The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-23

and Recall Many Instances Which have
the First and Saw the Buffalo, Indian,
Coyote and Other Frontier Blessings-
Address of Welcome and Responses
Made-Great Success.
Yesterday was the first real Gay OF
the beginning Of the Quarterly Centen-
NAL of Methodisrn in Wichita. True it
was that on the previous evening was
given the fine organ recital by Professor
Edward F. Kreiser, but The reunion be-
! gan in proper with the meeting in theaf-
ternoon of the fiftieth anniversary Of
the Woman's Foreign Missionary so
ciety, Mrs. II. Imboden presiding.
Letters were read from Mrs c. A
King OF Louisiana, Mrs. Parshal of
New Mexico, Mrs. J. C. Rutan, Mrs
F,raker of Arkansas, Mrs. Armstrong
of walla walla, Mrs. Pollock of Ore
gon, Mrs. ABBOTT of Texas, Mrs. Gray
Of Winfield, Mrs. Abbott of Chicago,
airs. J. E. Caldwell of Wichita
Mrs H. L Taylor, historian OF the So
ciety, read a concise history of the or
ganization from its first meeting to the
last. She showed clearly the great work
that had been accomplished, and every
member was strengthened by hearing
this report They were ready to ex-
claim '1 did not think the good &C
compIished had been so great"
Mrs Rutan read the memorial page
and paid high and glowing tribute TO
the memory of those who had gone be
fore 10 their reward
Mrs j E Caldwell sang a bea utiful
and touching solo in fun accord with
the work of the society.
Mrs Pruen then delivered the address,
and probably 1t would have been very
hard for the society to find one who
was more capable Of delivering the ad
dress than this sister. Her husband
was born upon the foreign missionary
field His father had lain down his life
while carrying the gospel to the heath
ems, and while no tombstone marks his
last resting place, yet his works are iv-
Ing after him, and ne has three sons in
the Methodist Tninistry-two in the mis-
sionary work, and one the pastor OF the
Dodge Avenue NJ. E. church, who was
forced to give up the missionary work
on account of his health Mrs. PTuen
has many relatives in the work, and
was able to throw much light upon the
result of the seed sown by such socie-
ties as this in This country Her heart
and soul are enlisted in the grand work
and her address was closely listened to
by all. Mrs. Pruen had spent many
years in China and being lady who
had closely observed the work done, its
results and then having spent some
time In the church work here she was
able, probably, to bring the subject
-
fresh from the foreign field. She was
in touch with both sides and was the
happy medium that did good to all who
heard her address. There was only one
regret, and that was that every lady
who is interested in this kind of work
did not hear the address.
EVENING MEETING.
W. b. Smith was chosen to preside
over the meeting and as he stood before
the audience and beseached Divine
blessing all felt that his selection was
an appropriate one. What early Meth
odism in Wichita would be without
Deacon Smith, as he is Familiarity call
ed, would be like having a well regulat-
ed household without a baby II might
rain, it might snow, be hot or blOw cold,
but Deacon Smith was certain 10 be
there. He has been the wheelhorse, and
the Methodist car could never stand still
when the Deacon threw his weight upon
the spokes OF the gospel cart something
had TO move.
1t was a peculiarly interesting even
ing and many facts were brought out
which the most careful historian has
forgotten TO pen and those VINO were in
attendance gathered many new facts.
Hon. W. E Stanley delivered the adj
dress Of welcome in which he recalled
the great work performed by each OF the
pastors and declared that the hand of
God could be seen, as each pastor had
peculiar qualifications. He followed the
steps of each and drew a graphic pict-
IRE. as only Mr.. Stanley can do.
]. P. Allen then gave an account of
early MethodisIn as follows:
Last Monday, Mr.. Colt informed me
ne intended calling on me for some re-
miniscences Of early times in Wichita.
i asked him not TO do so, urging as one
of the reasons that he had not given me
time enough. 1 said 10 him: If you
were going TO make a speech you would
want some time to prepare for it He
said: 'Pshaw! I could get up any time
and tell about my work here I said:
Yes, Of course, you can. Your work eX-
tends over period of three years, while
mine extends over a period of more
than twenty. Besides, there are three
things a preacher is supposed 10 always
be prepared for. He is to make a speech,
another is TO take up a collection. and
the other is to die. / am afraid / am lily
prepared fo- any one Of these unless 1t
should be taking up a collection. l sup
pose If was right hard up 1 might DO
that
After the lapse Of twenty-six years It
IS pretty hard 10 go back over events
which have occurred and give them in
detail. There are, however, some things
which occur TO every individual which
he never forgets.
Perhaps it would not be uninterest-
ing to You TO know who preached the
first sermon in Wichita, the text from
which he preached, and some of the cir
cumstances attending that first meet
ing In 1869 there were but few settlers
in either Wichita or this entire valley. |
Owing 10 the threatening attitude of
the Indians the government sent a |
company or soldiers here to protect the |
people. The surgeon accompanying the !
soldiers was DR.. Umstetler There was
at that time a man living here by the /
name of Henry Nigus who was a Decu-
liar character. and yet with all his l
rough uncouth ways he was universal |
ly liked by all who knew him.
7 suppose you wonder what this has 4
to do with the first sermon preached |