The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-12-31
sAUK RAPIDS. ].
Quarterly Moeting-A Review Of Sew.
oral HermOns-Looal Matters.
SAvK RAPIDS. Dec, %, 1868.

oral 00xmO08.x0o0l QX0tecE0s
SAUK RAPIDS, Dec. %, 1868.
EDITOR JoUnNAL.-Tho Methodisis held
their Quarterly Conference here on last
Saturday and Sunday. There was largo
attendance on Sunday, both in the fore.
noon and evening. The Presiding Elder
preached in the morning; subject "Mys-
teries Of the Bible," which was handled
with considerable ability, II abounded In
illustrations. which were generally inter-
ssting and appropriate. Had the Rever-
end gentleman omitted tho closing remarks,
which were personal to himself, or rather
omitted the overwhsls'ingly lachryma tone
and manner. 1 think he would have left a
decidedly better impression on tho most Of
his hearers. Nevertheless, Elder Griswold
Is above the average of public speakers on
our frontier. The Holy Sacrament was:
administered at the close Of the morning
service, around tho table Of which were
five clsrgymen. -
In the evening, Rev. Sherman Hall open
ed tho services with prayer, and Rev.
Creighton, of your city, preached the SER
mon. His text was, "And We wept when
We remembered Zion" Contrary to the
usual custom among Methodist ministers,
Mr.. Creighton's sermon was written, well
written, and agrecably delivered. His de-
scription of the Jews by the rivers Of Bah
ylon-whers they sat down and remember
cd Zion-the land and glories they had left
behind them and the harp which they low
ed so we'll, now hung upon the willows
was graphic, and svinced much taste and
culture. ''sorrows Of Memory" vas tho
poetioal and pleasing heading Of his dis
course. He sustained himself well all;the
way through. He has not yet dropped to
the sing-song of too many of the ministers
Of his popular and powerful denomination,
and it Is sincerely to be hoped he never
will. He evidently has too much good
taste and judgment toe discriminating as
to what pulpit oratory should DO, ever to
initiate a manner Of. speaking 80 generally
displeasing to the majority Of .hearers.-
Fer my own Part, should like to hear Mr..
Creighton often. Several Of yeur citizens
were present At both services among them
1 noticed Col. McIntire and lady. and
Mr.. Wilson and lady. Among tho ladies |
from your town who sang, one whom l
never saw before att rscted attention by
the fulluess and sweetness Of her voice.
If I knew who it was, her name shoald
certainly be given in this notice. At the
close Of the evening sermon, Elder Girls:
void incidentally delvered 4 powerful
philippe against whisky sellers. AS =
piece Of acrimo NOUS and cutting iuvec-
tive, it could hardly be surpassed. For
fifteen minutes he held the large congre-
CATION in wrapt attention. Coming up I'M
expectedly as it did and with no personal
allusion, and be,n & 20 well done, I can
forgive him his affected and long drawn
out rehearsal Of the old bible in the old
box in the corner Of his library.
While am on Sunday topics, perhaps I
ought in justice to state that Rev. Mr..
Stewar IT, the new Episcopal clergyman,
preached at the Episcopal church in the
afternoon to full house. New ministers,
like other strangers, by their coming COM
monty excite more or less interest, or Gu.
riosity if you will, according to their po-
sition in life; and so many were out tc
hear Mr.. Stewart who never heard him
before. For wonder two Methodist min
listers ventured in and saw the much abus-
ed surplioe. MIR. Stewart is q plain, SEN
sible thinker and writer, without ornament
or ostentation or oratory. He writes with
facility and speaks deliberately, and what
adds much to every teaching, with great
honesty and sincerity Of manner. An ILL
natured critic would say his manner was
monotonous and heavy, and that his en-
phasis ON the articles and auxiliaries was
in contravention OF established rules of
rhetoric. I however will not say this be-
cause it is SO easy to find fault, and where
there il merit minor Deficiencies ought to
be overlooked.
Our little town is steadily holding its
own through these bright winter days, and
the good people appear to be as happy and
hopeful a. most other communities. Moth
ing new or startling has transpired worthy
place in the columns Of your excellent
paper-ifI except the transcendsntall mar
velous and stupendously incredible story
of the skeleton which we are informed, on
what authority know not, was dug up
here the other day, and sent by special
train all the way to Boston, to the poet,
Doctor Oliver Wendall Holmes, or some
other poetic-scienti6c notable Of that hub
of the world. 1say, if except this most
remarkable discovery, which the Sentinel
says Gen. Thomas examined with some
others Of our most intelligent citizens,
nothing remains for me to note locally in
this letter.
And now wishing you and yours "A
happy New Year."
Am, very truly,