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


purchase, ct q cost Of $4,000. the lot adjoil
ing Its own,-ownsd BY Josiah Pope--o
which, In part, the church building no,
stands. The money they had lsbori
ously gathered by sewing; by fairs an
other methods, to provide en- organ.
II we add to the cost Of these improve
ments the sum paid to aid In removing in
debtedness, or given In token of affectionate
remembrance, or in aid Of pastor and family
large amount must DO accredited to them
but over and above all this, their worl
through those years, was their steadfast anC
warm devotion to the church itself. Their
fervent prayers. their prayer meetings, theil
sympathes, their sacred friendships, il
dark and trying hours these, to the very
last, sustained the pastor in trial and toll
and gave him, as it were, the sanctuary Of
9 homo In many Of their dwellings. He
must be alike unfseling and ungrsteful II
with these memories Of the past he could
ever be indifferent to
"Those whose love has been his shield"
whose confidence and prayers, his support
and inspiration.
Among the earlier members Of the church
among the men, there were perhaps none to
whom 1t owed more for constant interest and
watchful care and readiness to do, than
j ohm G. Nattinger, from 1916 to 1858. Mad.
ison E. Hollister and his very excellent wife
were very generally present at all devotional
meetings. George s. Fisher gave new in
terest to the Sunday school. Thomas Orton
moved it forward to . greater success,
Through his individual efforts chiefly, COL
lecting 500 or more in money. q Sunday
school agent was set at work in the county,
who organized the first year 10 new schools
and visited and helped many old ones. A
like work was repeated the next year with
some success. Hon. b. c. Cook gave great
success to the school as its superintendent.
r. o, Black, at his coming, brought us a
blessing. His love to the church and labor
in it have been unfailing and greatly useful.
But must not speak Of individuals or
would mention Henry L. Brush, Geo. Mana,
James S. Murray, George Hunter, our chori.
ster, j. G. Gay. s. B. Griiley; after many
years Geo. w. Roberts and II. w. Jones, and
but cannot give names all, all dear 10
me.
A few words as to the church building as
first saw it, and afterwsrd.
The building was of brick, with cupola on
is roof over the entrance at the west end.
It was implanted and stood unenclosed. That
graceful accompaniment Of wresthing vines
Ind ornamental shade trees, which we now
zee to be wanting, was wanting then. A
broad fight of steps, extending nearly across
he front, led upward to the door. parti-
ion cut off ten feet from the west end,
making an inner vestibule, and admitted of
high, narrow gallery above it. The desk
vas plain, but somewhat heavy enclosure,
painted white like the pews, and completely
'oncealing the minister, when seated, from
! large part of his congregation. It was, so
o speak, when he bowed his head, the pas
or's place Of retirement. Two riokety,
'ane-seated chairs behind the desk pre-
tented a perilous place to sit. Two others, like
hem, stood on either side of this table, which
hen was on the platform below. It was .
characteristic Of these chairs that they were
lever safe or strong in my day The con-
1eniences for warming the house, consisted
If two huge stoves, for burning wood, in
he basement, operating as furnaces. Being
'adly cracked they answered the double
purpose Of fumigation and warmth, and in Q
omewhat equal degree. As age advanced
lpon them the tendency to smoke increased,
i'll, becoming intolerable, they were dis
,lacsd by two coal stoves. These stood near
he doors by the entrance of either aisle.
Their long tunnels trave rsed the house and
inferred the walls at the east end These
toves for the most part comfortably warmed
he house, in mild heather, and in addition
we're capable of certain musical performances
nd, at times, Of explosions, not wholly
greeable to nervous persons. The janitor
replenished the fire during the
inging. The roar at the opening of the
tove doors, the somewhat energetic use of
he pokes, and an occasional puff Of smoke,
DOT and gas, will be recalled by the older
esidents as among the divsrting, but not
leasant incidents of the departed time.
The means Of lighting the house should
lot be forgotten. Four oil lamps suspended
rom the ceiling in the body of the house,
wo over the gallery, and two stationary at
he desk, were the fixtures to that end. You
ave heard Of "the dim, religious light" Of
This was not of that kind. II
vas dim evidently, but l hesitate in calling
religious. It admitted of barely seeing
he faces Of the audience when at its best.
t was no uncommon thing, however, for one
r other Of these lamps, in mid.ssrvice, to
o out In smoke. Yet they were useful in
heir day, and, as the ladies will remember,
q m rrolo hos. botk a. w..-o~kr 49, i