The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-02-08
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN HAS AN
EVENTUAL OCCASION.
A DAY or FEATURE PROGRAMS
The Meetings Of Sunday, Fehrduary a
1917, Were Most Remarkable in
the Face OF Weather coad;-
tions Prevailing.

First avenue and Second street, oc-
Cured Sunday, February A, and a day
OF eyentful feature programs was en-
joyed. The meetings were the more |
remarkable in the face of the impos-
sible weather conditions prevailing
Indeed postponement of the day
would have been considered but for
the fact that guests from a distance
were already in the city. Three big
congregations, morning, afternoon
and evening, graced the special effort
OF the membership and all plans and
preparations Of the committees in
charge we're fully matured and car
ried to successful issue.
A worse day would have been diff
cult to provide, if made to order.
Temperature at zero. Wind blowing
a forty-fve mile gale. Snow drifted
knee deep and hurled in binding
clouds By the high wind. Yet the
people came forth for the services.
One prominent feature in connec-I
ton with the dedicatory services that
stands forth to the satisfaction of ev-
cry member of the congregation, is
the fact that the church property was
dedicated free of debt. Applause in
Sunday church service is OF rare oc--
currence. Yet when w. T. Phillips,
a member of the church board, made
the financial statement from the pull
pit, told of the receipts and disburse-
ments connected with the building OF
the church, the property absolutely
clear of debt or obligation, all bills
paid and no one claiming a penny,
the membership and the congregation
as a whole burst into applause for the
moment.
Almost twenty-five thousand dollars
is the amount spent on the new
structure, restoring the old and erect
ing the new. To be exact, the work
accomplished has cost $21,64223.
This is something in excess of plans
and expectations, but changes We're
made, departures taken from first
ideas. better material used and more
accommodations installed, and it all
costs in cash and effort. Then a
remarkably fine pipe organ has been
added at a cost of five thousand dol
lars.
Other things are to be accomplish
ed from time to time but the mem
bership will work this out in their
own good time and way. The prop
erty stands completed and ready for
service and is a remarkably excellent
accomplishment for a united mem
bership.
Oskaloosa's First Presbyterian
church has total active membership
at date of 25S persons, each and ev-
cry one of whom contributed in some
way toward the restoration and the
betterment of the property. Ac-
knowledgement is made of contribu-
lions on the part of the general pub
lie, people outside the membership,
to the extent of about $25OO.0O or
more. .le
Dedicatory Services.
Service of dedication, proper, took
place at the morning meeting. Sup
Elementary services were held after
noon and evening. Rev. James G.
X. Mcclure, president of the McCor-
mick Theological Seminary of Chiv-
go gave the dedicatory address, and
again occupied the evening pulpit. An
address by Rev. Scott w. Smith, OF
Cedar Rapids, former pastor of the
Oskaloosa church and the only one OF
the former pastors of the church now
living, occupied the afternoon ser
vice. Each and all of the addresses
were of a remarkable character and
will be retained by those privileged
to participate in the programs.
Rev. Alexander McFerran, pastor
of the church was chairman and di-
rector general of the programs, and
under his careful and masterful hand
the services moved without hitch or
jar.
Rev. Mcclure gave the prayer OF
conservation and made formal dedi-
cation of the property at the morning
service. a
w. r. Cowan, pioneer member OF
the church read the historical sketch
OF the church, given in full in another
column.
A special feature of the afternoons
program was extension of greetings,
expression of congratulation and good
fellowship, and sympathetic cooper
alton from the other churches of the
city through Rev. Arthur Nj. Lewis
Rector of st. James Episcopal church
Of Oskaloosa, and Rev. e. H.. Strana-
han, pastor of the Friends church and
president of the Oskaloosa Minister
ial association.
For period of two months follow
ing the fire, the Presbyterians met for
services in the st. James church, the
parish at the time being without a
rector. The address OF Rev. Lewis
was therefore particularly timely and
fitting. The address Of the president
of the Ministerial association was
freighted with significant thoughts
touching the occasion.