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year 1862. The church organization is still maintained according to the laws and regulations of the church, but the building, the most favorably located house of worship in the city, begins to show indications of decay. The first couple married in Lansing according to the forms of this church, were Homer H. Hemenway and Amanda S. Gray. They were married, so the church record says, February 4th, 1857, and the witnesses were John Berry, G. W. Gray and Martha Haney. Among the early attendants and members of the church were, F. O. Cowles and family, Sarah Cowles, widow, and family, John I. Taylor and family, S. H. Kinee and family, Samuel B. Johnston and family, and H. H. Hemenway and family. George W. Camp, Esq., was secretary of the meeting of citizens called to organize the society. F. D. Cowles and J. I. Taylor were appointed delegates in May, 1856, to represent the parish in the convention of the Iowa Dio

cese.

In the spring and summer of 1865 frequent visits were made to Lansing by the Rev. James Frothingham, then settled in Caledonia, Minn. These visits resulted in the organization of a Presbyterian church. Mr. Frothingham, assisted by Elder Eben S. Albert, of Mt. Hope church, effected the organization Sunday, June 18, 1865. The services were conducted in the Episcopal church edifice on Diagonal street, subsequently destroyed by fire. The following persons presented certificates of membership and letters of dismission: Eben T. Albert, Mrs. Jane Albert, Sarah and Elizabeth Albert, and Mrs. Margaret Ratcliffe, from Mt. Hope Church, Allamakee Co., Io.; James and Jane Logan, Mrs. Annie Stafford, Miss Helen Gilchrist, Miss Rachael Elmendorf, and Mrs. G. W. Hayes, from other churches. Mr. A. W. Purdy, Mrs. Delia Delevan Purdy, and Mrs. Margaretta Macbay were admitted on confession of faith. These persons were formally declared organized as a church, and Mr. M. E. Albert was chosen Ruling Elder.

A meeting of the regular attendants on the services of the church was held in the parlor of the American House, on Monday evening May 7th, 1866, for the purpose of organizing a church society. A committee of three was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws for the society, in order to a proper incorporation. The committee consisted of Rev. James Frothingham, M. M. Webster, and Cyrus Watts. At a subsequent meeting held at the same place, the committee reported a constitution and by-laws, which were adopted. Articles of incorporation were duly adopted and recorded soon after this, and a church society duly organized according to the laws of Iowa and the Presbyterian church, to be known as the First Presbyterian Church, of Lansing. The first trustees were: Amos W. Purdy, Eben T. Albert, and William C. Macbay. February 7th, 1867, these gentlemen were reelected, Mr. Purdy for three years, Mr. Albert for two, and Mr. Macbay for

one. January 6th, 1868, the term of service of W. C. McBay having expired, A. H. Woodruff was chosen trustee. Mr. E. T. Albert was reelected in January, 1869. At the annual meeting of the society, held January 3d, 1870, the method of electing trustees was changed, the changed by-law providing that three trustees should be annually chosen to serve. for one year each. At this meeting E. T. Albert and A. H. Woodruff resigned. The term of A. W. Purdy expired. An election of trustees according to the new method resulted in the choice of Cyrus Watts, George D. Purdy and Glyken A. Rockwell.

In January, 1871, Cyrus Watts, S. O. Smith_and George Albert were chosen trustees. W. H. Burford, G. A. Rockwell and Cyrus Watts were trustees in 1872. January 13th, 1873, Dr. N. S. Craig, Lewis Burton and J. W. Thomas were chosen. At a special meeting held January 23d, 1873, Messrs. Burton and Thomas declined to serve for reasons considered satisfactory by all, and C. T. Hart and Joseph Smith were chosen in their places. Dr. N. S. Craig, Storr Rockwell and Geo. W. Albert were trustees in 1874. Storr Rockwell, J. W. Thomas and M. McCormick in 1875 and 1876. January 3d, 1877, the time for holding the annual meetings of the society was changed from January to the first Monday of September in each year. M. McCormick, J. W. Thomas and Dr. N. S. Craig were chosen trustees to serve until the meeting in September, 1877. At that meeting the same gentlemen were elected. They were again reelected in September, 1878.

At a special meeting of the society held after evening service, August 3d, 1879, Rev. C. E. Schaible, having preached, was called to preside. The pastor, Rev. James Frothingham, requested the members of the church and congregation to unite with him in a request to the Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral relation. As, in consequence of ill-health, this seemed a necessity to the pastor, his desire was granted, and the congregation concurred in his request.

At the annual congregational meeting held September 1st, 1879, Dr. F. S. Craig, G. A. Rockwell and S. A. Rockwell were selected to prepare a paper expressing the sorrow of the church and congregation at the loss sustained in the severance of the pastoral relation between the church and Rev. James Frothingham. At a farewell reception given at the residence of J. W. Thomas on the evening of Sept. 3d, 1879, these gentlemen presented the following paper, which was fully approved by all pres

ent.

"WHEREAS, in the providence of God the relation existing for the past fourteen years between the Presbyterian church of Lansing, Iowa, and its beloved Pastor, Rev. James Frothingham, has now been severed; and,

WHEREAS, we deeply feel the loss which we sustain in his removal; therefore,

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"Resolved, That we sincerely regret the necessity which compels him to leave this field of labor, wherein so many of the best years of his life have been passed, and whereon he has left the imprint of a firm, unyielding loyalty to the cause of his Master.

"Resolved, That though our hearts are saddened by this separation, we yet review with gratitude the blessed results of his ministry here, and desire to express our high appreciation thereof, and also the esteem, love and veneration in which he is held, not only by this church and congregation, but by the whole community.

"Resolved, That we invoke the blessing of God to follow him and his family to their new field of labor, and that we earnestly pray that God, in his infinite goodness, will grant him complete restoration to health, and abundantly bless his labors in the future, giving him renewed strength for continued service in his new abode.

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"Resolved, That to himself and his estimable wife and family we owe a debt of gratitude for service in church, prayer meeting and Sabbath School, which we can never repay and shall never forget. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be given to our retiring pastor and furnished to the press of the city for publication." Rev. Charles E. Schaible occupied the pulpit from October 16th, 1879 until November 1st, 1881, part of the time as stated supply and the balance as pastor. He was followed by Rev. Joseph Gaston, who began his labors January 1, 1882. He is now the pastor.

The society erected a house of worship on North Third street in 1866. It is constructed of brick, will seat about 300 persons, is nicely furnished and in all respects a most pleasant place of public worship. Ground was broken for the foundation July 4th, 1866. The first meeting in the church was held January 31st, 1867, and the first Sabbath service February 3d following. A Sabbath School was organized June 17th, 1866, which has since been maintained.

During the present year (1882), a fine pipe organ costing over $500, has been placed in the church. It is considered an excellent instrument. The church is out of debt and quite prosperous. The trustees elected October 4th, 1879, were: M. McCormick, H. H. Hemenway, James Ruth, James M. Thomson and N. S. Craig; September 16th, 1880, G. W. Albert, H. H. Hemenway, James Ruth, G. A. Rockwell and Earl M. Woodward were chosen. September 26th, 1881, these trustees were all re-elected. The present board, elected September 21st, 1882, consists of M. McCormick, James Ruth, H. H. Hemenway, H. J. Frothingham and G. W.

Albert.

THE LODGES.

Lansing Lodge, No. 118, I. 0. O. F., was organized April 16th, 1858. The charter members were: James W. Thomas, Homer H. Hemenway, John Haney, Jr., John J. Shaw, G. W. Gray, S.

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