Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-08-12
PineCity Church
Fifty Years Old
Methodist Congregation to
Observe the Half Century
Milestone This Weekend.

Plans are now completed for the
celebration of the 50th anniversary
of the Pine City Methodist Episcopal
church on Sunday, August Is. The
celebration will be a three-day af-
fair with a communion service on
Friday evening, a banquet on Sat-
urday evening and three services on
Sunday. Rev. Lorenzo johnson of
Little Falls, and pastor there from
1929 to 1884, will conduct the COM
munion service on Friday evening,
and on Saturday evening Rev. John
L. Parish will speak at the banquet.
The anniversary address will be
given by a layman, G.. A. Schweick-
hard, assistant superintendent of
schools in Minneapolis. Mr.. Schweick-
hard is forceful speaker and will
deliver strong message, His sub
ject will be "The Challenge of the
Church" Following the morning
service the congregation will partake
of a picnic lunch in the church din
ing room.
In the afternoon, Rev. R. A. Saun-
derson, a pastor in Pine City As years
ago, will speak He will be assisted
in this service by Rev. j. j. Parish,
also an old time pastor on that charge.
In the evening, Rev. Herbert L. Par
ish will speak on the topic, what
Next?" The people of Pine City are
invited to all services.
Committees have been busy for
several weeks preparing for the event.
A great deal of repair work has been
done as the church floors have been
sanded and waXed and the kitchen
and dining room painted, all with
volunteer labor of more than $50
hours.
A booklet has been prepared Civ
ing the history of the church and
other important items. This book
let has been made possible by free
will donations from the business men
of Pine City.
Progress Traced.
1t was in August 1887, that the
church got well underway, although
early in the year it had been or
gained with a membership of four,
they being Walter P. Gottry, Mrs. M.
Warner, Mrs. Jennie Club and Miss
Lily Stephan. Rev. Avison was the
very first pastor, but Rev. Stillman
w. Simonds formally organized the
church with certificate of incorpora-
ton dated August IA, 1888. On this
Of
also the name of j. H. Hay, a man
well known to this community in
later years. The trustees named in
the articles of incorporation are Ed
ward c. Gottry, James w. Axtell,
Hattie M. Pennington, Mary Bracket,
James H. Hay and Anna Mason.
The first church building was a
frame structure built in 1888 and
this building served for 80 years.
In 1927, the old building was torn
down and the present fine brick
structure was erected at total cost
of about $4,000, including furni-
ture and equipment.
Through the years of its history,
the church has had continuous serv-
ice, with Sunday school and Bible
training for the children, Epworth
Leagues for the young people and
preaching services for ALL 1t is diff
ficult to estimate the number of
people who have come under the
good influence of this church or to
measure in any terms the good train
ing provided At the service Sun
day afternoon, special tribute will
be paid to those pioneers who started
Methodism in Pine City and who
labored through the years before pas
sing on to their reward.
Rev. L. D. McGladrey is now serv-
ing his first year as pastor of the
church and has had charge of ar
ranging all services for the observ-
ance of the 50th anniversary.