Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-04-02
tx JUBILEE" MEETING.
The Congregationalists Cele-
brate Their Release From a
Burdensome Debt.

The entertainment at the COngre
gational church Tuesday evening
was much enjoyed ny the large audi
ence present. The various numbers
on the program, which has been pub
lished. were exceedingly we'll rem
dered, and number Of encOres.
which were responded t.. w.re equal
~ pleasing. The occasion was really
Jubilee" season for the members
and friends Of the church. being a
celebra ton Of tile improved financial
condition Of the society by the rails
ing If the entire floating debt of the
church. For two or ,uOre years the
church has been pressed financially,
struggling under an interest bearing
mortgage aud a large floating debt,
which had heen contracted during
the prevailing hard times. During
the last year III the pastOrateot Rev.
W Moore. with his active assist
ance, u system q tic effort had been sue
cessfully made to reduce the floating
ebtedness. but it was still a heavy
burden. After Mr.. MoOre's resigna-
ton, MIR. Malcolm Dana, Of Carleton
college, was called to spend his sum-
mer vacation as acting pastor. and
for his work while here the church
owes t. him 4 lasting debt Of graft
tude. Through his efforts and infiu.
ence tho Congregational Building
society agreed to assume the mort
gage Indebtedness of the church,
without interest, providing the entire
floating debt of the church was first
cleared up. This seemed almost an
impossibllity at the time, but by
heroic work j. has been done. In
January last Rev. F. A. Sumner was
called to the passionate Of the church
and began his work here the first Of
the following month. and he has
ably seconded the work of the trus-
tees in completing the final arrange
ments.
After the program had been COM
pleted, Mr.. Sumner. III a brief
address, spoke Of the present
financial condition Of the church and
announced that the floating debt
had been raised, as Stipulated by the
Building society, and that the check
of this society for the amount OF the
mortgage is now in u Little Falls
bank, at the disposalO of the trustees.
awaiting the necessary proceedings
for the payment. of the mortgage.
which will he done in s. few days.
The loan from this society will BIZ
paid in annual inst h llments, without
interest, and as the fOat ting debt IL
provided for, tie society is practical
ly free from debt. He also said that
the trustees intend to pay all the ex-
penses of the church mol thly, and it
is desired that all tie pledges be paid
promptly and regularly in order
that they may easily do so. Mr..
Sumner spoke of the valuable work
of the trustees, and the united sup
port given them by the church, and
congra uluted the church upon hav-
ing reached the end of their financial
trial. the present neutrality-suspicious.
and the hopeful outlook for the
future.
The church il not only encouraged
bv the lifting of the financial burden
but in having, in Mr.. Sumner. a pas
tor whom all most sincerely respect
AMI love and to whom they will
gladly give loyal support in his
work for and among both them and
the community.
The closing number ON the pro-
gram was song especially composed
for the occasion by Mr.. and Mrs.
Isaac E. Staples, and sung by them.
1t appropriately voices the feelings Of
the church as well. 1t il as follows:
JUBILEE SONG"
fAIR--"PILoT BRAVE
The old church debt has passed us by
Is given into friendly hands.
That debt which cost Us many sigh,
And nearly sunk US in quicksands.
When MOORE had gone. hope disappeared
md all seemed lost In dark dispair.
Then DANA came, our hearts were cheered;
He brought the answer to our prayer.
O Father, care! To Us give care.
He came directed by Gods love,
Gods love, from above.
From above. Gods love.
The LADIES CLUB. that never fails
To crown our Efforts with success
Must forward press! The goais near woB..
We all are by their efforts blest.
The FAITHFUL FRIENDS outside the fold,
Join hands with MEMBERS staunch and true,
Inspired by SUMNER, who IL bold
In .sfaith and works." to e'er we'll do.
10 ia