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Show Page 31<br><br>ing the pressing claims for money he was greatly assisted by Rev. G. M. Peirce, the presiding elder. The church building cost in the neighborhood of $600 in cash. To keep the church from being sold for debt he visited the East, interested the Church Extension Society and secured $500, and Bishop Peck presented the matter to the Vermont Conference and took up a collection of $250, which with the $500 already raised gave him $750 and also much peace of mind. This church was dedicated by Rev. G. M. Peirce. The sermon was preached by Rev. C. C. Stratton, then pastor of the First M. E. Church in Salt Lake City. The school was conducted during the second year and two teachers besides Mr. Long- were employed. They had an interesting school of between sixty and eighty pupils. Rev. Marshall Howison was appointed to Ogden and Morgan in 1875 and served until the conference of July 27-30, 1876, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Skewes. Up to the time that Brother Skewes entered upon this work but little record had been made of the history of the work, probably owing to the various and rapid changes of pastors. Mr. Skewes served a term of three years, during which time the church greatly prospered. In the summer of 1879, at the annual Conference, Rev. Henry Skewes, having served the full term, the Rev. M. B. Hyde was regularly appointed and remained until April, 1881, when the Rev. A. W. Adkinson was assigned to the work, serving until October, 1884, at which time he was succeeded by the Rev. S. J. Carroll of the New England Southern Conference. At the annual meeting of the Utah Mission, held in Salt Lake City, July 2-7, 1885, Rev. George E. Jayne was assigned to Ogden and Corinne. Brother Jayne served this charge for three successive years, during which time the church enjoyed great prosperity. At the annual meeting of the Mission, July 5-9, 1888, Rev. John W. Hill of the New England Conference was appointed to Ogden, and entered immediately upon duty. Just at this time the wave of material prosperity (usually known as "the boom") was beginning to rise in Ogden, and from the summer of 1888 to that of 1889 the growth of the church was phenomenal. During the conference year the old property on Washington avenue was sold at a high figure, a new lot was purchased, and the present church structure was begun, with flattering prospects of an early completion, and that, too, without debt. The first thought and plans were to erect a church not to exceed $25,000. But the wave of prosperity continued to rise, which seemed to warrant enlarged plans, and besides some unexpected difficulties involving additional expense in the laying of the foundation; this, with the high price of labor and material, caused the present edifice to far exceed the cost as first contemplated, reaching about $65,000. The corner stone of this church was laid Decoration day, 1890. The first service was held in the yet unfinished lecture room December 1, 1889. After numerous difficulties, due largely to the lack of funds for furnishing the church, the auditorium was opened Easter Sunday, 1892. At this time there was a heavy debt upon the entire plant, but a large part of this was provided for in the way of a loan from the Church Extension Society. Later the Church Extension Society advanced more funds, and the property was deeded over to said society, which still holds the deed. Mr. Hill served this charge until October, 1892, when he was transferred to Montana. During the three years of his pastorate the church had a marvelous growth in membership, and the material growth of the city seemed to warrant almost any outlay of means for the enlargement of business enterprises, but this condition of things proved to be unstable, for in the fall of 1892 a shrinkage in values began, with rapidly increasing downward tendencies, until nearly every department of work in the city was almost paralyzed. Rev. J. H. Fitzwater of the Central Ohio Conference was appointed to Ogden, and entered upon his duties in November, 1892. During the interval between Mr. Hill's and Mr. Fitzwater's pastorates the Rev. C. L. Libby supplied the pulpit. Mr. Fitzwater served the church until October, 1893, when Rev. G. P. Fry was appointed to supply the remainder of the conference year. At the annual meeting of the Mission in June, 1894, Mr. Fry was returned to this charge, but failing health compelled him to resign in October, and the Rev. G. M. Jeffrey was placed in charge, since which time he has served continuously to date. The past two years have, without doubt, been most trying to the church, since its early history, by reason of the financial stringency. Notwithstanding this, and the fact of a loss of nearly fifty members by removals, yet the church has made substantial gains. With a fair revival of business, affording our people the opportunity to meet their financial obligations, the claims of the church would be readily met, as well as some of the old standing debts. In the meantime, the people are working hopefully and earnestly consecrated to the work of the present and with great faith in the future. All of the departments of the church are in active operation. Brother O. P. McDowell has charge of the class-meetings, and is a faithful leader. <br><br>THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL<br><br> is the banner school of the State in point of numbers. Our superintendent, teachers and officers are justly proud of this department. The Epworth League is making some ad- [PHOTO: F. D. BICKFORD, President Epworth League] vancement. The Junior League the last two years, under the superintendency of Mrs. Jeffrey and the present Miss Randall, is a prime force in the church. But one of the most helpful allies of the church for years has been, and is today <br><br>THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY.<br><br> Their faithful and efficient services cannot be overestimated. Since its organization it has raised over three thousand do11ars and for the past three years has averaged over three hundred dollars annua11y. This is but a mere outline of the history of this church. [PHOTO: MISS ADA RANDALL, Deaconess.] To record the trials, conflicts and toils and all the varied history of this work would fill a volume. Many have been the faithful workers who have come and gone from us-some to other fields, and others to their good reward in glory, none of more precious memory than Judge Preshaw. But few of the first workers remain. This sketch would be incomplete without the name of Mrs. Martha Skewes-Preshaw, and Brother Freeman and Miss Tillie Harris, who became identified with the work when but a school girl. [PHOTO: Rev. G. M. Jeffrey, D. D., Pastor.]<br><br> Rev. G. M. Jeffrey, D. D., Pastor.<br><br> Born in Wabash, Ind., of sturdy Methodist parents. When but a small child the family moved to southwestern Iowa. Spent all his childhood and youth on the farm; converted in his twenty-first year. One year later was licensed to exhort, and a little later as local preacher. Taught several terms of school; entered the Iowa Wesleyan University, and graduated from the same institution in June of 1877. In September of the same year he entered the Boston School of Theology, graduating in the spring of 1880. During these three years in this institution his vacations were occupied in supplying pulpits in and near Boston. In the fall of 1880 he returned to Iowa and entered the Des Moines conference and took his first appointment. During the early winter a gracious revival rewarded his efforts. Early in February, 1881, he yielded to the earnest call of Bishop Taylor for workers in the foreign field, and resigned his charge, and on the llth day of the |
