The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-04-21

| Guild afterward sold for s. 500 and
upon which in part was built the Sedg-
wick block, one of the finest business
| blocks in the state. The building OF
the Lawrence avenue church was pre-
eminentiy the work Of the ladies OF
the society; the corner stone was laid
en- Easter Sunday, 1879, and but one
man was present besides the minister
| ana he was a stranger.
GETTING A PASTOR.
| For sevral years before 1879 this
church had no rector, but had an oc-
casional visits from rectorS from other
points and on such occasions services
! were held. where a convenient and
| suitable place could be obtained, but
IL, the spring Of that year Rev. Joseph
Cotton was called and he remained with
1t about two years: he was succeeded
| by Rev j. S. Chamberlain in 1881, and
he remained with the church about
two years; after him Rev. Louis De
Lou was its rector for about one year.
after Mr. De Lou left the pulpit he
started an institution of learning in
wichita, but il was of short life. In 1884
Rev z. j. Edron of Batavia, n. Y, was
called and remained for two years, he
was mechanical genius and during
his ministrationa transept was added
10 the Lawrence avenue church and
large and expensive pipe or2n pur-
chased. These improvements made
large hole in the Sl3, 900 received from
the sale of the lots spoken of but made
the church quite attractive. Mr.. Ed
ron was succeeded by Rev. Charles J.
Adams. who remained three years, and
who was succeeded by Rev. i. W.
Rhamse. who was its rector until 1858.
Mir. Rhames was an earnest worker:
he reorganized the Guild and divided
Il into six chapters as follows: Parish
Aid, Missionary, Benevolent, Alter,
Sunday school and st. Andrews Bro
therhood, each having vice president,
secretary and treasurer, the rector be-
ing ex-officio president Of each. Rev
John F. Won Herlich is its present rec
tor and has been for the past two years.
In the year of 1887. when the city Of
Wichita was in the height of prosperi-
ty and Mr.. Adams was rector. he con-
ceiVed the idea that the church could
and ought to build new church edi-
flee that should surpass any in the
state in size and elegance, and to cost
about $4,000. His people became en-
Unused in the project and substantial
aid was promised by citizens outside of
the church. subscriptions were open
ed and enough was subscribed. with
what il was thought the Lawrence ave
nue. church and TectOry could be sold
10 build and complete the new church. !
]
and most approved style of architec-
ture. Plans and specifications were
prepared and lots purchased at the
corner of Topeka Venue and Third
street on which to erect the new edifice,
and the work was commenced and the
people of the parish were happy i'm the
thought that ere long they would have r
the finest house of worship in the state
and the citizens generally were elated
q he wi II L..
begun to rise, showing the form and
general outlines CT the building, and as
the walls became higher its symmetry (
and beauty of its architecture were I'M /
folded and disclosed to delighted eyes.
HARD TIMES CAME.
But before the walls were completed .
hard times came upon the country and .
especially upon the people of Kansas,
and those who had subscribed towards .
Inc building of the church were unable /
20 pay without Inconvenience and a
arge sum was borrowed to carry on the (
work and the Lawrence avenue church I.
and rectory mOrtgaged to secure its
payments; when the money borrowed
md all that could be collected on the
had been expended the
walls We're completed and temporary
'oof placed over them, and the work of
was suspended but in the
tpl'S u DtlIlS GeSuffleU IN a snort Ilfne- :
)ut the lookedfor better times never
,ome and the prospect of completing
he church from time to time seemed
more remote than ever, and to save the
property from destruction by the ele-
nentS G. A. Walker. one of the vestry-
nen, had the building covered with Il
late roof and boilers and pipes put in
,lace for heating and then all further
work was suspended. With debt
p-t N no I,rri1I Of 10
1900 and nearly as large sum on the
avenue church, the society
nd IT'S members poor, and the city I'M
IergOing the throeS of a disastrous
financial crisis, but little hope was en-
of being able to save the new
r the Lawrence avenue church and
he open and gaping windows of the
lew building were covered with white
muslin To hide somewhat the hollow
nockery of the situation, and again
he church society was in the midst of
gloom with scarcely a sim
lie ray of hope to cheer them. A fore
losure of the mortgage on the Law
ence avenue church and rectory was
minent. and talk of the new passing
nto other hands. and as it then looked
he society would soon be without
ouse of worship and so largely in
ebt as to almost preclude the hope of
Yer having one. the rector mad become
isheartened and the Pensioners with I
ut hope. but Succor came in the midst
f the gloom.
Won HERLICH'S AID.
In the spring of 1893 Providence d.
ected the steps Of Rev. John +. Won
ieTlich to Wichita in response to a
ossible call as rector; the parish was .
nable TO give him much encourage .
lent as its hopes were gone.s In a 7
areful business way. with faith in
he city and its people. he examined
he situation from every available ,
tandDoint and said to the people or 4
he parish that with their united aid .
@ could finish the church and reduce
he Indebtedness hanging over il TO an
mount that could be easily carried
{ a low rate Of interest and on long
inc The lamented Bishop Thomas [
bought the undertaking too great and .
cry much doubted his ability TO ac-
omplish the task. and advised some
Their means for the relief OF the I'M !
nTtunate situation: but Mr.. Won Her .
Oh had faith and told the vestry and 4
lemberS that with their support he I
'ould undertake and accomplish the
-ork. and on Easter Sunday Of that
ear he entered upon his duties as rec
II. With clear insight of the posi- I
ilities before him and the help he could !
Ia accomplish the work lac
sd undertaken. with q mastery exc
ItiVe ability h. mustered and organ
led his forces and set them 20 work Z
? do that for which they were most .
rcperly fitted but reserving to him I
III the greatest and most difficult part
nd in two years he had raised $1,000.
~T-E- oil % Nh f.sF1 vnf i b.