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CHURCHES OF BISMARCK

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

After a sermon by J. W. Swift on Sunday, April 30, 1882, a Baptist church was organized with the following members: Pricella Rennick, H. J. Kline, Mary W. Rivers, Sarah A. Kline and J. W. Rennick. The new church was formally recognized by J. W. Swift for the Belleview Church and by Rev. T. A. Bowman, District Missionary, Missouri Baptist General Association, for the church at Jackson, Mo.

Some of the pastors serving the church during the early years were: Munger, Martin, Curl, Shuse, LaTour and M. T. Webb.

The old frame building burned in 1899 and a one-room brick structure was erected. That building was the base of the structure which was recently torn down to make way for a new sanctuary.

In 1913 the liquor question was a major issue. A resolution was passed in June as follows: "Resolved: That the church will not tolerate in their members signing saloon petitions or swearing by using profane language in any form, or other vices." This led to interviewing members whose names appeared on petitions in 1914, and to sending a letter to the county court in 1915 endorsing their action in opening their first term with prayer and ordering those wishing liquor licenses to get two-thirds of the tax-paying citizens to sign their petition.

Following the community-sponsored Burke-Hobbs Revival, a tent meeting, in 1914, Rev. Webb baptized 53 in the St. Francois River.

Under the leadership of Rev. R. L. Shell, in June of 1930, a revival meeting was held in the Sherlock Mission area under a brush arbor erected by the Brotherhood and Sherlock Sunday School members. The meeting resulted in 50 conversions. On July 6 the regular service was dismissed at the local church and all attended the Sherlock Mission services--dinner on the ground at noon, followed by baptismal service at Cedar Creek.

In December, 1939, Lowell Adams was ordained to the Christian Ministry, and is now a pastor in Memphis, Tennessee. On August 3, 1941, Amos Bone was ordained and is now serving as a pastor in Texas.

On November 20, 1955, a new educational building was dedicated, and at present a new sanctuary is being erected, which we hope will be completed in time for our centennial celebration.

THE SIGN OF A GOOD TOWN -- BISMARCK, MISSOURI CENTENNIAL 1868-1968. Compiled by 'The Tuesday Club' of Bismarck. Edited by George W. Showalter. Published by The Independent-Journal Print, Potosi, Mo., July 1968.