Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-04-18
ORLEANS CHURCH
CLEAR OF DEBT
MORTGAGE BURNED
EVENT WAS CELEBRATED BY
JUBILEE MEETING OF LADIES'
AID SOCIETY WEDNESDAY
(By Orleans Correspondent

tDY OTled1S SOIIcSpOIutntJ
Orleans Ladies' Aid society is to
be congratulated on the success of the
jubilee meeting held under their aus
pices at the Orleans M. E. chruch
Friday evening, April 13, to celebrate
the payment of the church debt and
burning the notes. A fine picnic sup
per was served to one hundred and
six guests. After supper the COM
pany returned to the auditorium and
listened to an exceptionally fine pro-
gram:
A fine selection, Rejoice Forever"
by the quartet opened the program,
followed by Mrs. Joseph Howard,
president of the aid, who extended a
hearty welcome to the visiting pas
tors, members and friend in her usual
pleasant manner. Rev. r. V. Bird
sail, acting as toastmaster, made a
decided hit. Chas. LaDow gave a
very interesting history of the church.
1t was organized in 1862 and meet
ings were held in schoolhouses and
the town hall. Mr.. LaDow united
with the church in 1870 and only two
members of the class united at that
time remain besides himself, Mrs.
James Beach and Leander Berry. The
first building the society owned was
the Grange hall, purchased and re-
modelled for church purposes and US
ed by them until May, 1915, when
they decided to move it from the lot
north of town to the village and re-
build it into a modern church. When
Rev. f. w. Nickel Of Hanover, who
was pastor in charge when. the
church was rebuilt, rose to respond
to the toast, "Out of the Old Into the
New" the congregation with one ac-
cord arose to greet their former pas
tor and fellow-worker. He gave a
very definite account of the rebuild
day and date, number of men who as
sisted in the work and surely no one
man was better qualified than Rev.
Nickel, as he was always on the job
early and late. A cordial welcome
was given to Rev. K. w. Morse of
Berlin Center, as he responded to the
toast, "The Ladies Aid Society" He
considers the Ladies' Aid society a
very necessary adjunct to the church
that great cerdit was due the Or
leans Ladies' Aid society for their
generous help during the payment of
the debt. A solo by ]. C. Limbaugh
was enjoyed by all. Rev. c. E. Hoag
of Ionfa was next introduced and
gave an excellent talk on "The Com
munity Center Church." and advanc-
ed the idea that in the country towns
it could be made great success. But
in order to do it we must lay aside
our narrow-minded Christianity; we
must love the people and be willing
to meet them half way. He emphas-
lied the fact that what was right to
do at all was right to do in the church,
but love and goodfellowship was the
keynote of success. The program
was closed with a short talk by f. l..
Currie on after the Debt is Paid;
What Then" His idea was the up
building of the church and Sunday
school and using their influence for
the betterment of those outside the
church. He spoke of Mrs. Chas. La
Dow, who during her life had been a
/ great inspiration an times of dis
couragement, always bright and
CHEEKY. While the congregation sang
the doxology Mr.. Currie applied the
match to the note on the plate and
thus closed a pleasant chapter in the
history of Orleans M. E. church.