Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-08
Christian Church Society at FL
dora Will Dedicate Fine
New Editice Sunday
DEAN HAeeARD TO SPEAK
Movement Begun In 1904 eliminates
In a Fine notwithstanding
About the History of the Church and
tho Pastors Who Have Had Charge
OF Its Welfare.
,nec,a, TO Times Republican


the beautiful new building OF the
Christian church here will be dedica-
ted with appropriate ceremonies. Inc
dedicatory exercises will be IN charge
of the pastor, j. M. Hoffman ana Dean
A. M. Haggard, of Drake University
Des Moines, the latter giving the prin-
cipal address. The other churches IN
town have adjourned their services
generally, and the pastors who are
present will assist in the services of
the day. In 1904 the movement 10
build finally took definite shape, plans
were made by competent church ar
chitect and the foundation was COM
pleted. The upper structure is now
completed, and on Sunday the congre-
CATION will occupy their neat, complete
and very convenient new house of wor-
ship, under circumstances which pro-
phesy renewed growth In Christian
usefulness.
The building is constructed of Edo
ra brown sandstone foundation, bum
brick walls, and has handsome stained
glass windows. 1t has large audience
room, with appropriate class rooms.
The basement under the whole house
is we'll lighted and commodious. The
style Of the building Is simple. yet
handsome, and the value of the prop
erty is about $4,000.
The present officers OF the church
are j. HI. Hoffman. acting pastor; Rob-
ert Holt and c. l.. Hays, elders; Il. w.
Lindsay. H. a. Furman, H. Il. Jones
and G. u. Fannon. deacons; III. A. Fur
man. superintendent bible school: Mrs.
Mary A. Bushman president Ladies'
society, Mrs. W. T. Pool, president
local Christian Woman's Board of
Missions: Miss Victoria Aylesworth.
organist: Howard Furman. leader Of
song; Il. w. Lindsay, president Y. p.
S. G. f.: G. l.. Hays, treasurer; f. e.
Bailey, clerk.
History Of the Church.
The beginnings of the congregation
probably dates back farther than any
of the other religious bodies in Eldora.
In 1861, the year of the settlement of
Hardin county, occasional preaching
services were held at the farm house
OF Jonathan Conger, just southeast of.
town, John d. Conger, and Mrs. Eliza
Furnan at that time being children In
the household. Elder Painter was
probably the first preacher in Hardin
county and conducted these meetings
About 1858 to 1856 services were then
held in a building later burned down
at the northeast corner of the court
house square. just north Of the present
Wisner opera house. Upon the con-
pletion of the wooden court house
about 1857, services were held in the
court room, which continued to be the
home of the congregation for about ten
years. until the completion Of the
church building in 1866. During the
war old residents of Eldora will re-
member the presence of negro refugees
in town, and their singing Of their
plantation melodies at the meetings in
| the court house. They were brought
here and cared for by Mortimer Hull
bert, now deceased and Joseph Ed
gington, still an honored resident Of
| the town, and others. Elder Plummer
of Alden, was an occasional preacher
| in the early SOS. Elder Hansberry,
about 1857 and 1868 was the first reg
ularly employed pastor. Following him
| was Julius A. Stevens, 1864. About
this time the reverend Jonas Hartzell,
of Davenport, preached occasionally
| In 1866, D. d, Miller was the pastor
and the church grew. Following him,
about 1867, the able and learned Nell
son A. Mcconnell was the pastor of the
| church.
The church was built, which has just
been remodeled and enlarged, in 1856,
and the congregation, under the lead
ership of Mcconnell, John G. Hay, Pc
| ter Vogel, William M. Rowe DR.. r.
DUNCAN, and others. became the
strongest in the community in numbers
and influence
In 1S74-5-6 the consecrated and en-
thusiastic young A. B. Cornell was the
successful pastor, flowed by Henry
! Shade and Charles A. Stevens The
latter used to lay brick all the week as
a mason and preach acceptable serm-
ons on Sunday. In 1886 j. w. Nc
| Clure was the pastor, followed in 1888
by H. L. Morrison, who is now on his
| way to the New Zealand Islands, and
whose two sons, Charles Clayton and
| Hugh T. Morrison, are able and sue
! cessful pastors in Chicago and Spring.
| field, Ill
Camden Moran was very promis-
| ing young preacher, whose religious
| impulses were first felt in this church,
and whose career was cut short by his
death in 1880. Frank O. Fannon is
another preacher whose beginnings
were with this town and church, and
who is in the midst of a life of large
usefulness as a preacher in st. Louis
and other cities in Missouri Frank II
Van Voorhis. who has just held very
successful meeting in Oklahoma with
about hundred conversions, is also
an Eldora boy, trained in this church.
Willet NJ. Hays, assistant secretary of
agriculture at Washington. D. c., was
also a member of this church in his
| early years
Among the later pastors of the
church are G f. PonaerOy T. H Mum