The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-02-11
THE METHODIST RALLY
The First Anniversary of the New
Church Was Duly Celebrated All
Day Sunday.

CHURCH was Duly CGleDfltGO All
Day Sunday.
Sunday the Methodist people as
sembled in large numbers at their
church home to celebrate the first
anniversary of the dedication of the
church building. The occasion was a
very happy one to all concerned, and
the spirit of good fellowship prevail
ed throughout the services of the
day in an unusual way. The church
is without a pastor at the present
time, and an invitation was extended
to DR.. A. c. Stevens, of st. Paul, to
occupy the pulpit once more. And he
came and ministered unto the peo-
pie once more as he did some ten
years ago, when he was pastor of the
church.
An exceptionally fine musical pro-
gram was presented during the morn
ing service by the choir of twenty
voices under the direction of Prof.
E. w. Hobson, three anthems of un-
usual merit being presented at the
morning service
DR.. Stevens preached a sermon Of
great interest from the text found in
Isaiah 43:19. He expressed his great
pleasure at being with his old friends
and to have the opportunity of meet
ing with new members of the church
who have come since his departure.
DR.. Stevens complimented the mem
bers on having such magnificent
home, and said that no Methodist
church in st. Paul approached it, and
none had so large membership. He
said that it was not an easy task
which had been assumed by the peo-
pie of the church-that is the work
that must be done in conjunction
with church Of such prominence.
DR.. Stevens is optimistic in the work
of religion of today and expressed the
strong belief that this is Gods greatest
good and best day is at the present
time, and he felt it a splendid privi-
lege to live in such an age as this.
He felt that the presence of God pre-
vailed among the people to remark
able extent, and he told of the ways
in which the Lord was working to
further the ends of the religious
cause. DR.. Stevens referred to
banquet of 500 men which was held
in ST. Paul few days ago, which had
for the purpose of securing pledges.
from men to work more assiduously
in the cause of Christ. Messages. he
said, were presented from men who
have travelled everywhere and the
concensus of opinion Of these men
was to the effect that the cause of
Christ was the greatest thing of this
age, and that there was nothing else
needed half so badly as the greater
spread of the gospel and of men to
carry it in the most needed places.
DR.. Stevens presented some good
thoughts concerning a closer presence
with Christ, for the upbuilding of the
kingdom on earth. He spoke of the
great work which had been built
up in this western country and of the
foundation that had been laid by the
pioneer ministers who first came here
and suffered much that the cause of
Christ could be carried to the frontier
and be maintained there, to grow
with the country and be a guide to
the men and women. He spoke Of
the new sense of the divine in man
and the seemingly closer presence of
Christ in the world. He said there
were two forces at work, positive and
negative-that Christ was the posi-
tive, and that if you get on the mega
tive side it is your own fault.
At the close of his sermon DR.. Ste
vens took up the matter of present.
ing the idea of subscription of the
new bonds, and called on DR.. Bobb
to make what statements were ne
cessary. DR.. Bobb, who is the bonl
secretary, made a statement of the
financial condition of the church
since the bonds were issued a year
ago, and which was also printed on
the church bulletin A number of men
were sent into the audience to dis
pose of additional bonds and they
met with very good success
The result of the donations was
announced to be s1,14O, and it was
a little more than the committee an
securing. The greater part
of the money contributed by those
who have Joined the church in the
past year.