Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-12-29


college until 1885, when he resigned to
accept the pastorate of the First Pres
byterian church at Geneseo, Ill. After
one year he was recalled to the chair
of mathematics at Parsons, where he
remained until 1898, when he accepted
the position of general secretary of the
Mccormick Theological seminary at
Chicago. After four years there he ac-
cepted the position Of principal of
Marietta Academy, at Marietta, Ohio.
In 1889 he was called again to Par
sons college as dean and general secre-
tary and remained there until last year
when he was elected to the vice presi-
dency of Whitworth college at Taco
ma, Washington, which position he
now holds. The members of the church
greatly regret that Rev. Knight is un-
able to be present at the celebration to
morrow, as in his long service here he
became endeared to the hearts of all
with whom he came in contact.
Rev. B. E. S. Ely.
Rev. B. E. S. Ely. the third pastor of
the church, was born in Philadelphia,
Pa, and is the son Of the late Rev. p.
L. Ely, D. D., who presided over one
congregation in Philadelphia for TWEEN
ty-seven years and later served as
moderator of the general assembly of
the Presbyterian church of America.
DR.. Ely was student of Delaware col
lege. and at the early age of 20 years
was admitted to the practice Of law.
Soon afterwards he went to California
and followed his profession in the Col.
den state for a period of ten years.
He was elected to the California legis.
lature in 1858. Not long after this,
however. he abandoned the profession
of law to take UP that of the minis.
try. In 1852 he was ordained and be.
came pastor of the church at Heals.
burg, Cal. He was later located at
Stockton and afterwards moved to Chi
cago to take charge of the Grace Pres
byterian church. After severing his
connection with this charge he became
connected with the Willow Greek
Scotch Presbyterian church, with
which he remained until June, 1881
when he was called to the First Pres
byterian church in Ottumwa. While
in California Mr.. Ely was city attorney
of Sacramento and introduced the first
prohibitory liquor law, which passed
the house but failed in the senate
He was greatly interested in the tenn
perance movement and did everything
in his power to promote sobriety, be
/ ing the leader of the movement in that
section. He has been a member of five
general assemblies Of the Presbyterian
church in the United States and in the
winter Of 1885 and 1885 was elected
moderator of the synod of Iowa.
DR.. Ely removed from here to Win
terset to accept the pastorate of the
Presbyterian church there. IIe Is now
retired and is living in Des Moines. II
is a matter of regret to the members OF
the First Presbyterian church that DR.
Ely is unable to attend the anniversary
jubilee. z
Sketch Of Or. Hlnltt.
DR.. Frederick w. Hinitt served his
first charge in Warrensburg, Mo-, just
previous to his call to the pastorate of
the First Presbyterian church in OF
tumwa. He graduated from Westmin-
ster college in Fulton, Missouri, and
later took theological course in the
| cCormick Seminary in Chicago. DR.
Hinitt was called to Ottumwa to take
up the work after the resignation OF
DR.. B. z. S. Ely. 1t was shortly after
the present magnificent church build
ing had been erected and it was q
large and growing congregation that
DIR. Hinitt was called to serve. Fol
five years he labored zealously and il
was with great regret that in August
1900, that the congregation accepted
i his resignation that he might take the
presidency Of Parsons college at Fair
Il field.
] Under his efficient direction Parsons
college has fiourished as 1t never die