The Libby herald. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1911-1913, 1913-01-10
NEW CHURCH
IS DEDICATED
First Presbyterian Church of
Libby Solemnly Dedicated
at the Sunday Morning
Service. Rev. Alexander
Pringle breaches Sermon.

The First PRESBYTERIAN Churcl
OF Libby was 6ttingly dedicated a
the morning service last Sunday
Rev. Alexander Pringle of Kalis
pell assisted the pastor, Rev. w
A. Reed. and preached the dedica
ton sermon. An excellent, al
though somewhat lengthy program
had been prepared and it was car.
ried through without hitch. The
choir had prepared special music
for the occasion which they rem
dered in very acceptable manner.
Misses Donna and Nina Schanck
sang a duet aud Montgomery G.
Rice delighted the audience with a
solo. The pastor, as chairman,
read a report of the building com
mittee which showed the church
to be in exceptionally good condi-
ton financially, in fact nearly out
of debt, and holding negotiable as
sets enought to offset the indebt-
edness and leave a nice balance in
the treasury. The church build
ing proper cost $5675. and the
manse about $1,000. The church
has this all paid for except about
$21oo and they own the two lots
on the corner north of the Jail.
These are we'll worth $4,000 and
they expect to sell them this spring
and wipe out the rest of the indebt-
edness. The building committee
asked to have their report accepted
and that the committee be dis
missed. This was put to a vote of
the congregation and carried. The
business of the committee will be
turned over to the church trustees.
In the evening a union service of
the Presbyterians and Methodists
was held in the Presbyterian church
and Rev. Pringle delivered the
sermon.
Right now seems an appropriate
time for a review of the history of
the struggles of this church, of the
untiring efforts of the men who
have worked for the results that
have been attained. Good men
have come to Libby, labored, and
departed, disheartened, but still
others came to take their places and
the work went on. Sometimes the
church had roof to worship under
and at other times not. Some
times there were worshipers and
at other times the seats were
empty. The present pastor, Rev.
w. A. Reed came here from Penn
sylvania two years ago and is now
beginning his third year as pastor
of the church. To his untiring
energy and the board of trustees
who assisted him is due the credit
for the building of the handsome
structure that now adorns the cor
ner of Montana avenue and Lincoln
Boulevard.
On May 3, 1898, Rev. E. M.
Ellis organized a Sunday school at
Libby. This school is said to be
the first religious organization be-
tween Kalispell and Bonners Ferry
on the Great Northern. The
school has never been abandoned.
In April 1896 Rev. Geo. M. Fisher
assisted by Rev. M. M. Marshall
organized a Presbyterian church
which grew out of this Sunday
school. This organization was in.
complete, as no men could be found
to serve as elders. In Jan. 1904,
after series of gospel meetings
led by Rev. Jas. Rayburn, Rev.
Pringle completed the organiza-
tion. At first this congregation
worshipped in the school house,
but IN 1904 they bought two lots
at the corner of Mineral avenue
and Fourth, then we'll out of the
villaye but NOW one Of the nrinci.