largely in debt, besides a building on hand that would require at least
fifteen hundred dollars to finish. Then commenced a fierce struggle with
days and weeks of constant thought and planning as to what course to
pursue out of the dilemma, when, it would seem providentially, there was
an offer from another society in the city to buy the unfinished church
for a certain amount, cash in hand, which the trustees wisely accepted,
paid off all their debts, including one of some three hundred dollars
that turned up in a rather unlooked for manner, dating back some years,
yet a debt that the church felt as though it was anyhow half responsible
for, so they paid it rather than to have any contention about it and
with the balance that was still remaining, along with what could be
raised on a new and more suitable building, the trustees purchased the
north fifty-five feet of Lot No. Two (2) in Block Eighty-four (84) and
proceeded to build the church which they now occupy and succeeded in
finishing it up in every respect, clear of debt, seated, lighted,
painted and furnished. About this time the Rev. Kimble was removed by
the conference to some other appointment, and was succeeded by the Rev.
C. B. Clark, who remained on the charge for two years, succeeded by a
number of other ministers, down to the present time.

The membership has varied greatly in the years gone by. A number of _
deaths have occurred, many have come and many have gone, many ministers
have been very successful in adding to the membership, while others have
not had so much success either financially or socially, but taking all
in all through the long series of years since the beginning of the
church in 1853, a period of almost seventy years, while the membership
and ministry has undergone greater changes than perhaps any of the other
church societies it is still proud of its existence through times of
adversity as well as prosperity. Early in 1900, we may add, the church
building was remodeled and practically rebuilt, under the administration
of the Rev. D. C. Smith, and has been kept in good repair. In the year
1870 a neat. well built, and convenient parsonage was placed on the same
lot in the rear of the church, but large enough for any ordinary family,
so that any minister that may be sent to this appointment will always
find a pleasant and comfortable home ready for him, with all modern
up-to-date attachments such as electric light in every room, a good hot
water system of heating throughout, bath room and sewer connection, a
good garage for any make of car, and city water.

The membership, of course, is small compared to that of some of the
other societies, but they are loyal and sociable, always paying their
debts, and their financial standing is as good as any in the community
and no minister can truly say that he ever left the charge without
receiving the full amount of salary that was allotted him when he first
came to the work. In speaking of the finances we must add that the
entire amount of money expended upon the church building from the time
of completion and occupancy down to the present date, including the
rebuilding and all other repairs, additions and alterations, covering
also the cost of a new furnace in the church, and the entire water
system in the parsonage, insurance on both buildings, street paving,
painting at sundry times, the entire cost of the parsonage, with its
sundry repairs from time to time, with ministers' salaries, presiding
elders' salaries, janitors, fuel, lights, and all other claims and
expenses of whatever kind or character, in all these years, amount to
$175,000 dollars, to say nothing of missionary money, donations of
sundry kinds, help to the poor, and all else of this nature, we may have
some slight conception of what difficulties this small branch of the
Methodist church has encountered during its years of existence, of a
financial character, laying aside the many worries about internal as
well as external matters incident to all associations wherever they may
be, regardless of name or nature.