The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-06-11
OLD CHURCH MOVED
Continued From Fifth Page.

the dedication. which TOOK place on -Aafcn
4 at .. m, 1873 These men were Rev.
Collin and X. ". Camp.
One Of the documents taken out Of the
tin box recited the history Of the church
in Wichita The original stockade church
was described. but 1t seems that before
it was built ]. P. Hilton, a lay reader.
was IN the habit Of conducting services
in an upstairs room in a log hotel built by
Mr.. Munger This was early in 1870. In
the summer Of the same year the stock
ade church was built and the historian
OF that edifice relates that services were
held in it every Sunday. the weather
permitting" This important quotation
referred TO the fact that during rainy
weather the roof leaked so bad that wor-
ship was impossible.
on September 8. 1913, Bishop Vail visited
the stockade church and 100 persons at
tended services that day, it being a not
able event. Many Of them came in from
the country, word having been sent out
in every direction that Bishop Vail was
coming.
was at this meeting that William
Grifanstein donated some lots for a
church and later J. P. Meade donated
100 feet on the corner Of Emporia and
Second street Both places Of property
Second street Both pieces Of property
afterwards we're sold for the taxes, al
though they are valuable pieces Of prop
erty today.
For some reason the church did not
prosper. and in 1915 DR.. Beatty. still iiv-
ing and well known, began holding
monthly services.
In 1875 Bishop Vail made another visit
and held services in Eagle Hall. One
child was baptized, a lady was confirmed
and thirty persons took holy communion.
Previous TO this time some five or six
months, St Johns parish was incorpor-
ated, with John P. Hilton senior war
den; George Harris. junior warden; J. II.
Black. n. C. Ramers, A Schoefeld and
c. A. Valdez. vestrymen.
In December, 1877, the present Sunday
school was organized with Judge Hill SUI
perintendent; E. 8. McGill. treasurer; H
A Bliss, secretary, and Sam Hellar, Ii
brarian.
In 1871 the Ladies ParishAid society
was organized in the parlor Of Mr.. Mar
tin Heners residence. and the paper taken
out of the tin box yesterday said: 1T
rendered most important aid in the de-
velopmept of the church"
In May. 1877. Rev. J. S. Cotton took
charge Of the parish.
In February, 1873, it was decided to build
new church and Martin Hellar was
awarded the contract for the foundation
for s12o. c. ". Fisk was given the con-
tract for woodwork for s1,144
Previous to the dedication Of the church
a choir was organized. II. A. Bliss was
appointed organist- The others were 2.
S. AIcGil, Jesse A Ash, Grace and Jessie
Hin and Miss May Willard.
An interesting story was told OF the
discovery Of Mr.. Bliss. the organist.
Somebody told Mrs. Hellar one day that
several years before the congregation
owned an organ and that il she hunted
for II diligently she might md it. After
a long search the musical instrument was
found in an old barn with about one-third
Of the reeds gone. 1t was learned that
Mr.. Bliss, who was then, as he is now,
dry goods clerk. knew all about organs.
and Mrs. Hellar Invoked his assistance.
A big event OF some kind was coming
of and there was no time to secure reeds.
Mr.. Bliss didn't think the choir knew
much about music anyway, and he told
Mrs. HeIlar that he could skip over the
missing reeds. The day OF the big func-
ton came and Mr.. Bliss made that organ
almost talk. The choir and the congrega-
ton didn't know anything about the
missing reeds and from that day TIL this
pioneer church members say It was the
best music ever heard.
The day Of the dedication Mr.. Bliss was
too busy selling dry goods to preside at
the organ. but the women managed to get
some music out OF it and on the whole
they launched the new church IN fine
shape.
It's members on that date were c. A.
Waller. z. S. McGm, W. W. Camp. J. D.
Ash, Mrs Martin Heilar. Harry Davis
Mrs Charles Hatton, ]. s. Cotton. c. n.
Fish, Mrs. Richard Cogden. :. G. smythe
Lou Rogers. Mrs. s. G. Munger. Bfr
and Mrs. Bnibv, Mrs. Fuller. Mrs. Reitz
Mrs Harrington, Mrs. White. Mrs. Black,
Mrs. H. y. Cole. Mrs. George Knorr. Miss
Issia Brandt. Flora Hellar. Lo1ie Tarl-
ton. Miss Markham. Miss Jessie Hin
Miss Cherry. Miss Wilson, Mrs. Louise (
Henderson. Mrs. John Derby Mrs. c. z.
Adams. Mrs. John Berry. Mrs Conway.
Mr.. and Mrs. Meigs. MI and Mrs. Bond.
Mr.. ana Mrs. Henry F. Evans Mrs. F.
~ rrnA Lile. Ms fspEElS anu III 1cA- /
rington.
The Sunday school had eighty pupils IN [
ten classes and the corps OF teachers con
sisted Of z. s McGin. II. a. Bliss. Mrs.
Martin HeIlar. Mrs. II. ". Cole. Mrs I
J. u. Black. Mrs. George Knorr. Mrs. I,
Fisk. ST: Miss Brandt and Miss Flora /
HeUar.
Mrs. Martin Hellar, IN her zeal FOR the 4
success OF the church. tried 70 convert 4
her husband. who raised a Baptist. and /
succeeded so far that at one time he &C 4
tually was a Sunday school teacher. He I
got along finely untn one DAY an inauisi- (
tive pupil asked him 70 explain the Epis- I
copal doctrine Ct the trinity. sfr. Hell 4
lar got his Baptist religion and his Epis- /
co1aI religion woefully mixed in trying 70 4
answer the question. He fen down. OF 4
course. and from that day TIL this ne 4
hasn't done much Sunday school teach +
ing.
The old church was sold 70 che Christian (
Scientists ans is being moved 70 another
location whitney Tucker promised 70 4
save the contents Of the cornerstone fer /
Mrs. Heuar. and yesterday morning az
ter taking Il cut gave il 70 ~. Heiia-
There was NJ money q Any kind II TIE
tin box Ms. Hellar VII probably give
The relies 10 the new ST Johns church
COMING LOCAL EVENTS