Methodist Episcopal Church

Farewell Service In Old Church

LAST SERVICES HELD IN THE OLD M.E. CHURCH LAST SUNDAY In the month of September 1870, the new Methodist church building was dedicated to the worship of God. It was a great day in the village. Pleasant Grove, West Creek, Orchard Grove, Plum Grove and other neighboring centers had preaching by the same minister. Rev. J.J. Hines was pastor of the Methodist circuit. On the dedication of the new church Pleasant Grove class abandoned their church and came to Lowell. Since that day Lowell has been the head of the circuit becoming a station two years ago when all the points of the circuit centered in the town.

When Rev. C.A. Brown came to Lowell in 1917 he saw the need of more adequate equipment for the growing congregation. When the war closed, he began to present needs of a new building. A lot was purchased in 1919. In 1922 a subscription of $2,300 was secured.

On the first day of April 1924 the work was begun on building a new house of worship. The church will be dedicated next Sunday by Bishop Frederick D. Leete of the Indianapolis Area of Methodism.

The last services in the old church were very impressive. Rev. Brown's theme for the morning service, "To Serve the Present Age," was timely. He said that the worth of an individual or a building or an institution was determined solely by rendering adequate service to the age. The penalty of progress is displacement with better things.

A touch of sadness in parting with the old building that had given such good service permeated the congregation yet there was a feeling of gladness in anticipating the new opportunities.

There were six people present who attended the dedication fifty-four years ago. They are H.W. Hoshaw, Martin Driscoll, Paul Hathaway, Mrs. Mary Johnson, Mrs. Alma Foster and Mrs. Lucina Belshaw. Others present are quite sure that they could be enrolled in this number but take further time to verify their conclusions.

The evening service will long be remembered. Standing at the pulpit the pastor said that three forces had kept the church alive. A large lighted candle, the only light in the room, represented Christ, the Light of the world. On the pulpit lay the Holy Bible, Behind it stood Rev. Brown representing the ministry.

At this point in the service ten little girls bearing candles formed a cross on the platform. They are as follows: Virginia Scritchfield, Janet Iddings, Liesel Alyea, Margaret Jane Taylor, Gracie Bell Grant, Margorie Rigg, Audrey Lucas, Genevieve Hayhurst, Cleta Jones and Helen Thompson. Virginia, at the head of the cross, lighted her candle at the large one which represented Christ. She then lighted one candle and each girl lighted another until the cross shone out in the darkness.

The young ladies chorus directed by Mrs. Geo. Foster, sang "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."

Virginia then lighted a seven stick candelabra carrying the light of Christ to illuminate the cross then to the churches. The ten girls then went down to the audience where every one held a candle and lighting first from the cross bore the light on to others until the entire congregation held lighted candles.

A very fitting conclusion to a most unusually impressive service came when the pastor remarked that the candles of our fathers day gave away better light. And as electric lights came on and flooded the room with brightness so the old church with its blessed memories gives away to what all are praying for, even better things for Christ and His church.