The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-01
hsopenlnp Of the M. e. Church.

N0UpcNsHD VI SitS ns "a NHuI Sus
In the history Of every cause aid life |
Eof every community there are great
|days. There are. times when their nut
ual interests become 80 important a fac.
4 tor for the social and moral well.being
of people, that they become the most
prominent things for consideration and
when they tale precedence of every
other interest. Often these are destiny
making periods when "The Turn Of
Tide" takes ll,,ce. Other days may
lead up to this day, but this is the great
day which to large degree shapes the
destiny Of the .ature by opening or clos
ling doors.
Such day VAS experienced at the re-
opening and OBLIGATORY services of the
beautiful and { mmodious NJ. Z. church
of Kellerton, Inch took place on Satur-
day and Sunday Oct. 20 and 81, and
which were "red letter days. in the his.
tory of this city. On Saturday after
noon the business session of the first
quarterly meeting WAS hell. In the
evening at the reopening services, the
Rev. w. B. Thompson, the presiding
elder Of the district, preached an APP
propriate and interesting sermon to a
large and appreciative congregation.
After the services the Rev. Joseph
Stephen, pastor Of the M. E. church at
Leon, who had charge of the finances,
met the trustees and friends and placed
before them the liabilities growing out
of the enterprise and made suggestions
| and laid before them plans of the COM
ing day.
II OnSunday morning the natural ele.
ments seemed to be gloomy and threat
ening and as it afterward proved the
weather was in no wise indicative of the
spirit and disposition of the people.
For several weeks prior to these SER
vices there were many heavy hearts and
anxious forebodings. No one had the
faintest idea as to what the outcome of
the days undertaking would be. But
whilst human vision was short sighted,
the higher powers had determined that
the efforts of the people should be
crowned with glorious victory. At
the time for the public service the
house was filled with sympathetic
and liberal hearted people.
Rev. Stephen had charge of the dedi-
catory services and teok for his text,
Mark 14:3, the subject being "Mary's
Conservation of the Box Of Ointment"
i Whether the preacher was at his best
or not in this effort we do not know,
but he delivered powerful discourse
: and made mastery effort, and We be-
! lieve it to be the universal conviction
of the people that this discourse had q
! great deal to do with the days success
and was the forerunner of victory.
II After the sermon Rev. Stephen pre-,
= sented short statement of the actual
: cost of the building and improvements
!. which amounted to about $1,000. The
!. liabilities standing against the trust
Il estate and the amount to be raised wat
o about $3.50. After some pleasantly anG
timely illustrations, subscriptions were
= called for to meet these obligations
J. To the great surprise Of the people, 81,
q of the leading citizens obligated to Civ
an additional $40 to their previous sub
70 scriptions. This fact created surprise
:, and enthusiasm and became grea
:, inspiration to giving, and such was til,
universal and unparalleled enthusiasm
in the spirit of liberality that by twt
- o elock the people had subscribed 1892
10 In the evening the subscription list wa
ls opened again by the request of SOM
y persons who were not present at tn
= morning service, when 500 was sub
scribed, making grand total of 1861
Of And it is verify believed that this vii
H. !; be su pplemented until $1,000 will b
M raised. This Is the most remarkable
u wave of benevolence which has swep
ns lover the neighborhood.
D. Rev. Stephen is worthy Of specia
a praise for the mastery way in which h
n. managed the finances and for his wis
70 council and judicious management o.
y this occasion.
:. 1t is due to the Rev. Charles Knoll t
say that the success of this enterpris
isin large degree owing to his patien
plodding and untiring zeal. He seem
ar to have been possessed in an eminen
ne degree with "the final perseverance o
N the saints He has succeeded an,
RI triumphed over difficulties where other
lc- would have been discouraged and d.
No