We went to work and in a week we had a church built of rough boards set on end, and a board roof ; also a church and Sunday School was organized.

"Rev. E. H. Sayre preached every other Sunday while the Christian minister at Gering held services here the alternate Sunday. Air. Jacobus was superintendent of the Sunday School ; Mr. Wright, assistant ; Miss Orr, secretary; and Mr. Lackey teacher of the Bible class. At first we sat on pine boards, but the Ladies Aid soon managed to get chairs and an organ while Mr. Wright gave us a stove. I gave the lamp.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

"While only eight persons' names appear as charter members of this first church in Scottsbluff : namely Mr. and Mrs. Cassel, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, and son Cullen, Mrs. Sayre, Edith Sayre, and Mrs. Wood ; others were soon affiliated with the work. Mr. and Mrs. McCoskey, and Mr. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Orr, D. H. Cole. F. F. Everett, and C. H. Simmons, Dr. H. L. Sheldon and wife, Thos. M. Howard, Geo. W. Sawyer, and others. The church was organized in the pioneer building May 20, 1S99, by Rev. Thos. L. Sexton and later re-organized by Rev. J. C. Sloan.

At that time there was no depot, no completed building, and no store or restaurant in Scottsbluff. They were building the first part of the Emery hotel."

As Others Began

The historian has asked a number of ministers to tell us the story of early church struggles, and Rev. Currens responded so completely with a story of detail, that we think it describes fairly well the beginning of many others. Sometimes we think that our churches are inclined to get away from the first principles of food for the hungering soul.