A Federated Church

Collegeport, Tex., Sept. 24.--Collegeport has a federated church. There are a number of denominations represented in this church, Methodists, Baptists. Congregationalists, Presbyterian, Episcopalians, Christians and others. The question was agitated as to whether Collegeport should adopt the policy that has been pursued in small towns in the past, and organize three or four or five denominational churches, or whether a federated church should be established here that should combine in the strength of all the Christians of the town without reference to denomination. It was decided to organize but one church, the First Church of Collegeport (Federated). That was one year ago. The result has been most satisfactory and encouraging. The church has a membership of probably 100, or nearly every adult in the town. A flourishing Sunday school of eighty-seven striving for a round hundred within the month.

Members of any so-called evangelical church, described in the active membership of the Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. are received into membership upon vote of the church and are permitted, if they desire to retain their membership in the denomination of their choice outside of Collegeport. Any person may unite with the church upon vote of the membership, who signifies a desire and purpose to govern his or her life by Christian ideals and to put forth their best endeavor with the help of Christ to live upright Christian lives.

We understand that Collegeport has the first federated church in Texas. If there are other similar churches the Collegeport church will be glad to know of them, that they may keep in touch with each other and encourage each other and assist other small towns to organize federated churches.

Galveston Daily News, September 25, 1910
 

THE FEDERATED CHURCH IN THE SMALL TOWN .

The News has received a pamphlet from Mr. John W. Hansel, containing the articles of association of the First Church of Collegeport, in Matagorda County , a federated congregation which is designed to meet the needs of a community where the population is small and the religious learning of the people diverse. This federated church at Collegeport is prosperous and is meeting the expectations of the people who founded it. A note from a member of the congregation says of this church of many denominations: "Like your commission form of government, it is up to date and it works." Eight denominations are now represented in the congregation of this one church and the membership numbers 100. The Sunday school has 187 members, and the young men's class is a potent influence in the athletic and social life of the village.

This federated church of Collegeport was founded a little more than a year ago. It came about through the desire of several church members to have a strong church and the inability of any one interested denomination to accomplish this because of the small number of members of each denomination. This is recited in the preamble to the articles of association. The basic purpose of this federated church is set forth in one of the articles of association in this form:

The aim is to affiliate and be in good standing with all federating bodies: desiring to give and receive letters upon a common basis, and willing to support any existing missionary or benevolent movements of these churches, or one which may be selected whose aim is the advancement of truth and righteousness. The slogan of this church as to ideals is "broad but high." Members are expected to live earnest Christian lives, the emphasis being placed upon the discipleship of Jesus Christ, rather than upon theological tenets and opinions. Independence in thinking but community in purpose is encouraged, the idea being that each person shall enjoy his own freedom, and permit his brother to do likewise, each in turn being under obligation to consider his brother's highest welfare, together seeking to make the greatest contribution to society.

Many of the people of Collegeport, which is one of the flourishing towns of the midcoast country, settled by persons from all corners of the country, believe they have solved the problem of the struggling church of a small community by getting together into one big church that is broad enough to accommodate all shades of theology and flexible enough to impose no hardship upon any creed or conscience. The result of the association is understood to make it possible for the church to employ a capable minister and own a commodious, comfortable church building.

The spirit of progress in the Texas coast country is notable. That these people should go so far in the work of co-operation and unity of effort as to get their church members federated into one big church speaks much for the temporary welfare of the community as it is eloquent for the spiritual progress of the people. It may be suggested that when the people of a small community can co-operate in their church affiliations to the extent that has been accomplished in this midcoast town there is no room to doubt the quality of united effort that will be displayed by them in the material problems that confront a growing country.--Galveston News.

Reprinted in The Palacios Beacon, March 11, 1911
 

Federation in Texas

"First Church of Collegeport, Tex., a federated organization, containing in its membership representatives of eight denominations, has recently completed its first year," says the Continent (Chicago). "Collegeport is a community not sufficiently large to give strong united support to any one denomination, and so it was decided to federate the Christian people of all denominations. The membership is 100. The congregation believes that it has settled the problem of how to secure a strong church in a small community."

Galveston Daily News, May 7, 1911
 

12 Denominations Form A Successful Village Church
Federated Congregation Builds a Creditable Building and Becomes Important Factor in Community.

Collegeport, Texas, October 3.—So successful has been the Federated Church, established here five years ago, that the commodious building has become a real community center. It has now been thrown open to the people for social as well as for religious purposes, and when town mass meetings, celebrations, parties and banquets are held in it, printed cards tacked by the doors remind the people of their obligation thus:

“The fact that this building is used for the benefit of men makes it no less the house of God.”

It is the only church in town and the only one the people want. Its membership is composed of former Baptist, Methodists, Presbyterians, Christians, Congregationalists, Lutheran and adherents of other doctrines to the number of 12. These people have adopted as a motto, “Broad but high,” and work together in such surprising religious harmony that the members hardly know or care to what denomination other members formerly belonged.

The church was established by the Rev. M. A. Travis, a former Baptist pastor, who became weary of the constant denominational dissensions in home community in a Northern State and came here to get away from it. He is still pastor of his Federated Church.

When it came to erecting a building the religious people of the town by concentrating their efforts were able to build a creditable structure, much more commodious, convenient and beautiful than would have been possible had the usual denominational division and rivalries existed. The building is of stucco and is finished inside in mission style.

Men attend in regular number than women and have an organization, Prince of Jonathan, through which they care for sick and unfortunate members. The Woman’s Union takes the place of the usual aid and missionary societies.

Matagorda County Tribune, Friday, October 15, 1915
 

Believed to have been taken January 1, 1922, the first Sunday the First Church-Federated became affiliated with the
Presbyterian Church USA and renamed First Presbyterian Church.
 

First Church, Collegeport, Tex.
Taken from a scrapbook donated by Fay Smith Soli, daughter of Lizzie Will Morris Smith.

The wing to the left housed the first school until 1912, and was used as a community center until the Mopac House was built in 1935. The building was dismantled to construct the present sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church. The original chancel panel is the focal point of the present worship area which was built in 1955.
 

Courtesy of Oneida Bullington Charlton