The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-08-29

The Congregational Church was organized
this place as early as 1888, by the Rev. Mr. C, aY
ford, minister in the employ of the America
Home Missionary Society. At that period, Their
were less than two hundred inhabitants within
the present limits of the corporation of the Cit,
OF hsnosha. The original church organization
consisted OF nineteen members, portion of whom
resided. some miles distant in the country. During
number Of years after the organization of the
| Church, regular preaching was not enjoyed, only
at stated periods, as the Church had not tue pecu
mary ability to sustain a settled ministry. Aid
! from the Home Missionary Society was never ap
piled for, consequently never received.
| During the years 1912 and l843, the subject OF
building meeting house was at times considera-
| bly, agtated but owing to strong differences OF
opinion as to which, side ofthe creek the Church
edIhce ought to be located, nothing was accom-
pAshed. During those years the business and
wealth OF hetowp were equally balanc ed between
the north and the south sides In the spring of
1874 it was finally agreed to settle the controver.
sy as to the location of Church building ss fol-
lows A subscription of four thousand dollars
was proposed to be raised e the south side gave
more than one half Of this sum, then tie church
was to be located on the south side; if the north
side raised the larger sum- then the church was to
be located on the north side. The business of ia
king the subscription for the building was accord.
ingly proceeded with, and the north side gave the
largest sum, upon which result the location was
fixed on the spot now occupied by the German
NJ ethodist Church. During the same year, the
Church was completed at an expense OF little
Ovn
years after the erection ofthe Church. the location
was acquesced i'll but su subsequently, as the bust.
ness of the north side became almost wholly trans
ofred to the south side, and many families belong
ing to the congregation i'll the immediate vicinity
of the Church having removed, it was finally de.
termined to remove the Church to the south side
This was deemed very difficult and hazardous
undertaking, owing 10 iLe nature OF the ground
over which it was Necessary to move the building.
IheJVb was finally undertaken by G. Briggs, Esq.
for the sum Of 900. Taking a favorable season
Of the year, when the water between the north
and south sides was thick bound in ice he accom-
plished successfully what many persons had de.
clared an impossibity.
The present location OF the Congregational
Church, the corner of Ann and Park streets, is
al eligible one, being quite central. The edifce
has undergone several alterations since it was first
built its exterior is by no means pleasing, but
rather foIbiddMg its interior finish, however, is
respecto Die and inviting The building has one
of those necessary mmodations-a good bell.
The first minister employed to preach tor the
Cong egational Church aud Society was the Rev
MIR, Nichols, in the year 1899, He was succeeded
by the following ministers in The order here emu
c. c. Caldwell, Rev j. u Parsons,
Rev NJ. p. Kinney, Rev. o. ?. Clinton Rev E
d. Seward, Rev. John Gridley, Rev. c. j. Hutch.
ms, Rev n G. Chaplin, Rev z. G. PettibOne, Rev
w. G. Dickinson, Rev. c. j. Hutchins Rev. c.
j. Mathews. The present pastor of the Church
Rev. Mr.. Mathews is comparatively young in the
ministry, having been in the profession only ten
months, when he was invited to become the pas
tor of the Church at this place. He is scholarly
gentleman, having graduated in Yale College, and
also having pursued regular course of theolog-
zeal studies at the New York University. AS a
preacher he understands the true uses OF Ian
guage-neyer violating good taste by the employ
ment Of unsuitable words or figures in the enforce
ment Of truth. While his sermons are faithful to
the true calling Of the ministry, and earnest exh
bitous of gospel truth, they also evince literary
talent and refinement Mr.. Mathews has style
of preaching calculated draw good audiences, and
his sabbath day ministratons are generally attend
cd by q well filled house,