Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-22
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

of funds) contract was made with T.
w. Robinson to finish the upper story
by November 1, 1855 For some rea-
son, the contract was never carried
out. 1t was finished afterwards how
ever, by John Bier, who would work
a week or ten, days, orsas long as the
funds lasted The contractors on the
wood work were Hely and Moorcraft.s
The church was finished in 1857.
Hold a Revival.
In the month of February, 1857, un-
der the passionate of Rev. A G. Nc
Donald, assisted by Reverends f. W.
Evans, S. Hestwood and R.. b. Allen
der, a successful revival meeting COM
menced and extended into March.
During the meetings, there were sew
enty converted. In 1865. under the su-.
perintendence of Rev, w. F. Cowles'
the society began an Improvement by
adding new brick front of sixteen
feet for vestibule and stairway. The
exterior of the church was rough cast,
the interior newly plastered, a new
pulpit and neat altar rail occupied the
rear end of the audience room. The
women of the society presented the
church with new Bible and hymn
book. Mrs. G.. Lawrence donated a
silver plated communion set The
cost of the new Improvements was
about $1,000. The church was reopen
| ed under the pastorate of Rev. r. H.
lWaring in March, 1857 with an elo-
ouent dedicatory address by the late
distinguished DIR. Thomas M. Eddy.
The celebrated Lombard troupe of Chi
cago was here to sing in a concert
on Monday evening. The troupe kind
ly volunteered to sing and did SO at
the services of the day. The amount
remaining unprovided for at the dedi-
cation was s2,700. The congregation
pledged nearly $4,000, being $500 more
than asked for.
An Evangelist Comes.
In the fall of 1874, the church
through Rev. Simmons invited Belle
Leonard an evangelist to come and
help in special services for q few
i weeks. She was very successful in
/ her labors. The Lord most gracious
i ly revealed His saving powers in the
conversion Of sinners, retaining back
sliders and building UP believers. The
1 church was lifted up to higher plane
/ than ever known before and its fruits
were seen and influences felt for sever
al years.
Purchase Present Property.
The old church had had its day and
i became unsuitable for the growth OF
| the congregation. Accordingly al
the fourth quarterly conference of July
4 5, 1880 a recommendation of the trus
tees to build new church was ap
proved and a committee was appoint
ed to carry out the recommendation
1 The committee was composed OF J. T
Hackworth, George Haw and ID. H
Emery.
4 At the second quarterly conference
this committee was further enlarged
by the appointment of Charles Law
renee and w. B. Bonnifield. The
committee met shortly after and or
ganized as a building committee by
the election of w. B. Bonnifeld, chair
man and George Haw, secretary. Aft
er organization, the committee recon
mended the sale of the old church ant
the circulation of subscription fol
the new church. The quarterly con
ference of November Is, 1880 gave
power to the building committee tt
sell the old church. At the quarterly
conference Daniel Zollers was alst
added to the building committee. Ii
the ecclesiastical year of 1901 durini
, the pastorate of Rev. c. B. Clark, {
subscription was raised amounting tt
$4,000 and the present church prop