THE CHURCH RECORD.



lowed us 2,500 for material of old house, leaving a debt
of i io.86 which was subsequently discharged.  The
church prospered in this new and beautiful house, when,
on the night of January 3, I859, it was burned to the
ground. A burning shingle from a stable on fire, on the
opposite side of the street, was blown. into the cupola and
the firemen had not the appliances to reach and put out
the fire. The pastor was returning from a trip to Illinois
and at Cincinnati was informed of the sad disaster. On
reaching Lexington he found his church in great distress
on account of the disaster, and it was a number of months
before the members could agree upon rebuilding as to
the location. A portion was favorable to rebuilding upon
the same ground, others regarded the "Old" Baptist grave
yard a better place, because of the spacious ground. It
wag finally agreed that the contribution should decide the
matter. This stimulated activitv and liberal subscription.
More money was subscribed for the grave yard and the
others acquiesced. It was not till January i, i86o, one year
after the fire, the basement was fitted up for worship, and
a year later before the auditorium was completed. Dr. D.
R Campbell, of Georgetown, and Rev. George C. Lor-
rimer were with us and preached on the occasion. Pre-
vious to this the church worshiped sometimes in the old
city hall and in the theater and we were all glad to be
settled in our new home.  About the first of i863 the
pastor resigned his charge, although the annual call was
renewed. The reason was this: For a number of years
the board of the general association had been located in
Lexington, and he had acted as financial secretary of all
branches of its work, viz., state, foreign and domestic
missions, Sunday-school and colportage, and the duties
were so numerous and such a tax on his time he could not
do justice to his church as a pastor or to himself under the
heavy responsibility resting upon him. The prosperity
of the church demanded the whole time of her minister.
He advised the church to call Rev. Wm. H. Felix, a
young man full of promise of usefulness, and well
equipped by education for the position.  The church
acted upon his suggestion, and on the 6th of September,
i863, Rev. Felix, having accepted the invitation of the
church, entered upon the pastorate and continued until
May, i869, when he resigned and settled as pastor of the
church at Covington, Kv.  During this period of six
years the church was increased to four hundred and
twenty-five membership. He was much beloved bv his



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