Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1878-04-12
The Church Debt Cancelled.


of an old hymn very popular just now
1t is made to read "Sound the loud
Kimball," and many a dark Egyptian
sea has been kissed with the strains Of
this glad melody. Last-but not least
to us-ls the effort by which on two
successive Sabbaths over $500 were
raised to liquidate the debt remaining
upon the Presbyterian Church. ---
Some five years ago this church was
organized and the building erected
through the efforts Of Rev. l. Oliver
Sloan aided by the few who, in the first
days Of Bismarck, cared to have a
church. The board of church erection
advanced $500, the N. P. r R. gave
their bill for freight on lumber, $3.50,
and other sums, among them $25s
subscription were raised on the ground.
This with $500 borrowed on note,
erected the Church only, the ground
came from the city, the subsequent
seating, carpeting and furnishing, with
the plastering and fencing, resulted
from the indefatigable labors of the
Ladies' Mite Society and the liberal
gifts Of few gentlemen. The benevo-
lence of the people was taxed almost to
its limit for these expenditures and the
necessary supper. of the Pastor.
The church has not been unmindful
of its oblie ations, but has steadily ap.
piled itself to paying them off until they
have reached the fist of them all, and
diminished it more. than, half. Some
two months ago Rev. Norman W. Cary
came to fill the place of Mr.. Sloan while
he visited the east, and since that time
the church has taken new start. The
room has been filled to it's utmost seats
ing capacity at almost every service.
On Sunday, March IL, after few
remarks, Mr.. Cary asked for subscrip.
tons toward paying off the debt, ex-
pecting to realize about hundred dol
lars. His purpose was known tn but
two or three and took the audience by
surprise, although the desirability of
raising the debt had been talked about;
but the first response eiicite others
and the names at times came in faster
than they could BE- written. n fiit-nn
minutes soi3 so was pledgsi II tn.
amaze'n-n' Of pastor l'l people Tbs
wa, .sven hy twenty four per> 'n> \
s. Weaver. y +. F,..rt;in, Mrs Cotf.r
and rhi dren, Mrs. Draper, R,v. Mr.
Cary, VIM. and Fred Holletnbaek. }. NJ.
Ray and wife, Asa Fisher, j. W. Fisher,
w. j. Watt, Geo. f Birch, Mrs. l.. W.
Slaughter, G. NJ. Cushman,.J j. Davidson.
S. Selleck, Mrs. VIM. B. Shaw, Nathan
Gould, j. A. Kemmis, Mrs. Alex. Cam
eroo, John Bowen, Alex. Marshall, F.
j. Call, Will Davie and Mr.. Doyle.
AS this effort succeeded 80 much be
vond their expectation the books were
examined and it was found that only
$50 was needed to clear the church en-
tirely. To secure this another effort
was MADE last Sunday evening and
ST. 10 were secured, covering all the
debt and $40 for singing books besides.
The donors were as follows: II. u.
Stripe, John Carlisle. N. W. Carpenter,
Gary Wilson, A. Pollock, N. W. Cary,
N. Dunkleberg, j. NJ. Carnahan, Capt.
Mason, D. W. Maratta, s. Selleck; F.
Draper, Mrs J. A. Maxwell, Mrs. Wool.
dricb, Mr.. Atkinson, W. G. Smith and
David N. King.
This effort.is worthy of note, not
only for the fact that 1914 40 was pro
missed en- the two occasions, but that
more than half of each pledge was paid
over within twenty.four hours. The
giving was spontaneous and hearty and
doubtless all rejoice in the part they
took in it. Most Of the gifts were in
tens and fves, four only, VIM. Hollem-
ba elk, B. F. Franklin, Asa Fisher and
John w. Fisher, giving 1926, and two,
C. S. Weaver and N. Dunkleberg, $15:
Twenty-four responded to the first call
and seventeen to the second, so that
forty-ons persons may be said to have
combined to raise this debt.
This event augurs an auspicIous fu'
ture. A church free of debt ought tc
be able in a few years to materially
lesson their annual drain Of $500 upon
the missionary treasury, and every dol
lar thus saved will very soon need to b'
expended in labor among the settlers
who are peop'ing the road between here
and Fargo. We congratulate the church
upon their happy condition and brigh
nrosnects