American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1910-07-02
HANDSOME CHURCH
DEDICATED SUNDAY
Many Visiting Ministers Join
in the Service.
New Edifice Held Large Crowd At
tracted by the Occasion-Ser-
mon Was Strong and Con-
yincing-Historical.

Sunday was a red letter day in
the annals of Presbyterianism of
American Falls. 1t has been only
during the past two years that the
Puritanical edicts as taught by that
little coterie of Irish Presbyterians
under Macamie. who settled in Vir-
ginia during the establishment of
free church by Lord Delaware and
the establishment of the First
church in Philadelphia. Now, then,
history is to be written again.
Sometime along about the early
seventies DR.. S. H. Wishard came
into Utah as the synodical evangel-
ist, then followed DR.. J. H. McClain.
who in turn gave way to DR.. J. H.
Barton, who on this occasion, the
dedicating of the First Presbyter-
ian church of American Falls, is
but fulfilling the many hopes of
thousands of people who have for
many years, asked for home
in the west. To Rev. Tweed, to
whom should belong the credit of
establishing a permanent home for
the church here, too much can not
be said, for he has certainly labored
hard and succeeded magnificently.
The civic control of the church is
in the hands of board Of trustees,
comprised of the following well
known citizens: w H. Philbrick,
H. R. Hager, Charles Anderson. G.
A. Line and r. C. Austin. The
church session is composed of the
following gentlemen: H. R. Hager,
clerk Charles Anderson and w. w.
Thompson. The Presbyterian Cir
Gle is differed by Mrs. G.. e. VIII
son president and Hrs. H. R. Ha-
ger, secretary. To these ladies and
their able assistants is due in a
large measure the success of the un-
dertaking.
The auditorium will have a seat
ing capacity of 800 and with chairs
and standing room 500 could be ac-
co'hmodated. The ceiling is plas-
tered arch, descending from which
Is al antique bracket chandelier.
with five lights. The floor of the an
dltorlum has pronounced slope
toward the pulpit. which makes ever
portion of the room visible to the
speaker. The pulpit stand is raised
somewhat above average height
gives to the pulpit stand a much
better appearance than is usually
the case. The choir has ample ac-
com mmodatlons, and the pulpit is
lighted by direct stand reflecting
lamp which throws the light direct
upon the readers desk and NOT in
the eyes of the congregation, which
is actually point of congratuIa-
tioD. Wall brackets complese the
illumination.
Following the hymn and inyoca-
tion Sunday, the dedicatory exercis-
es were opened by the Rev. Hall
1NOhoSS " aiAiot pdSloI VI the VI Il
church, whose congregation united
with others in the dedicatory SER
vices. who read from the second
Chronicles chapter six, of Dayid's
task of building to one God After
the reading vocal solo, Grass
and Roses" with violin obligato by
Oscar Rydyal, was rendered by Mrs.
Atwood, who sang very sweetly.
The sermon was an unusual topic
from the fact that the listen
teners were unprepared for the ev-
eryday application of the subject of
the moral value of the church as
to the social and private life of it's
Carpenter Mrs. Atwood, Messrs.
w. W. Thompson and o. H. Barber
sang THE Lord Bless Thee" after
which the Rev. Rankin closed the
general services preparatory to the
ritualistic service.
The church was crowded to it's
capacity, a number being unable to
find seats, and stood during the en-
tire services. Just before closing
about $3.50 was raised for the pur-
pose of purchasing pews. The choir
has been enlarged and includes the
following: Mrs. Carpenter. Mrs G.
A. Line, Mrs. C. Earl Wilson, Mrs.
Atwood, and Messre. Thompson, Bar
ber, Brokaw and Dayer. Prepara-
tions are under way looking to the
making of music more prominent
feature than in the past.