Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-09-23
OUT OF DEBT.
The M. e. Church is now Free from
an Inde BITE dncss which has
Hung over 1t for
Many Years.

The NJ. E. Church, of this place, has for|
many years been struggling with a debt
which seemed to hang over it like a cloud.
For years they have been paying interest
ranging from Is to Is per cent. on the
debt, but have struggled along paying off
the Indebtedness as rapidly as possible un-
j til they have at last liquidated the entire
amount. To DIR. w. A. Yingling the So
ciety is greatly indebted for his indomita-
BILE will and energy in securing, with the
4 aid of the cheerful givers, the necessary
amount OF funds Isl ,l0O) to settle the debt
Besides paying off the Indebtedness they
have also paid up their pastors salary and
all incidental expenses. Through the
courtesy OF DIR. Yingling, we have secured
some interesting historical facts connected
with the church which we give below:
Previous to 1912 there was occasional
preaching here by Methodists from DE
atroit. In 1884 this society was attached to
! Monroe Circuit. In 1886 the noted l.. B..
dGurley was pastor when they worshipped
1 in the old school house; there were but %
3smembers. DIR. Gurley raised $500 for
Hthe erection of the Church when non-pro-
gfessors of religion urged the public to give,
dsaying, 1t was n shame the people had no
&plrce TO worship but an old school house."
a Messrs Spafford and Darling gave respect
lively $500 and 5000, Mr.. Hall, Baptist,
&gave 5000, and the Hollistcrs, who were
Il 6Universalsts, gave from S75 TO 500 each.
2rhe lumber was brought from Canada in
sschooner hy Mr.. 8. Sphinx, and the work
i was done 10y Messrs. Miller & johnson, OF
Ethis place. This was the year OF the strife
Rbe,ween the State of Ohio and 1.-The Territory
sof Michigan, over n strip of border land.
IThe Michigan troops, headed by Gov. Ma
Mon, and the Ohio troops by Gov. Lucas,
I4:met nj Perrysburg. The dispute was nf.
kierward settled by the general government.
n Al the time DIR. Gnrley was holding pro,
} lracted meeting, which Gov. Lucas attend
Eed. After the sermon, DIR. Gurley called
EGov Lucas to come forward to pray which
he did, remembering especially colore'i
n man who was ut the altar. The people
said next day, Lucas came down to fight
but Gurley made him pray"
AT this time the circuit included Bowl.
ing Green, Tontogany, Gilead, Beaver
ECreek, (now Pemberville), and other np-
poinlments. In all there were l6 appoint
ments or preaching places, with u member.
ship of l29, which was doubled in 1889
In lS42 Rev. ii. S. Bradley was sent to the
Hcharge-a perfect stranger without a home
money or friends. Peter Cranker met the
forlorn preacher and said, Brother Brad
ley come to my house and welcome" The
church built in 1886 was the foundation OF
II the present edifce. This was remodeed
and raised to two stories by Rev. T. n
Barkdull, in 1866, Mr.. Sargent, of Soutl,
Toledo, doing the work. The full amount
lof requisite money WAS secured but the
transcription shrank 80 much as to leave the
church with heavy debt, upon which
there has been paid as high ns Is to Is pc,
cent, interest. In 1874 Rev. N. b. C. Low,
built the present parsonage and raised q
sufficient amount to pay all expenses, bu
again there WIS q slrinkage which slight,
increased the debt
When DR.. Yingling came to Perrysburi
the church was weakened and discouraged
by the heavy burden from which i
had not been free for over Is years. Hi
first plan was to get the people anxious fo
the payment of the debt, and then, whe,
the "iron was hot" to strike. In the Spring
Of 1880 the full amount of the debt was sc
cured in good notes which have all beer
paid, every note being collected. Th
church is now free, all are encouraged ant
prosperity attends. This is remarkable
su Inscription, every cent OF the notes bcinl
collected. Now the church is IN u -four
ishing condition, with 100 members. Th
Sabbath School is also rapidly increasing
having now membership OF 175. TIL
society is now out Of debt, with money il
the treasury.