The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-04


There was IN incendiary are yesterday
afternoon In the Madison street Methods,
Episcopal church. the leader In the act
being the pastor Of the church. aided and
sbetted BY his congregation and all the
Methodist pastors In Seattle. The occa.
sion and nature Of the deed were the con-
signing TO the flames Of the mortgage
upon the church property, which has Just
been paid on and the church thereby de-
livered. a. one Of the preachers expressed
II. from the burden Of bondage.
For number OF years past the church
has been greatly embarrassed by q debt
amounting. two years ago, TO about ~ 90.
II hung like . heavy cloud upon the
minds ana hearts Of the congregation and
pastors. and Il seemed at ono time that
the mortgages would claim their appar.
emily helpiesa victim. Presiding elders
and church people thought that redemp-
ton was hopeless. but q new spirit and
. livelier hope was finally engendered.
Through the constant energy Of Row. A.
8. Gregg. who has been the pastor during
the past year and "A half. aided by tho
newly aroused enthusiasm Of the conKrc-
CATION. and assisted by Methodists
throughout the city, the debt has been
paid and the churchaifted 20 q new career
Of usefulness.
years ago one was paid and burned year
ago. on which was due t2.70o. OF this
amount $2.2o0 was donated by John n.
Carr, the owner OF the claim. 20 that the
church had only TO raise $500 The other
mortgage for u 800 has just been paid on
and was burned yesterday In the church.
In speaking Of how the debt was paid.
during the service yesterday, Mr.. Gregg
returned the thanks Of the church 70 Mr..
Carr. 10 tho board Of church extensions
for Q donation OF 800. TO DR.. Rufus Will
lard for land. the sale Of which netted
$50, 70 the Methodist pastors and
churches for encouragement and help. 10
Bishop Earl Crnnaton for two services
AZ which was raised 900. 20 Dr.. Wilmot
| Whitfield. the presiding elder for plans
and extra sesvices. TO the members OF
the mother society. the First Methodist
| church. OF Seattle. who, In addition "a
| Dr. Wiiiarde gift. contributed N7s. and
TO the newspapers for numerous notices.
Services ~ the Chsrch.
The services At the church yesterday AT
ternoon began with an opening hymn fol-
lowed BY prayer ty Rev. :: NJ penison:
Psalm XVII by Rev. W. II. Sell
isck. Of 0rsce church. amer which
va sung GLORIA Patri" Short
addrssscs were then made ~ several OF
the paetors OF the city upoH the Value
q . church e !. ccm sns n ssv,c f.
was 10 have spoken o. the financial a..
pect Of tho subject but "a: Obliged TO A.
Of Trinity N. r. church. discussed the 40.
ciai aide Of the question. eiucidatine tho
proposition that since man was not Great
Cd 10 live alone and must have society.
the church, through ita services. its socte-
~: ana san s s.pny 'e ccm Sass SHom
oe Rsy " NH y. selleck. Of or.c. church.
spoke % how the intellectual! character
and dev.lopmsns wa ne,psn , ny inc
and the inspiration 90 do better things
The discussion ended with an address BY
Rev. IT, y. Brown. Of Battery street
church. who spoke of tho moral value OF
tho church, dwelling upon tho fact that.
while the church In distinct advantage
/ TO society because Of It's financial, social
| and intellectual help. It's great work II in
the establishing Of moral conditions and
a spiritual growth which brings men out
OF the animal life into cleaner and bot.
ter atmosphere.
After vocal solo by Geors: ~ morris
| tho pastor OF the church. Row. A., =.
Cregg, told the story 81 how the debt
was paid" describing some 81 tho disn-
/ cuIt,es IN tho way. how they were over.
and how a. , 1sd eS iron, 70 .y n"S Sna
ing friends. the congregation was takin.
part In the happy celebration of tho day.
A Example for ChsSches.
An anthem was then sung BY the choir.
and Rev. A. Atwood. formerly presiding
| elder Of the district. spoke upon The rn-
| surc Of Madison street Church" Mr.,
| Atwood told 81 how he came 10 Seattle
| and spent his fret Sunday here twenty
| Ave wears ago yesterday In q little church
49, A.. TSnt. NJ 10
| street and Second avenue. and about the
| great growth Of the churches since that
| time. when. he said. II took two DAYS and
| nights 20 come from Tacoma IN Seattle
Maid a compliment 90 tho Madison street
church. ersditing ~ wish the record ~
| being the first Methodist church OF Seat
| tic 20 pay rs whole indebtedness. citing
| II AZ an example for other congregations
| and predicting for n growing neid %
| usefulness
After q soto by Miss Mayme Y. cevfns.
ton came the interesting ceremony ot
| was produced. upon which was placed
| large tray. The pastor then called the
| trustees 90 the church % come forward
| table, a. follows. M.ssra " n slough.
| ton. william Jones, ". g nis,s. A. ".
| Lewis and r.. q, stewart The pastor
then tor. the mortgage into strips. retain.
| ing one himself ana giving ons each 10
| the trustees Then setting IRE 90 h's own
strip ne placed ~ upon the tray and the
1 trustees IN turn placed theirs upon tho
! burnin. pile, A. the paper cracked amid
tho SMOKE and name tho choir ana the
| congregation united IN singing the old
| long meter dexolosy, Praise dod. from
| whom all hi~ssings fow." With a sririt
| and sest that bespoke their thankful
/ hearts
| Rev pr wiinaet whitn.id. presiding
| elder ~ the Seattle district, then male
| some closing remarks during which he
Il Ha1 a. 30 al ri -
| pastor % the church and ~ the eansre.
| CATION lie concluded by suggesting sn
| behalf 80 tho stewards 90 she church
| that ~ would he a graceful at 20 make
/ M a special fund for the pastor 90 sssb In
| appreciation ~ Mis- services and 10 llgui.
/ ---.--.----------~-.-.--.-.---