The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-06-25
REDEDICATION
OF Neptune Church Of God Sunday
Brought Out Interesting
Early History.
TBy A. ]. Bair. !

During the last few months the
members of the Church of God at
Neptune have remodeled their church
house by adding to the south end an
addition for choir and pulpit. putting
in gallery, furnace room, new win
dows and as per announcement in the
newspapers, rededicated the house
on June 20, 1915. There were many
present that had been members at
some time but had removed to other
places. A sort of home coming as
it were.
Rev. Gotschall, of Findlay, preach
ed the sermon, after which he stated
that $1,000 was needed to finish pay
ing for the house and to purchase
lot for parsonage purposes, and in a
very short time the entire amount
was raised with quite a handsome
surplus.
After the service all present were
invited to the town hall where the
ladies had prepared a bountiful din
ner free for all. Needless to say that
it was enjoyed and appreciated by all
Rev. Guyer, president of Findlay
College, gave an excellent talk that
surely was to the point and was en-
joyed by the very large audience that
was present. In the evening Rev.
j. F. Slough, former pastor of the
church, delivered one of his usual
powerful sermons and this service
ended one of the happiest days of tho
church.
AS l was requested by some of the
present members and pastors of the
church to write up sort of history
of the building, and dedication of the
former church house, l will endeaver
to do so briefly But as this must
be done from memory alone it is not
possible that it will be complete, but
it will be substantially correct No
record of the church affairs were
kept at that time.
History of the Church
Sometime during the year 1876,
the members that then constituted
the Church of God at Neptune felt
the need of a home of worship of
their own, but how were they to get
it, as we were all poor. Many of us
were in debt for our homes. But as
is the saying, where there is a will
there is way, though sometimes it
before we got through with the
building and paying for it. After
many consultations with friends and
neighbors it was decided to make the
effort and the members and friends
donated as much of the material and
labor as they could We then went
to work to get out the timber. Broth
er George Piper donated most of the
frame timber, and Brother John DAY.
is donated the timber that the wains-
coating is made Of Brother William
Pierce donated a most magnificent
tree that made all the fooring a
tree that would easily bring $50 on
the market to-day.
Brother George Fast donated the
lot on which the house stands. Broth
ers A. j. Fast, George Thomas and
George Fast owned and operated a
saw-mill just across the way and did
| the saving. John Dutton furnished
the ash that the seats were made of,
and old Father Kohlhorst furnished
| the walnut lumber that the seats
were finished with. Brother Dutton
was not member of the church but
came into fellowship sometime after.
| There may be others that contribut-
! ed material, but / do not remember
| them after the lapse of so many
years. Most all subscribed toward
the building such an amount as they
were willing and were given credit
on the amount for any labor per-
Continued on Eighth Pase)