Smyrna times., 1899-05-10
METHODIST CHURCH TO BE IMPROVED.
Over $1,000 Raised Sunday for this Purpose
$1,000 Needed.-Dr. Hanna, of Will
minQtOu Present and Assists.

Sunday was an important day at the
Methodist Episcopal church. 1t was
the day designated by the Rev. DIR. j.
ID. G. Hanna, secretary of the Goth CEN
fury ''Thank Offering" for his visit to
Smyrna in that interest. He and a
committee appointed by the official
Board of the church, had a conference
the evening before in which it was
agreed that the Secretary should dis
| tribute collection cards in the interest
of the cause he specially represented,
viz, the Endowment Fund for the
Conference claimants and the pay
ment of the debts on the Conference
Academy, and that he be assured the
sum of 800, but the great effort of the
day was to be made to secure money to
provide for necessary improvements lie
the church.
The usual Introductory exercises of
organ voluntary, anthem by the choir,
and hymns Joined in by the congrega-
ton, when the pastor introduced Rev.
DIR. Hanna to preach the morning SER
mon. This he did without reference to
other than a clear gospel sermon. His
| text was from the Revelation of st.
John the Divine, part of the 18th verse
of the second chapter: ''tO him that
overcometh, will [ give to eat of the
hidden mama, and will give him a
white stone, and in the stone a new
name written, which no man knOweth,
saving he that received it.
His subject was: 1.-The Conflict of
| Life. and the Promise to the Victor. F"
| The sermon was strong IN theology
and biblical analysis, spiritual and
forceful in exposition and claimed the
close attention of his audience from
his warmth, earnestness, direct a1pli-
cation and ready flow of language.
| At the close of the sermOl a brief
| statement was made from the pulpit OF
the objects desired to be OBJ
tanned, the sum of $4,000, and col
lectors appointed to proceed at once.
They started with 800 propositions, to
which there were five responses, then
| fifties, twenty-fves, and on down to
any amount in the mind of the giver.
| This did not include new carpet for
the auditorium costing from $500 to
| 800, which the Mite Society claim the
privilege of giving and putting down
| themselves. The collections amounted
to the sum of 81, ,206, with several per
| sons absent, from whom clever sub
scriptions are expected. $1l5 of thi
was from members of the choir, though
it was not given as choir contribution
The subscription was satisfactory in
every way, and there is no doubt o
raising the full amount needed.
The chief feature in the imprOv
ments will be the heating of the churcl
by steam instead of hot air furnaces,
painting the woodwork and roof of tn
house, renewing the hitching sheds il
the yard, slate on the tower, read
iusting windows and whatever i
needed to put the church in complete
order as place of worship.
Pastor Hill noted as a historical fac
while the collection was being taken
that it was just 100 years yesterda
since the first deed of the Methods
church was given by Allen McLai
and wife to be built in this town, an
the collection for church improvement
given at this time was very apropOs.
At the evening service the pulpi
was filled by the pastor, Rev. c.. A
Hill. His discourse was one of tn
series addressed to woman, lucid an
able, the subject being "The foundG
tion of a new Home" Rev. Dr. Ham
being one of his auditors.