The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-16
AN ANNIVERSARY.
Tomorrow's Services at the Broadway
Presbyterian Church-.Commemo-
ration of the Chureh's FONDA.
tion Ten Years agO..-Sketeh
of the Organization.

Tomorrow will be festival day in the
Broadway Presbyterian church, it being
the tenth anniversary of the foundation
of that organization, and services appro>
pirate to the occasion will be held at both
sessions of the church, and in the Sunday
school. Today the edifce on Seventh
avenue is being beautifully decorated ana
every preparation is being made for the
Joyous anniversary exercises.
In the morning the pastor, Rev. w. ),
MARQUIS. will preach sermon designed
with special fitness to the occasion, and
the singing will be in keeping with the
days observances. The evening services
will consist principally of the reading of
six papers as follows: ''Reminences of
Greenbush," by Miss Bailey; History
of the Church Organization" by DR.. j.
w. Stewart; History of the Church
Building by A. F. Fleming; History of
the Sabbath School," by Miss Blanche
Buford; History of the Prayer Meet
ings," by S. D. Cleland; His
tory of the Missionary Society"
by Mrs J. R. Mills Following the reads
ing of the papers the pastor will deliver a
brief address. The services will be inter
spersed with anthems of praise and joy
by the choir. In the Sunday school ems
blems of the festival day will be displayed,
and appropriate cards will be distributed
among the scholars.
SKETCH OF THE ORGANIZATION.
The church which commentaries the
sixteenth anniversary of existence tomor-
row, sprung from the desire on the part of a
portion of the Central Presby terrain church
to have a more centrally located place of
worship. A dozen years ago the present
congregations of the Broadway and Cen
trail Presbyterian churchs worshipped as
one organization, at the edifice on I'd ave,
nue. But there had been a growing feel
ing for years among certain of the parish
to have church more in the center OF
town. Especially was this feeling true OF
members living in the eastern part of the
lefty. When on September 18th, 1874, a
storm blew the roof off the Central
church, ruined the north gamble and
lcaused other heavy losses. il
was thought the proper time time to start
the movement for the erection of new
church, so conveniently located as to ac>
commodate members from all sections Of
the city. The people living in the east
ern part of the city desired a new churct
built further up town, but those residing
in the west end, were satisfied with i
where it was. The latter faction carried
the day, and the old church was remod
died.
| This was regarded by the east end pco
pile as sufficient ground for breaking of
from the old congregation and erecting a
church of their own. An organization
was Immediately effected, and for time
la few months only-the new congrega
ton worshipped at Greenbush chapel in
the eastern part of the city, In the mean
time the site of the present structure
corner of Twentythird street and Seventh
avenue was purchased, and handsome
stone structure sufficient in size to &C,
commodate 500 people was erected, at a
cost of So, 900, and on May ID. 1875
the first service was held.
Among the first board of trustees were
d. F. Robinson, Alex Steel, A. f. Elem
ing, s. J. Keator, Fl. E. Woods, and T. J
Rodman, while the elders were J. W
Stewart, D. F. More, c. G. More and P
L. Mitchell. The first pastor was Rev
T. H. Hench, who preached his first ser
mon to the congregation while they wer'
yet worshiping in the chapel, and continu
: ed as the pastor until June 1878, when h,
resigned, and was succeeded in Novembel
of that year by Rev. j, r. Millar. Ii
June 1880, Mr.. Millar resigned, and il
August, Rev. J. G Holiday took charge
His resignation in March, 1884
caused the appointment of Rev. W. s
Marquis, who is still pastor. The pres
ent board of trustees consists of J. Ros.
Mills, S. j. Keator, W. B. Ferguson, Phi
Mitchell, A. W. Blakesley, Charles A
Rose and H. B. Sudlow. The elders arr
S. D. Cleland, W. G. WEIGH, c. C. McIn,
tire and DR.. ]. W. Stewart.
The Sunday school is under the super
vision of Dr. J. W. Stewart, who has beer
the superintendent from the beginning
An interesting feature of the school il
the primary class, which has been laugh
from the first by Mrs. W. G. WEIGH, anC
which started with II members and nov
has 800 The school itself is the second
largest in the county.
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