The history of Mahaska County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics .. . twoor three times that number of adherents. OSKALOOSA BAPTIST CUUKCH. The first Baptist church in Oskaloosa was constituted in December, 1855,with a membership of five persons. An ecclesiastical council composed ofministers and laymen from neighboring churches was invited to meet andexamine into the history and belief of the organization, and if it was foundto be formed af
The history of Mahaska County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics .. . twoor three times that number of adherents. OSKALOOSA BAPTIST CUUKCH. The first Baptist church in Oskaloosa was constituted in December, 1855,with a membership of five persons. An ecclesiastical council composed ofministers and laymen from neighboring churches was invited to meet andexamine into the history and belief of the organization, and if it was foundto be formed after the New Testament model, to publicly recognize it asa church. The decision of the council being favorable, the services of theoccasion were held at the M. E. Church. Until the spring of 1856 thechurch had no regular preaching. At this time J. F. Childs became thepastor, an arrangement which continued eleven years. During the first year of Mr. Childs pastorate the church held its servicesin the upper rooms of the then Normal School building. In January, 1857,Union Hall was hired and occupied for services a little more than a the fall of 1857 a lot was purchased, and in the month of March follow- X- ?N^.. HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY. 491 ing, the work of building a house of worship was begun, without a dollarpledged on subscrijitiou; the male members of the church, aided by per-sonal lalxjr. The largest amount subscril)ed outside the membersliip svas$15, paid in lal)or and materials. Thus in troublous times, ftnancially, themechanical talent of the church was generously turned to the building of ahouse of worship. May 16, 1858, the building was so far completed thatthe church held services in it, though at tlie time it was without win-dows, the floor but partly laid, and the siding on to a point only just abovethe window-frames, and no lathing done. By the following spring it wasentirely completed. This period found the church shouldering a debt of$450; but in 1863 this
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