The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1915-07-22

The corner stone of the new Presby-
terian church will be formally laid
next week with the ceremonies proper
to- the dignity of the occasion. Fol-
lowing is an interesting historical
sketch and declaration Of the teach
|ingsxof the church prepared by the
presssnt pastor, Rev. Albert Torbet:
The first congregation to gather for
worship in Devils Lake village as
sembled on the first Sunday in May,
1883, the minister in charge of the
service being a young nan from Union
Seminary, New York city, whose nam
was Henry B. Smith.
The church was formally organized
five months later, Sept. 2, 1883, with
thirteen charter members and nine
others whose names were ordered en-
rolled as soon as their letters of trans
ference should be received.
1t has had six stated supplies whose
names are as follows: Revs. H. H.
Brownlee, c. c. Convers, l.. E. banks,
j. F. Killen, James Hunter and John
M. Waddell; and it has had four in
stalled pastors, whose names are as
follows: Revs. H. w. H%arbaugh, N.
S. Reeves, A. G. Bailey and Albert
Torbet, who has been with the church
about four years.
T., +1.e +;r,o Az, ol,rol, hoe l,oJ oTO
communicate members, which does
not include children and the much
larger number Of adherents who are
not yet communicates, there being at
present 100 families.
The last year when there has been
financial depression has been the
most prosperous in the history Of the
church in the number of members re.
ceived, the amount of money contri.
buted, and in the Sunday School
which on a single Sunday of no spec
: ial attraction had 1873 present.
The first service held in the origina
edifce vas in February, 1884, a Sun
day school being organized at tha'
. time, and a Woman's Missionary So
ciety organized the next week.
: At present there is a f1ourishinf
: West minister Guild Circle, organized
/ by Mrs. Albert Torbet, a Christian En-
deavor society, organized by Ernes
Hawley Haig in 1894, of which Mr.
: Nathan Whitcomb is president, and {
goodly number of the ladies of tn
congregation belong to the Woman
Christian Temperance Union.
The present resident elders ar,
t Messrs. Lafayette Palmer, J. A. Haig
4 H. S. Poage, William Sparks, H. M
Wier, who are the acting elders, Will
Messrs. Jacob Halliday and c. F
/ Moody are elders who may represen
the church in Presbytery, or Synod
or Assembly.
s The present board of trustees ar
Messrs. N. A.. Robertson, c. P. Brain
: ard, C.. F. Moody, c. E. Burgess, J. A
Shannon and Andrew Rutherford.
Mrs. John Wallace is president o
the Ladies' Aid Society, and Mrs.
j, B. Mitchell is president of the W.
mans Missionary society.
Elder J.. A. Haig is superintendent
. of the Sunday school and DR.. H. {
Romig is assistant superintendent.
: The first real movement towar
y erecting this second church edific
+ was started at the annual churc
9 meeting after the election of the Of
+ fcers and listening to the exceller
+ reports Of the work of the year 1911
q Treasurer Jacob Halliday exhibite
some very antiquated tools whic
would be altogether inadequate fo
doing present day work in the worlt
= and he stated that just such was tn
> inadequacy of the old church which wa
Z good enough for the small villag
. when it was erected 80 years ago; an
. he made such an enthusiastic plea fc
u a new and modern church building a
stirred many present to subscrib
; toward it's erection right there.
: Every Sunday school class fortl
Z with began to gather funds with er
Il thusiasm and up to date the class {
II Mrs. J. c. Ziebell holds the record.
: The congregation at the annu:
meeting voted unanimously that
the funds on hand and in prospe'
=, - seemed to warrant, the building con
mittee should go ahead according
T. the plans exhibited by Architect Sha1
L non.
l. A building committee consisting
L Messrs. F. P. Mann, Henry Hale, ar