Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-07
READS METHODIST HISTORY
Rev, Dawson Shows Seward Street Church
Its Baby Clothes,
OCCASION IS IT'S THIRD JUBILEE
Demonstration Commentaries the
Cancellation Of It's Debt Two
Years A~Eo-AII-Day Pro-
gram Given.

From out OF the darkness Of a web
netted vault, Rev. G. N. Dawson dragged
history that proved a principal feature Of
the program Of the third annual jubilee
OF the Seward Street Methodist church,
celebrated Sunday.
The jubilee commentaries the canceling
Of the last of the church's debt two years
ago, when a mortgage and other papers
representing an $4,000 obligation were
burned. This year the morning program
included, beside the abundant music,
prayer by David Bennett, scripture read
ing by Presiding Elder Jennings, roll cali
Of the former elders. trustees, charter
members, present members, former Sum
day school superintendents and Epworth
league presidents; addresses by DR.. Jen-
nings, Recording Steward Charles l..
Fritscher and the pastor, Rev. Dawson;
benediction by Rev. J. P. Roe. In the
afternoon s. w. Lindsay addressed the
Sunday school; Mrs. ]. B. Maxneld talked
to the Junior league and c. W. DeLamatre
installed officers for the Epworthians. At
night the pastor preached on Christian
Liberties"
History Is New TO Many,
Part Of the history that the pastor read
at the morning service was new informa-
tion to all save perhaps a dozen Of the
several hundred who were present. Taking
his data from the church records, he said
that the Seward Street Methodist Episcopal
church had its beginning in 1870 as the
Second Methodist church. 1t was organized
by some who had belonged to the First
church, and Of whom there are now left
in the membership Of the Seward Street
church Mrs. Matte DeBolt, Mrs. Mary
Hrz.- n-d A. o-d NJ Ua-n. GNa-aDa
Rev. G. W. DeLamatre was the pastor.
In 1874 several more from the First
church Joined these and the new organiza-
tion became the Eighteenth Street church
at the corner Of California, with DR.. T. B.
Lemon as pastor. OF the members of
this church there remain, beside the four
already named as having belonged to the
new regime, J. W. Arnold, Mrs. Emily
Arnold and J. W. Marston.
Present Church IL Presented.
In 1884 the second change Of name and
location transpired and the present Seward
street edihce at the corner of Twenty
second street was created, with fifty eight
members. In 1885 1t was dedicated. free
of debt. with Rev. Robert l.. Marsh as
pastor. D.. M. Haverly as superintendent
Of Sunday school, ]. NJ. Marston, George
y. 1OOQeTt D. o.. west anu AeudS OlSNeuh
as trustees. OF its charter members there
still remain, besides the seven already
mentioned, Mrs. Emily ]. Beatty, George
Holder. Mrs. George Holder, Jemima Hod-
der, Mrs. Edith Holder, r. W. Holder
e. G. Holder, Josiah w. Day, Mrs. Mar
garet Day, Mrs. Katie Hall and Mrs. e
c. Pratt.
When the Debt Was Created.
In 1887, under the pastorate Of Rev
Savidge, the church was enlarged to double
it's former capacity and 1t was at thai
time that there was contracted the deb
that was paid off two years age.
The progress OF the church Is shown
by the record OF the membership at the
time various pastors left 1t. In 1885. wher
Rev. Marsh retired, the members and pro-
bationers numbered 149; in 1888, Rev
Charles w. Savidge left 376; In 1889, Rev
w. M. Worley left 300; in 1892, Rev. H
A.. Crane left Ala; in 1894. Rev. d. X
Tindall left 454; in 1895, Rev. w. X. Beant
left 376; In 1896, Rev. H. A. Barton lef'
290; in 1898, Rev. ]. w. Robinson left 276
in 1900, Rev. A. c. Welch left 283.
Then DR.. G. N. Dawson came and h
confidently expects that when the presen'
year closes with the conference next DC.
tober the members and probationers will
number $50, or twenty-six more than evel
before.