The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-11
CHEERS IN CHURCH
Old Mortgage on the Central
Christian Church Burned.
AT SUNDAYS SERVICE
Members Break Into EnthuSi-
aStic Applause.

ing praise service, IS an occurrence WITH
out precedent. in Wichita al least. Blu
this happened last Sunday morning a, IN
Central Christian church IN this city, III
occasion being the burning Of the mort
sase upon the church property. There la
Dee ma heavy debt upon the shoulders O
Me members or this church ever since III,
aitia- steps IN erectlng the present OF
San4zatlon eighteen years ago, aad IN
'1rning OF the mortgage Trees the cnurc!
;!om any deot whatsoever
1t was red letter day at the church
time for Thanksgiving and praise on &C
count OF the church having al last freeC
Itself from deot The services, leo o.
the pastor, A E. DuoOer. consisted Of
prayer by the former pastor, w. Z. I'LL
ton' now Of Belolt, Kan. TWO beautifully
rendered anthems by the choir. hearty con-
gregauonal singing, and short addresse.
BY several present
The first speaer. Mr.. A. Dillon, had fol-
the eneral subject OF his remarks. WHY
Am Member OF the Chrigstian Church. -
de urged the Importance OF tang the word
Of God as an all sufficient authority Tor
there being church OF Christ. and ad-
nonished al Ito adhere still more closely to
His teachings and thus assist in bringing
about the union of all Gods people. for
which Christ prayed.
Judge a. A. Glenn, one of the oldest
members, and a chatter membe Of the
church, gave an interesting sketch OF the
Organization.
Judge Glenn told of the first attempt to
a1f1y Oh,
Brother Hughes" he said, came here al
hat time. and held very successful meet
ing. and gathered together forty members,
leaving here for other fields, with the
Church in a prosperous condition. Another
man came sometime after and attempted
10 hold a meeting, and in so doing dis
organized the work Brother Hughes had
gone. This mans name I do not remem-
Der, and do not care to. When 1 came here
b 1878 I found no church organization here.
/ made canvass and found perhaps a
half dozen members, some of whom were
willing TO undertake the organization of
church and soma of whom were not
IN October, 1879, 1 heard a notice read
IN one Of the other churches here, I don't
remember whether it was the Baptist or
members of the Christian church, if there
be any in the city, meet at the house of
a lady who had recently come to the city.
When the time came, was at the place
appoipted; the lady who had sent out the
notice, and at whose house we met, being
Mrs. Sallie Toler, an active. energetic
church worker. At that meeting there were
Some six or seven ladies"-the judge add
ing, with a twinkle in his eyes-"including
myself. CLaughter) We made a perma-
nent organization, and later purchased
these lots upon tax title fro $780, Some
time later il cost $500 more to obtain a
clear title from the original owner, who
had brought suit to recover the property"
Judge Glenn then closed by saying that
Of the ''old guard" he saw still : few of
them present today. Some OF those who
had worked with them had passed to their
reward. and only few years more and the
last Of them would be called like the others
10 receive their reward. wei done. thou
good and faithful servant; thou hast been
faithful over a few things; will make you
ruler over many. Enter thou into the joys
Of thy Lord"
DR.. Dubber then asked those present who
had been with the church as charter men,
bers since its organization and charter to
please stand. The following are those who
replied by standing: Mesdames NJ a.
Mills, ! c. Davis. L. Simpson, Julia Rich
ards; Messrs. f. w White and Brooks
1t may be stated here that the 5000 which
was necessary for the compromise upon
the title secured by this means from the
original owner formed the basis of the
debt just paid off.
The different speakers VIII chad been
with the church in its old days spoke very
highly of the Ladies' Aid society in its
work TO retain and redeem the church. and
all accorded them the honor of having been
the power which had made it possible 10
have a church.
most dramatic scene was the actual
burning oft he mortgage. OF some thou
sands OF dollars in past value. The paper
with its large red official seal. rested upon
the pulpit upon largo platter. DR.. Dub
Der. after few very appropriate words
called Mrs. NJ. a. Nils. present president
of the Ladies' Aid society. TO the rostrum
TO represent the society, and. lighting Z
match, handed il 10 Mrs. Mills, who
touched the paper upon both sides with il.
AT this moment, al a signal from the pas
tor the pianist touched the instrument.
ard, without signal Of any kind. the en-
tire audience arose as one man and sang
Praise God from Whom All Blessings /
Flow" The sheet Of paper which had
caused so much labor and heartache and |
trouble blazed up steadily while the hymn /
rang out far beyond the walls and far 1
above the roof which now were no more /
menaced by that sing,e piece OF paper. I
which. almost az the same moment with 1
the closing Of the song. lay In ashes or
hoated about in smoke. Raising the plat
ter. DR.. Dubber offered a fervent prayer OF 4