The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-03-12
Union ofshe Ottawa Congrex asional Chur.

nnion OF the two congregational churches Of this
city-a matter that had been the sub,ec. of me-
gotiarion for q month or two past. On the pre-
ceding evening. the ecclesiastical societies. con.
nected with the two churches had sssented N
the union, and the assent of the churches having
been previously given, it only remained on Sum.
day to perform the martial ceremony. To hi,
end the services of the Rev. ]. E. Roy of chicavo
had been procured. Both congregations met q,
Plymouth church in the morning, and listened
to feeling and appropriate address from the
Rev. gentleman in question. The church wa.
| crowded, the members of both churchs being in
full attendance. The congregation was then
dismissed to meet again at the brick church at
O'Clock T. NJ. The attendance was again full.
OF the members of both churches. Then the pr,.
ceedings were az follows: After brief address
by Mr. Roy, Mr.. Catlin, clerk of the First church.
read the names of all of that church who had as.
sented to the union, embracing 121 names tall but
or 1O;) and Dr. Hard, Clerk of Plymouth
church read a like list of names of that church.
embracing one hundred AMI thirty one names tsll
but A. Then the articles of Faith and Covenant
were read and assented to by all tho members
standing. Another brief address BY Mr. Roy,
and the union contaminated The united
congregations then joined in celebrating the sac.
rament of the Lords Supper.
Ga Monday evening the ecclesiastical socete.
OF the TWO churches met and elected the follow
ing officers: Edward Earnes, President: n. s.
Campbell Vice President E. c. Lewis Secretary;
II. A Butler, Treasurer; VIM. Thomas. S. C.
King, +. l.. Fiske, w H. Hull and 7. ID. Catlin.
Trustees. And on the following evening the
church elected the following officers: H. w.
Gridley, A. Grow, K. o. Black, Geo. Bennett, f.
Erickson and J. G. Nattnger deacons: r. o.
Black, clerk; J. e. Nat,nger treasurer
The union thus consummated, Of course. d .
Penses with the further services of their hitherto
| faithful and devoted pastors. the Rev NJ. X.
Whittlesey and the Rev. f. y. Lewis, both of
whom had resigned, and the occasion seems an
| appropriate one therefore, to say a word about
these gentlemen. Mr.. Whittle,ey came to OF.
tawa in June, lsis, as home missionary, having
spent the previous year and half in the same
| capacity in Iowa. His previous history was
briefly this: Born at Stockbrdge, Mass. pre-
| pared Tor college chiefly under q private tutor;
entered Yale in 1889 graduated in 1914. taking
high stand for scholarship in what was then
the largest class then spent year two more in
theological studies a. Andover and New Haven;
and then, with scrip and staff had been sent
to iowa IN ttrr missionary service 7trriv.
ing at Ottawa, he found a congreg ation,l church,
| never strong. still weaker from internal d..en-
sions, and actually in public odium, but present.
ing hopeful features, under faithful and dis
Greet pastor. He entered the unpromi,ing field
with difiiience, but aiming only TO do permanent
good, and to build up among strangers = charac.
ter maintaining the habits OF a careful and ac-
curate scholar, by close study aud correspond.
ence with literary men striving, along with an
assiduous attention 10 his p,rochi-l duties
also to prove himself, by intercourse and
public labor, good citizen, a safe counselor and
a wise, patient aud uuchengng spiritual friend
the church, under his care, rapidly grew apace.
until for years it was III fact in name, the
First church in the city. Now approaching the
"sere and yellow Leaf this somewhat sudden
dismissal would ordinarily leave the tired and
labor worn pastor in unpleasant circumstances,
but 1t Is pleasant to know, that in the case of
Mr.. Whittlesey, his prudence in Affairs has at
least saved him from the TOO common difficulties
in such cases
The Rev. L. y. Lewis WAS born at Elmira, y.
L.. and when yet boy had moved lin lS45)
with his parents 20 the vicinity of Newark, in
this county. In 1850, many of old citizens
will remember him as sprightly young clerk in
the store of Mr.. j. G.. Nattinger. He first en-.
tered seriously upon his studies at Lisbon Acad-
envy, then spent several years at Galesburg COLI
lege, finally graduating at Beloit, and subse-
quently passing through theological course at
the Chicago Theological Seminary. He was
ordained a minister by the Rock River Union
at Morris in about 1860; then took charge OF the
congregational church at Dandy, Du Page
county, from which he was called in 1864, to
Plymouth church, Ottawa, succeeding the Rev.
w. c. Schofeld.
Like Mr. Whittlesey, Mr. Lewis was close
student, faithful, earnest worker, and an
uncommony fine speaker, The church in his
care was uninterruptedly harmonious and pros
porous, and no serious thought of giving up its
organization and merging it with another would
probably have beeen entertained, but for the
failing health of Mr. Lewis, on account Of which
he formed the immovable resolution to resign,
and make the effort to recover his health by enc
gagirg in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Lewis
quits the pulpit to take charge Of farm near