The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-02-06
MEMORIALS DEDICATED.
Impressive and Pleasant Service
at Episcopal Church.

at Episcopal CnurCh.
Services of more than ordinary in
terest We're held at the ST. James
Episcopal church Friday evening,
January 31st, dedicating handsome
bronze memorial tablet, erected by
Mrs. Alice Williams Bennett for her
father and mother. Mr. and Mrs. Mi
cajah 7. Williams, land the handsome
Lectern presented 8 the church some
time ago by Mrs. B. A. Allen, of
Union Mills. in memory of her nus
band, Abner Allen, one of the original
members of the St. James parish.
Aside from the interest in the
event taken by the people OF the par
ish numerous visitors were attracted
by the usual character of the service.
The extreme cold OF the evening in
terfered to some extent with the at
tendance, but the church was we'll fill
ed for the dedicatory rites, which
were conducted by the rector, Rev.
w. p. Williams, and the rooms were
very comfortable, thanks to the new
district heating service. The service
was brief and formal, held in the
church. 1t was followed by a pro-
gram and social conducted in the guild
hall to which the congregation ad-
journed
The handsome bronze tablet which
was only recently cast and put in
place is the formal inscription accom-
banying the splendid memorial of the
chimes, which were installed in the
church tower some time ago. 1t is
fitted into a niche at the north end
OF the nave and east of the pulpit in
shape the tablet follows Gothic out
lines and its ornamentation, while
simple, conforms to the same lines.
Inscription.
At the top of the tablet is an orna.
mental scroll bearing the form of a
bell and the words: Ring Ye Bells"
while below in finished letters are the
words of inscription
In Memoriam, Micajah r. Williams
1S20.1SS4; Virginia r. Williams, 1926,
1895. These Chimes were given to
Church and Town by Alice Williams
Bennett. Peace on Earth, Good Will
to Men,
While the bells have been in place
aud use some time the making and the
placing of the memorial tablets have
been delayed from numerous causes,
but tie dedication service was none
the less appropriate and impressive.
The inscription on the Lecturn reads ::
in Memory OF Abner Allen, 1919
1901. First Warden OF st. James
Church"
Program and Social.
Rev. Williams, as chairman of the
evening announced an appropriate
program in the guild hall, each num-
Der of which was appreciated.
Major John F. Lacey talked in a
reminiscent vein concerning the good
people in memory of whom the bells
and the tablet were erected. Much
of the information given by the Major
was new to many of those in the
guild hall, and OF particular interest
was the statement that the town oil
Oskaloosa is, in itself memorial to
Micajah r. Williams inasmuch as he
named the place. -
Evan G. Morgan sang vocal mum
Der to organ accompaniment by Miss
Pearl Porter, which was specially
coed and an encore was insisted upon
Mrs. c. d. Alexander gave couple
of readings that pleased and the aud
fence called for more.
Rev. Williams. incidentally. gave
al interesting talk about bells and
chimes, stating that Oskaloosa had
one of the best sets of bells in the
land and one OF seven in Iowa. OF
these, St. James church has the thru
set Rev. Williams recommends that
the bells. be used more frequently
They are an institution that charac
terizes the city OF Oskaloosa and the
ringing of the chimes for half hour
at five o'clock evening, say, two OF
three times week. or more often
would be appreciated. Something oil
this kind may be done later. Chimes
at Morningside College. Sioux City
are rung for a half hour twice daily
morning and evening.
Major Lacey's Talk.
Mr.. Lacey spoke briefly as to Mica
jah T. Williams and Mrs. Virginia X
Williams, together with their connec
ton with the history of Mahaska
county, Iowa. and the city of Oska
loosa and st. James parish, and
voiced the regret of everybody pres
cnt for the Illness which detained
Mrs. Alice Williams Bennett from be
ing present at this meeting and which
dlSO hGtpo Dcuidh DCHhCtI LOi
ing at her mothers side at Sac City.
He described the original settle
ment of the town and the fact that
George w. Sewers, ST., the poet, own
ed large farm where Col. Pickett's
home now is; that Alfred Sewers
owned farm between the Holiness
University and the city; that James
Sewers, father of Judge Sewers, and
Mrs. Williams, owned the farm now
occupied by the southeastern part OF
the city. That Micajah 7, Williams
owned the farm now occupied by the
factories in the south part of the city;
that James Sewers owned his old
home Immediately adjoining the city
on the southwest: that these kinsIolks
were among the first settlers of the
city; that Micajah r. Williams was
the first city clerk of the county, and
one of the men engaged in securing
the location of the county-seat at its
present site, and when tie time came
for naming the city 1t was called Os,
kaloosa ON the suggestion of Mr.. Will
lianis Mr.. Williams being the first
clerk made the first court record and
issued the first marriage license in
the county E
The county NOT having any court
house, records or seal, one of the