Monroe City M. E. South

This church began its work in Monroe City in the year 1866, under the ministry of the Rev. Charles Babcock. Services were held in the Seminary building. The church was organized by Rev. John R. Taylor in 1870, with 10 members; Benjamin H. H. Tucker, class leader; John Shearman and Prof. J. Milton McMurry, stewards. The ministers who have officiated at her altar from time to time, by conference appointment, are Jesse Faubion, John S. Todd, Lilburn Rush, B. M. Spencer, H. W. James, A. P. Linn, and the present incumbent, L. F. Linn. The class has had a steady and healthy growth from its beginning to the present time, and now has a membership of about 200. Six to eight sermons are preached each month to overflowing congregations. The church building is a neat, plain brick structure, centrally located, having a seating capacity for about 300. The foundation was laid in 1877, and was completed and free from debt, August 1, 1878, upon which day it was dedicated by Rev. J. H. Pritchett, of the Missouri Conference. The first board of trustees were Lovel Rouse (a great and good man who is with the blessed), H. H. See, J. B. Randol, Benjamin H. D. Tucker, S. R. Boulware, James H. Grady and John Shearman. The Sunday-school was organized in the spring of 1878, with J. B. Randol, superintendent; Dr. Adolphus Noland, secretary, and Mrs. Mary Carrol, treasurer, with a grand total attendance of 30, from which it rapidly increased till the grand total enrolled is now nearly 150. At the present time it is under the efficient manager, R. V. Sullivan, superintendent. The history of the M. E. Church South at this place would indeed be incomplete if special personal mention was not made of some individuals to whose fervency, zeal and self-sacrificing of personal interests, the society largely owes its grand success and bright prospects for a glorious future, conspicuously among whom were Lovel Rouse, deceased, and J. B. Randol, now of Colorado. These were the standard-bearers, but close to them stood J. H. and R. V. Sullivan, John Shearman, W. R. P. Jackson, H. H. See, deceased, and others. There were ladies, too, who stood the heat and burdens of the day. There were Mrs. Ann Boulware, deceased, Mrs. J. H. Sullivan, Mrs. Mary Carrol, Mrs. Dr. A. Noland and others. Harmony has been a prevailing principle from the foundation of the society. A weak effort was made by several  who absorbed the heretical ideas of a traveling band called Holiness Band, to inculcate their ideas as Methodist doctrine, but the spirit of God prevailed with the membership, and the misguided few either denounced their error or sought other fields in which to scatter their nefarious doctrine.