Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 269, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1913 — CHRISTIAN CHURCH REDEDICATED SUNDAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHRISTIAN CHURCH REDEDICATED SUNDAY

Almost Six Thousand Dollars Was ‘ Raised to Pay for Fine Im- • provements Just Made. The first Christian church of was rededicated last Sunday evening, which was the third service of Che day conducted by Dr. I. N. McCash, of Cincinnati, Ohio, assisted by Rey. W. G. Winn, the pastor of the church. The weather Sunday was so unfavorable that the attendance both morning and afternoon was very small, while at night the audience was still quite small, but Dr. McCash met the situation with a firm determination not to dedicate until every dollar of indebtedness had 'been pledged and this was done before the evening service took up and since that time some additional pledges have been received. The dedication in the evening preceded the sermon, Dr. McCash speaking from the subject, “The be-

ginning of Judgment,” and his sermon proving a very powerful appeal for Christian living. The success of the campaign to raise the money was a great victory for the church members and the pastor and building committee. The extensive remodeling had entailed an indebtedness of almost $6,000 and it was expected that it would prove very difficult to raise that amount, but many of the faithful came forward with large pledges and assisted in procuring aid from others. F. M. Parker, chairman of the building committee, Who has been an untiring worker during the months that the repairs have been underway, headed the list of contributions with S6OO, while test others, some of whom have re-; quested that their names be with-, held, gave $250 each. With these pledges so cheerfully given the; work of procuring the others did not especially difficult and the beautifully remodeled’' chunffi is to be entirely free of incumbrance when these obligations are paid. This was done in the face pf the fact that two years ago an indebtedness of almost $1,700 was also against the church. This was paid foQlowing an energetic compalgn by Rev. W. G. Winn, who has also ibeen constantly on the job during the remodeling progress.’ ' The alterations and improvements in the church property consist of the digging out of the basement. lowering it 18 inches and the building of retaining walls of concrete. fn the basement Is a large dining room, also kitchen equipped with a hotel range and other, things. While a kitchen and dining room shower Is planned for Wed-

nesday afternoon of next week. A ladies’ rest room is also conveniently located in the basement and two toilet rooms are also in the basement. Drinking founts have also been installed. The north entrance of the Church h‘&s been changed, the outside stone steps being removed and the entrance being made from the ground level, and from the inside of that door steps lead to the basement and also to the main floor. The greatest change in the building and throne that is attracting the most favorable attenion from all who have seen the interior is the magnificent manner in which the decorations have been conn pleted. The main auditorium and all of the Sunday School rooms have been redecorated in a very attractive manner, while the seats and woodwork have been changed from natural oak to dark mission. The lighting system has also been greatly improved. The platform was changed in order to accommodate the new location of a baptis-

try, which has been conducted of concrete. The choir loft has also been enlarged. The labor of completing the building lacked just a little of being performed and this consisted of the decorations of the dining room, which is performed. New aisle carpets have replaced old ones and nothing was left undone to make the church a very beautiful one, in every way. This included the outside effeet as well, the woodwork having been painted, the roof repaired and the large windows improved so as to prevent the rain that formerly seeped through the crevices of the large fancy windows. An* entire new steam heating plant was also installed, which will make adequate heat possible. All members of the church are very much pleased that the improvements have been made and that provision for paying for them has also been made. The paying off of the church debt during the past two years and the fact that all current expenses have been taken care of Shows that church to be in a very healthy condition and this indicates the eertanity of growth in membership. The building committee that aided F. M. Parker was J. N. Leatherman, D. E. Grow, Dr. W. Leroy Myer and P. W. Clarke. Not only did these gentlemen work untiringly but each gave Very liberally toward the expense. The accompanying cut is of the church before It was remodeled, but the exterior appearance is the same except for the changing qf the north side entrance.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.