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

$4,000 and for furnishing $4,000. In adj
dition to this they generously aided in
paying interest from time to time
Their total contribution to the entire
enterprise is estimated at approximate
~ $4,000. ,ssS.,s ST II
Fire In Church,
On Sunday morning, May. 5, 1889,
the basement of the church was dis
covered to be on fire. The blaze was
noticed however, before it assailed the
floor of the auditorium and was .extin.
guished about a. m. The basement
floor was partially consumed, most of
the furniture was injured and glass
doors and windows were broken out to
a great extent. The church was for
tunately insured. The damages were
estimated to be over $1,100 but this
loss was fully covered by insurance.
At this time the steam heating and
ventilation of the church were chang
ed and greatly improved. The entire
interior Of the church was painted
and some other needed repairs were
made, putting the entire property in
first class condition. At meeting of
the official board, the following pream-
bic and resolutions concerning the pas
tors work in this regard were adopt
ed:
The Resolutions.
Whereas, The official board Of the
First Methodist Episcopal church of
Ottumwa, having heretofore appointed
the pastor, Rev. Dennis Murphy, a COM
mittee of one to raise in his way, and
by his own methods, the balance of
the Indebtedness on the church build
ing not fully provided for at its dedi-
cation in 1888 and amounting to 81
421.42, and the said work having been
cheerfully undertaken and successfully
performed by him in addition to. the
ordinary duties as the pastor, we, the
official board of said church deem it
right and fitting that testimonial of
this important work be entered upon
the church record. And we especially
desire to note with due appreciation
the faith, prudence and perseverance
which has characterized his labor in
this behalf from its beginning to its
conclusion. In view of the effort re-
quired, and the peculiar and in some
sense delicate nature of the undertake
ing he is entitled to the most cordial
thanks of the church, and we congratu-
late him and the membership of the
church upon the spirit of harmony and
Christian unity which prevails upon
its accomplishment.
Charles Lawrence, Mrs. e. J. Vansant.
]. A. Hammond. Mrs. d. H. Emery.
Mrs. 7. A Fulton. George Haw.
d. H. Emery, T. Hackworth.
|. N. Mast. j. w. Vansant,
George A. Witter. w. II. ,Hinsey.
John T. Carnes. Henry Myers.
M. A. Roberts. Alfred Briggs.
T. M. Finley. N. M. Tindall.
S. A. Spilman. S. L. Vest.
N. B. Scoles. ]. Z. Slaughter.
Plans for Parsonage.
Following the passionate of Rev. Den.
mis- Murphy, DR.. G.. L. Stafford was Civ.
en- this charge, presiding at the first
official meeting of the board, Septem.
Der %, 1899 At the board meetina
of May rs, 1890, the proposition OF
building a parsonage was presented
Chas. Lawrence offered his brick resi-.
Idence on East Fifth street as par
sonage. asking $4,000, and making a
donation of $500, which would make
the payment, $500. At this meeting
| a parsonage committee composed OF
w. B. Bonnifeld, j. I. Hackwork, j.
| G. Slaughter, s. L. Vest, l. N. Mast
and Mrs. 7. A. Fulton, was selected
Later sixteen feet adjoining the pres
ent church property was purchased
from the Iowa National bank, and this
piece of ground widened the property
to such an extent that there was room