Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-31

| INoVemDefelf, 1853 The cost of the
4 building was $4,000 OF this amount
/ society; the communion table was pre-
scented by Mrs. George A. Brown, and
the baptismal font by Mrs. w. B.
Armstrong. During the pastorate of
DR.. H1nitt pipe organ was placed
In the church at a cost of $4,000. One
half of this amount was furnished by
the Ladies' society. In the month of
June. 1901, the parsonage situated at
the corner of Market and Cara streets
was purchased at the cost of $4,-
800.
The Church Membership.
ION May 8, 1883, one hundred and
1--WE members We're dismissed from
| this church to enter the organization
of the East End church, and on De-
cember 2. 1895, eighteen members were
dismissed to enter the organization of
the West End church The present
| membership of the church is 500; the
sabbath school has a membership of
BIG; the Ladies' Missionary society,
the Ladies' Aid society, the Young
Peoples society of Christian Endeavor
and the Junior society are all thor
oughly organized and earnestly en-
gagged in performing their part in the
work of the church.
Missionaries Sent Out.
"The little church thus planted in
prayer and faith with the blessing of
God has grown and spread out her
branches to the east and west ends
of prosperous city, and has not been
entirely wanting in missionary effort.
-Four of her members have gone as
missionaries to foreign lands, namely:
Rev Allen Mccullough to Africa, Mrs.
Rose Moore, daughter of DR.. Ely, our
former pastor, to Corea; Miss Anna
Foster, daughter of our former elder.
q. d. Foster, to Japan; and Miss Mary
McElroy, daughter of DIR. McElroy, our
first pastor, to India. DR.. "A. G. Will
son, a former member of this church,
is now professor in the Omaha Theo-
logical seminary and two of his sons
are missionaries in western India.
Rev. Edgar M. Wilson and A. S. Will
son, M. D., a medical missionary, Rev.
]. C. Wilson and wife labored as mis-
sionaries in Chilli South America, for
a period of eight years. Mrs. Wilson
is daughter of Newton Holloway a
former member of this church and she
was baptized in infancy by DR.. NOEL
roy. Rev. Knox Boude and Rev. R.
&. Chambers, former members of this
church, are now ministers in the home
field.
Charter Members Living.
"Of the twenty-three members en-
rolled at the organization of this
church only four are known to be liv-
ing. The venerable pioneer ministers
composing the committee of organiza-
ton. Rev. L. G. Bell and Rev. S. c..
McCune, have long since Joined the
church triumphant. i am sure we are
all glad to have with us on this occa-
sion our former pastor, DR.. F. w. Hin
lit. and that we have letters of greet
ing from our former pastors, Rev. H.
B. Knight and DR.. B. z. S. Ely. And
we have reason for special thanksgiv-
ing for the presence of our first pas
tor, who for SO many years endured
the hardship of a pioneer home mis-
sionary.
Gives Thanks.
"In thus reviewing the history of
the First Presbyterian church from
the time of it's organization we find
abundant reason to thank God for His
blessing upon the labors of his SER
wants in the; past. And shall we not
in this good hour with earnest prayer
for Gods blessing upon all our for
mer pastors resolve that we will up
hold the hand of our present faithful
courage labor more earnestly for the
advancement of Christ's kigdom here
and throughout the world"
The letter of greeting and congrat-
ulation from Rev. Hervey B. Knight,
was as follows
ITO the Pastor and Members of the
First Presbyterian Church and Con-
gregation of Ottumwa, Iowa.
Dear Friends-Through your COM
mittee of arrangements am in receipt
of an invitation to Mrs. knight and
myself to be present at the fiftieth
anniversary of the organization of the
First Presbyterian church of Ottum-
wa.
I'VE thank you most Heartily for this
invitation and would greatly enjoy a
personal participation in the greetings
and congratulations over half a CEN
tury's work well done. AS this is not
possible owing to distance, / cheerfully
comply with the alternate invitation to
send written word of greeting. which
may be read on this occasion. And
this, not as a. matter of form, but for
the purpose of expressing my deep
and unchanging affection for the peo-
pie of my first pastoral charge and
whom it was my privilege to serve for
almost one-fourth of the period you
now celebrate. Since / have ceased
to be your pastor, you have so kindly
recognized me as a friend and adviser,
that have fully entered into the joy
of your growth, and enlarged useful
ness, under the leadership of the pas
tors who have succeeded me. can,
however, more fully estimate and APP
preciate the influences that were at
and the results that were accomplish
ed while I was your pastor.
Potent Factor.
Gas write there comes before my
mental vision the faces and names of
very many, who were potent factors,
not only in the church, but in the
community. who could always be de-
pended upon, for labor or sacrifice Not
only parents and mature Christians
but young men and young women, who
in the service of song, and in the then
new plans for enlisting the young in
the work of the church, stood like vet
Grams. with pastor and session. Many
of those whose faces are so distinct
are now a memory, they having pass
ed on to their reward. Others in new
fields, or with you, are still bringing
forth fruit. In not a small number
of instances the present pastor could
bear like testimony of their children
as they follow in the footsteps of
their parents in loyal active service.
Form Small Part.
Results put to record, form but a
small part of the work of church |
or the experiences Of pastor, vet the
fact that during my pastorate of al
most twelve wears begun whan tho