Page 4 - 2016TVTimes.October30

Hillsboro St. Church has deep community roots
By Randal Curtman
The foundation of Hillsboro Church of Christ in El Doradoreachesbackto1923
when J.B. Priddy, Shirey and C.F. Walker met to organize a church on Hawthorne Street, a block south of East Hillsboro Street.
They, along with others, con- structed a small frame building for worship, where about a dozen mem- bers worshiped until 1928, when a conflict over Sunday School classes led to a schism in 1928.
According to church historian Henry T. Hogg, C.F. Walker and his associates moved to Spring Street where they constructed a house of worship.
The Hawthorne building was sold to another religious group. Priddy led the organizing of a church to meet in the courtroom of the newly constructed City Hall in 1928. Hogg was among those charter members. In 1930, a frame building was built at the intersection of Block and Hardy Streets.
In 1931, there were 34 present for Sunday School and the Sunday collection was $1.68, according to church records.
The small church grew, in spite of the difficulties encountered during the Great Depression.
history of the Church of Christ movement in Union County. “Yet the difficulties encountered seemed to draw people together. There was no welfare plan operated by the government. Instead, there was car- ing and sharing in the church as originally practiced in the Jerusalem church.”
Gordene Chandler Moore, 78, of El Dorado, began attending the Block and Hardy Church as an infant, and has an interesting first memory of her church experience.
“It’s a strange memory,” Moore says. “I remember the preacher’s daughter having a fur coat — now I’m sure it wasn’t real — that I want- ed to touch so badly!”
While Moore was growing up, everything seemed to last longer, she said, including prayers, ser- mons, revivals, and Vacation Bible School.
“Today, I don’t think many, if any, churches have a two-week VBS, which is what I grew up attending,” she said. “What is considered prop- er attire to attend church has made a huge impression on me.”
Once, ladies and young girls wore dresses, hats, and gloves to church, while the vast majority of men wore suits, white shirts, ties and usually removed a hat before entering the building.
“Now dress is extremely casu-
See HILLSBORO, Page 6
Shadia Cranford/News-Times
Long History: Hillsboro Street Church of Christ was founded in 1923 in El Dorado.
“As you have heard, the Great Depression of the 30s was not the best of times,” Hogg wrote in his
D’Ameida
and you will be at peace and have lasting joy despite any setbacks,” he said.
Being a member of the clergy means never having a boring day, D’Ameida said.
“Everyday has its surprises. Life can be monotonous but being a minister I am often involved in the most exciting, happiest, tragic and saddest times of people’s lives,” he said.
“I can celebrate a wedding in the morning, meet with a couple who has a troubled relationship at noon and have a funeral in the evening... all with different people,” D’Ameida said.
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D’Ameida said the hardest moments in his career have been extremely personal moments.
“The moments when evil wins the battle in myself, in my parishioners, in our country and the world are the hardest memories for me as a minis- ter, even though the war has already been won by the Lord,” he said. “Jesus forgives and forgets. We have memories of past sins and offenses. With grace we can heal even though we may have scars as reminders.”
D’Ameida’s advice to a young per- son thinking of joining the ministry would be to pray.
“Follow God’s will for your life
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4 – Saturday, October 29, 2016 – El Dorado NEWS-TIMES