Show CHURCH IS NOW FREE OF DEBT First Congregational Members Celebrate Accomplishing This Thisby by Banquet EARLY HISTORY IS RELATED PROGRESS OF ORGANIZATION TOLD FROM BEGINNING t tA I JA A reception was held last evening at atthe atthe atthe the First Congregational church to cele cole celebrate brate prate the paying off of of church debt and the return of Rev Elmer I Goshen Goshen who has been on a trip throughout the east ast It was an evening of merriment for the Congregationalists who had been working orling for or the past sixteen years to re relieve relieve lieve the church of Its debt Prior to the reception there was a n short program The Th first speaker was Mrs M 11 MA MA A Sprague who was one of the original twentysix members who established the church In Utah She told of the troubles Incurred in establishing the church anI of the first religious gathering in Utah that was ws not under the auspices of the Mormon church She also talked of the early days when the congregation met metIn metIn metIn In the old Independence haJJ hall The speaker then described the first indebtedness of the church which amounted to 1200 and how It was finally paid off by a four days carnival held In Independence hall She told of the establishment of the first pub puh public public lic lie school In Utah the aid the tho church of offered offered offered in effecting a public system s stem and the founding of the tile Salt Lake Lalm Acad Academy Academy Academy I emy later called Gordon Academy From that time she traced the events of Import Importance importance Importance ance connected with the church until the present Gives History of Church The next speaker was L E Hall who has been associated with the Con grega from an early earl date He gave cave gave a history of oC the church from the time It was founded telling of oC the events and progress made under each pastor tIle the early earh obstacles that were encountered and tile the relations with the Mormon church Continuing he related the sale of the In Independence Independence Independence dependence hall ball property at the time of the boom in for and the tIle migra migrations migrations igra of the church hurch church before selecting a new site First Firc it t occupied the Salt Lake then Hammond hall At the time services were being held In the Walker Talker opera house it was burned down and all an that was saved was a pulpit that he pointed out in the room and an a chair that could be 1 e found in inthe in inthe the thc basement of the church After a ayears ayears ayears years deliberation the present site was selected ard purchased for Cor The rhe surplus money mone realized from the sale of the old grounds was put into a building fund and with additional ad money the pres present present present ent structure was built Debt Finally Finall Paid During the last two years of the debt has been b et settled 1 and n 1 during the last six months there has been paid which clears up u p everything A O 0 Clark then made the address of welcome to 10 Mr The program was concluded by a piano and violin duet by hy Miss Evans and Miss Allen During the reception punch and light refreshments were served by tho th women oC or the church The rooms were decorated with palms and Indian rugs |