Evening journal., 1915-01-25
80 YEARS OF ACTIVE
Church LIFE At Grace
CONTINUED From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
ington streets CD that it should be
built of Serpentine stone, co that It
should not exceed $4,000, (4) that
the first building to be erected should
be a spacious chapel, to be followed
later by church edifice. The work
proceeded rapidly and at meeting OF
the trustees held March 3, 1866, the
building committee reported that the
lower part OF the chapel would be
ready for occupancy by March 25 At
once 125 members and later S5 pro-
bationers, 21O in all, received letters
OF dismissal from the st. Paul's
Church 20 unite with the new Grace
Church. Others came from Asbury
and Mt. Salem. In the meantime the
Sunday school organized and on
in what Is now the lecture room, on
the afternoon Of March %, J. Taylor
Cause serving as superintendent
"The first prayer meeting was held
on Friday evening, March 3, a large
number being present The Rev.
Mr.. Stevenson, formerly OF the St.
Paul's Church. was duly appointed
pastor of the new organization, surely
the right man In the right place. The
new chapel was sOlemnly dedicated
on Sunday. June 10, 1866, Bishop
Ames delivering the dedica-
tory sermon. On Sunday, June
/ II, the Sabbath School hall being COM
pleted was dedicated with appropriate
services. On May 3. 1866, the building
committee was instructed to pro
ceed with the erection of the main edi-
flee, a movement fraught with tre-
mendous import to a body not yet a
year old, which had just completed the
erection at a cost of many thousands
a beautiful and spacious Sabbath
School building. Nothing, however.
seemed to be able TO conquer the de-
voted spirits Of the men behind the
new church movement Ten thou
sand dollars must be collected on the
unpaid subscriptions. thirty thousand
more TO proceed with the work Of the
erection OF the church edifice. The
situation was appalling yet these men
faltered not Again. April z, 1876.
they came before the congregation
with their great appeal. Bishop Simp-
son whose interest In the great enter
prise never tagged. was again pres
ent, moving all hearts by his eloquent
and burning appeals. Ten thousand
dollars was asked for and not in vain.
In less than an hour, the congrega-
tion responded not with ten, but
rather with fifteen thousand dollars.
! and continuation Of the work was as
sured.
; "By November, 1887, the great church
; was completed and on January %, 1868,
was solemnly dedicated. When results
- were finally tabulated, it was found that
s the total cost of the church and Sab
L bath school building was 100000 with
y an indebtedness unprovided for In
1 May, 1871. during the pastorate of the
n Rev. Jacob Todd, $4,000 Of this in
debtedness was discharged In October
1879, during the pastorate of the Rev
8 DR.. Stevenson after several efforts the
+ remaining debt was provided for, some
e S6s,O00 being subscribed for the pur.
r pose. A year ago an indebtedness which
II had stood for years of $1,000 was dis
N charged, thanks TO the generosity o
IT one who is now member OF th'
b. church"
re DIR. Reed then spoke n word OF tn
le ediice itself On this point suffice It t.
of say that at the time of its rededicatior
- and for many years afterward Grae'
/
: solidly and imposing churches TO b
d found in the United States. In the en-.
d tire Methodist Episcopal church there
q was nowhere it's superior and few it,
equals. Everywhere il was known a.
a "the Cathedral Church" OF Methodism
; and though in later years churches have
e been built costing much more than die
s this church you may still search foi
q one which in point Of architecture
q beauty can be compared with Grac'
e Church.
DIR. Reed then spoke with much feel
', ing of the spirit in which the enter
e prise was carried forward. lie sale
r Grace Church was a Thanksgiving offer
Is ing TO Almighty God for the culmina'
q tion Of 100 years of Methodist history
also for the great and signal victory tC
II the armies fighting in the field for th'
= preservation Of the American Union.
a Next he paid a tribute to the wo-
n men who laid the foundation and
10 built up the strength OF the new
e. church. He spoke OF their persever.
r. ance and zeal. He then spoke Of the
10 men who have served in the pulpit
le Of Grace Church and paid a personal
tribute to each man. They wero as
5. follows: William J. Stevenson. 1865.
l. 1868; Alfred Goodman, 1S6S-1S71
3 Jacob Todd, 1S7l-1S73; L. c. Mat
le lack, 1S73-1S74 Joseph p. Smith
,r 1S74-1877; William J. Stevenson
Is 1S77-1SSO; George W. Miller. 1880
8. 1888: ]. Richards Boyle. 1SS3-1SS6
l. Jacob Todd, 1SS6-1S91; John Y. Dob
J. bins. 1S91-1S94; Merritt Hulburd
" 1S94-1S96; Wesley c. Johnson
il 1se6-1S9S: Henry Baker, 1S9S-1900
le. William Writ King, 1900-1906; Hiram
w. Kellogg, 1906-191O; Alfred Craig
1910-1911; George Edward Reed
1911.
Tonight there will be reception tc
the congregation and Sunday schoo
convening first in the main audi
m torium. G.. Wesley Weldin will Civ,
81 a history of the church from 1885,
ID to 1915. A social hour will be hel,
rs in the social hall when good fellow
to ship will prevail. The services vii
ze continue each night this week. DR.
ne Hiram w. Kellogg. d. d., will b.
IN present next Sunday and preach thl
morning sermon.
trnuxr nj II mrrDmT &c uOn caT1