WAUPACA COUNTY POST

December 16, 1920

 

NEW CHURCH DEDICATED AT OGDENSBURG

CHURCH BUILT OVER HALF CENTURY AGO GROWS IN NUMBERS AND INFLUENCE

LARGE ATTENDANCE

 

            One of the greatest events that has ever been experienced in Ogdensburg took place last Sunday when the remodeled Baptist church was dedicated.

            This church was organized fifty-two years ago.  A plain frame building was erected a few years later.  As was the case with most of our early churches, many and varied experiences have been passed through.

            The church has so increased in membership and usefulness, and the community has so grown, that he old building became entirely inadequate to minister to its needs.

            About the first of August, a movement was started to raise the money necessary to remodel and build onto the old building in order to provide additional room to accommodate more people and furnish rooms for Sunday school classes and social gatherings and to install a furnace and baptistery.  At this time about $3,000 was raised by subscription.

            Last Sunday the members and friends of the church gathered to dedicate to God the completed structure.  The first service began at 10:30 in the morning, with the pastor, Rev. W.W. Woodward, presiding. On the platform with him were Dr. D.W. Hulburt of Milwaukee, State Superintendent of the Wisconsin Baptist State Convention, Mr. W.C. Osborn of Madison, another representative of the convention, who has assisted largely in the enterprise, and Rev. H.E. Mansfield preached the sermon of the morning.

            The ladies served an excellent cafeteria dinner in the church and a social time was enjoyed until 2 p.m., when the afternoon service commenced.  At this service Dr. Hulburt preached the dedicatory sermon, after which Mr. Osborn gave the financial report, showing a total cost of $5,963.41 and the need of $1,388 in order to pay all bills and provide $500 to complete the work.  Dr. Hulburt then placed the matter before the audience, and they responded wit the pledges amounting to $628.  The service closed with the dedicatory prayer by Rev. Anthony Jacobs of Waupaca.

            The evening service began at 7:30, and after a song service led by Mr. Russell and the choir, Mr. Osborn gave the audience an opportunity to subscribe the balance of the money needed, and they responded with $273.  Following this Mr. Mansfield preached another of his splendid sermons.

            The church was crowded at all the services and may were compelled to stand at the afternoon meeting.  All present were much pleased with the fine building and the prospects for the future, and the town is to be congratulated upon having as good a church building as any place of its size in the state.

            Plans are being developed for a series of special meetings during the month of January.