The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-14

Jubilee Day with the Congregation
Many Participate Notwithstanding the
BIusfery Notwithstanding istori-
cal Sketch by Colonel Lewis Music,
Vocal and Otherwise, Adds to the Exer-
cises--Sotes OF the Day.
Yesterday was the twenty-fifth an
niversary of the organization of the
First Presbyterian church in this city
and it was properly observed. Last
night at 10 O'Clock the quarter centen-
ial services ended.
II was very unfortunate that the
evening was so cold and blustery 9th
erwise the splendid church editice
would not he able to contain the num-
Der of people who desired to partici-
pate in an event that marks the end of
an era during which such vast amount
Of good has been done and Christian
development made.
The church edihce was Illuminated
with a blaze of incandescent light. 1t
was adorned with palms, plants and
flowers and greater than all, from q
standpoint of beauty, the national col
ors which could be seen everywhere.
Some prominent ministers and citizens
occupied seats on the pulpit platform
and many Of the most prominent cit
liens and business men in the city were
noticed in the audience The services
OF last night were opened with some
splendid music by the regular Sunday
school orchestra of the church after
which DR.. Flemming, who was moder-
ator, took up the program and after a
lev introductory remarks asked the
congregation TO sing a selected HYMN
Rev. l. II. Shane followed with prayer
in which he made some touching al
luSlonS 70 the foundation and growth OF
the parent Presbyterian church of
wichita Colonel II. ". Lewis followed
With = historical sketch of the church
spoken in his usual pleasing manner
as follows:
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
And he showed me a pure river of
water of life clear as crystal proceed
ing out Of the throne OF God and OF the
Lamb in the midst of the street Of il,
and Oh either side Of the river was there
the tree of life, which bore twelve man
ner of fruits; and the leaves of the tree
were for the healing Of the tions.'-Rev.
-, II.
After the similitude of the tree of
life as forctoid by the prophet-bard Of
Patmos, has grown and developed the
First Presbyterian church OF Wichita
Planted in ''dug-out" upon the banks
Of the crystal waters OF the Little Ar
kansas river on the 18th Gay OF March
y >. 1870 she has grown and fiourished
as a veTit3ble tree OF life. She has not
only planted herself ION either side of
tn river but has borne twelve man
Der Of fruits and yielded her fruit
every nonth"-indeed every day and
hour for a quarter of a century; while
the leaves Of that tree-the commune
I
enCe that through all time shall be felt
FOR the healing of the nations"
From that humble origin in a dug
out near the spot where now stands
the residence Of Mr.. Finlay Ross. with
a membership Of thirteen souls, ii has
since received into fellowship by letter
10y persons and by profession Of faith
1l6. OF q total of 1,193, and now. at the
end of twenty-five years its enrolment
numbers l0E2. OF this great army Of
1906 souls who have once been active.
vigorous breathing leaves upon this
tree of life, hundreds have left us for
other fields of labor. while other hun
dreds have one by one fallen silently
before the wintry winds Of time, their
bodies like Withered leaves returning
To the aust, their gioritied spirits
mounting upward to reign forever with
the great head OF the church triumph
ant.
he WE'VE lilditlti VI II hthS- III
and golden, borne by this tree Of life
(n,, reference being had to the order in
which they have blosSomed and matur-
ed may be enumerated as follows
First-The Sunday school with pres
cnt enrolment OF 505-
Second-The Young Peoples Society
of Christian Endeavor numbering i3l.
Third-The Junior Y. z. :. g. E.Whose
members number 80.
Fourth-The Mission Band of devoted
little helpers to the number Of D
Fifth-The Young Ladies Missionary
League numbering 80
Sixth-The Ladies Missionary Society
composed of 80.
Seventh-The Ladies Aid society of
active and faithful workers Il.
Next come at the precious fruits and
outgrowths Of the First church, its le-
gitimate offspring Of churches in this
city. and
EiChth-The Lincoln Street Presbyte-
rian church with an enrolment OF
Nnth-The oak street Presbyterian
church numbering -.
Tenth-The West side Presbyterian
church composed Of l25.
Eleventh-The Perkins Presbyterian
church with 90.
Making total enrolled membership in
The five Presbyterian churches OF Nlch-
ita AT the present time of l.59S
Twelfth-And last of the twelve
manner Of fruits comes her favored
child. the Lewis Academy with an
annual enrolment of about 25o-nlnety
per cent of them are for Christ.
Since its organization the First Pres !
hvterian church has raised and eX-
r+nded for all purposes something over
Sl25. 600 A6d to this the amount raised
and disbursed by its sunday school,
its various missionary, aid, Christian
cndeaVor and other societies and the
amount would be swelled 10 $l50ooo. |
Add TO this the amount raised in behalf
Of its own favored offspring, the Lewis |
academy. during the last ten years
and the amount would reach the num-
ficent sum Of a quarter OF a nllllon dol
lars.
In the summer of 1870 the first church |
home was built-the dug out OF per- I
haps more correctly speaking, log /
cabin partly under ground, having !
been private property and used tenn
po-arilv. This was d modest frame /
building built on the present site OF the /
Missouri Pacific railroad passenger /
depot on the southeast corner OF Nlch- /
ita and Second streets. Among the !
master mechanics who built that !
church might have been seen Brother |
w =. Corbett We have never heard OF |
Brother Corbett falling down on |
anything he undertook except upon |
this coca sion. II is related that one |
day while on the roof OF the building,
with hammer and saw in hand, he lost |
his balance and came rolling down the |
steep incline until he reached the caves /
where by desperate clutch he saved l
himself from a serious fall 10 the earth. /
IL was not q case of caves dropping.
The building was constructed in /
rather 4 nimSy manner tnO reflection 1