The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-10-05

mace introdut cd in the basement, the gallery
was removed, an inner and outer vestibule
provided, the room enlarged, the desk 70.
modelled and furnished with . sofa, sddi-
tionsl sittings we're provided, thus adding
to necessary expenditures. Did not We feel
grand? There are doubtless Q number OF
individuals in this congregation who could
meet the whole expense Of building that old
sanctuary and their business not suffer
today.
II was not so then. These gifts required
sacrifice and self-denial, taking money need
cd in business or TO provide more comfort
able homes. Those who are successors here
will never know the long and painful efforts
BY which the church passed its first quarter
Of Q century Of years. How weak we felt
when o single brother died Many prayers
and tears believed the planting and nurtur-
ing Of the heavenly viAe Many beloved
brother and sister toiling in it saw not their
work complete. They fell on the field Of
labor, going, We trust (oh, how many Of them
veteran and youth and fair haired child
and tender babe), to that place Of rest and
beauty and triumph, Of which John spoke
when he said, 81 saw no temple therein, for
the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are
the temple Of it," They are glorious COM
pany to-day in that heavenly world. What
forms, what voices. what glowing faces and
welcoming outstretched arms When it is
said there is joy in the presence of the angels
over one sinner that repenteth, can l not
guess who some Of those are who are among
those angels?
From the first, the church sought spiritual
conquest for Christ. Through all the years
there were accessions to the church in the
use Of the ordinary means of grace 1t used
also extraordinary. In 1852, from January
Sd to the 10Th, Rev. A. Pomeroy, fresh from
. successful labor at Lacon, preached here
faithfully and with power. The time was
intensely cold. The labor failed Of marked
results, yet accomplished some good. In
1868, Rev. Orson Parker, q protested evan.
gelist, conducted o series of meetings from
October 10Th 70 the 30th, Immediately after
the completion Of the repairs Of that year.
These meetings were doubtless Of some ben
eft to the church, and to other churches Of
the city, but believe added no new members.
In the spring Of 1867, Rev. John F. Avery
labored with great success in the united
congregations Of the First and Second
churches, the latter still under the care of
Rev. Geo. Schlosser. The meetings con.in.
ued from March lst to April 18th. and there
we're many conversions. Mr.. Avery. with
pleasing recollections, salutes US to-day from
his Cleveland home, giving his love and
blessing. In 1864 the pastor alone conduct
ed series Of meetings, which resulted in
larger accessisns than in any previous year
Of the church's history excepting 1872 The
entire membership up to 1870 was about
40. But fifteen then remained of those
who were members at my coming.
In 1851, IL years after the organization
Of this church, the First Congregational
church was organized in the city of Chicago.
In 1854, that church with eight others
united in an association. In that association
the Free church of Ottawa enrolled itself,
having then IA members. In 1857 it report
ed 120 members, but the next year, which
terminated Mr.. Schlosser's seven years. labor
it reported but seventy members. That
year, 1868, Plymouth church was organized
from portion of the members of the Free
church and members of the First church,
with total of fifty. eight members. After
six months service by Rev. Jonathan
Blanchard, Rev. William C. Scofeld came
IS pastoral supply June 1859 to June 1864.
During his five years ministry, the church
received Ill to membership, 81 on profess
sion Of faith. Its loss by DEATH six, and
removals was thirty'six.
The next six years October, 1864, to
March, 1870. Rev. Edwin N. Lewis supplied
the church. There were added l05 members,
65 on profession. The loss by death, eight,
and removals was 6fty-f The member
ship then remaining on the roll Of the church
was 1876, or twelve more than on the roll of
the First church, March 6, 1870. The Ply
mouth church and the First church united,
comprising 253 of the $50 names, or a little
above two-thirds of the number on the rec
ords of the two churches, 1913 from the First
and $50 from the Plymouth churches.
Of the large number remaining, some sub
united with this organization.
OF the years following, fresh in your recol.
lection, l can give but the briefest sketch
The church began at once to plan for new
edifce, completing it in 1872. 1t called to its
pastoral work Rev. Julian M. Sturtevant, jr,
who remained three years and six months,
May %, 1870, to November "a, 1879 In
that period seventy.two persons were re-
ceived to the church the removals were
nearly the same and the membership de-
creased by three. After an interval of one
Y I