Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1869-03-05
OUR yEsUP LETTER.

Nh. EDrroR:--For once, since living in
Jesup, I have been at church. Do you im-
agine me healhen2 Ihavc attended preach.
ing many times since going there, but it has
never seemed like church till on last Thurs
day. attended the dedication OF the Pres
byterian Church. 1t brought back ineno>
ries OF boyhood days, and caused a feeling
Of pleasure, while walking upthe broad aisles
to comfortable seat, which was neither
cramped nor crowded. Not that it was not
both pleasant and profitable 10 sit under the
sound Of the gospel, las We have been &C,
customed 10 in the past but it seemed a re-
lief to be free from the theatrical or school
day surroundings Of the halls or school
rooms. 1t il not very conducive to reg>
ious turn of mind to have an intricate alge-
braic problem, covering whole blackboard,
continually before your eyes, or be gazing
during the service upon the unknownregion
Of equatorial Africa, and wondering where
DR.. Livingston is.
The new church was dedicated on last
Thursday. 1t was pleasant. sunshiny day,
but cold. The audience we're nearly all
seated when we entered, and the mellow light
coming through the buff curtains, and falling,
halo-like, over the worshipers and the room.
gave an air Of sanctity to the occasion that
was solemn and beautiful.
Rev. Mr.. Boggs, Of Independence, preach.
ed the dedicatory sermon from Hebrews, IL
-22. In the discourse he referred to the
early history Of Jesup, and spoke Of the FIRST
sermon ever preached here. 1t was from the
pAtform of railroad car, standing near
MAJ su L. of L..
there was no town here-nothing but the un.
broken prairie stretching away on every side,
ks grassy covering bowling in wavesof green,
on that still summer afternoon.
At the close Of the sermon Rev. J. d.
Caldwell read an interesting statement Of the
history Of the Presbyterian Church, in this
place, from its organization to the present
time,
There was debt Of few hundred dollars
still hanging over the church, which it wal
very desirable to have cleared off and leave
il free from ell membranes. And it was
due TO the earnestneSs of Rev. VIM. Smith
that sum was rsised moro than sufficient
to pay oil claims against the church. Our
Methodist brethren, though themselves bur
dened With the responsibility Ct church III
process Of erection, came forward and helped
with their encouragement and their means.
Some 5000 were raised in short time. No
bly, done for Jesup.
Nor must We overlook the part the chojl
took in the performance. Efforts are now
being made to procure an organ for their
use. They are . permanent organization,
and contributed not . little 10 the pleasure OF
the exercises. Alter singing To Doxology,
the congregation were dismissed, going away
feeling thankful in their hearts thst 1t last
Jesup has got . church. Externally We
can't claim very much for its appearance /;
but inside il is comfortable and cosy. The
wood work Is finished in oak granting and
looks very neat
"Praise God from whom all blessings dow."
Our public schools close this week. They
give an exhibition on Friday evening.
There Is more than the usual amour. OF
sickness in our community just now. Mr..
Hodges, q young man and almost . s,ran-
ger, died yesterday.
The measles are quite common, and our
baby friends are much exercised thereat.