Christian News of South Texas

From  J. Marshall Butz, A Brief history of the Church of Christ in San Antonio, Texas, 1876-1951.

The source material contains additional sources.

In the spring of 1926, South San Antonio was but sparsely settled when compared to the thriving community of today.  Despite the fact the population was small, devout individuals determined to evangelize the neighborhood.  A small store front on Main Street was rented by C.J. Massey, who with his wife, a Mr. Shelton and wife, and C.W. Dawson worshipped therein for some sixty days.

Little headway was made in the sixty-day period, but afterward the Masonic Hall on Main Street was obtained, and more residents of the region appeared.  Some of these were members of the church who had been worshipping irregularly with other congregations of the city.  Among such was H.O. Phillips, who later became quite active.  A protracted meeting, with C.J. Massey preaching, occurred in late summer, 1926.  During this effort, Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Anderson placed membership, and Mrs. C.W. Dawson was baptized.

A lot on Ellswood, now Athens Avenue, was purchased in August, 1926.  The group continued to meet in the Masonic Hall, and within a few month sold the Ellswood property, at a loss, to make the down payment on a house and a lot on Main Street.  By removing the interior partitions the residence was converted into an auditorium.  Meetings were held in this building until the present structure was erected.

In October, 1928, land was secured a the northwest corner of Wilcox and Creighton Avenues.  With the help of the other Christians in the city, this property was obtained debt free.  No time was lost in starting construction of a permanent meeting house. Work began in December, 1928, and a sanctuary, approximating $1,500.00 cost for labor and material, was completed.  It was in use by the first part of 1929.  To properly carry on its program, the church found it necessary to add two classrooms and a baptistry in the spring of 1930.  An adjoining plot of ground was bought in 1946, and a wing was added on the west.  Such addition provides more classrooms and is so arranged that it may be used to enlarge the seating space on occasion.

When the church in South San Antonio was organized, C.J. Massey became its first preacher.  He tarried about one year, leaving in September, 1927.  Returning again in September, 1928, he worked with this group until late 1930.  While Massey was away in 1927-1928, his duties were taken over principally by George M. Rance.  Rance, like Massey, received little, if any, financial reward for his labors.  He worked for the United States Postal Service, and chose to preach where he could help weak congregations.  When Massey left in 1930, he was succeeded by James O. Rails.  Rails was a powerful speaker, but leaned to radicalism.  He remained for about three years, but little growth was evident during this time.

Following Rails, came Thomas G. Fowler, Sr., who occupied the pulpit for eighteen months, i.e., until early 1935.  Membership during Fowler's tenure numbered from thirty-five to forty-five persons.  Just who preached, and when, after Fowler moved, seems now to be a matter of considerable confusion.  It is clear, however, that between Fowler's departure and late 1939, the following preachers were here for varying lengths of time:  William G. Klingman, Fred Foster, and Edwin Pruitt.  There may be others, but their names are not available at this writing.

J.L. Davidson began preaching in South San Antonio late in 1939, continuing until about April, 1942.  Next in sequence was Roy Stephens, who arrived in April or May, 1942.  A residence was purchased during Stephens' term to serve as a dwelling for the preacher.  This abode is furnished in addition to the cash paid, but utilities are not included.  Stephens proceeded to other fields in the latter part of 1946.  His successor was W.A. (Allen) Brown, who came in February, 1947.  Brown left in July, 1949, and was replaced by James Eubanks, the present [1951] minister, in September of that year.

Elders were not selected by the church in South San Antonio for several years.  As near as can be determined, the first men chosen to serve as pastors were H.O. Phillips, John L. Davis, and James E. Head.  Present bishops of the congregation, now numbering some 189 members, are W.P. Coffee, Samuel D. Lackey, E.H. Macias, and Sam A. Ohlhausen. 

---End of Butz's material ---

Need history from 1951 forward.