The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-05-02
DEDICATION OF
M. E. CHURCH
DR.. COLEMAN breaches SERMON
Large Gathering Assemblies to Witness
CeremOny-Debt Canceled-0r.
ganizatiOn Prosperous.

| Important CnHpIUf IN the history OF
this church IrgaulZation. About 2l
years ago he. ". y. Benadom, the
first Methodist preacher, held services
at Pine Grove il the little old school
house that occupied the site OF the
present spIu-dIa puUiiC school build
ing. The first Methodist society In
Hood River valley was organized at
Belmont a quarter Of century ago,
and it was from this center that the
various districts of the valley we're
supplied with preaching services of
the Methodist faith. The first time
that Rev. Bensdom was to supply
Pine Grove, NJ. Ii. Nickelsen, OF Bel
mont, accompanied him, because the
Rev. gentleman was afraid OF getting
lost in the woods as the Dads we're Il
little dim in those days.
The Methodist denomination from
that date to the present, has been
very faithful in supplying this point
with preaching services. Many dis.
couragements have fallen athwarth
the pathway OF this society in its en-
deayor to maintain its cause at this
place. The population of the district
has been shifting to and fro. Some
years the church would be strong and
other years it would be corr espond-
ingly weak.
The building OF the present struct.
uIe was made possible by the bequest
OF Dawes Divers, who bequeathed to
the society for the purpose OF build
ing the church, the SUN OF $1,000. The
present edilice stands as memorial
to life and service of this grand old
patriarch, servant OF God and bene-
factor OF his race. In order to set
this fact more prominent before the
worshipeIs at this shrine, the trustees
have secured beautiful marble
square, which adorns the interior
south wall bearing this inscription
"Daves Divers, 1923, 1904, In Memor.
iaam." Father Divers came to Hood
River in 1862 and settled upon farm
about nine miles south of town on the
banks OF the river, and remained here
up to with a few years OF bis death.
His home was always the home TOR g
Methodist itinerant, and he was al
ardent worker fl the cause. A mai
of sterling character and amiable dis
position.
The church edihee, made possible
by this gift, is neat and comodious IL
design, The main auditorium Is 28x4,
feet with all additional room on tn,
north, separated by folding glass pan
eIed doors. which is l4x28 feet. Th
building is plsstered throughout AM
finished in first grade yellow Fir. Th
-. "A nd hl
pulpit platform is beautifully carpet
ed. The seats are comfortable pat
tern, and so arranged as to Civ,
sufficient aisle room for funeral pur
poses. The entire structure bears pro
portions of splendid symmetry, anC
is well fuilt. S. e. Bartmess present
ed the church with set of pulpit ant
choir chairs.
The Sunday morning services begal
promptly at 1890. Messrs. l.. II
Clark, q. A. Littleheld and W. NJ
Moore acted as usheis, and succeeded
in packing nearly tour hundred peo
pie into the building. Many repre-
sentative Methodist laymen from 9th
er districts in the valley we're presen
aud aided in the contribution L
liquidate the debt.
The first number of the program
was an organ voluntary which wa
| splendidly executed by Mrs. be
Lage, who presided at the orga
throughout the services OF the day
, During the execution OF processio on
al the following members of the choi
marched in and took their places i
: the choir lott. Messrs. Ben Lage
+. G. Dethman, Martin Dragseth an
5 Ed Lage, Misses Viola Miller, Eunic
Clark and Airline Wincheli, and Mes
/. danes Ed Lage, M. Dragseth, j. jan
> Wis and Fl h. Redheld. The anthem
sung by the choir we're we'll rendered
" Rev. Walton SkipwoIth had charg
of tho morning services and annount
ed the 66l hymn in the Methods
d hymnal, which was followet by tn
! Apostles creed by the congregation
e after which Rev. SkipwoIth otfere
r prayer, followed by the. Lord g pray
q er in concert. The choir rendered a
/. appropriate anthem, followed by th
r reading of the As psalm by Rev. A. a
y Luce and the singing OF the Giori
o Patri by the congregation.
IS Rev. Ii. G. Clark made brief hi
IF toricaI sketch of the Methodist Of
ganization in the valley. He state
7, thst about q years ago the first Metf
n odist society was organized In Hoo
River and that only two of the cha
- ter members we're now living In ii
valley, namely: f. G. Sherrieb an
4, Mrs. NJ. Ii. Nickelsen, who are no
present as we come to dedicate th
$, house.
Rev. Watl, Skipworth then intr'
d duced Rev. j. II. Coleman, ID. ID
e. president of the Willamette univers
Of Iy, who preached the dedicatory SO
,e vice from the text found in Mat
's 1928 "Pay What Thou Owest. ="
Z DIR. Coleman prefaced his discourl
in stating that everyone had occasic
to rejoice on account OF this occ
5, sion. 1t is a great thing to have
- church in community. A church
of value to real estate as we'll as to Il
d, mnrals of the people. | ain surpriss
$, to see so many here this morning.
u asked the pastor WHY he brought
oe oa many chairs into the church in add
~ tion to the seating capacity. l vi
le le assured that they would be filled u
- but could not see where they we
le to come from, but you are here, al
- the chairs are filed. | greet you th
ID morning in the name OF our Mast
~ and the church.
!, The theme of the morning discour
"' was: "Man's moral obligation to Gt
e. and his fellow men," The speak
stated that men we're sensible al
- conscious of moral obligation to Go
and that this conviction comes to &
+o race without any special study Of &
IA bible OF religious literature.
~ " Inc very fact that we ale the co
- stant recipients OF divine benefit
Nv oonyincas ua of our nhIiOati0n To D(