Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-08

Rev. John McGown Stevenson viii
tomorrow conduct his first services
as pastor elect OF Broadway Presby-
terrain church. His installation will
take place Thursday evening, Dee 10,
at the church and will mark the for
NAL beginning Of his work. His
morning theme will be "Christ's Proc
lamation" duke 4;1Sl, The evening
topic, The Doctrine Of Repentance
Mark 1:14-1S).
Or. and Mrs. Stevenson arrived the
forepart Of the week from Garfield,
H. j., where they have been residing
for some time, making the trip by
automobile. This is the third time
that Rev 15r Stevenson has made
the trip from the eastern coast to the
Mississippi river by machine. the
first time being a year ago last sum-
mer when he supplied Broadway
church for q month, the second time
his return following his marriage
/ The last trip was made over the
Alleghanies and he encountered con
siderable snow and bad weather
Upon their departure from Garfield
4 farewell service in which all the
organizations, the fraternaL bodies,
town council etc, participated, max
/ ing one Of the largest audiences in
/ the history Of the church. They were
also the guests Of honor at numer-
Gus farewell receptions, dinners and
the Ike and We're remembered with
many gifts
/ Or. Stevenson is a native OF New
Zealand Of Scotch parentage lie was
educated in the schools Of that coun-
( try and throughout his college course
was known as the "dux" student, or
leader OF his class. He later took up
the study OF medicine and art with
the intention of preparing himself
for medical missionary in India, his
grandfather having labored in the
mission field at Calcutta, India His
inability to stand the dissecting room
turned his course Of study and he
entered Otago university and later the
Knox theological seminary at Dune
din, ~ z. But before finishing his
course he was called as assistant pa j.
tor in a neighboring church at War
tame, where he supplied two years.
He was later called to his home city
as assistant pastor to the largest
church there He was then appointed
by the New Zealand government as
official lecturer for that country and
came 20 America lecturing in the in
terest Of that country, He then took
up his work at Columbia university
and Union Theological seminary, re-
ceiving his 3. ID. degree from the lat
ter and his NJ. A. and Pin. D. from
the former institution While in col
lage he was secretary Of the supply
committee among graduates and il was
while filling this position nat he sup
piled the First Presbyterian church
at Garfield, which service resulted in
him being called as the permanent
pastor. where he has been since 1914,
He has also beeuSd0T three years lee
turer for the educational board Of New
York, the congregation at Garfield
giving him the privilege Of engaging
in this work in addition TO his pas
toral duties. Dr. Stevenson supplied
the congregation OF Broadway Pres
byterian as pastor during part of the
summer OF 1916 during the absence
from the city of the then pastor, Rev.
James Edgar Wilson.
At the close of this term Of service
he was united in marriage with Miss
Landee, daughter of the late Senator
r. r. Landee. and Mrs. Landee OF
Moline Mrs. Stevenson is a graduate
of the Illinois state university and
of Columbia university and has proved
a splendid helpmeet in the work al
Garfield. She has labored faithfully
and with the help OF the women oil
the congregation at Garfield has re-
duced the church Indebtedness from
$4,000 to a few hundred dollars.