On January 17th, 1870, Elder Knapp, of Illinois, who had been invited to the city by Germain and Leinster Street Churches, commenced special services. The plan adopted was to meet alternately in each church a week at a time, and hold united services. Elder Knapp’s sermons were searching and powerful, striking terror to the hearts of the ungodly, and convincing the backslider of his sinfulness and bringing him back to the realization of his duty to God and the Church. The meetings were largely attended, and a profound impression was made on the minds of the unconverted. As a result of these services 103 persons were added to the Church by baptism and by letter.
Church Debt Paid.
A debt of $15,000 rested like a heavy burden upon the Church, crippling its energies and hindering the out-flow of its benevolence. This amount had been gradually reduced till in 1871—five years after the completion of the edifice—there remained the sum of $6,400, which was covered by a mortgage. This the young men of the Church resolved to make an effort to have removed. A committee composed of James Harrington, James S. Harding and Thomas D. Denham were appointed to devise a plan to pay off this debt. They submitted a scheme for its reduction by weekly payments of ten cents each member of the church. So far as we can learn this is the first application of a Weekly Offering system in this Church. At the end of two and a half years, the committee reported that $2,000 had been raised and paid on the mortgage. This so encouraged the Church that an effort was successful made to secure larger subscriptions, and the entire debt was paid off on Christmas eve, 1873. In doing this the Church was greatly indebted to the generosity of Mr. Henry Vaughan, whose subscription and those of his family and friends amounted to $1,700—over one-third of the whole amount. It is believed that this was the first time in the history of the Church when the property was entirely free from debt. Now, in 1910, history is repeating itself.
Building Damaged by Fire.
On the 28th of January, 1874, at midnight, the Church was discovered to be on fire, the building being considerably damaged, and the organ completely destroyed. The amount of the award, $4,676, was, however, sufficient to repair the damage. Various churches and halls were offered for the use of the Church, till the building was repaired. Among there were Brussels Street, Leinster Street, and Calvin Churches, the Mechanics’ Institute, the Academy of Music and the Y. M. C. A. The offer of the Y. M. C. A. was accepted, and their hall on Charlotte street was used till the Church was ready for occupancy. On the following Sunday the pastor preached a powerful sermon—alluding to the loss by fire, and showing how much worse our condition would have been, if the debt had not been paid off.
This year a finance committee composed of G. M. Steeves, J. J. Bostwick and the writer was appointed to oversee the finances, and enlist all members of the Church and congregation in this part of the work. Feeling that the time was not ripe for the introduction of a weekly offering system, they introduced a monthly one, and from this time to the present full annual financial statements have been issued.
In February the pastor was granted leave of absence to visit Great Britain. He left in April and returned in August much improved in health. On his return, he delivered in several places a most interesting lecture on the “Westminster Abbey.”
In 1874, a Mission Sunday School was started at Portland Bridge, with a view to looking after the neglected children in the vicinity of York Point. J. J. Forest was the first Superintendent and was followed J. J. Bostwick, with whom the writer was associated.
The Young People’s Meeting was organized in 1876, largely through the efforts of Brother E. H. Jones. This same year permission was given the Fire Department to connect the Fire Alarm with the Church bell.
On June 13th, 1877, a beautiful Communion Service was presented to the Church by Deacon and Mrs. Dyall.