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SECOND
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH |
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Palacios, Matagorda County, Texas
A
good newspaper and Bible in every home, a good schoolhouse in every
district, and a church in every neighborhood; all appreciated as
they deserved, are the chief support of virtue, morality, civil
liberty, and religion.
Benjamin Franklin Casa de Dios is but one example of how some churches and ministries were formed along the Texas coast in the late 1800 and early 1900s. It began as a mission for Spanish speaking people founded by the First Methodist Church of Palacios in 1912. According to a report written by Rev. Campbell, the pastor of the First Methodist Church of Palacios “$41 was used to buy a house for the mission. Maria de los Santos kindly donated the land for said mission. At the same time many persons who were interesting in seeing a mission established contributed their time and money for this project.” By 1914 the mission was progressing well. In 1919 Mr. W. H. Clement, Sr., a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church, became interested in the work at the mission and attended services. Rev. Walter S. Scott, Superintendent of Presbyterian Missions in Texas, helped conduct Special Services. At this time Miss Mattie Clement taught Sunday School at the Mission which was still under the First Methodist Church. By September 1920, following an agreement with the First Methodist Church, the property, mission and documents to the property were transferred to the Presbytery of Mexico-Texas. Following two hurricanes and the subsequent repairs carried out by the First Presbyterian Church, the Presbytery of Mexico-Texas asked the First Presbyterian to take over the mission. Upon their agreement, documents were transferred to First Church. Then it was known for many years as “The Mexican Mission” of the First Presbyterian Church of Palacios. As the Mission grew, evening services at First Church were dismissed. Members of the Mission were considered members of First Church. By 1931 First Church had 136 members and the Mission had 41. Mr. George F. Gillespie, pastor of First Church, preached there on occasion using an interpreter (the translation from Irish brogue to Tex Mex must have been interesting to experience). In 1935 Presbytery requested that a collection be taken up on every fifth Sunday to support the Presbytery mission programs. First Church responded that it was taking care of a mission without aid from the Presbytery and declined. But they did send $10. By 1937, E.A.J. Seddon, superintendent of Mexican Work of Tex Mex Presbytery, was preaching on Thursday nights and holding Christian Endeavour before the service. On Sundays and during the week, W.H. Clement tended to the church. Sunday School classes were taught by Mrs. C.W. Nester and Mrs. Carl Backen. At this time, the mission was lighted by oil lamps screwed into the wall. Rosa Flores was one of the volunteers who filled the lamps for Sunday evening services, handling this difficult job faithfully despite her petite size. Others serving as teachers were Irene Batchelder, Mary Burnet, Nora Talmadge, and W. H. Clement. Alice Barr was a faithful teacher to Juniors (4th - 6th graders) for years until her retirement. She also played the piano for the Sunday morning services. Ella Crawford, Harry Sisson, Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Morrow also helped under W.H. Clement as Superintendent. On 8 October, 1939, a Sunday School Convention for the Gulf District of the Presbyterian Mexican Presbytery, was held at the Mexican Mission Chapel in Palacios. The theme was Youth Serving Christ. Addresses were given by the visiting representatives and special music sung by the visiting choirs. Miss Berta Murray of the Pres.-Mex. School for Girls in Taft, TX spoke to the congregation on Youth Serving Christ in the Church, with special emphasis on Young People's Organizations followed by a chorus from a group of girls from the school. Lunch was served by the local church. In the late 1940's Mrs. Morrow wrote about progress in the mission: “On Easter Sunday we had 75 present. Not long ago a commission from the most exclusive club in town came to talk with us about the needs and problems of the “Latin-American” population. They seemed surprised at my answer: “A clean beach without oyster shells and broken bottles, sidewalks or someplace to skate on, a bus to take them to school when it is cold and rainy; better garbage service; better plumbing and sewage disposal.” Much headway has been made in the last few years. Two Mexicans are now Rotarians. One is technician in the hospital and the other owns a popular restaurant, “The Alamo.” There is an elementary school on the west side, but it is only through the fourth grade. After that the Mexicans came over to the east side schools. In 1951 a house across from the church at Ninth and Morton was dedicated as a manse. The first pastor to live in the manse was Rev. Bernardino del Pozo, who became the permanent pastor in 1953. Lydia Quintanilla was the superintendent and W. H. Clement, the elder. The budget was $2,000, of which $1,200 was for the pastor's salary. Income came from offerings and pledges, First Church, and other sources. Attendance numbered about 96 and there were six Sunday School classes. The Mission was formally organized as the Second Presbyterian Church of Palacios, Texas on November 9, 1955. 53 Communicant Members were transferred to the new church from First Church. The first elders elected were Jacinto Garza, Sr., Reynaldo Garza, Manuel Guajardo and Guadalupe Serna. Mary Garza Guajardo was the first treasurer, followed by Angela Flores in 1956. The Women's Circle was organized and the name chosen was “Messengers of Christ.” A Young People's Circle was also organized in 1955. In July, 1957 Robert Sandman, the Texas Migrant Ministry Director from the Texas Council of Churches, wrote re: sending a Migrant Ministry Team to Palacios to work with Rev. Gutierrez of Second Presbyterian Church and other pastors in the community. In response Rev. Gutierrez wrote that, “in the matter of religion the opportunity should be offered for the Migrant to attend the regular worship and special services or meetings of their choice either in the Protestant or Roman Catholic. But no specific denomination emphasis should be made in the Center.” Father Constantino (of the Roman Catholic church) has “offered the use of a hospital squad tent belonging to the Boy Scout Troop of his church as a possible center for the weekend work. The tent would be erected beside the new restroom facility just completed across from the City Park. That would provide a meeting place that would be cool and convenient.” An Annex was built and dedicated on June 13, 1963. In celebration the First Church sent a letter to the Second Church, parts of which are quoted here: “We rejoice because the ties between our two congregations are old and deep. We rejoice … that now our two Churches together have a larger opportunity to witness to the wonderful works of our God and Saviour. There was a time when we looked upon you as our child. That time is now passed, for you are now our sister … Come, let us join together in prayer and work, that together we may proclaim abroad our Saviour's name.” Records through 1986 list the following men to have been pastors or pulpit supply to the mission/church:
Later pulpit supply speakers over the years included Dr. John Russo (1997-2000), Abelardo “Lalo” Flores, Mark Vargas and Andrew “Andy” Sanchez, the current Ruling Elder at Casa de Dios. In the mid-1990s, the Second Presbyterian Church added the name “Casa de Dios” (House of God). In a listing in the Palacios Beacon from 1996, Casa de Dios/House of God is listed as bilingual. Two things stand out in this brief history of the “Mexican Mission”/ Second Presbyterian Church / Casa de Dios: First, the ecumenism which was demonstrated by the local Methodist and then the Presbyterian Church in guiding the Mexican Mission and then developing it into the Second Presbyterian Church.
Second, Casa de Dios has continued the Presbyterian custom of caring
about one's neighbors. Outreach to the community, regardless of
Church affiliation, is an old habit at Casa de Dios. Currently
breakfast is served to the homeless on Sunday mornings. |
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In 1912 a mission was established for Spanish-speaking residents. Maria de los Santos donated land and a house was purchased for $41. Others interested in seeing that a mission was established donated time and money. In 1914 it was reported that the mission was progressing well and several persons had been converted. In 1919 W. H. Clement, Sr., began attending services. The Sunday School was reorganized in 1920. Rev. Walter S. Scott, superintendent of Presbyterian missions in Texas, was invited to help conduct special services. Mattie Clement taught Sunday School. In 1920 the property, mission, and documents were transferred to the Presbytery of Mexico-Texas and became a Presbyterian mission. The mission suffered from two hurricanes, and repairs were made by the First Presbyterian Church in Palacios. Presbytery of Mexico-Texas had no funds to pay the insurance or to make repairs on the property, so First Church was asked to take charge of the mission and documents were drawn transferring the mission to First Church. In1931 the mission had 41 members, Rev. George Gillespie, pastor of First Church, preached there occasionally, through an interpreter; the translation from Irish brogue to Tex-Mex must have been interesting to hear! In 1935 Presbytery requested that a collection for Presbytery mission programs be made on every fifth Sunday. First Church answered that it was taking care of a mission without aid from Presbytery, and so declined, but sent $10. In 1937 E. A. J. Sheddon, superintendent of Mexican Work of Tex Mex Presbytery, preached Thursday nights and held Christian Endeavor before the service. On Sundays and during the week, W. H. Clement tended to the church, and Sunday School classes were taught by Mrs. C. W. Nester and Mrs. Carl Backen. Rosa Flores states that the mission was lighted by gas lamps and because the lamps were hung so high, they were not easy to light. She was one of those chosen for this difficult job, and she served faithfully. Others serving as teachers were Irene Batchelder, Mary Burnet, Nora Talmadge and W. H. Clement. The mission planned a Fiesta Party for Clement's 81st birthday. The children were all lined up, confetti in one fist and flowers in the other, when grandsons arrived saying that Grandpa fell on wet cement and cut his head and would have to stay in bed. They had the party anyway, but saved the birthday cake for the Clement family. Alice Barr was a faithful teacher to Juniors for years until her retirement; her teachings are treasured by all her students. Others helping were Ella Crawford, Harry Sisson, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Morrow and W. H. Clement as superintendent. Mrs. Morrow writes in the late 1940s: On Easter Sunday we had 75 persons. Not long ago a commission from the most exclusive club in town came to talk with us about the needs and problems of the "Latin-American" population. They seemed surprised at my answer: "A clean beach without oyster shells and broken bottles, sidewalks or someplace to skate on, a bus to take them to school when it is cold and rainy; better garbage service; better plumbing and sewage disposal." Much headway has been made in the last few years. Two Mexicans are now Rotarians. One is a technician in the hospital and the other owns a popular restaurant, "The Alamo." There is an elementary school on the west side, but it is only through the fourth grade. After that the Mexicans came over to the east side schools. In 1951 a house, situated on the opposite corner from the church at Ninth and Morton, was dedicated as a manse. The first pastor to live in the manse was Rev. Bernardino del Pozo, the pastor in 1953. Ledia Quintanillo was the superintendent and W. H. Clement, the elder. The budget was $2,000, of which $1,200 was for the pastor's salary. Income came from offerings and pledges, First Church, and other sources. Attendance numbered about 96, and there were six Sunday School classes. The congregation loved to sing, and often the sounds of "Dinia Gracia," "Cuando Sea Pasada Lista," or "Rocha de la Eternidad' drifted from open windows. Rev. Logan V. Cockrum (chairman), Rev. Fernando Gutierrez and Rev. A. T. Dyal, and ruling elders, B. W. Trull and J. Grady Walker, were appointed as a commission to organize the mission into a church. The mission was organized formally as the Second Presbyterian Church of Palacios, Texas, on November 9, 1955, with 53 communicant members. The first elders elected were Jacinto Garza, Sr., Reynaldo Garza, Manuel Guajardo and Guadalupe Serna. Mary Garza Guajardo was the first treasurer, followed by Angela Flores. The Women's Circle was organized and named "Messengers of Christ." A Young People's Circle also was organized. An annex was erected and dedicated June 13, 1963. The First Church sent a letter to Second Church, parts of which are quoted here: We rejoice because the ties between our two congregations are old and deep. We rejoice---that now our two Churches together have a larger opportunity to witness to the wonderful works of our God and Savior. There was a time when we looked upon you as our child. That time is now passed, for you are now our sister...Come, let us join together in prayer and work, that together we may proclaim abroad our Savior's name. The available records show the following to have been pastors or state supply to the mission church: E. A. J. Seddon, Ismael Muldanado, E. R. Castenado, E. C. Galvarez, Juan Rodriguez, Esequiel Vargas, Bernadino del Pozo, Fernando Gutierrez, Diego G. Vera, F. P. Rugerio, Felix Pereyra, Reynaldo Suarez, Pablo Guerra, Marcos Urbina, Carlos Buck and Sothenes Infante.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume I, pages 602 -
604 |
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 Palacios Beacon, February 28, 2024 |
