I want to write a few articles that touch on Calvary…where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going. It is basically a recap of what I shared on Sunday night (12-28-08). To begin I wanted to share the entire letter written by R. G. Turner (Chris Paxton’s Grandfather):
"I am glade to be able to pay tribute to Rev. Vermillion by telling some of the facts of the Tabernacle Days and the building of our present church. I have always admired Mr. Vermillion who was a comfort to me when I went to him with my problems. I am glade that we were fortunate enough to have a man with the foresight to help build our great church.
"[The] lot [was] purchased in February 1925 for $12,000.00. [The] Cyclone Mach Tabernacle which was located on the corner of Magnolia and College was going to be disposed of when. When we learned of this we bought his Tabernacle [for] $3,500.00, tore it down and rebuilt it on our lot on my right. We had [an] auditorium with several Sunday school rooms behind and on [the] side of the auditorium. The entire floor was covered with sawdust. We worshiped in this building from February 1926 untile June 1936. The lot and Tabernacle together cost $15,500. We paid this debt off in November 1929.
"Under Mr. Vermillion’s leadership our membership grew and we realized the need for a larger place to worship. A building fund was started in November of 1929 and kept untile 1933 when the banks and building loan were closed. We never did get but 50 per cent of our money back. However we did not lose our faith.
"There was very little money raised from 1933 to 1935 but during 1935 and 1936 we managed to raise $30,000 and our present building was started. It is hard to determine exactly how much the church cost because many of the members contributed materials and came down in the late afternoon and worked on the building (late).
"The church started a pay as you go plan and we didn’t borrow any money untile April 1936. We entered this building in June 1936 and we owed $1,700.00 on it. The actual cash we had in the building [was] $50,496.46. [We were] raising money each week.
"Under Mr. Vermillion’s guidance six other men served on the building committee. They were R. H. Hines who was [the] building contractor, W. W. Miller (Chairman), Z. L. Madden, J. E. Taylor, J. B. Brown, [and] W. C. Smith.
"Mr. Vermillion worked hard and it was through his early efforts that our work at Calvary has been a success.”
This letter was not dated, but it stands as a testament to the faith, perseverance and hard work of the early days of Calvary. To God be the glory! What will be written about our generation?
Grace & Peace,
Scott
"I am glade to be able to pay tribute to Rev. Vermillion by telling some of the facts of the Tabernacle Days and the building of our present church. I have always admired Mr. Vermillion who was a comfort to me when I went to him with my problems. I am glade that we were fortunate enough to have a man with the foresight to help build our great church.
"[The] lot [was] purchased in February 1925 for $12,000.00. [The] Cyclone Mach Tabernacle which was located on the corner of Magnolia and College was going to be disposed of when. When we learned of this we bought his Tabernacle [for] $3,500.00, tore it down and rebuilt it on our lot on my right. We had [an] auditorium with several Sunday school rooms behind and on [the] side of the auditorium. The entire floor was covered with sawdust. We worshiped in this building from February 1926 untile June 1936. The lot and Tabernacle together cost $15,500. We paid this debt off in November 1929.
"Under Mr. Vermillion’s leadership our membership grew and we realized the need for a larger place to worship. A building fund was started in November of 1929 and kept untile 1933 when the banks and building loan were closed. We never did get but 50 per cent of our money back. However we did not lose our faith.
"There was very little money raised from 1933 to 1935 but during 1935 and 1936 we managed to raise $30,000 and our present building was started. It is hard to determine exactly how much the church cost because many of the members contributed materials and came down in the late afternoon and worked on the building (late).
"The church started a pay as you go plan and we didn’t borrow any money untile April 1936. We entered this building in June 1936 and we owed $1,700.00 on it. The actual cash we had in the building [was] $50,496.46. [We were] raising money each week.
"Under Mr. Vermillion’s guidance six other men served on the building committee. They were R. H. Hines who was [the] building contractor, W. W. Miller (Chairman), Z. L. Madden, J. E. Taylor, J. B. Brown, [and] W. C. Smith.
"Mr. Vermillion worked hard and it was through his early efforts that our work at Calvary has been a success.”
This letter was not dated, but it stands as a testament to the faith, perseverance and hard work of the early days of Calvary. To God be the glory! What will be written about our generation?
Grace & Peace,
Scott
