs to look over the situation. On his recommendation, a loan was granted, and a house was built on the lot.This building was the first church building owned by a Christian Church in Hot Springs. In the vivid description by Mr. Goslee, it was explained that, "The church had two front doors, some twelve feet apart, and the baptistery was under the pulpit at the back. The entire building at first consisted of only one large room, with a big wood stove in the center in the winter months." Mr. Goslee then recalled the coldest morning in February of 1889. In Hot Springs, it was eighteen degrees below zero, and only about fifteen persons were present. These were all in one class at Sunday School, which was held with brave ones all huddled around the big wood stove. A few more were present for the Church Service, and it, too, was conducted at the big stove.In the year 1890, the church was organized by State Evangelist, John A. Dillon. The first elders were I.W. Smith, John A. Moore and J.O. Miller, and W.R. Woody, James Williams, and Frank Williams were the first deacons. The Sunday School was reorganized at this time with john A. Moore as superintendent, and his daughter, Miss Jennie Moore, as secretary and organist.The first minister to serve the church in this building was J.N. Clem, who came in 1890. In November of that year, R.S. Robertson held a meeting, and then came to the church as the pastor early in the following year. The State Convention was held in Hot Springs in 1891, and from this time on, the Hot Springs Church has cooperated in the state and national missionary enterprises of the Disciples of Christ.This first church building has lingered fondly in the memories of those who can recall the days gone by. Mr. Goslee gave us the information that in 1899, the church building was considerably improved. A front vestibule was built, with double front doors, and double swinging doors were placed between the vestibule and the church proper. Several rooms were built across the back of the building, and the baptistery was built under the room directly in back of the pulpit. New stained glass windows were put in, and the entire building was given a fresh coat of paint.There were many forms of entertainment held in the church, with musicals, Christmas Cantatas, and Easter programs being presented. "That Rascal, Pat" was one of the comedies produced by the young people of the church, and the "Santa Claus convention" and The Old Maid's Convention" were other very successful musical entertainment presented. We are told that these were so well received that they were repeated several times.Weddings and funerals were also a part of the church services conducted in the old church. Miss Mary Wit, one of the first telephone operators in Hot Springs, was wed there to Mr. Will Watson, in 1897. Funerals of Mrs. Watson's father, Mr. Jack Wit, of her sister, Miss Lilly Wit, and her brother, Bert Wit, were also held in the church. Also of great interest at that time, were the many revivals being held in the old building. Probably the biggest was held by a widely know evangelist of their faith, a Reverend Update. This meeting was held soon after the turn of the century, and resulted in a number of additions to the church. Most of these members became outstanding in the work in Hot Springs and in other parts of the nation. During the revival held by the Rev. Jewell Howard of Texas, Bro. Charles Goslee was baptized. Then, several years afterwards, another successful revival was held by Percy G. Cross, who later became the first pastor in the newer building on Grand Avenue at Ouachita.In the year 1905, a lot was purchased on Ouachita Avenue at hickory Street, and in 1909, the old building was vacated by the congregation, and worship was begun in the basement of a proposed new brick building on this spot. However, the building was not completed, the property was sold, together with the old building near the corner of Ouachita at Grand, and the lot located in the "Y" of Ouachita and Grand Avenue was purchased. On this site was built the beautiful church occupied for so many years. This house was dedicated on March 10, 1912, with George L. Sniffle officiating.Under the ministry of Rev. Walter Harmon, the basement of this church was excavated, and attractive quarters, which are so essential to a church, were prepared. In the payment of the indebtedness thus incurred, the women were most loyal and very efficient. The last of this debt was discharged in November, and the last note burned on Sunday, December 8, 1935. Later, an educational building was built, and basement was given a thorough remodeling and enlargement. A new kitchen and additional Sunday School rooms were also added, making it a fine place of worship for all of its loyal congregation.It is interesting to note here, that the old building which housed the first church, after being sold, was used may years as a Bathrobe factory. That site is now a part of the Kroger Supermarket parking lot on Ouachita Avenue.In the original congregation of the church were listed some twenty-five members. Judge H.C. Smith, grandfather of Mr. Charles Goslee, was one of the first trustees. Early prominent members included Mr. and Mrs. Rust, grandparents of Mrs. Mike Pittman, Rev. Miller, stepfather of Mrs. Belle Brown, James Williams and Frank Williams (not related,) Harrison Taylor, Mrs. Belle Brown's brother, Henry A. Ward, and R.C. Carpenter. Members of the Kemp, Pittman, Bledsoe, and Geurin families, and Rev. Morphew, father of Lee and Roy Morphew, were among the early members and active workers in the church, in the early days.In doing research for this article, Mrs. Norman Jones found a picture of the original church with a group standing in front of it. She has identified several members in the picture, which was made about 1905. She gives us this description which, to the best of her knowledge, identifies them correctly: On the front row, far right, is Mrs. Rosa Fox, and second to her on the right, is Mrs. Louis (Lydia Margaret) Bledsoe, mother of Mrs. Frank Geurin. On the far left, the first man is Mr. Harrison Taylor. Lady in white blouse is a Mrs. Howard, and the lady at front with a pocketbook is also a Mrs. Howard. Next to her holding a Bible, is Mrs. Rose Goslee. Lady in back, with high feathers on her hat, is Miss Mollie Rust. lady at door, with high flowered hat, is Mrs. Tom Milam. Next to her, with round ornament on her hat, is Mrs. Frank Geurin, and aunt of Mrs. Jones. The little lady standing on front row is Mrs. Brown, and the next lady standing behind her is Mrs. Will Watson, the former Mary Witt. The lady next to Mrs. Watson, in white blouse, dark skirt, and sailor hat, is Mrs. Chas. (Retta) Triffet, cousin of Mrs. Frank Geurin. Mrs. Jones had hoped to identify more, but at the present writing, this was all the information available to us.In this picture also will be noticed a large "For Sale" sign, which reads as follows: "This Property for Sale. Size of lot 60 x 120 on East Side and 80 on West Side. For price, see H.A. Ward, phone 1029 or T.J. Bledsoe, phone 557." This year of 1905 was, of course, the year in which the old property sold.Many fine ministers have served the church since it was organized, and after the Reverends Clem and Robertson, we find the following pastors served: T.E. Tatum, Sharp, Giddens, Wright, Gallagher, T.N. Kincaid, L.V. Styles, J.M. Small, Perdcy G. Cross, G.D. Sherrill, W.G. Slocorn, H.W. Sallace, Ray, J.E. Combs, I.B. Wenger, Walter Harmon, A.L. Williams, W.J. Hudspeth, R.O. Brewer, and J.R. Wright.After Wright, we find Claude l. Jones, Ernest Worden, Harvey M. Redford, Hays H. Webster, Herbert Dudley, and William Howland. In many of these the given names or initials were unobtainable by this writer.Following Rev. Howland, Robert Fudge was pastor, and under his leadership in 1964, the property known as the Higgins place at 1806 Central Avenue was purchased. This ideal location consists of over three acres, and Cornerstone Laying Ceremonies were held there on June 21, 1964. This beautiful new First Christian Church was occupied on world Communion Sunday, October 4, 1964, and dedicated Christmas Sunday, December 20th of that same year.The former church at Grand Avenue and Ouachita was sold in March of 1964 to the Hot Springs Savings and Loan Association, who, at the present time are planning their fine new home on that spot. Of interest here was the disposal of the stained glass windows, when the church was being wrecked. Mr. Fred Dale and Mr. Sam Stathakis informed this writer that the families of those named on the memorial windows were contacted and told that they could come and claim their windows. However, it was disappointing to note that only the Goslee family is said to have done so.Most of the other windows were sold by the wrecking contractor, Mr. Ervan Slaight, who also kept several of them for his own use. Mrs. Alton Cooley, of the Cooley A.G. Markets, purchased one window expressly for the purpose of using it in a Christmas parade float, designed as a church scene and entered by the Career Club. She now has it in safe keeping at her home, and treasures it very highly. The House of Flowers, a well known Hot Springs florist shop, bought two of the windows and have used them in the front and in the back of their building on Hollywood Lane.The church pews were given to a small country church, which happened to be needing them at the time, and the cornerstone was returned to the congregation of the church. Rev. Fudge resigned on Mar. 1, 1965 and from April 1, to Nov. 30th of that year, the Interim Minister was the Rev. Ira A. Kirk. Beginning Dec. 1, 1965, the Rev. M.J. Timbs took over the leadership of the church. He is the pastor at the present writing and the church is proud of their slogan, "A Friendly Church In a Friendly City." Surely Hot Springs can now boast of another beautiful house of worship, and one which was built with the faith, love, and hard work of its Christian people.

The history of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Hot Springs from 1966 to the present has not been written.

Ministers following the Rev. M.J. Timbs include William Bradley, Steve Chambers, Maurice Johnson, Elmer "Buddy" Pettigrew, Stan McDougal and the current minister, Dr. Steven Jumper.