Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-02
FIFTY YEARS OF THE CHURCH
OOngrsgatiOnalists win Begin Their Semi
Centennial Wednesday,
THREE DAYS OF ctlIBsA1lON PLANNED
Many Church Dignitaries Will Attend
apd Take Part IN the Csrs-
monies AttendinE the
BiE JubiIatiOn.

The celebration Of the hftisth anniversary
Of the founding Of the First Congregational
church Of Omaha will be observed in this
city, beginning with Wednesday morning,
May ?. and continuing through Friday. May
T. The celebration is given under the aus
pieces OF the state societies Of ConereEa-
tional churches. win Rev. George Scott OF
Leigh as moderator and Prof. F. G. Taylor
Of Weeping water. as clerk.
The history OF the First Congregational
church OF Omaha runs back almost to the
beginning Of the city's life. In 1855 Rev.
Reuben Gaylord. who had for seventeen
years been a missionary In Iowa, was sent
by the American Home Missionary Society
10 Omaha He preached through the winter
OF 1858 in the assembly room Of the ter
ritorial legislature. Here, on May 4, 1856,
the church was frst organised, with Gov
ernor and Mrs. o. d. Richardson, Mr.. and
Mrs H. 3. Chapman, James W. Seymour.
Mrs Allen, Mr.. and Mrs Reuben Gaylord
and Miss Sarah A. Gaylord, az charter
members.
Growth of Fifty Years.
The church has grown rapidly since then,
there now being eight Congregational
churches in the city, offshoots from the
parent church. The First Congregational
church has had eight pastors since It's
founding fifty years ago. The present pas
tor, Rev. Hubert c. Herring, d. D.. began
work in September, 1895 The first house
of worship Of this church, erected in 1855
at cost Of $500, was built on the west
side of Sixteenth street. q little north Of
Farnam. 1t was vacated in 1870 for a new
church At Nineteenth and Chicago streets.
which was torn down in 1889. The present
/
teenth streets was erected in 1888 at cost
II 10000
The program for the fftieth anniversary
Of the church is an extended one, the SER
vices beginning at 10 O'Clock wednesday
morning. Rev G. w. Mitchell Of Clarks
presiding. The devotional services will be
conducted by Rev. George e. Taylor Of
| Pierce, who with Mr.. H. p. Fairchild and
Mr.. c. B. Anderson Of Crete will deliver
addresses during the forenoon.
Historical Session.
! A. p Turkey OF Omaha will preside at
the afternoon meeting and the entire SER
vices win bear particularly upon the his
torical record Of the church, with greetings
! from former pastors and members. Rev.
Harmon Bross Of Lincoln will deliver a
short address on ConEregationalism in
| NeDraSkas TO De tOlloWed with papers by
noted church workers on various topics,
such as women's' work, Christian Endeavor
work, Sunday school and home mission
| work
Rev. George Scott of Leigh will preside
at the evening meeting Of Wednesday.
At 8 o'clock President Henry Churchill
King of Oberlin college viii deliver an
address on "The Fundamental Nature Of
Religion"
Day for Business.
Thursdays session will be largely of a
business character, the afternoon session
being given over to educational topics
| On Thursday evening at o'clock, Rev
I Washington GLADDEN. of Columbus, o
moderator OF the National Council of Con.
gregational churches, win deliver an al.
dress on "Recollections of a Lifetime"
DR.. GLADDEN. will also lecture on Friday
evening in the Peoples institute cours.
on the subject of Thomas Carlyle"
Among the other church notables to bt
present during the session will be Rev
George w. Crofts. THE Poet Preacher" 81
West Point, Neb. DR.. Crofts was fol
many years pastor OF the Congregations
church at Council Bluffs, and has beer
pastor of the Congregational church a.
Beatrice Neb., for twelve years. only go
ing to West Point within the past year.