The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-12-20
First Baptist Church at Biandinsville
is Now Ready to be Used as
a House Of Wor-
ship.
is NOW FREE FROM DEBT
Built of White Faced Cement Blocks
and Compares Favorably With
Churches in Much Larg-
err Places.
Special to The Gate City. ]

OpSCldl w nS 1oSO SASJ u
BLANDINSVILLE, Ill.,, Dec. 20
The large new First Baptist church
was dedicated here Sunday, Rev Jud-
son B. Thomas, D. D., of Chicago, de-
livering the principal address. The
dedicatory program calls for special
services every night, except Saturday
Of this week.
The new church is one of the hand
soonest of it's kind in western Illinois,
outside of the cities, and would be
credit to any community of many
times the size of Blandinsville. It's
outward appearance is very attractive
and its general outline suggests room
/ mess. 1t is constructed of white
faced cement blocks, every alternate
layer being only six inches thick. me
alternate feature adds materially to
/ the beauty and attractiveness of the
structure. The auditorium is reached
/ through the main entrance which
opens from concrete veranda and
reception hall to the left of the Nllpit
platform, which occupies the front
of the main building.
Back Of the auditorium is large
Sunday School room, dining room ane
kitchen The entire interior is I'm
ished in natural pine. The walls anc
ceilings throughout the entire build
ing are frescoed in delicate tint'
which add to the pleasing appearance
of the building. An appropriate piece
of scenery done in water colors forms
the background for the baptismal fon
which is Immediately back of ant
opens upon the pulpit platform.
The building of the new church ha
: been almost entirely in the hands
Rev Granger, E. E. Voorhees, an
: Charles o. Griggsby. They bega
: work in May of this year and by din
/ of constant watchfulness and everyda
. pushing have completed a churc
y which is credit to any small city.
i The basement contains dressin
. rooms and back of them two furnace
. The building is fitted out with a man
moth Electric Mfg Co. ga
plant, and handsome light fixtures an
lamps.
This church is good for $4,000 a
i pearance but the cost was placed
much lower figure. The debt to
: cleared Sunday morning was $4,99
nearly all of which was raised in LEI
= than one hour, and the remainder du
! ing the evening session.
10 The program of the week begt
,fro with T Ola
i'll Granger, pastor, in charge. he
S, Granger is young man who came
X Blandinsville about three years az
Id He is one of those born hustlers who
IN all the people admire Everybcd
without regard to church afflliatio
or has a good word to say for Re
Granger He is plain man with
re. wholesome smile. He is toll
re. among men and arouses among othe
7. the enthusiasm he feels himself.
in is native of Iowa, and attended To-
ce College and finished at the Moo
Bible Institute The new church
er Blandinsville is largely the outgroW
to of Rev. Oranger's push and enth
le- iasm. He sets an example and othe
di. are not slow to follow where he lea
Praise We the Lord" is the mo
gs. of the Blandinsville church, and
was with this song that the CHI
a opened the Sunday program. I
81, choir was assisted by Miss Lydia M
tin and Miss Maude Nelson, vocal
it'll of Galesburg, and Miss Ruth Gebha
ib- pianist, and Miss Celestea Gebhs
he violinist from Knox college.
is Rev. Judson B. Thomas, D. d.,
Chicago, using the second chapter
for James for morning lesson and
De- 10th verse of the 10th chapter of
nu-, Luke for text, preached short
tly we'll received sermon appropriate
the occasion. DR.. Thomas, for TO
Wv teen years was secretary of the B
BILE fist missionary society, and proba
CO. has a greater personal acquaintar
among the people of his denominat
av-
ON