Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-18
MONEY IS R AIsED.
DEBT OF ELEVEN YEARS STAND.
ING IS CLEARED FROM AFRl.
CAN M. E. CHURCH.
Final Services Held at the Church
Last Evening - Rev. Gordon Rails
cd Last Dollar-capt. Hutchlson and
Senator Harper Talk.

Last Evening - Rev. Gordon Rails
ed Last Dollar-capt. Hutchlson ane
Senator Harper Talk.
From Tuesday Daily.
81 Inc balance requisite to clear the
church from debt was raised. and the
congregation headed by its pastor, Rev.
M. |. Gordon, was made supremacy
happy, as a result OF stirring meet.
ing held last evening in the African
Methodlst episcopal church, 323 North
SJeHerson street. Last night was the
tlme OF the final dedicatory services.
which were conducted by the
qcnurch sunday and Monday, and It was
successful in an unusual degree. two
nne addresses being heard and the last
dollar which cleared the church from
debt of eleven years standing was re.
y ceiyed. After the subscription SUNDAY
evening, balance of $133. 80 had to be
raised. Rev. Gordon and two members
or the congregation brought this s,im
down to $73.s0 by personal solicita-
lions With good people about the CITY
Yesterday afternoon. Following the adj.
dresses by Capt. j. G. Hutchinson and
oen. .. II. Harper Rev. Gordon made
strong appeal for the remaining few
collars. They We're forthcoming in a
snort ume. but because of the late
hour, the dedication of the church.
which originally was intended to take
place Immediately upon raising the
Iull amount of the indebtedness, was
postponed to a more convenient time.
The large audience repaired to the
basement of the church at the close
OF the services, where ice cream and
cake were served by the women of the
congregation.
The Church.
The African Methodist EPISCOPAL
church was built eleven years ago at
cost of S1,600. Through the unceasing
4 work of Rev. NJ I. Gordon.
who has labored diligently during his
three years as pastor, this amount was
decreased to the comparatively small
sum of $133.9O. The total indebted.
ness is now cleared and the church is
IN order for dedication. Last night the
!Acnurch presented pretty appearance
with its newly whitewashed walls and
SYlth its newly frescoed walls and
Golden.
coored Band Played.
a Before the services commenced last
night the colored band marched to the
church and played two delightful num-
&bers. The members of the band then
aentered the church and attended the
SServices. Again at the close of the
evenings services, the band rendered
two pretty selections.
Talked on "The Church,
With a few complimentary remarks.
Rev. Gordon introduced Capt. J. G.
ylHutchison and asked for him the close
attention of the audience. Capt.
Hutchinson said in part:
am very glad to be here with YOU
tonight and assist in the worthy cause
for which you are assembled. This is
not the first time that | have appeared
before you, not as a congregation. but
as a race. So tonight with an endeavo,
to further the cause for which YOU are
working. will take as my subject the
church and the sacrifices we must
make for 1t. The church can not live
unless its people will support 1t &C.
cord1ng to their means. A congrega-
ton must be willing and ready to make
repeated sacrifices for the good of the
church, for out of sacrifices. nothing
but good can come. So long as sacri-
fees are made for the church, SO much
more will 1t advance, become larger
and more able to do the good for which,
1t was established No congregation
Should let its church progress in a
nmplng, hating, dragging condition.
put 1t should ever be advancing. Then
the church is some thing to make a
sacrifice for. All over the United
States the Omnipotent Power made the
churches and therefore they must be
upheld, II God predicted that the
church should live, it will, but by His
prediction he meant that the churcll's
congregation should rally to the sup
port of the church, encourage It's pas
tor and make repeated sacrifices for
it.
Trials and Difficulties.
"Of course there are many trials and
difficulties which confront us, but we
must have courage enough to with
stand these reverses and DISPOSE of
them. Against all trials and difficulties
we must stand up and the result will
be to the Joy of all. What has the
church done anyhow for you to do this
for it? You don't come to church sim
ply to hear your pastor preach a SER
mon, but you come to praise God for
the many good things he has done for
you, and they are many, too. If |
Should stop to tell you of the beginning
OF some of the worlds greatest
churches, which are now sending out
missionaries to christianize and
evangelize the world. you would be
surprised. Ifthis country did not have
churches, it would not be unlike China,
and you know what troubles are al
ways brewing there. Come to your
church, sing your hymns and learn
what they mean. Encourage your pas
tor and show how much ability of char
acter your church gives you and you
Will realize that you are becoming bet
ter men and women"
Senator Harper Introduced.
Following the talk by Capt Hutchi-
son, Rev. Gordon made a few remarks
commenting upon the words Of Mr.