Longmont Ledger
May 7, 1897

The following notes were received two (sic) late for the last issue:

Sixteen years ago, the residents of Highlandlake, finding going to Longmont to church very irksome and at times impossible, organized a Congregational Church here, and began holding meetings in the schoolhouse, where they might still have been held but for the coming into their midst, a woman of courage and firm faith in prayer.

A year ago last fall, the pastor, Rev. Mary G. Bumstead, went to Boston for her vacation and upon her return she announced the fact that she had raised one thousand dollars toward a new church building for the place. This gave zest and encouragement to a cause that had seemed impossible, and more money was raised amounting to over twenty-six hundred dollars. The building was completed last summer but lights, seats, stoves and an organ must be bought and paid for. These have come by degrees and, through generous gifts, have been added carpeting for the whole building, pulpit, chairs, and pictures upon the walls.

On Sunday morning, April 25th, the church assembled to dedicate the building, entirely free from debt. Though every heart rejoiced that the church was free from debt, it felt the burden of the debt that rested upon the parsonage. But Miss Bumstead dispelled that cloud by announcing that through the benevolence of Mrs. C. H. Taintor of Chicago the parsonage is free from debt. Every heart in this community throbs with gratitude toward Mrs. Taintor for her great gift and feels that Providence has guided her hand in bestowing it.

The dedicatory service was beautiful and impressive. Rev. Chas. N, Fitch of Denver giving a Bible reading and Rev. W. W. Dumm of Greeley delivered a sermon on "Christian Enthusiasm."  At the evening services, Deacon L. C. Mead gave an historical sketch of the church since its organization, and talks were given by Rev. Fitch and Rev. Dumm.

Mr. Dumm, observing that we had no bell, and feeling the importance of one, quietly started a subscription, heading the list with ten dollars from Greeley. No collection was taken but by evening the free will gifts amounted to fifty-seven dollars.

Highlandlake is proud of its completed c hurch, of its parsonage free from debt, and of its pastor who, has labored so faithfully and so untiringly for the upbuilding of this community.

It is through the kind labors of Mr. and Mrs. R.S. True that the church presented so attractive an appearance Dedication Sunday. Mrs. True took care of the flowers that were left at the church during the week between Easter and Dedication.

 

Images left: Program for the dedication service.

Highlandlake Church Dedication
Longmont Ledger
April 1897

During the period of considerably more than a half a century, we have known of and attended a large number of church dedications. But memory fails to recall a single instance in which there was not a greater or less amount of indebtedness assumed by the society, to be paid in the future or to be begged from the congregation before the sentence of dedication could be pronounced. In other words, we have never know an instance of church building where every dollar of the money necessary to cover the entire expense of the new edifice and its furnishings was not only subscribed but actually paid over to the building committee before the work was begun. But this assertion will not bear repeating. The spell has been broken by a little county society made up entirely of Highlandlake farmers, none of whom are wealthy but who have completely furnished, paid for and dedicated a $2,500 church. A brief description of the building and the dedication services will be found on the local pate, furnished by the LEDGER reporter who was present.

Ever since its organization some fifteen years ago, this society has occupied the district schoolhouse as its place for public worship, but had outgrown its rather limited quarters. During the past two or three years, the pastor the of the church has been Rev. Mary G. Bumstead. No member of the society was more anxious for a better and larger place of Sunday worship than its pastor. But she insisted from the very start that she would not be a party to the building of a church edifice which they couldn't not pay for. The important question arose as to where the monetary funds were to come from. Money was scarce with these farmers, and it did not seem possible to raise so large a sum without outside help.

In this emergency, the pastor asked for a two months vacation for a visit to her New England home. When she returned, she announced to her congregation that she had brought back with her the sum of $1,000 as the contribution of her New England friends for the new church, and that as soon as the society could raise the necessary balance, the building contract would be let and the work would begin. This was accomplished after a hard struggle, and the new church was dedicated last Sunday, with not a single dollar of indebtedness to be provided for. It was a happy day for the society, and most of all for its level-headed pastor. But it must have seemed rather odd to those who were present, to have the service of dedication concluded without the usual accompaniment of begging for enough money to pay the balance still remaining  after exhausting all the funds provided for that purpose. It must have seem wonderfully suggestive of the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. Out sincere congratulations are hereby extended to the people of Highlandlake in general, and especially to Rev. Mary G. Bumstead who ministers to them in holy things.

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