1920 Fire Centennial, Part 5 - "A Great Day for the People" by David M. Fulk
This is the fifth in a series of blog articles discussing the destructive March 21, 1920, fire and the five-year journey to a new building and brighter future.
By the beginning of 1923, the shell of the new building was in place and finishing work in the education building was nearing completion. 2BC was well on its way to a new building and a promising future.
Financing the building was still an issue. Fulfilled pledges were being used to pay contractors, but that cash was running out. So the church authorized the Building Committee to borrow the money needed to ensure all contracts would be paid.
Another tactic was economizing. When the auditorium walls were finished being plastered, it was decided to quickly paint those walls to save the expense of putting up scaffolding again. That expense would be as much as the painting itself. The painting was done at a cost of $600.
In February the Board of Deacons recommended tornado insurance on the building be made permanent—no doubt since it was a tornado that destroyed the original church building 40 years earlier. It was also agreed that the fire insurance increase from $5,000 to $10,000. This seems low given the construction cost of the new building exceeded $100,000.
In anticipation of moving into the new education space, construction crews were finishing surfaces like walls, floors, and ceilings with paint and tile; placing shelving in built-in book cases, installing light fixtures, etc.
But think about the work of getting Sunday School classes ready (especially in children’s areas) with chairs, tables, desks, books, teaching resources, supplies. The church membership was nearly 900 and—without its own building—the average Sunday School attendance was 322.
There’s no record of who did this work, yet we can all imagine church members pitching in. With so few items saved from the fire, most of the furnishings had to be made or bought, then moved in. Into the spring there was a growing excitement as the move-in date neared.
A couple of issues diminished that excitement. One with national attention. Dr. A Wakefield Slaten was hired in fall 1922 as bible professor at William Jewell, his alma mater. He and his wife were 2BC members. In that first semester he was accused of not believing in Christ’s vicarious death or resurrection and not worshipping or praying in his name. Slaten was fired by trustees in December 1922. Before leaving town, the Slatens asked for their church letter. The board of deacons took up the matter in January. Because Mrs. Slaten held her husband’s views, letters were denied and the church “withdrew the hand of church fellowship” from them both.
Slaten’s firing made national news with stories in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and others. He went on to prominent Unitarian pastorates in Chicago and New York City.
Now it was Second’s turn to fire someone. In February, the work of T.L. Dawson, the plumbing and heating contractor, was deemed unsatisfactory because it was “delaying the other workmen by his dilatory methods.” (Church clerks don’t write like that anymore!) The Building Committee fired the company and hired the Missouri Gas & Electric Service Company.
The final disappointment was in early April when J.J. Stogdale, lifelong member and board of deacons chairman died unexpectedly. He ran the clothing store on the Square.
All sadness disappeared April 29, 1923, when the congregation moved into the education building for its first day of Sunday School and services. The minutes below tell the story. The Sunday School Auditorium is the current location of the Assembly Room, orbiting classrooms, former library and Oak Room (with no interior walls).
One person was received for baptism following both the morning and evening services. Pastor Mangum closed by announcing that Dr. John Sampy of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary would be filling the pulpit for an eight-day revival beginning the next Sunday morning. Yes, eight days!
Here is the hymn text written by Dr. R.P. Rider, retired Jewell prof, writer of the 2BC’s first history, Sunday School superintendent, and longtime financial secretary.
The next article in this series will provide updates as construction of the auditorium building nears completion before the first service in the new sanctuary September 1924.
Would you like to go back and read the first four articles again? Click below to read the articles.
Article 1: 1920 Fire Centenary
Article 2: Immediate Aftermatch