| OCR Text |
Show Page 37<br><br>under the first pastor, G. E. Jayne, was reported by him as having thirteen appointments. This was in 1883. Mr. Jayne held services anywhere and almost everywhere, during the year ending July, 1884, building the church at Heber, which was then a part of the work, and securing property in the Park upon which he erected the church the following year. This building is the one in use now. George M. Jeffrey was appointed in 1885, and remained until succeeded by Edward C. Strout in 1888. John Telfer, E. E. Carr and E. H. Snow spent a year each, being appointed in 1890, 1891 and 1892 respectively, when in June, 1893, Dr. Jeffrey was again appointed, he being the only pastor who has served this people twice. The health of the Rev. G. P. Fry, pastor at Ogden, becoming so precarious that it was necessary for him to seek a lower altitude, Bishop Joyce, who then had Episcopal supervision of Utah, appointed Dr. Jeffrey to Ogden. This was in October. Samuel Hooper was then taken up from Bingham and placed in charge, remaining their pastor until June, 1894, when at his own request he was sent to a field of lighter labor, where he would have opportunity to pursue his conference course of study. At this juncture succeeded George W. Rich, a man of wide experience in service in the Canadas, many of the States of the Union and of two years' probation in Utah. Mr. Rich is at present the incumbent of the pastoral saddle, and is full of hope. At present writing, November 1, 1895, there are 99 members and probationers, 150 scholars in the Sunday-school, with 64 in both Junior and Epworth Leagues. The membership never has never been larger, which, considered in connection with the fact of the hard times consequent upon the low price of silver, shows the Parkites to be a live lot of people, as in most places the membership has fallen away.<br><br> George Wilson Rich.<br><br> I was born in the South of Ireland of English and Scotch parentage, September 22, 1842; was converted at about 8 years of age. My father was a Methodist local preacher, a fine scholar, a splendid singer and a good musician. My mother was a devoted Christian. [PHOTO: G. W. RICH, Pastor M. E. Church.] My father intended that I should be a lawyer, and gave me over twelve years' education in school and college. I went to New York City in 1860, and the same year went to Upper Canada. I preached my first sermon before I was 19 years of age. I moved to Ohio in 1866. I was engaged in different occupations until 1878, but in the meantime frequently preached and lectured. In 1878 I united with the Kentucky Conference and was appointed to the Paintsville charge by Bishop Peck. After serving several charges in Kentucky, I have had pastorates in Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska, Kansas and now in Park City, Utah.<br><br> Provo.<br><br> The work of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Provo was begun by Mr. Peirce, a local preacher, who came in from Salt Lake City occasionally to hold service. The first regular minister appointed to Provo was Rev. C. P. Lyford, who organized the church in 1875. During his pastorate a church was built and a free school was taught by the pastor. Nineteen members and probationers were reported at the close of his pastoral term. Rev. Erastus Smith was the next pastor, and did efficient work on the charge. He served two terms at Provo. Rev. George E. Jayne is another name connected with Provo Methodism, under whose wise administration and zealous labors the church grew and prospered. Thomas W. Lincoln succeeded Mr. Smith after his second term. During the years 1885, 1886 and 1887, at the close of his term, he reported members and probationers, 31. Rev. J. P. Morris was appointed pastor 1887-88, and was succeeded by Rev. G. M. Jeffrey in 1888-89, who spent three very successful years on the charge. Among the "things that remain" as the result of Mr. Jeffrey's labors are a beautiful brick church, a neat little parsonage and a large increase in membership. Revs. W. M. Crowther and W. H. La Vake spent short terms on the charge, and in 1894-95 the present incumbent, Rev. Joseph Wilks, was appointed to the work. The present statistics are as follows: Full members, 54; probationers, 8; total, 62; Sunday-school teachers and officers, 8; scholars enrolled, 105. The work is steadily advancing along all lines. There is an excellent Young People's Society, the Epworth League, in connection with the church, and the outlook is good. For a number of years day-school work was carried on with other church enterprises, and a number of faithful teachers have devoted their time and energy to the cause of education in connection with Methodism in Provo. To mention their names will recall their faithful and self-denying labors. Revs. C. P. Lyford, E. Smith, G. E. Jayne, Thomas W. Lincoln, W. J. Bonham, A. A. Noon, Miss Lincoln, Miss Dayton, the Misses E. and L. Smith, Lois Smith, Miss Dowdell and Miss Enser. The efficiency of the public schools of Provo has done away with the necessity of Mission day-schools. (Bro. A. A. Noon furnished the items for this report. He has been a member from the organization of the church.) Miss Stella Brown is the efficient Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday-school; Mr. Richard Beesley is the President of the Epworth League. <br><br>Rev. Joseph Wilks.<br><br> Was admitted to membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Canada in 1875, and remained a member until 1882, when he transferred to the Michigan Conference, where his membership is still held. In 1884, at the call of Bishop William Taylor for volunteers [PHOTO: JOS. WILKS, Pastor M. E. Church.] to go to Africa, he responded, was accepted, and with his wife and daughter labored for nearly four years in the heart of the Dark Continent. On his return to the United States he was appointed by Bishop Joyce to Dillon, Mont. In 1892 he came to Utah, and was appointed to Mt. Pleasant, and in 1894 was appointed to Provo City, where he still remains.<br><br> CONGREGATIONAL.<br><br> The history of the Congregational Church of Provo should properly commence at the inception of Proctor Academy, as the school prepared the way for the church and has been its strong and faithful ally in all it has undertaken. Prior to the organization of the church four ministers shared in the foundation work. Rev. A. R. Crawford was the first to enter the field in our interest, who labored very earnestly for two years. Rev. Mr. Eastman next took up the work for a little more than a year. His successor was Rev. John H. Goodell, who was a graduate of Hartford Theological Seminary and a man of rare qualities in the pulpit, who did noble work for two years. After Goodell came Rev. Mr. Cook, but he left the field so soon that he could hardly have been said to have taken up the work. The church was organized during the ministry of Rev. Frank S. Forbes. Mr. Forbes served the church but one year, yet his work was characterized by such push and enthusiasm that a marked advancement was made. October 8, 1892, Rev. Samuel Rose was called by the church, and remained until August 1, 1895. Mr. Rose was another Hartford man, a thorough student, both scholarly and spiritual, and an able sermonizer. During his pastorate a new church was built, furnished and dedicated, free of |
