The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-12-05
Burned the Morteare

DuTHeu the mortgage.
The Jubilee servicess'' at the First
Christian church last night were par
ticipated in by an audience which oc-
cupied every pew in both the auditori-
um and lecture room, and fifty chairs
besides. Promptly at 7:3O the vast au-
dience arose and united in singing
that grand old hymn beginning:
my country. It's of thee.
Sweet land of liberty
OF thee sing"
Then followed the responsive read
ing of Psalm I4S, after which the full
choir of nine trained voices, under the
leadership of Prof. D. s. Kelly, rem
dered a delightful anthem entitled,
Let every heart rejoice" The pas
tor, Elder Geo. F. Hall, offered prayer.
a few of the old members were then
introduced and gave some reminis-
cences relative to their connection
with the work of the church in past
years. John Bay said he was one of
the number which organized the con-
gregation thirty-two years ago. He
has stood by the work faithfully from
that day to this, and has no intention
of giving up. He remembered well
when thew used to meet in the little
old church first erected. The under
pinniDg was so efficient that the boys
could throw cats throughit. But great
changes had come about. The church
had been visited with splendid pros
perity.
c. b. Bachelor spoke of his connee-
ton with the church. He came here
twenty one years ago. When he first
entered the little old church and sat
down with his wife, as a dutiful hus-
band ought to do, he soon discovered
that he was the only man on that side
of the house. The church then seemed
to believe in keeping the sheep and
goats separated!
The next speaker introduced was
Mrs. II. F. Miller. She delivered a
beautiful address, referring in tender
terms to the heroic work of the Ladies'
Aid society. and contrasting most
effectively the present prosperous con-
dition of the church with the dlscour-
aging days of by-gone years, before the
congregation left the old environments.
at the close of Mrs. Milier's address
the congregation sang:
''Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
Tue fellowship of kindred minds
Is like TO that above"
The pastor then made few hopeful
remarks, looking confidently to the
time when even the present attractive
edifice would have to be torn down and
built larger. Already the house is too
small. Hundreds have been turned
away from the door on special occa-
stonS. What the congregation would
have to have ere long was an edifice
with seating capacity of 800.
j. I. Burton, treasurer of the church
was then introduced and made a
financial statement. He stated that
when the church was dedicated in 1888
enough money was pledged to pay all
Indebtedness, but some of those
pledges, which were taken for two
years without interest, were never
paid. The building cost about 50, 500
manned unpaid, 81 900 of this was can
celled. and then a mortgage of 81 500
was placed over the church, and here
it has hung for nearly six years, bear
ing ten per cent interest. The last
Sunday in September the official
board, by the assistance of Elder F.
M. Rain, the great financial eyangel
ist succeeded in securing pledges to
the amount of SI,7I3 all payable by
Thanksgiving day. OF this amount
1870 had been cancelled, and there
was some money in the treasury.
The congregation then sang : Praise
God from whom all blessings fioW''
and the chCir followed with Bradbury7s
celebrated Song Of Jubilee" E. n.
Philips singing the magnificent bass
solo.
The trustees, s. r. Hall and C. b.
Bachelor, then stepped upon the plat
form and amidst great enthusiasm
committed the mortgage to the crack
ing fiameSi After the closing song
and benedicIiou, the people spent q
short time in hearty hand shaking, and
then retired, feeling that the events of
the day were worthy OF long remem-
brance.
The First Christian church is now in
an eminently prosperous condition.
Its membership numbering something
of 800 is united, earnest and talented.
Every department of the church work
is in the band of faithful leaders.
This is the Oldest church in the city,
anu inc Oluc3t living C0BEAcSnStO1 "
disciples in the state of Kansas. Next
Sunday the annual revival meeting OF
this congregation begins, and the
prospect seems good for large IN
gathering.
Frank Willard an octngenarian and
a farmer lying about three miles east
of Neosbo Rapids went out to milk last
Thursday morning. and while in the
act was stricken with paralysis from
which he died In couple Of hours.