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Show Page 17<br><br>ies; the latter the largest and most important." In 1884 organized effort was begun in this line, the thought being crystallized into action, that if we can save our cities America will be saved and thus be the instrument of the world's salvation. And thus gradually developed the deaconess movement in the Methodist Church of America. In 1887 Mrs. Lucy Rider Meyer started in Chicago, assisted by eight earnest Christian women, a practical demonstration of the feasibility of the plan. Going among the poor, visiting the sick and suffering, rescuing the fallen from lives of infamy, doing all in the name of the Master and looking only to Him for help. In her history of the deaconess movement she said, "I believed that people wanted to know about deaconesses; that the cause I loved would be advanced; that especially strong and earnest young women might be induced to enter this self-sacrificing yet most attractive work; that God would be glorified. Therefore have I spoken." Near the same time other cities began to plan a similar work until in 1888 the General Conference seeing not merely the promise but the practical application of the work at woman's hand, provided for the recognition of an order of workers called deaconesses, to be employed under the authority of the Church, subject to a board of nine. Deaconesses may be employed singly under the supervision of pastors, or several together in homes, going out unto the poor parts of the cities under direction of a superintendent; these homes being supported by local churches, by conferences, or by the Woman's Home Missionary Society. There are now twenty-one deaconess homes reported by the Home Missionary Society; fifteen or twenty more are established on the conference plan, occupying nearly all our large cities. In Salt Lake City is located the Davis Deaconess Home, owned by the Woman's Home Missionary Society, having three deaconesses, Mrs. Spence, superintendent; Misses Melissa Briggs and Edith Smith and Mrs. Jennie M. Hansen, supported by the same society, doing efficient work in different parts of the city, assisting the various pastors, looking after the poor, the sick and the sinning. During one month 250 calls have been made, fifty opportunities for prayer during these calls improved, twelve visits to the sick, forty-seven papers and tracts distributed; five children sent to Sunday school, three wandering girls rescued and taken to the Home of the Friendless; nine public meetings held, representing the work, beside relief to the poor, entertaining the friendless at the Home, and diffusing missionary intelligence. The interests of the Home have demanded time and money. Over $80 have been expended on necessary repairs, and, thanks to the kind people who aided in our recent dinner, we are free from debt. The kind Heavenly Father has blessed us in many ways, and we rejoice that He counts us worthy to be co-workers with Him. We look forward with strong faith to a blessed future for this good work, that He who rules all things will lead to certain victory. "To Him be all the praise." There is in Utah but one auxiliary of the Woman's Home Missionary Society and that was organized with twenty-one members at Iliff church Sunday evening, November 24, 1895.<br><br> A Methodist Pioneer.<br><br> In 1870 Erastus Smith, a local preacher and an ex-Union soldier, came to "the valleys of the mountains" and located at Salt Lake to take charge of Salt Lake seminary, which he did until the end of the school year. July 13, 1871, he and his wife were employed to open up school work at Tooele, and as a probationer in the Rocky Mountain conference was appointed to the Tooele and Ophir circuit August 11, 1872, the first conference ever held in Utah by the Methodists. Mr. Smith remained on that work until 1875. A portion of the journal of the conference of 1874 contained these sentences: "Our school at Tooele has prospered under the supervision of Bro. E. Smith, principal. We consider it a most encouraging indication for the cause of education in that county that Bro. Smith has been elected Superintendent of Public Schools." In 1875 Mr. Smith was sent to Provo, where he remained until 1879, part of the time covering a circuit including Nephi, Bingham Canyon and Tintic. At this time he was appointed to Beaver, remaining four years, returning to Provo in 1883. In 1877 he was elected secretary of the conference and capably filled that office until he went to Ne- [PHOTO: E. SMITH.] braska in 1885, where he now serves the church as the presiding elder of the Kearney district and heads the West Nebraska delegation to the General Conference of 1896. "Fate sought to conceal him by naming him Smith," but he would not down. J. D. G. <br>FIRST M. E. CHURCH.<br> The church building is located at 33 East 3rd South. The ground was purchased in 1870, and cost $5000. The building of the present church edifice began early in 1871. The basement was occupied for services in December, 1871. The First preacher on the ground during these early pioneer days was G. M. Peirce. Following him, Rev. J. M. Jameson was preacher in charge, in 1872. Rev. C. C. Stratton came onto the field in 1872. His term of service ran from 1872 to 1875. The church was dedicated in August, 1875, during the pastorate of Rev. C. C. Stratton, by Bishop Gilbert Haven, assisted by Chaplain C. C. McCabe. The church property, including ground, building, pipe organ, furniture, and fixtures, cost $75,000. The "Church Extension Society" made a donation of [PHOTO: FIRST M. E. CHURCH.] $5000 and a loan of $5000. The members of the church and citizens of Salt Lake City contributed $10,000. Chaplain McCabe, by his lectures and personal appeals to conferences, churches and wealthy laymen, raised for the enterprise over $50,000. Rev. C. P. Lyford became pastor in 1875. In 1876 Rev. John McEldowney took up the work of his predecessor and continued on the field up to 1879. During a part of 1879 and 1880 Rev. H. D. Fisher, D. D., was in charge. Rev. Lewis A. Rudisill was appointed pastor, October 19, 1880, and served the church for two years. Rev. T. C. Iliff, D. D., who came to the Utah Mission in 1875, served the church as pastor, in addition to the office of superintendent, from 1882 to 1885. Then Rev. S. J. Carroll became pastor and labored until 1888, when Rev. C. L. Libby was appointed. Between these two pastorates, Dr. Iliff served the church as pastor for three [PHOTO: W. K. BEANS, D. D., Pastor First M. E. Church.] |
