Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
.PRESBYTER|ANS
PLAN ON CHURCH
Congregational Meeting Is
Held and Decides Upon
100000 Edifice

The churches of Ottumwa are TAX
ing the forward step in boosting the
city this year. The best evidence OF
faith in a community lies in willing
ness to invest money in it and two OF
the local churches have stepped to the
front with plans for new ed1tces the
cost Of which will be between 100000
, and s150,000 for the two. The First
Presbyterian church at the annual con-
gregational meeting Wednesday night
decided upon q new church home and
will spend from $4,000 to 100000 up
on the building The First NJ. ~.
church announced its plans some time
ago and will soon begin construction.
The annual congregational meeting
began with supper served by the
ladies In the church parlors to con
siderable over 200 members OF the
church. On account Of the number
present it was found necessary to hold
the business meeting in the audience
room upstairs instead of in the church
parlor where the meetings have here
tofore been held.
The meeting is held once year by
all Presbyterian churches for the pur-
pose of transacting the business for
the year and for hearing the reports OF
the various officers and organizations
of the church. The consolidated re-
ports show a very successful years
work and that the church is in excel.
lent condition, both spiritually and
financially.
The report of the clerk of the ses-
sion showed the membership on the
sctive roll $40, being an increase
over last years report OF 80.
Receipts Are Large.
The treasurer's consolidated report
showed total receipts from all sources
$s,125.69 with all bills paid and a
comfortable balance Of cash on hand.
i The report OF the superintendent OF
1.-THE Sabbath school showed q total en-
!r6slmeht Of S27S with an average at
tendance for the flfty-two sessions OF
the year 1874; with an average offering
of 1851 In addition to number of
special offerings taken during the
year. It cost $2s7.7o to operate the
school and the balance amounting to
s31s.39 was contributed to Sabbath
school missions and other benevolent
work.
Want New Building.
The most important business propo'
sition coming before the members at
this time was the question OF building
a new church The members have
realized for sometime that. although
the audience room Accommodated fairly
we'll those who attended. that the
facilities for handling the Sabbath
school were entirely inadequate and
that If the church was to keep pace
with its growth In membership and
with the growth of the city, 1t would
be necessary, at very early date. to
have better church accommodations
This matter was taken up seriously at
the business meeting last night and
after an entended discussion Of the
matter. It was decided to erect new
church in the near future. The exact
cost cannot Of course. be determined
at the present time. but the probabi)-
tiles are that it will be between S75,-
900 and 100000.
The discussion on the subject Of the
new church developed considerable.
interest. Some members Of the church
were present who recollected distinct
ily and assisted In the building Of the
old frame church on the southeast
corner Of Fourth and Green Streets
now occupied by the colored Baptist
church Quite large number were
present who assisted in the building of
the present church on the corner OF
Fourth and Washington streets.
The members Of the church express
ed their very hearty appreciation
OF the labors of the minister. Rev. G.
d. Jacobs, r. D. and his wife and fami-
ly during the short time they have
been with the congregation and made
this appreciation more emphatic by
handing to the minister a purse con-
ta!ning $3.50 in gold In addition to his
regular salary.