Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-12-29
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 20, 1893
Annual Roll Call.

Last night the first Baptist Church
Of this city held it's annual roll call.
The church room was filed with mem
bers Of the church and invited guests.
As the roll was called those present
answered or responded for absent
ones. The roll showed a membership
Of ITO, and tho roll call brought out
the fact that Of this number many
were absent, one in foreign lands,
others scattered throughout the union.
When Dsvie McKsy's name was call
ed q short memorial service was had.
The roll interspersed with congrega-
tional singing and solos by Don
Orookham and Lula Hahnenkratt.
A short history OF the church prepar
ed by Mrs Hahnenkrstt was read and
as it was 80 interesting we give it
below:
1.-THE first Baptist church OF Phil
lipsburg, Kansas, was organized in
the winter OF 1873, with Blk brothers
and five sisters, on February 16,
Elder Hitchcock preached the first
sermon ever delivered IN Phillipsburg
usiUR these words as his text:
HE that doeth my word and be.
lieveth on him that sent me, hath
ever lasting life, and shall not pass
into. condemnation, but has passed
from death into life" Bro Hitchcock
continued preaching with success un.
till October 20, at which time he re-.
signed and moved to Fremont, Nebr.
The latter part of 1875, Elder N. b.
Holman moved to Klrwin and was
called to preach one half the time.
The church now bang stronger Ivy
the faithful work of three years, be-
gan the erection of house Of warship
1--WE we're at this time holding services
IN the school housp) the SIZE of the
new building was 3Ox40, most of tho
material being native and donated
by members and citizens, the logs
being hauled and sawed at the mill
just west of town, known as the Close
mill, the stone was taken from the
quarries northwest of town and placed
on the ground by donations. Other
brethren donating and loading their
wagons with wheat hauled 1t to
Kearuey, Nebraska, and from the sale
Of this returned loaded with shingles
doors, windows, etc. AT this time
Elder Homan: presented the church
500, and on July 20 1876, the first
church festival ever held IN Phillips
burg was given to assist IN this church
building, $64.31 were cleared, and on
November Is services were held in the
new building, In the year 1881, after
many crop failures, many members
went 10 other states, fifteen leaving,
Bro. Holman went to Indian territory |
after five years Of noble sacrificing. |
~ Soon a greater Encouragement |
came upon ne, as our house costing |
over 81, 800 was destroyed by a wind |
storm, we saved only SOS. from the
wreckage, we struggled on and in
1885 Elder Holman returned and CON
tlnued as pastor for two years. About
this time II members called for let
ters and organized a church on Big
Greek On August 4, 1883, Rev. W.
A. Simons was called, and preached
for US for nearly two years, going to
West Virginia leaving the church
building, In which we meet today,
well under construction. After the re-
movsl Of Rev Simons the member
ship continue to make heroic struggle
of sacrifice and self denial that the
house began might be completed.
WEIGH was done and on July 27, 1890
this church was dedicated. Surely
God has been very gracious to us.
At the close of the roll call, tables
loaded down with good things were
turned over to the company and on
hour or two of social entertainment
was INDUCED in. The church today
is prospecting, and under the leader
ship of Rev. Mr.. Gushee, looks for
ward with pPaat honos NJ tho f,tr.o