Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-16
OUT OF DEBT.
The Last Chapter in the His tory
of the M. e. Church, Written
on the Anniversary of its
Semi i-CentennfaL

'1"AN~y " ~ - ACtv3 WIZ a. W HJS
be red letter day in the history of
the Methodist Episcopal church of
this city. On June "a, 1867, the
corner stone of the present church
was laid during the pastorate of
the Rev. Jas. Lawson, and the build
ing carried up to the beginning of
the second story, when in Septem-
Der, 1868, Rev. d. w. Couch was
transferred from the Wis. Conference
and sent to this church. In 1871
the building as it now stands was
completed and dedicated with a
debt of about $4,000 remaining.
Repeated attacks were made upon
| the debt until il was last funded at
$4,000, where it has stayed for years,
chilling every effort like an iceberg
around the neck of the society. 1t
being full so years since the organ
ization of the society, the pastor
suggested, and the church approved
! the plan of celebrating the semi
centennial of the organization of
Methodism in the city. According
ly Rev. Chas. Irish, Rev. Jas. Law
son and Rev. ID. w. Couch, former
pastors who were so situated as 10
conveniently attend, were invited to
be present and assist, and the Prim-
tive Methodist church was invited
to unite for the day, which was
done.
Rev. Mr.. Irish was too sick to
come. Rev. Mr.. Lawson sent fine
letter of regret, and on Thursday
night Rev. ID. w. Couch, now pastor
in New York city, came. On Thurs
day night large congregation
gathered to hear Mr.. Irish, but in
his absence the pastor preached
short sermon, when Rev. Jos. Hew-
lit, of the =. Nj. church, and Rev.
John Bennett each gave excellent
addresses. On Friday and Saturday
evenings, Mr.. Couch preached to
large audiences very practical SER
mons.
On Sunday at o'clock large
company gathered for the first union
love-feast ever held by these church
es. 1t was delightful occasion and
marks new era in the history of
the relation of the two churches.
At 1880 Mr.. Couch preached very
able sermon on "The Talents" On
Saturday, on blackboard, map Of
the church debt had been drawn,
which was divided into 800 squares,
each space representing ten dollar
share of the church debt. As soon
as Mr.. Couch concluded his sermon
he called for the board. w. II.
Curry was appointed secretary to
take names and amounts, and Steph-
en- Thomas to take charge of the
blackboard, Jas. Spensley and Dr.
Wingender to take the aisles when
subscriptions were called for in
shares.
The Ladies Society led with twen-
ty shares and at the close of the
morning service $l,e20 had been
raised. In the Sunday School slSOI
more was added, making $50 shares
out of the 800 marked out. Enough
had been secured between the Sun
day School and the evening service
to make $2,0l5. When the history
of the p. M. church had been read
by Philip Allen, Jr., Mr.. Clough
said: "Let us make some more history
for the M. +. church before VIC read
any;" and so the map came out
again, and in about an hour more
the great debt of the church was all
taken amid an excitement as intense
as was ever witnessed on such an oc-
casion.
When the conditional shares writ
ten by themselves came near the
"bona fide," it was like the march of
two armies over vacant space-there
was a hush over the entire house.
Fewer and fewer became the vacant
spaces and more intense the interest
when one man said, 81 will give five,
but don't call my name" This was
mistaken for IS, but the pastor hay-
ing gone to his friend found out the
mistake and called out AZ shares