Show AT EVANSTON apostle john H smith and bishop 0 F whitney upturned returned january 28 from a trip to evanston Eva neton wyoming whither they went on january 25 by request of the presidency for the purpose of attending the dedication of the new meetinghouse erected by the latter day saints of that place on the out going train they were delayed a couple of hours just this side of ogden waiting for the southbound south bound passenger train which bad been hindered by snow drifts reaching beaching Co oal alville ville on the union pacific without further delay they were there joined by president W W cluff counselor alma eldredge elders peterson branch allen alien and others from summit stake of which the evanston Evan stoa stoR ward is a part the party arrived at their destination a little after three in the afternoon they were met at the station by bishop james jamea brown and other local breth brethren renand and after a cordial greeting conducted through the rain sad aud sleet and thaw and wind that was playing havoc with the heavy snow drifts banked upon up on every hand to comfortable quarters in various parts of the town on sunday morning the saints assembled at their new dew meeting house where services were held beld beginning at half balf past ten the congregation which was partly composed of the almy ward a s few miles away and a slight sprinkling of outsiders being addressed in turn by president cluff and apostle smith whose interesting and instructive tive remarks were highly appreciated at half past two in the afternoon the doors of the meeting house bouse were closed upon an interior crowded to suffocation the entire seating capacity being taken diony extra chairs filled and people remaining standing in the aisles and near the front entrance the steps leading to the platform of the pulpit were also similarly occupied bishop james brown requested the attention of the assembly and gave out the opening hymn this house we dedie dedicate ate to thee the our gud god our fathers god which was sweetly sung by the evanston choir led by brother thomas parkinson at its conclusion apostle smith took the stand and delivered the dedicatory prayer to which the congregation including many strangers st listened with bowed heads and reverent and respectful interest after the dedication other hymns were sung the sacrament was dispensed and the congregation was then addre addressed sRed by bishop whitney who occupied the remainder of the afternoon and was listened to with rapt attention the evening meeting was almost as large as that of the afternoon the speakers were elder alma eldredge apostle smith and bishop whitney the congregation though held for full two hours manifested no signs of weariness em but paid the same respectful and eager attention that had bad been manifested during the whole of the day the visiting strangers were very appreciative and spoke in terms of high praise of the broad and liberal sentiments and doctrines voiced by the various speakers eakers for the saints it was a ay ay iy of great spiritual rejoicing irs the f he meetinghouse meeting house thus dedicated is a handsome and substantial brick structure of gothic style plem pleasantly situated on a corner lot at the intersection of main and sixth streets not far from the court house it occupies a site of fe feet et anti and its interior dimensions are feet it is brilliantly lighted by electricity has two large heaters one at either end of the hall and is neatly fitted up and provided with furniture the most modern and improved the regular seating capacity is about but this could be easily amplified to if necessary the house was built entirely by donation and cost a little over all but 1300 of this was contributed by the sal saints ants at evanston who number about souls the sum of 1300 was the generous gift of various persons esons residents of evanston Evan slon fae friendly end to the saints saint though not of their faith all but of the entire cost of the building has been paid ard the residue assumed by members of the ward bishop brown and others prior to the dedica dedication tiou went to the various parties outside the the church to whom this debt is owing and offered to give their notes for the amount in order to have it to report to the meeting that the building had been practically paid for the offers however were respectfully declined with the remark in each instance that the word of the brethren was considered just as good as their bond this together with the generous donation from non members of the church to say nothing of the manner in which they thronged thron ged the meetings on the day of dedication serves to show the friendly feeling held by the kindhearted kind hearted people of Ev evanston RustOn toward their mormon neighbors the building has only been completed a few weeks and was constructed ted within a year A stone tablet over the front entrance bears the inscription L D S erected 1889 three or four meetings had been held in the house bouse prior to the services of the dedication i bishop brown and counselors thomas parkinson and john T whittle report an excellent feel feeling warf among the faithful of their ward and an awakening interest among those who have backslidden back the improving condition being largely due to the earnest efforts of a corps 0 of active and efficient teachers JK |