The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-05-17
AWAITING DEDICATION.
Completion of the Welsh Congre.
gational Church on Mer-
chants Street.
A Temple Meet for the Worship of the
Master.
Description ofthe New Edihee-Histori
cal Sketch of the Growth of the
Society. Etc.

i Description Of the New EdIaee-Histori-
cal Sketch of the Growth of the
Society. Etc.
| The dedication of the Second Con-
gregational church on Merchants street,
which will take place ON Sunday, will
mark an eventful epoch in the develop
ment and growth of the moral and re-
ligious sentiment of this community,
and will signalize an occasion IN which
our Welsh friends may indulge a spec
Ial measure of interest aud pride. The
beautiful temple which lifts its fair pro
portions upon the site of the old stone
church in which the Welsh Congrega-
tional society of this city first worshiped,
elementof growth which Is the very
genius of Christianity. and is the grand
fruition OF the seed which was planted
sixteen years ago by the little band of
faithful believers who trusted in those
seasons OF refreshing which descend
from the church triumphant upon the
church militant for the nurture of the
tender blade and full maturing of the ripe
| grain, AMI many of whom haye been
spared to witness the joyous consupma-
ton of their best hopes and most earn
est prayers. The discouragements and
trials OF the past are all swallowed up
in oxidation over the splendid
achieve nents of the present, and yet the
struggles in which we develop the quail
| i6cations of future success afford profit
able and even pleasurable sources of
contemplation, and in connection with
the joyous occasion which the members
and friends of the Welsh Congregational
| church hold in such fond anticipation,
1t certainly is not untimely to call up in
review the years which have been so
fraught with earnest aud patient en-
deaver, and have been crowned with such
grand results, and we take pleasure in
presenting To our readers the following
interesting sketch of the history of the
church, the data of which have been
kindly furnished US by our worthy
/ IL. ~. 1uOIudSs
The Second Congregational church
society of Emporia was organized in
April, 1867, with twenty seven members,
most of whom had been previously
come cted with the Welsh church on
Dry creek, few miles south OF the city.
The ministers taking part in the bryan
ization were Rev. G. G. Morse, of EN-
poria, and Rev. Mr.. Fox, of Ridgeway.
At that time there were but very few
Welsh families living in Empori a, and
the prospec cts for Welsh immigra-
ton to this part of the state were by no
means hattering. But this little band of
Christian pioneers were full of courage
and strong In faith, and after holding
several meetings decided to build g
house of worship, and in per.
suance of this determination invested
their small surplus earnings in the little
stone church which stood for so many
years at the corner of Merchants street
and Second avenue, and which was com
: pleted in the spring of 1868, at cost oil
$1,000. 1t was dedicated by Rev. Q. D
Jones, of Iowa City. and Rev. Henry
Rees, who came to this country in thai
: year from Wales, in answer to a cal
from the congregation, became the pas
, tor of the church, and has since admin.
II istered to the people thereof in holy
, things with an JUNCTION which can only
J attend the labors of a true disciple of tht
Great Head of the church universal.
i Tho first nnoafinn fl,e
l question of building church in this
city by the Welsh Congregational socIe-
ty was held Tuesday evening, March IL
| 1857, at the residence of Richard Thomas
who called the gathering to order and
stated its object, ]. w. Morris acting as
secretary.
81 A motion was made and adopted that
a committee consisting of D. P Jones
, Edward Morris. Richard Howe, P
Hughes and j. II. Maddox, be appoint
] led to examine the First Congrega
tIonal church of Emporia, and report
house of its dimensions would be suit
able for purposes of worship, and wer,
e instructed to report on the cost of tn,
I same. At the same meeting r D
Thomas and Ii. Thomas were ap-
T pointed a committee to look ul
lots suitable for the building OF
a church, and an adjournment wa:
! made until March 10th. at this meet
! ing, which was opened by prayer BY
? Hugh Thomas, and was presided owe
s by r. d. Thomas, as chairman, the re
port of the committee on building APP
pointed at the former meeting was read
: giving specifications and estimates o
the cost of the work and was adopted
, A committee consisting OF R. D Thorn
as, ]. r.. Maddox and Richard Howe
! was appointed TO solicit subscriptions
for the new church. The meeting then
adjourned.
n at subsequent meeting held Apri
r 3, 1857, building committee consisting
of ID. P. Jones, Peter Hughes, r. d
Thomas, Richard Howe and Edward
) Morris weEe appointed. ]. r. Mad
dock was chosen treasurer and
s w. Morris secretary, and a genera
: meeting appointed for April 9th, wheI
: the following trustees were chosen: r
!; D. Thomas, D. P. Jones and T. n
7, Thomas. The location for the church
was also determined upon and the plan
perfected for an active prosecution o
the work At the same meeting the fol
: lowing voluntary subscribers raised III,
!, sum of $500 as starter on the build
: ing fund of the church Richard Howe
Edward Morris, R. d. Thomas, Hugl
Thomas, Thos. b. Thomas. ]. d. Davis
q P. a. Hughes. John R Maddox, d. p
: Jones, Ishmsel Jones, Evan Jones.
The subscription list which was cir
cuiated among the citizens was hesdet
e by Richard Howe with SIS. and upon i
: we find the following names piedgine
amounts from $4,000 to $500: r. D
: Thomas. Thos. 81. Thomas, Hugl
J Thomas, Peter Hughes, Edward Morris
, ThOs. Jenkens, Daniel Davies, D. P
( Jones, Evan Davis, John Davis, L. T
!. Heritage, G. z. Eskridge. Mrs. Annie
: QWensa Chas. Pollard, White & Ciapp
!. W. b. Bates, A. L. House, j. r. vii
5 liams. O. Y. Hart, R. H. RuggIes, r. 81
2 and @. h Cooper, G. w
Frederick 8 Co., E. Borton
Van r. Holmes. Bsy s. Hall, John
Wood, F. W. Hirth. Waskey, Hurst. &
: COT D. Childers. II. MoIone. VIM
n Young. j. r Swallow, Abuer Had.
ley, Noyes SpiceF. Wm. Morgan. Kei.
] Ie0or 3 No-tov. 4 " lS....t.1..a. n