Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-31

able to pay all bills by the generous
contributions Of its members and
friends.
st. Joseph's church has enjoyed a
very successful year under the min
Iistrations Of Dean j. j. Quinn. The
parish has a total of 100 souls and
is one OF the largest Catholic parishes
in the state. The school year of st.
Joseph's school, in connection with
/ the church, has been a most prosper
Gus one,
/ Sacred Heart Catholic church re-
ports 1920 souls in the parish, with
/ 300 families During the year there
have been $4,000 eommunions and Sc
( baptisms.
= During the year the pastor, Father
/ 0'Neili, has made extensive improve
tments in the church and parish house.
A new organ costing $4,000 was in
stalled in Sacred Heart church, half
! the cost of which was donated by An
drew Carnegie.
St. Mary's Catholic church, with new
/ improvements just completed costing
over $500, is a remarkable example
/ of church activity on the part Of the
pastor. Father Peter Kluck, and the
members Of his parish, The new work
is all paid for, and $500 was paid on
the old church debt, which is now re-
duced to $500. and in year or two
this will be paid off. Many families
have joined the parish, and the num-
Der is now $50 families. All pews have
been rented and the pew rent will
amount to $1,000 for the new year.
The Interior of the church has been
beautifully frescoed and new affairs,
stations, etc. have been added. Beau
tifully wrought outside doors are a
part Of the improvements made in the
church property.
In the Grace English Lutheran
church there has been a steady growth
in church membership, the roll of
commandments having been increased
| by 80. This church is in most
healthy and fourishing condition.
Rabbi NJ Goldman, who was the
first to agitate the problem of building
Ia synagogue, now known as Beth-Is-
rael synagogue. is still the minister
to the Jewish people of the city. When
the synagogue was built in 1901 there
were but so Jewish families in the
city, 80 Of whom were connected with
the first services. Since that time the
number has greatly increased ans
the attendance at the services during
the holiday seasons is between 800 and
400.
In our city at present time there are
80 religious bodies. and only one of
these is without a pastor or minister.
a few of the churches are missions,
but the large majority Of them are
Iself-supporting and giving literally TO
the work outside
All of the churches have been act
i've during the year and a noticeable
advance has been made along all lines.
The South Park Presbyterian church
has added mems class to its many
other societies. This class assemblies
, for bible study on Sunday morning in
the manse. as the church is not large
enough TO accommodate them. An
other fourishing mems class IS the
class organized during the year in the
! First Baptist church with Superintend-
: ent E. G. Fisher as president.
The Central Presbyterian church
| has completed an eight-days' whirl-
: wind campaign when they raised
$4,000 of their church debt. This
: church has the largest Sunday evening
: audience OF any church in the city.
A new church has been organized
during the year. called the Oak Grove
United Presbyterian church. This