The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1946-04-18
Church P dns
For Fiftiefh
Anniversary
Presbyterians Establish
First Organized Church
In Libby, April 26, 1896
WEEKS CELEBRATION
OPENS EASTER MORN


THE history of church work in
Libby began far back in the year
1893 in the days when our town
site was but tiny niche in a vast
expanse of virgin evergreen forest,
extending unnumbered miles, cut
here and there by silver threads
of water, the largest of which was
the Kootenai River. Along this
section of the river no steamboats,
had piled as yet, and only Indian
trails traversed the wilderness un-
til a tote-road was hacked out
along the south bank of the Koot-
enai River in the early COS, preli-
mlnary to the construction of a
Transcontinental railroad. The first
train pulled into Libby on May 3,
1892 and just one year later, on
the evening Of May 8, 1898, a Sab
bath School was organized by a
presbyterian Synodical Sund "
School Missionary, Rev. Edwin NJ.
Ellis, who, arriving in Libby the
night before, had spent the day
visiting every family and store in
town. This, the first religious or
ganization along the Great North
ern between Kalispell, Montana and
Boomers Ferry, Idaho, has never
been abandoned, continuing to serve
the community up to the present
time"
The paragraph just quoted is the
opening Of historical booklet pre-
pared for the coming Fiftieth An
nlversary of the First Presbyterian
Church. The church was organized +
just three years later than the Sun
day School on April 26, 1896 with
nine covenant members.
The Rev Clayton M. Shotwell.
minister of the church, announces
that full week of activities has
been planned for the week begin ,
ming with Easter Sunday. There
will be service at the church each
week day evening at 800. Even
though it is the Presbyterians who
are celebrating their FiftiGth An h
1iversary, the people of Libby are
cordially invited to attend these
as this Anniversary is
ort of landmark in Libby history.
On Easter Sunday, the Rev. Clay
on M. Shotwell will preach on the 4
ubject, ''The Church of the Iiv-
ng Christ" From Monday through
Wednesday, DR.. George H. McCleave
1eld Representative for the Boards
+ Christian Education and Nation
| Missions, will be with US. Many
libby people have heard DR.. Nc
leave preach and know what
'onderful speaker he is. The sub q
ectS of his sermons will be Three
lays of Living" THE Value of Ii
lie Church" and Making a Sue
ess of Success"
Thursday afternoon from 200 to
90 there will be an Anniversary
ca at the Manse for the ladies of
e church. At the evening SER
ce, the Rev. Clayton M. Shotwell
Ill preach a sermon entitled "What 2
pes The Church Mean To You?"
Friday, April rs, is the actual An 8
of the church and a fine
ogram has been arranged for that
y. An Anniversary Dinner will
served in the basement of the -
lurch at $50. There will be re-
niscences by some of the earliest
embers still living. The Male
lartet from Whitworth College in. a
okane will be with us to sing
US. They will sing secular songs =
the Dinner and sacred ones at !
. evening worship service. The vii
v. Russell ]. Prentice, minister 1
the First Presbyterian Church of one
lispeu and former minister here. 49,
i preach at the evening service 'i.O
the theme of the evening will all
Fifty Years OF Service" A the
ge group of new members will bisE
received into the church which nl.,
ludes a group of young people w
o have been in the minister's pen
Class. l.
IN Saturday two of the finest gooc
gious movies that have ever be
n produced will be shown. These Der,
1ies have been made by the ava
hedral Film Company. The tit tain
of the two to be shown here Gil
"The Prodigal Son" and Jour MA,
Into Faith VIA VIA
ct us show our gratitude to the OOA
'byterian Church for its long NJ,
ice in Libby by attending the and
ices during the. week. You were
be welcome, and your life CLAW
be blessed. r.