The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-06-09


better work than it is doing now.
Another organization formed during
Bro. Cornell's stay among us was the
Young Ladies' Prayer Meeting, organ
lied about March or April, 1877, to meet
Tuesday evening of each week. This
was for the purpose of filling long-felt
want in the church, that of bringing the
| young people into more active work in
the church, and / think it was only
step in the direction of the more COM
plete work that we now have in the
Endeavor societies, which at that time
had not been organized. At our first
meeting with Sister Esther Sanger there
We're five present, viz: Esther Sanger.
Ada and Eva Kirkpatrick, Ellen Gam
mon and myself. But our number in
creased until we numbered into the
twenties and there are several here
today that were members of those meet
ings. This was quite an undertaking
| for those who had not been trained
along this line but one great source of
help were the letters of instruction and
encouragement we received from our
pastor and his wife who was as willing
a worker as himself, and were it not for
the want of time would read you one
of these that you might know something
of their interest.
Following Bro. Cornell was Bro. He'd
rix, of Allerton. He preached here half
OF the time for year, but was not
located here. He was a man of ability
and labored for the upbuilding of the
cause. Next I think was Bro. H. A.
Lemon. He was young man, located
here and had the work in charge for all
the time during the three years he was
|
He was here probably in 80 or 81, and
work that the Senior Endeavor was
organized, and that work is still carried
on. Following Jones was O. Ebert. In
'93 we were without pastor and in '94
Bro. Major had the work in charge. He
in his work here was greatly aided by
his wife, she being an untiring helper in
the cause. She was a member of the G.
w. b. M. and it was largely due to her
efforts that the Junior Endeavor was
organized and started in the grand work
which they have done. Bro. Major was
succeeded by Bro. J. G. Jesse who came
to us from Missouri, preaching here
only half the time. He in turn was fol-
lowed by G. F. Stevens, who was an
earnest young man. Next H. T. Clark
who was here but a short time to be
succeeded by r. j. Castor, who was a
studious and earnest worker for the
good of the cause to which he was Civ
ing his time.
This brings us to the beginning of the
work with our present pastor, Bro. II.
H. Hubbell. But before we note the
work of the last two years there is one
more organization that should be spoken
of that goes hand in hand with our
church work and without which this
history would be very incomplete. This
is our Sunday School. 1t was organized
during the early years of the church
and has come down most of these fifty
years by it's side. 1t is one of the great
sources if not the greatest source of it's
strength. Here let me give you as com
plete list as l can of the Sunday,
School superintendent, officers of the,
church and some of the present officers
of the other organizations connected
with the church work. AS superintend-
ents of the Sunday School during the
past rs years there may be named T.J.
Hasty, A. r. Kemp, Eva Kirkpatrick, ].
NJ. Chastain, Esther Sanger, Burgess
Garrett, j. d. Williams, G. M. Ketcham
and H. H. Hubbell. AS elders there
were DR.. McClelland, w. A. Gardner. r..
w. Hebener, John Kirkpatrick, A. r.
Kemp, I. J. Hasty, j. M. Chastain, s. e.
Gardner, J. A. Harris, G. nj. Ketcham
and J. K. Williamson. AS deacons: o.
w. Howard, w. j. Darr, T. J. Lowe, S.
Miller, VIM. Howard A. f. Kemp, j. M.
Chastain, S. E. Gardner, j. d. Williams,
Nj. Osborne, w. A. Boone, ]. G. Early, j.
A. Harris, J. 7. Harris, G. Nj. Ketcham and
J. M. Caster. President of the G. w. B.
M, Mrs. Olive Caster; secretary and
treasurer, Mrs. Ruby Ellinwood; presi-
dent Senior Endeavor, Mrs. Vera Hub
bell; president intermediate Junior, Win
Matsler; superintendent May Caster
and Mrs. Foxworthy; president Junior,
Grace Ghormley; superintendent, Mamie
Lane.
AS to the work of the last two years
| it is necessary to say but little as with
that you are familiar, and I think fully
realize that to accomplish what has
been done and to put the work in the
condition that it now is, it has not only
taken an efficient leader, which We
found in our pastor, but also church
board diligent and awake to their re-
sponsibilities, assisted by the entire
congregation putting willing effort
into the work, and also aided by sister
churches and individual friends who
have kindly come to our rescue. But
with all that we have accomplished let
lis not console ourselves with the
thought that there is any more time for
inactivity or idleness than before, as we
know during the first % years the work
was not all done. No more has it all
been finished during the Is years of
which today is the close. But we have
succeeded in at least doing in some
measure what our hands found to do,
and so it will be for the next twenty
five, fifty or seventy-five years, or what
ever time is given. While time lasts
there will be the work of the hour to be
done by those who are given the oppor-
tunity and the power, and are willing to
make use of the same. May we realize
this to the extent that it will awake
and arouse us to put forth such an effort
that when the time comes that our work
is done, (may it be soon or late) that we
with the Apostle Of old may be able to
say, II have finished the course. have