The Oskaloosa herald., 1899-10-12
BAMFORD'S LAST.
Pastor of Central M. E. Church
Delivers Farewell Sermon.

/ place., duu uHiS GlLuS llLiIO II ehO Odiy
reason for Mr. Bamford's leaving
Oskaloosa, as everybody, both in
and out of the church, would be glad
to have him stay longer.
The affairs of the church are in an
excellent condition. Less than S25
remained unpaid of the $4,000 ex-
penses of the church for the past
lyear. A voluntary collection was
called for and s2s was readily realized.
Mr.. Bamford in part said of his five
Iyears' work: Es--
| Central NJ. E. church was organ
lied in September, 1894, and resulted
from a union Of First and Simpson
M. E. churches, Oskaloosa. The
congregation worshiped in the Slmp-
son church until December, 1896,
when the new church was occupied.
When the church began its work
five years ago there were 563 full
members and 16 probationers. Since
then the full membership roll has had
23S additions on confession of faith,
229 by letter, and by re-enrollment'
There are now AZ probationers on the
list; Al have been dismissed by letter
and have died, making 55S addi-
tons to the membership during the
five years.
During the same period PIG mem
bers and probationers have been
dismissed by letter, 7 have with
drawn, and So have died. Deducting
this total of 261 from the number re-
ceived leaves 297, the net gain in
members for the five years. This
makes the present membership, in
Guiding practitioners, 85S, and the
third largest in the state of Iowa.
First church, Des Moines, has mem
bership of 100, and our church at
Marshalltown has about 900. The
| membership of every church, how
| ever, shows more members than can
| at once be found. Some live in other
| places, and some are not Jealous in
| the work. Our own membership,
like that of others, is thus qualified,
though our absent and inactive mem
bers are relatively few. The new
conference minutes will show our
members to be about 60 fewer than
the figures here given. Yet we have
been greatly blessed as a church,
and during the past five years have
had a net gain in membership of
about 60 per year.
You have also been liberal in Civ
ing. We have raised for current ex-'
penses during the five years, includ-
ing the support of pastor, presiding
elder, bishops, Sunday school, reviv-
al services an average of about S., 300
per year, making a total of SIG, 800
for the period named. During the
same time we have raised for the
various benevolent agencies of our
denomination an average of about
$500 per year, and a total of $500
for the five years. This makes $40,
600 for current expenses and benevo-
lence, an average of $4,000 per year.
am unable to state how much b; s
been paid in on the building fund OF
this church, but if we estimate this
at $50 900, which | think is easily
within the amount thus paid, we shall
have a total for all purposes for the
five years of $4,000, which, under
the circumstances, is a creditable
showing.
Among the givers to our building
fund none has been more constant or
more liberal than our Ladies' Aid
Society, and 1 am pleased to be able
TO give the figures of their work as
furnished me by their society treas
urer, Mrs. J. w. McMullen. This
society raised the first year Of the
five, S455. 81; the second year, 81 ,247.-
Sc; the third year, S547.26 the fourth
year, S511.42, and the fifth year,
1913. AS, making a total for the five
years of $500 %. Great credit is
due these good ladies, and they are
deeply appreciative of the help their
friends have rendered them in this
arduous work. Besides the money
thus raised this society has greatly
helped on the social and friendly life
of the entire church.
THE DEATHS in the membership
for the past five are as follows:
VIM M Patton Oct. %, 1884,
Jas F Roberts Dec 6, 1894.
Mary H McCarty Dec. ID, 1894.
Emily Wright Mar. 3, '95.
Rev G Fl Clark April Is, '95.
Benjamin Glaze April IS, '95.
TG Phillips July 4, '95.
Alice Conklin Jnly 10, '95.
Ruhanna Stevens July IL, 95.
Maud Paulley Dec. 2, '95.
Sarah J. Smith Jan. 9, '96.
M Alice Brewer Jan. 81, '96.
Mary E Wilson Mar. II, '96.
Hettie Lyon May IS, 'S6.
Marie Jewell Nov. 81. 1916.
JH Douglas Dec. "a, '96.
Catharine Glaze July II, 1917.
SH Foreman Aug. 6, 1917.
| Nancy ] Winchell Aug. "A, '97.
Frank Brown Sept. Ia, 1917.
Lizzie Swearingen Oct. 25, '97.
Marinda Weaver Dec. 9, 1917.
Daisy Evans Jan. II, 1913.
Elizabeth Benton Mar. 8, 1913.
Frances Hiveley Mar. Is, '9S.
Mary ] Soloman Mar. q, 1913.
Jessie Clements May 81, '9S.
Emma Alderman Aug. %, 1913.
Sarah A Boswell Sept. 8, 1913.
DIV Emmons Dec. Z, '9S.
Elizabeth Gretchen Dec. 20, 1913.
VIM Scott Mar. s, '99.
VIM E Green April 2s, '99.
James Jones May 2, '99.
| Lydia Cooper May 5, 1913.
| A pitung Tribute.
| At the union meeting held Sunday
| evening, the 1900 present, by a stand
ing vote endorsed with one mind the
following resolution offered by the
the Oskaloosa Ministerial Associa-
!. ton:
II WHEREAS, The Rev. M. Bamford,
who for five years has labored in
this community as pastor OF the
Methodist Episcopal church, endear.
ing himself to the community and
obligating the community TO himself
now in accordance with the rules o.
that church, leaves this place TO take
up work in another field, therefore
be it
Reso 'ped That we bear witness Il
his answering fidelity to the trutl
of God as he understands it; to hi
} ever vigilant watch for souls; to hi