The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1908-09-17
HISTORY OF N. E.
CHURCH IN CAKES
Pastor 0pie Furnishes Some
Interesting Data
The Prairie Town Church Superseded BY
Modern Edifce to Cost $4,000
cornerstone to be Laid

Y4&SSVVV
cornerstone to be Laid
Rev. Chas. S. Lane was appointed as
minister of Oakes circuit by North
Dakota Conference, in Oct. 1887. He
was succeeded year later by Rev.
Fred Giddings, who made preparations,
by securing site and excavating cellar,
of the present building. He remained
until 1890 when Rev. j. Bellonroe be-
came preacher in charge who built the
church and opened it for worship in
1891. Then Conference appointed Rev.
A. T. Nichols as preacher to travel this
circuit. He remained until Dec, 1893,
when Rev. w. A. Robbins became his
successor. Rev. Robbins remained
only few months and was followed by
Rev. ]. c. Pike in April, 1894. He
served the church until Sept. 1894.
Rev. Geo. E. Bailey Of sainted MEM
ory then became pastor. He died in
Oakes after a brief illness. on March 18,
1896, as the result of an accident.
Mrs. Bailey is still tenderly remembered
for her lovely Christian character and
charities. Conference appointed Rev.
]. NJ. Taylor in April, 1896. He re-
mained in charge until 1893, during
which he faithfully and with great self
denial served the church. Then the
Conference conferred a great favor
upon Oakes by appointing Bishop as
pastor. Many Of all denominations
still remember the popular and success
full Rev. A. 7. Bishop. This ministry
was great strengthening to the work
of this charge and his visits to the
homes of'people viii be fergottan.
! He raised the long standing debt on the
church building. In 1900 there was a
dearth Of ministers in North Dakota
5Con6srenes and: Nr. Joe Scarhoros sacted
for--a, -few.monttll4l ~ piitd1. He-was
sneeeeded by =Revs Elmer Duden IN
Jan, 1901. However he remained only
until following April, when Conference
appointed Rev. J. N. Loach. Brother
!; Loach's ministry was unprecedented.
ia few moaths altar his appointment
;ihe married Cofs May, daughter Of
Mr.. and Mrs. c. B. Sackrider. He
broke the record as to length Of minis
try, as he was minister in Cakes four
years and six months. During his min
istry the greatest religious awakening
/. in the history Of Oakes occurred. and
the church membership was greatly in
creased. Conference appointed Rev.
]. S. DeLong as preacher in charge in
Oct, 1905. He was strong pulpiteer
and during his ministry the church pur-
chased the new parsonage. He re-
manned until Oct, 1907.
Bishop Goodsell, at the Minot Con-
ference decided that the status of
{ Oakes church should be elevated from
q circuit to pastorate, because of de-
ivelopment of town and growth of
church. The godly bishop was accurate
in his procedure as the congregation
and Sunday school has outgrown the
present church under the pastorate of
Rev. James Opie.
II Negotiations were commenced with
the Norwegian and Hague Lutheran
congregations last May, who had no
church edifice and they purchased the
present church and site in July for the
remarkably low figure Of 81 $50, with
arrangements that the Methodists va
cate present building on or before Jan.
!, 1909. A new site, three lots, was
purchased on corner Of Third and Ash
streets and the pastor and board Of
trustees Of Methodists soon hustled and
secured plans for the new church and
on August 5th ult. let contract, and
broke ground for the new church.
A. Ritterbush & Son, our pioneer
contractors. were awarded general con-
tract for $1,000. The building com.
plete will cost about $4,000. The
structure is to be of Hebron pressed
brick. with Portage Entry red sand.
stone trimmings, and will be one Of the
most elegant churches in North Da-
kota. The windows will be Of art loaded
glass and church will be heated by
furnace. A full basement is excavated
and will remain unfinished until future
needs require its completion.
The main auditorium is Of modern de.
sign with semi circle seats and bowled
foor, and will seat $50 In pews. The
Sunday school annex and room will
easily accommodate 200 others. The
Sunday school annex opens into main
auditorium with rolling Partition
and building 1hen, thus thrown ropen
viii accommodate $50 to 500 people
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