The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-09-24
4 MAGNIFICENT
ENTERPRISE.

Of being two hundred years since John
Wesley. his brother Charles, and
George Whitefeld, young Oxford stu
dents. organized the little band of
Christian workers who forged the
great shaft OF Methodism which> num-
bers in the world over twenty-nine mil
lion commandments, over six million of !
whom are in the United States. Per-
haps no other religious movement since
the Reformation ever stirred the: souls |
of men as did the work inaugurated by
John Wesley, and to-day the broaden
ing influences and tremendous power
Of the Methodist church is apparent in
all chimes and countries.
In has been said that it is always a |
close race between the Methodist
church and the newspaper man to see
which one will strike a town first and
the newspaper man has to be a very
lively Splinter and a mighty, active
pilgrim to reach new town ahead Of
q Methodist minister. but here in
Princeton the Methodist minister
seems to have registered on the slab Of
civilization some time ahead Of the
newspaper publisher, and the spirit of
John Wesley had we'll diffused itself in
and about Princeton before the spirit
of Gutenberg and Faust became mani
fest here.
It is almost half century ago since
the first Methodist minister travelling
through the wilderness of this section
visited the little settlement of what is
now Princeton, and he paved the way
for the organization of the First Meth
odist Episcopal church of Princeton.
The dedication last Sunday of the
handsome new edifice was a great
event in local Methodism and a beauti-
full and enduring example of presever-
ance and tribute to the Christian zeal
and public spirit of many of the peo-
pie of Princeton.
DR.. Bridgeman, president Of Ham
lin university, was unable to be pres
ent to preach the dedicatory sermon,
but the disappointment was soon for
gotten, after the morning services had
been begun. much as all would liked to
have had him present.
The church was devoid of floral dec
orations, save the delicate green as
paragus with petunias that were en-
twined about the unfinished portions
Of the walls about the altar. There
was bunch of gladiolas, nasturtiums,
and pretty fall flowers on the organ,
and these constituted the decoration of
flowers. But the handsome edifce was
grandest and prettiest in it's simplicity,
yet it had the appearance of richness
and luNuriousness, and still it was so
homelike and inviting.
The church was filled early and by
1920 every seat in the auditorium, lee
ture room and gallery was filled, and
chairs placed in the isles were filed.
There were over 500 people present
at the morning service.
Seated behind the altar in the heavy
oak and leather upholstered chairs
part Of the new altar furniture-was
Presiding Elder Clemans, and to his
right were Rev. Geo. d. Satterlee,
Rev. w. f. j. Gratz and Rev. VIM.
Parkinson, while to the elders left
were Rev. Jas. Steenson, Rev. w. H.
EastOn of Olivia, and Rev. GLADDEN. |
of Blue Hill. The group represented
the northern Minnesota conference
through its presiding elder, the Crook
ston district through Rev. Geo. E.
! Satterlee, the Litchfield district |
through Rev w. H. Easton, while Rev.
Jas. Steenson represented the Congre-
gational church of Princeton, which |
had no services Sunday, and attended
the dedicatory services on special in
vitation of Rev. Gratz and the Method
list church.
The morning service opened with
hymn No. $50 of the Methodist hymnal. |
which was sung by the congregation,
after which the Apostles Creed was
recited and Rev. w. H. Easton offered
the following prayer:
20 Lord Thou hast been our dwelling
place in all generations. Before the
mountains were brought forth or ever
Thou hadst formed the earth, even from
everlastingto everlasting Thou art God,
Thou hast made us andnot we ourselves.
We are Thy people, the sheep of Thy
pasture. in Thee we live, move and
have our being. We come unto Thee
this beautiful Sabbath morning pray
ing that Thou grant unto us this day
the Holy Spirit and make acceptable
our worship and our service to-day.
Grant, O Lord, on this day that the
words of our mouths and the medita-
tons of our hearts may be acceptable