THE COURIER.
LINCOLN'S PIONEER CHURCH
Thirtieth Anniversary of tho First Con
gregational Society.
MIkfeER & PAINE
Sell good goods at
lowest prices. The
Reliable Firm.
A LONG PASTORATE CELEBBATED
Kcv. I.owN Grojiory rinlsliri Twenty
ono Voiiph ofSorvk-o ftirOiiot iiii
ureiratlon III Anniver
sary Senium.
the
old
AHllej? & Parie.
The First Congregational church of
Lincoln celebrated its twenty first anni
versary on Inst Sunday and Monday.
Sunday morning Mr. Gregory reviewed
the liistory of tho church from the he
ginning, including a mention of the early
days of Lincoln and Nebraska.
Monday evening tho celebration con
cluded with a banquet and toast", at tho
conclusion of which Mr. Gregory was
presented w.th a silver try for an ink
stand and an ink lottlo with tho moco
grain "L. G.-' engraved upon tho cover
and a pen tray. On the large tray is an
engraving of the church and icctory.
During the feast the llagenau string
quartet plnyed in tho little balcony over
hanging the reception rooms of the
church. On Sunday mornirg and eve
ning Mrs. Raymond's chorus furnished
the music, assisted by Mrs. Holyoke,
Miss Hecker, Mr. Langworthy and Mr.
Albeis. Tne chorus was well" balanced
and the extra voices produced a volume
that is sometimes missing in the Sunday
mora which needed no pathos or learning
to make them seem real. ills hearers
hail only to unlock tho storehouse of
memory unit let tho fact stand forth.
So to in. my hero I can only nay "Yo
know.'' All that concern the history of
this church, and tho pastor's relation to
It, In our common Joys and sorrows,
and what Christ has done for us all, yo
know. .Many of th.o thing can never
lo written out or told In full, nor is
there any need, for yo know.
Rut for the sake of other not so fa
miliar with Cod's dealings towards lit
In the past It stems lust to try and tell
something of the story.
a pioxekr church.
Tho early days of this church have a
Ieciul Interest because It.-i organization
anudates loth the city and state. Its his
tory carries us hack to pioneer times.
The first w'hlto resident of the county
Is said to have fettled on the lMinks
of Salt creek, on what Is now Center
vllle. In June. I.SM. At this time the coun
try hud not heen surveyed. During tho
next llv years a few families movnl In
here and there on Inviting its near
Waverl- and Ynukeo 1 1 III. They led a
precarious existence, disputing wtUi tho
Indians the right of possession.
In 1M! the homestead law .was passed.
Among' the Ilrst settlers under It was
John S. Gregory, sr.. the Ilrst deacon
of this church. Ills Ilrst stop was at a
rootless and tloorlcss log catiln on tho
margin of the salt basin. The cabin hod
been erected by Hon. J. Sterling Morton
as .1 premptlon claim, but was desolato
and de-erted. Mr. Gregory built a dug
out in which he lived. He furnished salt
to the Rocky mountain freighters at -or
3 cents a jKund. The next year Iin
caxter county w.is organized. Mr. Greg
ory was made chairman of the board of
county commissioners. lie also succeed
ed In having a postofllce established;
named "Gregory Ilasln," of which he was
appointed postmaster ut a yearly salary
of J3, with an extra $12 for bringing tho
mall from Saltlllo, then In Clay county.
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NEW COURIER HALL.
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SEE IT BEFORE YOU GIVE A PARTY.
Leave word for Miss Willoughby at Gourier office.
n?4 N
11?4 N
chorus Mr. Lancworthy and Mr. Albers
are new additions to the chorus an J the
freshness and sweetness of their voice?
in the solo jmrts is delightful. 'I he fol
lowing is Mr. Gregory's historical sermon
from he text: "Ye know from the lirst
day that I came into Asia after what
manner I have heen with you at all
beasons."
These aro tho opening words of
Paul's address to the officers of the
church of Ephesus, an address In which
he briefly reviews their mutual labors;
encourages them to face the unknown
future: exhorts them to a loving care
over all the Interests of the church: and
commends them "to God and the word
of Ills grace." This address Is a precious
revelation of the intimate, tender, sac
red relation In which the apostle stood
to tho people, to whom he so long min-i-tercd.
His sermon Is a rich legacy to
the church In all ages and in all lands.
It Is a portion of scripture which from
Its peculiar depth and fervor seems to
be marred and spoiled by any attempted
exposition.
I.uke. as If feeling this, has taken
pains to preserve the very words in
which Paul poured out his heart for the
church he loved.
In choosing this text for our annlver
Fary discourse. I wish only to call at
tention to the opening words: "Ye
know." as if this included most that
was necessary to be understood. Paul
spoke of things familiar and personal:
of events In which they all had been
laborers together wlh God; of experi-
In lkCl J. II. Young, with ten or a dozen
others, staked out a town of eighty
acres. tiere Lincoln now stand-. They
called It Iancater. The settlement was
planned as a church colony of the Protes
tant Methodist church. From the pro
ceeds of a sale of lots a building was
erected, known as "I.ancaiter seminary."
ued also as a place for Sunday meetings,
until a stone church was afterward.
erected on the corner of K and Twelfth
streets. To this building Mr. Gregory him
self contributed ?M. In spite of the
heroism and sacrifice of the memlra
the church did not flourish, and It passed
away wl:h Its first families, twenty years
ago.
COXGREGATIOXAI.ISTS ASSEMBLE.
From the beginning Mr. Gregory and a
few neighbors who were CongTegallonal
ly Inclined held Sunday services among
themselves, ministered to occasionally by
the pa.-tor at Greenwood. Finally, on
August 19. 1VK. a little church of six
members was organized. wh-n as tho
first page of the churcn r'-cord states,
there wero but seven buildings In the
town. viz.. the seminary, the store. th
blacksmith shop and four dwellings. The
church agreed to raise Jltrt a year for Its
minister, a pledge which the records at
the close of the year proudly fjtes was
more than fulfilled. During this yiar.
in March. 1W7. Xebraska was proclaimed
a state. In July the capital was located
on paper and the pare prairie, in Xo
vember of this same year Rev. Charles
Little, having been chosen pastor of the
Congregational churcii, set about secnr-
fi-.-j aT?Qti