The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-05-15
A kEcORD OF GROWTH.
An ImportaDt Epoch in the History of
the Christian Church I'm EnpOria.
Another Beautiful Houss of worship to
Be DE- dictated to the Service OF God.
From Saturdays Daily.


Another 13eautIfuI HOUSE, of worship to
BE De dIcated to the Service OF God
From Saturdays Daily.
The beautiful church which has just
been completed by the Christians of
Emporia, at the southeast corner of Ex-
change street and Seventh avenue, will
be dedicated tomorrow evening to
the worship of Almighty God.
The discourse Will be preached by the
distinguished divine, Elder Isaac Err
rett, of Cincinnati This ceremonial not
only marks a very important epoch 10
the history of that denomination here,
but furnishes an occasion Tor some re-
hectlons of historical nature which
cannot fail to be of interest to our read
ers. The idea of building Christian
church in Emporia took form
as early as the tall of
1888, when it vas successfully
agiiated by Elder s. G. Brown. who it
may be said was the pioneer of that
faith II this part of Kansas. There
were at that time about thirty adher-
ants, all told, of the church in the taen
struggling village, but with that daunt
less energy which the very air of Kan
sas seems to Infuse INTO her people, the
undertaking was entered upon, and at
church meeting held On the 9Th of
March 1859. and which was presided
over by Elder B.owp, it was announced
that $1,000 had been raised for the
construction Of church edIfice. A. G.
White, Geo. W. Evans ard Fl. W.
Flick were appointed a building com
mittee, and Joshua White and G. ".
Frederick were elected trustees The
corner stone was laid on Thursday
June o, 1859 and on the I'd day of the
following October the lit
tie woOis church which
stands so modestly now 10 the shallow of
its imposing successor, was dedicated
to the service OF the Master
The associations which link this little
structure with the growth and develop
ment of Ennorla are so numerous that
to dwell upon them would occupy more
tIme and space than is at our command
1t is enough to say that it stond for a
quarter of century as monitor directing
men 10 b; tier lives here and TO the re-
wards which await the faithful in the
world TO come. The church al 50 filed
many proper secular uses, having been
used as a court house and as place for
holding mos. OF the public gatherings
called in the town previous to the FRO
vision of suitable hall for such pur-
poses.
1t Is profitable to entertain the mem
cries which the event of tomorrow will
bring up in the minds of the earlier set
tiers of the town. There
is strong tie that binds us tc
these odd land marke," these remem-
branccs of the day of small beginnings,
and while we know that it is a law that
old things must pass away and all things
become new, yet we never see oae of
them 90 but that We are called upon TO
indulge IN reflections that are mora or
less sad. There pIsses before our m en-
DRY as we write, number of the "old
guard" who fought for the right in the
early history of the town, and who
helped t. lay the foundations, not only
of that old church, but the institutions
generally which have been 50 produc
tive of good in Empofi4.