The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-08
The Baptist Congregation Enjoy the
Burning Of Mortgage on
the Church.
A Good Celebration Over Success
full Work In the First Decade
Of Existence.
Appropriate Ceremonies In Laying the
Corner Stone Of the New Scandina.
Wan Lutheran Church.

members of the Baptist denomination II
different parts OF the country, met in the
old Helena court house and organized the
First Baptist church of Montana. On Fri
day last that church, increased in numbers
to 233. celebrated with appropriate exercises
the close of the first decade of its history.
OF the original twenty-one constituent
members all but three are believed to be
living and the following are still members
of the same church: w. r. Schultz, F. NJ.
Wood, Mrs. M. A. Sperry, Mrs. L. F. Evans,
Mrs. r. Jockey, Mrs. $. E. Tyler, Mrs. w.
NJ. Mann, Mrs. NJ. A. Allen, Mrs. Ell. Heb
erling, John w. Eddy and John w. Wade.
The programme for the day covered an
afternoon and evening session. At ppm.
after devotional exercises ex Governor r. H.
Leslie. who was chosen presiding officer,
took the chair and referred in brief adj
dress to the custom of family reunions
30 universal in our land and to
the. special appropriateness of this
church reunion. The remainder
Of the afternoon session was taken up with
the clerk. The total membership was stated
to be 233, OF which number, however. eighty
reside in various places outside of this city.
Members present responded to their names
as called, and in response to the call OF the
names of absentees. the clerk in several
cases read letters of fraternal greeting, ac-
companied in nearly every case by contri-
button to the payment of the church debt.
The evening session opened with devo-
tional exercises, after which an interesting
paper was read by Chas. A. Osgood, super
intendent Of the Sunday school, giving the
history of that department of church work
from the organization of the school with
pfv-n harm SrS I,
present time. He also briefly sketched the
history Of the mission school Of the church,
held every Sunday in Adams hall near the
Northern Pacific railroad depot. He proph-
esied the organization of a new Baptist
church on that spot at no very distant date.
Mrs. Hugh Kirkendall read two very in
Work Of the Church, and the other upon
WoInan's Work in the Church." These
papers proved that the women have been
most jealous and efficient in every branch
of church effort, and as a committee on
ways and means have rendered the church
most valuable service. The church clerk
church, the Rev. J. L. Mason, now of AM
boy. III. Tho "reminiscences of early strug-
giles of Helena Baptists were of special in
terest to the representatives of the consti-
tuent membership.
The historical sketch of the church pre-
sented by John w. Eddy was specially APP
preciated. as it passed in review, The
names places and most noteworthy features
in the events of the past ten years were a
practical illustration of the Baptist doctrine
of the perseverance of the saints.'' But
the most important and the dramatic feat
ure in the days celebration, was when the
pastor. Rev. G. B. Allen took his place in
front of the pulpit and with one of the
deacons on his right hand and the pentle-
man who held the mortgage of some $4,000
on the church property, on his left, told the
story of his passionate and it's relation to
the church debt. When he came to Helena
In May, 1856. the debt upon the church
gradually reduced until now it now it was
a little less than $4,000. The church had
decided that upon this, the tenth anniyer
sary OF Its organization this load must be
lifted and thrown off, and thanks
t;b.r,, the generous assistance Of
mneral friends outside Of its
ton. and in many cases Christian self
sacrifice OF the members, he was rejoiced to
say that he now had the pleasure of hand
ing to the brother on his left the check of
the church treasurer for the amount due
him. 10 that the MORTGAGE himself.
! member Of the church, replied with
ing to the pastor the mortgage with the
notes. The pastor passed it to the deacon
On his right, who in turn applied to it q
lighted match, and as the mortgage was
gradually reduced to smoke and ashes, the
congregation arose and with genuine hearth
ness sang Praise God From Whom Ali
Blessings Flow" In the sum needed to
accomplish this result the Helena public
las responded most literally, various Ger
ons outside the membership having con- |
riIuted 300 of the total amount raised.
Untramelled now by debt this organiza-
ion looks forward to a future Of great nse- |
illness and enlarged influence among the
hurches of Helena.