The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-13
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
F.. CHURCH HOLDS JUBILEE
Interesting "reminiscences In
dulged in by Members
of Flock.

The members and friends Of the Society
Of the First Congregational church, in
generous numbers, assembled at the
church parlors Wednesday evening to
celebrate in a beftting manner the most
interesting and important epoch in the
history OF the church. The entertainment
| partook or jubilee. 1t was OF dual
nature-natural congratulation that The
church is at last out OF debt and to ex
tend TO their worthy pastor, the Rev.
E. /, Goshen, hearty greeting and warm
welcome upon his return from his two
months vacation
After an hour or two of social inter
course, during which time delicious light
| refreshments were served Prof Clark.
as chairman, presented Mrs. Sprague
who gave brief history of the start and
early struggles OF the church in this
| city.
The hrst steps taken to organize the
Congrega tional church were in 1866 Rev.
Mr.. McCloud aided in the work for n
year. after which nothing was done un =
til 1874, when Rev, Walter Barrows came
( and after working for months organized
| a missionary society with a membership
OF twenty-siS and an indebtedness OF
$1,000 Under the able management, for
clble preaching, eloquent lectures and
untirlng work OF Mr.. Barrows the church
prospered, TO the extent that from a
membership OF twenty-six. in seven
years, the lifetime of Mr.. Barrows's
work, the church had q membership of
100 and society Of 325, and the church
was self-sustaining, During those dark,
discouraging years the ladies of the So
ciety worked with elf-sacriiicing ZEAL
and by their noble work, by holding fairs
soclables. etc, in the early days they
wiped out the first 5000 indebtedness
That was over thirty years ago, and
today all but two OF the charter mem
bers OF the church breathe not the air
OF earth. One, DR.. Robinson, the first
Sunday-school superintendent. met a
tragic death, being called TO his door one
night and shot down by some flendish as
sassins.
More "reminiscences.
L. E. Hall related In an interesting
talk the subsequent history Of the church.
Dr.. Barrows resigned In 1881 Rev. +. f.
Lee came in 1882, He STAYED two years
and In that time succeeded in creating
a schism In the church which resulted
in the establishment OF a second Con-
gregational church, whose pulpit was
nlled for short time by the Rev. Mr.
Kyle, afterwards United States Senator
from South Dakota, The division was
brought about by a disagreement of Rev.
Mr. Lee and large portion OF his con-
gregation as TO what should be the creed
OF the church. Mr. Hall echoed the SEN
timent OF his hearers in saying:
1T Is not so much what he believes,
but what he does that fits a man for
membership in the Congregational
church" Rev. Mr.. Lee was succeeded by
Rev. J. B. Thrall, who had charge OF the
congregation eight years, until 1892. dur
ing which the present beautiful church
edihce they now occupy was built, Mr..
Thrall was succeeded by Rev Clarence
Il. Brown, who. during his pastorate,
overcame all obstacles. Mr., Brown was
an eloquent preacher and lovsble man,
Prof Clark welcomed the return from
his vacation Of the Rev 4. l. Goshen in
the warmest and most eloquent of terms.
which was appropriately responded to by
Rev, Mr., Goshen. who predicted that the
work OF the church the ensuing year
would be the most interesting and profit
able since their coming together.
musical number on the plano and
violin by the Misses Evans and Allen
was e1qulsitely rendered. after which the
Informal social mingling which had char
acterized the evening was for season
resumed. The entertainment was his
torically interesting and a social success.