(10.)

Sesquicentennial Celebration
  Liberty ~ Graham Baptist Church, Butlerville,
Jennings County, Indiana

(In talking with members from)
these churches the chief obstacle is that of finance. Graham expressed its wishes and desires as wanting a Pastor but the Church was weak financially and if some one could help in a financial way they would 11ke to secure a Pastor......As we look at these so-called weaker Churches, they furnish a great source of inspiration and spirit of determination to the other Churches of the Association. We find in them the real meaning of sacrificial giving and love for God and His Church. This spirit among the weaker Churches is a great inspiration to every Church. There are those that bear the financial load and are not wi11ing to see their Church disband. Our .prayers are behind these Churches in their battle for Christ and against sin."3

Truer words were never written than these, and the present membership well knows if there hadn't been sacrificial love and giving during the 1930's, there would be no Graham Baptist Church today. After the 1938 Association Meeting, Graham called the Pastor who was also serving Dupont. He was a young Louisville Seminary student, named C S. Pascal. He accepted the call and stayed through 1939. Graham attendance was improving by this time, and the great depression was over. Thus ended the darkest days in her history. Meanwhile, certain unforeseen events were happening that would change Graham completely, and once more, Bethel Baptist Church entered her history.

In 1940 the U. S. Government acquired acreage for the Jefferson Proving Ground. The property of Bethel was included. Bethel Church, built in 1857, was torn down, disbanded, and the membership scattered. Several of the Bethel members living in the local community transferred to Graham. The Bethel Brethren and Sisters brought with them $700.00, two nearly new heating stoves, lights, a communion set, and pulpit furniture. All of these were gladly received by Graham. Soon Graham was in need of more space for Sunday School. The $700.00 became the start of building fund. In 1947 a combination Sunday School and recreation room and kitchen were added to the back of the Church. Electric lights were installed and a cistern was built. In 1956,Graham was again in need of more room as attendance was increasing. the first Sunday School room was extended, making several new rooms: A basement was dug, rest rooms were installed, and central eating added. A room had been furnished for Pastors to stay over-night and weekends (most were Southern Baptist Seminary Students) at Deacon Buck's home. A room was then designated in the new addition as a Pastors room, and was furnished by the Missionary Society. During this time, Church members expressed a desire to have a Pastor live "on the field." In 1962, Deacon Buck and wife donated land in the village of San Jacinto to build a parsonage. A five room brick house was construced in 1962. Rev. Arthur Burcham laid the bricks and he and his family were the first occupants. The Sanctuary has been remodeled and decorated as needed through the years, most recently in 1976, when the old closets were torn out, divider planters with greenery were added and the walls were painted. However, most people say the outside of the

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