The Press., 1897-01-07
Continued from last week. HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF sTAF FORD SPRINGS.
BY REV. J. I. BARTHOLOMEW.

BY REV. J. I. BARTHOLOMEW.
 At subsequent meeting a movement was started to move the church itself to the village. Finally, at a meeting held May 26th, 1862, both these projects were abandoned, and a committee of five-F A. Harwood, B. W. Patten, W. W. Ellis, Julips Converse and Robbins Patten- was appointed to move the conference house to lot, now the corner of High and West-Main streets; to enlarge the house, and to raise money to defray the expenses. All of this was done; but still the needs were not met. At a meeting of tie Ecclesiastical Society in November, 1869, the pastor presented statistical facts which proved that a large majority of church members and church attendants lived south and east of the house of wor- ship4then occupied; that Methodism was declining in the north and west parts of the town, while it was increasing in this vicinity and, further, that the increasing population at the Springs village demanded another church edifice *+ By vote we were requested to present these facts and figures to the congregation the following Sabbath. From that time new church edi- flee was contemplated, till in the following spring the society voted to build. Solva Converse gratuitously offered a lot; sub scriotions were secured, plans obtained, and proposals advertised for. Meanwhile, the price of materials and labor advanced at euch 8 rate that only one builder re- spollded, and his terms were not accepted; :; so the enterprise was deferred.
 At a quarterly conference held February 9th, 1865, the pressing demand for some thing by way of church accommodations at the Springs village was again presented by the pastor, and strongly urged by the presiding elder. A public meeting to con- sider the matter was appointed at the con- ference house the next evening As the same difficulties existed then that hinder cd building the year previous, it was thought advisable to circulate petition to the trustees for the removal of the old house to this village, to be occupied until circumstances were more favorable To this petition more than nine-tenths of the members of the church and Ecclesiastical Society gave their names. meeting was callsd to adopt the final meal .s for car rying out the undertaking, when a strong opposition arose from a few earnest friends ! of the church, on the grounds that new lhodse could be built. Though large mai1rity were weak in the faith, the meet 1 ing tadjourned to give this scheme an op- Eporlinity for development"
 i Ee the adjourned meeting two locations were offered for the new church, one by B. w Patten, and the other, lot owned 1 by Julius Converse. The subscriptions announced were much larger than had been anticipated, and it was voted to pro- proceed immediately to the erection of a new church edifice. The lot owned by Julius Converse was chosen with singular unaninimity and good feeling, and by a business arrangement between themselves was presented by Julius and Orrin Con- verse as equal donors. This lot included all the land now owned by the church.
 .'Solva Converse, Farley Converse, B. w. Patten, Julius Converse and F. A. Harwood were appointed building com, mittee, Captain T. D. Johnson was en- ployed as builder, and in about eight months completed the work with honor to himself and unusual satisfaction to the so. ciety. The entire cost, including furnish. ings, is about $20, ,000. January 23d, 1866 the house was appropriately dedicated to the service of God. Bishop Edmund s James, DID,, preached an impressive ser mon from Isaiah 6: Is. It is worthy o remark that the dedication of the latter house occurred in the same month and or the same day of the month. just 33 year. after the former"
 With the completion of the new churcl the work of the Ecclesiastical Societ, came to an end, and the society soon dis banded. Since then the property has beer held by trustees elected in harmony witl the laws of the church.
 In 1868 and '69, during the third year o the pastorate of Rev. W. T. Worth, a par sonage was built on land already ownet by the church. Funds for it's erection were borrowed by the trustees at pc cent interest, the interest to be raiset from the house rent. Parsonage and To were valued at $3,OOO. During the frs year of the pastorate of Rev. E. D. Towle 1s79-'sO, the debt on the parsonage wa paid. .. =.
 AS the church was organized in 1880 its semi-centennial occurred in 18SJ. Il order that this event might be worthil, observed the official board voted to rais money sufficient for the thorough 4renova tion of the audience room. The childrel of Farley and Solva Converse donated tn magnificent pipe organ; the room wa ceiled in ash and reseated with circula pews; gas was introduced; new carpets pew cushions, altar furniture and othe Improvements provided at total expens of $7 200, and all bills were promptly paid
 When the new church was built the con ference house was sold and rempved to tn H wk 0R Akxr ~~sII l.. .tC,