Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-04-25
ls7o..lsol.
Anniversary Of the Incorporation
of the Methodist Church in
Missouri Valley.

OF tne MetlOdlsC CnNrcN IN
Missouri Valley.
Occasion Commemorated by Ger
emonies To Be Long Re-
membered.
Yesterday was a red letter day in
the history of the Methodist Episcopal
church of Missouri Valley. All day
long the members of the various com
mittees were busy preparing for the
anniversary exercises which were to
celebrate the thirty-tirst year of the
church's Incorporation. Invitations
had been issued previously 80 that at
half past eight O'Clock the large audi
torium and the lecture room were filed
with q happy. expectsnt throng. The
altar was beautifully decorated with
what Lyman Abbott denominstes
Goods visible SMILES" q great profus.
ion Of blooming plants, and separating
the organ loft and chancel Was large
flag draped AS If to imply that true
church membership and loyal citizan-
ship must On hand in hand. AS the
exercises of the evening opened the
pastor. Rev. W. ]. Douglass. was &C.
companied in the pulpit nv Rev. Will.
helmson of the Danish Methodist Epis-
copal church and Rev MacAlister of
the PRESBYTERIAN church. and reverent-
Nv. jovouslv from hundreds of voices
rang the glad notes,
"tio cast your trophies AT His feet
And crown Him Lord of all"
to the grand old tune, Coronation
Rev. MacAlllSter then gave expression
to the feelings of Thanksgiving which
filled every heart present, and as he
prayed, down through the corr doris of
Time echoed whispers of the song of
triumph and praise when aged Miriam
led the people of God to declare Sing
ye to toe Lord for He is triumphant"
and Moses responded, Thou in thy
mercy hast led forth the people which
Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided
them in Thy strength unto the holy
habitatlop." The musical program of
the evening was treat IN itself and
every number gave great pleasure and
called forth unstinted applause The
Treble Clef won new laurels for itself
The selections of the soloists were ex-
ceedlngly happy and each singer
seemed at his or her best. Those VINO
favored the audience with solos were
Misses Roberts, Burbank and Mr. Almor
Middleton Mrs. Hills and Mrs Nc
Kay rendered Grabriel's 30 Father
Almighty" in very sympathetic and
delightful manner. Mr.. w, II. Brad
ley in short address gave interesting
points of the early history of this
church, and the birth of Methodism in
Missouri Valley circuit. Mr.. G. N.
Goodrich followed with the anecdotai
history and interested the audience as
lie related incidents both grave and
amusing which happened along the
pathway of the infant organization.
MIR. G. p. Brandriff, one of the charter
members of the church, spoke touch
ingly and feelingly of the self-denying
and self-effscing pastors who had min
istered to the people in the early days
of the church, and paid high tribute to
those pioneers of the organization who
had worked and sacrificed to erect the
first house Of worship. which, although
it had many incOnvenieDcies and crud-
titles, yet seemed the very gate of
heaven" tothose who worshipped with
in its wall. Mr. Branriff then named
those of that tried band who yet re.
main IN the church organization. Their
names are few, the most Of them have
entered into that city not made by
hands but whose maker and builder is
God. Mr.. F. NJ. Dance spoke of the
spirit of slackness which prevails
|among great part of the church mem
bership of whatever name or creed and
deplored the fact that the same prin.
ciples which ere applied to business
are not common in operating the
church finances. The average church
member pays his debt to the Lord after
all other obligations are cancelled.
Mrs. N. G. Creagor read very nne
paper upon the Epw0rth League. The
object OF this society she demonstrated
was ITO do the work nearest at hand
in the best possible manner.
AS the hour had grown late the pas
tor, Rev. w. l.. Douglass, did not de
liver the address he had prepared but
occupied the pulpit a few moments as
he briefly sketched the mission and
the triumphs OF that great branch
of the church militant which he rep.
resented. The purpose of the M. T..
church, said Mr.. Douglass, was to fight
the powers of darkness until Christ
shall reign triumphant The speaker
then limited at work which would be
undertaken by him in the immediate
future with view of relieving the
church entirely of debt. and with pro-
phetic voice promised that at the end
of this Conference year the M. f,
church of Missouri Valley should not
owe one single dollar to any individ-
ual. If the applause which followed
Mr. Douglass is criterion his audi
ence we're in perfect accord with his
sentiments. Fraternal and congratu-
latory addresses were then delivered
by Revs. MacAllister and Williamson.
Then came an hour of social inter-
course, hearty congratulations and q
feast of good things. While some had
sat at the Masters feet. portion of
the church who 80 cheerfully bear the
heat and the burden of the day had
prepared to satisfy the material man,
and coffee, waters, q great variety of
cake aud fruit was served by the
younger portion of the church, in the
lecture room. The evening was de
Illghtful one as the many happy faces
bore evidence, and tho good people of
this church have heard the command,
Go forward" and are united in one
soiiu phalanx to continue the work be-
gun thirty zone years ago. In 1870 the
Blair Town and Land Co. donated one
lot to the infant organization Pre-
vious to the building of the church the
NJ. E. people had worshipped in the
II 1l-Ho H. al,