Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-15
Methodists of Eldora to Observe
Semi Centennial of Organ
ization In That City
A WEEK OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Or. Robert Forbes, of Philadelphia to
Deliver Two Lectures-C Of
tho MarshalItown District to be Held
During tho Same Week-Iowa News
Of the Day.
Special to Trmes-Republican.

lcldora, Nov. 15.--Beginning Sunday
November 20, and closing Sunday, tho
9th, the semi centennial celebration Of
the Methodist church In this city will
be held A program of unusual in
terest has been prepared. AS the
semi annual session of the Marshall
town district conferences is held here
during the week there will ne n large
attendance and number OF distin-
guished speakers present. The pro-
gram follows:
Sunday, November 20. 19o4-1o:oo a.
m., Sunday school. II a. m. and 1880
p. m.. preaching by Rev. Robert Forbes.
D. D., of Philadelphia, Pa. $50 y. m,
Dpworth League and class meetings.
Monday evening, November 81, 1904
800 p. M, lecture. THE Mistakes OF
the Devil and Some Other People" Rev.
Robert Forbes. d. d.
Tuesday and Wednesday. November
90 and 23-Fifteenth semi-annual SEES
sion OF the Marshalltown district con-
ference.
Thursday, November "a. 1904-10:30
a. m, annual Thanksgiving sermon to
be delivered by Rev. G. c. Warner OF
the Congregational Church, Eldora, Ia.
1880 p. m, preaching.
Friday, November 25. 1904-3:00 to
500 p. m, reception to Mrs. Lois Edg-
ington and Mrs. Mary Wright. only
surviving charter members of the Ell
dora class. This service viii be under
the direction OF the Auxiliary Circle.
500 p. NJ, Miss Alice Stire, lowa's
wonderful whistler, assisted by local
talent, will give an evenings entertain
ment.
Sunday, November 81, 19O4-Rev. T.
J. Basset. %. d., president Of Upper
Iowa Univel sity, will preach at both
the morning and evening hour $3.50
p. M, the semi-centennial love feast
will be held.
The pastor, Rev. George Shoemaker,
has prepared a short historical sketch
OF the Methodist class since Its organ
lzation, which he issued with the pro-
gram:
The first sermon delivered in Eldora
by Methodist minister, was preached
in log cabin owned by S. r. and
Jonathan Edgington in the south part
OF town, in the fall of 1854. The min
lister who preached this sermon, Rev.
]. w. Stewart, soon after this organic
ed the first class. AT first services
were held in the log cabin, and when
the weather permitted it in the grove
near by. From the log cabin services
were moved to the school house and
later to Edgingtons hall. After this
they met in the court house until the
society built their own place Of wor-
ship. At first the charge was known
as Hardin County Mission, and was q
part of Montezuma district, Iowa con-
ference. In the fall Of 1856 the Upper
Iowa Conference was organized and
Eldora has since been part OF that
body. In 1851 they report a parsonage
valued at $3.50. and In the fall OF
1863 a church worth $500. This must
have been the first church erected by
the society. In 1861 the pastor receiv-
ed $220.45 and the presiding elder $l1
salary That year the circuit reported
two Sunday schools, with seventeen
officers and teachers and fifty scholars.
There was then on the circuit a mem
bership Of 10s, and their entire contri-
buttons for benevolences was $25.7O.
1t seems small to us now, but no doubt
1t was all they could do. During the
pastorate Of r. M. Robertson, in the
year 1868, a new church was begun
and the next year under the pastorate
of q. L. Sherman, the building was
completed and dedicated by Rev. A. b.
Kendig The year following, 1870,
new parsonage was erected, j. b. Tay-
lor, pastor, and the minutes OF 1871
report church valued at $4,000 and
parsonage worth $500. The present
church building was erected while
Rev. c. II. Marsh was pastor and ded-
icated the year which closed in the
fall of 1892. Rev. ]. w. Bissell, d. D.,
preached the dedicatory sermon, and
Rev. j. T. Crippen. d. D., presiding
elder of the district, managed the fl
nances. The present parsonage was
built while Rev. L. c. Clark, d. D.. was
pastor. Since the organization of the
class, thirty-three men have served IS
pastors and fifteen men as presiding
elders. The property of the charge Is
now valued at $4,000. The member
ship numbers 270 persons. The Sun
day school, Epworth League, Class
meetings, prayer meetings. Aid Socie-
ties and w. It. NJ. Society are active
and helpful in their several depart
ments. OF the spiritual work we can
not write definitely, but know that
God, in all these fifty years, has bless
ed and honored his people. Under the
blessing of God two members of the
first class abide with us in honor -
Mrs. Louis Edgington and Mrs. Mary
Wright.
u,,, pr DoIIa,E CONVENTION