The Farewell of a Pastor
Trinity M.E. Church honors their departing leader, who transformed the congregation's finances during the 'hard times'.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
At a meeting of Trinity M. E. church held Friday evening, Rev. Dr. S. P. Wilson told the congregation that he expected to soon sever his connection with the congregation. Trinity church has been highly prosperous under Dr. Wilson's pastorate. When he came to the church there was a debt of $1,290 on the parsonage in addition to a deficit of over $300 on account of money borrowed to pay the salary of a former pastor. During the year the old parsonage has been sold, a new one erected adjoining the tabernacle which is said to be the best in the conference, and the debt of the church has been reduced from over $1,600 to less than $300. Not only has Dr. Wilson succeeded in making this good financial showing in spite of hard times, but he leaves the church stronger in every way.
“Not only has Dr. Wilson succeeded in making this good financial showing in spite of hard times, but he leaves the church stronger in every way.”
Church debt and the survival of religious institutions during economic instability were significant issues in 1890s Seattle. Today, the repurposing of old church buildings or the struggle to maintain these historic structures remains a quiet but constant argument in Seattle's urban development.
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