Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-01-31
DEDICATE NEW N. {,
CHURCH ON SUNDAY
ELABORATE AND INTERESTING
SERVICES HELD.
Monument to the Self Sacrifice
and Earnest labor of Pastor and
MemberS-NOtdbleS Assist in
DediCdtory ExerCiSeS-Dr. Ed
win Randall of Chicago.

Sunday, the First Methodist Eplsco-
pal church of this city dedicated it's
beautiful new church edifce to the
service of Almighty God with elaborate
and interesting services, cunsonant
with the occasion and with grateful
hearts.
1t is certainly an edifce of which
they have reason to be proud, and a
building which ACIDS to the beauty of
the city, and a monument to the self
sacrifice and earnest labors of the
pastor and members. Much praise is
due the pastor of the church, Rev.
Morris l.. Eversz, who under the most
discouraging financial conditions never
lest heart, but hopefully lahored in
season and out OF SEASON, and saw the
fruition of his hopes in the erection
and completion OF an edifice which
will stand for years as a mute witness
of his selt-denial and great labor for
his God and his church. He is entitled
to great credit, which will not be
|
of his congregation and the public
generally, and all can truthfuliy say,
"Well done, good and faithful SER
want -
The exercises during the morning
services consisted of music, prayer
and an eloquent address, delivered by
Rev Edwin IA. Randall, u. D. of
Chicago, who is general secretary of
the Epworth League, one of the
auxIliaries of the Methodist Episcopal
church. The address was replete with
beautiful thoughts and demonstrated
that the heart of the speaker was in
his words, and while eloquent, were
instructive to marked degrse and
will long be remembered by those whu
heard the address.
In the evening, the auditorium was
crowded to its utmost capacity, sever
al of the churches in the city having
dispensed with an evening service,
that their congregations might attend
the dedicatory services in the new
church. The sermon in the evening
was delivered by Rev. John Key nolds,
D. D., presiding elder of the district,
who took for his text the words
recorded in verse 8, chapter IL, book
of Zachariah, which are as foil CIV
1.-The Lord shall defend the city, and
that is feeble among them shall be
like David. and the house of David as
the angel of the Lord,' and preached
a powerful sermon, In which he paint
ed many word pictures, bringing the
thoughts of his hearers up to the
central figure of our faith, the Christ :;
and showing that those, Though
feeble, are strong in the Lord, if
faithful in the discharge of their
duties toward God and bis Christ.
Following the sermon, Mayor Null
berger was introduced and brought
greetings which he expressed in we'll
chosen words, speaking of the beauti-
full building in which in the years to
; come, the members will meet on Sum
day and at the social meeting free from
the thoughts of the world to worship
God.
A brief history of the church will
no doubt be of interest to the public
; The first Methodist gospel sermon
ever preached in Watertown was de-
livered by the Rev. H. Frink, who
was sent to this region by the Illinois
conference IN 1889. He preached in a
log school house twelve feet square IN
the rear of where Stapleton's drug
sture now stands.
The first church was organized il
1874 by the Rev. Stephen Jones and
composed Of the following members
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Andrews, Mr..
and Mrs. Calvin Boughton, Mr.. ane
Mrs. Heber Smith, Mr.. and Mrs.
; William butcher, Mr.. and Mrs. Elihu
H iggens, Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Cook
Mr. and Mrs. Cheney Adams. Mr.. anG
7 Mrs. John Bailey, Mrs. Simeon Ford,
Mr.. Sands Cook. Mrs. Harriet Norton
; and others. Mrs. Bailey is still llv
ing.
During the Rev. Jones pastorate
l the church edifice was commenced ant
u completed the next year. 1845, undel
the pastorate Of Rev. W. q. Miller
i 1t was a frame structure 80 x 40 fee
n in size. In 1873 it was enlarged b!
e an addition 80 Sc feet with a par
sonage wing and brick veneered. l
Ii could not be modernized under cit.
d ordinance, SO to meet new conditions
i; was torn down in April, 1907, t
u make way for the new church, tn
e conner stone of which was laid Jun
. 4, 1907.
n