Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/787

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 683 takes is to be intensely in earnest. This is one of the most noticeable traits about the Rev. E. C. Butler, pastor of the Kennett Mis- sionary Baptist Chureli. If one follows his career one cannot fail to see that he has ac- complished almost miraculous results by rea- son of his own personality. Others have the same message to tell, but they are not able to obtain the listeners, simply because they have not the power to speak with the conviction that strikes home. Mr. Butler accomplishes those things which he sees possible day by day, thus opening up avenues to new efforts and new results. A brief survey of his history may prove of interest. He was born in Carroll county, in western Tennessee, January 8, 1869, and was brought up on the Tennessee farm. After the comple- tion of his preliminarv education he attended Phving College, Ewing, Illinois: not having at that time felt himself drawn towards the min- istry, he began to teach at the age of twenty- two, teaching in the country schools in Ten- nessee for three years. He had also taken a two .years' course at the Holiday Independent Normal School in Benton count.y, Tennessee. After teaching for a short time in Tennessee he decided that for him the way to do the most good in the world was to become a minis- ter. He was espeeiall.y interested in the mis- sion side of the ministry and he attended the Missionary Baptist College at Ewing, where he took a theological course. He had, how- ever, preached before this and had also been ordained ; lie felt, however, that the college work would make him more fully equipped for his career. As soon as he left college he entered upon his pastoral work, locating first at Steeleville, Illinois, in Randolph county, and Tamaroa, Illinois, taking charge of the pastoral duties at both these last named places at the same time. His next charge was at Cobden, Illinois, coming in 1906 to Dexter, Missouri, where he remained three years as local pastor. During this time the church was remodeled and the attendance was doubled. He organized the Baptist Young Peoples Union, wiiieh still continues to be a live enthusiastic soeiet.y. He owns a Gospel tent, in which he holds meetings. During the series held in Dexter there were twenty-four conversions. He held a series of four meet- ings in the county, outside Dexter, one result- ing in thirty-eight conversions one in forty- seven and still another in thirty-one. The result of these meetings, in addition, or per- haps because of the impression produced in the hearts of the people, resulted in the build- ing of a thousand dollar churcli at Idalia, Missouri. It was erected within sixty days after the close of the meetings and was fully paid for at the time of its dedication. This was cei-tainly striking while the iron was hot. It is the experience of so many of the evangel- istic preachers of the country that the people who are converted during special meetings do not continu(> in the road in which they started. The Rev. Elisha Butler has probably found a cure for that; he, as in the case cited above, immediately gets the new converts started to do something, not giving them a chance to backslide; then when once in the work, the chances are very much in favor of the large majorit.y remaining steadfast, as there is con- stantly something to do to keep their interest alive. He held meetings at the Tatum school house, near Dexter, Missouri, where there were forty-seven conversions; a church re- sulted, which is called Butler's Chapel. He witnessed two hundred conver.sions in five meetings in Stoddard county, IMissouri. All of this work was accomplished within three .vears, and in October, 1909, he came to Ken- nett, as the result of a most urgent invitation from the Baptist church. Since he came to Kennett he has spent most of his time in con- nection with the local church. Since his ar- rival the Kennett church has added twent.v by baptism and thirty-two by letter, as the result of constant, day by day effort on the part of Mr. Butler. The church is now being enlarged, to accommodate the growing enter- prises. Six Sunda.v-school rooms are being added, for the modern teaching that has been inaugurated. The present membership of the church is about two hundred and eight.v-nine. The young people in particular are becoming interested and are doing effective work. Although Mr. Butler is absolutel.y devoted to the local church and finds full scope for his energies, he still continues the tent work, for which he is so admirably suited. On April 20. 1897, Mr. Butler was married to Miss josie Parham, a native of Montgomery eount.y, Illinois. She is in perfect sympathy with her husband in all of his efforts and is herself active in the church. Besides being president of the Woman's IMissionarv TTnion, she is active in the general work of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Butler have one daughter. Ver- die Charleve, who is now twelve years old and attending the Kennett public school. Their