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Show Page 18<br><br>months. Following Mr. Libby came Rev. John W. Jones, in 1890. Rev. W. D. Mabry, D. D., became pastor in October, 1891. For three or four months prior to the coming of Mr. Jones, and for about the same length of time prior to the coining of Dr. Mabry, Dr. Iliff served the church as pastor. Rev. W. K. Beans, D. D., the present pastor, was appointed in June of this year and entered upon his work July 21st. Dr. Beans was for five years a member of the Rock River conference, Illinois. He was transferred to Nebraska in 1878, where he labored for 17 years. He had entered upon his third pastorate and ninth year in Omaha, Neb., when appointed by Bishop Foss as pastor of First M. E. church, Salt Lake City, and presiding elder of Ogden district.<br><br> Pioneer Work.<br><br> As items of interest in the early movements of First M. E. church work, it is well to mention that the following gentlemen were trustees when the ground was purchased upon which the church now stands: Chief Justice J. B. McKean was president of the board; J. M. Moore was secretary and treasurer; J. R. Walker, Henry Lawrence and C. C. Clements were members.<br><br> Chorister.<br><br> T. E. Harper, who had charge of the singing, when the church was dedicated in 1875, rendered faithful and efficient service as chorister for a score of years, from 1875 to 1895.<br><br> Sunday-School Superintendents.<br><br> Fred Bennett was the first superintendent, then came P. A. Dix, with a long term of active service, including several pastorates. Prof. V. B. Dolliver served for a time, and Judge George F. Goodwin successfully guided the Sunday-school work for three or four years.<br><br> Present Conditions.<br><br> The church edifice is the most centrally located of any church in the city, midway between the two principal streets, and within easy distance of the leading hotels. Three street-car lines pass within a half block of the doors. The church, of pleasing architectural design, made of brick, is constructed on a basis of munificent amplitude, in keeping with the wide streets and long blocks of the city. The building is llOx80 feet. On the ground floor is a large "Sunday-school" room. "Epworth League" and "prayer-meeting room," "primary department" room, and "kitchen," with the usual furniture. On the floor above, reached by broad, ample stairways on either side, is a commodious auditorium, which will comfortably seat 800 people, and be made to accommodate 1000. At the north end of the audience room is the pipe organ, and raised platform for pulpit and choir. At the side entrance to the auditorium is the pastor's study, and three class-rooms.<br><br> Membership.<br><br> The present membership is 300. There have been thirty accessions during the four months of the present pastorate. <br><br>The Sunday-School<br><br> Has an enrollment of 250, with an average attendance of 200. Mr. E. O. Lee is the superintendent. <br><br>The Epworth League<br><br> Has an enrollment of eighty members. Mr. Frank E. Wilkinson is the president. <br><br>The Junior League<br><br> Is under the direction of Mrs. Elizabeth Fritz. <br><br>The Women<br><br> Of the church are organized in the "Ladies' Aid society," and "Womans' Foreign Missionary society," in both of which they are doing heroic service. ---- The present indebtedness on the church is $1500. <br><br>Officers.<br><br> Trustees-Dr. A. C. Ewing, M. B. Sowles, George E. Hedges, E. O. Lee, Charles Baldwin, E. J. Wolter, Geo. F. Goodwin, M. O. Johnson, F. C. Robinson. Stewards-P. A. Dix, M. L. Ritchie, E. E. Pelz, F. N. Bertholf, Fred P. Jayne, T. R. Eaton, W. W. Rivers, C. R. Pearsall, G. W. Reckmeyer, Charles Hoag, A. B. Greeson, John La Due, W. Babcock. Local preacher and class leader-Frank Shaw. Chorister-Prof. Pedersen. Organist-Miss La Due. Thus, this church, centrally located, sufficient in its facilities, thoroughly organized, strongly officered, with a heroic history, standing for "Christianity in earnest," is one of the strong factors in the reformatory movements, and religious life of the city. She faces the ushering in of Statehood and the near dawning of the twentieth century with her sky full of hope.<br><br> The Epworth League.<br><br> On Mar. 29, 1890, a band of our Methodist young people, who had been working under the name of Christian Endeavorers, reorganized themselves into a chapter [PHOTO: F. E. WILKINSON, President Epworth League.] of the Epworth League, with the following officers: President, Mr. Grant; first vice-president, Miss Brown; second vice-president, Miss Dunn; third vice-president, Prof. Hunter; fourth vice-president, Mr. Phippin; secretary, Mr. F. P. Jayne; treasurer, Mr. Parker. All six of the departments of work, i. e., spiritual, mercy and help, literary, social, correspondence, and finance, headed respectively by the four vice-presidents, the secretary, and the treasurer, were thus represented from the first, and work has been carried on, with more or less vigor along all these lines ever since. Under the spiritual department, weekly devotional meetings have been held ever since the organization of the league. Much good has been derived from them by the members, and not a few souls have been saved through their instrumentality. Special services also have been entered upon from time to time; so, for example, soon after the formation of the chapter, meeting's were conducted by the members on Sunday afternoons at the city jail, and, somewhat later, at the penitentiary, once each month; for about two years, while Fort Douglas was without a chaplain, similar services were held at the post chapel; and while the Rescue Mission was in existence, the work for one evening of each week was under the charge of our society. The Junior leaguers, too, have received their share of attention from the committee on spiritual work, and have had a chapter almost co-existent with our own. The mercy and help department has attended to the duty of visiting strangers, the sick, and the poor, and has assisted in house to house visitation, under the direction of the pastor. Help of various kinds has been given to the poor by this department, $10 a month being taken from the treasury for that purpose during 1892, and a smaller amount thereafter. At the holiday season of that year a charity social was held, at which a large quantity of food, clothing, etc., was received to be distributed to the needy. The first work undertaken by the literary department was the organization of the League Lyceum in the spring of '91, and since this proved most successful, it was continued during the ensuing year. In the winter of '91-'92 a Bible class was formed to study the plan of salvation, and the next year a similar class took up the book of Acts, while last year the young people returned to the line of work of the Lyceum. At various times lectures-and entertainments have been given under the auspices of this department, chiefly by talent from abroad. Social gatherings of many kinds have been held by the fourth department, sometimes monthly, and again at longer intervals. Formerly they helped to replenish the treasury, hut now no fee of any kind is connected with them, and friendly intercourse is made of the first importance. A number of excursions to the canyons and the lake have given a pleasant variety during the summer months. The departments of correspondence and finance have both aided materially the work of the league. Through the latter money has been paid out for such purposes as these; for the regular expenses of the church; for the music at the Sunday services; for putting the paper on the church; for the rent of the Rescue Mission; for the salary of the deaconess connected with the church; etc. Our chapter sent a delegate to the first International convention of the Epworth League at Cleveland in '93; has participated in the four annual conventions held in this Territory, and in last April took the first step which resulted in the present City League Union. Our membership of about seventy-five is now ably officered by the following: President, F. E. Wilkinson; first vice-president, Mrs. Lizzie Post; second vice-president, Mrs. A. B. Greeson; third vice-president, M. L. Ritchie; fourth vice-president, A. L. Peters; secretary, Miss Edna Beeman; treasurer, T. R. Eaton; Junior League superintendent, Mrs. Elizabeth Fritz. Surely the history of our league would be incomplete without at least mentioning the names of a few of those |
