The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-06-21
Methodist Protestants, Through En-
terprlse Of Pastor, J. o. Led
better, Present Interest
ing Volume.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Present spIndid Edifice and congre-
cation Grows From Cottage
Prayer Meetings Which
Were Held.

A directory of the First Methodist
Protestant church Of Keokuk has just
been issued. The book was off the
press yesterday, and contains an in
teresting sketch OF the church, and
photographs Of the pastor, the Rev. J.
o. Ledbetter, his wife, the choir and
the church building, besides num-
4 Der OF individual photos of officers
and the like.
i The book has been compiled by the
Rev. J. O. Led'better, the wice-awake
. and popular pastor Of the church. 1t
Is most complete little volume re-
plete with information and of inter.
est not only to the members OF the
church but to people in the commun-
ity. The advertising space has been
generously taken.
! There Is brief sketch OF the his
tory Of the Methodist Protestant
church covering the period from the
year 1929 to the present day history
of the denomination. Following this
| is history of the First Methodist
Protestant church OF Keokuk. 1t was
in the summer OF 1906 when cottage
meetings we're first held, that the
germ of organization which developed
into the present church came to life.
Those most prominent in devotiOns
and who December Is, 1906. became
charter members were as follows:
s. l.. Gregory and wife, Gertrude
Meister and her son c. Ingrim, s.
B. Mccoy and wife and their daugh-
ter Mae, Benjamin Crowell, Mrs. e.
len Hooker. Mrs. P. J. Furtney, Mrs.
Isabel vanCamp, Mrs. George Bang
hart and Thomas Garlick.
The following from the history OF
the local church is of interest:
History Of Church.
When the cottage prayer meetings
began there was littls or no thought
Of the organization OF a Methodist
Protestant church and the sole cause
OF the selection OF our church was
due to the fact Of her mutual rights
principles. When the number had
suniciently Increased and the facts of
no organization in the city with gov
eminent that harmonized with their
views. q more thorough research was
made and s. L. Gregory having for
m arly been associated with the Meth
odist Protestant church explained as
best he could its liberality In govern
ment and Gertrude (Meister) O'Blen-
ess Joined heartily in recommending
the same church and because Of this
influence Rev. D. G. Jackson OF st.
Missouri. was sent for
who held few meetings. preaching
NE gospel and explaining the govern
ment Of the M sthodist Protestant !
church. He communicated the outlook
and desire OF the people to Rev. J. H.
Lucas, D. D., who was secretary treas
urer OF the board OF home missions
of the Methodist Protestant church.
who Immediately came on the ground
and was we'll pleased with the out
ook, and stayed for few days and
explained the principles OF our econ
,my more peri sctly. The society was
eft in the hands and under the man
,gement of Rev. Jackson and on De-
.ember 16, 1906, he organized Meth.
,dist Protestant church with thirteen
n embers as afore stated. The church
,eine organized it became necessary
hat pastor have charge OF the
lock and the work carried forward
md on the 18th Of January, 1907. the
,oard of home missions under the
OF Dr. j. H. Lucas sent I,
/. Carleton McCaslin OF the Indiana ,
conference to look after and take
barge Of the organization. The Horns
IalI, at the corner Of Eighth and
lain streets was rented. 1t was here
hat the work began in earnest and
that no church can succeed
without the enlistment OF children,
Iunday school was organized January s
4. 1907. by the election Of the follow
no Superintendent, j. C. Nc
,aslin. assistant superintendent, s.
!. Mccoy; secretary, Louise Sehwarz;
reasurer, Catharine Leighton; organ .
# Myrtle Harmon; librarian, c. In = =
rim M sister. However, about April :,
st, C. o. Taylor was elected superin-
andent. ]. C. McCaslin having resign :
4 the superintendency. :.
plans for Organization. =
A revival meeting was begun in a
anuary, 1907, which continued for Il
re- AXIS and during the months of JAN ri
arv and February 63 joined the or a
anization. While they were worship O
ing in the Horns hall, Rev. W. H. b
treitenberger and Gels held a re, ie,