Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-23
FORMER PASTOR
GIVES ADDRESS
Rev. 7. ". Grafton Speaks ut Ser
vices Of Golden Annil Crsary
Of Local Church.
TELLS OF ITS STRUGGLES
Rev. LaEncelot Hadaway. New Min
lister al Memorial, ASKS All
70 Help Work.


event with q program II keeping
with the Importance Of the occa-
sioa Rev. T. ". Grafton. who was
pastor Of the church during the
period that the present church edi-
nee was erected. and Who is now
located at Indianapolis. lad, was
the chief speaker Of thu evening,
giving the jubilee address For
mer pastors OF the chlrch ami
members living in other cities sent
words of greetings i'll the form OK
many letters aau telesra-ls. assur-
ing the recipients OF their coHt-n-
ued interest IN the church ana
their hopes for its continued
growth and success.
Rev. Mr.. Grafton in the course
OF his remarks told OF The carly
struggles or the church and the
great efforts that We're put forth
10 bring it TO its present state OF
efficiency. He sp0ka OF The sacr'-
fees that are required TO keep the
church to . certain STANDARD aNd
urged that the people so closely
identified with 1t make sJilI
greater effort ~ make the coming
% years greater than those that
have gone before
The history OF the church in the
last SO wears Was prepared by Mrs.
Mary Dewey and read by Miss
Dora Newton, MIS-. Dewey having
been afflicted with "a throat trOu-
BILE which deprived lie" Of he
voice. In speaking OF The history
Of The church. Mrs. Dewey said:
In The town OF Rock island
March, 1896, a small band OF dis
ciples met upon the first of the
week to commemorate iHt Lord s.
Supper and TO offer prayer ami
praise 10 our heavenly Father Be
ing few il number they were un-
able TO hold the field, SO they
thought If best to give up for d
time. Some ~ eIt TO other churches
some united with the davenport
disciples. In March. 1868, through
the fundamentally Of Grandma
Holt and Brother F. l.. Mitchell,
the state missionary society sent
L C. ". SherN UOl to hold q meeting
u in this city After a meeting OF a
couple OF weeks, few disciples
gathered a. the little German
Methodist church on Madison
street, between Gable ami Spencer
luow Twentieth between Fifth and
Sixth aVenues1, and organized the
present church. Brother Mitchell
enrolled u members. Just l.
years from the date II the disbana-
ing of the former organization, the
latter organization met, using the
same wine used on the former
meeting which Brother Holt had,
and putting their mites in the sane
basket which held a dollar of Old
fashioned nickels and dimes that
Brother Bully had saved. Through
the IibeTality OF Brother Mitchell,
arrangements were made to occu-
by a hall on the second floor Of
the present State bank building
He furnished il and offered 10 heat
and light it Tor one year In May.
1858. Edward Rogers became the
pastor During his passionate ".
T. Naupin held a short meeting
and several members were added.
In 1870 Mr.. Mitchell bought a
building located on the present
site OF the Baptist brethren. re
modelled it and offered il as 4
church home free Of charge We
had our first meeting there in Oc-
tOber there beng 10 members en-
rolled. We met in that building
for 251a years. Brother Rogers re
manned with US till 1871. since then
we have had Brothers Black. Rice,
Cone, Searles, Dale, EnciIl, Swartz
Wright. Applegate, Grafton, John
son, Shuey, Lawrence. Clemmer,
Mcfarland and Chatley. With
these men. assisted by a number
OF evangelists and concentrated
Christian workers, nearly eight
hundred members have been add
ed. Many have taken their mem
bership elsewhere, some dropped
back into the world and for many,
the Master has sent the silent boat
man. At the 18th anniversary ST
this organization Mr. Mitchell gave
TO the church organization the deed
10 the property. In 1895 Brother
Grafton began a campaign 10 raise
money for new building. as We
had outgrOwu the old one. April
) was set for the last service n
the old building. The church was
crowded 10 the doors AT the
close or the sermon, Mr.. Grafton
read the following
Mrs. Wadsworth Aids Church.
Mrs. ". II. WaIsworth, with
kindest feelings offers to give the
church structure propc- for
memorial To- her father. requesting,
or on condition. the audience room
be used for deYOtiolaf services
only and all interior furnishings
and filings lawn and outside i'm
proyements 40 be done and kept up
by our congregation. Mrs. Wads-
worth improved upon the contract
by using pressed yitrified brick III
stead OF soft ones; stats roof in
stead % shingles as per contract.
and strengthened IL everywhere
needed as suggested
IN January. 1896. the present
building was dedicated. The o.
san was q gtft from Mrs Fraser.
the large north wiH4ow from the
children OF Mr. Mitchell Through
the efforts OF The Christian En-
deavor, under the leadership Of
DR. Nichols. a bible schU9. was OF
gained in Moline. which resulted
IN jhe organization O. the present
church organized and conducted
many years by George COlbura.
From tine sale OF the mission let
on Seventh avenue moneE was pro-
cured To- purchase the lot III the
west end OF the city. a building
was erected, q bible school or
gained and later chgr .l known
as the Second Christian church,
unaeF the leadership OF Brother
Slime