The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-01-10
A BUSY YEAR.
Stone Chapel Congregation Re-
view for 1900.


At the Stone Chapel last Thursday
evening the deacons and deaconesses
waited on the congregation, serving
them with coffee and cakes in the
Sunday school assembly room. This
time of sociability and r~efreshment
followed directly after the annual
meeting of the congregation. The
meeting itself was for the purpose of
listening to reports of the pastyear's
work done by the various depart
ments of the church.
All OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES that 1900
had been a prosperous year to this
people. Interest and activity we're
everywhere apparent. Everything
pointed to the continuation of ag-
gressive work, which fact is the true
test of genuine vitality.
The first department report was
from the Sunday school. Here vigor
and growth were plainly manifest.
The total attendance for the year had
been II, 76l, making an average of
231 for each Sunday. The general
offering amounted to 1920. 0S, or s4.4O
for each Lords day. In addition to
this s2O5. 06 Were collected for special
purposes, such as improvements in
the gallery, carpet for the church,
missionary purposes and orchestra
supplies.
The Christian Endeaver societies
had their turn next. The Seniors
had been active in distributing good
reading and in sending out flowers
to the sick. They had been leaders
at the Sunday afternoon jail meet
ings seven times, had put pictures
on the Jail walls, had written special
letters to the inmates at the Ana
mosa penitentiary; they had aided in
care of the sick, in local mission
work, including q mission Sunday
school. In order to do these and
other things has required probably
S125, all OF which had to be secured
The number of EndeavOr prayer
meetings was 40. The present active
membership is 80.
The Juniors did much work of the
kind done by the Seniors. The active
membership is "a with an associate
membership of 80.
The women of the church are es-
pecially active. The Ladies Aid So
ciety has been W looking after the
local needs of the church. They re-
ported having handled S6O5 during
the past year. To them belongs the
chief credit for securing the new
church carpet.
The Christian Women's Board of
Missions devotes it's attention to
missionary affairs. They have been
active during the past year and serve
notice that the coming year shall be
one of additional activity.
The amount devoted to missions
was s277 as compared to S34 the year
before, a gain of more than 700 per
cent. These amounts do not include
individual payments made directly
to the missionary societies by mem
bers.
The financial condition of the con-
gregation has not been better in
years. The general treasurer report
ed having collected s2,4S7. 65. If to
this be added those reported by the
other departments a grand total of
more than SO, $50 will be had. These
figures speak we'll for the business
integrity of the church.
The pastoral work is good index of
general conditions. The pastor made
6SS calls, the pastoral committee 275.
If to these, uncIassifed calls be ad-
ded, there will be a showing of more
than 1000 calls upon the members of
the congregation. This covers only
ten months of time-the period of
the present pastorate. During this
time the pastor preached to the con-
gregation II times, IL times at funer-
ais and 8 times on other occasions.
At the close of the general meeting
a plea was made that the church
should plan that it's building always
be open to its members as a retreat
for rest, reading and recreation.