The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-04-07
ST. JOHNS CHURCH
new RECT0RY
Interesting Ceremonies Conducted
Yesterday Afternoon on tho
Grounds Where It VIII
be Built.
THE FIRST DIRT THROWN
Participated In by Pastor and People
With Prayer Thanksgiving and
Praise-compIeted in
September.
THE FIRST DIRT THROWN

| 1t was happy party OF church
/ people who met on the beautiful lawn
f.iust turning green beneath the genial
lIand friendly warmth of an April sun.
lat $50 yesterday afternoon to per,
from q duty with Thanksgiving AND
| joyfulness. 1t was in the rear of the
Episcopal church where the new rec
tory is to be built and they met there
/ in gratitude, prayer and praise and
incidentally to break the first grounu
i for the new building.
i There were at least thirty presen.
! Rev. Dr.. Sage, therefor officiating,
and the exercises We're brief, simple
4 and impressive. There was the reci-
tai of the creed and the Lords PRAYER
in unison and several other prayers
by DR.. Sage.
These exercises closed, the breaking
/ of the ground followed each taking
part in this pretty ceremony. DR..
Sage was the first to disturb the turf
over which the new rectory is to be
built. Mrs. Sage, his wife, followed
and then the others came forward in
the order named: n. w. Upham.
senior warden; G. Collingwood Tuck
err, junior warden. Mrs. Augusta
Kilbourne, representing the Church
Woman's Aid society, the Oldest
society of ST. Johns church; Miss
Mary NJ. tombstone, representing
st. Johns Guild; Miss Eta Ayres,
representing the Woman's Auxiliary
Mrs. Mary Miller, representing the
Altar Guild; Miss Louise Klein,
representing the choir; John w.
Hobbs and Major Henry A. Heaslip,
representing the vestrymen and w.
H. Carter, chairman, and Joseph ] /.
hyres the building committee, u.
Ross Baker the other member OF
this committee was unavoidably alb.
sent from the city.
After these had performed their
part, each of the others was invited
to come forward and participate in
the pleasing ceremony and they al
eagerly accepted the invitation ano
ARE numbered among those who
lshoveled the first dirt In preparing
for building the rectory.
| It! The Stakes Driven.
+ The stakes were driven by the
contractor j. w. Young Friday, lay
ing off the ground for the new builc-
Ing, and the work preliminary to its
erection will be commenced in earn
est Monday morning.
1t will be stone building tic
harmonic with the church and parish
house and will add considerably to
the already splendid appearance OF
the grounds owned by the Episcopa
church, which already contains some
very attractive buildings. This rec
tory will be stric.' odern in all its
appointments and Is estimated to cost
about s12,500, which will bring the
Episcopal property on that corner
Fourth and Concert up to near the
$4,000 mark.
The new church, splendid stone
edifice, was built in 1885 and ten OF
twelve years later the fine parisi
house, one of the most stately an6
complete of any in the state wa:
erected at cost of about $4,000 ant
now comes the new rectory which i
is estimated will cost about $4,000
It is no wonder then that Will
these successes and this progress il
material affairs the membership
should feel elated and with earnes
wbGseih eartedness they should Fer
vently feel to send up thanks ant
praise in the breaking of the grount
in this their last effort with an abund
ant success in reach. The rectory Il
expected to be completed by Septem
Der l of this Year.
Historical Facts.
: The history Of the city informs u.
. that it was April 20, 1850, that
I meeting was held at the law offic'
of Dixon and Wickersham for tn
/ purpose of organizing church of tn
! Protestant Episcopal faith. Bishol
/ Kemper and Rev. William Louder
I s.back were present, the former occu
plying the chair and I. G Wickershan
acting as secretary.
AT this meeting George c. Dixon
Edward kilbourne and Yer Plancl
/ Van Antwerp were appointed con
mittee TO draft articles of association
! and Edward Kilbourne, DR.. d. l.
McGugin and DR.. Young were const
tuted committee to solicit sui
i. scriptions.
Upon motion of Hon. t. w
Claget, Bishop Kemper was requisite,
3 to name the new church. whereupor
: he suggested the present name of ST