Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-06
NE H0D|STS
WILL HAVE Ne v
CHURCHE ICE.
Rearrangement of Present
Building to Provide One
of City's Handsomest
RAISE MORE THAN
$4,000 IN ONE DAY

sunday was an unusual day Of re.
toiclng in the First Methodist church
for more than $4,000 was raised to-
ward the proposed improvements of.
the buildings which when completed
VIII add to Ottumwa's church proper
: ties very materially and give the city
another beautiful edifice.
Dr. Frank E. Day. who came to the
church as pastor September 4, celebrat-
cd the close OF the first six months Of
mis- pastorate by the raising Of the big
sum that was realized Sunday.
Joseph w. Powell of Buffalo, N. Y.
was present to manage the work which
was the elimination OF a six weeks
campaign operated under the direction
or MI. Powells Office since January IA.
| MI. Powell spoke at all of the SER
| wees IN the church Sunday and con-
Quoted the appeal for pledges. 1t was
not the usual method of calling out
subscriptions and appealing to rivalry.
some amounts were called out. but
more were not. even some leading sub
scr1ptions being often announced, 'Mr.
Blank makes a subscription As re.
suit. no one was embarrassed or unduly
pressed and no one knew how the
campaign progressed as the services
went on.
Pledges More Than $4,000.
| AT the close Of the evening service
after an address on The Brotherhood.
Mr.. Powell gave all who had not done
so, an opportunity to help and then
quietly announced that the total
pledges aggregated more than $4,000.
| The delighted audience broke into
applause and general outburst Of re-
ioicing followed. Mr.. Powell made 4
lew remarks and then called all the
linen forward for a brotherhood '.open.
Ing ana closing. Nearly 100 men
came. forward and lined about the rpom
IN q circle with clasped hands. After
singing the brotherhood hymn, Chap.
lain Holloway led in prayer and all
took their seats.
DR.. Day then spoke words of ap.
probation and reviewed the six months
OF his work here after which DR.. W. H.
Perdew. the district superintendent
congratulated the people and pronounce
ed the benediction.
Have Plans Drawn.
The plans for rebuilding the church
are tentatively adopted aud with few
notifications that may be suggested by
the people after they examine the
prints, they will be carried out. The
interior is to be finished new through
out and rearranged for more convent
ent accommodation Of the growing
work of the church,
The exterior is to be finished in the
most modern fashion and will be a
great ornament to the city as well as
a fit companion to Ottumwa's public
buildings such as the court house, the
library. the federal building and Hotel
Ottumwa.
Between the towers on the Fourth
street side will be foyer fourteen
feet wide, into which entrance will be
made from the towers and from the
foyer the entrance will be made to the
auditorium instead of from the towers
as now.
Under the foyer will be new kitch.
en- 14x36 feet with ladies' retiring
rooms and full equipment for the
social service
There will be added to the southwest
on the Market street side, a series Of
three parlors one above the other In a
structure that will fill out the vacant
space and greatly beautify the building
itself. perfecting the exterior lines.
The interior will be rearranged and
new seating. new glass. new decorat.
ing and mechanical ventilation will add
to the utility Of the building which will
afford accommodations that could not
be provided In an absolutely new
church, II IS estimated. under $4,000.
The exterior will be finished in stuc.
co which has come into such wide use
and altogether the new church prom.
ises tO he one Of Ottumwa's nuhlic ~.
fractions
Work will begin as soon as adjust.
ments can be made and dedication will
take place before the closing Of the
conference year, next September