The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-17
DEDICATION Of
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Many Present at Corner Stone
Laying.
INTERESTING SERVICES
Rev. Dubber Gives Fine Ad-
dress.
SERVICES

| Notwithstanding the inclement weather
of Sunday, a large number of people con-
| gregated at the Central Christian church
for the purpose of laying the corner stone
| of their handsome new church which is
now under construction at the corner of
Second and Market streets.
The services commenced at clock and
| church choir quartette. The music was
| followed by an invocation by Rev. W. IL.
| McLain. after which Mrs. Ella Glenn
Shields gave the following brief histori-
| cal review of the church since the first
| meeting was held.
in October Of 1879 Mrs. H. G. Toler
wrote three letters, with request that
| they be read from the pulpits of three
| churches in this place at that time. On
! that day it CHANGED there was service
at the Presbyterian church only, the
occasion being the funeral obsequies Of
| q very prominent member. A large audi
ence was present and the pastor vGy
| kindly read the letter. which was re-
! quest that any persons having been men,
bers of the Christian church would please
! call at Mrs. Toler's residence the follow
| ing afternoon.
| ION Monday morning came Mr.. A. A.
| Glenn to inquire into and fully sanction
the aim of the meeting thus called, which
was for the purpose Of organizing the
women who might be found in sympathy
with such a movement into ladies' So
ciety. This society-to-be was devoted to
raising money through the various ave-
nues open to women in order that min
| lister might be employed 10 hold pro-
tracted meeting, that eventually church
organization hight be effected in Wichita.
1.-THE afternoon brought seven women
together in answer to the CALI Mrs.
Georgia Paxon, Mrs. Nora Scott, Mrs.
McCandless. Mrs. Mary Phillips, Mrs.
Ella Glenn Shields. Mrs H. G. Toler and
Miss Jane Stewart Arrangements were
perfected at this meeting to begin hold
ing regular services at the home of Mrs.
Phillips. who lived on the site of the
present city hall.
Another meeting was appointed, with
other attendants, which resulted in the
organizing of Ladies' Aid society, the
true and legitimate parent of the present
organization. Here as many as dozen
people continued to meet and partake
of the communion, Brothers Glenn, Paxon
and Clark acting elders. The following
summer. after a correspondence with
Rev. j. H. Garrison. Of St. Louis the lit
tie congregation employed T. j. Shelton.
of Illinois, to come and hold meeting.
This meeting resulted in establishing the
first permanent church in this place.
though it should be stated that several
years previous TO this an attempt was
made, which failed on account of the
temporary state of the population.
after the regular organization was
effected and a charter secured, the La
dies Aid society determined to build.
and to that end sent out 1000 personal
letters asking for contribution of s1.D
from each church and when $500 was Sc
cured the old structure recently torn
away was begun. In May, 1888, second
appeal abroad was made for help and
the church completed, and after this time
the congregation remained intact and
held regular services, first in Russell
hall on North Main street, in Eagle hall
on East Douglas. then in the Occidental
hotel on North Main. under the follow
ing ministers in the order named: Shell
ton. Cain. Poole. Mum. Tandy. Hendryx
Hobbs, Peak. Carter, Nancleve, Sims.
Wiley Hilton. Dubber."
Rev. Dubber delivered the closing ad-
dress, as follows:
Thihs house will stand in the midst
of evil shelter a body of workers organ
lied for the purpose Of antagonizing all
sin. 1t will occupy a peculiar position at
the very door of the houses where evil
and sin is INDUCED. There are two or
ganized forces at work in the world to-
day, two great armies Differed and equip
ped are fighting on the worlds great bat
tie field God angles and devils are
watching the fight. This war will con-
tinue until the church, like her lord,
has put the last enemy under her feet.
This house will stand here right In the
presence of the business operations of
this city during the days of the week.
Its very presence should be an inspira-
ton to truthfulness and honest dealings.
And as 1t is to stand here for genera
lions monument TO God for righteous
ness may il stand as a silent sentinel
10 warn the hot faced money maker and
the cold-hearted monopoIist. in the name
of God. not to pay too much for finan-
cial gain And as men hurry too and fro
beneath its very shadow may IT prove 10
be to them an Inspiration that they may.
above all financial. political and social
ambitions. be DESTROYS. first 10 be about
their Fathers business.
This house will stand as a temple and
a workshop of peculiar people re-
ligiouly and doctriniy peculiar. In the
midst Of churches in this city this con-
gregation is part Of great and won
derfully rapid growing brotherhood in
the United Stses. which has no creed
but Christ and no book of discipline but
the bible Probably the Christian church
today stands alone in It's position OF TAX
ing the bible and the bible alone for It's
rule Of faith and practice. There is con-
fusion today in the teaching OF the word
OF God among the denominations; The re-
sui tof this contradictory teaching Is TOO
many scepticisn and unbelief; the pur-
pose Of the Church of Jesus Christ IL to
destroy thi. confusion and to bring to
pass the fulhilment Of Christs pleading
prayer. That they all may be one then
shall scepticism and unbelief he put away
and the " ORD will beisev tina, God sent
Hts son. Then VIII there be one fold and
ore Shepherd: then. io6eed. viii there be
one body and ore spirit as we are called
In one hope OF cur calling. then VIII
there rs one Lord. one faith. one hap
tis-n. one God and Father of al who 3
above all. ard through all and in you all.
I repeat II tina. this f. ths . urposs CT the
Church o, Jesus Christ 20 preach teach
and live the gospel o. Jesus Chris; IN Is
..--,,s<se~ "a ssrffDe<z 18th M >or.-f- -