The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-05-14
rhe CONGREGATIONAL Church.

Manning, Rep, 32,474. Manning's majority
3i5.
The Congregational Church.
The occurrence Of the ceremonies of dedi-
Gazing the Congregational church Of this
plaSs, and installing pastor, naturally sag.
gssss the propriety Of satisfying genera
inquiry, ~ to the origin, progress and pres.
snt condition Of that church in our city.
Something more than two years ago, npor
the invitation of several individuals of on,
city, the Rev. Mr.. Salter, Of Burlington, Wis
tied our place and rganired Congrega.
tional church. And about eighteen months
ago the Rev. Jas. P. Kimball became tn,
minister Of this feeble band, then numbering
nine members. A hall was rented on MAR
street in which to holdth their meetings, where
services have been regularly held upto the
present time.
During this period the Congregation grad.
ually grew in numbers and influence, add
tions were constantly made to the member.
ship, till at the present time, they have near
sixty members.
Some years ago, a citizen of Keokuk de-
vised forty acres of land adjoining the city,
to trustees, for the purpose Of building q
Congregational church. The property i.
now very valuable, but the title became
subject Of contest before the courts, and thu
trustees by consent Of the church, made az
arrangement with parties by which ffteer
thousand dollars was secured for the beneG
OF the church, in consideration Of release O
all interest IN the land. Ten thousand dol
lars OF this amount was put out on interest
and the remaining Eve thousand was applied
to the purchase of a site for q church.
A subscription was then raised to build
church, and q contract for the constructio,
OF part OF the plan was let The design o
the church edifce comprises main building
with vestry adjoining it in the rear. TIL,
latter ha sheen put up and finished, and is tt
beoccupied for service until such time as tn.
main building is complete. 1t is ample TO,
the accommodation Of considerable audi
ence, is complete in itself as a church cdfee
and Is one Of the nearest and handsomes,
buildings in the city. The whole design
when complete, will be an ornament to the
town, credit to the society and the arohi-
tect, and superior to almost any similar
structure in the State.
Having thus secured building, meeting
OF the church was held, in which it was unan-
imously resolved to settle Rev. James p.
himball as pastor Of the church. And in
pursuance Of the purpose, an ecclesiastical
council was called, to ordain and install Mr..
kimball, which assembled in the chapel yes.
terday. We noticed among the delegates
present, Rev. w. Salter, of Burlington, Rev
Asa Turner, OF Denmark, Rev. T. Packard,
OF Mt. Pleasant, Rev. Z. p. Smith, Of Wayne,
Rev. IL. Adams, of Pennington, Rev. r. Al.
Post, OF ST. Louis, No., Rev. S. II. Emery,
OF Quincy, H., and Rev. James Kimball, of
Oskham, Massachusetts.
The exercises Of the occasion were Opened
by the moderator, Rev. r. Packard. Invo-
cation and reading Of scripture by Rev. Har
vey Adams; sermon upon the character anc
duties OF the pulpit by Rev. I. NJ. Post, d
D.; ordinary prayer by Rev. A. Turner
right hand of fellowship by Rev. s. Ii. Emery
charge to the pastor, by his father, Rev
kimball; and charge to the people by Rev
w. Salter.
The services were characterized by srea
soiemnity, and the sermon, as we'll as the va
rious addresses Of the occasion, were spe
clally distinguished by their appropriateness,
and ability. The excellent choir, under til
charge OF Mr.. Isbell, added very much 4
the interest Of the exercises by the admire
bic manner in which they discharged thei
duties on the occasion.
We rejoice to be able to announce the per
manent settlement in 'local habitation' o
the immense moral power Of an organize,
church, whose beneficial influences upon til
character Of our city, will grow deeper an
wider, and become more powerful for goo
with each returning Sabbath day.
CL0sEn Ip-Rpy Ap{n,rnttn p