Evening journal., 1916-12-18
ASBI RI CHUECR IS
now FREE Of DEBT
Jubilee in Old Edi'ice Marks
Cancellation OF All
Indebtedness
DR.. WATT SENDS
CONGRATULATIONS

AeSteIudy was the occasion or a
Jubilee in celebration Of the cancella-
ton Of all the debts Of Asbury NJ. z.
Church.
The services OF the day began with
prayer mecting Snt O'Clock IN
charge Of Mrs Ella r. Wilkins.
AT 1880 o'clock the regular preach
ing services were held. the pastor de-
hvering a sermon on God is the
Mighty Rock Of Our Salvation Deut
Tho attendance at the Sunday
school session at 2 o'clock was ex-
ceptlonaliy good. with the best or
chesra in attendance for years.
Tie jubilee service began at 30
O'Clock, l. Elmer Perry making the
opening prayer "Beaut ful Isle Of
somewhere was sung by the Pullman
chorus and You and l. BIZ MIR. and
Mrs. Arthur Wilson. Of Epworth
Speeches were made by Mrs. Charlotte
Day president Of the Ladies' Aid So
ciety; Mahlon II. Hilles represen. ing
The board OF trustees: A. Jackson Hv-
land district steward, and c. Ross
Mitchell. All we're listened to atten-
lively, but possibly the speech OF the
afternoon that was most attentively
followed was that Of W. Bayard Gem.
who is known as the Demosthenese Of
Asbury. Mr.. Gem was at the zenith
OF his power as a speaker and be-
came relniniscertal, referring in his
characteristic manner TO three things
that he has reasons for feeling thank
ful for on In jubilee occasion: He
was converted 81 years ago in this
church, saw his wife converted few
years later, courted her and married
her go years ago, secured a position
with the Pennsylvania Railroad 81
years ago. and is stll on tho payroll
of that company. lie said that in all
these years yesterday was the great
est day he had ever seen IN old As
bury. Referring in a fr endly manner
20 the pastor as "our Moses" and ex-
pressed a desire that the good work
IN the church might 90 on undiminisb-
ed in power for good
The pastor. the Rev. George White
Dawson, went dowP in front OF the
chancei with the caL 5elled mortgages
in hand and dramatically striking a
match, failed to touch the paper with
the flames as is customary, but stated
that while IL was the habit Of some 10
burn such papers he believed they
were worth keeping, and passed them
TO the hand of James T. Semerteen
who. after calling the members of the
board of trustees before the chancel,
and also inviting the former members
of that body, including l. Elmer Perry,
who is now a member OF Harrison
street N. L. Church, spoke of the work
accomplished, and then passed the
mortgages from hand to hand around
the entire number of thirty or more
trustees present
The Rev. Herbert F. Randolph, D.
D., made a congratulatory address,
dwelling particularly upon the
mighty work accomplished in such a
short time by the united action Of the
people of this church.
The lev G. n. Anderson read a
letter from DR.. Watt, commencing the
work done and expressing regret at
be ng unable % attend, and made the
clos ng prayer.
In the evening the Rev. Mr. Dawson
spoke. taking as his subject The
NJ ghty Hunter He referred briefly
to the earthly hunts and compared
the effor.e put forth by the game
hunters 10 the work done by those
in the work Of the Lord. talk ng 70
his people rather than above their
heads as some speakers so often do.
and elO1uently D ctur ng the delights
Of the men who devote their lives
20 work for ;he Master rather than
10 that OF simply employ ng their
time and efforts in seeking sport.
The chnrch has been struggling
along with mortgages for the past "a
years. One mortgage was given for
five thousand dollars eighteen years
aec. which was finally reduced to one
thousand dollars. remaining at tina;
hCure for several years.
T. 1910 a second mortgage was
given for eight hundred dollars, and
later a note for two hundred dollars
was given for the payment OF church
expenses, making a total indebted
ness Of two thousand dollars.
During the pastorate OF the Rev
Mr.. Dawson all expenses have been
met, repairs aud Improvements paid
for and all debts paid.
The work done includes the paint
ing OF the church building on the
outside. painting Of the large Sun
day school room. painting, papering
and carpeting of two class rooms and
the office, painting, papering and
furnishing OF the parsonage. and the
purchase OF an electric sweeper fol
the church.
The fund started by James ". Lat
tomus two months ago had reached
the sum OF s1.73e.31. The official
board is asking for a fund OF $685.
900. The collection Of yesterday
amounted TO the sum OF 5000, as
follows: SIS from the Ladies' Ait
Society. 5000 from the Junior Ep'
worth League Society, $40 from the
afternoon collection and a pledge o.
$50 from the Users Union.