The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-01-20

LOUIS street, Michael Morgan, Mary
Jessup. Mary White. Esther G. Dick
inson, Sarah Cadwallader, Elizabeth
Johnson and Rhoda NJ Coffin.
Church Numbered 100.
There were about 12O original men,
bers of this new Preparative Meeting.
The First Day School was opened
on twenty-second Of First Month, the
same year. Charles F. Coffin was the
first superintendent and there was an
opening enrolment of sixty.six
The weekly Prayer Meeting held up
to this time at the home of Charles
F. Coffin, was transferred to the new
ly set-up Meeting and has continued
without interruption.
From the commencement 1t was felt
that Friends should occupy a building
Of their own; accordingly the site of
the present church was purchased in
1866, and the building was completed
in 1867, the first meeting being held
here on Ninth Month, fifteenth, 1867.
Church Spent $4,000.
The original property consisted of
two rooms IS feet by As feet, the au-
ditorium above and the school room
below The structure cost $4,000, the
funds being provided by a joint stock
company. Richmond Preparative
Meeting held $4,000 worth of stock
from the beginning, and in process of
time either purchased or received by
gift the remainder of the stock. The
deeds were presented to this meet
ing by Whitewater Monthly Meeting
when Richmond Preparative Meeting
became South Eighth Street Monthly
Meeting in 1902
In the early days of the church
there was no regular pastor, but there
seems to have been no lack Of gifted
and profitable ministry. Among those
who ministered to the congregation
were Levi Jessup, Charles and Rhoda
Coffin, Hannah Lawrence, Theodore
Gambler. Joanna NJ. league, William
F. Manley. Mordecai Hiatt, Sarah
Smith, DR.. Dougan Clark and Charles
A. Francisco. In after years the pull
pit was occupied by Estella Marley,
Charles Whitley, Edgar Stranahan,
Earl Harold. David W. Dennis and
Allen d. Hole.
Engage Regular Pastor.
The South Eighth Street Meeting is
believed to have been the first in
these parts to engage the regular as
of Iowa, being the first to serve in
that capacity. He began his work in
the early part of 1883 and remained
Alfred c. Hathaway Micajah M. Bin
ford came in the fall 1893. others in
succession include Elwood c. Ellis,
Clarence M. Case. Harry R. Keates,
Levi T. Pennington, David W. Dennis
c. Anscombe.
The membership at one time reach
ed 1853. Upon the setting-up Of East
Main Street Preparative Meeting in
1878, 108 of the members for the sake
of convenience attached themselves
to that Meeting; again in 1910, when
West Richmond Monthly Meeting was
set-up fifty-six transferred their mem
bership to that Meeting.
Form Various Societies.
From time to time the members of
the congregation have formed them
selves into societies to carry on the
work of the church.
In concluding the history. Rev Ans
combe spoke of the prospects of the
church as follows:
Our time of upbuilding has arriv-
ONs OOA AAoSOoA o6O1A0uI ~ AOW d
thing of the past. Instead of giving,
we are now receiving. During the
present pastorate over sixty new
members have been received. and we
now have substantial and gradually
increasing attendance at our morning
meeting. We have a sufficient mem
bership to give us a working, self-sup.
porting church.
I'VE enter upon our next fifty years
OF work with strong hands and joyous
hearts.
1--WE have good equipment for our
work. Last fall the exterior of the
church was reprinted and repaired.
We have just redecorated and relight.
ed the auditorium; and we are con-
templating interior alterations, to give
us additional rooms for Bible Class
use.
Yes we are going on We believe
our work is not yet accomplished"
EVERYBODY SHOULD SEE WHY