The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-12-20
New Park Avenue Church Dedica-
ted on Sunday Evening After all.
Indebtedness Had Been Paid
WELL KNOWN MEN HELP FUND
Debt of $4,000 Wiped Out on Dedica-
ton Day by the Generous Gifts
From Friends of the Church
Hold Many Services

a. ~ NAOCh 0uuudy CVSuAuRs nc
dedication services came after a
strenuous day for the mem bers of the
church and their friends, but when
the pastor, the Rev. w. w. Stevens,
the Presiding Elder J. S. Lean of
Milwaukee, and the Rev. Frank H.
Sheets, d. D. of Chicago, began to
read the dedicatory service from the
church ritual the members of the
church were all rejoicing, for every
cent of the Indebtedness of the church
had been arranged for, and it was
dedicated to the work for which it
was erected without any burden of in
debtedness being left on the congrega-
ton. Added to this neat sum was
raised to pay other expenses of the
church, and to top the matter off a
purse Of 5000 was made up and pre-
scented to the Rev. w. w. Stevens to
allow him the luxury of short .vaca-
ton after his hard work of building
the church.
It was a great day for the Park
Avenue congregation. The services
during the day were attended by
large crowds, and at the morning and
evening services the auditorium of
the new church was taxed to it's
capacity. The sermons preached by
the Rev. Frank FL. Sheets, ID. D. Of
Chicago had the old Methodist
ring, and these sermons aided. much
to keep the people in good shumor
during the day. Presiding Elder
Lean was to have preached, in the
evening, but he saw that the. real
thing was to get the debt of the
church paid, and insteadsof giving a
lengthy sermon he made short talk
and filled up any deficiency in his
service at the dedication by handing
the treasurer SIS to apply on the
fund.
In the morning when the work OF
raising the funds for the church be-
gan, there was $13. 600 to be raised in
order to have the edifice dedicated
without debt. During the morning
service it was announced that z, G.
Simmons and z. G. Simmons, Jr., had
agreed to give $1,000 if the members
of the church would give SIS, 500. Mr..
Simmons and his son had already
given $4,000 to the fund, but it was
the desire of Mr.. Simmons to see the
church dedicated without debt.
In the meantime z. G.. Zimmons,
Jr., had started crusade among the
men outside the church to secure aid
and he certainly did loyal work. Dur
ing the dinner hour Mr.. Simmons re-
fused to go to dinner, but remained
at the telephone and called men in all
parts of the city. When he returned
to the church after dinner he had
raised $1,l0O dollars. He kept the
crusade up during the afternoon and
his work did much to bring the big
fund together.
The larger gifts announced to pay
for the church we're as follows: Mr..
and Mrs. z. G. Simmons, Jr., So, 300;
z. G. Simmons, $3.50; Ladies Aid
Society of the church, $1,000; E. L..
Grant, $1,000, DR.. G. FL. Ripley, 81, 900;
Henry Cooper, $500; Charles Allen,
$500; Nathan Allen, $500; George
Yu1e, $500; Mrs. Edward Balm, $500;
Mrs. J. J. Hoyt, $500. Many of the
people named in these gifts had made
other smaller gifts to the church be-
fore the work of erection was started
and these gifts we're in addition. The
members of the church showed a
great deal of self sacrifice and while
many of them are in modest circum-
stances they gave literally. The
pledges were taken with the under
standing that they are to be paid in
twenty-five months and the interest
will be borne by the donors, thus re-
lieving the church of this burden.
The. building fund also included the
sum of $1,000 which was bequeathed
to the church years ago by the late
Levi Grant, one of the founders of
Methodism in Kenosha, to be held in
trust until such time as the congre-
cation decided to erect a new church
edifice.
The church, which cost in the
neighborhood of $32, 900, is one of the
finest churches in southern Wiscon-
sin. It is complete and modern
church in every particular. The in
terror of the church is handsomely
finished with quartered oak and the
pews and furniture of the church are
the best that could be secured. It's
lighting and ventilating systems are
regarded as models for such large
building.
The church is erected on one of the
old historic church sites Of Southern
Wisconsin. More than fifty years ago
the first Methodist church in Kenosha
county and Southern Wisconsin was
erected at this site and it has been
USED by the Methodists for church
purposes ever since.
The present church was planned
nearly two years ago, the plans being
made by Turnbull and Jones, of Elgin,
Ill. The contractors for the building
were Pearce Brothers, of Rockford.
The church has a number of very
beautiful Memorial windows. One to