The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-09-13
CANAAN IS
RE-DED|CATED
Helpful Services Were Held
Sunday.
MODEL TEMPLE OF WORSHIP
Congregation Justly Proud
nc TIE No,sy TJ;Gon
Free From All Debt, the Rcmodclcd
Church Is Now Consecrated to Di-
vino Worship Attendance at all
Services Was Very Large. N

| Clear of indebtedness and back
ed by one OF the most enthusiastic
| congregations in the country, Canaan
church located five miles south of
the city nthe kichland pike, was
dedicated, Sunday. The occasion was
perhaps one of the most triumphant
of its kind ever held in this vicinity.
Canaan church is one of the most
noted rural congregations in the
country. A number of Marion people
are charter members of the body and
they prize the honor very highly.
The church being located in the midst
OF an exceptionally intellectual class
the congregation has always been of
the aggressive order and has accom-
plished things that other rural
churches would fear to attempt.
The new house of worship is mag
nficent in every particular. It is more
complete than many of the city
churches and the Interior Is finished
after beautiful design. A spacious
gallery has been constructed a. .he
rear; a choir loft is located at the
right of the pulpit; the windows are
exceptionally large and pretty. In
fact, the entire church could not have
been designed in a more satisfactory
manner. A large Sunday School room
which can be converted into an audi
torium, is feature Of the interior
arrangement.
The congregation did not secure
their beautiful new home without
sacrifice. Sunday was the day of tri-
umph after many long weeks of per-
sonal sacrifice upon the part of the
members. Besides contributing heavi-
ly in financial way the members
could be seen during the rainy wealth
er, working with their teams, dig
ging the basement. grading the
lawn and performing various tasks
During the dull seasons when they
were not attached ito farm duties. the
members gatheredlat the church and
assisted the carpenters, thus rushing
the work of construction and complet-
irg It much earlier than was expect
ed.
The cost of improving the church
was $4,000. At the dedicatory services
Sunday morning $500 remained un-
paid A number of the members
} quickly subscribed 5000 and the
Sunday School contributed the other
hundred. Thus the fond desire of the
members-to dedicate the new house
OF worship without one penny of debt,
was realized. 1t had been heavy
burden for the little flock, but they
sat, happy and contented, in their
neat little temple, Sunday.
Three services and a big picnic was
the general program of the day. Rev.
Seager, publisher of Evangelical lit
erature from Cleveland. Ohio, ad-
dressed the congregation at the
morning and evening services. In the
afternoon Rev. Berger. elder of the
Marion circuit delivered a powerful
address. The attendance at all meet
ings was exceedingly large and at the
evening service standing room was
at premium. The music at all the
large choir under the direction of
services was exceptionally fine. The
David Cope, rendered special anthems
and an eleven piece orchestra delight
ed the congregation with it's work.
Miss Pearl Graham. a musician of
much talent, presided at the piano
throughout the programs.
The orchestra consisted of the fol-
lowing musicians, Samuel Wolfinger
(leader), -..oert Click, William Wolf
niger, Clinton Click Ellis Epley, John
Dietch. Urban Graham, Miss Hilda
Stone, Miss Ethel Graham, Mrs.
Francis Click and Miss Pearl Graham.
A special feature of the evening
program was vocal duett which was
rendered by Misses Ethel Graham and
Hilda Stone. The number was much
appreciated.
Immediately at the conclusion of
the morning program, the members
of the congregation and their friends
numbering about four hundred, as
sembled in the grove ives. of the
church and delightful picnic result.
ed. The contents OF many heavily
laden baskets was spread upon the
grass and feast, scrumptious in
every respect was Dartaken.
Old members OF the church. friends
and former patrons assembled Sun
day and many old acquaintances
were renewed.
The success of the Improvement
project was largely due to the efforts
of the building committee which was