The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1920-09-23

ARE REJOICING
Receive Sum Of $4,000 From Board
Of Church Erection, Part of
Which II . Gift
DIR. McEWEN TRIP SUCCESSFUL

w u1CU - u Nlkt
DIR. McEwEN TRIP SUCCESSFUL
Meeting of Building Committee and
Trustees to Be Called
Last Friday DR.. w. M. Grafton re-
ceived a telegram from DIR. L. c. Nc
Even, D. D., from New York that
was electrifying to say the least.
The telephone wires rang with the
question, "Have you heard the latest
news?" "No." "Well, the Presby-
terian church is surely to be congrat-
ulated." "What is it," The pros
pect of receiving $4,000, partly as a
loan at four per cent, partly as loan
without interest and partly as an ap-
preparation gift out of right is no
longer glimmering hope, a pipe
dream of Missionaries, but an assured
fact.
The vote of the Board of Church
Erection of the Presbyterian church,
U. S. A., having it's offices in New
York, last Thursday unanimously
sanctioned the above named appro-
priation of $4,000.
How was it brought about so hap
PLY? DR.. Grafton succeeded in get
ting the unanimous vote Of those pres
ent of the building committee to send
DR.. McE Ewen, superintendent of Home
Missions for North Dakota, to pre-
sent in person the possibilities of the
growth of the city of Oakes as one
of the coming centers of the state
with its fine transportation facilities,
and the need Of large church that
would meet the demands of the COM
munity at large with the growth that
is sure to come because of the fine
contributing farm areas near this
city. The strategy and the policy Of
occupying in big way the command
ing centers of our commonwealth was
stressed.
His mission was not only ordinarily
successful, but the presentation was
SO well receiver because Of the far
sighted wisdom that stamps the new
policy that the fifteen and more hard
headed New Workers., used to handl-
ing millions as we toy with our play
things, frankly avowed the practical
ness of this forward movement and
granted $4,000 more than was really
expected.
This gift, coming just now, will en-
able the building committee to honor
all contracts already entered into and
save more than $4,000 on materials
purchased below the market price.
Besides, there will be an effort made
Immediately to stop so far as possible
the deterioration of materials already
on the ground and the building itself
thus far constructed.
Whether the basement will be en-
closed and finished temporarily for
church service, or whether the walls
will be run up, the roof put on and
the windows boarded up, the building
enclosed before winter, or something
less extensive attempted, will be de-
termined Immediately.
DIR. Grafton will call at once a meet
ing of the building committee and the
board Of trustees to consider the wis
est course to pursue in view of the pos
sible near approach of winter. You
can grow mushroom in night, but
a thousand winters passed in the build
ing of Rome. We are building struc-
ture that will last substantially a
hundred years.
The magnificent appropriation Sc
cured has heartened considerably those
who have closely at heart the new
church enterprise. The shortage of
crops for two succeeding years, to-
gether with the anomalous financial
stringency country wide has called a
halt simultaneously on all building op-
erations.
But with national election almost
at our doors, money will loosen up con-
siderably for investment and condi-
tions almost intolerable and unprece-
dented will become normal shortly.
And with building program immed-
lately adopted, the work begun again,
it will take only few months to COM
plete the new house of worship.
It is a matter of congratulation to
the citizens of Cakes that this new
structure Of Spanish architecture,
built of tapestry brick, with rooms
for Y. M. C. A. and Y. w. C. A. activ-
tiles, with a gymnasium, that will seat
300, will be the largest Presbyterian
church in the state, with five excep-
tions, and will take it's place as a
modern structure with the new public
school building, each adding sub
stantial grace and beauty and afford
ing service to the community at large
The desire for new Presbyterian
church on the part of those who have
hopedl and worked and prayed for q
quarter Of century is as unanimous
as the consensus Of opinion for a new
school building, when every vote cast
was in favor of the new structure, ex.
cept one mans vote from Ludden. { q
Long live that unique citizen d
antiquity!
The large contribution with condi.
tions attached will enthuse the build
in0 committaa In tha IItnn0at in cav